Quick Overview
- 1#1: Stessa - Automated bookkeeping, profit/loss tracking, and tax-ready reports specifically for real estate investors.
- 2#2: Baselane - Integrated banking and bookkeeping platform designed for rental property owners with automated expense categorization.
- 3#3: QuickBooks Online - Cloud accounting software with real estate templates, property tracking, and integrations for investors and managers.
- 4#4: Buildium - Property management platform with comprehensive accounting features for rent collection, expenses, and financial reporting.
- 5#5: AppFolio - Full-featured property management software including advanced bookkeeping, AP/AR, and portfolio financials.
- 6#6: DoorLoop - All-in-one property management with robust accounting tools for multi-property bookkeeping and compliance.
- 7#7: Rentec Direct - Affordable rental management software with built-in general ledger and financial reporting for landlords.
- 8#8: Xero - Cloud-based accounting with real estate add-ons for tracking leases, expenses, and bank reconciliations.
- 9#9: Yardi Breeze - Cloud property management suite with integrated accounting for small to mid-sized real estate portfolios.
- 10#10: Rent Manager - Property management software featuring a complete accounting system for maintenance, rents, and financials.
We ranked these tools based on real estate-specific functionality, including automated processes, tax capabilities, and integration strength, alongside ease of use, reliability, and overall value to deliver a curated list of top-performing solutions.
Comparison Table
Real estate bookkeeping demands specialized tools to manage property income, expenses, and reporting; this comparison table contrasts top solutions like Stessa, Baselane, QuickBooks Online, Buildium, AppFolio, and more, equipping readers to find the right fit by analyzing features, ease of use, and cost.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stessa Automated bookkeeping, profit/loss tracking, and tax-ready reports specifically for real estate investors. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.5/10 | 10/10 |
| 2 | Baselane Integrated banking and bookkeeping platform designed for rental property owners with automated expense categorization. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | QuickBooks Online Cloud accounting software with real estate templates, property tracking, and integrations for investors and managers. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 4 | Buildium Property management platform with comprehensive accounting features for rent collection, expenses, and financial reporting. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | AppFolio Full-featured property management software including advanced bookkeeping, AP/AR, and portfolio financials. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | DoorLoop All-in-one property management with robust accounting tools for multi-property bookkeeping and compliance. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 7 | Rentec Direct Affordable rental management software with built-in general ledger and financial reporting for landlords. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 8 | Xero Cloud-based accounting with real estate add-ons for tracking leases, expenses, and bank reconciliations. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 9 | Yardi Breeze Cloud property management suite with integrated accounting for small to mid-sized real estate portfolios. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 10 | Rent Manager Property management software featuring a complete accounting system for maintenance, rents, and financials. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
Automated bookkeeping, profit/loss tracking, and tax-ready reports specifically for real estate investors.
Integrated banking and bookkeeping platform designed for rental property owners with automated expense categorization.
Cloud accounting software with real estate templates, property tracking, and integrations for investors and managers.
Property management platform with comprehensive accounting features for rent collection, expenses, and financial reporting.
Full-featured property management software including advanced bookkeeping, AP/AR, and portfolio financials.
All-in-one property management with robust accounting tools for multi-property bookkeeping and compliance.
Affordable rental management software with built-in general ledger and financial reporting for landlords.
Cloud-based accounting with real estate add-ons for tracking leases, expenses, and bank reconciliations.
Cloud property management suite with integrated accounting for small to mid-sized real estate portfolios.
Property management software featuring a complete accounting system for maintenance, rents, and financials.
Stessa
specializedAutomated bookkeeping, profit/loss tracking, and tax-ready reports specifically for real estate investors.
Free, automated bank reconciliation and AI-driven expense categorization for unlimited rental properties
Stessa is a free, cloud-based bookkeeping and financial management platform tailored for real estate investors and landlords. It automates rental income and expense tracking, bank reconciliations, and categorization across unlimited properties and units. The software provides real-time dashboards, profit & loss statements, cash flow reports, and tax-ready exports to simplify compliance and decision-making.
Pros
- Completely free for unlimited properties and core bookkeeping features
- Automated bank sync, transaction categorization, and multi-property management
- Comprehensive reports including P&L, balance sheets, and 1099 exports
Cons
- Limited to US-based properties and tax rules
- Customer support primarily self-service with email ticketing
- Advanced analytics and custom benchmarks require a paid Pro upgrade
Best For
Real estate investors and landlords with rental portfolios seeking automated, cost-free bookkeeping and reporting.
Pricing
Free forever for core features with unlimited properties; Pro tier starts at $12/property/month for advanced analytics and benchmarks.
Baselane
specializedIntegrated banking and bookkeeping platform designed for rental property owners with automated expense categorization.
Fully automated, property-level transaction categorization powered by AI, integrated directly with high-yield banking
Baselane is an all-in-one financial platform tailored for real estate investors, providing automated bookkeeping, high-yield banking, and portfolio management tools specifically for rental properties. It connects to bank accounts to automatically categorize income and expenses at the property level, generate profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax-ready reports like Schedule E. The software streamlines financial tracking, cash flow management, and compliance for landlords without requiring manual data entry.
