Guide
Buildium Alternatives for Small Landlords (2026): Cheaper Options Compared
Buildium alternatives for landlords with 1–50 units: Rentec Direct, Yardi Breeze, RentRedi, TurboTenant and more, priced at 10 and 25 units from vendor pages.
By Landlord Software Directory · Updated on · Pricing checked
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Buildium is a full property management suite (a RealPage company) for professional managers and associations. Its plans start at $65 a month for Essential, $202 for Growth and $420 for Premium, and prices rise with unit count.
Essential also charges per-transaction fees, such as $2.35 per incoming EFT payment; see Buildium pricing for the full list.
A self-managing landlord with 1–50 units often doesn't need trust accounting, owner portals or association tools, and can pay much less. Rentec Direct is the closest match for less money, and RentRedi, TurboTenant and Innago are far cheaper if you don't need a manager-grade ledger.
Best for: landlords with 1–50 units who are on Buildium, or quoting it, and want the same core jobs (rent, accounting, screening and maintenance) for less.
Everything below comes from each vendor's own pricing page, checked October 28, 2026. We haven't tested these products hands-on.
Quick picks
- Closest to Buildium at a lower price: Rentec Direct. It covers accounting, Schedule E reports, screening, rent and maintenance. Starter is $25 a month for up to 10 properties.
- Accounting-first, per-unit pricing: Yardi Breeze, at $1 per unit with a $100 monthly minimum.
- One flat price for any unit count: RentRedi, $12 a month billed annually.
- Free to start: TurboTenant or Innago.
Comparison table
| Tool | Starting price (vendor's page) | Pricing model | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildium | $65/mo Essential ("starting at") | Scales by unit count; 14-day free trial | Professional managers and larger landlords |
| Rentec Direct | Starter $25/mo (up to 10 properties); Pro from $45/mo billed annually ($50 monthly) | Flat (Starter); scales by units (Pro and PM) | Landlords and property managers |
| Yardi Breeze | $1/unit/mo, $100/mo minimum | Per unit; annual agreement | Property managers |
| ManageCasa | Base $45/mo, Growth $80, Premium $130, billed yearly | Scales by units | Self-managed HOAs, small managers and landlords |
| DoorLoop | One: $2.50/unit/mo, $199/mo minimum | Per unit with minimum | Managers; the minimum fits best at about 80+ units |
| RentRedi | $12/mo billed annually | Flat, unlimited units | Independent landlords |
| TurboTenant | Free; paid plans from $149/yr | Annual, by unit band | Self-managing landlords, about 1–50 units |
| Hemlane | Starter free; Basic $28/mo + $2/unit | Platform fee + per unit | Self-managing and remote landlords |
| Landlord Studio | Go free (3 units); Pro from $15/mo + $1.20/extra unit | Per unit above 3 | Independent landlords |
| Innago | $0 | Free; tenant-paid fees | Independent landlords |
Hemlane's prices here are its annual-billing rates, the default view on its pricing page ("Save up to 20% with annual billing"); month-to-month billing costs more, checked Oct 28, 2026.
Monthly subscription cost at 10 and 25 units
| Tool | 10 units | 25 units |
|---|---|---|
| Buildium Essential | From $65 (exact price depends on units) | From $65 (exact price depends on units) |
| Rentec Direct | $25 Starter (up to 10 properties) | Pro, from $45–$50 (exact price depends on units; not published) |
| Yardi Breeze | $100 (the minimum) | $100 (25 × $1 = $25, below the minimum) |
| DoorLoop One | $199 (the minimum) | $199 (25 × $2.50 = $62.50, below the minimum) |
| RentRedi (annual) | $12 | $12 |
| TurboTenant Pro | $16.58 ($199/yr, 1–10 units) | $33.25 ($399/yr, 11–30 units) |
| Hemlane Basic (annual billing) | $48 ($28 + $2 × 10) | $78 ($28 + $2 × 25) |
| Landlord Studio Pro | $23.40 ($15 + $1.20 × 7) | $41.40 ($15 + $1.20 × 22) |
| Innago | $0 | $0 |
These are subscription costs only. Tenant payment fees and screening fees are extra, and they differ by tool.
