Quick Overview
- 1#1: Innago - Innago provides completely free, full-featured property management software for landlords with unlimited units, including tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance requests.
- 2#2: TurboTenant - TurboTenant offers free rental advertising, tenant screening, lease signing, and online rent collection for property owners.
- 3#3: Stessa - Stessa delivers free financial tracking, automated bookkeeping, and performance analytics for rental property investors.
- 4#4: Avail - Avail enables landlords to create custom leases, screen tenants, and manage maintenance for free.
- 5#5: TenantCloud - TenantCloud's free starter plan includes property listings, tenant portals, screening, and basic accounting features.
- 6#6: Baselane - Baselane provides free property management tools with integrated banking, automated bookkeeping, and investor insights.
- 7#7: Landlord Studio - Landlord Studio offers a free mobile-first app for expense tracking, rent collection, and reports for up to three properties.
- 8#8: Zillow Rental Manager - Zillow Rental Manager allows free listing syndication, application collection, and basic tenant screening.
- 9#9: Apartments.com Rental Manager - Apartments.com Rental Manager provides free advertising across multiple sites and applicant management tools.
- 10#10: Trulia Rental Manager - Trulia Rental Manager offers free rental postings, lead management, and basic application handling.
Tools were selected based on a focus on robust features, user-friendly design, reliability, and inherent value, ensuring they deliver meaningful utility even in a free offering.
Comparison Table
Dive into a comparison of leading free rental management software tools, featuring options like Innago, TurboTenant, Stessa, Avail, TenantCloud, and more. This table outlines key features, usability, and suitability to guide property managers in selecting the right solution for their operations.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Innago Innago provides completely free, full-featured property management software for landlords with unlimited units, including tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance requests. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.3/10 | 10/10 |
| 2 | TurboTenant TurboTenant offers free rental advertising, tenant screening, lease signing, and online rent collection for property owners. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | Stessa Stessa delivers free financial tracking, automated bookkeeping, and performance analytics for rental property investors. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 4 | Avail Avail enables landlords to create custom leases, screen tenants, and manage maintenance for free. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 5 | TenantCloud TenantCloud's free starter plan includes property listings, tenant portals, screening, and basic accounting features. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | Baselane Baselane provides free property management tools with integrated banking, automated bookkeeping, and investor insights. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 7 | Landlord Studio Landlord Studio offers a free mobile-first app for expense tracking, rent collection, and reports for up to three properties. | specialized | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | Zillow Rental Manager Zillow Rental Manager allows free listing syndication, application collection, and basic tenant screening. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 9 | Apartments.com Rental Manager Apartments.com Rental Manager provides free advertising across multiple sites and applicant management tools. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 10 | Trulia Rental Manager Trulia Rental Manager offers free rental postings, lead management, and basic application handling. | specialized | 6.8/10 | 5.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
Innago provides completely free, full-featured property management software for landlords with unlimited units, including tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance requests.
TurboTenant offers free rental advertising, tenant screening, lease signing, and online rent collection for property owners.
Stessa delivers free financial tracking, automated bookkeeping, and performance analytics for rental property investors.
Avail enables landlords to create custom leases, screen tenants, and manage maintenance for free.
TenantCloud's free starter plan includes property listings, tenant portals, screening, and basic accounting features.
Baselane provides free property management tools with integrated banking, automated bookkeeping, and investor insights.
Landlord Studio offers a free mobile-first app for expense tracking, rent collection, and reports for up to three properties.
Zillow Rental Manager allows free listing syndication, application collection, and basic tenant screening.
Apartments.com Rental Manager provides free advertising across multiple sites and applicant management tools.
Trulia Rental Manager offers free rental postings, lead management, and basic application handling.
Innago
specializedInnago provides completely free, full-featured property management software for landlords with unlimited units, including tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance requests.
Unlimited properties and units at zero subscription cost
Innago is a completely free rental property management software tailored for landlords and small property managers, offering core tools like online rent collection, tenant screening, e-signatures for leases, maintenance requests, and basic accounting. It supports unlimited properties and units without subscription fees, making it accessible for cost-conscious users. The platform streamlines tenant communication and financial tracking through a modern, web-based interface.
Pros
- Completely free with no limits on properties or units
- Free ACH rent collection and included tenant screening
- Intuitive interface with mobile access
Cons
- Credit/debit card payments incur tenant-paid fees
- Basic reporting lacks advanced customization
- Limited third-party integrations
Best For
Small landlords and independent property managers seeking a no-cost, feature-rich solution for everyday rental operations.
Pricing
100% free core software; ACH rent payments free, credit/debit cards have 2.99% tenant-paid fees.
TurboTenant
specializedTurboTenant offers free rental advertising, tenant screening, lease signing, and online rent collection for property owners.
Free syndication of listings to over 30 major rental websites including Zillow, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace
TurboTenant is a free property management software tailored for landlords, offering tools to list rentals on major sites, collect tenant applications, perform background screenings (paid by applicants), generate customizable leases, and handle online rent collection. It supports unlimited properties and units without subscription fees, making it ideal for cost-conscious users. While premium upgrades unlock advanced reporting and maintenance features, the core free tier covers essential rental management needs effectively.
