The job of a property manager isn’t what it used to be. Twenty years ago, managing rentals was mostly about collecting rent checks and calling a plumber when the sink backed up. Good ol’ days! But today? It’s more demanding than ever. The average property manager now oversees hundreds of units, navigates an expanding web of regulations, and serves tenants who expect every interaction to be handled digitally. Regulations alone have climbed steeply over the last decade, and trying to manage it all manually has become a real liability.
The pain points are familiar: error-prone spreadsheets, slow communication that leaves tenants frustrated, and endless hours lost to repetitive admin. The right tools flip that script. With the right tech stack, managers can cut vacancy times, protect property value, and stop playing catch-up with competitors.
This guide breaks down the best property manageemnt tools in 2025.
DoorLoop
What is DoorLoop?
DoorLoop is a full-service property management platform built for landlords and property managers who want a single hub for operations. It covers leasing, rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and reporting in one streamlined system.
How much does DoorLoop cost?
- Starter Plan: $69/month (up to 20 units).
- Pro Plan: $149/month for 20 units and scales with portfolio size (up to 299 units).
- Premium Plan: $209/month for 20 units and scales with portfolio size (up to 299 units).
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for portfolios above 300 units, must contact sales for a quote.
What are the main features of DoorLoop?
- Online rent payments via ACH, debit, and credit card.
- Automated recurring payments and late fee enforcement.
- Customizable payment schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
- Instant receipts and tenant payment history tracking.
Who is DoorLoop best suited for?
DoorLoop is ideal for landlords and small-to-mid-size property managers who want an easy-to-use platform with accounting, maintenance, and tenant communication all in one place.
TurboTenant
What is TurboTenant?
TurboTenant is another popular all-in-one property management solution, especially for independent landlords and small property managers. Its main draw is affordability combined with a wide feature set, from rental marketing to tenant screening and rent collection.
How much does TurboTenant cost?
- Free Plan: $0/month. No fees or contracts. Includes unlimited property listings, applications and screening, online rent collection, and maintenance requests.
- Essentials Plan: $12.42/month (billed annually). Includes unlimited lease agreements, unlimited e-signatures, lower screening fees, and expedited rent payouts.
- Pro Plan: $16.58/month (billed annually). Includes all Essentials features, plus income verification, free ACH payments, accounting insights, and automated transaction tracking.
What are the main features of TurboTenant?
- Automatic pre-screeners for applicants.
- Online rental applications with digital submission.
- Comprehensive screening: credit, criminal, and eviction checks.
- Income verification included with Premium.
- Custom screening questions for tailored applications on Pro and Premium.
- Lower screening fees for applicants on Premium.
Who is TurboTenant best suited for?
TurboTenant is for landlords and smaller property managers who need a budget-friendly, easy-to-use tool that handles everything from marketing units to screening tenants and collecting rent.
AppFolio
What is AppFolio?
AppFolio is a leading property management software platform built for medium and large-scale portfolios. Known for its advanced automation and strong accounting features, it helps property managers streamline operations while giving both tenants and owners professional digital experiences.
How much does AppFolio cost?
AppFolio doesn’t publicly list its pricing on the official website, requiring users to request a custom quote. However, third-party sources report the following estimates:
- Core Plan: $1.49 per unit/month (minimum $298 monthly); includes basic automation and accounting tools.
- Plus Plan: $3.20 per unit/month; adds advanced reporting, performance insights, and premium support.
- Max Plan: $5.00 per unit/month (minimum $7,500 monthly); includes enterprise-level analytics, API access, and Realm-X automation.
What are the main features of AppFolio?
- Online payments for tenants, owners, and vendors.
- Work order management, inspections, and smart maintenance scheduling.
- End-to-end marketing and leasing workflows with integrated screening.
- AI tools like Lisa, the AI leasing assistant, and Realm-X automation features.
- Customizable reports, advanced data analysis, and AppFolio API access.
Who is AppFolio best suited for?
Appfolio is best suited for large-scale residential and mixed-use portfolios needing advanced automation.
Buildium (by RealPage)
What is Buildium?
Buildium is an end-to-end property management system designed for growing portfolios. It combines leasing, accounting, and communication into one platform, making it easier for mid-sized property managers to scale while staying organized and compliant.
How much does Buildium cost?
- Essential Plan: $58/month, includes accounting, maintenance, tasks, violations, resident and board member communications, and online portals.
- Growth Plan: $183/month, includes all Essential features plus additional tools, support, and performance insights to help optimize operations.
- Premium Plan: $375/month, includes all Growth features, plus Open API access, insights-to-action analytics, and opportunities for performance-based savings.
