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Real Estate · head to head

CREXi vs Rentec Direct

CREXi logo

CREXi

Real Estate

Commercial real estate marketplace with a genuinely free core listing tier, monetised through PRO subscriptions for brokers and a separate Intelligence data product

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rentec Direct logo

Rentec Direct

Real Estate

Bootstrapped property management software with proper trust accounting at the low end of the market

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CREXi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CREXi the genuinely useful lead-conversion features, full contact details and priority placement, sit behind PRO subscriptions with unpublished pricing, so the free tier is a lighter product than it first appears.; Rentec Direct the interface is dated and dense, so onboarding staff who expect a modern web application takes longer and some routine tasks need more clicks than newer competitors require.
  • They diverge on capability: CREXi covers Free unlimited listings, Rentec Direct covers Trust and operating accounting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CREXi and Rentec Direct actually diverge.

Attributes where CREXi and Rentec Direct differ
AttributeCREXiRentec Direct
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree core marketplace; paid PRO subscriptions and separate Intelligence data productPer unit per month with a monthly minimum
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 CREXi

  • Free unlimited listings
  • Online auctions
  • PRO subscriptions
  • CREXi Intelligence
  • Deal management
  • Lead analytics

Only in Rentec Direct

  • Trust and operating accounting
  • Two product lines
  • Rent collection
  • Tenant screening
  • Listing syndication
  • Owner and tenant portals
  • United States telephone support

What people use each for

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

CREXi

  • A broker or owner wanting free, unlimited listing exposure without committing to a paid tier up frontnot Rentec Direct
  • A seller wanting a native online auction process rather than a traditional offer negotiationnot Rentec Direct
  • A firm wanting a CoStar alternative for property records and comps without a CoStar contractnot Rentec Direct
  • A broker who has outgrown the free tier and wants priority placement and full lead contact details through PROnot Rentec Direct

Rentec Direct

  • A licensed manager with 60 to 400 units who needs audit-ready trust accounting but cannot justify AppFolio pricingnot CREXi
  • An operator who wants to speak to a person on the telephone rather than open a ticket when a ledger looks wrongnot CREXi
  • A landlord graduating from a spreadsheet who wants proper double entry rather than a categorised expense listnot CREXi
  • A manager burned by a vendor repricing after an acquisition who wants an owner-operated suppliernot CREXi

Where each one falls short

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

CREXi

  • The genuinely useful lead-conversion features, full contact details and priority placement, sit behind PRO subscriptions with unpublished pricing, so the free tier is a lighter product than it first appears.
  • CREXi Intelligence is sold as a separate product from PRO listing subscriptions, so a broker wanting both marketing tools and data access is paying two distinct, unpublished prices rather than one bundled fee.
  • As a newer entrant against CoStar decades of proprietary data collection, CREXi Intelligence coverage and data quality in less-active markets may not match CoStar depth.
  • Auction infrastructure is a differentiator but only useful for sellers actually wanting a bid-based process, which is a minority of commercial transactions.
  • Free-tier listings compete for visibility against PRO-tier paid placement, so a broker relying only on the free product accepts lower search prominence than paying competitors.

Rentec Direct

  • The interface is dated and dense, so onboarding staff who expect a modern web application takes longer and some routine tasks need more clicks than newer competitors require.
  • The mobile applications are limited compared with the browser product, which matters for inspections and maintenance work that happens on site rather than at a desk.
  • The integration catalogue is short and the API is not a selling point, so connecting to an in-house system or a specialist screening or maintenance tool is often not possible.
  • Commercial, HOA and student housing workflows are thin, so a mixed portfolio will need a second system or manual handling for anything that is not straightforward residential.
  • As a small independent vendor the release pace is measured, and there is no partner network of consultants to hire when a migration or a complex configuration needs outside help.

Pricing, plan by plan

CREXi

Free
  • Marketplace (free)Free
    • Unlimited property listings
    • Basic property details and lead information
    • Marketplace search access
  • Listing PRO / All PRO / Enterprise PRO$undefined/month
    • Priority search placement
    • Full lead contact details
    • Targeted email campaigns
  • CREXi Intelligence$undefined/year
    • 153M+ property records, comps and ownership data
    • Sold separately from PRO listing subscriptions
    • Pricing not published, quote required

Rentec Direct

On request
  • Rentec Pro$undefined/month
    • For landlords managing their own property
    • Per unit charge above a monthly minimum
    • Tenant ledgers, rent collection and screening
  • Rentec PM$undefined/month
    • For third-party property managers
    • Owner ledgers, statements and management fee calculation
    • Trust accounting

Which should you pick?

Choose CREXi if

  • You need free unlimited listings.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online auctions.
CREXi review

Choose Rentec Direct if

  • You need trust and operating accounting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want two product lines.
Rentec Direct review

Questions people ask

Is CREXi or Rentec Direct better?
Neither clearly leads. CREXi starts at Free and Rentec Direct at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CREXi or Rentec Direct?
CREXi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CREXi and On request for Rentec Direct.
Does CREXi or Rentec Direct run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CREXi for free?
Yes. CREXi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rentec Direct starts at On request.
What is CREXi best used for?
CREXi is most often used for a broker or owner wanting free, unlimited listing exposure without committing to a paid tier up front, a seller wanting a native online auction process rather than a traditional offer negotiation, a firm wanting a costar alternative for property records and comps without a costar contract, a broker who has outgrown the free tier and wants priority placement and full lead contact details through pro. Of those, a broker or owner wanting free, unlimited listing exposure without committing to a paid tier up front and a seller wanting a native online auction process rather than a traditional offer negotiation are not what Rentec Direct is typically brought in for.
What can CREXi do that Rentec Direct cannot?
CREXi covers Free unlimited listings, Online auctions, PRO subscriptions, CREXi Intelligence. Rentec Direct covers Trust and operating accounting, Two product lines, Rent collection, Tenant screening.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CREXi: Is CREXi really free?

The core marketplace, including unlimited listings, is free. PRO subscriptions and CREXi Intelligence data are separate paid products layered on top.

Rentec Direct: Does it do real trust accounting?

Yes, in the manager edition: separate trust and operating ledgers, owner draws, statements and management fee calculation, which is what a state licensing audit examines.

CREXi: Is CREXi Intelligence the same as PRO?

No. PRO is about listing placement and lead tools; Intelligence is a standalone property data product with 153 million-plus records, priced and sold separately.

Rentec Direct: Why is it so much cheaper than AppFolio?

Because it is self-funded and has not been repriced by an investor, and because it does not carry the leasing automation, marketing services and mobile depth that AppFolio charges for.

CREXi: Does CREXi compete with CoStar or LoopNet?

Yes on both fronts: the marketplace competes with LoopNet for listings, and CREXi Intelligence competes with CoStar and Reonomy for property data.

Rentec Direct: Is the interface a problem in practice?

It is dated rather than broken. Staff who have used other property software adapt quickly; staff who expect a modern consumer web application complain for a fortnight.

Rentec Direct: Can I manage commercial units in it?

Only basic commercial leases. There is no CAM reconciliation or percentage rent handling.

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