Hey — I’m one of the founders of Landlord Cart and a landlord with 5 units in North Carolina. I used TurboTenant myself for almost two years before the tenant-paid fees and constant upsells finally broke me. That’s literally why I built Landlord Cart — because nothing else let me run my rentals my way.
Full disclosure: This page is written by the Landlord Cart team (all landlords, no copywriters). Every price and limitation below was verified directly from TurboTenant’s public site in November 2025. No affiliate links, no fake “independent” review.
Every single week we get the same email: “TurboTenant seemed free… until the $55 tenant screening fee or the $25 lease add-on hit.” This is the comparison I wish I’d had back then.
Here’s exactly how they stack up in 2025:
| Feature | TurboTenant Free | TurboTenant Premium | Landlord Cart ($99/yr) | What most small landlords pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost to landlord | “Free” + tenant fees many landlords end up covering | ~$100–$150/yr | $99 flat forever | Landlord Cart |
| Rent collection | Built-in ACH/cards | Faster payouts | No — you keep using Zelle/Venmo/Cash App (full control) | Landlord Cart |
| State-specific lease creation | Basic templates only | Limited custom clauses | Unlimited AI-generated, fully custom | Landlord Cart |
| Tenant screening | Tenant pays $35–$55 | Landlord pays | You run your own or any third-party | Landlord Cart |
| Maintenance tracking | Yes | Yes + priority | Yes + photos & vendor assignment | Tie |
| Document storage | Limited on free | Unlimited | Truly unlimited | Landlord Cart |
| Hidden fees / upsells | Many | Fewer | Zero | Landlord Cart |
| Mobile experience | Dedicated apps | Dedicated apps | Works perfectly in any browser (no app needed) | Tie |
Who This Comparison Is Really For
- You already collect rent with Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or checks — and you want to keep it that way.
- You’re tired of eating screening fees or watching applicants disappear when they see a $55 charge.
- You want unlimited, bulletproof, state-specific leases without paying $9–$25 every time you need a custom clause.
- You advertise yourself on Facebook Marketplace, Zillow FSBO, yard signs — you don’t need syndication.
Four Reasons I (and hundreds of others) Switched in 2025
- Keep 100% control of rent collection. No platform in the middle. My tenants still Zelle me on the 1st — instant, free, zero drama.
- Unlimited AI lease builder trained on thousands of real executed leases. Answer a few quick questions (rent amount, move-in date, pets, late-fee rules, etc.) and the AI instantly creates a fully custom, state-compliant lease ready to e-sign. Takes under a minute. No per-lease charges — ever.
- Zero upsells or tenant fees. $99 once a year unlocks everything. Tenants never see a surprise charge, so they actually complete applications.
- One clean, professional dashboard for everything else. Maintenance with photos, tenant portal, move-in/out checklists, balance tracking — all in a fast interface that works perfectly on phone or desktop.
“I was covering $100–$200 a month in TurboTenant fees just so tenants wouldn’t bail on the $55 screening charge. Switched to Landlord Cart and paid for the entire year in month 2.”
— Jason, 5 units in Ohio (real email, used with permission)
When You Should Still Choose TurboTenant
- You have literally $0 budget right now and can live with tenant-paid fees.
- You rely heavily on their Zillow/Realtor.com listing syndication.
- You want the platform to handle rent collection for you.
When Landlord Cart Is the Obvious Choice
- You refuse to pay hidden fees — or make your tenants pay them.
- You want the most powerful unlimited lease tool on the market for one flat price.
- You already have rent collection dialed in and just need everything else organized.
- You want to run your rentals your way — not the software’s way.
Ready to Switch and Save a Few Hundred Bucks This Year?
14-day no-obligation free trial — no credit card required.
Questions? Fill out our Contact Us form or give us a call at (877) 887-9482 — we actually answer (usually in under an hour).
— The Landlord Cart team
All landlords, zero salespeople.