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Best property management software systems for small landlords
Small portfolios don’t mean small workloads. Managing even one rental property can quickly turn into a full-time job. From chasing down rent payments to organizing expenses to scheduling maintenance, there’s an endless to-do list to tackle and, usually, only you to do it.
That’s why investing in the right property management software can make all the difference as a small landlord. With it, you can automate everything from listing creations to maintenance requests, and even gain greater insight into your monthly expenses. It’s like having an entire real estate management team behind the screen.
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What to consider when choosing the best property management software for small landlords
There’s no one best property management software for small landlords. Choosing the right one for you means considering the specific needs of your business.
Some key factors to consider are:
- Price: Look for platforms that are reasonably affordable based on your current rental income. For small landlords, consider software with a free option or low monthly fee
- Ease of Use: Look for platforms that are intuitive and user-friendly. For landlords on the go, consider platforms that have a mobile app option
- Scalability: Think about the long-term plans you have for your business. Do you plan on adding more properties in the future? If so, look for a platform that allows you to scale easily
- Features: From tenant communication to advanced financial tools, choose the feature package that makes the most sense to use alongside your current business admin process
- AI-Integration: For small landlords, AI-integrations can be especially useful time-savers. Many platforms have AI-assistants that can help with everything from listing creation to tenant communication, helping you buy back precious time
What key features are must-haves for small landlords?
These are our top features that make software worth it for small landlords.
- Online rent collection with auto-reminders
- Expense and income tracking
- Document storage with e-signature support
- Online maintenance requests
- Tenant screening tools
- Mobile access
Additional features are great, but these are the core functionalities that are must-have’s for landlords juggling properties either alone or with a small team.
Top 9 property management software systems for small landlords
TurboTenant
TurboTenant remains one of the top picks for small-scale landlords because of its completely free base edition which allows for unlimited properties.
Free plan available? Yes
Key Features:
- Unlimited rental listings – You can scale your portfolio as much as you want
- Free application and lease agreement templates – No need for pricey lawyers, you can create your own application and lease agreements right in the program
- Rent reminders and automatic late fees – Automatically remind tenants of payments due and apply late fees for late payments
- Ability to add-on features as your portfolio scales – Instead of upgrading by unit, you can upgrade by the tool you need
| Pricing: Free, with add-on features available.¹ |
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TenantCloud
TenantCloud is another really popular property management software system for small landlords, with its main benefit being native integration with online listing platforms like Apartments.com, making filling vacancies faster and easier.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Listing syndication to Rentler and other popular platforms – Simultaneously post to most popular rental sites in just a few clicks
- Accept online applications directly through the portal – No need to handle piles of paper applications
- Includes lease templates – Makes it simple to create leases that are compliant with local laws and regulations
- Access to professional bids for maintenance through included vendor network – Great for solo landlords who don’t have an existing maintenance provider
| Pricing: Starts at $18.00/month² |
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Buildium
Buildium is a powerful all-in-one property management platform that not only hits all the key features for small landlords, it also allows tenants to purchase rental insurance straight through the platform, offering you peace of mind that your property is protected.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Online payment portal – Easy payments for all your tenants
- Showings coordinator to coordinate unit viewings – This feature is huge for small landlords as it helps streamline the often tedious viewing process
- Renters insurance available through the program – Renters can purchase rental insurance straight through Buildium, so they can protect their property and you can protect your investment
- In-depth analytics to help you monitor income, expenses, and more – Keep track of all aspects of your business in one simple interface
| Pricing: Starts at $58/month³ |
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Yardi Breeze
Yardi Breeze is popular for its simple, easy-to-use interface that hosts a ton of powerful management tools.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Brower-based dashboard – All your tools are accessible from any web browser
- Built-in accounting suite – Includes a full general ledger, plus tools like bank reconciliation and tax help
- Automated marketing integration – Can post listings to Zillow, Apartments.com, and other popular rental sites
- Scalable plans – Scales based on the number of properties you need to manage
| Pricing: Starts at $1 per property, with property minimums⁴ |
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RentRedi
RentRedi is affordable, simple, and great for small landlords who exclusively manage one type of property.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Tenant mobile app – Tenants can upload documents, pay rent, and ask questions right through the app
- Auto-scheduled late fees – Automatically collect fees for late payments
- Automated tenant onboarding and document storage – Tenants can self-service their own onboarding, and you can store leasing documents right in the app
- Unlimited units – The price does not increase based on the number of units
| Pricing: Starts at $12/month⁵ |
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Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct is perfect for small landlords who want to get better at their own bookkeeping, thanks to its easy-to-use ledger-based accounting system.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Simple mobile platform – All your tools are accessible through your phone
- Tenant and owner apps – Easy-to-use apps for both tenants and landlords
- Easy online rent payments – Like other platforms, it’s easy for tenants to pay their rent online through their app
- Ledger-based accounting tools – Rentec is great for landlords who are new to accounting and uses an easy-to-learn ledger-based accounting platform to help you track your finances
| Pricing: Starts at $45/month⁶ |
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Hostaway
For property owners managing short-term rentals, Hostaway is one of the best platforms on the market, with integrations for the most popular short-term rental sites and smart automations designed to maximize returns.
