Landlory
AppFolio vs Buildium
In short.
Both AppFolio and Buildium target property management companies, so it comes down to price and fit.
AppFolio starts with custom pricing,
Buildium at $62/mo.
AI-forward platform for mid-to-large residential portfolios.
- Best forProperty management companies
- Starts atCustom
- Free optionNo
- Mobile appYes
Full-featured platform for residential property management companies.
- Best forProperty management companies
- Starts at$62/mo
- Free optionFree trial
- Mobile appYes
Feature comparison
AppFolio |
Buildium |
|
|---|---|---|
| Online rent collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tenant screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Listing syndication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online applications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lease management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance requests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accounting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Owner portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tenant portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI features | ✓ | Partial |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
AppFolio
| CoreQuote-based · 50-unit minimum | $None |
|---|---|
| PlusQuote-based | $None |
| MaxQuote-based | $None |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Buildium
| EssentialEFT/eSign fees extra | $62/mo |
|---|---|
| Growth | $192/mo |
| Premium | $400/mo |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Pros & cons
AppFolio
Pros
- True all-in-one (leasing, accounting, maintenance, inspections)
- Leading AI features (Realm-X); strong at scale
Cons
- 50-unit minimum locks out small landlords
- Slow support, limited customization, high cost at small scale
Buildium
Pros
- Deep residential PM workflows with strong owner/tenant portals
- Robust accounting plus an association-management module
- Recurring 25% affiliate — best long-term payout in the category
Cons
- Transaction/EFT fees can add 30–50% to the base cost
- Heavy for small landlords; reporting flexibility gaps
FAQ
What is the difference between AppFolio and Buildium?
Both target property management companies. AppFolio is aI-forward platform for mid-to-large residential portfolios, while Buildium is full-featured platform for residential property management companies.
Is AppFolio or Buildium cheaper?
Buildium is the cheaper option — it starts at $62/mo.
Which is better for property management companies?
For property management companies, AppFolio and Buildium are rated about the same — pick on price and the feature gaps above.