Property Management Software Comparison · 2026
Avail (by Apartments.com) vs Buildium: Full Comparison (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of Avail (by Apartments.com) and Buildium for landlords and property managers. Features, pricing, pros and cons — and a third option most landlords don’t know about.
Free forever · No credit card required
Quick Verdict
Avail (by Apartments.com)
Starting at
0
Best for
First-time landlords who want free basics and Apartments.com listing reach
Buildium
Starting at
62
Best for
Professional property managers and portfolio owners who need full accounting
Bottom line: Both Avail (by Apartments.com) and Buildium have real strengths — but neither tracks state compliance automatically or includes an AI assistant for landlords. That’s where LeaseBase steps in.
Avail (by Apartments.com) vs Buildium vs LeaseBase
Feature-by-feature breakdown across all three platforms.
✦ LeaseBase column reflects the free tier. All features included at no cost.
Avail (by Apartments.com) Review
Best for
First-time landlords who want free basics and Apartments.com listing reach
Pricing
Free tier available; Unlimited Plus $9/unit/mo (min $9/mo)
What Avail (by Apartments.com) does well
- ✓ Backed by Apartments.com — strong listing distribution and brand trust
- ✓ Decent free tier for landlords starting out
- ✓ State-specific lease templates included
Where Avail (by Apartments.com) falls short
- ✗ Unlimited Plus plan gets expensive fast at $9/unit/mo
- ✗ No compliance tracking or proactive legal alerts
- ✗ No AI features or market intelligence
- ✗ No owner portal or vendor management
- ✗ Maintenance tracking is limited to basic request logging
Avail benefits from Apartments.com distribution but lacks compliance tracking, AI capabilities, and owner-facing reporting. At $9/unit/mo, mid-sized portfolios pay significantly more than LeaseBase's flat pricing tiers.
Buildium Review
Best for
Professional property managers and portfolio owners who need full accounting
Pricing
Essential $62/mo; Growth $192/mo; Premium $400/mo — all scale with units
What Buildium does well
- ✓ Full double-entry accounting and trust account management
- ✓ Owner portal with detailed financial reporting for investors
- ✓ Mature platform with extensive integrations and 14-day free trial
Where Buildium falls short
- ✗ Starts at $62/mo with no free tier — expensive for 1–5 unit landlords
- ✗ Growth/Premium tiers at $192–$400 are enterprise-grade pricing
- ✗ No AI features or proactive compliance tracking
- ✗ Can feel complex and over-engineered for small portfolios
- ✗ Phone support only on Growth and Premium plans
Buildium is the professional PM standard with full accounting and owner portals, but starts at $62/mo with no free entry point. LeaseBase targets the same compliance rigor and AI layer at a fraction of the cost for landlords under 50 units.
The Third Option
Why landlords are switching to LeaseBase
While you compare Avail (by Apartments.com) and Buildium, thousands of landlords have quietly moved to a platform that does more — for free.
Free E-Signing
Sign leases digitally at no charge. No per-document fees, no upsells.
Compliance Tracking
State and local law alerts built in. Neither Avail (by Apartments.com) nor Buildium does this.
AI Assistant
Ask landlord law questions, draft notices, and get instant answers — included free.
Flat Pricing
No per-unit fees. No tiers that charge you more as you grow.
Start Managing Free
Rent collection, e-sign, maintenance, compliance tracking, and an AI assistant — all included. No credit card.
Start Managing FreeFree forever — no credit card, no catch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avail (by Apartments.com) or Buildium better for small landlords?
It depends on your priorities. Avail (by Apartments.com) is generally stronger for First-time landlords who want free basics and Apartments.com listing reach, while Buildium targets Professional property managers and portfolio owners who need full accounting. For landlords with a small portfolio (1–10 units) who want everything in one place, LeaseBase offers a compelling free alternative with compliance tracking and AI features that neither platform includes.
How much does Avail (by Apartments.com) cost vs Buildium?
Avail (by Apartments.com) starts at 0 — Free tier available; Unlimited Plus $9/unit/mo (min $9/mo). Buildium starts at 62 — Essential $62/mo; Growth $192/mo; Premium $400/mo — all scale with units. Both can become significantly more expensive as your portfolio grows or you add paid add-ons. LeaseBase is free with no per-unit fees.
Is there a free alternative to Avail (by Apartments.com) and Buildium?
Yes. LeaseBase is a fully free property management platform that includes rent collection, digital lease signing, tenant screening, maintenance tracking, compliance tracking, and an AI assistant. Unlike Avail (by Apartments.com) and Buildium, there are no per-unit fees and no credit card required to get started.
Does Avail (by Apartments.com) or Buildium track state compliance?
Neither Avail (by Apartments.com) nor Buildium tracks state landlord-tenant law compliance automatically. LeaseBase is one of the only platforms that includes compliance tracking as a built-in, free feature — covering security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, and rent increase rules for all 50 states.
Related Comparisons
See how these platforms stack up in other head-to-head matchups.
Stop Comparing. Start Managing.
Try LeaseBase free — all features included.
Get Started FreeNo credit card · No setup fee · Cancel anytime
Reviewed by Rachid Abadli
Founder & CEO, LeaseBase · Sacramento landlord · Self-managing since 2019
LeaseBase is a property management platform — not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.