Notes on each alternative
Rentec Direct
Rentec's feature list includes property and tenant accounting, Schedule E reports, online rent payments, screening, a tenant portal, maintenance work orders and e-sign. QuickBooks sync and an open API are on Pro and PM, and trust accounting with an owner portal is on PM.
Payment fees:
- Starter: incoming ACH $2, cards 3.5%.
- Pro and PM: one free incoming ACH per active property each month, then $0.50 each; cards 2.95%.
There's a 14-day free trial. https://www.rentecdirect.com/
Yardi Breeze
Yardi Breeze includes accounting (AP/AR and general ledger), RentCafe listing syndication, applications, screening and leases, rent collection including PayNearMe cash, owner statements, maintenance requests and 1099 e-filing.
The $100 monthly minimum and annual agreement make it a fit only if you want a manager-grade ledger. Breeze Premier is also $1 per unit, but with a $400 monthly minimum ("terms & minimums apply"). Payment fees aren't published. https://www.yardibreeze.com/
ManageCasa
ManageCasa combines HOA and rental management, with accounting, portals, maintenance and bank sync. Listings and screening run through a partner. Its pricing page lists Base at $45, Growth at $80 and Premium at $130 a month billed yearly (it says yearly billing saves 12%). These are entry prices that scale with units. https://managecasa.com/
DoorLoop
DoorLoop has full accounting, portals and maintenance, but its $199 monthly minimum is $2,388 a year. That's similar territory to Buildium, so it only makes sense if you're growing. Visit DoorLoop
RentRedi, TurboTenant, Hemlane, Landlord Studio and Innago
These are lighter landlord apps rather than full management suites. They cover rent, screening, listings and maintenance requests, and some include accounting:
- RentRedi includes accounting on every plan.
- TurboTenant has Schedule E and Form 8825 reports on Pro.
- Hemlane includes rental accounting with bank sync.
- Landlord Studio has Schedule E on Pro.
See TurboTenant vs RentRedi, Innago vs TurboTenant and landlord software by unit count.
Tools we didn't include
- Propertyware: $1–$2 per unit with $250–$450 monthly minimums, plus an implementation fee of twice the monthly subscription.
- Rentvine: aimed at professional management companies.
- AppFolio: built for larger portfolios. Its pricing page footnote (checked Oct 2026) reads: "Minimum spend and 50 unit minimum apply." The spend amount isn't published, so check with its sales team.
How we checked
On October 28, 2026, we read the pricing pages of Buildium, Rentec Direct (plus its website page for the Pro annual price), Yardi Breeze, ManageCasa, DoorLoop, RentRedi, TurboTenant, Hemlane, Landlord Studio, Innago, Propertyware and AppFolio. The 10- and 25-unit costs are our arithmetic from the published rates. Where a vendor only shows a "starting at" price, we say so instead of guessing the exact figure. We haven't used these tools with our own rentals, and no vendor paid for placement. Get a quote for your exact portfolio before you switch.
FAQ
What is the cheapest alternative to Buildium?
Innago and TurboTenant's free plan cost landlords $0, though tenants pay payment fees. For a paid tool with accounting, RentRedi is $12 a month billed annually for unlimited units.
Which Buildium alternative is most similar?
Rentec Direct. It covers accounting, Schedule E reports, screening, rent and maintenance, and its PM plan adds trust accounting and an owner portal.
Is DoorLoop cheaper than Buildium?
Not at small sizes. DoorLoop One has a $199 monthly minimum, while Buildium Essential starts at $65. See DoorLoop vs Buildium.
Does Buildium charge per unit?
Buildium shows "starting at" prices that rise with unit count, and it doesn't publish the per-unit rate. Its 14-day free trial lets you see a quote.
Do I need trust accounting as a landlord?
Usually not, if you only manage your own properties. Trust accounting and owner portals matter when you manage other owners' money.
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