Best Buildium Alternatives for Small Landlords (2025)
Buildium starts at ~$55/month — a steep price if you manage fewer than 20 properties. This page covers the best Buildium alternatives for small landlords in 2025, ranked by value, features, and fit for portfolios under 50 units.
What's the best cheap Buildium alternative for small landlords?
Leasense is the top pick at $9/month. It includes AI lease risk analysis, online rent collection, tenant portal, and accounting tools — core features comparable to Buildium at 84% lower monthly cost. A free tier is also available.
Top Buildium Alternatives (2025)
1. Leasense — from $9/month
Leasense is purpose-built for landlords managing 1–100 units. It includes AI-powered lease risk analysis (unique in this price range), online rent collection, a tenant portal, maintenance tracking, and financial reporting. The Starter plan at $9/month covers everything a small landlord needs with no unit caps.
- AI lease risk analysis — flag problematic clauses automatically
- Online rent collection with automated reminders
- Tenant self-service portal
- Maintenance request tracking
- Tax-ready financial reports
- Free tier available, no credit card required
2. TurboTenant — Free (with paid add-ons)
TurboTenant offers a free landlord tier with rent collection, tenant screening (tenant-paid), and lease templates. Advanced features like accounting and priority support require a paid plan (~$149/year). Good for very lean landlords who don't need AI analysis or deep reporting.
3. Rentec Direct — from ~$45/month
Rentec Direct is a straightforward property management tool starting at ~$45/month for up to 10 units. Solid accounting features, no frills UI. Cheaper than Buildium but more expensive than Leasense for small portfolios.
4. DoorLoop — from ~$59/month
DoorLoop has excellent UX and strong maintenance tools. At $59/month for 20 units it's slightly more expensive than Buildium Essential but more modern. Best for landlords prioritising interface quality over lowest cost. See DoorLoop pricing breakdown.
Leasense vs Buildium: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Leasense | Buildium Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | ~$55/mo |
| Free tier available | ||
| AI lease risk analysis | ||
| Online rent collection | ||
| Tenant portal | ||
| Maintenance tracking | ||
| Integrated accounting | ||
| Document storage | Up to 100 | Unlimited (Growth+) |
| No setup fee | ||
| Built for small portfolios |
Why Buildium is Overkill for Small Landlords
Buildium is designed for professional property management companies managing hundreds of units. Its pricing, feature set, and onboarding reflect that. If you manage under 50 units:
- You're paying for enterprise accounting tools you won't use
- The $55/month minimum is a high fixed overhead for a small portfolio
- No free trial means upfront commitment without testing
- Complex setup for simple landlord workflows
Small landlords need the same core capabilities — rent collection, lease management, tenant communication — at a price that reflects their portfolio size. That's the gap Leasense fills.
Switch from Buildium and save $552/year.
Leasense Starter is $9/mo vs Buildium's ~$55/mo. Same core features plus AI lease analysis.