Managing rental properties has never been easier. The best residential property management software automates everything—from finding tenants to handling maintenance—so you can focus on growing your business.
However, not all solutions are created equal. To find one that meets your business needs, you’ll want to carefully evaluate the features, reliability, and scalability of different options. But don’t worry. In this guide, we do the hard work for you by reviewing the cream of the crop for 2026.
What Is Residential Property Management Software?
Residential property management software is a digital platform that automates rent collection, tenant screening, maintenance requests, and leasing for property managers. Think of it as your rental portfolio HQ that eliminates manual processes and paperwork.
Residential property software differs from commercial solutions in key ways:
- Target users: Designed for managing individuals and families, not businesses
- Comprehensive approach: All-in-one platform rather than point solutions
- Complete coverage: Handles your entire property management operation, not just single tasks like work orders, bookkeeping, or inspections
What Are the Benefits of Residential Property Management Software?
The days of managing residential rental portfolios manually with paper documents and physical filing systems are over. By adopting the right software solution, you can:
- Boost tenant satisfaction: Simplifying how tenants pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and communicate with you can go a long way in keeping them happy.
- Save time and money: Automating backend processes like accounting and lease renewals can cut the time it takes to run your business.
- Minimize mistakes: Moving past manual data entry can limit human errors in accounting, leases, and your business overall.
- Scale your business: Adding properties to your portfolio is easy when you have scalable software to manage them.
Key Features of the Best Residential Property Management Software
No two residential property management software solutions are exactly alike, but the best ones have these core features in common:
Accounting
- Automated invoicing: Manage vendor bills and set up recurring payments
- Bank reconciliation: Link and reconcile accounts automatically
- Tax preparation: Digital 1099 filing and tax form management
Managing accounting for your business and your properties can be a full-time job—but it doesn’’t have to be. The right software automates key tasks, so you can focus on what really matters, which is especially important for smaller businesses that often lag behind larger firms in adopting robotic process automations.
Leasing Tools
- Online applications: Custom rental applications with digital signatures
- Tenant screening: Background checks and credit reports
- Automated workflows: Convert applications to leases seamlessly
Leasing tasks are a major part of any property management business, and the right software can make them a lot easier. You can automatically turn accepted applications into leases, request e-signatures, and start collecting rent online.
Maintenance Tools
- Work order management: Track requests from submission to completion
- Vendor coordination: Assign tasks and manage contractor profiles
- Tenant updates: Automatic progress notifications
Great property management software lets you accept, assign, track, and complete work orders from a central hub. Create vendor profiles with contact details and ratings so you can quickly assign inspections and maintenance tasks to the right team.
Marketing Tools
Advertising rentals can be time-consuming, but property management software can help you create and syndicate listings across popular online marketplaces such as Apartments.com and Zillow. You can also join the All Property Management network to find qualified local leads looking for property managers in your area.
Communication Tools
- Resident portals: Online payment and request submission
- Owner portals: Financial reports and property updates
- 24/7 support: Optional maintenance contact centers
Every property management software should include an online resident center where tenants can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and get updates. Similarly, invest in an online owner portal where you can easily communicate with rental owners, collect property management fees, and share financial reports and other documents. Your clients will appreciate being kept in the loop.
Some property management softwares go above and beyond by offering live phone support. For example, Buildium’s Maintenance Contact Center answers inbound calls 24/7/365 (yes, even on holidays) on your behalf so you can focus on other parts of your business.
Mobile Apps
In a remote-first world, mobile compatibility is a must. A dedicated mobile app lets tenants attach photos and videos to maintenance requests, allows vendors to update work orders on-site, and gives you the freedom to manage your business on the go.
Integration with Other Software
Your property management platform shouldn’t be cordoned off from other app. Instead, you should be able to integrate it with tools you already use, giving you the flexibility to run and grow your business as you see fit.
The most common property management integrations are custom-built through open APIs. However, some platforms also offer pre-built integrations. For example, Buildium Marketplace has a growing ecosystem of third-party apps that seamlessly integrate with Buildium, empowering your business to grow on its own terms.
#1: Buildium
Comprehensive Residential Property Management Software
Buildium is a comprehensive property management solution built for businesses of all sizes—whether you manage single-family rentals, multifamily units, or associations. And with its vast marketplace of third-party integrations that we mentioned earlier, Buildium is a complete solution that scales at your pace.
Features
Buildium offers a full suite of features for managing your residential portfolio. These include:
- Automated electronic payments and accounting, including 1099 eFiling
- Lead-to-lease tools for turning prospects into tenants, including online applications, tenant screening, lease templates, and e-signatures
- A maintenance tracking system for managing work orders, collecting invoices, and paying vendors
- Advertising tools for creating attractive property descriptions and syndicating listings across popular rental marketplaces
- A resident portal for communicating with tenants and accepting rent payments and maintenance requests
- An owner portal for reporting to rental owners on the status of their investments
- An optional 24/7/365 maintenance contact center for outsourcing tenant calls
- A top-rated mobile app for submitting maintenance requests, providing work order updates, collecting rent payments, and communicating with tenants.
- An open API for integrating other business apps
- Buildium Marketplace, an ecosystem of industry-leading apps that you can connect to your Buildium dashboard
Pricing
Buildium offers three pricing tiers. Each includes these features:
- Accounting
- Maintenance
- Tasks
- Violations
- Online Portals
- Resident & Board Member Communications
The three tiers are customized to meet the needs of residential property management businesses in different phases of growth:
Essential: Starting at $62/month, this plan includes a free marketing website, tenant screening capabilities, and standard reporting features.
Growth: Starting at $192/month, this plan includes everything in Essential, plus unlimited eSignatures, lower transaction fees, live phone support, and performance and business analytics and insights.
Premium: Starting at $400/month, this plan includes everything in Growth, plus $500 worth of free leads, Open API integrations, priority support, and a dedicated growth consultant for new client leads.
#2: Propertyware
Highly Customizable Residential Property Management Software
Propertyware® is a fully customizable property management software designed for single-family home portfolios (though it can also handle other property types). It’s a great choice for those wanting full control over the entire residential property lifecycle.
Features
From custom reporting to a complete work order management system, PropertyWare offers an impressive suite of residential property management features. Some include AR and AP account automation, ACH payments, listing management, vendor payments, tenant screening, tenant and owner portals, a phone support center, and even options for landlord insurance.
This is all on top of open API integrations that let you connect other business tools to your PropertyWare dashboard for full customization. If you’re looking for flexible software that can be tailored to your needs, PropertyWare is a great option.
Pricing
PropertyWare has three pricing tiers based on a flat fee per unit and monthly minimum:
- Basic: This plan starts at $1 per unit per month, with a $250 minimum
- Plus: This plan starts at $1.50 per unit per month, with a $350 minimum
- Premium: This plan starts at $2 per unit per month, with a $450 minimum
In addition, each plan charges 2x the monthly subscription price for implementation.
#3: RealPage OneSite Leasing and Rents
Trusted Multifamily Property Management Software for Larger Portfolios
RealPage OneSite® Leasing and Rents is a powerful property management software designed for large multifamily properties. It’s best for property managers handling over 2,000 rental units.
Features
Among other things, RealPage OneSite Leasing and Rents offers features across marketing and lead management, resident screening, utility management, spend management, accounting, and renters insurance—all integrated into a central platform.
Pricing
RealPage OneSite Leasing and Rents doesn’t list pricing details on its website. However, interested property managers can contact RealPage directly to learn more.
#4: ManageCasa
Software with Useful Add-Ons for Managing Single-Family Properties
ManageCasa® is a residential property management platform with useful add-ons for single-family rentals. However, it’s also compatible with community associations (COAs) and homeowner associations (HOAs). Just know that each portfolio type comes with its own pricing.
Features
Among other things, ManageCasa’s single-family portfolio management features include an owner portal, custom fields, and ACH and credit/debit card payments. That’s on top of standard listing marketing, work order management, and leasing management features. All in all, it’s a user-friendly platform that can be easy to learn.
Pricing
ManageCasa pricing varies by portfolio type. However, residential portfolios have two pricing tiers: The Base Plan for $1.25/unit/month and the Premium Plan for $2.50/unit/month.
#5: Rent Manager
Flexible Residential Property Management Software
Rent Manager® is a flexible residential property management software with online and offline versions. This can make it a nice option for old-school property managers who prefer not to store data in the cloud. However, it can also mean a dated operating style and platform look.
Features
Rent Manager offers standard features across accounting, reporting, marketing, leasing, business operations, maintenance, and integrations. It also offers an optional call center add-on, custom websites, and even an online Rent Manager University to educate users on how to use the platform.
Pricing
Rent Manager offers Basic, Plus, and Premium bundles but does not publish per‑unit pricing or monthly minimums on its site; contact sales for a quote.
In addition, each plan charges 2x the monthly fee for implementation.
#6: Avail
Useful Residential Property Management Software for Landlords
Avail® is a residential property management software geared toward landlords. As a result, it doesn’t offer an owner portal. However, property managers can still use the platform’s other features to stay on top of their clients’ portfolios.
Features
Among other features, Avail lets you syndicate rental listings across over 20 rental marketplaces, run tenant background and credit checks, access lawyer-reviewed and state-specific lease agreement templates, collect rent online, track maintenance orders, and perform standard accounting tasks.
Pricing
Avail has two pricing tiers. The first is free and offers basic features. The second is $9/unit/month and offers additional features, such as waived ACH fees and priority support.
#7: Entrata
Residential Property Management Software with a Focus on Apps
Entrata® is a residential property management software geared toward multifamily properties, including student, affordable, and military housing. It also has a large collection of apps for different tasks.
Features
A standout feature for Entrata is its SiteTablet® app, which gives property managers real-time access to leasing information, pricing and availability, and community information. Other apps include a lead manager, a tenant portal, and an accounting product.
Overall, Entrata is best suited for managing large multifamily buildings. However, Entrata advertises comprehensive accounting and payments; its public pages do not specify 1099 e‑filing details—confirm availability with Entrata sales.
Pricing
Entrata doesn’t include pricing details on its site. Instead, interested property managers can contact the company directly to speak to a sales rep.
How to Choose the Right Residential Property Management Software
Choose the right software by following these steps:
1. Assess your needs:
- Identify time-consuming tasks (rent collection, maintenance, etc.)
- List your biggest operational pain points
- Prioritize features that solve daily challenges
2. Test usability:
- Request demonstrations from potential vendors
- Have your team test key workflows
- Choose systems that feel intuitive, not overwhelming
3. Plan for growth:
- Select platforms that scale with your portfolio
- Verify support for additional units and users
- Check integration capabilities with future tools
Which Residential Property Management Software Is Best for You?
At the end of the day, the right residential property management software for you depends on your business needs and goals.
For example, Propertyware may be best if you manage mostly single-family homes, while RealPage OneSite Leasing and Rents may be better if you manage a large multifamily portfolio.
But if you want a dynamic platform that can grow with your business, Buildium stands out. Not only is it compatible with many portfolio types and sizes, leaving the door open to growth, but you can combine it with other tools via its Open API and Marketplace integrations, future-proofing your business for the long haul.
You can find out if Buildium’s a good fit by signing up for a product demo or a free 14-day trial with no up front obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is residential property management software?
Residential property management software is a centralized digital platform designed to simplify and automate how you manage rental properties. It includes features such as online rent collection, tenant screening, work order management, leasing tools, and accounting automation.
How do I choose the best residential property management software for my needs?
Consider your budget, portfolio size and type, and your unique business needs. Prioritize features most important to you and compare market options, focusing on scalability to avoid costly future transitions.
What are the benefits of using purpose-built software for managing residential properties?
Purpose-built residential property management software streamlines your entire workflow from tenant screening to work order management. Unlike general business tools, it scales without extensive customization.
How much does residential property management software cost?
Costs range from $62/month for basic plans to $400/month for advanced features, with additional fees for setup and processing. Consider platform features, scalability, and any extra charges when comparing value.
We recommend this video for a better look at comparing software pricing:
Can residential property management software integrate with other tools or platforms?
Yes, most modern platforms integrate via open APIs and dedicated marketplaces for third-party apps. Popular integrations include HappyCo for property inspections and Beekin for rental analytics.
