AppFolio is built for property management companies, with quote-only pricing and a 50-unit minimum. Landlord Cart is free for 2 properties and $99 a year for up to 10.
Free for 2 properties forever • No Hidden Fees • Our Guarantee
AppFolio is a good product for property management companies. It is also built for them. As of our November 2026 check, its property manager plans are quote-only and ask for a minimum of 50 units, and third-party sources report a minimum monthly fee of roughly $280. If you own a handful of rentals, you are paying for a system sized for someone else.
Landlord Cart is built the other way around: for the landlord who answers their own phone, with 1 to 30 properties and no staff.
| AppFolio | Landlord Cart | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Property management companies | Landlords with 1 to 30 rentals |
| Pricing | Quote only, not published | Public: Free, $99 a year, $249 a year |
| Minimum size | 50 units | None, start with one property |
| Free plan | No | Yes, up to 2 properties |
| Tenant portal and maintenance requests | Yes | Yes, on every plan |
| Collect rent | Online payments | Log Zelle, Venmo, cash and checks free, or take ACH and card payments online |
| Free lease generator | Not part of the pricing | Yes, state-specific templates |
Information about AppFolio comes from public pages and third-party listings checked in November 2026. Vendors change plans, so confirm with them before you decide.
The Professional plan includes free migration help if you are moving a larger portfolio.
AppFolio does not publish its prices. Its property manager plans are quote only, with a 50-unit minimum. Third-party sources report a minimum of about $280 a month, but only AppFolio can give you a real number.
Yes. Landlord Cart is free for up to 2 properties, with tenant portals, maintenance requests, rent tracking and state lease templates. Paid plans start at $99 a year.
Yes. Starter covers up to 10 properties at $99 a year, and Professional covers up to 30 at $249 a year. Both have a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
If you run a management company with 50 or more units, staff, and owners to report to, AppFolio is built for that and Landlord Cart is not trying to replace it.
More comparisons: Buildium alternative, TurboTenant vs Landlord Cart, our pricing.
You're hands-on. You collect rent with Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or checks.
You list on free sites like Zillow, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist.
Tired of paying $50–$150/month + 1–3% of every rent payment to bloated software?
Whether you choose to pass fees to tenants or absorb ACH fees on paid plans, Landlord Cart gives you full control. Your tenants pay securely from any device, while you get automatic tracking, clean records, and zero payout surprises.
Example: Free Plan · ACH Payment
Landlords keep 100% of rent due
Keep 100% of your rent instead of giving 8–12% ($1,200–$5,000+/year) to a property manager forever
Landlord Cart makes it take only 2–4 hours a week—and starts completely free.
| Self-Manage with Landlord Cart | Hire a Property Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost |
Free forever or low fixed fee $0–$20.75/month – Keep 99.5–100% of rent |
8–12% of rent forever $1,200–$5,000+/yr + setup fees |
| Control | Full oversight on repairs, pricing, and decisions | Limited visibility; they call the shots |
| Time Commitment | 2–4 hrs/week with automated tools | Hands-off, less personal involvement |
| Tenant Relationships | Direct, professional portal builds loyalty | Indirect; delays/missteps possible |
| Repairs & Maintenance |
Shop best prices yourself (save 20–30%) |
Convenient but often higher costs/padding |
| Scalability | Perfect for 1–30 properties with flexible plans | Better for 10+ units; overkill for small portfolios |
| Pros | Affordable, flexible, empowering | Time-saving for busy owners |
| Cons | Some hands-on effort required | Expensive, less control, potential conflicts |
Secure, reliable, and always accessible, our AI agent ensures your tenant interactions are smarter, faster, and fully integrated into your property management workflow.
Tenants receive their own exclusive, secure portal where they can download their lease, view payment history, and easily send or respond to maintenance requests — all in one place.
Best of all, the tenant portal can be fully white-labeled with your property management company’s name, logo, and even runs on its own dedicated domain for a truly professional and branded experience.
Ditch the phone tag and endless text chains. Our platform allows you to efficiently handle tenant requests for maintenance or repairs, ensuring every interaction is tracked and documented.
Learn More on how our Message and Document Center saves you time and improves communications.
Reports can be filtered by your total portfolio or individual properties.
If you’re in the US, we follow the IRS Rental rules to properly categorize your deductible expenses
from the ones you can’t, like improvements (of course, always consult with your tax professional).