Pros
- Free automated bookkeeping with property-specific tracking
- High-yield banking integration (up to 4.19% APY) with no monthly fees
- Tax-ready reports including Schedule E and 1099s
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations beyond major banks
- Primarily geared toward US-based users
- Some advanced portfolio tools still evolving
Best For
Small to mid-sized real estate investors and landlords managing rental portfolios who want free, automated financial tools.
Pricing
Core banking and bookkeeping are free; premium features like advanced analytics start at $10/month per property.
QuickBooks Online
enterpriseCloud accounting software with real estate templates, property tracking, and integrations for investors and managers.
Class and location tracking for granular per-property profit/loss reporting without needing separate accounts
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting platform from Intuit that provides comprehensive bookkeeping tools for tracking income, expenses, invoicing, and financial reporting. For real estate professionals, it supports property-specific tracking via classes and locations, bank reconciliations, and integrations with property management apps. While versatile for general real estate bookkeeping, it requires custom setups for advanced needs like rent rolls or tenant ledgers.
Pros
- Robust bank feeds and automatic transaction categorization for efficient reconciliation
- Class and location tracking to segment finances by property or portfolio
- Extensive app marketplace for integrations with real estate tools like Rentec or Buildium
Cons
- Lacks built-in real estate-specific features like native rent rolls or security deposit tracking
- Advanced RE setups require workarounds and may need accountant assistance
- Higher-tier plans necessary for multi-property reporting, increasing costs
Best For
Small to mid-sized real estate investors or property managers seeking a flexible, general-purpose accounting solution with strong customization options.
Pricing
Starts at $30/month (Simple Start) up to $200/month (Advanced), with annual discounts; real estate users often need Plus ($90/month) or higher.
Buildium
specializedProperty management platform with comprehensive accounting features for rent collection, expenses, and financial reporting.
Built-in trust accounting that automatically segregates owner and tenant funds while ensuring regulatory compliance
Buildium is a comprehensive property management platform with robust bookkeeping features tailored for real estate professionals managing residential portfolios. It automates rent collection, tracks expenses and vendor payments, handles bank reconciliations, and generates compliance-ready financial reports including 1099s and trust accounting statements. While not a standalone bookkeeping tool, it integrates accounting seamlessly with tenant screening, maintenance requests, and leasing workflows.
Pros
- Automated bank integrations and reconciliations for accurate real-time bookkeeping
- Comprehensive financial reporting with customizable dashboards and tax forms
- Scalable trust accounting compliant with state regulations for security deposits
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with portfolio size, potentially expensive for larger operations
- Advanced accounting customization requires setup time and expertise
- Less specialized for commercial real estate compared to residential focus
Best For
Small to mid-sized residential property managers and landlords seeking integrated bookkeeping within a full property management suite.
Pricing
Tiered plans start at $58/month for up to 20 units (Essential), $175/month for 50 units (Growth), and $335/month for 150 units (Premium), billed annually with additional fees per unit.
AppFolio
enterpriseFull-featured property management software including advanced bookkeeping, AP/AR, and portfolio financials.
Trust accounting and automated owner distributions tightly integrated with tenant management
AppFolio is an all-in-one property management software with robust built-in bookkeeping tools designed for real estate professionals managing residential and commercial properties. It handles automated rent collection, accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliations, trust accounting, and generates owner statements and financial reports. The platform ensures accurate tracking of expenses, income, and distributions while maintaining compliance with real estate accounting standards.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of bookkeeping with property management workflows
- Automated bank feeds and reconciliations for efficiency
- Detailed financial reporting and owner portals
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply for small portfolios with minimum fees
- Steeper learning curve for non-accounting users
- Less flexibility for custom bookkeeping outside property management
Best For
Medium to large-scale property managers and real estate firms needing integrated accounting within full property operations.
Pricing
Per-unit pricing starts at $1.40/unit/month for Core plan (min. $280/mo), up to $3.05/unit/month for Max plan; custom quotes for enterprises.
DoorLoop
specializedAll-in-one property management with robust accounting tools for multi-property bookkeeping and compliance.
Automated Bookkeeping Engine that instantly categorizes transactions, reconciles banks, and generates real-time financial statements tied to property performance
DoorLoop is a comprehensive property management platform with integrated bookkeeping features designed specifically for real estate investors, landlords, and property managers. It automates key accounting tasks such as rent collection, expense tracking, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting, including profit & loss statements and tax-ready reports. The software syncs seamlessly with property management functions, providing a unified dashboard for portfolio oversight and accurate bookkeeping.
Pros
- Seamless integration of property management and automated bookkeeping
- Robust financial reporting and bank reconciliation tools
- Scalable for portfolios of any size with multi-property support
Cons
- Pricing scales with number of units, which can get expensive for large portfolios
- Some advanced reporting requires custom setup
- Occasional delays in customer support response times
Best For
Real estate investors and small-to-medium property managers who want an all-in-one platform combining property operations with reliable bookkeeping.