Free plan available? No
Key Features:
- Automated listing descriptions – Automatically create listings optimized for the short-term rental market
- Dynamic pricing tools – Maximize returns with automatic dynamic pricing on your properties
- Automate guest communication and staff messaging – Automated chatbots can communicate with guests and staff for you, improving your overall response time
- Custom direct booking website – You can save money on third-party booking fees by creating a direct booking site through the platform
| Pricing: Contact for custom quote⁷ |
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DoorLoop
What we love most about DoorLoop is how it gives renters the flexibility to pay in cash while still allowing for total oversight over payments, thanks to an integration with Western Union.Free plan available? NoKey Features:
- Tenant CRM – Keep detailed profiles on all your tenants through a dedicated tenant CRM
- Collect cash payments through Western Union – Allow your tenants to pay in cash and track the payments through Western Union
- Mass tenant announcements – Easily send out mass announcements about changes to the property, maintenance issues, and more
- Integration with popular listing sites – Integrates with most popular property listing sites for fast and easy listing
| Pricing: Starts at $69/month⁸ |
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Avail
Avail was created by Realtor.com, and is an extremely affordable option with great features for new landlords like state-specific lease templates, so you can sign on tenants with confidence.
Free plan available?: Yes
Key Features:
- Online platform – You can access the platform from anywhere
- State-specific, lawyer-created lease templates – The legal work is already done, just customize and sign
- Tenant screening and background checks – Get the best tenants in your properties
- Rent collection and maintenance tracking – Stay on top of rent and maintenance with ease
- Real-time data insights – Optimize your business with the most accurate data insights
| Pricing: Free⁹ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which property management software is best for small landlords?
All of the listed options are great for small landlords, but the best one for your business will depend on the right mixture of features, price, and scalability.
Is it necessary for small landlords to get property management software?
It’s not required, but we’d definitely highly recommend it. There’s a lot to manage even with a small portfolio, and property management software allows you to stay on top of all your tasks while saving valuable time.
What are the key features to look for in property management software?
The key features to look for in property management software are:
- Online rent collection and reminders
- Maintenance requests and tracking
- Accounting and reporting tools
- Tenant communication tools
- Data tracking and reporting
Can I manage international properties with these tools?
Absolutely! The best way to manage an international property is to pair one of these tools with an affordable multi-currency account, like Wise, so you can seamlessly collect, deposit, and spend money in any country you have property in.
Investing in the right property management software for your portfolio is an investment in saving time, saving money, and giving your tenants a better rental experience from application to move-out.
Whether you need something simple and affordable, or robust and scalable, there’s a solution on the market that will help you streamline your workflow and maximize your returns.
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Sources
- Turbo Tenant – Pricing
- Capterra – Tenant Cloud review
- Buildium – Pricing
- Yardi Breeze – Pricing
- Rentredi – Pricing
- Rentec Direct – Pricing
- Hostaway – Vacation rental software
- DoorLoop – How much does property management software cost
- Avail – Pricing
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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