Best Property Management Software 2021

AppFolio Competitors & Alternatives

Are you considering purchasing AppFolio to manage your properties? Before making the purchase, it's best to learn about AppFolio's top competitors. The seven best alternatives are listed below, along with details on their features and pricing.

AppFolio is one of the best property management solutions available, but operates in a very competitive market. Before purchasing AppFolio, it's important to understand how it compares to the top alternatives.

We share AppFolio's top competitors below, along with a detailed look at their features and pricing. To fully understand AppFolio, you can also read our in-depth AppFolio review.

Table of Contents

AppFolio Features

Before analyzing AppFolio’s competitors, it's critical to understand the features that AppFolio offers. AppFolio is one of the most robust solutions on the market, and offers a variety of advanced tools. The ten most important features that AppFolio offers are described in the table below.

FeatureDescription
Property Marketing WebsiteA website where you can post all of your property listings. Prospective tenants can apply for listings directly in the website, and all leads are automatically uploaded into the platform.
One-click Listing SyndicationOne-click listing syndication allows you to automatically post your rental listings to a variety of property listing websites.
Electronic LeasesAppFolio allows you to create, send, and store electronic leases with digital signatures.
AI Leasing AssistantThe AI leasing assistant uses artificial intelligence to respond to leasing inquiries 24/7 through text and email. The AI leasing assistant can book showings, qualify leads, and cross-sell units.
Automatic Payment CollectionAutomatic payment collection allows you to store tenant billing information and set up recurring payment schedules for rent collection.
Maintenance ManagementAppFolio allows you to track maintenance requests, manage work orders, schedule recurring work orders, assign vendors, and track maintenance statuses.
24/7 Maintenance Contact CenterAppFolio’s maintenance contact center agents can field your tenant's calls, dispatch pre-approved vendors, and enter information directly into the platform.
Online Tenant PortalTenants can log into an online tenant portal through browser or mobile app to pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and view leases.
ReportingReal-time and customizable reporting helps you monitor and visualize key data points of your properties.
AccountingAppFolio’s accounting tools help manage your company's finances. AppFolio allows you to track payments & billing, reconcile bank statements, and file 1099 forms electronically.

AppFolio Competitor Overview: Pricing & Features

AppFolio is one of the most popular property management solutions on the market. As you can see in the chart below, it performs nicely compared to its top competitors in terms of pricing and features.

AppFolio charges a monthly fee of $1.25 per unit for residential properties and $1.50 per month for commercial properties. AppFolio charges additional fees for add-on features including their AI leasing assistant and 24/7 maintenance contact center. Additionally, AppFolio enforces a 50 unit and $250 monthly fee minimum which makes this solution better suited for medium businesses and larger organizations.

AppFolio feature comparison chart vs. competitors

AppFolio Competitors

There are dozens of property management solutions in the market. We've narrowed it down to the top seven AppFolio competitors that you should consider implementing, and ranked them by overall features, pricing, and usability.

The top AppFolio competitors are:

  • Buildium
  • Re-Leased
  • Avail
  • RentRedi
  • Rentec Direct
  • TurboTenant
  • Cozy

#1: Buildium

Buildium is one of AppFolio’s top competitors. It is a robust solution that offers similar functionality as AppFolio. We recommend evaluating Buildium to anyone looking to purchase a property management solution. To learn more, read our full analysis of AppFolio vs. Buildium.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You manage more than 150 units
  • Your portfolio includes commercial properties
  • Desire advanced features such as an AI leasing assistant and 24/7 maintenance contact center
You'll prefer Buildium if:

  • You manage less than 150 units
  • You desire a property marketing website to be included in the subscription price
  • You would like to contact customer service by phone


#2: Re-Leased

Re-Leased is our top pick for commercial property management systems. Re-Leased is relatively new to the US market, but is growing rapidly.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You manage a mixed portfolio
  • You desire built-in accounting tools
  • You desire a tested & mature platform with experience in the US market
You'll prefer Re-Leased if:

  • You solely manage commercial properties
  • You desire robust CAM budgeting
  • You desire an interactive calendar that helps you track key dates and events


#3: Avail

Avail is our top pick for property management systems that offers a free subscription. This solution is a far more attractive option for independent landlords than AppFolio.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You manage commercial properties
  • You manage more than 50 units
  • Built-in accounting is a must-have feature
You'll prefer Avail if:

  • You desire a solution with a free subscription
  • You are an independent landlord
  • You solely manage residential properties


#4: RentRedi

RentRedi is a popular property management solution with over 1,500 customers. Starting at $19.95 per month with no limit on the number of properties you can manage, RentRedi is an affordable alternative to AppFolio.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You manage commercial properties
  • You desire robust accounting and reporting tools
  • Electronic lease signatures is a must-have feature
You'll prefer RentRedi if:

  • You manage less than 150 units
  • You desire a more affordable solution
  • You desire a subscription that includes unlimited properties, units, tenants, and teammates


#5: Rentec Direct

Rentec Direct is a mature and tested property management system. It was founded in 2006 and is used by 15,000 landlords nationwide.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You desire advanced features such as an AI listing assistant
  • You want to pay vendors and receive contributions directly in your solution
  • You desire a modern-looking marketing website and user interface
You'll prefer Rentec Direct if:

  • You desire a more affordable solution
  • You want a vendor that does not charge set up fees
  • You desire a monthly subscription without long term commitments


#6: TurboTenant

TurboTenant is a free-to-use property management solution. It does not include a variety of features found in AppFolio, but is better suited for independent landlords who desire a lightweight system.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You desire maintenance request tracking
  • You desire accounting or reporting tools
  • You want to send outgoing payments to vendors and owners in your system
You'll prefer TurboTenant if:

  • You desire a free-to-use solution
  • You are an independent landlord
  • If you desire pre-screener questionnaires to help find the highest quality leads


#7: Cozy

Cozy is a free-to-use property management system. This is a popular solution used by over 50,000 landlords.

You'll prefer AppFolio if:

  • You desire robust accounting and reporting tools
  • You would like to syndicate listings to a large volume of websites
  • You need electronic leases and customizable applications
You'll prefer Cozy if:

  • You are an independent landlord with a limited budget
  • You desire a free-to-use and lightweight solution
  • Your portfolio includes less than 50 residential units

Bottom Line

AppFolio is a popular and robust property management solution. If you manage more than 150 units and desire advanced features such as an AI listing assistant, then it's likely the best solution for you.

However, we recommend evaluating AppFolio against other platforms such as Buildium and Re-Leased. These solutions have their own unique strengths, and may be better suited for your needs. Read our reviews to learn more about Buildium and Re-Leased.

Lloyd Park

Lloyd Park is a Research Analyst at SoftwarePundit, where he conducts in-depth analyses of software markets and products. Lloyd also has experience managing the development of software platforms and is an expert in content production & media software. You can connect with Lloyd on LinkedIn.

Lloyd is an expert in several software categories including:

  • Dental software
  • Email marketing software
  • Field service management software
  • Legal software
  • Property management software

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