# AppFolio Property Manager vs Buildium

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Buildium

| Attribute | AppFolio Property Manager | Buildium |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 31.8 (32% (low)) | 51.3 (44% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | Unified property management platform with native AI for residential, commercial, and multifamily portfolios. Covers accounting, marketing/leasing, maintenance, communication, and workflow automation across portfolios of all sizes. | A property management platform providing comprehensive tools for managing residential properties and community associations. Features include tenant screening, lease management, rent collection, accounting, maintenance tracking, resident portals, and analytics. |
| features.capabilities | `{"deployment":"cloud","lease_mgmt":true,"mobile_app":true,"accounting_gl":true,"pricing_model":"quote","property_type":"mixed","target_segment":"mid_market","online_payments":false,"listing_syndication":false,"tenant_owner_portal":true,"maintenance_workorders":true}` | `{"deployment":"cloud","lease_mgmt":true,"mobile_app":true,"accounting_gl":true,"property_type":"residential","tenant_portal":true,"online_leasing":true,"target_segment":"smb_landlord","online_payments":true,"tenant_screening":true,"listing_syndication":true,"tenant_owner_portal":true,"online_rent_payments":true,"maintenance_workorders":true,"maintenance_work_orders":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 5 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Zillow"},{"name":"Trulia"},{"name":"Apartments.com"},{"name":"Facebook Marketplace"},{"name":"Apartment List"},{"name":"Zumper"}]` |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"quote","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Core","features":["Property Accounting & Reports","End-to-End Marketing & Leasing","Work Order Management","Inspections & Unit Turns","Mobility & Convenience","Integrated Communication","AppFolio Stack™ Standard Integrations","Realm-X Assistant & Messages","Purchase Orders & Inventory Tracking","Standard Support"],"description":"An out of the box solution giving you one powerful platform to run any property management business.","contactSales":true,"includedLimits":{"units_minimum":"50"}},{"free":false,"name":"Plus","features":["Everything in Core","Affordable Housing Capabilities","Student Housing Capabilities","Advanced Budgeting & Accounting","Advanced Data Analysis","Custom Fields","Realm-X Flows","AppFolio Stack™ Premium Integrations","Scale & Control","AppFolio API (read only)","Enhanced Support","Maintenance Scheduling & Automated Billing"],"description":"A configurable solution for growing businesses with complex portfolios looking to standardize processes.","contactSales":true},{"free":false,"name":"Max","features":["Everything in Plus","Leasing CRM","Leasing Signals","AppFolio API (read/write)","Dedicated Customer Success Management"],"description":"An enterprise solution for large operators that are focused on customization, data insights, and driving revenue.","contactSales":true}],"summary":"Quote-based pricing. Core tier requires 50 unit minimum.","freeTier":false,"sourceUrl":"https://www.appfolio.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-03T11:54:51.257Z"}` | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Essential","summary":"$62/month","features":["All basic Accounting, Maintenance, & Leasing features","Basic Communications & Buildium's AI Assistant","Standard & Bulk Reporting","Rental Listing Syndication","Prospect & Applicant Management","EFT Residential Refunds","Marketing Website","Resident Portal","Buildium Moving Services","Payment Alternatives (Obligo, Livble, Retail Cash)","Rent Reporting","Community Calendar","Amenity Booking"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":62,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Starting point to automate day-to-day and run business from central platform","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Growth","summary":"$192/month (Most Popular)","features":["Everything in Essential","Enhanced customization & reporting automation","Enhanced Tenant Screening","Lower cost eSignatures & EFT transactions","AI-enhanced Communications and Business Analytics"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":192,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Growing business with additional features, support, and performance insights","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"$400/month","features":["Everything in Growth","Open API","Insights-to-action","Free inspections","Unlimited eSignatures","First year eSignatures & inspections free","Incoming EFT transactions (full suite)","Full AI and Automations suite"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":400,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Enterprise-level scaling with Open API, insights-to-action, and advanced automations","contactSales":false}],"addOns":[{"name":"Tenant Screening","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"screening","amount":17,"period":"per_screening","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"applicant_paid_screening","amount":35,"period":"per_screening","currency":"USD"}]},{"name":"eSignature","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","tier":"Essential","unit":"document","amount":5,"period":"per_document","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","tier":"Growth","unit":"document","amount":1,"period":"per_document","currency":"USD"}]},{"name":"Online Payments - Incoming EFT","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","tier":"Essential","unit":"transaction","amount":2.35,"period":"per_transaction","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"per_unit","tier":"Growth","unit":"transaction","amount":1.35,"period":"per_transaction","currency":"USD"}]},{"name":"Online Payments - Outgoing EFT","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"transaction","amount":0.99,"period":"per_transaction","currency":"USD"}]},{"name":"Online Payments - Credit Cards","components":[{"of":"transaction","kind":"percentage","rate":2.99}]},{"name":"Bank Account Setup","components":[{"kind":"one_time","tier":"Essential","amount":99,"currency":"USD"}]}],"summary":"From $62/month. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.buildium.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-03T11:54:26.361Z","freeTrialDays":14,"startingPrice":{"amount":62,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | no | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | unknown | unknown |
| pricing.transparent | no | no |
| reliability.status_page | yes | yes |

## Capabilities (Real Estate Software)

| Capability | AppFolio Property Manager | Buildium |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Property type focus | Mixed | Residential |
| **Financial** |  |  |
| Online rent payments (ACH / card) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Built-in accounting / general ledger | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Listing syndication (Zillow, Apartments.com) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tenant / owner portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance / work-order management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lease management / e-signing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Compliance** |  |  |
| PCI DSS compliant (online payments) | - | - |
| SOC 2 (Type II) | - | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Cloud / SaaS | Cloud / SaaS |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Quote / contact sales | - |
| **Market** |  |  |
| Target segment | Mid-market | SMB landlord / small portfolio |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:17:59.897Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*