9 Best Property Management Software For Small Landlords

Property management software for small landlords should pack all the features you need in a cost-effective, scalable, and easy-to-use system.

Managing a small rental portfolio comes with unique challenges—limited time, smaller budgets, and the constant juggle of tenant communication, rent collection, and property upkeep. The best rental property software for small landlords is designed to make these tasks faster, easier, and more organized, without the steep learning curve or high costs of enterprise-level systems.

And, for the same reason that a general accounting solution like QuickBooks might not be right to manage your rentals, not all property management software is suitable for all portfolios.

In this 2025 guide, we’ll compare the top property management software for small landlords, explore the features that matter most for portfolios under 50 units, and help you choose a solution that not only meets your needs today but scales as your rental business grows.

Best Property Management Software For Small Landlords: Overview

Property Management Software Highlighted Features Pricing
Landlord Studio Financial tracking, reporting, rent collection, tenant management, maintenance tracking, document storage Free plan (3 units), PRO plan starts at $12/month
Landlordy Rent collection, mobile app Free (1 property), Mini plan $14.99, Up to 10 units $49.99, More than 10 units $99.99
Avail Listing syndication, rent collection, tenant screening, work orders Free plan (limited), Plus plan $9/unit/month
TenantCloud Rent payments, work orders, vendor payments Starter plan $17/month, Growth plan $32/month, PRO plan $55/month
Rentec Direct Accounting tools, work orders, tenant communications, owner portal Starts at $45/month (10 units), $90/month (50 units), $180/month (100 units), $900/month (500 units)
RentRedi Rent payment management, tenant screening, maintenance management, property listing, tenant communication Monthly plan $29.95, Annual plan $12/month, 6-month plan $20/month
SimplifyEm QuickBooks integration, payment reminders, automated rent payments Starts at $40/month (scales with additional units)
TurboTenant Listing syndication, tenant screening, rent collection, document storage Free plan, Premium starts at $9.92/month, Accounting add-on $15/month + $5 per extra unit
Rentler Rent collection, tenant communication, listing management, tenant screening Free, Optional costs: $19.95 rentability report, $25 forms, $6.95 rent reporting, listing $15/day
Stessa Financial management, bank feeds, tenant screening Free plan, Manage plan $12/month, PRO plan $28/month

What to Look for in Rental Property Software for Small Landlords

Transitioning from spreadsheets, paper records, and manual reminders to property management software for small landlords can feel like a big step — but it’s one that pays off quickly in saved time, fewer mistakes, and better organization.

When evaluating your options, focus on these key factors:

1. Cost-effective

If you’re managing between 1 and 50 units, every dollar matters. Look for rental property software for small landlords that offers strong value — not just low upfront costs, but features that help you save money long term. For example, automated expense tracking can help you claim every deduction and keep more of your rental income at tax time.

2. Full-featured

While your portfolio might not look like Warren Buffet’s (yet), using professional tools will help you streamline operations, plan for scale, and mitigate risks. The software you select should offer a robust suite of features that cater to the various aspects of property management. From tenant screening to rent collection to financial management and reporting

The right property management software for small landlords should give you everything you need to run your rentals professionally, without overwhelming you with unnecessary complexity.

3. Scalable

Today you may have just a few properties, but your software should be ready to grow with you. Choose a platform that allows you to add more units, unlock advanced features, and keep all your data organized as your portfolio expands.

4. Good customer support

Great tools come with great customer support. Whether you’re setting up your first listing or troubleshooting a rent payment, responsive customer service and easy-to-follow help guides make a big difference.

5. Intuitive/easy to use

Time is money, especially for small landlords. A clean interface, logical menus, and mobile-friendly design help you get up and running quickly, without weeks of training or expensive onboarding.

Benefits of Property Management Software for Small Landlords

Rental property management software offers several valuable benefits.

Improved Time Management 

From handling maintenance requests and conducting inspections to communicating with tenants and recording expenses, your day is packed. Even if you manage just a few properties, staying on top of everything can be overwhelming. With property management software, you can automate key tasks such as tenant communication and scheduling inspections. 