What are the main features of Buildium?
- Core accounting, maintenance tracking, tasks, violations, and online portals.
- Tenant screening and group applications with integrated eSignatures.
- Online payments (ACH, EFT, and credit card) with reduced fees on higher tiers.
- Free marketing website and access to new client leads via All Property Management.
- Reporting suite: standard reports, custom fields, and automated batched reports.
- Two-way email communications and AI assistant (Lumina) for drafting.
- Advanced analytics, performance insights, and Open API (Premium plan).
Who is Buildium best suited for?
Buildium is for mid-sized property managers and associations who want scalability, strong accounting, and communication tools that grow with their portfolio.
Yardi Breeze
What is Yardi Breeze?
Yardi Breeze is a modern, cloud-based property management platform designed for residential and commercial portfolios. Known for its simplicity and scalability, it centralizes property, accounting, leasing, and maintenance functions while staying affordable compared to enterprise-level Yardi Voyager.
How much does Yardi Breeze cost?
- Standard Plan: $1 per unit/month (minimum $100/month).
- Breeze Premier: $1 per unit/month (minimum $400/month) with additional features for accounting, leasing, and marketing.
What are the main features of Yardi Breeze?
- End-to-end property management accessible from any device.
- Marketing & leasing: listing syndication, online applications, digital leases, and CRM follow-ups (Premier).
- Rent collection: online, ACH, card, and walk-in payments via PayNearMe, with automated postings.
- Full accounting suite: payables, receivables, escrow, trust accounting, and e-file 1099s.
- Owner tools: custom financial packets, secure portals, and pro rata statements.
- Maintenance management: track requests, assign vendors, upload photos/videos, and invoice tenants.
Who is Yardi Breeze best suited for?
Yardi Breeze is for property managers moving up from spreadsheets or entry-level software who want an affordable, easy-to-use solution with strong accounting and leasing features.
Landlord Studio
What is Landlord Studio?
Landlord Studio is a lightweight property management platform designed for landlords and small property managers who want simple tools without the heavy cost or complexity of enterprise software. It combines rent collection, accounting, and expense tracking into a mobile-friendly system that keeps financial management clear and accessible.
How much does Landlord Studio cost?
- Go Plan: Free, includes rent collection, tenant screening, and basic income/expense tracking for up to 3 units.
- Pro Plan: $12/month (billed annually at $144), adds automated rent reminders, 250-document storage, bank feed integration, and tax-ready reports.
- Pro Plus Plan: $28/month (billed annually at $336), includes all Pro features, plus unlimited document storage, dedicated account manager, up to 10 users, and advanced automation tools.
What are the main features of Landlord Studio?
- Online rent collection with card, ACH, and debit options.
- Automated payment reminders and late fee tracking.
- Rental accounting with income and expense categorization.
- Mobile app for scanning receipts and managing finances on the go.
Who is Landlord Studio best suited for?
Best for: TurboTenant is for landlords and smaller property managers who need a budget-friendly, easy-to-use tool that handles everything from marketing units to screening tenants and collecting rent.
RentVine
What is RentVine?
RentVine is a property management platform built for professional managers overseeing larger or more complex portfolios. Its focus on compliance and financial transparency sets it apart, offering a powerful trust accounting system that meets true double-entry GAAP standards. With automated rent collection, owner distributions, and advanced reporting, RentVine gives property managers the accuracy and control they need to run operations confidently.
How much does RentVine cost?
- RentVine plan starts at $1.50 per unit, and it includes all features such as accounting, built-in AI assistant, and open API with native integrations. Pricing is portfolio-based, so users must request a custom quote for exact rates.
What are the main features of RentVine?
- Online rent collection with automated processing.
- Full trust accounting system with true double-entry GAAP compliance.
- Separate ledgers for owners, tenants, and managers.
- Automated owner distributions and payouts.
Who is RentVine best suited for?
RentVine is for professional property managers handling larger or more complex portfolios who need accounting, compliance, and advanced financial reporting along with online rent collection.
Entrata
What is Entrata?
Entrata is a robust, enterprise-level property management platform built for larger multifamily, affordable, student, and mixed-use portfolios. Its flexible OS combines leasing, resident services, accounting, and operations into one unified system, enhanced by AI and automation.
How much does Entrata cost?
- Entrata customizes costs.
What are the main features of Entrata?
- Online payments, rent and fee processing.
- Automated leasing workflows, lead conversion, and vendor payments.
- Resident portal with maintenance requests, communications, and self-service features.
- Accounting including general ledger, payables/receivables, escrow, and reporting.
- AI & automation tools (ELI) for automated workflows, drafting messages, reminders, and insights.
