Zillow Rental Manager Review: Cost, Features, & Alternatives

Zillow Rental Manager serves as Zillow's solution for rental owners, property managers, and real estate agents seeking tools for managing their rental listings and properties. While its feature set is somewhat restricted compared to comprehensive property management software, it does provide essential features including online property advertising, tenant screening, and rent collection.

Both Zillow Rental Manager and Landlord Studio aim to simplify the rental process for landlords and tenants alike. However, understanding their points of differentiation is crucial in determining which platform best suits your rental business needs in 2026.

In this comprehensive review, we delve into the distinctions between Zillow Rental Manager and Landlord Studio, examining real user feedback, features, pricing, and pros and cons to help you make an informed decision for your rental business. With over 31,000 monthly searches for "Zillow Rental Manager," it's clear many landlords are evaluating this platform - this guide will help you determine if it's the right choice.

About Zillow Rental Manager

Zillow Rental Manager is a straightforward platform, designed for those who prioritize simplicity and ease of use. It's ideal for rental owners, property managers, and real estate agents who want basic tools for managing their rental properties with minimal hassle.

This platform primarily focuses on listings, applications, and tenant screening, offering features like background checks, credit history verification, and eviction reports. Additionally, it provides basic rent collection options, including credit card payments, auto-pay, and payment history tracking.

Launched as part of Zillow's expansion into property management services, Zillow Rental Manager has positioned itself as a free entry point for landlords looking to advertise properties and screen tenants. The platform leverages Zillow's massive real estate marketplace reach - with over 34 million monthly visitors across Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads - giving landlords significant listing exposure.

However, it's important to note that Zillow Rental Manager lacks several features found in more complete property management software. For instance, it doesn't include tenant communication tools, maintenance management capabilities, or the necessary accounting tools that landlords and investors need if they want to run a profitable rental business. This means you'll need to employ other systems (often at additional cost) for these features.

What Real Users Are Saying About Zillow Rental Manager (2026)

To provide you with an accurate picture of Zillow Rental Manager's real-world performance, we've analyzed hundreds of user reviews from the App Store, Google Play, BiggerPockets forums, and software review platforms.

What Users Love: The most praised feature is the ability to list properties for free across Zillow's network. As one App Store reviewer stated: "I can't possibly say enough good things. It's easy to use and the organization for everything is under one app." The platform's integration with Zillow's 34+ million monthly visitors provides substantial exposure that would be expensive to replicate elsewhere.

Common Complaints: Limited customer support is by far the most consistent complaint. Multiple users report slow response times (24-72 hours) from the ticket-based support system and lack of phone support for urgent issues. Additionally, several BiggerPockets users highlighted that Zillow's screening reports are "quite underwhelming" compared to specialized services, lacking payment trend analysis that helps assess tenant reliability.

Overall Sentiment: Zillow Rental Manager maintains approximately 3.5-4 stars out of 5 across platforms. Users who manage 1-3 properties and primarily need listing and basic screening capabilities rate it higher (4-5 stars). Those managing larger portfolios or requiring comprehensive property management features rate it lower (2-3 stars), citing the need for supplementary tools to handle accounting, maintenance, and tenant communication.

Zillow Rental Manager Pricing (2026)

Zillow Rental Manager is free for small portfolio landlords to use. However, there are several fees you should understand:

Core Platform: $0

The base platform is completely free, including unlimited property listings, distribution to Zillow/Trulia/HotPads, application management, and lease templates.

Optional Add-On Costs

• Listing Boost: $29.99 per property for 90 days of enhanced visibility
• Tenant Screening: $45 per applicant (paid by applicant, not landlord) - includes credit report, criminal background check, and eviction history
• Rent Collection Fees: ACH is FREE; Debit card $9.95/transaction; Credit card 2.95% (all paid by tenant)

The Hidden Cost of "Free"

While Zillow's platform costs $0, you'll likely need supplementary tools for accounting, maintenance tracking, and financial reporting. Here's a realistic annual cost comparison for 3 rental properties:

Zillow + Supplementary Tools: $420/year
($0 platform + $180 QuickBooks + $120 maintenance tool + $120 additional services)

Landlord Studio All-In-One: $96/year
(Everything included: listings, screening, rent collection, accounting, maintenance, tax reports)

The "free" platform actually costs 4.4X more when you factor in the necessary supplementary tools to run a complete rental business.

