Our analysts have researched the market and picked the five best free property management software based on features, usability, customizations and scalability. Here are our top picks:

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Best Free Property Management Software

Innago

Innago is a cloud-based property management platform that helps market, manage and maintain midsize real estate portfolios. It offers rent collection, tenant screening, property listing, work order management, eLeasing and messaging capabilities. Its user-centric interface makes renting and managing properties affordable and straightforward.

What sets Innago apart is its free offering, with no monthly fees, setup charges or hidden fees. Tenants can pay for their screening reports and third-party rent processing fees. The platform also offers a mobile app that helps landlords and property managers stay on top of their operations remotely.

Pricing: Innago doesn’t have paid pricing plans and offers all its features for free.

Keep a tab on rent and utility bill collection from a centralized dashboard. Source

Top Benefits

• Flexible Rent Collection: Tenants can conveniently pay rent, utility bills and other fees through ACH, credit cards or debit cards.
• Accurate Billing: Add extra charges to compensate for the time spent on applicant evaluations, reference checks and other administrative tasks, ensuring fair compensation for your efforts.
• Simplified Leasing: Download ready-to-use rental agreements to simplify the documentation process. Then, create personalized lease templates tailored to your property’s specific requirements.
• Efficient Marketing: Streamline property listings by auto-populating data from existing property information, minimizing manual data entry and expediting the process.
• Streamlined Accounting: Integrate with QuickBooks Online to efficiently manage rental payments, generate custom invoices, track expenses and maintain ledgers.
• Reduced Late Payments: You can send automatic reminders and notifications to tenants to ensure prompt rent payments and minimize late payments and associated hassles.

Primary Features

• Late Fee Management: Automate late fees with customizable settings, allowing landlords to charge based on a percentage, flat fee or a combination. You get the flexibility to apply different settings to various properties and units.
• Reporting: The platform provides access to templates for expenses, income, bank deposits and rent rolls. Export financial records to Excel and third-party solutions for easy analysis.
• Document Management: Securely store leases, addendums, tenant information and other documents. Enable easy uploading and sharing of documents for convenient access or private record-keeping.
• Work Order Management: Create and track property maintenance work orders efficiently. Tenants can submit tickets with detailed descriptions, images and videos to request maintenance. The system maintains a record of communications to promote accountability.
• Property Listing: You can create listings with descriptions, rent amounts, availability dates, pet policies, amenities and utilities. Showcase properties through photos and virtual tours, with the flexibility to save drafts, edit published listings and delist properties after renting.
• Tenant Screening: TransUnion screening reports provide insights into applicants’ financial history, criminal records and eviction databases. You can also link screening checks directly to property listings for efficient application processing.

Limitations

• It doesn’t support commercial properties.
• Customer support takes longer to resolve issues.

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Avail

Avail is a versatile property management tool for single landlords. It helps them streamline crucial administrative tasks for rental property management. The system offers online rent collection, digital lease creation, maintenance request tracking, vacancy listing, tenant screening and reporting.

Tenants can view renter profiles, make online payments, get lease renewal reminders and use rent reporting with CreditBoost. Avail stands out for its robust features and user-friendly accessibility. Its educational resources empower new landlords to transition from novice to seasoned professionals easily.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Plan: Supports unlimited properties and offers vacancy listing, rent collection, work order tracking and eLeasing tools at no cost.
• Unlimited Plus: Charges $7 per unit for every feature in the unlimited plan, along with website designing, waived ACH fees, customizable application funnels, lease templates and more.

Maintain separate accounting books for all your properties and owners. Source

Top Benefits

• Optimize Screening: The platform helps customize screening questions to suit your specific requirements. Built-in connection with TransUnion allows you to check applicants’ backgrounds, credit scores and criminal history.
• Streamline Rent Collection: You can split rent among roommates and track payments to ensure fair and transparent rent sharing. The system lets you combine utility bills, rent and other payables into a single monthly payment.
• Eliminate Late Payments: Set up notifications for monthly payments and define automated penalties for late payments.
• Simplify Work Order Management: Streamline maintenance requests by automatically forwarding them to pre-approved vendors and service professionals.
• Improve Property Financials: You can evaluate rental performance efficiently by analyzing each property’s income and expenses.