- Open API and marketplace integrations for extensibility.
- Modules for utility management, insurance, rent reporting, and compliance.
Who is Entrata best suited for?
Entrata is best for mid-to-large property managers and operators who need a feature-rich, scalable platform with advanced automation, reporting, and integrations to support complex operations.
RentSpree
What is RentSpree?
RentSpree is a property management tool built for property managers, landlords, and leasing professionals. It streamlines the entire application process with digital submissions, verified screening reports, and secure data handling
How much does RentSpree cost?
- Rental Application: Free for agents, landlords, and renters.
- Screening Package: $39.99 per applicant (paid by tenants), includes credit, background, and eviction reports. An extended background check adds $10.
- PRO Plan: $19.99/month (30-day free trial), includes income verification, e-signatures, profile page, and priority support.
- Payments: Landlords pay $3 per recurring payment; renters pay 3% for card payments (ACH is free).
What are the main features of RentSpree?
- Comprehensive screening reports: credit, background, eviction, income verification, references, and ID upload.
- Detailed credit history powered by TransUnion
- Verified income and employment data via Finicity
- Centralized dashboard for all applications and reports
- Mobile-friendly reports, accessible anywhere
- Data security, SOC II compliant
- Integrations available in enterprise plans
Who is RentSpree best suited for?
RentSpree is ideal for property managers, landlords, and leasing agents who need to process applications quickly, reduce paperwork, and provide owners with reliable, verifiable tenant data while keeping tenants’ information secure.
SmartMove (by TransUnion)
What is SmartMove?
SmartMove, powered by TransUnion, is an online property management tool designed for property managers, landlords, and owners. It delivers fast, pay-as-you-go reports with no subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no minimums, making it a flexible choice for small and mid-sized rental portfolios.
How much does SmartMove cost?
SmartMove offers flexible payment options, allowing landlords to either pay themselves or pass the cost on to the tenant.
- SmartCheck Basic: $25 per applicant, includes ResidentScore® and criminal background report.
- SmartCheck Plus: $40 per applicant, adds credit report and eviction-related report.
- SmartCheck Premium: $47 per applicant, includes all Plus features, plus income insights and identity check reports.
What are the main features of SmartMove?
- Comprehensive screening reports: credit, criminal background, eviction history, income insights, and identity verification.
- Credit report with TransUnion ResidentScore®.
- Criminal background checks across millions of records.
- Eviction history reports with court data.
- Income Insights tool to verify reported income consistency.
- Same-day delivery of most reports after applicant verification.
Who is SmartMove best suited for?
SmartMove is best for property managers and landlords who want a straightforward, pay-as-you-go screening tool without ongoing subscription costs. It’s especially useful for small to medium portfolios where speed, affordability, and flexibility in payment responsibility matter most.
Conclusion
It’s clear that property management in 2025 is more complex than ever. Tenants expect digital-first experiences, owners want transparency, and compliance risks keep growing. Manual processes can’t keep up, this is why it’s important to use a property management, rent calculator, and other tools to help you to stay competitive tomorrow.
FAQ
What are the best property management tools?
It depends on your needs. For small landlords, TurboTenant or Landlord Studio offer simple, affordable features. Mid-sized portfolios benefit from DoorLoop, Buildium, or Yardi Breeze. Large operators often choose AppFolio, Entrata, or RentVine for automation and scalability. Other strong options include RentSpree and SmartMove for tenant screening.
How much do property management tools cost?
Prices vary from free to enterprise-level. Basic tools like TurboTenant are free, while mid-range options such as DoorLoop or Buildium start around $50–$70 per month. Premium platforms like AppFolio or Entrata use custom pricing based on the number of units and features.
Are there free property management tools available?
Yes. TurboTenant, RentSpree, and Landlord Studio offer free versions where landlords pay little or nothing, and tenants cover screening costs. These are great for smaller portfolios, though advanced automation and analytics often require paid upgrades.
What’s the best property management software for small portfolios?
For small portfolios, simplicity and cost matter most. TurboTenant, DoorLoop, and Landlord Studio are popular because they combine rent collection, screening, and accounting in one place without high fees or complexity.
Can I integrate property management tools with my current systems?
Most modern tools integrate with accounting and marketing platforms. AppFolio, Buildium, and Entrata offer open APIs, while Yardi Breeze syncs with financial and CRM software. Always check compatibility before switching systems.
How do I choose the right tools for my property portfolio?
Match the software to your size and goals. Small landlords need easy-to-use apps; larger managers need automation and reporting. Compare pricing, features, and integrations, and test a demo before committing.
