Real estate investors focused on residential operations need software solutions to handle the operational components of day-to-day property management. Continuing our detailed comparison series for 2024, we’re analyzing Buildium versus AppFolioProperty Manager. Both of these property management software solutions focus on managing tenants, streamlining rent collection, and supporting the financial aspects of property operations. Let’s see how they stack up.
Buildium overview
Buildium is a full property management software suite that supports residential property managers and community associations with small to medium portfolios. The solution provides components of property operations, including applications, tenant screening, leasing tools, rent collection, maintenance management, and landlord communication tools.
RealPage acquired this software solution in 2019 to include a focus on the SMB market segment.
AppFolio Property Manager overview
AppFolio is also a comprehensive set of property management solutions focused on property management companies with at least 50 units. It covers operational needs, including property marketing, applications, screening, leasing, online payments, and maintenance requests.
Buildium vs AppFolio: Pros and cons
| Buildium | AppFolio Property Manager | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| Pricing for smaller portfolios | Online ticket support only for lower-tier packages | Ease of use | Pricing for SMB – 50 unit requirement |
| Good return on investment | Accounting issues | Property management capabilities | Limited customization |
Buildium vs AppFolio Property Manager: Key differences
Top features and functionalities
Users give Buildium high scores for online rent payments, community association management, payment processing, maintenance tracking, and tenant portals.
AppFolio’s property management software scores higher among customers for portfolio administration, lease accounting, rental applications, leasing document management, online payments, mass communication capabilities, and its tenant portal.
Pricing
Buildium’s pricing is based on the feature package and the number of units. Every plan includes accounting, a free marketing website, maintenance management, operational tasks, violations, resident & board member communications, and online portals.
Buildium’s software packages include:
1. Essential plan – starting at $55/month
- This entry-level package includes tenant screening, online payments, and ticket support.
- Add-ons: Property inspections start at $40/month, e-signatures are $5 per signature, and options for acquiring new client leads.
- Bank Fees: $99 per bank account; $1.25 for incoming EFT, $0.50 for outgoing EFT, and 2.99% per credit card transaction.
2. Growth plan – starts at $174/month
- This package builds on the Essential plan by adding enhanced screening, unlimited e-signatures, property inspections, advanced analytics, and live phone support.
- Add-ons: Includes client leads, priority support, and onboarding.
- Bank Fees: Up to 5 bank accounts included. Additional accounts cost $99 each, $0.60 for incoming EFT, and the same fees for other transactions as the Essential plan.
3. Premium plan – $375/month
- The plan includes all prior benefits plus an open API, priority support, $500 in client leads, and a dedicated client lead consultant.
- Add-on: Onboarding.
- Bank Fees: 15 bank accounts included, with $99 for each extra. Incoming EFT transactions are free, with other fees mirroring the Growth plan.
AppFolio Property Manager pricing models:
1. Core plan – $1.49 per unit, $298 minimum spend per month
- Designed for portfolios of at least 50 units, this plan includes essential features such as property accounting and reports, comprehensive marketing and leasing tools, work order management, inspections, mobility, tenant and owner portals, communication tools, and purchase orders with inventory tracking.
- Support: Includes standard support.
2. Plus plan – $3.20 per unit per month
- Building upon the Core plan, the Plus option includes capabilities for managing affordable housing, advanced leasing metrics, access to AppFolio Stack for premium integrations, and enhanced support.
3. Max plan – $5.00 per unit per month
- The most advanced plan, Max, incorporates all features of the Plus plan and adds a leasing CRM, leasing signals, custom fields, database API, and a dedicated customer success manager.
Best for
Buildium is best for smaller residential property portfolios and HOA community associations with additional plans that offer capabilities for managing affordable housing.
AppFolio supports property management businesses focused on residential, student housing, community association, and mixed portfolio property managers that manage 50+ units.
Value for money
Both platforms score a 4.4/5 on Capterra for value for the money. On G2, 4 reviewers out of 209 mention Buildium’s value, while 6 reviewers out of 442 mention AppFolio.
Customer support and training
Buildium’s customer support for the Essential plan is limited to online ticketing. Customers have expressed frustration with the automated support chatbot and the frequent use of help articles for troubleshooting. A customer success manager is available only with the Premium plan. For training, Buildium offers self-paced courses and access to a knowledge base.
AppFolio’s Core model includes standard support, while the Plus plan includes enhanced support and dedicated customer success management. Training for all plans includes videos and documentation.
Ease of use
Buildium receives high ratings for its initial setup and user-friendly interface. It outperforms AppFolio in maintenance management, property inspections, and website building capabilities. On G2, 13 out of 209 reviews highlight its ease of use. Buildium receives a 4.3 out of 5 for ease of use from 2,031 Capterra reviews.
AppFolio stands out for leasing management, consistently ranked higher by users for vacancy advertising, rental applications, tenant screening, lease templates, and document management. On G2, 33 out of 442 reviews specifically mention AppFolio’s ease of use. It achieves a 4.5 out of 5 rating for ease of use from 1,891 reviews on Capterra.
