Best Rental Property Management Software Based on User Reviews (2026)

Looking for the best rental property management software in 2026? We ranked the top tools based on real user reviews to help landlords and investors find the right fit.

Best Rental Property Management Software Based on User Reviews 2026

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Key Takeaways

• A list of the best rental property management software programs for small and medium portfolios.
• The entire list is based on user experiences, reviews, and discussions.
• Discover which property management tool offers all the features you need.
• Best tools for individual landlords seeking an affordable or free solution and real estate investors looking to grow.

If you manage rental properties, you wonder what the best property management software is. Your portfolio may be small or medium and growing, so you need a solution that has all the optimal features for your needs based on the number of units you manage and the rental income you make.

We research tools for you and gather customer feedback, comments, and reviews from property managers and landlords managing rental properties in the trenches.

Criteria for This List

We based our list on a few key criteria:

• Customer experience, discussions, user reviews, and recommendations
• Fit the needs of small and medium rental portfolios
• Software features, functionalities and use cases
• Property management software cost

Let’s dig in. Here are the best rental property management software options for 2026:

1. Best for Managing Vacation Rentals: iGMS
2. Best Totally Free Residential Rental Property Management: Innago
3. Best Feature-rich Free Plan: Baselane
4. Best for Out-of-state Investors: Hemlane
5. Best Value for Managing Tenants: TenantCloud
6. Best for DIY Landlords: Avail
7. Best for Bookkeeping Features: Stessa
8. Best Overall for Landlords Who Want to Grow: Buildium
9. Best User Experience: DoorLoop
10. Best for Pricing Flexibility: SimplifyEm
11. Best for Residential Buildings: Rentec Direct

11 Best Rental Property Management Software

1. iGMS

Best for Managing Vacation Rentals

iGMS is a property management tool designed specifically for vacation rental management. It simplifies daily operations for hosts and property managers, saving time on tedious, repetitive tasks. Its features include a channel manager, messaging and payment automation, team management.

Users of iGMS report growth with less effort in their businesses since adopting this app. This growth is supported by flexible pricing with three tiers. Hosts can opt for the Flex plan, which charges a $1 fee per transaction, and upgrade to a higher plan to optimize expenses as their rental business grows.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Airbnb hosts, property management companies, and real estate investors in vacation rentals.

Key Features

• The channel manager enables synchronization with OTAs like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com
• Automated messages include check-in/checkout instructions and other important templates.
• Automated team management includes scheduling cleaners based on your calendar.
• A website builder allows you to design a direct booking website to promote your listings.
• Seamless payment processing is enabled by connecting your Stripe account with the iGMS app.
• Analyze financial data across multiple properties and create reports.

Pricing

Host, Flex and Pro plan

Starting at $ 18/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ideal for short-term to mid-term rental management
• Handle all daily management tasks and team management
• Suitable for individual hosts and growing businesses

Cons

• Not for long-term leases and residential property management

2. Innago

Best Totally Free Residential Rental Property Management Tool

Innago’s unique position is that it offers a fully functional property management platform at $0 for landlords. It monetizes primarily through tenant screening fees paid by tenants and payment processing fees, not landlord subscriptions.

Beyond free use, based on customer reviews, users appreciate how Innago centralizes everything they need for property management. Landlords consistently highlight the significant time savings from having rent collection, lease management, maintenance requests, tenant communication, and financial reporting all in a single place.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Landlords who need completely free and fully featured software.

Key Features

• Online rent collection with automated payments.
• Automated late fee enforcement with custom settings.
• Digital lease management and eSignatures with custom templates and an automated fill-in process.
• Tenants submit tickets with categories, descriptions, images, and video.
• Instant notifications, in-app responses, assignment to team members, and status updates.
• Listing syndication to 20+ websites.
• Comprehensive tenant screening reports.

Pricing

Free

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free rental property management software

Great for e-signing leases and collecting rent

Time-saving automation

Cons

Some users report that money can take more days to process.

There’s no function for a landlord to pay the application fee on behalf of tenants.

3. Baselane

Best Feature-rich Free Plan

This real estate property management software solution offers a free tier that gets strong recommendations. Landlords managing a few properties can get value from their free plan, while still being able to switch to a paid plan at $20/month for advanced features.

Landlords are impressed by the banking features like virtual accounts, debit cards, and the envelope system for organizing funds, plus the integrated bookkeeping and tax reporting (Shedule E reports). They praise customer support, saying they're not only friendly but genuinely knowledgeable and helpful.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Landlords who care about banking features like having one bank account and splitting it by property.