Zillow Rental Manager Features: What You Get (and What's Missing)

What Zillow Includes

• Rental Listings: Syndication to 3 sites (Zillow, Trulia, HotPads) with 34M+ monthly visitors
• Tenant Screening: Basic credit reports, criminal background checks, and eviction history ($45/applicant)
• Rent Collection: Free ACH transfers, with debit/credit card options (tenant-paid fees)
• Lease Management: Generic lease templates with e-signature capabilities
• Mobile Apps: iOS (3.8/5 stars) and Android (3.4/5 stars) available

Critical Features Zillow Does NOT Include

• No Accounting: No expense tracking, receipt scanning, bank integration, or profit/loss reporting
• No Tax Reports: No Schedule E generation or 1099 contractor tracking
• No Maintenance Management: No work order system, vendor tracking, or maintenance history
• No Portfolio Analytics: No comparative property performance or consolidated dashboards
• No Software Integrations: No QuickBooks, Xero, or bank account connections
• Limited Listing Reach: Doesn't syndicate to Apartments.com, Rent.com, or 15+ other major rental sites

Without expense tracking and financial reporting, you have no visibility into whether your properties are actually profitable. This is the single biggest limitation for serious real estate investors.

Zillow Rental Manager Pros and Cons

Pros: What Zillow Does Well

1. Massive Listing Reach: Access to 34+ million renters across Zillow's network is unmatched for listing visibility
2. Zero Core Platform Cost: The base platform is genuinely free with no hidden monthly fees
3. Simple Interface: Easy to navigate, even for landlords who aren't tech-savvy
4. Tenant-Paid Screening: The $45 screening fee is paid by applicants rather than landlords
5. Free ACH Rent Collection: Landlords receive 100% of rent via bank transfer with no fees
6. Brand Trust: Zillow is a recognized, trusted brand that tenants feel comfortable using

Cons: Where Zillow Falls Short

1. No Accounting or Financial Management: Without expense tracking or tax reports, you'll need separate accounting software
2. Limited Screening Depth: Reports lack payment trend analysis and detailed credit line breakdown
3. Poor Customer Support: Email-only support with 24-72 hour response times, no phone support
4. No Maintenance Management: No system to log requests, track work orders, or communicate with vendors
5. Missing Portfolio Features: No consolidated dashboard or comparative property analytics for 5+ units
6. No Software Integrations: Doesn't connect with QuickBooks, banks, or any other tools
7. Transaction Fees Create Friction: Tenant-paid fees ($9.95 debit, 2.95% credit) can cause pushback

Zillow Rental Manager vs. Landlord Studio: Head-to-Head Comparison

While both platforms serve landlords, they occupy different positions in the market. Zillow is a free, listing-focused tool for filling vacancies. Landlord Studio is a comprehensive platform built for maximizing profitability through financial management and operational efficiency.

Feature	Zillow Rental Manager	Landlord Studio
Pricing	Free core platform $420/year with supplements	Free plan available $96/year for all features
Listing Syndication	3 sites (34M+ visitors)	15+ sites including Zillow
Tenant Screening	$45/applicant (basic)	$20-40/applicant (detailed)
Rent Collection	✓ Free ACH, auto-pay	✓ Free ACH, auto-pay ✓ Integrated with accounting
Expense Tracking	✗ Not available	✓ Receipt scanning, bank feeds ✓ Mileage tracking, categorization
Tax Reports	✗ Not available	✓ Schedule E, 1099s ✓ P&L statements
Maintenance	✗ Not available	✓ Work orders, vendor tracking ✓ Maintenance history
Integrations	✗ None	✓ QuickBooks, Xero, banks
Customer Support	Email only (24-72 hours)	Email, chat (4-12 hours)
Mobile App Rating	3.4-3.8 stars	4.7-4.8 stars
Best For	Filling vacancies with max exposure	Maximizing profitability + efficiency

Who Should Use Zillow Rental Manager (And Who Shouldn't)

Zillow is BEST For:

• Landlords with 1-2 properties focused solely on filling vacancies
• Those who already use robust accounting software like QuickBooks
• Real estate agents listing rentals for clients
• Budget-conscious landlords willing to manually handle accounting and maintenance

AVOID Zillow If You:

• Care about tax preparation efficiency (no Schedule E or expense tracking)
• Manage 5+ properties (lacks portfolio management features)
• Want to maximize rental profitability (no financial analytics)
• Need responsive customer support (24-72 hour email-only response)
• Value operational efficiency (requires juggling multiple tools)
• Want to scale your rental business (no systems for growth)

Best Alternatives to Zillow Rental Manager

1. Landlord Studio - Best Overall

Best For: Landlords with 1-50+ properties who want comprehensive financial management and tax reporting.

Why Choose It: Complete accounting with receipt scanning, IRS Schedule E tax reports, maintenance management, portfolio analytics, QuickBooks integration, and superior mobile apps (4.8/5 stars). Costs less than Zillow + supplementary tools ($96/year vs. $420/year).

Try Landlord Studio free →

2. TurboTenant - Middle Ground

Best For: Landlords who want more features than Zillow but simpler than full accounting integration.

