Guide
AppFolio vs Buildium (2026): Pricing, Unit Minimums and Which Fits Your Portfolio
AppFolio vs Buildium for property managers: AppFolio Core from $1.49/unit with a 50-unit minimum vs Buildium Essential from $65 a month, fees and fit, Oct 2026.
By Landlord Software Directory · Updated on · Pricing checked
On this page
AppFolio and Buildium are both full property management platforms for management companies, with owner accounting, leasing, maintenance and portals. The first question is size. AppFolio has a 50-unit minimum, so it isn't an option for smaller portfolios. Buildium starts at $65 a month with no published unit minimum, but it charges more per-payment fees on its entry plan.
Short answer: Under 50 units, Buildium is the choice between these two, because AppFolio requires at least 50 units. Above 50, AppFolio Core starts at $1.49 per unit a month (minimum spend and 50 unit minimum apply), and Buildium Essential starts at $65 a month. Neither publishes its full price formula, so get written quotes.
Best for:
- Best for portfolios under 50 units: Buildium Essential, because AppFolio has a 50-unit minimum.
- Best for a published per-unit rate at 50+ units: AppFolio Core, because it lists $1.49 per unit as its starting rate.
- Best for affordable or student housing: AppFolio Plus, because those capabilities are listed on that tier.
- Best for a free trial before talking to sales: Buildium, because it offers 14 days with no credit card.
We haven't used either platform with our own rentals. This comparison is based on each company's public pricing pages.
Prices at a glance
| Tool | Starting price (as checked) | Free plan | Key fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio Core | From $1.49*/unit/mo | No | Value-added services priced separately, not published | 50+ unit management companies |
| AppFolio Plus | From $3.20*/unit/mo | No | Same | Affordable and student housing, custom fields, read-only API |
| AppFolio Max | From $5.00*/unit/mo | No | Same | Large operators wanting a leasing CRM and read/write API |
| Buildium Essential | From $65/mo | No (14-day trial) | Incoming EFT $2.35; card 2.99%; eSignature $5/doc; bank account setup $99 | Smaller management companies |
| Buildium Growth | From $202/mo | No (14-day trial) | Incoming EFT $1.35; eSignature $1/doc; onboarding required | Reporting automation and analytics |
| Buildium Premium | From $420/mo | No (14-day trial) | Incoming EFT free for 12 months, then $0.60; onboarding required | Full automation suite and Open API |
*AppFolio's footnote on Core reads: "Minimum spend and 50 unit minimum apply. Contact us for details." Plus and Max carry a similar note: "Minimum spend and units apply." AppFolio doesn't publish the minimum spend. Neither vendor shows an annual-billing discount on its pricing page, so these are the only prices listed.
How the pricing models differ
AppFolio prices per unit, with floors. Each tier has a per-unit starting rate. The 50-unit minimum on Core means the smallest Core bill is at least 50 × $1.49 = $74.50 a month. The unpublished minimum spend could make it more. Every price on the page is "starting at" and leads to "Get a Quote."
Buildium prices per plan, scaled by portfolio. Buildium lists a starting monthly price for each plan, and the price rises with unit count in a way the page doesn't publish. It adds more per-transaction fees than AppFolio lists: incoming EFT, outgoing EFT ($0.99), cards, eSignatures and bank account setup. Over 5,000 units, Buildium sends you to sales.
What it costs at common sizes
Monthly subscription at starting rates only. Both vendors quote above these figures, and AppFolio's minimum spend isn't included.
| Units | AppFolio Core | AppFolio Plus | Buildium Essential | Buildium Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Not available (50-unit minimum) | Not available | From $65 | From $202 |
| 50 | From $74.50 | From $160 | From $65 (rises with units; not published) | From $202 |
| 100 | From $149 | From $320 | From $65 (rises with units) | From $202 |
| 200 | From $298 | From $640 | Quote | Quote |
How to read it: Buildium's "from" figures are its floors, not its price at 100 or 200 units. Only AppFolio's per-unit formula lets you estimate the rise, and even that excludes minimum spend and value-added services.