Key Features

• Automated online rent payments with recurring invoices, reminders, late fees, and deposits.
• You can open unlimited, property-specific accounts.
• Manage leases, banking, bookkeeping, rent collection, screening in one system.
• AI-powered bookkeeping that automatically syncs transactions, tags expenses, matches rceipts, and generates real-time reports.
• Spend control and payment management.
• Paid plan includes advanced features designed for landlords with multiple properties.

Pricing

Free plan.

Paid plan Smart at $20/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free tier

Unlimited, property-specific accounts

Accounting tax package and Schedule E reports

Cons

Some users report bugs

You need to pay for advanced features

4. Hemlane

Best For Out-of-state Investors.

Hemlane not only offers software but also complementary services.

They have three leasing options:

1. Fully hands-on, where landlords handle showings
2. Hands-off experience with the tenant placement package for out-of-state investors
3. Agent connection service with local agents.

Hemlane specifically offers a service where local agents can handle leasing while using Hemlane's platform and tools. Landlords can connect with trusted leasing agents to find qualified tenants. The tool allows agents and brokers to add clients with restricted permissions.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Property managers, out-of-state investors and real estate agents who want comprehensive leasing and tenant screening services.

Key Features

• List your property on 15+ major rental sites at once.
• Generate optimized property descriptions with AI to attract the right tenants.
• They support diverse property types from single and multifamily properties to student housing
• Automated responses to inquiries from leads with automated texts and emails.
• Applicant pre-screening and tour scheduling for your rental property business.
• Manage applicants in one dashboard and track application status.
• Automatically record transactions.
• Maintenance management and alerts for repair requests.

Pricing

Free tier for software only package.

Basic plan at $30/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

Ideal for out-of-state investors or landlords who need the support of local real estate agents

Flat monthly fee per unit

Tires with and without services

Cons

The free plan does not include features like online rent collection from tenants.

Some users would like better financial tools

5. TenantCloud

Best Value for Managing Tenants

Tenant Cloud may not be the cheapest option in the market, but it is still a budget-friendly choice for landlords managing small portfolios. Their focus is on efficient tenant management, offering features such as tenant screening, automated rent collection, an owner and tenant portals, and maintenance request options.

The application provides an intuitive user interface, and as your portfolio grows, you can upgrade to higher tiers to meet your expanding needs.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Landlords and property managers handling a smaller number of residential properties.

Key Features

• Track income and expenses and generate financial reports.
• Maintenance requests on the tenant portal include pictures and videos to help explain the problem.
• Screen tenants, generate leases, and e-sign lease agreements online.
• Automated rent collection allows tenants to set up recurring monthly payments, a grace period, and late fees.
• Syndicates listings to multiple platforms.
• TenantCloud messenger facilitates communication with tenants.
• Accounting integrationswith QuickBooks.

Pricing

Starter, Growth, and Pro plan

Starting from $16.50/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Value for money, especially for DIY landlords
• A solid feature set with a focus on tenant management
• Good customer service, according to many user reviews

Cons

• Certain features are not as intuitive as they could be
• Some users report delays in rent payments reaching bank accounts

6. Avail

Best for DIY Landlords

Avail, part of the Realtor.com network, is renowned for its comprehensive property management tools tailored to help landlords with smaller portfolios. Landlords just starting their real estate journey will find a comprehensive free tier.

With Avail, you can screen tenants, request in-depth background checks, create and sign leases online, collect rent online (a premium feature even allows for next-day direct deposits). They will advertise rental property listings across dozens of sites. It’s a good solution for small landlords managing their properties independently. However, the accounting and reporting features are fairly basic.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Independent landlords just starting out.

Key Features

• Tenant screening is made easy with the option to request in-depth background checks.
• Create, customize, and sign leases online.
• Automatically translates your answers and preferences into a legally binding document.
• CreditBoost, a feature by Avail, helps renters report their rent payments to TransUnion.
• Advertises rental properties across 24 sites.
• Tenants can pay rent and deposits via bank account, debit card, or credit card.
• Message tenants, schedule showings, and request applications within the platform.

Pricing

Free plan and Premium plan

Premium plan costs $9/unit per month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free tier.
• Rent payments are deposited in one day with the premium Fast Pay feature.
• The advanced CreditBoost helps report rent payments to TransUnion to build credit scores.

Cons

• Limited ability to customize features.
• Not scalable for larger portfolios.