Primary Features

• Rental Listing Syndication: Easily create and advertise rental listings with detailed descriptions and photos on top rental listing sites. It helps reach a wider audience effortlessly.
• Appointment Management: Set up and share calendars for in-person or virtual showings, allowing tenants to book appointments at their convenience.
• Tenant Screening: Conduct screenings, including credit reports, background checks, criminal histories and eviction records to ensure reliable tenant selection.
• Lease Management: You can use state-specific lease templates to comply with local ordinances and allow tenants to eSign documents from anywhere.
• Tenant Portals: Tenants can pay rent online, send maintenance requests and report timely payments to boost credit scores. They can also set up autopay options to never miss a deadline.
• Property Accounting: The system lets you track property accounting according to IRS standards, with customizable transaction tracking and easy export options for tax preparation. Gain insight into transactions with overviews, including unit details, transaction types, categories, payers and amounts, with the ability to upload receipts for future reference.

Limitations

• It doesn’t offer a native mobile app.
• Involves a steep learning curve.

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TurboTenant

TurboTenant is a promising property management solution for small to midsize companies that’s accessible via the cloud. It lets you list vacancies, screen tenants and collect rent payments online. You can also track expenses, manage maintenance requests and communicate with tenants via the app’s messaging system.

TurboTenant’s free plan is a standout option. It offers unlimited property listings and can support various business types, including multi-property landlords, single-family homes, townhouses, condos and small to midsize apartment buildings. Paid plans are also available with additional features.

Pricing:

• Free: Offers online rent collection, maintenance requests, state-specific leases, unlimited property listings and tenant screening at no cost.
• Premium: Charges $16.58 monthly per unit for faster rent payouts, lower tenant screening fees and unlimited lease agreements, along with all the features from the free plan.

Access detailed screening reports to choose the perfect renter for your units. Source

Top Benefits

• Enhance Lead Management: Automatically send pre-screening options to applicants and allow them to pay screening fees during applications. The system maintains a lead database for easy screenings.
• Improve Communication: The built-in messaging system connects managers with landlords and tenants, ensuring quick and efficient communication.
• Work From Anywhere: A robust mobile app helps manage marketing, rent collection, applications and screenings from anywhere. It also has a built-in editor that facilitates lease creation and editing.
• Streamline Showing Scheduling: Input availability and invite applicants to book tour times within a specified window. The system maintains a record of past and upcoming open houses and tours.
• Simplify Leasing: You can create and customize rental applications. Renters can eSign documents and get reminders for lease renewals and terminations.

Primary Features

• Unlimited Listings: Create property listings with images, descriptions and rent details and post them on multiple websites to maximize visibility. You can also share your property listings via email, text or social media.
• Tenant Screening: Built-in connection with TransUnion gives you access to detailed screening reports covering credit scores, credit inquiries, criminal records and past evictions.
• Document Management: Create, send, sign and store lease documents securely within the platform for streamlined document handling. Use filters and universal search tools to locate documents quickly.
• Auto-Pay Convenience: Tenants can set monthly auto-pay options to ensure timely rent payment without manual intervention.
• Expense Tracking: You can track property expenses to maintain a clear financial overview. Use customizable templates to create reports and visualizations meaningful to your operations.
• Maintenance Requests: Tenants can submit maintenance requests via the tenant portal and maintain a logbook of requests and activities.
• Tenant Portal: Provide tenants with a dedicated portal for electronic document signing, payment, maintenance request tracking and landlord messaging.

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iManageRent

iManageRent is cloud-based property management software that streamlines rental operations for landlords and property managers. It offers a free version with a comprehensive suite of tools for managing listings, applications, rent payments and maintenance requests. This free tier caters well to do-it-yourself landlords and smaller businesses.

iManageRent stands out for its user-friendly interface, robust security features and ability to manage single or multiple properties. It even includes a leasing agent portal and website-building tools, making it a feature-rich option for those seeking a free property management solution.

