As a landlord or real estate investor, you know the importance of efficient property management. But between keeping track of finances, collecting rent, and dealing with maintenance requests, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Handling these tasks manually can lead to errors and wasted time, hindering your profitability. Property management software can help streamline these processes, from rent collection and lease management to financial reporting.
Whether you’re dealing with Airbnb properties or a long-term rental apartment, we’ve rounded up the best free property management software platforms to help you focus less on routine tasks and more on maximizing your returns.
Key takeaways:
- Free property management software typically includes features like online rent collection, tenant screening, and basic reporting. These tools can help you streamline operations and save time.
- You can leverage property management software to automate tasks, improve tenant communication, and gain better financial insights.
- Baselane’s rental property management software offers a comprehensive suite of features, including online rent collection, banking integration, automated bookkeeping, and tenant management tools with no monthly fees. With Baselane, you can save time, streamline your operations, and take control of finances.
1. Baselane
Baselane is an all-in-one solution designed specifically for real estate investors and landlords. It goes beyond just property management software, providing a comprehensive suite of features, including automated accounting and bookkeeping, built-in banking, online rent collection, tenant screening, and leases.
Baselane’s online rent collection software automates rent payments that are deposited directly into your account within 2-5 business days. Save even more time with automated reminders and late fees, plus real-time payment notifications to easily track payment history.
Baselane banking makes it easy to manage your finances with unlimited checking and savings accounts for each property. Separate security deposit accounts let you collect funds and provide financial security if something goes wrong during the tenancy. Plus, physical and virtual debit cards with custom spend limits to control expenses, all while getting cash back.
Baselane’s landlord accounting software automatically syncs and categorizes transactions in one simple consolidated ledger. Eliminate manual data entry with one-click categorization using 120+ real estate-specific categories. Auto-generate financial reports and Schedule E reports and save time during tax season with a customizable, downloadable tax package that includes receipts, a transaction ledger, and income statements. All of this comes together for a clear picture of your financial performance.
Baselane’s tenant screening services give you access to criminal history, rent history, past evictions, income and employment insights, and credit history in one report. Once you find the perfect tenant, you can create and e-sign lease docs and start collecting rent all online. With maintenance scheduling and tracking, you can even stay on top of repairs throughout the duration of the tenancy.
The best part? Baselane is free to use and has no monthly or hidden fees. Take it from one of our customers:
“My experience has been great with Baselane. There are a lot of different platforms for property management. Baselane stands apart with so many services integrated together and has great customer service and support.”
Key features:
Baselane stands out with its robust features that cater to every aspect of managing your rental properties:
- Recurring rent payments and notifications
- Automated reminders and late fees
- 2-day payouts with QuickPay
- Maintenance scheduling and tracking
- Unlimited checking and savings accounts for each property
- Savings accounts with up to 3.35% APY2
- Separate accounts for security deposits
- Virtual debit cards with spend controls
- Automated transaction tagging
- Real estate-compliant categorization
- Receipt upload
- Consolidated ledger of Baselane banking and external accounts
- Real-time cash flow insights
- On-demand financial reports
- Accountant tax package
- Schedule E reporting
- Digital lease docs and e-signing
- 360-degree tenant screening
- Suite of rental property loan products
- Landlord insurance
Is it really free?
Baselane is free to use—that’s $0 per month—and offers advanced property management features like custom reporting and automated bookkeeping that other software makes you pay for.
2. TurboTenant
TurboTenant provides several property management solutions for online applications, tenant screening, lease agreements, and online rent collection. You’ll need a paid subscription to access features like unlimited lease agreements and e-signatures, expedited rent payouts, and advanced screening for income verification and background checks (Baselane offers these for free).
Additionally, not all features are available in all states, so it’s a good idea to check their website for details specific to your location.
Is it really free?
TurboTenant offers a free plan that allows you to list your property, screen tenants, and collect rent. Their paid plans range from $9.92 per month for the Pro Plan to $12.42 per month for the Premium Plan (billed annually).
3. Apartments.com
Apartments.com’s Rental Manager platform (formerly known as Cozy) allows landlords to advertise on Apartments.com and manage vacancies directly from the listing. Key features include tenant screening, online rent collection, and the ability to track expenses.
