Buildium Wins
Winner
Buildium logo

Buildium

8.1

Small to mid-size residential property managers (50-1,000 units) who want straightforward, all-in-one software that prioritizes ease of use

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
Buildium
Avail
Overall Score
8.1
6.8
Core Features
9.0
7.0
Accounting & Reporting
8.5
5.5
Ease of Use
8.0
8.5
Pricing & Value
7.0
8.0
Tenant & Owner Portals
8.5
7.0
Integrations
7.5
5.5
Scalability
8.0
5.5
Customer Support
7.5
6.0

Pricing & Features

Specification
Buildium
Avail
Starting Price
$62/mo
Free / $9/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Subscription
Freemium

Making Your Decision

Buildium logo

When to Choose Buildium

Small to mid-size residential property managers (50-1,000 units) who want straightforward, all-in-one software that prioritizes ease of use

Buildium is one of the most accessible full-featured property management platforms, offering clean accounting and solid portals at a reasonable entry price. It is ideal for managers who need to get operational fast without heavy training, though the weak mobile app and growing costs at scale are real drawbacks.

Strengths

  • Comprehensive feature set with tenant screening, maintenance tracking, online leasing, and 1099 e-filing built in
  • Clean accounting with professional owner reports — fast onboarding without an accounting degree
  • Strong tenant and owner portals with excellent self-service capabilities
  • Ideal sweet spot for 50-1,000 unit residential portfolios

Limitations

  • Mobile app is notably weak — many desktop features are missing or difficult to use on mobile
  • Limited customization and third-party integrations can create data silos
  • Per-unit pricing escalates quickly as your portfolio grows, with frequent price increases reported
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

Ready to Get Started?