Enhanced Professionalism

Being a small business doesn’t mean you can't provide high-quality services. Landlords who use rental property management software offer more professional services allowing them to reduce vacancies and increase tenant retention.

Increased Profitability

Never miss a deduction again. Good property management software should provide you with easy-to-use accounting tools that will help you take full advantages of the tax benefits of being a real estate investor. Reduce manual data entry and accounting errors with accounting automation, plus track your mileage, and even digitize receipts.

9 Best Property Management Software for Small Landlords

1. Landlord Studio

Landlord Studio comes out on top when compared to similar property management software for small landlords offering a full range of features, the most comprehensive accounting and reporting tools, and a free plan.

When it comes to property management software for small landlords, Landlord Studio emerges as a standout option that ticks all the boxes. 

This comprehensive solution is designed to address the unique needs of individuals managing small to medium portfolios, offering an array of features that streamline every facet of property management.

About Landlord Studio

Landlord Studio is a cloud-based property management software that has gained acclaim for its user-friendly interface, robust feature set, and unwavering commitment to aiding small landlords in their endeavors. 

The platform's intuitive design ensures that even those new to property management software can navigate it with ease. With a focus on automation and organization, Landlord Studio seeks to alleviate the administrative burdens associated with property management, enabling landlords to invest more time in growing their portfolio and cultivating tenant relationships.

Features

  • Financial Tracking: Landlord Studio provides comprehensive financial tracking tools with powerful automation thats invaluable during tax season
  • Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports that provide insights into property performance, financial trends, and more. 
  • Rent Collection: Reduce the chance of late rent with automated online rent collection.
  • Tenant Management: Create rental listings and syndicate them to top platforms like Zillow and Zumper, screen tenants and track tenant details, lease agreements, and rent payments seamlessly. 
  • Maintenance Tracking: Effectively manage maintenance requests and repairs by logging and tracking them within the software. 
  • Document Storage: Store and organize essential documents related to your properties in a centralized location. 

Pricing

Landlord Studio offers three plans.

  • GO, which is FREE for your first 3 units.
  • PRO which starts at $12 per month. Additional units costing $1/unit per month.
  • PRO Plus. Pricing starts at $28 per month. Additional units costing $1/unit per month.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly: Landlord Studio's intuitive interface ensures ease of use, even for those without extensive technical backgrounds.
  • Comprehensive features: The platform encompasses a wide range of features that cater to every aspect of property management, and streamlining operations.
  • Cost-effective: With its transparent pricing, feature-rich plans, and a free version, Landlord Studio offers great value.
  • Excellent support: The platform boasts responsive customer support, ensuring assistance is readily available when needed.
  • Manage on the go: Digitize receipts at the point of sale and easily stay on top of your rental management with the intuitive mobile app.

Cons:

  • Limited integrations: Landlord Studio is designed so you don’t need to use additional software with essential features including a receipt scanner and mileage tracker built-in. 

2. Landlordy

Landlordy is a simple and straightforward mobile app designed for landlords. Landlordy comes with an acceptable user interface, however, in comparison to some of the alternatives in this article, Landlordy's range of features is relatively modest.

Nevertheless, if your primary requirement is to effectively manage rent payments on the go and you're open to sacrificing some of the more advanced capabilities found in standard property management software, it might be worth considering Landlordy.

Pricing

Landlordy provides a free version which can be used for 1 property. Or you can pay $14.99, to upgrade to their Mini plan. For users with up to than 10 units, there is a tier priced at $49.99, and for users with more than 10 units, you will need to pay $99.99.

3. Avail

Avail boasts a broader set of features than Landlordy and also provides a free plan. However, for users with more than 1 or 2 units the paid plan quickly becomes one of the most costly on this list. One of Avail's strengths lies in its listing syndication feature, which is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to secure new tenants. 

Highlighted features

  • Listing syndication
  • Online rent payments
  • Management of work orders
  • Tenant screening

Pricing

Avail offers two plans. Their free plan has limited features and additional costs for features like rent collection. Their Plus plan costs $9 per unit per month. This includes the cost of rent collection fees and gives you full access to all of their features.