This platform mainly focuses on tenant communication and basic financial tracking — you won’t find features like lease generation, maintenance requests, or detailed financial reporting. Additionally, while listing your property on Apartments.com is free, promoting your listing to a wider audience might incur additional costs.
Is it really free?
The Rental Manager platform is free for landlords to use, but you’ll have to pay for additional premium features to promote your listing. This includes receiving more search results and leads on your listings and increasing the number of websites your listings are featured on. Pricing varies from state to state, is based on the number of units, and isn’t clearly listed online. For 4 or more units, expect to pay $199 per month with a 3-month minimum listing. Certain features, like tenant screening services, have an extra fee ($29 per applicant).
National Tenant Network (NTN) provides tenant screening services with a focus on compliance. In addition to basic checks, they offer features like SSN verification and terabytes of historical rental data.
NTN only offers resident screening tools. They don’t offer features like banking, automated invoicing, and rent collection, which you’ll find with Baselane.
4. Buildium
Buildium is a property management software platform that includes online applications, tenant screening, lease management, online rent payments, and financial reporting.
Buildium does lack features like banking integration, which are essential for many landlords. These integrations save time and money, ensuring secure transactions and improving income and expense tracking. The pricing may be higher compared to other options, especially for those with smaller portfolios.
Is it really free?
Buildium offers a 14-day free trial. After that, pricing starts at $58 per month, and subsequent pricing is based on the number of units you manage.
5. Innago
Innago is designed for small companies and mid-sized landlords, offering tenant communication and screening, online rent collection, and online document storage. One of their key features is the ability to generate customizable lease agreements.
Unlike Baselane, which offers a full suite of financial management tools, Innago primarily focuses on managing day-to-day property operations. Those seeking a more robust platform for managing their finances may find Innago lacking.
Is it really free?
Yes, Innago is free and comes with no setup fees, monthly fees, or contracts. However, tenants may incur fees for criminal background checks and ACH transactions.
6. Avail
Avail is a property management platform focused on advertising vacancies and collecting rent. Avail also includes features like online applications, lease agreements, and the ability to screen tenants for a fee.
Avail can get expensive for landlords with multiple properties since their paid plan charges $9 per unit. The platform is mainly designed for listing rental properties, minimizing its usefulness for landlords who want banking, accounting, and bookkeeping features.
Is it really free?
Avail has a free plan, called Unlimited. You have to upgrade to the paid plan (Unlimited Plus, which costs $9 per unit listed) to get customizable applications and leases, the ability to create property websites, and faster customer care responses.
7. RentRedi
RentRedi is a landlord-tenant app with a tenant screening feature that allows users to identify qualified prospective tenants and provides recommendations.
You can’t preview your listings before you publish them, meaning you need to spend extra time making sure everything is correct. Transaction reports require manual effort to create, and customizable reporting is limited. It’s also an older property management platform, so it doesn’t offer an intuitive user experience.
Is it really free?
RentRedi offers a free demo. After that, you’ll need a subscription to use the platform. You can select one of three plans: a monthly plan for $29.95 per month, a six-month plan for $20.00 per month, or an annual plan for $12 per month if you pay for the entire year.
8. TenantCloud
TenantCloud is cloud-based property management software that offers tools to list properties, collect payments, screen tenants, and manage accounting details.
The user interface can be confusing to navigate, and the lease builder tool limits customization. Once you update a lease status to Ended, Past, or Future, it’s tricky to update leases as rental situations evolve. Payment processing can take several days, and it can be difficult to set up accounting features.
Is it really free?
TenantCloud offers a 14-day free trial, after which a paid subscription begins. If you select their annual plan, you’ll receive one month free. Their four paid plans are Starter ($17 per month), Growth ($32 per month), Pro ($55 per month), and Business (custom pricing), each tailored to different-sized portfolios.
9. Rentler
Rentler is known for its marketing and tenant screening features. Landlords can list vacancies on multiple platforms, which include screening features that allow tenants to send you messages, apply to your property, and pay for a screening.
Rentler does not have a mobile app, and the user interface is outdated. The search functionality and filters are limited, and you can’t search for a specific property name. The tenant screening form isn’t customizable, so you can’t remove unnecessary questions or tailor them to your specific needs.
