There are many property management software options out there, and each one offers a unique set of features. Below, we’ll compare Zillow vs. TurboTenant and tell you what you need to know about both. Not only this, but we’ll also tell you how these two platforms stack up against other leading property management software providers.
TurboTenant Overview
Let’s start by analyzing TurboTenant.
Founded in 2015, TurboTenant is an established property management software best fit for experienced landlords managing several properties or apartment buildings.
Simply put, the platform delivers basic property management features that help you from listing a property to collecting rent and doing some basic accounting.
TurboTenant Key Features
- TurboTenant free plan allows you to collect rent payments, track your expenses, create rent reports, manage rental maintenance requests and complete other necessary tasks.
- Paid monthly plan can link to more than one bank account and hire additional services through the platform, like state-specific lease templates.
TurboTenant Pricing
TurboTenant Pros and Cons
Pros:
- List your rental property.
- Unlimited property listings regardless of your plan.
- Landlords can create lead magnets and take advantage of the platform’s tenant screening features.
Cons:
- Free plan only includes basics for managing a single rental.
- Premium version generally required for landlords with several properties.
- User experience and interface is not as modern and may be harder to use for some landlords and tenants.
- Not known for delivering good customer service, which may be difficult for independent landlords who need help learning features.
Zillow Overview
Zillow Rental Manager is a property management software that’s relatively simple, which makes it ideal for landlords who only take rent payments from an individual unit.
Zillow, the property marketplace website, created this property manager tool, so it’s not the main product that this company has available.
Zillow Key Features
- Zillow Rental Manager was built for DIY landlords.
- The platform offers relatively simple tenant management functionalities.
Zillow Pricing
Zillow Rental Manager is free for landlords with 1 to 24 units. You can upgrade to the premium version for a flat fee of $29 to get more exposure for your listing.
Online rent collection is free for landlords, and free for renters if they pay with ACH (bank transfer). Tenants will pay a 2.95% fee when using a credit card and a $9.95 convenience fee for debit payments.
Zillow Rental Manager Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Zillow brings many basic features that help beginner landlords streamline their most important tasks.
- Landlords can set up online rent collection and get tenant screening features for free.
- Zillow Rental Manager app is easy to use and available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Zillow Rental Manager has a major marketing component that links with the company’s marketplace. This allows you to place your rental listing across various websites in addition to the tenant management features that come with the platform for a fee.
Cons:
- Zillow Rental Manager only allows landlords to receive one payment per unit. This means that roommates can’t pay rent separately.
- Zillow Rental Manager doesn’t automatically add late fees either, so you have to monitor payment and update the due amount manually for overdue payments.
- No maintenance request management or expense tracking features.
Baselane vs TurboTenant and Zillow
Regarding property management software, Zillow Rental Manager and TurboTenant are far from the only alternatives. There are many features you may be able to find in addition to tenant screening, rent payments, and maintenance requests if you look beyond these two options.
Take Baselane, for instance, a robust banking and financial platform designed for landlords. It has built-in banking features (business checking account), including online rent collection, accounting, reporting and other capabilities designed specifically for landlords — all with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
Banking Built for Landlords
- No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
- Unlimited checking accounts and savings accounts per property to organize income, operating expenses, security deposits, projects, and more.
- Earn up to 3.56% APY2 and unlimited 1% cash back3 on debit card purchases.
- Physical and virtual debit cards with spend controls and Schedule E auto-tagging.
- One-time and recurring payments and transfers.
- No-fee cash deposits and withdrawals at over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs.
- Mobile check deposits and on-demand checkbooks.
Hassle-Free Rent Collection & Tenant Management
- Free online rent collection for landlords via ACH and card.
- Automated rent payments, reminders, and late fees.
- Real-time payment notifications and payment tracking.
- Dedicated Baselane tenant portal with auto-pay option.
- Tenant screening reports.
- Digital lease documents and e-sign.
- Maintenance and repair request management.
Accounting Built for Rental Properties
- Automated income and expense tracking.
- Consolidated ledger for Baselane banking and external account transactions.
- Capture receipts and add notes.
- 1-click categorization with 120+ real estate-specific categories based on Schedule E.
- On-demand financial reports and downloadable tax package.
- Real-time cash flow analytics by property.
Final Thoughts
While Zillow Rental and TurboTenant both offer a unique combination of features, it’s important that you choose a platform that’s perfectly suited to your requirements.
We hope that our article above helps you choose the best property management software for your real estate. To learn more about Baselane and the additional features of this landlord software solution, contact us today.