4. Tenant Cloud

TenantCloud offers a comprehensive range of features with a focus on finding and managing tenants. They no longer support a free plan.

Highlighted features

  • Online rent payments
  • Management of work orders
  • Vendor payments

Pricing

TenantCloud no longer offer a free plan. However, their Starter plan comes at a reasonable cost of $17 per month.

If you have more complex needs you will need to upgrade. Their Growth plan costs $32 per month, their PRO plan costs $55 per month and they offer custom pricing for enterprise customers.

5. Rentec Direct

Rentec Direct is another full-featured property management software for small landlords, offering tools for everything from online rent payments to robust reporting tools. Its accounting functionalities are well-received though less comprehensive compared to industry leaders like Landlord Studio.

Additionally, users have reported challenges in navigating Rentec Direct's interface and locating specific functions, which can lead to difficulties in its regular use.

Highlighted features

  • Good accounting capabilities
  • Work order management
  • Tools for tenant communications
  • Owner portal access

Pricing

Rentec Direct starts at $45 per month for up to 10 units, with costs escalating in accordance with a tiered model.

For instance, the pricing stands at $90 per month for 50 units, $180 per month for 100 units, and $900 per month for 500 units.

6. RentRedi

RentRedi’s user-friendly mobile application centralizes communication, documentation, and notifications for all parties involved.

One mentionable feature of RentRedi is its ability to aid small landlords in reducing vacancy rates and minimizing turnover time. The platform offers complimentary syndicated listings on Realtor.com and Doorsteps, facilitating broader exposure for rental properties.

Highlighted features

  • Rent Payment Management
  • Tenant Screening Services
  • Streamlined Maintenance Management
  • Property Listing and Marketing Capabilities
  • Tenant Communication Tools

Pricing

  • Monthly Plan: $29.95 per month
  • Annual Plan: $12 per month
  • 6-Month Plan: $20 per month

7. SimplifyEm

SimplifyEm's primary focus revolves around simplifying rent tracking and collection, offering several handy features such as payment reminders.

Highlighted features

  • Integration with QuickBooks
  • Reminders
  • Automated rent payment 

Pricing

SimplifyEm offer a free trial and their plans start at $40 per month and scales as you add more units.

8. Turbo Tenant

TurboTenant is a well-established property management software for small landlords aiming to streamline their property management procedures. TurboTenant offers a holistic toolkit with listing syndication, tenant screening and lease agreement tools.

Highlighted features

  • Listing syndication
  • Tenant screening 
  • Rent collection
  • Document storage

Pricing:

TurboTenant have a free tier and their premium plan starts at $9.92 per month. However, if you want the accounting tools you’ll need to buy their optional accounting add-on that starts at $15 per month for the first unit and an additional $5 per unit per month.

8. Rentler

Rentler aims to help landlords simplify tenant interactions and property-related tasks, making it an excellent option for property owners and managers seeking streamlined operations.

The software excels in features like rent tracking and collection, as well as enabling communication between landlords and tenants within the platform. However, it lacks several of the more important admin and rental accounting features that other software on this list have.

Highlighted features

  • Rent collection
  • Tenant communication tools
  • Listing creation and management
  • Tenant screening

Pricing

Rentler is free to use. They make money through a variety of product upsells. Because their model is so tailored towards upsells these costs can quickly stack up.  

  • Rentability Report - $19.95 per report, 
  • Forms - $99 for access to legal forms, 
  • Online Rent Payments - $1.95 ACH Fee, 3.5% + $0.30 for debit and credit cards, 
  • Listings from $15/day, 
  • Application Subscription - $45 for 30 days of use. 
  • Rent Reporting - $6.95 monthly to report your tenant’s rent payments to all 3 major credit bureaus.

9. Stessa

Stessa empowers landlords with the ability to seamlessly collect rent, automate rent reminders for tenants, and offer real-time notifications upon rent payment. 

With its user-friendly interface and a basic range of property management features. The software’s primary focus is on its financial management tools and offers rental property banking options as well. 