Fees can matter more than the subscription on Buildium Essential. At 50 units with every tenant paying by ACH and you absorbing the fee, incoming EFT alone is 50 × $2.35 = $117.50 a month, more than Essential's $65 starting price. Growth cuts that to $67.50, and Premium makes it free for 12 months. AppFolio's pricing page doesn't list payment fees, so ask for them in the quote.
Features by tier
AppFolio Core lists property accounting and reports, end-to-end marketing and leasing, work order management, inspections and unit turns, integrated communication, standard integrations, the Realm-X Assistant and messages, purchase orders and inventory tracking, and standard support.
AppFolio Plus adds affordable and student housing capabilities, advanced budgeting and accounting, advanced data analysis, custom fields, Realm-X Flows, premium integrations, a read-only API, enhanced support, maintenance scheduling and automated billing.
AppFolio Max adds a leasing CRM, Leasing Signals, a read/write API, dedicated customer success management and budgeting tools.
Buildium splits features across Essential, Growth and Premium. Ticket support comes with every plan, and live phone support comes with Growth and Premium. Growth adds reporting automation, Enhanced Screening and analytics. HappyCo inspection fees are included on Growth and Premium, and Premium also includes eSignatures and adds an Open API. Tenant screening through TransUnion costs $17, or $35 when the applicant pays. Buildium is a RealPage company.
Setup, trials and contracts
- Trial: Buildium offers a 14-day free trial with sample data and no credit card. AppFolio offers demos; we didn't find a trial on its pricing page.
- Onboarding: Buildium requires paid onboarding on Growth and Premium but doesn't publish the price. AppFolio's pricing page doesn't mention onboarding fees.
- Contracts: neither page states a contract term. Ask for it in writing.
Which should you pick?
- Fewer than 50 units: Buildium, or a lower-cost tool. AppFolio isn't available to you.
- 50–200 units, residential, wanting a predictable per-unit rate: get an AppFolio Core quote and a Buildium Essential or Growth quote, then compare first-year totals including fees and onboarding.
- Affordable or student housing: AppFolio Plus lists those capabilities. Buildium's page doesn't.
- You want to try the software before a sales call: Buildium's no-card trial.
If both feel like more than you need, DoorLoop publishes its full formula ($239 a month minimum month to month, $199 yearly), and Rentec Direct starts at $25 a month for up to 10 properties. See Buildium alternatives and AppFolio alternatives.
Visit AppFolio · Visit Buildium
How we checked
We read AppFolio's pricing page (https://www.appfolio.com/pricing) on October 28, 2026, including the Core, Plus and Max plan cards and their footnotes. We read Buildium's pricing page (https://www.buildium.com/pricing/) the same day, including its comparison table, fee cells and FAQ; full detail is in our Buildium pricing guide. The cost table uses starting rates only, and the EFT example is our own math. Neither company pays us, and we don't rank by commission.
FAQ
Is AppFolio cheaper than Buildium?
It depends on size. AppFolio Core starts at $1.49 per unit a month, but a 50-unit minimum and an unpublished minimum spend apply. Buildium Essential starts at $65 a month, and its price rises with units in a way it doesn't publish.
Can I use AppFolio with fewer than 50 units?
Not according to its pricing page. AppFolio's Core footnote says: "Minimum spend and 50 unit minimum apply." Under 50 units, Buildium or a smaller-landlord tool is the realistic option.
Does Buildium have a free trial?
Yes. Buildium offers a 14-day free trial with sample data and no credit card required. AppFolio offers demos instead.
What fees does Buildium charge besides the subscription?
On Essential: $2.35 per incoming EFT, $0.99 per outgoing EFT, 2.99% on cards, $5 per eSignature and $99 per business bank account. Growth and Premium lower or include several of these.
Does AppFolio publish its Max price?
Yes, as a starting rate. Its pricing page shows Max from $5.00 per unit a month, with a footnote that minimum spend and units apply. AppFolio doesn't publish the minimum spend, so you still need a quote.
Related
Software mentioned
Checked
Per-unit property management platform with accounting, leasing, maintenance and AI tools for professional managers.
Checked
Full property management suite with accounting, leasing, maintenance and portals for growing residential and HOA managers.
Checked
Per-unit property management platform with accounting, leasing, maintenance and AI agents; monthly minimums apply.
Checked
Property management and accounting software with fully published pricing for landlords and trust-accounting managers.