9 Best Free Property Management Software for Landlords

Owning rental property can sometimes feel like a juggling act. You’ve got to advertise a vacant property and get it leased fast to generate cash flow, collect rent and assess potential late fees, deal with maintenance requests and invoices, and monitor the financial performance of each rental property.

On top of all that, you need to find the time to think long-term about how to scale up and grow your rental property business. It’s a lot to manage, but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. With the right tools, you can bring structure to your process and focus on what matters most.

Property management software can simplify your life as a real estate investor by automating many of these routine tasks and giving you important insights that drive better decisions. This guide explores nine of the best free property management software options, including:

• Stessa
• Apartments.com
• Zillow Rental Manager
• Innago
• Rentler
• Hemlane
• Avail
• TurboTenant
• Landlord Studio

Before we dive into the list, let’s first cover some of the things we believe are the most important features to look for as you assess different tools.

The top features to look for in a property management tool

The best tools for property management provide an integrated solution for rental property investors to organize their properties, collect rent, accomplish bookkeeping and accounting tasks efficiently, store tenant and lease details, generate financial statements, sync bank accounts, and (in some cases) earn competitive interest rates on cash balances.

Here are some of the most common features of this type of software:

• Tenant management: Keep track of all your tenant data, including contact information, lease terms, payment history, and more. This software typically stores all essential information in one place, making it easy to manage multiple tenants.
• Financial reporting: Get insights into your income, expenses, and net cash flow to make informed investment decisions and prepare for tax season. Property management software can generate financial reports that give you an overview of your properties’ performance.
• Bank synchronization and reconciliation: The software can sync with your bank accounts. It automatically updates and reconciles transactions, saving you hours of tedious manual entry.
• Tenant screening: Some software solutions offer built-in tenant screening services. These features can help you run background checks, credit reports, and eviction history so you know whether you’re leasing to reliable tenants.
• Lease preparation: The software can also assist with lease preparation, helping you cover critical points and comply with local laws and regulations.
• Online rent collection: Rather than keep track of checks or cash, your tenants can pay their rent online. It’s convenient for them and provides faster, more reliable payments for you.
• Maintenance request management: This feature enables tenants to submit maintenance requests directly through the platform. You can track the requests, assign them to service providers, and monitor their progress until completion.
• Secure document storage: Store all property-related documents securely in the cloud. From leases to inspection reports, everything is accessible anytime, from virtually anywhere.

With these factors in mind, let’s look at some of the best free property management tools available. We’ll start with our own, Stessa.

9 Best Free Property Management Software Systems

1. Stessa

Stessa is a comprehensive property management platform designed specifically for real estate investors and landlords. The software offers a suite of tools to help property owners streamline their operations, from accounting and financial reporting to leasing and tenant management. Stessa stands out for its user-friendly interface and powerful features that cater to both novice landlords and experienced real estate investors.

One of Stessa's key strengths is its ability to automate many aspects of property management, including income and expense tracking, rent collection, and financial reporting. The platform also offers robust mobile apps for both iOS and Android, allowing landlords to manage their properties on the go. With its focus on maximizing returns and simplifying complex tasks, Stessa aims to help property owners make more informed decisions and optimize their real estate investments.

Accounting

Stessa's accounting features are designed to simplify financial management for landlords and real estate investors. The platform offers a comprehensive set of tools that automate bookkeeping tasks, track income and expenses, and generate detailed financial reports. Stessa's accounting system is built specifically for rental property owners, eliminating the need for complex double-entry bookkeeping.

Key accounting features:

• Automated data connections with banks and property managers
• Smart-scan technology for receipt processing
• Real-time financial dashboards
•  Advanced financial reporting for rental properties
• Automated income and expense categorization
• Schedule E and tax package reports

Leasing

Stessa's leasing tools are designed to streamline the entire rental process, from listing a property to signing a lease. Landlords can access a range of features to help attract quality tenants, manage applications, and execute lease agreements.

