Updated November 16, 2020; Originally published September 5, 2020.
OnyX – Mac Cleaner Software. This is one of the best free Mac cleaner software out there. First, it’s a free tool and it has lots of positive reviews as well. This Free Mac cleaner is a multifunction utility tool that can help you clean up the browsing catch, system junk and optimize the speed of your Mac. The property management software features you really need. Property management software is often flexible enough to match a property owner's specific needs and scale with their business growth. However, there are some crucial applications for certain types or stages of property management.
Property management software has come a long way even in the short time since I first purchased my own rental in 2011.
Collecting rent online was a pain in the tush. As a small landlord with just a single unit, it didn’t make sense for me to spring for a software solution with a monthly subscription. All my profits would disappear!
But we’re in the 2020s, now, and there are completely free real estate software tools that are more than adequate to the task.
Some of these are free because they monetize you in other ingenious ways, like selling renter’s insurance. That is an easy win-win if I can get tenants onto renters insurance and in exchange get a free tool to manage my units!
As for features I look for besides auto-pay, tenant application, and some basic financial reporting for tax purposes, a tool that can syndicate my listing as far as possible is nice. I don’t want to have to sit there adding and updating a dozen different websites with my new vacancy posting.
Unfortunately, Zillow was once free to add listings online, but in 2019 they added their online rental property manager and began charging by the week for listings. It can be worthwhile to get a good rental manager software with syndication to Zillow and its portfolio of websites.
You can still use websites like Zillow or Redfin to get a quick rent estimate if you are struggling to decide what rent to ask for – and of course snoop their sites for other comparable rentals in the neighborhood.
Anyway. here are some good property management software solutions that are completely free!
TenantCloud
What it’s Got
The free plan includes online rent collection, accounting tools, automatic late fees, online lease agreements, roommates manager, maintenance requests, ability to screen potential tenants, and some financial reporting. It has decent listing syndication to get your rentals out on the web.
TenantCloud modernized its dashboard completely in 2020, making for a very smooth software experience.
What it’s Missing
TenantCloud is capable of doing a lot. Its free version, however, does not include auto-pay, which is likely a feature most property managers will want to spring for sooner rather than later.
Pricing
- FREE for Basic
- $9/mo for Standard
- $35/mo for Advanced
The free plan is available to up to 75 units.
TenantCloud
FREE+. TenantCloud is a cloud-based property management software with a free introductory price. It is targeted to DIY landlords and has an impressive suite of features for doing that, including rent tracking, managing applications, listing syndication, e-signature, and more.
Avail
What it’s Got
Formerly Rentulations, Avail is a small landlord property management software. It includes listing syndication, credit reports, lease signatures, rent payment, and more. Its target customer is a landlord with fewer than 10 properties.
It syndicates listings to an impressive variety of sites and the software has a good, usable layout.
Tenants can use the platform to purchase rental insurance from Lemonade.
What it’s Missing
Avail is one of the best free plans, but if you will likely outgrow its capabilities if you expect o grow to, say, 20-50 units.
Pricing
- FREE
- $5/unit for Unlimited Plus
- $30 credit screening
The upgraded plan adds next-day rent payments, custom apps and leases, and a property website.
Property Management Software For Mac Free Trial
Avail
FREE+. Avail is a small landlord property management software. It includes listing syndication, credit reports, lease signatures, rent payment, and more. Its target customer is a landlord with fewer than 10 properties.
Innago
What it’s Got
Innago is a new company founded in 2017. Their free software has no premium version and is designed for the DIY or small landlord. They have tools to support residential, commercial, and student housing management.
It has online rent payments, lease signing, tenant screening tools, and maintenance requests.
What it’s Missing
There are no tools for professional managers like tenant or owner portals, and it does not syndicate your property to any listing portals. You will still need to add and advertise rental listings to all those systems.
Pricing
- FREE
- $30-$35 credit reports
- $2 ACH fee and 2.75% credit card fee
Apartments.com
What it’s Got
Apartments.com has a Rental Manager designed for DIY landlords.
They purchased the very popular Cozy property management tool and are fully transitioning Cozy accounts to Apartments.com in 2021.
They have a mobile app, online leases with e-signature available, background checks, online payment, and automatically assessed late fees.
