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AppFolio vs Stessa

AppFolio logo
AppFolio
The market-leading property management platform for mid-to-large residential, commercial, and community association portfolios.
$1.49/unit/mo (50 unit min)
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Stessa logo
Stessa
Stessa automates bookkeeping for rental property investors with bank-connected transaction tracking, online rent collection, and Schedule E tax reporting. A generous free tier covers unlimited properties, making it the go-to for self-managing landlords who have outgrown spreadsheets.
Free (Pro from $28/mo)
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AppFolio vs Stessa: feature comparison

FeatureAppFolioStessa
Online Rent Collection✓✓
Tenant Screening✓✓
Maintenance Request Tracking✓✓
Owner Portal✓✗
Accounting & Reporting✓✓
Lease E-Signature✓✓
Listing Syndication✓✗
Mobile App (iOS + Android)✓✓

AppFolio — Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Category leader — most comprehensive feature set
  • Covers residential, commercial, and HOA on one platform
  • Advanced AI for leasing and maintenance
  • Strong integrations and API

Cons

  • 50-unit minimum — not for small landlords
  • Per-unit pricing adds up fast
  • Implementation can be lengthy
  • Onboarding fee required

Stessa — Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free tier covers unlimited properties with automated bank sync and daily transaction reconciliation
  • Schedule E tax reports generate automatically, cutting year-end accountant hours significantly
  • Pro plan ($28/mo) bundles 7 eSignatures/month with advanced portfolio-level reporting
  • Built-in maintenance request tracking added recently, removing the need for a separate landlord communication tool

Cons

  • No listing syndication — vacant units must be marketed on Zillow Rental Manager or Apartments.com as a separate step
  • Tenant screening is outsourced to RentPrep, adding friction and an extra sign-in versus AppFolio's or Buildium's native screening
  • eSignature quota is capped at just 1 per month on the $12/mo Manage plan; active landlords will quickly need the Pro tier
  • U.S.-only platform — international landlords and portfolios with properties outside the United States are not supported
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