User experience
On G2, 85 users mention Buildium as being a good partner and give the software a 9.3 rating. Meanwhile, 167 AppFolio users rate the software as a 9.0 for being a good partner. Some AppFolio users express frustration over not being heard regarding new feature requests.
Both platforms score a 4.5/5 on Capterra.
Platforms supported
Both Buildium and AppFolio are cloud SaaS web-based applications accessible from any device via a web browser. Each platform also provides a mobile app.
Deployment & support
For Buildium, 156 users on G2 award the software 5 stars for customer support, whereas 7 users give it 1 star. Customers on the Growth and Premium plans enjoy access to live phone support, with Premium users receiving priority support. Onboarding is a separately charged service for all plans.
AppFolio’s customer service receives 5 stars from 348 users on G2, but 12 users rate it at one star. On Capterra, Buildium scores a 4.5 for customer service from a total of 2031 reviews, while AppFolio scores a 4.3 from 1891 reviews.
Value for money
Both Buildium and AppFolio receive a rating of 4.4 on Capterra for value for the money. On G2, user comments reflect their perceptions of value: 6 customers mention AppFolio, and 4 customers mention Buildium.
Integrations
Buildium supports property managers through its online marketplace, which features integrations in various functional areas. These include solutions for collections, fulfillment, productivity, resident services, marketing, and utility services management.
Specific integrations offered by Buildium include:
- Zillow Rental Manager
- Happy Property
- Tenant Turner
- Dropbox Sign
- RevSpring
- PayNearMe
- Forte
AppFolio provides premium integrations through its marketplace, catering to a variety of property management needs such as collections, compliance, accounts payable, marketing, IoT/smart property technology, maintenance, and utilities. These premium integrations are not included in the core plan and may incur additional charges.
Specific integrations available include:
- NetVendor
- ButterflyMX
- zInspector
- Happy Property
- Knock
- Conservice EST
- Opiniion
- Homebase
- ShowMojo
- RentCheck
Security measures
For security purposes, Buildium offers encryption, security controls, secure backups, user roles, two-factor authentication, and account access notification emails.
AppFolio allows for custom permissions tailored to specific user roles, granting the appropriate level of access. The software monitors transactions in real-time, protecting against suspicious behavior, and mandates two-factor authentication for all user types.
Ratings
| Review site | Buildium rating | AppFolio rating |
| G2 | 4.4 (209 reviews) | 4.6 (443 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.5 (2031 reviews) | 4.5 (1891 reviews) |
Of Buildium’s 2,240 total reviews, the software has an average rating of 4.49. AppFolio’s 2,334 reviews yield an average rating of 4.52.
Reviews
Buildium: On G2, the most favorable review praises the software for simplifying every aspect of leasing, including marketing, applications, and lease signing. The top positive review on Capterra underscores the vital role of Buildium’s deployment team in efficiently setting up the solution and the significant time and cost savings due to its automation capabilities.
AppFolio: The most appreciated review on G2 indicates that the company actively listens to user feedback and regularly updates with new features. On Capterra, the top positive review highlights how the solution has streamlined operations for single-family residential properties and commends its ease of use.
Recognitions
Capterra features both Buildium and AppFolio Property Manager in their shortlist rankings for various software categories, including association management, real estate property management, lease management, and hospitality property management.
Alternatives
While Buildium and AppFolio provide operational capabilities for property management, many real estate businesses also require specialized solutions for investor relations, capital raising, and financial reporting.
Agora excels in these areas with its investment management software, which offers a comprehensive, award-winning platform tailored exclusively for real estate. Known for its exceptional customer support, user-friendly interface, and smooth onboarding process, Agora has established itself as an industry leader in investor management.
For firms using operational systems like Buildium or AppFolio Property Manager, integrating with Agora can enhance their technology stack. This combination allows businesses to use leading operational tools while adopting a specialized platform for real estate investor management.
Some alternative investor management software options include AppFolio’s Investment Manager InvestNext, JuniperSquare, and RealPage IMS.
Buildium vs AppFolio: Which platform is better for you?
Both Buildium and AppFolio provide operational solutions for property owners, management companies, and community associations. The best property management software depends on your specific preferences. Users praise Buildium’s ease of use, while AppFolio consistently rates highly for its comprehensive feature set.
Beyond features and pricing, consider factors like third-party integrations, customer support responsiveness, and ease of implementation. Leveraging product demos, talking with existing customers, and asking about each platform’s roadmap can provide a sense of their long-term fit within your organization.
The “best” solution seamlessly aligns with your current processes and future growth plans and delivers a compelling return on investment.
Conclusion
Choosing between Buildium and AppFolio Property Manager depends on your specific business requirements and priorities. Both platforms offer strong property management capabilities but cater to slightly different segments of the residential property market.
If you operate a smaller residential portfolio or community association, Buildium’s user-friendly interface and pricing tailored to this segment could make it the more suitable option. If you manage a larger property portfolio exceeding 50 units, AppFolio’s full feature set and scalability may better align with your needs.
