Buildium vs AppFolio: Which Property Management Software Wins in 2026?
Buildium and AppFolio are both serious property management platforms. Here's an honest comparison covering pricing, HOA features, accounting, and who each one is really built for.
Buildium wins for HOA managers and growing PM companies; AppFolio wins at enterprise scale for 200+ unit operations needing AI leasing and deep accounting.
Buildium and AppFolio are two of the most widely used professional property management platforms on the market — and they’re often compared directly. Both handle the full range of property management needs: accounting, tenant management, owner portals, maintenance, and reporting.
But they target different types of operations, and the differences matter.
Buildium is built for growing property managers and community associations (HOAs). It’s accessible at smaller scales ($55/month starting price) and offers strong HOA-specific features like violation tracking and board member portals.
AppFolio is built for larger, professional property management companies. It starts at $1.40 per unit/month (100-unit minimum billing) and includes more advanced features like AI leasing tools, bulk texting, and a more sophisticated accounting layer.
Quick Verdict
| Buildium | AppFolio | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Growing managers, HOAs, mixed portfolios | Professional PM companies, larger portfolios |
| Starting price | $55/month (Essential) | ~$140/month (100-unit minimum) |
| HOA support | ✅ Strong | ✅ Good (fewer HOA-specific features) |
| Accounting | Good | Excellent |
| AI features | Limited | Yes (AppFolio Intelligence) |
| Free trial | Yes (14 days) | Demo only |
| Affiliate program | Yes (25% recurring) | No |
Choose Buildium if: You’re growing, managing HOAs, or need an accessible starting point with HOA-specific tooling.
Choose AppFolio if: You’re a professional PM company at 200+ units and need enterprise-grade accounting and AI leasing.
Buildium Overview
Buildium was founded in 2004 and acquired by RealPage in 2019. It’s designed for professional property managers handling residential portfolios and community associations, with a pricing model that makes sense at smaller scales.
What Buildium Does Well
HOA and community association management is first-class. Buildium includes violation tracking with photo documentation, owner/board portals, budget and reserve tracking, architectural request workflows, and meeting document storage. For community managers, these aren’t add-ons — they’re core.
Pricing scales reasonably. The Essential plan starts at $55/month for up to 150 units. This is significantly more accessible than AppFolio for managers under 200 units.
Resident and owner portals are well-built. Tenants submit maintenance requests, pay rent, and view their ledger. Owners review financials and approve work orders. Both are included on all tiers.
The 14-day free trial lets you actually test the platform before committing — something AppFolio doesn’t offer.
Where Buildium Falls Short
- Accounting doesn’t match AppFolio’s depth for complex portfolios.
- No AI leasing or AI-driven maintenance triage.
- Bulk communication tools are less sophisticated than AppFolio’s.
→ Start your Buildium free trial
AppFolio Overview
AppFolio launched in 2006 and has become one of the dominant platforms for professional property management companies. Its recent product push has focused heavily on AI-powered features under the “AppFolio Intelligence” brand.
What AppFolio Does Well
Accounting is enterprise-grade. AppFolio’s general ledger, multi-entity reporting, and financial consolidation capabilities are among the best in the market.
AI-powered leasing. AppFolio’s AI leasing assistant handles inquiries, schedules showings, and qualifies prospects 24/7. For high-volume managers, this reduces leasing team workload meaningfully.
AI maintenance triage categorizes and routes incoming maintenance requests before a human sees them.
Reporting depth is exceptional. Custom report builder, owner-specific reporting packages, and financial dashboards are more configurable than Buildium.
Where AppFolio Falls Short
- 100-unit minimum billing at $1.40/unit/month means the floor is ~$140/month. Smaller managers pay a lot per unit.
- No publisher affiliate program — AppFolio sells direct.
- No free trial — you get a demo, not hands-on access.
- HOA-specific features are less developed than Buildium’s.
- AI features add cost (AppFolio Intelligence pricing is separate).
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
HOA & Community Association Management
Winner: Buildium — Violation tracking, board portals, architectural requests, and budget/reserve management are purpose-built. AppFolio supports community associations but with fewer HOA-specific workflows.
Accounting
Winner: AppFolio — For complex, multi-entity, or high-volume portfolios, AppFolio’s accounting is deeper and more configurable.
Pricing Accessibility
Winner: Buildium — The $55/month Essential plan is practical for managers at any size. AppFolio’s 100-unit minimum is impractical for smaller portfolios.
AI Features
Winner: AppFolio — AppFolio Intelligence includes leasing AI, maintenance triage AI, and more. Buildium doesn’t currently offer comparable AI tooling.
Ease of Getting Started
Winner: Buildium — Free trial, lower starting price, and a more accessible onboarding process.
Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Buildium | AppFolio |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $55/month (Essential, up to 150 units) | ~$140/month (100-unit minimum) |
| Mid-tier | $174/month (Growth) | $2.50/unit |
| Top tier | $375/month (Premium) | $3.00+/unit |
Who Should Choose Buildium?
✅ HOA and community association managers — Buildium’s violation tracking, board portals, and architectural workflows are purpose-built for community management.
✅ Property managers under 300 units — More accessible pricing, and the feature set covers the essentials well.
✅ Growing PM companies — The pricing tiers allow you to start small and grow without switching platforms.
✅ Anyone who wants to trial before committing — The 14-day free trial is a meaningful advantage.
→ Start your Buildium free trial
Who Should Choose AppFolio?
✅ Professional PM companies at 200+ units — AppFolio’s accounting depth, AI features, and reporting capabilities justify the cost at scale.
✅ Multi-entity operators — If you’re managing properties across multiple LLCs or owner entities, AppFolio’s accounting consolidation is superior.
✅ High-volume leasing operations — The AI leasing assistant meaningfully reduces leasing team overhead.
Final Verdict
Buildium wins for most HOA managers and growing property management companies. The pricing is more accessible, HOA features are stronger, and the free trial lets you verify fit before committing.
AppFolio wins at enterprise scale — for professional PM companies at 200+ units who need sophisticated accounting, AI leasing automation, and advanced reporting.
For community association managers specifically, Buildium is the clearer recommendation.
→ Start your Buildium free trial — 14 days, no credit card
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