1 million+ businesses helped. Get advice
Get Free Advice
Home

/

Resources

/

4 Top-Rated Free Real Estate Property Management Software

4 Top-Rated Free Real Estate Property Management Software

By: Preksha Buttan on October 14, 2024

Getting the lease signed and collecting rent is easy if you only have a couple of tenants. However, it becomes a task when you have several properties in different locations. This is where you can consider opting for real estate property management software to digitize your tasks.

Real estate property management software, also known as rental property management software, captures digital signatures, records online rent payments, stores receipts and leases, and enables in-app communication with tenants. These features let you manage properties remotely, without visiting each one. If you're new to this software, we suggest you start with a free plan or trial to ensure it suits your needs.

To simplify your software search, this article highlights, in alphabetical order, four top-rated free real estate property management software based on verified user reviews.

All featured products offer a free trial, a forever free version, or both. Also, they are all dedicated property management software, offering financial management, maintenance management, and property database as core features.

What is free software vs. free trial software?

Free software is software that users can access without incurring any costs. To meet this criterion, a software solution must grant users free lifetime access to either all or some of its features. On the other hand, a free trial allows users to try out the software with complete or partial feature access for a limited period. Unlike free software, which is free forever, a free trial requires payment after a specific timeframe.

We selected products for this article based on their average ratings between September 2022 and September 2024, which may differ from their current overall average ratings.

1. Hemlane

Free trial period: 14 days

Free version: Available

Hemlane property management software allows you to advertise your rental properties on over 15 websites and notifies you if a potential tenant shows interest in your property. You can move such tenants to the pre-qualification stage to schedule showings and screen their profiles. This tool also lets you run background checks on the tenants, wherein you can check their income and criminal or eviction reports. 

Free features:*

  • Applicant tracking: Collects and organizes applicant information, including personal details, rental history, and supporting documents. It tracks each applicant's status, providing real-time updates and notifications for follow-up actions.

  • Tenant screening: Automates the process of evaluating prospective tenants by collecting and analyzing key data, including credit scores, background checks, rental history, and employment verification. The tool compiles this information into a report, providing you with a comprehensive overview of each applicant’s reliability.

  • Tenant portal: Provides tenants with an online platform to manage their rental experience. They can use the portal to pay rent, submit maintenance requests, view payment history, and access important documents, including lease agreements and rent receipts.

Free trial features:*

  • Lease management: Stores and organizes lease documents, tracks lease terms, and sends automated reminders for renewals or expirations. The software also manages important lease details such as rent increases, tenant responsibilities, and legal clauses.

  • Payment reminders: Sends automatic notifications to tenants about upcoming rent payments or overdue balances. It sends these reminders via email, SMS, or through the tenant portal, ensuring tenants are aware of payment due dates.

  • Income and expense tracking: Automatically tracks rent payments, fees, and other income sources, while logging expenses such as maintenance, utilities, and taxes. The software generates detailed reports, showing cash flow and profitability in real time. 

Cost to upgrade: $30 per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Call, email, and knowledge base

Hemlane

Hemlane

4.8 out of 5 stars

220 reviews

2. Innago

Free trial period: Not available

Free version: Available

Innago is a 100% free property management software that helps manage various types of properties, including commercial, residential, self storage, senior living, and salon properties. This tool protects you against property damage and legal issues with renter’s insurance. Tenants can upload their existing insurance to the system or purchase a fresh plan that comes with the tool. You have the option to specify the type and amount of coverage you need on the basis of your property type.

Free features:*

  • Automated invoicing: Generates and sends invoices for rent, fees, or other charges without manual intervention. It schedules recurring invoices, such as monthly rent, and instantly issues one-time invoices for additional services or late fees.

  • Digital signatures: Securely captures legally binding signatures, simplifying the process of executing contracts such as lease agreements or addendums. The software sends documents to tenants or property managers for review and signing, tracks the status of signatures, and stores the signed files for easy access. 

  • Work order tracking: Simplifies maintenance and repair requests management by tracking the status of each request, assigning tasks to vendors or maintenance teams, and setting deadlines. It provides real-time updates and notifications, ensuring issues are resolved promptly. 

Cost to upgrade: Free

Customer support options: Call, chat, email, and knowledge base

Innago

Innago

4.9 out of 5 stars

474 reviews

Pro tip

Look for eSignature feature in the tool as it allows you to quickly capture legally binding signatures for lease agreements and legal document approvals. This speeds up contract execution, reduces paperwork, and ensures faster tenant onboarding.

3. Stessa

Free trial period: Not available

Free version: Available

Stessa lets you manage unlimited properties and comes with a mobile app that lets you see how your properties are performing. The app has receipt scanning capabilities and uses machine learning and optical character recognition technologies to scan the contents of a receipt and invoice. It captures the date, tenant details, transaction information, and other relevant details from the receipts and automatically stores and organizes them in the system for audit and tax purposes.

Free features:*

  • Automatic bank feeds: Connects Stessa with your bank account for automatic importing of transactions. It categorizes incoming and outgoing payments, such as rent deposits, maintenance expenses, or utility bills, in real time and eliminates the need for manual entry, ensuring accurate financial records.

  • Automated late fees: Automatically applies penalties when rent payments are overdue. It calculates late fees based on pre-set rules, such as a percentage of rent or a flat fee, and adds them to the tenant's account. 

  • Document storage: Provides a centralized platform for storing and organizing important property-related documents, such as leases, contracts, tenant applications, and inspection reports. It includes role-based access control, ensuring documents are quickly accessible only to authorized personnel. 