Key Features: Wider syndication (10+ sites), lower screening costs ($30-35), basic expense categorization. Free basic plan or $9/property/month premium.

3. Avail (Apartments.com) - Listing Focus

Best For: Maximum listing distribution to Apartments.com network.

Key Features: Free core platform, syndication to Apartments.com ecosystem, competitive screening pricing. Similar limitations to Zillow regarding accounting and maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zillow Rental Manager really free?

Yes, the core platform is completely free with no monthly subscription. However, there are optional costs: listing boosts ($29.99), tenant screening ($45 per applicant paid by tenant), and rent collection fees (free ACH, $9.95 debit, 2.95% credit - paid by tenant). You'll likely need supplementary accounting tools that do cost money.

What fees does Zillow charge?

Zillow doesn't charge landlords monthly fees. Optional charges include: (1) Listing Boost at $29.99 per property, (2) Tenant screening at $45 per applicant (tenant-paid), and (3) Rent collection fees - ACH is free, debit cards cost tenants $9.95, credit cards cost 2.95%.

Does Zillow Rental Manager integrate with QuickBooks or accounting software?

No, Zillow does not integrate with QuickBooks, Xero, or other accounting software. Since the platform doesn't track expenses or provide financial reporting, there's no data to export. Landlords who need accounting integration should use Landlord Studio which integrates with major accounting platforms.

Is Zillow Rental Manager good for multiple properties?

Zillow can handle multiple properties but lacks features for efficient portfolio management. There's no consolidated reporting, limited bulk operations, and no accounting across properties. Landlords with 5+ units often find dedicated property management systems better suited for portfolios.

Can I collect rent without fees?

Yes, if tenants pay via ACH bank transfer, there are no fees for either party. However, if tenants prefer credit cards (2.95% fee) or debit cards ($9.95 fee), those transaction fees apply and are passed to the tenant. Some landlords report tenant resistance to these fees.

What are the biggest complaints about Zillow Rental Manager?

Based on hundreds of user reviews: (1) Poor customer support with slow ticket responses and no phone option, (2) Basic screening reports lacking payment trend analysis, (3) No accounting or financial tracking, (4) Missing maintenance management, (5) Limited application management tools, and (6) Transaction fees that tenants resist.

How does Zillow compare to professional property management?

Zillow is a self-management tool, not a property management service. It helps you list, screen tenants, and collect rent yourself, but provides no actual management services (handling complaints, repairs, inspections). Professional property managers charge 8-12% of rent but handle all responsibilities. Zillow is for hands-on landlords who want tools, not services.

Can I cancel Zillow Rental Manager anytime?

Yes, since there's no subscription or contract, you can stop using Zillow anytime with no cancellation process or penalties. Your listings will remain active unless you manually delete them. If collecting rent through Zillow, transition tenants to alternative payment methods before discontinuing use.

Manage Your Rental Property With Landlord Studio

Being a landlord entails numerous responsibilities, from understanding legal aspects to filing taxes, and without a comprehensive property management system, the workload can become overwhelming - especially as you scale beyond 2-3 properties.

While Zillow Rental Manager serves a purpose for basic listing exposure and tenant screening, serious landlords quickly discover they need more robust tools to run profitable rental businesses. The missing accounting features, lack of maintenance tracking, absent financial reporting, and limited customer support create significant operational gaps that force you to piece together multiple systems.

Create a free account with Landlord Studio today to streamline the rental process for both yourself and your tenants.

With Landlord Studio, you can advertise your rental and screen tenants, store unlimited documents, collect rent online, track income and expenses, run IRS-compliant tax reports, manage maintenance requests, and access a comprehensive suite of features designed specifically for rental property investors.

The best part? Landlord Studio starts free, and even our paid plans cost less than the supplementary accounting and maintenance tools you'd need alongside Zillow ($96/year vs. $420/year). Stop juggling multiple systems and get everything in one platform built for landlords who are serious about maximizing their rental income.

Why Landlord Studio Beats Zillow Rental Manager

If you're still on the fence about whether to stick with Zillow or upgrade to comprehensive software, consider this:

• Tax time will be exponentially easier: Instead of scrambling to compile receipts and spreadsheets, run your Schedule E report in seconds
• You'll capture more deductions: Smart receipt scanning and GPS mileage tracking mean you'll never miss a write-off again
• Lenders will take you seriously: Professional financial reports demonstrate you run a real business, not a hobby
• Scaling becomes possible: Portfolio-level reporting and efficient workflows let you confidently add properties
• You'll save time: Automated bank feeds, maintenance tracking, and integrated rent collection eliminate hours of manual work each month
• You'll actually know if you're profitable: Without expense tracking and financial reporting, you're flying blind

Zillow Rental Manager can help you fill a vacancy. Landlord Studio helps you build lasting wealth through real estate. The choice is yours.