Pros
- Completely free core features for unlimited properties and units
- Seamless tenant screening and application management
- Automated syndication to 30+ rental listing sites
Cons
- Rent collection incurs transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30)
- Limited advanced analytics and reporting in free version
- Premium plans required for bulk maintenance and custom branding
Best For
Small landlords and DIY property owners managing a handful of units who want robust free tools without subscription costs.
Pricing
Free forever plan for essentials; premium plans (Pro, Premium, Enterprise) start at $18/month per location.
Stessa
specializedStessa delivers free financial tracking, automated bookkeeping, and performance analytics for rental property investors.
AI-driven automated bookkeeping that categorizes transactions and produces professional financial reports instantly
Stessa is a free rental property management software tailored for real estate investors, providing automated bookkeeping, financial reporting, and portfolio performance analytics. It syncs directly with bank accounts and integrates with tools like QuickBooks to categorize transactions, track cash flow, and generate tax-ready reports. While focused primarily on financial management, it helps users monitor key metrics like cap rates, IRR, and occupancy across unlimited properties.
Pros
- Completely free for core accounting and reporting on unlimited properties
- Intuitive dashboards with investor-grade metrics like cash flow and ROI
- Seamless bank syncs and automated transaction categorization
Cons
- Lacks full property management tools like maintenance requests or tenant portals
- Limited customization for non-financial tasks
- Some features like tenant screening require paid add-ons
Best For
Individual real estate investors and small landlords prioritizing financial tracking over operational management.
Pricing
Free for unlimited properties and basic features; premium add-ons like tenant screening start at $3/month per property.
Avail
specializedAvail enables landlords to create custom leases, screen tenants, and manage maintenance for free.
Free syndication of listings to Zillow, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, and 20+ other sites with optimized templates.
Avail (avail.co) is an online platform tailored for independent landlords, offering free tools to list rentals on major sites, collect tenant applications, screen applicants with detailed reports, create state-specific leases, collect rent online, and manage maintenance requests. It streamlines property management for small-scale owners without requiring software installation or monthly fees for core features. While premium add-ons like unlimited screenings are available, the free tier handles most needs for DIY landlords effectively.
Pros
- Comprehensive free tools including listing syndication, lease creation, and maintenance tracking
- Intuitive mobile app and web interface for quick setup and daily use
- Transparent rent collection via Stripe with no monthly subscription fees
Cons
- Tenant screening limited to one free report per year; additional reports cost $36-$59 each
- Rent payments incur processing fees (approx. 3% + $0.30 per transaction)
- Lacks advanced accounting, tax reporting, or multi-property portfolio tools in free plan
Best For
Individual landlords or small investors managing 1-15 units who prioritize cost-free essentials over enterprise-level features.
Pricing
Free core plan; pay-per-use for screenings ($36-$59/report) and rent collection fees (2.95% + $0.30/transaction); premium subscriptions from $7/unit/month for unlimited features.
TenantCloud
specializedTenantCloud's free starter plan includes property listings, tenant portals, screening, and basic accounting features.
Free tenant screening with credit, criminal, and eviction reports
TenantCloud is a cloud-based property management platform offering a robust free plan for landlords handling up to 75 units. It includes essential tools like online rent collection, tenant screening, maintenance requests, lease signing, and property listings syndicated to multiple sites. The software simplifies rental operations through a user-friendly dashboard and mobile app, making it accessible for small-scale property owners.
Pros
- Free plan supports up to 75 units with core features like rent payments and screening
- Automatic listing syndication to 40+ rental sites
- Intuitive mobile app for on-the-go management
Cons
- Transaction fees apply to rent payments (e.g., 2.99% for credit cards)
- Advanced reporting and automation limited to paid plans
- Customer support restricted to email for free users
Best For
Small landlords or independent property managers with up to 75 units seeking a no-cost solution for basic rental operations.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 75 units; paid plans start at $15/unit/month (Pro) or $35/unit/month (Premium) for advanced features.
Baselane
specializedBaselane provides free property management tools with integrated banking, automated bookkeeping, and investor insights.
Integrated banking platform with dedicated debit cards and high-yield savings optimized for rental property cash flow
Baselane is a free all-in-one platform for landlords and property investors, combining rental property management tools with integrated banking and automated bookkeeping. It enables users to collect rent via ACH, track expenses and income automatically, manage tenant communications, handle maintenance requests, and generate financial reports. Designed specifically for real estate professionals, it offers FDIC-insured banking accounts, debit cards, and high-yield savings tailored to rental income.
Pros
- Completely free core rental management features including rent collection and bookkeeping
- Seamless integration with landlord-focused banking services like high-yield accounts
- User-friendly interface with automated expense categorization and reporting
Cons
- Limited to U.S.-based properties and banking
- Fewer advanced customization options compared to premium competitors
- Customer support primarily via email with no phone option for basic users
Best For
Small to mid-sized landlords looking for a no-cost solution that combines free property management with integrated banking.
