Overview

TurboTenant has quietly built one of the most comprehensive free plans in property management software. The free tier covers the entire vacancy-to-lease cycle: listing syndication to 28+ sites, tenant screening (paid by applicants), online rent collection, lease signing, and maintenance tracking. All with unlimited properties and no trial period or feature expiration.

The business model is straightforward. TurboTenant makes money through optional premium features ($149-199/year on paid tiers) and per-transaction fees for screening and payments. This means the free tier is not a teaser. It is a fully functional property management tool that most small landlords can use indefinitely without paying a subscription.

Features Deep-Dive

Listing Syndication Network

TurboTenant's listing syndication is among the broadest in the budget tier. Vacancies are automatically published to 28+ partner sites including Apartments.com, Redfin, Realtor.com, Zillow, and Zumper. This reach means landlords can fill vacancies faster without manually posting to multiple sites, which is especially valuable for landlords managing frequent turnovers across multiple properties.

The listing creation process is guided and produces professional-looking rental listings with photo galleries, amenity lists, and detailed descriptions. For first-time landlords who have never marketed a rental property, the workflow removes guesswork.

Applicant-Paid Screening

TurboTenant's screening model passes costs to applicants rather than landlords. Prospective tenants pay for their own TransUnion credit reports, criminal background checks, and eviction history. This is standard practice in many markets and eliminates one of the ongoing variable costs of landlording. The screening reports are comprehensive and delivered within minutes.

The downside is that applicant-paid screening can deter some renters, particularly in competitive markets where other landlords absorb screening costs. In landlord-favored markets, this is rarely an issue.

Flat Annual Pricing on Paid Tiers

TurboTenant's paid tiers (Premium at $149/year, Max at $199/year) use flat annual pricing with no per-unit surcharges. This means a landlord with 5 properties pays the same as a landlord with 50 properties. For growing portfolios, this pricing model becomes increasingly favorable compared to per-unit competitors like Avail ($9/unit/month) or DoorLoop ($3/unit surcharge).

Pricing Analysis

The free tier genuinely covers most needs for small landlords: unlimited listings, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance tracking, and lease management. The Premium tier ($149/year, roughly $12.42/month) adds expedited rent payouts, waived ACH fees, and customizable lease agreements. Max ($199/year) adds a portfolio website builder and additional features.

At $0/month for the core platform, TurboTenant is the most affordable property management solution in the category. Even on the Premium tier, $149/year is less than one month of Buildium's base subscription. The value calculation is simple: if the free tier does everything you need, TurboTenant costs nothing. If you upgrade, it still costs less than virtually every alternative.

The catch is what the free tier does not include: faster rent payouts require Premium, accounting features are basic across all tiers, and customer support on the free plan is email-only with slower response times.

Who Is This For?

TurboTenant works best for:

• Budget-conscious landlords (1-25 units) who want a full-featured platform without paying a monthly subscription
• Landlords with frequent vacancies who benefit from broad listing syndication to 28+ rental sites
• Self-managing property owners who handle their own leasing, screening, and tenant relations and need digital tools to streamline the process
• Growing portfolios that benefit from flat annual pricing without per-unit surcharges

Who Should NOT Use This

TurboTenant might not be the right choice if:

• You need professional accounting since TurboTenant's financial tracking is basic compared to Landlord Studio, Baselane, or Buildium, and cannot replace dedicated bookkeeping tools
• Fast customer support is important because the free plan limits you to email support with response times that users describe as slow during peak periods
• You manage properties for other owners as TurboTenant lacks trust accounting, owner portals, and the professional reporting that property management companies require

Bottom Line

TurboTenant is the obvious first choice for landlords who want to pay nothing for property management software. The free tier is not a stripped-down demo; it is a functional platform that handles the full landlording lifecycle. The paid tiers add convenience features at prices that are still below most competitors' base plans. Just do not expect enterprise-grade accounting or instant customer support.

FAQ

Is TurboTenant really free?

Yes. The free tier includes unlimited property listings, tenant screening (paid by applicants), online rent collection, maintenance tracking, and lease e-signing. There are no time limits or feature expirations. TurboTenant earns revenue from optional paid tiers and per-transaction fees, not from the free plan itself.

How does TurboTenant make money if it is free?

Revenue comes from three sources: Premium and Max subscription tiers ($149-199/year), transaction fees on rent payments and screening, and advertising partnerships with listing sites. The free tier is a customer acquisition tool that converts some users to paid plans over time.

Should I upgrade to TurboTenant Premium?

If you collect rent via ACH and want faster payouts with waived fees, Premium pays for itself quickly. For a landlord collecting $1,500/month rent on 3 properties, the waived ACH fees alone save roughly $72/year. Add the faster payout timing and customizable leases, and Premium is worthwhile for most active landlords.

How does TurboTenant compare to Avail?

Both offer strong free tiers for small landlords. TurboTenant has broader listing syndication (28+ sites vs Avail's 20+) and flat annual pricing on paid tiers. Avail offers state-specific lease templates and the Realtor.com ecosystem. The key differentiator is cost at scale: TurboTenant's flat pricing is dramatically cheaper than Avail's $9/unit/month model for portfolios above 5 units.