We compare total cost — not just sticker price. Some "free" tools have hidden costs. Some cheap tools have the best features. Here's what you actually pay.
Landlord software pricing is more complicated than it looks. A tool advertised as "free" may shift significant costs to your tenants. A flat-rate tool looks more expensive than a per-unit tool — until you run the math at your actual unit count. And the cheapest option isn't always the best value once you factor in what you're giving up.
This guide breaks down real total cost across six platforms, by unit count, so you can make an informed decision.
Bottom line: If free is non-negotiable, go with TurboTenant or Avail — both have functional free tiers. If you're willing to pay, LevelLandlord at $10/month is the cheapest paid option for 1–4 units and significantly cheaper than Avail Unlimited for 2+ units.
Before comparing numbers, let's address the elephant in the room: free landlord tools are free to you as the landlord. They're not free. The costs are just paid by someone else — usually your tenants.
What tenants pay on free-tier platforms: Tenant screening reports ($30–$55 per applicant on TurboTenant/Avail free tier). ACH payment processing fees (~$2 per rent payment on TurboTenant free tier). These are real costs that affect whether prospective tenants complete your application process, and whether existing tenants feel nickel-and-dimed.
For a landlord who screens 5 applicants per vacancy and has 1 tenant making 12 monthly payments per year:
Some tenants won't bat an eye. Others won't complete an application that requires a $50 credit check fee, or will complain about the $2 rent fee. Whether that bothers you depends on your market and your relationship goals with tenants.
| Platform | 1 Unit | 2 Units | 4 Units | 8 Units | 10 Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LevelLandlord (paid) | $10 | $10 | $10 | $16 | $20 |
| TurboTenant (free) | $0* | $0* | $0* | $0* | $0* |
| TurboTenant Pro | $12.42 | $12.42 | $12.42 | $12.42 | $12.42 |
| Avail (free) | $0* | $0* | $0* | $0* | $0* |
| Avail Unlimited | $7 | $14 | $28 | $56 | $70 |
| Rentec Direct | $45–$55 | $45–$55 | $45–$55 | $45–$55+ | $45–$55+ |
| Buildium | $58+ | $58+ | $58+ | $58+ | $58+ |
* Free tiers cost $0/month to the landlord but include fees paid by tenants (screening, payment processing).
Both TurboTenant and Avail's free tiers are genuinely functional, but each has meaningful limitations:
At $10/month for 1–4 units, LevelLandlord includes:
For any landlord willing to spend $10/month, LevelLandlord delivers the best combination of price and features. It's cheaper than Avail Unlimited for 2+ units, cheaper than TurboTenant Pro at comparable features, and includes tools (state law news, AI lease analysis) that no competitor matches at this price.
Try LevelLandlord → Full ReviewWe're not dismissing free tools. Here's when they actually make sense:
If you're in any other situation, paying $10/month for LevelLandlord is likely the rational choice when you account for total landlord experience, tenant satisfaction, and the value of the legal and AI tools included.
Free options (TurboTenant, Avail, Cozy/Apartments.com) are cheapest on the landlord side — but shift fees to tenants. For paid software with no tenant fees, LevelLandlord at $10/month is the cheapest option for 1–4 units and scales to $2/unit/month after that.
Both are free for landlords on the base tier. TurboTenant Pro ($149/year = $12.42/mo) is cheaper than Avail Unlimited ($7/unit/month) for any landlord with 2+ units. LevelLandlord ($10/month flat for 1–4 units) is cheaper than both paid plans for landlords with 1–4 units.
Almost certainly not. At $58+/month, Buildium is built for property management companies with dozens of units. For independent landlords with under 20 units, LevelLandlord, TurboTenant, or Avail cover the essentials at a fraction of the cost.
No landlord software files evictions for you — that requires working with an attorney or the local court system. Platforms like LevelLandlord help with the documentation process (lease violation tracking, notice templates, state law guidance), which makes the actual eviction proceeding smoother. But the legal work is yours.