Pricing:

• Basic: Offers rental listing, tenant screening and manual record-keeping for up to two units at no cost.
• Paid Plans: It has three paid plans, and each of them offers custom quotes based on the number of properties and requirements.

Post vacancies on popular listing channels and track applications via the mobile app. Source

Top Benefits

• Enhance Property Listings: The built-in photo gallery lets you showcase your properties in their best light. Upload and organize professional photos, giving potential tenants a clear view of what they’re getting.
• Efficient Lease Management: Never lose track of important lease agreements again! Archive your entire lease history and record past agreements for dispute resolution, term reference or regulatory compliance.
• Streamlined Collaboration: Grant secure access to your platform with individual logins and controlled permissions. It allows you to involve maintenance staff, virtual assistants or co-owners. This streamlines communication and task delegation for a smoother rental management experience.
• Track Ownership Performance: You can easily enter ownership information, add properties and track the financial performance of individual ownership entities. This facilitates transparent communication with co-owners and ensures clear accountability for each property’s financial health.
• Multi-Tiered Access With Dedicated Portals: Landlords, property managers, renters and even leasing agents can access information relevant to their roles. Landlords can stay updated, property managers can manage tasks, renters can submit requests, and leasing agents can manage their listings and applications.

Primary Features

• Property Listings: Advertise your rentals on over 14 popular sites like Apartments.com and Zillow with just one click, saving you time and effort.
• Tenant Screening: Quickly find qualified renters with built-in screening tools that assess applications, credit reports and background checks across TransUnion and Equifax.
• Tenant Management: You can track tenant information and receive updates directly on your dashboard, making tenant communication a breeze.
• Online Maintenance Requests: Submit, track and manage maintenance requests online. You can define rules to automatically notify pre-approved staff or vendors about maintenance issues.
• Financial Tracking: Manage your rental income and expenses effortlessly with an easy-to-use accounting module. It maintains separate ledgers for properties and owners and sends reminders for bills payables and receivables.
• Paperless Agreements: Store, share and manage lease agreements and other contracts electronically. Eliminate the hassle of paperwork and keep everything organized.

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Landlord Studio

Landlord Studio is a user-friendly property management software suitable for both experienced landlords and beginners alike. It offers a free plan that lets you manage up to three properties, making it a great option for those with a smaller portfolio. Plus, if you use their online rent collection service for at least one unit, they’ll waive the limit on free units.

Its free plan offers online rent collection, automatic task management and tenant screening capabilities. A mobile allows you to manage your rentals from anywhere, streamlining workflow for a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Pricing:

• Go: A free plan that supports up to three properties and one user. It offers tenant screening, rent collection, work order management and reporting.
• Pro: The pricing starts from $12 monthly for up to three units and increases based on the number of properties in your portfolio. Along with the Go plan’s features, it offers automated bank feeds, customizable reminders and Xero integration. The vendor also provides a 14-day trial period with this plan.

Create custom visualizations and dashboards to track business-specific metrics. Source

Top Benefits

• Track Your Miles on Autopilot: Integrate with Google Location Services to automatically track mileage for travel to and from your properties. This eliminates manual logging and ensures accurate expense records at tax time.
• Simplify Rent Payments: The platform allows you to enable partial payments. It gives tenants the option to submit what they can while keeping communication open.
• Never Miss a Deadline: Stay organized with this one-off reminder feature. Set alerts for lease renewals, maintenance checks or any other important events to ensure your rentals run smoothly.
• Streamline Communication: Get templates for invoices, receipts, lease agreements and other common documents. These save you time and ensure consistent, professional communication with your tenants.
• Work Remotely: Manage your rentals on the go, including tracking expenses, collecting rent online, creating tax reports and setting reminders via the native mobile app. You can also track mortgages and screen tenants with a built-in SmartMove connection.

Primary Features

• Rental Accounting: Track all your expenses and income in one place. The platform supports online rent collection, automatic payments, secure deposits and late fees.
• Rental Listings: Advertise your rentals on popular sites like Zillow and Trulia with a few clicks. Streamline the application process with online applications, pre-screening tools and built-in tenant screening reports.
• Tenant Management: Keep your tenants happy with a dedicated tenant portal. They can submit maintenance requests, pay rent online and access important documents, all in one convenient location.
• Maintenance Management: Tenants can submit maintenance requests and track progress via their portals. Managers can prioritize tasks and keep everything organized for a hassle-free experience.
• Document Storage: Cloud storage helps securely store and access important documents like leases and receipts. Use customizable templates to create fresh leases, invoices and notices with just a few clicks.