Highlighted features

  • Financial management tools
  • Bank feeds (when you bank with Stessa)
  • Tenant screening

Pricing

Stessa offers three pricing plans. A free tier that comes with basic features like rent collection. Their manage plan which costs $12 per month, and their PRO plan which starts at $28 per month.

The Best Rental Management Software for Small Landlords: Final Words

For small landlords, choosing the right rental property software isn’t just about convenience—it’s about building a more profitable, scalable, and stress-free rental business. The right platform combines rent collection, tenant screening, accounting, and maintenance tracking into one easy-to-use dashboard, tailored to the needs (and budgets) of landlords with fewer units.

Landlord Studio is an all-in-one property management solution purpose-built for investors and property managers with small to medium-sized portfolios. Automate time-consuming tasks like collecting rent, issuing receipts, and tracking income and expenses, use templated emails to automate tenant communications and stay on top of your financials with ease.

Landlords that use Landlord Studio to help them manage their properties reported saving weeks of time in admin and as much as $500 more per property at tax time in additional deductions.

Get started free today and see why more small landlords are making Landlord Studio their go-to property management software.

Plus, Landlord Studio pricing starts at free, no credit card required. 

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Best Property Management Software for Small Landlords: FAQ

What is considered a small landlord?

Small landlords have limited portfolios often ranging from 1 to around 10 units. Many small landlords continue to grow their portfolios over time. So it’s important that no matter how small your portfolio is now, the solution you choose can scale with you. Landlord Studio, for example, supports users with portfolios of just 1 or 2 units to several hundred.

What are the key features to look for in property management software for small landlords?

The software you decide on should offer all the tools you need to manage your rentals, from creating listings and finding tenants to collecting rent and filing taxes.

Why should small landlords consider educational resources and community support when choosing property management software?

We believe that landlords who learn more earn more. Whether that’s learning about how to depreciate property, handle ESA requests, or manage wear and tear, landlords who continually learn provide themselves an edge in the real estate industry. This is why we continue to develop powerful resources like our videos, state legal pages, blog content, and provide help and support via our FaceBook community, help documents, email, and phone.

How can Landlord Studio offer their software for free?

When you use Landlord Studio’s free landlord software generates revenue when your tenant completes tasks like paying rent or submitting a background check.

What is the best rental property software for small landlords in 2025?

The best option depends on your portfolio size, budget, and must-have features. For most landlords with 1–50 units, Landlord Studio offers the best balance of affordability, usability, and functionality — including rent collection, tenant screening, accounting, and maintenance tracking, all in one app.

Do small landlords really need property management software?

Even if you only have one or two rentals, property management software for small landlords can save hours of admin work each month, reduce mistakes, and help you keep better financial records. It also makes you look more professional to tenants, which can improve retention.

What’s the difference between rental property software and property management software?

In most cases, the terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to tools that help landlords handle rent collection, tenant communication, maintenance, and accounting. However, some “rental property software” is tailored specifically for small landlords, while “property management software” can also refer to enterprise solutions for large portfolios.

How much does property management software for small landlords cost?

Pricing varies widely, from free plans for very small portfolios to $40+ per month for more advanced features or higher unit counts. Many solutions, like Landlord Studio, offer free plans for up to 3 units and affordable upgrades as your portfolio grows.

Can I manage my rentals with QuickBooks instead of property management software?

QuickBooks is designed for general business accounting, not real estate management. Rental property software for small landlords includes industry-specific tools like tenant screening, online rent collection, and lease tracking, which QuickBooks doesn’t provide out of the box.

Will rental property software help at tax time?

Yes. Many platforms automatically track income and expenses, generate tax-ready reports, and store digital receipts, helping you maximize deductions and stay compliant with IRS requirements.

What features are most important for small landlords?

The essentials include:

  • Online rent collection
  • Tenant screening
  • Expense and income tracking
  • Maintenance request tracking
  • Document storage and digital leases
  • Reporting and tax prep tools

Can property management software help reduce vacancies?

Yes! By streamlining tenant communication, enabling fast listing syndication, and automating application processing, small landlords can fill vacancies faster and keep tenants longer.

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