Hey — We’re the Landlord Cart team, all small landlords ourselves with 1–10 units. From Reddit threads and G2 feedback, Stessa crushes bookkeeping but leaves DIY landlords scrambling with zero tools for leases, maintenance, or tenant portals — forcing them back to spreadsheets. That’s why we built Landlord Cart — as the perfect complement for the management side Stessa skips.
Full disclosure: This page is written by the Landlord Cart team (all landlords, no copywriters). Every price and limitation below was verified directly from Stessa’s public site in November 2025. No affiliate links, no fake “independent” review.
Every single week we get the same email: “Stessa nails the numbers… but I need help with leases and maintenance too.” This is the comparison we wish more landlords had back then.
Here’s exactly how they stack up in 2026:
| Feature | Stessa (Free/Pro) | Landlord Cart ($99/yr) | What most small landlords pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost to landlord | Free or $144–$240/yr | $99 flat forever | Landlord Cart |
| Rent collection | Built-in on Pro | No — you keep using Zelle/Venmo/Cash App (full control) | Landlord Cart |
| State-specific lease creation | None | Unlimited AI-generated, fully custom | Landlord Cart |
| Tenant screening | None | You run your own or any third-party | Landlord Cart |
| Maintenance tracking | None | Yes + photos & vendor assignment | Landlord Cart |
| Document storage | Limited | Truly unlimited | Landlord Cart |
| Hidden fees / upsells | Few on Pro | Zero | Tie |
| Mobile experience | Web-focused | 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 love Stessa for books but hate juggling spreadsheets for leases and requests.
- You want unlimited, bulletproof, state-specific leases without any extra tools.
- You advertise yourself on Facebook Marketplace, Zillow FSBO, yard signs — you don’t need syndication.
Four Reasons Landlords Are Switching in 2026
- Keep 100% control of rent collection. No platform in the middle. Tenants still Zelle 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. Pairs perfectly with Stessa’s free books.
- 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.
“Stessa is awesome for taxes, but zero lease or maintenance tools meant I was back to email chaos. Landlord Cart handles that side perfectly — now I use both without frustration.”
— David, 4 units in California (from Reddit thread, used with permission)
When You Should Still Choose Stessa
- You only need bookkeeping and tax reports — nothing else.
- You’re happy with manual leases and requests forever.
- You want free core accounting without any management tools.
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.