Limitations

• The platform doesn’t save pre-approved vendor information.

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How We Choose Products

For the scope of this article, we only considered the freemium version of a product or solutions that are completely free to use. We haven’t included products that only offer a free trial. Using that starting point, our analysts used an in-depth research process to understand the market. They then recommended the best 5 products based on a range of criteria.

We looked at the following criteria: feature comprehensiveness, product popularity, user reviews and ratings, SelectHub in-house data, hands-on experience, market analysts’ reports, thought leaders’ opinions and information availability in the public domain.

Products with better user reviews were given preference, provided they adequately met the other criteria listed.

Real-World Examples

We spoke to some experts to get their take on the benefits of property management software. Here are the top takeaways:

1. Simplify Work Order Management and Respond Quickly

Ryan Nelson, CEO of Rental Real Estate shares his experience:

During a big storm, a tenant reported a leak through the maintenance request feature. The software immediately notified me so I could quickly send over a repair person. Getting that leak fixed quickly prevented worse damage and showed the tenant I cared about their problem.”

2. Automate Repetitive Tasks and Stay Organized

Nelson also discussed the benefits of automation using property management software:

It automatically takes care of things like collecting rent money, handling repair requests from tenants, and communicating with renters. The automation saves me a lot of time and prevents silly mistakes, making my daily tasks much smoother. Having one central place for all my property documents and leases keeps everything organized so I can quickly find what I need.”

3. Enhance Tenant Experiences

Julia Lozanov, Chief Editor at Verpex, highlights the role of property management solutions in improving tenant experiences:

Easy communication has been made possible by its user-friendly tenant site, which lets tenants easily access crucial papers, pay rent online, and submit maintenance requests. Tenants have benefited from quicker issue resolution and improved service as a result.”

Software Selection Strategy

The global property management software market was valued at $22 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $51 billion by 2032. Due to such a growing market, it’s important to be careful when selecting software to ensure it aligns with your business needs and goals.

Assessing your business’s internal requirements is crucial to identifying the best property management features for your operations. Consider factors such as the size of your property portfolio, the number of tenants, budget constraints and specific functionalities required to handle your workflows.

Here’s a list of other important factors you can consider for your requirements checklist:

• Scalability
• Ease of use
• Customization options
• Integration capabilities
• Customer support
• Pricing model
• Security features
• Mobile accessibility
• User reviews and ratings

For a streamlined software selection process, we recommend exploring our lean selection methodology. This straightforward nine-step approach guides users in identifying their requirements and evaluating the market to find the ideal solution for their operations.

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FAQs

Next Steps

Free property management software is an economical solution for single landlords and property managers to manage their day-to-day operations digitally. It helps them save time, reduce errors and improve tenant satisfaction, ultimately leading to better property management.

However, choosing the right software is crucial for success in the industry. Don’t settle for a misfit solution that doesn’t meet your unique needs. Explore your options and make an informed decision.

To aid in your selection process, consider accessing our free comparison report. It allows you to evaluate some of the industry’s top solutions based on custom criteria. So don’t wait! Choose your platform today!

We’d love to hear from you! How do you envision property management software improving your workflow? Are there any specific features you prioritize when choosing a solution? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

SME Contributor

Ryan Nelson is a seasoned real estate professional and founder of RentalRealEstate. With over seven years of experience as a self-employed real estate investor in Los Angeles and Houston, he has a proven track record in property management and commercial sales. His career highlights include roles at Sunny Hills Management Co., KW Commercial, and DealPoint Merrill, showcasing his versatility and expertise in the industry.

Julia Lozanov, Chief Editor at Verpex, brings over a decade of marketing expertise, including SEO, content strategy and leadership, to her role at the web hosting company. Julia has also gained valuable insights into property management through her use of Buildium.