Is it really free?
The free plan offers basic features for managing a single property and listing one vacancy. Beyond that, features like managing multiple properties, rentability reports, legal form templates, online rent payment processing, and advanced listings all require a fee. You’ll have to pay $19.95 for each rentability report and $25 to get access to legal forms.
10. Zillow Rental Manager
Zillow Rental Manager is a free property management tool offered through the real estate listing platform Zillow. It integrates with the Zillow Rentals Network to list properties on Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads. It offers features like basic online applications, electronic lease agreements, and online rent collection.
This platform is a more basic option compared to others on this list and lacks functionalities like financial reporting, bookkeeping, banking, and maintenance requests.
Is it really free?
Zillow Rental Manager lets you list one property for free. From there, you’ll have to pay $9.99 per week for additional listings.
Choosing the right property management software
Here’s what to consider when making comparing free property management software solutions:
- Your specific needs: Think about the size of your portfolio, the complexity of your properties, and level of automation you require.
- Functionality and features: Each software offers a different array of tools, so consider what your priorities are in the following areas:
- Tenant management: Features for tenant screening, lease management, rent collection, and communication tools.
- Financial management: Features for integrating accounting and income tracking, expenses, and financial reporting.
- Maintenance tracking: Features for managing work orders, scheduling maintenance, and tracking repair costs.
- Document sharing: Ability to create multiple user accounts, share documents, and set permissions to collaborate with individuals like investing partners, accountants, and financial planners to save time and manage your properties more effectively.
- Ease of use: Look for a platform with an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate.
- Third-party integrations: Check if the software can integrate with other tools you use, like accounting software, marketing platforms, or online listing services.
- Scalability: Consider a system that can grow with your business as you add more properties or tenants.
- Customer support: Look for software with reliable customer support.
Carefully evaluating these factors can help you choose the best free property management software for your needs.
Save time and money managing your properties with Baselane
In today’s competitive real estate market, finding the best free property management software can streamline your operations so you can focus your efforts elsewhere and take your rental business to the next level.
For landlords looking for a comprehensive solution, Baselane offers premium features that typically require paid subscriptions. You can enjoy integrated banking, landlord accounting, and rent collection all in one place with no monthly fees. Plus, you can screen tenants for free and get competitive rates for rental loans and insurance directly on the platform.
FAQs
What is property management software?
Property management software is a tool that helps landlords and property managers streamline operations, automate tasks, and manage rental properties more efficiently.
What’s the best software for short-term rentals?
While many property management software options exist, Baselane stands out as a top choice for short-term rentals. It offers features like expense tracking, automated bookkeeping, and financial reporting, which can help you grow your income, reduce stress, and save time when managing your properties.
Is Baselane property management software?
Yes, Baselane is a comprehensive property management software designed specifically for landlords and real estate investors. It offers a wide range of features, including online rent collection, integrated banking, automated bookkeeping, and financial reporting (plus more).
What software do property managers use?
Property managers often use a variety of software tools. The best choice depends on their specific needs, but Baselane offers an all-in-one banking and financial management platform that’s suitable for most landlords and property owners.
What’s the best property management software for small landlords?
While the best rental property management software for small landlords depends on your needs, Baselane is an excellent choice for small landlords. It’s easy to use, affordable, and offers all the essential features needed to manage rental properties efficiently.
Does Quickbooks have property management software?
QuickBooks is useful for general accounting needs, but it’s not optimized for property management. You have to manually enter transactions, which takes time and increases the risk of errors. A dedicated property management software like Baselane with real estate-specific accounting and reporting is a better choice for landlords.
What is the average property management fee for rental properties?
The average property management fee typically ranges from 8% to 15% of the monthly rental income. However, fees can vary depending on the location, the services provided, and the size of the property management company.
How much does property management software cost?
The cost of property management software varies depending on the features, the number of properties you manage, and the provider. Some software offers free plans with limited features, while others require a monthly or annual subscription.
What does property management software do for a landlord?
Property management software automates tasks, streamlines operations, and provides valuable insights. It can help with tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance request management, financial reporting, and more.
