Landlory
Buildium vs Zillow Rental Manager
In short.
Pick Buildium if you run property management companies;
pick Zillow Rental Manager if you run DIY & small landlords.
Buildium starts at $62/mo,
Zillow Rental Manager free.
Full-featured platform for residential property management companies.
- Best forProperty management companies
- Starts at$62/mo
- Free optionFree trial
- Mobile appYes
Free listings and light rental tools backed by Zillow's traffic.
- Best forDIY & small landlords
- Starts atFree
- Free optionFree plan
- Mobile appLimited
Feature comparison
Buildium |
Zillow Rental Manager |
|
|---|---|---|
| Online rent collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tenant screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Listing syndication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online applications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lease management | ✓ | Partial |
| Maintenance requests | ✓ | ✕ |
| Accounting | ✓ | ✕ |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
| Owner portal | ✓ | ✕ |
| Tenant portal | ✓ | ✕ |
| Document storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✕ |
| Bank integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✕ |
| AI features | Partial | ✕ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | Partial |
Pricing
Buildium
| EssentialEFT/eSign fees extra | $62/mo |
|---|---|
| Growth | $192/mo |
| Premium | $400/mo |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Zillow Rental Manager
| Freefree listings + basic tools | Free |
|---|---|
| Premium listing90-day boost · varies by market | $39.99unverified |
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
Zillow Rental Manager
Pros
- Massive listing reach and traffic
- Free and simple for 1–few units
Cons
- Shallow — no accounting, owner portal or maintenance
- Listing fees introduced in some markets; not a true PM system
FAQ
What is the difference between Buildium and Zillow Rental Manager?
Buildium is best for property management companies, while Zillow Rental Manager is best for DIY & small landlords.
Is Buildium or Zillow Rental Manager 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)).