7. Stessa

Best for Bookkeeping Features

Stessa is a software that doubles down on accounting features and financial reporting. Suitable for investors scaling their small to medium-sized portfolios. Pro membership unlocks advanced features for serious investors.

Unlike generic accounting software, this one is specifically designed for real estate management. It includes features for rental property management and all the basic property management tools, such as tenant screening and automated rent collection.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Property managers and landlord that need strong accounting features and financial reporting.

Key Features

• Accounting built specifically for landlords.
• Real-time dashboards and advanced reports for financial reporting.
• Purpose-built reports and metrics for rental properties.
• Online rent collection with automation: ACH, debit, and credit card payments, recurring rent, reminders, late fees.
• Schedule E report.
• Comprehensive tenant screening.
• Syndicates listings out to Zillow’s family of websites.

Pricing

Free tier or paid, starting from $12 /month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Good for real estate investors.

Strong financial analysis of individual properties as well as the portfolio in general.

All the rental property management functionalities.

Cons

Single-entry accounting lacks the sophistication of a double-entry system.

Stessa’s syndication focused only on Zillow Group sites.

8. Buildium

Best Overall for Landlords and Residential Management

Buildium is a reliable and user-friendly cloud-based property management software. It's considered a leader for residential and association property managers. It is highly regarded for its ease of use, comprehensive property management features, and automation capabilities.

Buildium is an all-in-one platform that covers everything from leasing and tenant payments to accounting and business performance reporting. Customers particularly praise how easy it is to collect payments, manage billing, and track all payments and costs in real time.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Mid-sized property management firms

Key Features

• It can manage single-family or small multi-family homes, associations, or commercial properties.
• Automates many tasks such as rent collection, bill payments, and recurring transactions.
• Robust system for property management, tenant screening, lease management, accounting, payments, marketing, and reporting.
• Offers extensive reporting tools that help in keeping track of finances.
• Allows customization of checklists and tracking of application stages.
• Provides communication tools for interacting with applicants and tenants.
• Includes a ticket-based customer support system and phone support.

Pricing

Essential, Growth, and Premium plans

Staring at $62/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive software solution for landlords
• Rich feature set for tenant management, accounting, leasing, and financing
• Efficient automation

Cons

• Expensive pricing plans for a smaller number of units
• Certain accounting features users find confusing or difficult to manage without additional training

9. DoorLoop

Best User Experience

DoorLoop is an all-in-one property management software designed for residential, commercial properties, and community associations. It boasts an extensive feature set and a user-friendly interface, including full-suite accounting capabilities.

DoorLoop users like how easy it is to use, even though it's packed with complex features like e-signatures, AI tools, and robust accounting. They say the platform automates all landlords' needs so that solo landlords can manage entire portfolios without hiring extra staff.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Small and medium-sized businesses managing residential or commercial properties.

Key Features

• Automated rent collection with online payments, fee payments, and automatic payment reminders.
• Built-in calendar for tracking maintenance requests and day-to-day tasks.
• Educational resources, including videos and checklists.
• Screen tenants, generate leases, and e-sign lease agreements.
• Full accounting suite with QuickBooks integration.
• Syndicates listings to multiple platforms.
• Property managers can create custom rental websites to promote listings online.

Pricing

Starter Pro and Premium plan

Starting from $69 per month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Extensive feature set
• Responsive customer support

Cons

• The individual property manager will find it less budget-friendly
• Some users report longer processing times for payments

10. SimplifyEm

Best for Pricing Flexibility

SimplifyEM, like many competitors, offers automated rent collection, tenant background checks, and access to a vast library of state-specific property management forms, including lease agreements and eviction notices.

Their pricing is structured into 6 different tiers based on the number of units. This makes SimplifyEM suitable for landlords and property managers with smaller to medium-sized portfolios who need pricing flexibility.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Residential property managers handling small to medium-sized properties.

Key Features

• Screen tenants, generate leases, and sign them online.
• Automate rent collection and various other property management tasks.
• Generate and analyze owner reports, track maintenance requests, and store documents.
• Syndicate listings to multiple platforms.
• Income and expense tracking, with the ability to generate reports.
• Each pricing tier specifies a maximum number of units
• Includes a full CRM with customizable workflows to track all tenant data in one place.