Key leasing features:

• Vacancy marketing with syndication to popular rental websites
• Customizable rental applications
• E-signing capabilities for lease documents
• Lease template library

Tenant Screening

Stessa integrates with RentPrep to provide comprehensive tenant screening services. This helps landlords make more informed decisions about potential tenants, potentially reducing the risk of problematic rentals.

Key tenant screening features:

• Credit reports and scores
• Criminal background checks
• Eviction history reports
• Income verification
• Employment verification
• Customizable screening criteria

Landlord Banking

Stessa offers specialized banking services tailored for landlords and real estate investors. Landlord banking with Stessa helps property owners to manage their finances more effectively and earn competitive interest rates on their account balances.

Key landlord banking features:

• High-yield savings accounts for landlords
• LLC and other business entity accounts
• Separate bank accounts for each property
• Direct integration with Stessa's bookkeeping and reporting features
• FDIC insurance coverage
• Cash-back debit cards (for eligible accounts)
• No minimum balance requirements

Rent Collection

Stessa's rent collection feature simplifies the process of receiving payments from tenants. The platform offers various payment options and automates rent collection, reducing the time and effort landlords need to spend on routine tasks.

Key rent collection features:

• Online rent payments via ACH or credit card
• Automated late fee charging
• Rent reminder notifications
• Direct deposit of rent payments
• Automatic transaction categorization

Tax Center

Stessa's Tax Center is a comprehensive resource designed to simplify tax preparation and maximize deductions for real estate investors. It is particularly useful during tax season, but also offers year-round support to help property owners stay organized and prepared.

Key tax center features:

• Personalized Stessa Tax Package, including income statements and net cash flow reports
• ZIP file with organized receipts for backup documentation
• Real-time access to tax-related data and reports
• Schedule E worksheets for each property
• Guidance on common real estate tax deductions
• Up-to-date information on tax deadlines and important dates
• Educational resources on real estate tax strategies

The Tax Center also provides a convenient timeline of important tax deadlines, including:

• Form 1099 deadline
• Partnership Form (1065) deadline
• Individual (1040) deadline
• Extension deadlines for both partnership and individual returns

Additionally, the Tax Center offers guidance on estimated tax payment due dates, helping investors stay compliant with quarterly tax obligations. This comprehensive approach to tax management makes Stessa's Tax Center an invaluable tool for real estate investors looking to streamline their tax preparation process and maximize their investment returns.

Stessa Free and Paid Plans

Stessa offers a free plan and two paid plans. The tiered pricing structure is great for landlords with varying portfolio sizes and management needs, from those with a few properties to larger investors requiring more advanced tools and support.

Essentials Plan

Price: Free

Key features:

• Unlimited properties
• 1 portfolio
• Vacancy advertising with syndication to Zillow
• Tenant applications
• Tenant screening (paid by applicants)
• Online rent collection
• Automated rent reminders and late fees
• Tenant autopay
• Tenant ledger and rent roll
• Landlord banking with competitive APY and cash back on purchases
• Automatic bank feeds
• Landlord dashboard with key metrics
• Income and expense tracking
• Basic financial reporting
• Smart receipt scanning (5/month)
• Unlimited document storage
• Unlimited property management feeds
• Basic tax package
• Full data export
• Mobile app access (iOS and Android)
• Basic support
• Educational resources for landlords

Manage

Price: $12/month (billed annually) or $15/month (billed monthly)

Key features:

• Includes all features of the Essentials plan
• 1 eSignature/month
• Schedule E report
• 60+ legal forms and templates
• Accelerated rent payments
• Lease template
• Priority chat support

Pro

Price: $28/month (billed annually) or $35/month (billed monthly)

Key features:

• Includes all Manage features
• Owner dashboard with full chart history
• Unlimited portfolios
• Advanced ownership metrics
• Advance transaction tracking
• Unlimited receipt scanning
• 7 eSignatures/month
• Higher APY on cash balances
• Budgeting and pro-forma analysis
• Project expense tracking
• Advanced financial reporting
• CapEx report
• Priority tenant screening
• Priority phone support

Sign up for a free Stessa account. 

 2. Apartments.com

Apartments.com offers a comprehensive suite of online tools for leasing and managing rental properties. Landlords can market vacancies, screen applicants, sign leases, and collect rent payments all in one platform. The software also allows property owners to manage tenants, track maintenance requests, and organize expenses.

Listing a vacant property on Apartments.com is quick, easy, and completely free. Whether you're renting out single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, or condos, you can find qualified renters. Your listings are automatically distributed across a network of popular rental websites, including Apartments.com, ForRent.com, Realtor.com, and now also Homes.com, reaching millions of potential tenants.

Free features:

• Property listing syndication across multiple websites
• Online rental applications
• Tenant screening (background and credit checks)
• Lease signing tools
• Online rent collection
• Maintenance request management
• Basic financial tracking and reporting
• Tenant communication tools

Paid plan features:

Apartments.com primarily offers its core services for free, but they do have some premium features available:

1. Premium listings: Apartments.com offers premium listing features that landlords can buy. The pricing depends on the location and market trends, with the exact cost shared when landlords activate the service. These prices are not disclosed publicly. 
2. Tenant screening: Renters using Apartments.com pay $29, plus tax, for each screening report, which includes checks for credit, eviction history, and income verification. 
3. ACH payments: Landlords can accept ACH payments at no cost, but renters may be charged a 2.75% fee when using this option to pay rent. 

3. Zillow Rental Manager

Zillow Rental Manager is designed to streamline the rental process for landlords and property managers. It offers tools for listing properties, screening tenants, creating leases, and collecting rent payments. The platform leverages Zillow's extensive network, which includes Trulia and HotPads, to maximize exposure for rental listings.

Landlords can easily create and manage listings, communicate with potential tenants, and handle the entire leasing process from application to move-in. The software also provides valuable insights into local rental markets, helping property owners make decisions about pricing and property management strategies.

Free features:

• Listing distribution across Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads
• Online rental applications
• Application and basic tenant screening (credit reports and background checks), free for landlords
• Lease builder and online signing tools
• Online rent collection
• Maintenance tracking
• Financial reporting with an income and expenses worksheet
• Rent Zestimate for pricing recommendations

Paid plan features:

While Zillow Rental Manager offers many features for free, they do have some paid options:

• Renters pay a $35 application fee, which includes tenant screening reports.
• Premium listings are $29.99/listing for 90 days, and helps you attract more renters, optimize your listing with tailored tips and market insights, and access priority support.
• Zillow's partnership with Doorstead offers upgraded tenant screening, fraud detection, premium listings, and professional tours by licensed agents, for a leasing fee of 50% of the first month's rent, payable only after a tenant is secured.

4. Innago

Innago is for all investors and all property types, including single-family rentals, student housing, and commercial buildings. Free property management features include tenant screening with credit and eviction reports, online lease preparation and signing, online rent collection, maintenance tracking, and tenant management. There are no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no contracts to sign.

Landlords benefit from the simple, effective features of Innago, such as automated communication, including rent due and lease expiration, easy invoice tracking, custom rental applications, mobile lease signing, late fee billing, and integration with QuickBooks. Customer service is always accessible, and the platform protects owner data with security measures.