Cost to upgrade: $12 per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Call, chat, email, and knowledge base

Stessa

Stessa

4.5 out of 5 stars

103 reviews

4. TurboTenant

Free trial period: Not available

Free version: Available

TurboTenant provides a portal to all the tenants that they can use to manage their information and raise maintenance requests. They can describe the issue, attach images, and suggest a time for the landlord to schedule the maintenance. The portal also supports in-app messaging that you can use to communicate with your tenants in real time. Moreover, TurboTenant helps you conduct move-in and move-out inspections and create digital reports that are quicker to edit and share. 

Free features:*

  • Lead management: Captures leads from various sources, such as online listings or inquiries, and consolidates them in one dashboard. The software automates follow-up communications, schedules viewings, and tracks lead progress through the leasing or sales process. 

  • Autopay for renters: Allows tenants to set up automatic recurring rent payments by linking their bank accounts or credit cards and scheduling payments to be made on a specific date each month. The software processes payments automatically, ensuring rent is paid on time without manual intervention. 

  • Rent tracking: Tracks due dates, payment statuses, and any outstanding balances. The software updates tenant accounts automatically as payments are received, and sends reminders for upcoming or overdue payments.

Cost to upgrade: $9.92 per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Chat, email, and knowledge base

TurboTenant

TurboTenant

4.5 out of 5 stars

106 reviews

Pro tip

Check if there’s any document storage limit in the free plan of the tool to ensure sufficient capacity for storing essential files such leases, contracts, and tenant records. Limited storage can hinder document management, requiring costly upgrades.

What is the cost to upgrade from free real estate property management software to paid software?

Real estate property management software upgrades can be as low as $9 per month or up to $375+ per month, depending on various factors—number of properties, deployment model, business size, integration capabilities, customization options, and more. Real estate property management solutions typically include the following subscription plans:

  • Free trials: Range from 14 to 30 days and give users temporary access to either complete or limited software features. These no-cost trial plans are ideal for businesses that wish to try out a tool before purchasing it. 

  • Free versions: Offer perpetual access to limited software features. These free plans are ideal for small businesses or individuals on a budget.

  • Entry-level plans: Start at $9 per month and offer access to standard features. They are recommended for small businesses or teams with basic feature requirements, such as property management, tenant portal, rent collection, and document storage. 

  • Mid-tier plans: Range from $29 to $174 per month and offer advanced features such as accounting, reporting and analytics, lease management, and automated invoicing. They are suitable for businesses that have outgrown basic solutions but don’t require the full range of functionality offered by enterprise-level tools.

  • High-end plans: Cost over $375 per month and offer a range of advanced capabilities, including unlimited access to entry-level and mid-tier features, priority customer support, and advanced reporting. They are suitable for large businesses that need a customized solution.

Hidden costs associated with real estate property management software

Besides the software license, additional costs in free real estate property management tools may include:

  • Setup fees: Some providers may charge initial setup fees for installation and configuration of the software.

  • Training costs: Training fees may apply if your team needs personalized training to use the software effectively.

  • Payment processing fees: Transaction fees for processing payments through the software can add up, especially if you have a high volume of transactions.

Frequently asked questions when selecting a free real estate property management software

Here are some questions to ask software providers to find free real estate property management software. 

  • How many properties does the tool help manage in the free plan?

Free real estate property management tools often have a limit on the number of properties you can manage. You may outgrow this limit as your business grows, resulting in additional costs. Therefore, verify these limitations beforehand to ensure the software can support the scale of your business without unexpected constraints or expenses.

  • What type of accounting features does the tool have in the free plan?

Basic free versions of real estate property management solutions may lack essential features such as expense tracking, rent payment reconciliation, or financial reporting. These limitations could result in time-consuming manual work or incomplete financial oversight. Understanding which accounting functions are included in the free plan helps avoid operational inefficiencies and ensures the software can handle critical tasks such as rent collection, budgeting, and tax preparation without costly upgrades.

  • Does the tool have a mobile app in the free plan?

A mobile app allows you to handle tasks such as tenant communication, maintenance requests, and rent tracking from anywhere. Without mobile access, managing properties may become less efficient, especially for fieldwork or urgent tasks. Verifying the inclusion of a mobile app in the free plan ensures better productivity and simplified operations for you.


Methodology

To be considered for this list, products had to:

  • Have at least 20 unique product reviews published on Software Advice within the past two years, with an average rating of 4.0 or higher (as of September 9, 2024). We selected the four products with the highest ratings to feature in this article.

  • Offer either a free stand-alone version of the software or a free trial that needs to be purchased after the trial period. 

  • Meet our definition of real estate property management software: “Real estate property management software automates back office, financial, and operational tools for real estate property managers. These applications provide rental management software tools for apartments, rental housing, commercial property, mobile home parks, storage facilities and property owner associations and enable users to track tenant information, vacancies, and leasing agreements.”

*Our research team identified these free features from vendor websites (as of September 9, 2024) based on their analysis of what users find valuable in or expect from real estate property management software. This list is not exhaustive. For additional free features, refer to the vendor's website.

Editorial independence: We select and rank products based on an objective methodology developed by our research team. While some vendors may pay us when they receive web traffic or leads, this has no influence on our methodology.

Note: Products evaluated for the pricing calculation were taken from Software Advices’s real estate property management software directory. The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in the Software Advice directory that offer them. Only products with publicly available pricing information, as of September 9, 2024, were considered for pricing calculation.