Buildium and AppFolio Property Manager both offer comprehensive property management solutions. Buildium stands out with its transparent pricing, detailed tenant screening, and extensive third-party integrations. AppFolio is known for its user-friendly interface and streamlined workflows. The choice depends on specific needs and priorities, such as budget, portfolio size, and desired level of customization.
| Attribute | Buildium | AppFolio Property Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Structure | Essential: Starts at $55/month; Growth: Starts at $174/month; Premium: Starts at $375/month. Pricing can be per unit, for example, at 100 units the Essential plan is an estimated $174/month. Some plans waive incoming EFT fees. Additional fees may apply for specific features or services in some plans. | Tiered pricing (Core, Plus, and Max) ranging from $1.49 to $5 per unit per month. Core plan minimum monthly spend: $298. Plus plan minimum monthly spend: $960. Max plan minimum monthly spend: $7,500. |
| Tenant Screening Capabilities | Manages tenant screening and checks criminal and credit history. Automates the screening process. Uses reliable data sources to verify information. Identifies residents likely to pay rent on time and care for the property. Raises red flags on questionable applicants with criminal records or prior evictions. Offers Basic and Premium screening reports. Integrates with TransUnion for tenant screening. Tenant screening costs $17 per screen (or $32 if passed to applicant), and Enhanced Tenant Screening is $20 per screen. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Online Rent Collection Features | Tenants can pay rent online via ACH transfer, credit, or debit card. Automated rent collection with online payment technology cuts processing time. Tenants can set up recurring payments. Offers a tenant portal for payment histories and methods. Automated payment tracking simplifies reconciliation. Late fees can be automated. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Maintenance Request Management | Residents can submit maintenance requests through the Resident Center. Property managers can track requests and provide updates. Assign work orders to vendors and manage invoicing within the platform. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Accounting and Reporting Features | Built-in accounting tools tailored for property management. Tracks budgets, vendor payments, and rent schedules. Generates financial statements (balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements). Offers real-time financial reporting. Automates bank reconciliations. Includes 1099 e-filing. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Lease Management Tools | eLease filing system. Collects legally binding digital eSignatures through a partnership with Adobe Document Cloud. Tracks leases by tenant name, phone number, or unit address. Online leasing tools help fill apartments efficiently. Creates reusable lease templates. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Communication Features | Tenant portal for communication and payments. Owner portal to share financial reports and documents. Sends announcements via mail, email, text, or the Resident Center. Integrated communication tools to keep all parties informed. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Mobile App Availability and Functionality | Mobile app available for property managers and tenants. Allows managing properties from anywhere. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Customer Support Options and Responsiveness | Offers customer support and onboarding teams. Premium plan includes priority support. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Integration with Third-Party Services | Integrates with Dropbox Sign for eSignatures. Connects with Tenant Turner for lead management. Integrates with Zillow Rental Manager. Integrates with HappyCo for property inspections. Integrates with PayNearMe for retail cash payments. Integrates with RevSpring for digital check payments. Offers an Open API for customized integrations. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Property Marketing and Vacancy Filling Tools | Provides tools for marketing and advertising properties. Offers a free professional website and listing partners. Syndicates listings to Zillow, Zumper, Apartments.com, and more. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |
| Customization and Scalability Options | Offers different pricing plans to fit various needs. No minimum unit count. Open API allows for customization. Scales to handle mixed portfolios including residential, commercial, and HOA properties. | AppFolio Property Manager offers tiered pricing, tenant screening, online rent collection, maintenance request management, accounting and reporting features, lease management tools, communication features, mobile app availability, customer support, integration with third-party services, property marketing tools, and customization options. |