Buildium Pricing 2026: All Plans, Per-Unit Costs, and Hidden Fees Explained
Buildium has three pricing tiers — Essential, Growth, and Premium — plus per-unit costs that stack up fast. Here's the full breakdown so you know exactly what you'll pay.
Buildium is one of the most widely used professional property management platforms. But its pricing is more complex than most competitors — it charges a base monthly fee plus a per-unit cost. Understanding both is essential before committing.
The Short Answer
Buildium charges a base monthly fee (varies by plan) plus a per-unit fee for each property you manage. Costs start at ~$58/month for small portfolios on the Essential plan and scale quickly as you add units.
There is no free tier. All plans require a subscription.
Buildium Plan Tiers
Essential — Starting at ~$58/month
The entry-level plan for landlords and property managers:
- Listing management and online applications
- Online rent collection (ACH)
- Maintenance request management
- Basic accounting and reporting
- Resident and owner portals
- eLease signing (limited included, then per-use)
- Basic task management
Best for: Small portfolios (under 20 units) who need core PM functionality at the lowest price point.
Limitations: No advanced reporting, no analytics, limited eLease allotment, no EFT payment processing (add-on).
Growth — Starting at ~$183/month
The most popular tier for professional property managers:
Everything in Essential, plus:
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Unlimited eSigning
- Property inspection app (iOS/Android)
- EFT owner payments (pay owners electronically)
- Priority support
- Open API access
Best for: Property managers handling 20–150 units who need full operational capability.
Premium — Starting at ~$375/month
The enterprise tier:
Everything in Growth, plus:
- Buildium Insights — AI-powered portfolio analytics and recommendations
- Priority phone support
- Dedicated customer success manager (for larger accounts)
- Advanced analytics dashboard
Best for: Large property managers (150+ units) or professional PM firms wanting predictive analytics and dedicated support.
Per-Unit Pricing (Important)
In addition to the base monthly fee, Buildium charges a per-unit fee that varies by plan:
| Plan | Base price | Per-unit fee |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | ~$58/month | ~$0.80–$1.25/unit/month |
| Growth | ~$183/month | ~$0.80–$1.25/unit/month |
| Premium | ~$375/month | ~$0.80–$1.25/unit/month |
Exact per-unit rates are volume-tiered and negotiable for larger portfolios. Request a quote for accurate pricing at your unit count.
Real-Cost Examples
| Portfolio size | Essential | Growth | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 units | ~$83/month | ~$208/month | ~$400/month |
| 50 units | ~$120/month | ~$245/month | ~$438/month |
| 100 units | ~$183/month | ~$308/month | ~$500/month |
| 200 units | ~$308/month | ~$433/month | ~$625/month |
Estimates based on ~$1.25/unit. Actual pricing may vary — verify current rates at buildium.com.
Add-On Costs
Beyond the base subscription + per-unit costs, Buildium has several paid add-ons:
Tenant Screening — TransUnion credit/background/eviction reports billed per screening (typically $15–$45/report, depending on who pays).
eLease Signing (Essential) — The Essential plan includes a limited number of eLeases per month; additional eLeases cost extra.
Buildium Renters Insurance — Optional insurance marketplace (commission-based, not a direct cost to you).
Payment Processing — ACH is typically free; card payments carry a processing fee.
EFT Owner Payments — Available on Growth and above. May carry a per-transaction fee.
Free Trial
Buildium offers a 14-day free trial for all plans with no credit card required. This is enough time to evaluate the platform for your portfolio before committing.
Buildium vs. Alternatives (Pricing Context)
| Tool | Starting price | Per-unit fee | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildium | ~$58/month | Yes (~$1.25/unit) | No |
| AppFolio | ~$1.49/unit/month (min $298) | Per-unit only | No |
| Rent Manager | Contact for quote | Per-unit | No |
| TurboTenant | Free | No | Yes |
| Stessa | Free | No | Yes |
Buildium occupies the professional mid-market tier. It’s more affordable than AppFolio and Rent Manager for smaller portfolios, but meaningfully more expensive than free-tier tools like Stessa and TurboTenant.
Who Should Use Buildium?
Best for:
- Professional property managers handling 20+ units
- Property management companies (not just solo landlords)
- Portfolios that need full operational workflows: maintenance, inspections, owner disbursements, and financial reporting
- HOA and association management (Buildium has dedicated HOA features)
Not ideal for:
- Landlords with 1–5 units who don’t need professional PM workflows
- Anyone price-sensitive at small portfolio sizes (free tools like Stessa or TurboTenant are significantly cheaper and may cover needs)
FAQ
Does Buildium charge per unit or per property? Per unit. A 10-unit apartment building counts as 10 units, not 1 property.
Is Buildium’s pricing negotiable? For larger portfolios (100+ units), Buildium’s sales team typically negotiates volume pricing. Worth asking if you’re at that scale.
Can I start on Essential and upgrade later? Yes. You can upgrade between plans without losing data. Downgrading is also possible (you’d lose access to higher-tier features).
Does Buildium have a setup fee? No mandatory setup fee, though professional onboarding services are available for an additional cost.
→ Start Buildium’s 14-day free trial
See how Buildium compares: Buildium vs AppFolio | Buildium vs Rent Manager | Buildium vs Yardi Breeze