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Real Estate · head to head

Buildium vs Hemlane

Buildium logo

Buildium

Real Estate

Property management software designed with you in mind

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hemlane logo

Hemlane

Real Estate

Software plus a network of local agents, aimed at landlords who do not live near their rentals

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; Hemlane the local agent network is the reason to buy the top tier and its coverage is uneven, so a property in a smaller market may be served by an agent with little capacity or none at all; verify the specific market before signing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildium and Hemlane actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildium and Hemlane differ
AttributeBuildiumHemlane
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer property per month plus a per unit charge
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 Hemlane does not also cover.

Only in Hemlane

  • Local agent network
  • Repair coordination
  • Rent collection
  • Listing syndication and leasing
  • Lease documents
  • Per property plus per unit pricing

What people use each for

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

Buildium

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

Hemlane

  • A landlord who has moved to another state and needs someone licensed to show the unit and meet contractorsnot Buildium
  • An owner of two or three units who wants leasing handled without paying a full manager a percentage of rentnot Buildium
  • A property that is hard to fill and needs in-person showings rather than self-guided accessnot Buildium
  • Someone who wants to keep control of tenant selection and pricing while outsourcing only the physical worknot 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

Hemlane

  • The local agent network is the reason to buy the top tier and its coverage is uneven, so a property in a smaller market may be served by an agent with little capacity or none at all; verify the specific market before signing.
  • Pricing is a base charge per property plus a charge per unit, so a portfolio spread across many small buildings pays far more than one with the same unit count in a single building.
  • The accounting is landlord-oriented with no trust accounting or owner statements, which rules it out entirely for anyone managing property on behalf of other owners.
  • It is built for small portfolios, so the reporting, bulk operations and staff permission model all become limiting above roughly twenty units.
  • Commercial and HOA property are not supported in any meaningful way, so a mixed portfolio needs a second system.

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

Hemlane

On request
  • Basic$undefined/month
    • Base charge per property plus a small charge per unit
    • Listing syndication and applications
    • Rent collection
  • Essential$undefined/month
    • Higher base and higher per unit charge
    • 24 hour repair coordination
    • Lease documents and e-signature
  • Complete$undefined/month
    • Highest base and per unit charge
    • Local licensed agent assigned to the property
    • Showings, inspections and on-site coordination

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildium if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildium review

Choose Hemlane if

  • You need local agent network.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want repair coordination.
Hemlane review

Questions people ask

Is Buildium or Hemlane better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildium starts at Free and Hemlane at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildium or Hemlane?
Buildium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buildium and On request for Hemlane.
Does Buildium or Hemlane run on more platforms?
Buildium runs on Web. Hemlane runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Buildium for free?
Yes. Buildium has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hemlane 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 Hemlane is typically brought in for.
What can Buildium do that Hemlane cannot?
Hemlane covers Local agent network, Repair coordination, Rent collection, Listing syndication and leasing.

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
Hemlane: What does the local agent actually do?

On the top tier they show the unit to applicants, meet contractors, and carry out move-in and move-out inspections. They do not select the tenant or set the rent; you keep those decisions.

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
Hemlane: How does the cost compare with a full-service manager?

A full-service manager typically charges eight to ten per cent of collected rent plus a leasing fee. Hemlane charges a flat amount per property and per unit, which is usually cheaper on a well-performing rental and more expensive on a cheap one.

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
Hemlane: Is agent coverage nationwide?

Coverage is broad in large metropolitan areas and patchy elsewhere. Ask Hemlane to name the agent for your specific market before you buy the tier that depends on one.

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
Hemlane: Can property managers use it?

No. There is no trust accounting and no owner statement capability, so it is for owners managing their own property.

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