Pricing

6 pricing tiers

Starting at $40/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Cost-effective solution for landlords handling small or medium-sized portfolios
• Different pricing plans to suit everyone's needs
• Available tutorials and training sessions to get you started

Cons

• Some users find it less user-friendly
• Limited reporting capabilities

11. Rentec Direct

Best for Residential Buildings

Rentec Direct serves landlords and residential property managers, typically small to medium-sized companies. It is highly regarded for its ease of use and long-standing reputation in the real estate industry.

The basic cost includes all necessary capabilities to manage up to 25 properties. Beyond that, pricing increases based on the number of units. Additional features incur extra charges. Rentrec Direct also lets you create custom websites using provided templates to promote listings or listing units directly across multiple portals.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Landlords and residential property managers handling small to medium-sized portfolios.

Key Features

• Automated rent collection, late fees, and rent increases.
• Screen tenants, store, and share important documents.
• Accounting and extensive reporting system.
• Provides portals for both tenants and property owners.
• Syndicates listings to multiple platforms.
• Property managers can create custom rental websites to promote listings online.
• Integrated options for renters insurance, landlord insurance, and security deposit insurance.

Pricing

Different plans for landlords and property managers

Starting at $45/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Seen as cost-effective, with a good quality-price ratio
• The possibility to create your own website through the software for promotion
• Responsive customer support, according to many users

Cons

• Fees for certain extra services
• It's not an intuitive interface for some users

How to Choose the Best Software for Property Management?

Here are six things to think about when making this decision:

Property Type - What will the software be used for? The answer varies depending on whether you manage residential, single-family, multi-family, or vacation rentals.

Features - Assess the software's core features such as tenant screening, lease management, rent collection, maintenance tracking, and tenant communication.

Business Size and Scalability - Consider the size of your business and whether the software can scale with your business as it grows. However, small and medium portfolios don't need robust tools that are designed for hundreds of units. It just wouldn't be cost-effective. Our list includes solutions for small- and medium-sized portfolio owners.

User Friendliness - Ensure the software offers intuitive navigation, and clear reporting to minimize training time and maximize productivity.

Costs - Compare pricing structures, including setup fees, monthly subscriptions, and additional charges for extra features or units.

Customer Support - Look for reviews and testimonials from current users to gauge customer satisfaction.

FAQ

What software does property management use?

Property management software is designed to help property managers, landlords, and real estate professionals manage properties more efficiently. Software typically includes various features and tools to streamline operations, automate tasks, and enhance communication.

These tools are categorized based on the industry, its subdivisions, and the type of properties they manage. 

To name a couple of examples, we have hotel property management, residential property management, commercial property management, and vacation rental property management software (such as iGMS). The specific software you need depends on the nature of your business and the property type.

Is QuickBooks good for landlords?

QuickBooks is accounting software primarily used by small and medium-sized businesses to manage financial transactions, payroll, invoicing, tax preparation, and related tasks.

While it excels in accounting, payroll management, and company overhead, it is not specifically designed for property management. This can make it overly complex, costly, and inefficient for landlords. Nevertheless, many property management software solutions offer integration with QuickBooks for accounting purposes.

Is Buildium worth it?

Buildium is software for property managers that is undoubtedly popular among residential and association property managers. It’s a comprehensive tool that includes everything landlords need: collecting payments, screening tenants, leasing and marketing their listings.

If you’re renting homes for the long term, it's a solid option. However, there are various alternatives in the market, so you can compare them to ensure you get the best fit for your specific requirements.

What is the best software for short-term rentals?

We recommend iGMS, a software solution designed for hosts and short-term rental managers. Managing short-term rentals requires specialized features for efficient guest turnover, such as automated messaging, cleaning schedules, and a channel manager that integrates with Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com to prevent double reservations.

iGMS meets these requirements and more, saving hosts and managers countless hours by automating guest responses, scheduling cleaners, and updating availability across platforms with each booking. Having this work automated allows you to focus on strategic business decisions. Book a Free Trial today to experience the value firsthand.

What is a tenant management system?

Tenant Management System (TMS) is a subset of a Property Management System (PMS) with a specific focus on tenant-related tasks, while a PMS provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for managing all aspects of property operations.

In reality, tenant management systems are part of PMS software, as companies expand their suites to address all tasks landlords face on their journey beyond just tenant interactions.

Who is the largest property management company?

There are many large and medium-sized property management companies, but here are some of the biggest players in the industry:

• Greystar Real Estate Partners, known for managing hundreds of thousands of units globally;
• Lincoln Property Company, which oversees numerous units, including residential, military, student, commercial, office, and hotel properties;
• and Pinnacle Property Management Services are some of them.