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Real Estate · head to head

Buildium vs Propertyware

Buildium logo

Buildium

Real Estate

Property management software designed with you in mind

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Propertyware logo

Propertyware

Real Estate

Single-family rental management from RealPage, sold per unit above a monthly minimum with a paid implementation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Buildium has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildium prices are all quoted as starting figures, from $62 a month on Essential to $400 on Premium, so the real cost depends on unit count; Propertyware pricing is per unit against a monthly minimum and there is a separate implementation fee, usually a multiple of the monthly subscription, so first-year cost is well above twelve times the running rate.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildium and Propertyware actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildium and Propertyware differ
AttributeBuildiumPropertyware
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer unit per month with a monthly minimum
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Real Estate).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Buildium

Nothing recorded that Propertyware does not also cover.

Only in Propertyware

  • Custom fields and screens
  • Configurable owner portals
  • Open API
  • Owner accounting
  • Maintenance and vendor management
  • Inspections
  • Leasing and marketing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Buildium

  • Property management accounting and rent collectionnot Propertyware
  • Maintenance requests and work order trackingnot Propertyware
  • Tenant screening and lease signingnot Propertyware
  • Owner and tenant portalsnot Propertyware
  • Community association management on the Enterprise tiernot Propertyware

Propertyware

  • A single-family operator with 500 or more scattered doors that need per-owner branded portalsnot Buildium
  • A manager whose operating model does not fit standard software and who needs custom fields and screens rather than workaroundsnot Buildium
  • An operator integrating property data into an in-house acquisitions or investor reporting system through an APInot Buildium
  • A regional business running several markets under one ledger with owner-level management fee rules that differ by contractnot Buildium

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Buildium

  • Prices are all quoted as starting figures, from $62 a month on Essential to $400 on Premium, so the real cost depends on unit count
  • Onboarding is mandatory on the Growth and Premium plans, adding a cost the monthly figure does not show
  • Live phone support is withheld from the Essential tier
  • The Open API is Premium only
  • Portfolios above 5,000 units are pushed to a quote-only Enterprise arrangement

Propertyware

  • Pricing is per unit against a monthly minimum and there is a separate implementation fee, usually a multiple of the monthly subscription, so first-year cost is well above twelve times the running rate.
  • Propertyware sits inside RealPage alongside strategic enterprise platforms, so the practical risk is not that it stops working but that it receives maintenance rather than development; ask for a written roadmap and end-of-life notice period.
  • The interface is dated relative to newer cloud entrants, and the configurability that makes it capable also makes it slow to set up, which is why implementation is chargeable in the first place.
  • It is built for scattered-site single-family stock, so apartment community workflows, commercial leases and HOA management are all poorly served.
  • RealPage is the defendant in United States antitrust litigation concerning its revenue management software, which does not affect this product directly but is a factor when you are weighing a multi-year contract with the parent.

Pricing, plan by plan

Buildium

Free
  • Essential$62/month
    • Basic accounting, maintenance, leasing
    • Standard reporting
    • Basic AI assistant
  • Growth$192/month
    • Everything in Essential
    • Customization and reporting automation
    • Enhanced tenant screening
  • Premium$400/month
    • Everything in Growth
    • Open API access
    • Free inspections

Propertyware

On request
  • Basic$undefined/month
    • Per unit rate against a monthly minimum
    • Accounting, maintenance and tenant portal
    • Implementation fee charged separately
  • Plus$undefined/month
    • Higher per unit rate against the same style of minimum
    • Owner portals and custom fields
    • Inspections
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Highest per unit rate
    • Open API access
    • Custom portals and advanced configuration

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildium if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildium review

Choose Propertyware if

  • You need custom fields and screens.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want configurable owner portals.
Propertyware review

Questions people ask

Is Buildium or Propertyware better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildium starts at Free and Propertyware at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildium or Propertyware?
Buildium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buildium and On request for Propertyware.
Does Buildium or Propertyware run on more platforms?
Buildium runs on Web. Propertyware runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Buildium for free?
Yes. Buildium has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Propertyware starts at On request.
What is Buildium best used for?
Buildium is most often used for property management accounting and rent collection, maintenance requests and work order tracking, tenant screening and lease signing, owner and tenant portals. Of those, property management accounting and rent collection and maintenance requests and work order tracking are not what Propertyware is typically brought in for.
What can Buildium do that Propertyware cannot?
Propertyware covers Custom fields and screens, Configurable owner portals, Open API, Owner accounting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buildium: How much does Buildium cost for a small landlord?

Buildium starts at $62/month (Essential plan) and includes basic accounting, maintenance, and leasing. A 14-day free trial is available without credit card required.

Source
Propertyware: Is Propertyware still being developed?

That is the question to put to the vendor in writing. It belongs to RealPage, whose development focus is its enterprise multifamily platforms, so ask for a release history and a stated end-of-life notice period.

Buildium: Are tenant screening and eSignatures included in Buildium plans?

No. Tenant screening costs $17–$35 per screening. eSignatures cost $1–$5 per document on Essential and Growth plans. Premium plan ($400/month) includes unlimited eSignatures and removes per-document charges.

Source
Propertyware: Why is there an implementation fee?

Because the product is configured rather than switched on. Custom fields, portals and owner fee rules are set up during onboarding, and the fee is typically a multiple of the monthly subscription.

Buildium: What do I get by upgrading from Essential to Premium?

Premium ($400/month) adds Open API access, free property inspections, unlimited free eSignatures, 12 months of free incoming EFT processing, and a full AI suite. Growth ($192/month) is the mid-tier with customization and reporting automation.

Source
Propertyware: Does it work for apartment communities?

Not well. It is designed for scattered-site single-family portfolios; apartment operators are steered towards other RealPage products.

Buildium: Does Buildium offer custom pricing for large portfolios?

Yes, Buildium offers Enterprise pricing for portfolios exceeding 5,000 units or community associations. Contact sales at 877-396-7876 for a quote.

Source
Propertyware: Can I get my data out?

Yes, through the open API and standard exports, which is worth exercising during evaluation rather than at the point you decide to leave.

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