Free features:

• Tenant screening (credit, criminal, and eviction reports), free for landlords when the tenant pays
• Online lease creation and e-signing
• Online rent collection
• Maintenance request management
• Automated late fees and invoice generation
• Custom rental applications
• Financial tracking and reporting
• Document storage and sharing
• QuickBooks integration

Paid plan features:

Innago doesn't have traditional paid plans. Instead, they offer their core software completely free to landlords. However, there are some optional services that come with fees:

• Tenant screening: $30-$35 (paid by tenant)
• Income verification: $10 (paid by tenant)
• Online payments: ACH/eCheck $2/transaction (paid by tenant or landlord), 2.99% fee for credit/debit card payments

5. Rentler

Getting started with Rentler is free and easy. Simply create your account and add your rental properties, including photos and amenities. Then, start accepting instant online applications and tenant screenings, set up online payments, and manage properties all within your Rentler dashboard.

Features include listings, Rentler applications, online rent collection, 24/7 customer support, and maintenance tracking. Rentler is free for landlords, with optional paid features, such as a rentability report and online access to legal forms.

The Rentler app is available on iOS and Android to help streamline communication between tenants and landlords, rent collection, and maintenance requests.

Free features:

• Property listing creation and management
• Online rental applications
• Tenant screening services (paid by applicants)
• Online rent collection
• Multiple bank accounts
• Online maintenance requests
• Mobile app access (iOS and Android)
• Tenant messaging tools

Paid plan features:

• Rentability report: $19.95 per report
• Legal forms: $25 for access to various legal forms for property management
• Online rent payments: ACH Fee: $1.95, debit/credit card: 3.5% + $0.30, fees paid by tenant
• Listing features: featured days: $15/day, ribbons (highlighted features): $25
• Tenant application subscription: $45 for 30 days (paid by tenants), includes credit & background screening

6. Hemlane

Hemlane is a comprehensive property management software platform designed to simplify the rental process for landlords and property managers. It offers a range of tools to help with tenant placement, rent collection, maintenance coordination, and financial tracking.

The software provides a user-friendly interface that allows landlords to manage all aspects of their rental properties from a single dashboard. Hemlane's unique selling point is its flexibility, offering both DIY options for hands-on landlords and additional support services for those who need more assistance.

Free features:

• Listing syndication to 4 top rental websites
• Online rental applications
• Tenant screening (national credit, criminal, eviction, and income reports), when the tenant pays
• Rental accounting with bank sync, cash flow report, income statement, and more

Paid plan features:

Hemlane offers three main pricing tiers, each with increasing levels of features and support:

Basic

For $28/month + $2/unit, users get:

• All free features
• Advertising on 9 top rental websites
• Lease tracking and management
• Document storage and e-signing
• Rent collection, late fees, financial tracking, $0 ACH fees
• Private messaging with tenants

Essential

For $28/month + $20/unit, users get:

• End-to-end repair coordination with 24/7 emergency support
• Automatic diagnosis and troubleshooting of repairs
• Work order management with your service professionals
• Invoicing and payment for repairs, with no markups
• State specific leases, amendments, and notices

Complete

For $28/month + $68/unit, users get:

• All Essential plan features
• All tenant communications done by your property management assistant
• Access to Hemlane's vetted repair network 
• Repair price thresholds and approvals
• VIP customer support
• Access to our trusted local leasing and turnover network

Hemlane also offers add-on services such as leasing support, eviction protection, and property inspections for additional fees. They provide a 14-day free trial for all plans, allowing landlords to test the features before committing to a subscription.

7. Avail

Avail is a robust, cloud-based rental management tool specifically designed to cater to the needs of DIY landlords. It’s primarily tailored for managing up to 10 units, offering a free plan with basic features for an unlimited number of units. Landlords desiring premium features can upgrade to a paid subscription.

Standard features include rental listings syndicated to sites such as Realtor.com and Zumper, tenant applications and screening reports (paid for by tenants), online rent payments, maintenance tickets and tracking, and rental property accounting.

Landlords updating to Avail’s paid plan can access premium features, such as FastPay rent payments, waived ACH fees, and customizable tenant applications and leases.

Free features:

• Property listing syndication to multiple rental websites
• Online rental applications
• Tenant screening services (paid by applicants)
• Basic online rent collection (tenant pays $2.50/bank transfer, 3.5% processing fee for debit/credit card payments)
• Maintenance request tracking
• Simple lease creator
• Rental property accounting tools
• Tenant communication platform
• Educational resources for landlords

Paid plan features:

Avail offers one paid plan called Unlimited Plus for $9/unit per month, which includes:

• All free features
• Next-day rent payments with FastPay
• Waived ACH fees for online rent payments. If a credit or debit card is used, a 3.5% processing fee is added to tenant payments regardless of subscription.
• Customizable lease agreements with e-signatures
• Ability to create custom applications
• Rent analysis reports ($19.99/report)
• Option to build rental website
• Unlimited document storage
• Clone and reuse feature for lease agreements

8. TurboTenant

TurboTenant is designed for landlords with portfolios of all sizes, from those managing a single property to those with multiple units. The software's user-friendly interface offers a range of tools to simplify various aspects of rental property management, including marketing, tenant screening, lease management, and rent collection.

One of TurboTenant's key selling points is its free plan, which includes many essential features that landlords need to manage their properties. The software aims to help landlords work smarter, not harder, by providing all necessary tools and paperwork into one centralized platform.

Free features:

• Unlimited property listing syndication to popular rental websites
• Online rental applications
• Tenant screening (credit, criminal, and eviction reports - $45-$55, paid by applicant or landlord)
• Online rent collection ($2 ACH, 3.49% debit/credit card fees, fees paid by tenant)
• Automatic late fees, receipts, and reminders
• Autopay setup for tenants
• 1 connected bank account
• Maintenance request management
• Tenant communication tools
• Basic financial tracking and reporting
• Document storage
• Educational resources for landlords

Paid plan features:

TurboTenant offers two paid plans in addition to their free plan:

Pro

For $119/year, users get:

• All free features
• Customizable online applications and screening questions
• State-specific lease agreements
• Landlord forms pack
• Lease addendums
• Expedited rent payouts

Premium

For $149/year, users get:

• All Pro features
• Lower screening fee paid by tenant ($45)
• Income verification
• Unlimited eSignature for leases and addendums
• Unlimited connected bank accounts
• Waived ACH fees for tenant rent payments

9. Landlord Studio

Landlord Studio offers a range of tools to help with financial management, tenant screening, rent collection, and property oversight. The software includes robust accounting features, making it particularly useful for landlords who want to keep detailed financial records of their rental properties.

There is a user-friendly interface that allows landlords to manage all aspects of their rental properties from both desktop and mobile devices. Landlord Studio's focus on financial tracking and reporting makes it an excellent choice for landlords looking to streamline their accounting processes and maintain accurate records for tax purposes.

Free features:

• Property and tenant management for up to 3 units
• Listing syndication
• Create a property listing
• Tenant screening (paid by applicants)
• Online rent collection
• Basic income and expense tracking
• Maintenance request management
• Basic financial reporting
• Store 10 documents
• 1 user
• Tenant communication tools
• Smart receipt scanner
• Mileage tracking
• Mobile app access (iOS and Android)

Paid plan features:

Pro

Pro plan pricing comes out to $15/month for 3 units plus $1.20/extra unit, with a discount offered on annual plans. Features include:

• All free features
• 3 users
• Store 250 documents
• 3 customer screening questions/listing
• AI assisted bookkeeping
• 5 bank account feeds
• 25 automated bank rules
• 25 recurring expenses
• 20 financial reports
• Xero integration
• 20 recurring reminders
• Automated rent reminders
• Custom email templates

Pro Plus

Pro Plus costs $35/month for 3 units plus $1.20/extra per unit, with a discount offered on annual plans. Features include:

Key features:

• Includes all Pro features
• 10 users
• Designated account manager
• Unlimited document storage
• 10 custom screening questions/listing
• 20 bank account feeds
• 250 automated bank rules
• Unlimited recurring reminders