The Best Property Management Software for Small Landlords: Top Picks for 2024
Managing rental properties can be complex and time-consuming, especially for small landlords who often juggle multiple responsibilities. From tenant communications to rent collection, and maintenance requests to financial tracking, the demands on a landlord’s time are significant. This is where property management software comes into play. In 2025, small landlords have many tools to choose from, and each offers unique features that help streamline property management tasks, save time, and reduce stress. Here are the top property management software options for small landlords this year.
1. TenantCloud: Affordable and All-in-One Solution
TenantCloud is one of the best property management software platforms available for small landlords who require an affordable yet holistic solution. Its features include tracking rent, maintenance management, and tenant communication tools that ease everyday tasks. This allows landlords to automate rent reminders and track late payments, in addition to accepting payments online.
It provides free plans for one property, but the paid versions are much more feature-rich: a customizable dashboard, tax reporting, and an integrated accounting system. It also helps market properties and enables landlords to accept online rental applications. It is quite scalable for small landlords as it can add more properties to their portfolios.
TenantCloud is a great option for landlords who want an easy-to-use and affordable platform. The software's flexibility, intuitive interface, and affordability make it a top pick for 2024.
2. Buildium: A Robust Solution for Growing Portfolios
Buildium is another property management software, which is highly suitable for landlords who manage a growing portfolio of properties. Buildium has an easy interface and has all the features that a small to mid-sized landlord may need, such as online rent collection, lease tracking, financial reporting, and maintenance management.
The accounting features of Buildium are very helpful for landlords managing multiple units. The software can generate detailed financial reports, track security deposits, and automatically reconcile bank statements. It also enables tenants to submit maintenance requests and pay rent online, making the process more streamlined for both landlords and tenants.
Buildium has multiple-tiered pricing with a starting level at $50 a month. Smaller landlords should find it in the affordable category for what they will pay for as their needs in the management of property grow over time. Its reputation for being reliable coupled with an overall feature set makes Rentec Direct one of the good choices for landlords in 2024.
3. Rentec Direct: Simple Accounting for the Small Landlord
Rentec Direct is one of the best property management software options for small landlords who value accounting and finance. This is because this software has some of the most powerful accounting tools such as automatic rent collection, detailed financial reports, and tax tracking.
Rentec Direct also allows landlords to manage tenants, track leases, and create custom reports. The software integrates with QuickBooks, making it easy to sync financial data for tax purposes. For small landlords with a few properties, Rentec Direct's accounting tools help keep everything organized and accessible.
This has a mobile app that lets landlords manage their properties on the go. Rentec Direct is also a very cost-effective solution for landlords who want specialized accounting solutions without the headaches of more expensive platforms.
While it does not offer as many features when it comes to tenant communication and marketing, Rentec Direct is particularly strong at making the financial aspects of property management simple and great for landlords who are really looking for solid accounting tools.
4. Cozy: A Simple, Free Property Management Tool
For a small landlord who wants an intuitive, cost-effective property management solution, Cozy is the best. Cozy provides a variety of features like online rent collection, tenant screening, and maintenance request management, all for free to the landlord.
The most attractive feature of Cozy is its user-friendly interface. It offers a simple dashboard for landlords to manage their properties, track payments, and communicate with tenants. Cozy also offers online payment processing, which allows tenants to pay rent securely and conveniently.
One of Cozy's most impressive features is its tenant screening service, which helps landlords assess applicants by running background checks, credit reports, and rental histories. This feature is particularly useful for small landlords who do not have the resources to conduct such thorough screenings themselves.
Although Cozy is free, it generates revenue by charging tenants small fees for online payments, which may be a disadvantage for tenants but not for landlords. If you are a small landlord looking for an easy-to-use, low-cost software solution, Cozy is an excellent choice.
5. Avail: Streamlining Landlord-Tenant Interactions
Avail is a user-friendly property management platform that helps small landlords streamline the management of rental properties. It is designed for independent landlords who want an affordable way to manage tenants, handle payments, and automate lease renewals. Avail offers an impressive set of features, including online rent collection, lease management, and expense tracking.
What makes Avail unique is its focus on improving landlord-tenant interactions. Through the platform, landlords can set up online payment options, communicate with tenants securely, and even accept rental applications. Avail's automated reminders ensure that both landlords and tenants are on top of important dates, such as rent due dates and lease expirations.
One of Avail's important features is that it deals with the lease agreements through digital. Landlords can create a custom lease and send them to the tenant for electronic signing, storing it securely in the Avail platform. It also provides tenant screening services through Avail that include checking of credit, background, and eviction history.
Avail is free for basic features, but landlords can pay for premium services like advanced tenant screening and reporting tools. The platform is highly rated for its ease of use, making it a great choice for landlords with a few properties.
6. Propertyware: Scalable for Growing Small Landlords
Propertyware is designed to meet the needs of both small landlords and property managers with larger portfolios. Though it has a higher learning curve than some other software options, Propertyware offers a robust set of tools for landlords who are managing multiple units and are looking for scalability.
The software offers accounting, reporting, marketing, tenant screening, and maintenance management capabilities. The landlords can follow the rents, generate income and expense reports, and integrate with third-party applications such as QuickBooks. It also provides a tenant portal where tenants can submit requests for maintenance, pay their rent online, and even view their payment history.
Propertyware’s pricing is based on the number of units being managed, starting at $1 per unit per month. While it might be more expensive than other options, Propertyware’s wide range of features and scalability make it a top choice for landlords with ambitions to expand their portfolios in the future.
Conclusion
A small landlord should consider the property management software that best fits his needs, the number of properties he manages, and his budget. TenantCloud is an all-in-one, cost-effective solution for landlords who want everything in one place. Buildium is for those with a growing portfolio, and it has more advanced features. Rentec Direct is more geared towards accounting and financial management. Cozy and Avail are fantastic free options that provide the bare essentials without a monthly fee. Lastly, Propertyware is a robust product for landlords who expect to grow their property portfolios.
The best property management software will save you time and reduce your stress levels while empowering you to run a more efficient, professional operation. No matter what your needs, there is a solution that can help make property management easier and more profitable.
