Free Property Management Software
Find out more about the best free property management software for small businesses, with reviews, pros and cons, and FAQs.
Updated on April 3rd, 2024
The SMB Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Updates:
Updated 11th of November 2022
We added our top choices and updated the ranked table.
Free property management software is used by small and mid-sized property management companies to manage rental income, maintenance, security, and more. With a free platform, business owners can manage their properties and tenants online for improved organization and efficiency.
- Robust accounting tools.
- Maintenance tracking.
- Tenant communication tools.
Why We Chose Innago, Buildium, and TenantCloud:
Our top choice is Innago, an excellent property management platform for a variety of business sizes. The software gives landlords and property managers access to a wide range of services, including online payments, expense tracking, tenant screening, property marketing, maintenance requests, and more.
Most importantly, Innago is entirely free. There are no setup or monthly fees, and users are not required to sign a contract.
In second place is Buildium and while not entirely free, it features a comprehensive trial for users to try its services at no cost. Thanks to its robust tools, including property accounting, tenant messaging, a showings coordinator, and data migration, Buildium is a valuable resource for users with advanced property management needs.
Our third pick is TenantCloud, an easy-to-use property management platform that caters to small and mid-sized businesses. The software features a basic free plan and while not as robust as its competitors, affords users access to standard tools, such as listing syndication and tenant screening.
Things to Consider When Evaluating Free Property Management Software:
- Determine whether you need cloud-based or locally installed software. Cloud-based software gives you more flexibility but is also less secure than installed software and always requires an internet connection to work.
- Ensure that the software accepts things like online rental payments. These include EFTs and credit card payments, which clients are likely to use.
- As with any free software, you need to determine your unique business needs and find out whether the free version of the software caters to all those needs. If not, you might have to upgrade to a paid account.
Best Free Property Management Software:
Rank | Name | Offer | Review | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Free. | A highly recommended platform that is entirely free. It offers essential property management features, including tenant screening, online payments, and listing syndication. | ||
2. | Free 14-day trial. | The platform is easy to use and features comprehensive property management services, but only offers a limited free trial. | ||
3. | Free and paid plans. | An affordable property management platform offering several useful tools, such as automatic invoicing and online maintenance requests, among others. | ||
4. | Free app for Android and iOS devices. | This good rental management solution is ideal for users with basic needs, such as tenant tracking and vendor management. | ||
5. | Free and paid options. | The platform offers a comprehensive free package, as well as easy-to-use rental listings, tenant screening, and maintenance tracking tools. | ||
6. | Free. | Hunt.com offers feature-rich property management services to effectively manage listings, including online payments, tenant messaging, and eviction history checks. | ||
7. | Free. | Thanks to the software's intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools, such as maintenance requests and tenant messaging, it is highly rated and ideal for property managers in search of an all-in-one solution. | ||
8. | Free and paid options. | The platform is ideal for landlords and rental agents managing around 1-100 properties and offers robust tenant screening, property accounting, state-specific leases, and document management. | ||
9. | Free. | Stessa is completely free to use and offers comprehensive property accounting, performance insights, and a mobile app. However, the platform lacks tenant screening and maintenance requests. |
Pros and Cons:
Pros
- Eliminates the difficulty of manual lease signing and rental payments.
- Software with free versions are ideal for users on tight budgets.
- Most platforms integrate with accounting and tenant screening tools for added convenience.
- In most cases, responsive customer support is available.
Cons
- Many free versions are not as feature-rich as its paid counterparts.
- There aren't always client onboarding or training tools available, incurring steep learning curves.
FAQs:
What is the best free property management software?
Can I use free online property management software to manage commercial tenants?
Most property management tools include features for both commercial and residential property management. However, some companies charge more for commercial property management features.
Are there any disadvantages to using free rental property management software?
Many free offers are only available for a limited time or for a limited number of units. Switching to a paid plan will allow you to use the software without any of these constraints.
Should I be looking for a free property management software download, or should I find a cloud-based solution?
It depends on what suits your business best. However, most property managers opt for cloud-based tools because they need easy access to their software at different properties.
Cloud-based solutions are convenient because you can use them from your mobile device. If you're considering starting your own property management business, have a look at our How to Start a Property Management Company guide.
What are the best paid property management options?
Check out our guide to the best property management software.