Pricing
Starts at $59/month for up to 50 units, with tiered plans scaling to $149+/month for larger portfolios; 14-day free trial available.
Rentec Direct
specializedAffordable rental management software with built-in general ledger and financial reporting for landlords.
Automated bank reconciliation that matches transactions directly to ledger entries for quick and accurate bookkeeping.
Rentec Direct is a cloud-based property management software with integrated bookkeeping tools designed for landlords and real estate investors managing rental properties. It handles rent collection, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and generates essential financial reports like profit/loss statements and 1099 forms. The platform streamlines accounting tasks while offering tenant management features, making it suitable for small to mid-sized portfolios.
Pros
- Affordable pricing scalable by unit count
- Intuitive interface with mobile app access
- Automated rent payments and late fee calculations
Cons
- Lacks advanced accounting integrations like full QuickBooks sync
- Reporting customization is somewhat limited
- No built-in payroll processing for property staff
Best For
Small to medium-sized landlords and property managers handling 10-100 units who need straightforward bookkeeping alongside tenant management.
Pricing
Starts at $45/month for up to 10 units; scales to $210+/month for 100+ units, with a free trial available.
Xero
enterpriseCloud-based accounting with real estate add-ons for tracking leases, expenses, and bank reconciliations.
Flexible tracking categories and projects for allocating transactions to specific properties without needing add-ons
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, providing tools for invoicing, bank reconciliation, expense tracking, payroll, and financial reporting. For real estate bookkeeping, it supports property-level tracking via categories and projects, enabling landlords and investors to monitor income from rents, expenses like maintenance, and generate reports for multiple properties. While versatile and integrable with property management apps like Rentec Direct or Buildium, it lacks native real estate features such as trust accounting or automated tenant ledgers.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with real-time dashboards and mobile app accessibility
- Automated bank feeds and reconciliation streamline rent and expense tracking
- Extensive integrations with real estate tools via the app marketplace
Cons
- No built-in real estate specifics like tenant management or 1099 vendor tracking
- Custom setups required for complex portfolios, adding setup time
- Higher-tier plans needed for unlimited invoicing in busy agencies
Best For
Small real estate investors or property managers handling basic bookkeeping who value ease of use and integrations over specialized features.
Pricing
Starts at $20/mo (Early: limited invoices/bills), $37/mo (Growing), $70/mo (Established: unlimited); annual discounts available, per organization with user limits on lower plans.
Yardi Breeze
enterpriseCloud property management suite with integrated accounting for small to mid-sized real estate portfolios.
Flexible real estate billing engine that handles complex prorations, concessions, and security deposits automatically
Yardi Breeze is a cloud-based property management software with integrated real estate bookkeeping capabilities, designed for small to mid-sized portfolios. It automates accounting tasks like accounts payable/receivable, general ledger management, bank reconciliations, and financial reporting tailored to property types such as multifamily and commercial. The platform streamlines rent collection, expense tracking, and compliance with real estate-specific prorations and security deposits.
Pros
- Seamless integration of property management and bookkeeping for end-to-end operations
- Robust real estate-specific financial tools like automated prorations and tenant ledgers
- Cloud-based with mobile access for real-time financial oversight
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with portfolio size, potentially expensive for small users
- Limited advanced customization for complex accounting needs
- Learning curve for non-accountants despite intuitive interface
Best For
Small to mid-sized property managers and investors with multifamily or commercial portfolios needing integrated bookkeeping.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically $1-2 per unit per month with minimums around $100-300/month depending on portfolio size.
Rent Manager
enterpriseProperty management software featuring a complete accounting system for maintenance, rents, and financials.
Integrated trust accounting with regulatory compliance for real estate transactions
Rent Manager is a comprehensive property management software with robust bookkeeping features tailored for real estate professionals managing rental portfolios. It provides tools for rent collection, accounts payable/receivable, general ledger management, bank reconciliations, and customizable financial reporting. The platform integrates property operations with accounting to streamline financial workflows for multi-family, single-family, and commercial properties.
Pros
- Powerful accounting suite with GL, AP/AR, and trust accounting
- Advanced reporting and bank integration for accurate reconciliations
- Scalable for portfolios of any size
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Higher pricing for smaller operations
- Interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
Best For
Mid-sized property managers and landlords needing integrated property management and bookkeeping.
Pricing
Custom quotes starting at ~$1 per unit/month with minimum fees; includes setup costs and tiers based on units managed.
Conclusion
Comparing top real estate bookkeeping software reveals standout performers that cater to diverse needs, with Stessa emerging as the top choice for its specialized focus on investor-friendly tax readiness and profit tracking. Baselane leads as a strong alternative with its integrated banking and automated expense organization, while QuickBooks Online impresses with adaptable real estate templates and broad integrations. Each tool excels in distinct areas, ensuring there’s a solution for every property owner or manager.
Elevate your real estate financial management—try Stessa today to simplify bookkeeping, track profits, and prepare for taxes with ease.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison