AppFolio Wins
Winner
AppFolio logo

AppFolio

8.5

Mid-market property management companies (50-5,000+ units) that want a modern interface with strong automation and marketing tools

VS
Avail logo

Avail

6.8

First-time DIY landlords with fewer than 10 units who value simplicity and Realtor.com listing syndication

Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

Score Comparison

Criteria
AppFolio
Avail
Overall Score
8.5
6.8
Core Features
9.5
7.0
Accounting & Reporting
8.5
5.5
Ease of Use
8.5
8.5
Pricing & Value
6.5
8.0
Tenant & Owner Portals
9.0
7.0
Integrations
8.0
5.5
Scalability
9.5
5.5
Customer Support
7.5
6.0

Pricing & Features

Specification
AppFolio
Avail
Starting Price
$70/mo
Free / $9/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Subscription
Freemium

Making Your Decision

AppFolio logo

When to Choose AppFolio

Mid-market property management companies (50-5,000+ units) that want a modern interface with strong automation and marketing tools

AppFolio is the gold standard for mid-market property managers who want speed, a modern interface, and AI-powered automation. Its 50-unit minimum and annual contracts mean it is not suitable for small landlords, but for growing management companies it delivers exceptional capability per dollar.

Strengths

  • Modern, intuitive interface with AI-powered leasing automation and marketing tools
  • Scales from 50 units to 5,000+ with tiered Core, Plus, and Max plans
  • Excellent tenant and owner portals with mobile-first experience
  • Handles residential, commercial, student housing, and community associations

Limitations

  • 50-unit minimum locks out smaller landlords entirely
  • Hidden onboarding fees and required annual contract add to total cost
  • Reporting and ledger customization trails legacy platforms like Yardi and Rent Manager
Avail logo

When to Choose Avail

First-time DIY landlords with fewer than 10 units who value simplicity and Realtor.com listing syndication

Avail is a solid, beginner-friendly platform with a generous free tier and strong listing reach via the Realtor.com ecosystem. However, the per-unit pricing model makes it progressively less economical as your portfolio grows, and the lack of a mobile app is a notable gap.

Strengths

  • Backed by Realtor.com with automatic listing syndication to 20+ rental sites
  • Strong free plan with state-specific lease templates, Autopay, and rent collection
  • Clean, simple interface designed for first-time DIY landlords
  • Tenant screening with TransUnion credit, background, and eviction reports

Limitations

  • Per-unit pricing ($9/unit/month) gets expensive as portfolios grow — 10 units is $90/month
  • No dedicated mobile app — web-only access frustrates landlords managing on the go
  • Inconsistent customer support quality with limited response channels

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