Landlory
Buildium vs Stessa
In short.
Pick Buildium if you run property management companies;
pick Stessa if you run DIY & small landlords.
Buildium starts at $62/mo,
Stessa free.
Full-featured platform for residential property management companies.
- Best forProperty management companies
- Starts at$62/mo
- Free optionFree trial
- Mobile appYes
Free asset-management and accounting platform for rental investors.
- Best forDIY & small landlords
- Starts atFree
- Free optionFree plan
- Mobile appYes
Feature comparison
Buildium |
Stessa |
|
|---|---|---|
| Online rent collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tenant screening | ✓ | Partial |
| 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 | Partial |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
Buildium
| EssentialEFT/eSign fees extra | $62/mo |
|---|---|
| Growth | $192/mo |
| Premium | $400/mo |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Stessa
| Essentialsunlimited properties, free forever | Free |
|---|---|
| Managepaid annually | $12/mo |
| Propaid annually | $28/mo |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Pros & cons
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
Stessa
Pros
- Best-in-class free financial tracking and dashboards for investors
- Automated bookkeeping and tax-ready reports
- Affiliate with a 2-year earning window
Cons
- Not a full PM tool (limited leasing/maintenance/tenant portal)
- Rent collection less robust than dedicated PM apps
FAQ
What is the difference between Buildium and Stessa?
Buildium is best for property management companies, while Stessa is best for DIY & small landlords.
Is Buildium or Stessa cheaper?
Buildium is the cheaper option — it starts at $62/mo.
Which is better for property management companies?
For property management companies, Buildium rates slightly higher (4.5★ on Capterra (2,152)).