Pricing
Free for all rental management and bookkeeping features; optional banking with no monthly fees and FDIC insurance.
Landlord Studio
specializedLandlord Studio offers a free mobile-first app for expense tracking, rent collection, and reports for up to three properties.
AI-powered mobile receipt scanning that automatically categorizes expenses
Landlord Studio is a mobile-first property management platform tailored for small-scale landlords, offering tools to track rent payments, log expenses, scan receipts, and generate basic financial reports. The free plan supports up to 3 rental units, making it accessible for beginners without any upfront costs. It emphasizes simplicity for everyday tasks like tenant communication and maintenance requests, though advanced automations require upgrades.
Pros
- Free forever for up to 3 units with core tracking features
- Intuitive mobile app with AI-powered receipt scanning
- Quick setup for rent collection and expense categorization
Cons
- Limited to 3 properties without upgrade
- No bank sync or automated payments in free plan
- Basic reporting lacks depth compared to paid alternatives
Best For
Solo landlords or new investors handling 1-3 properties who prioritize free, mobile-friendly basics over advanced automations.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 3 units; Pro plan at $12/month (billed annually) for unlimited units, bank sync, and more.
Zillow Rental Manager
specializedZillow Rental Manager allows free listing syndication, application collection, and basic tenant screening.
Unmatched property visibility through Zillow's vast rental marketplace
Zillow Rental Manager is a free platform offered by Zillow that enables landlords to list rental properties, collect applications, screen tenants, and manage basic rent payments. It integrates seamlessly with Zillow's massive real estate marketplace, providing high visibility to attract tenants quickly. While core listing and application features are free, advanced tools like tenant screening and online payments come with transaction fees.
Pros
- Free property listings on Zillow's high-traffic site for maximum exposure
- Intuitive interface that's quick to set up and use
- Integrated tenant applications and basic screening options
Cons
- Limited advanced features like maintenance tracking or financial reporting
- Fees for tenant screening ($29+) and rent collection (up to 3.49%)
- Not ideal for managing multiple properties or complex portfolios
Best For
Small-scale landlords or beginners with 1-4 properties who prioritize free listings and tenant acquisition over comprehensive management tools.
Pricing
Core features free; tenant screening $29-$35 per report, rent collection fees up to 3.49% per transaction.
Apartments.com Rental Manager
specializedApartments.com Rental Manager provides free advertising across multiple sites and applicant management tools.
Free property listings on Apartments.com, tapping into millions of active renters for unmatched visibility.
Apartments.com Rental Manager is a free online platform tailored for landlords and small property managers to handle key rental tasks like listing properties, tenant screening, online rent collection, and maintenance tracking. It leverages the massive Apartments.com marketplace to attract renters without listing fees. While robust for basics, it includes optional paid upgrades for advanced features like e-signatures and premium screening.
Pros
- Completely free core features including listings and basic tenant screening
- Seamless integration with Apartments.com for massive renter exposure
- User-friendly interface with mobile app support for on-the-go management
Cons
- Limited customization and reporting in the free tier
- Transaction fees on rent payments and some premium screenings
- Lacks advanced accounting or multi-property portfolio tools compared to paid competitors
Best For
Ideal for solo landlords or small-scale owners managing 1-10 units who prioritize free listings and simple tenant management over enterprise-level features.
Pricing
Free for basic use; paid add-ons like $35 tenant screening reports, 2.99% + $0.30 rent payment fees, and premium plans starting at $10/month.
Trulia Rental Manager
specializedTrulia Rental Manager offers free rental postings, lead management, and basic application handling.
Massive free exposure to Trulia's 50M+ monthly renters for quick applicant leads.
Trulia Rental Manager is a free platform integrated with Trulia's real estate marketplace, allowing landlords to list rental properties, collect tenant applications, and perform basic screening. It leverages Trulia's high traffic to attract potential renters without listing fees. However, it offers limited full-spectrum property management tools beyond listings and applications.
Pros
- Free property listings with exposure to millions of Trulia users
- Straightforward tenant application and screening process
- User-friendly interface integrated with Trulia's ecosystem
Cons
- No built-in rent collection, accounting, or maintenance tracking
- Limited reporting and customization options
- Advanced screening features require additional fees
Best For
Small-scale landlords or property owners with 1-5 units seeking free visibility and basic applicant management without complex needs.
Pricing
Free for core listing and application management; optional paid tenant screening ($40+ per report).
Conclusion
The best free rental management software offers diverse strengths, with Innago leading as the top choice—providing unlimited units, full-featured tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance requests. TurboTenant stands out for its robust advertising and lease signing tools, while Stessa excels with automated bookkeeping and financial analytics, making each a strong alternative for specific needs. Together, these platforms simplify property management, empowering landlords to streamline operations.
Begin with Innago’s free, comprehensive platform to experience hassle-free tenant management—from screening to maintenance. Explore TurboTenant or Stessa if your focus lies in advertising or financial tracking, as each delivers tailored value for different goals.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