What it’s Missing
Apartments.com does not have an upgraded suite of tools that you can upgrade into as your needs or sophistication expands.
They also only syndicate to Apartments.com listings, meaning you would still have to separately add your listings to Zillow, Craiglist, etc, if you aren’t already syndicating to those companies through the MLS.
Pricing
- FREE
- $24.99/credit report
- Premium property placement upsell
Apartments.com doesn’t charge for using its system. They just want you to get your listings into their rental portal! They have affordable credit reports. The only upsell is on premium placed advertising for your listings on their portal.
Apartments.com
FREE. Apartments.com is a major rental portal that includes a rental manager system. The tool includes listing to all Apartments.com website properties, tenant screening, leases, and payment collection. These are simple tools designed for DIY landlords or small property management firms.
Paid Software
None of the above solutions are adequate for professional property managers, with perhaps the exception of TenantCloud.
Instead, the top cloud based property management software for brokerages managing properties are:
The cheapest to start is Buildium at $50/mo. These are overkill versus these cheaper options unless you get to ~25+ units. These will have all the tools you need to manage tenant needs and service property owners.
Conclusion
I’m 100% sure one of these free rental manager software options will allow you to much more easily collect rent, track income and expenses, and profitably and efficiently manage your rental properties!
Syncronize your existing QuickBooks files with Propertyware for improved efficiency.
Property Management Software for QuickBooks™ Users
If you are already using QuickBooks and you want to take your property management business financials one step further, Propertyware can also seamlessly synchronize with your existing QuickBooks files for improved efficiency. Propertyware is able to accommodate QuickBooks users with the flexibility and ease-of-use they need to use both Propertyware and QuickBooks together.
Sync Propertyware with QuickBooks for Easier Online Management
Propertyware Sync is a free downloadable utility that allows you to sync the rental income and expense transactions for certain portfolios to a designated QuickBooks company file. It properly categorizes these files in QuickBooks and provides a transfer report that tracks each sync. This fluid data transfer from Propertyware to QuickBooks gives you better oversight on your investment properties and makes it possible to utilize Propertyware’s customization tools for targeted financial reporting and email alerts to expedite accounts payable and receivables.
Property Accounting Accessible from Anywhere
With Propertyware, you can collect charges and record expenses online using any desktop or mobile device. This enables you to share financial information with property owners, staff, and other stakeholders who may be in different locations. The synchronization feature with QuickBooks also eliminates the need for duplicate data entry. Save your valuable time for other important aspects of your property management business — such as cultivating tenant relationships or growing your business.
ACCOUNTING
Not a CPA? Not a problem. Propertyware Accounting puts you in control no matter your expertise level. From AR to AP, bank reconciliations and ACH payments to owners and bank reporting, Propertyware offers it all.
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ONLINE PAYMENTS
Forget limited payment solutions. With Propertyware Payments, you can offer both tenants and owners an easy way to make online money contributions, and you can even pay your vendors.
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MARKETING
Propertyware offers a full digital marketing solution that puts you in control of your listings, and sophisticated website options that attract and convert.
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MAINTENANCE RE-INVENTED
From move-in to move-out (and everything in-between), Propertyware offers a solution no one else has. It’s a tool for coordinators and vendors — a re-invented solution designed to manage the entire process, including billing and photos.
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TENANT SCREENING
No more double entries. Propertyware streamlines the process from when your tenant applies to when they convert. Our screening process is easy to use, mitigates risk and end-of-lease costs.
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PORTALS
Propertyware offers a powerful solution for both tenants and property owners with 24/7 access—all with real-time visibility.
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MOBILE ON-THE-GO
It’s your business – anytime, anywhere. The Propertyware Mobile App is your all-access pass for iPhone or Android, offering you complete visibility at your fingertips.
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CONTACT CENTER
Our professionally trained live agents operate as an extension of your leasing, management and maintenance office, answering every maintenance or prospect call, and responding quickly.
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“Propertyware® is a critical component to the rapid growth of our business and has allowed our firm to gain a competitive edge. Propertyware truly partners with property management companies to handle the challenges of our ever-evolving industry.”
Kyle Stephenson President
Great Richmond Rentals
Richmond, VA
The support agent was excellent in walking me through exactly what steps needed to be taken to correct the error.”
Jennifer Meit of Mars Hill Realty Group