Best Accounting Software for Property Management Companies

If you're managing properties, multi-family, student housing or senior living, you already know that financial management requires tracking every dollar across multiple properties, ensuring compliance, generating owner reports, and making strategic decisions based on real-time data.
The right accounting software for property management can transform how you handle your finances. Choosing the best accounting software for property management means finding a system that understands trust accounting, automates rent collection, generates detailed financial reports, and scales as your portfolio grows.
In this guide, we'll walk through the best property management accounting software in 2025, what features truly matter, and how to decide whether managing complex accounting software is the best use of your valuable time.
Why Property Managers Need Specialized Accounting Software
Property management accounting is complex. You manage multiple properties, handle security deposits in trust accounts, track property-specific expenses, generate owner statements, and navigate compliance requirements that vary by state.
Property management accounting software addresses these unique challenges:
Property-level tracking: Every property in your portfolio needs separate financial tracking. You need to know exactly how each building or unit performs individually and collectively.
Trust accounting capabilities: Managing security deposits and client funds requires strict compliance with state regulations. Purpose-built software ensures you maintain separate ledgers and proper documentation.
Automated rent collection: Online payment processing that syncs directly with your accounting system eliminates manual data entry and reduces errors.
Owner reporting: When you manage properties for clients, you need professional financial statements that owners can access 24/7 through secure portals.
According to industry research, property managers using specialized accounting software save an average of 150 hours annually on bookkeeping tasks. That’s nearly four work weeks you could redirect toward growing your business or improving tenant satisfaction.
Top Features in Accounting Software for Property Management Companies
Technology is meant to ease your processes. Embracing technology allows you to handle your tasks efficiently.
Multi-property management: You have software that handles unlimited properties and units, tracking income, expenses, and performance metrics at both property and portfolio levels.
Automated transaction syncing: Look for platforms that automatically sync with your bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processors. Advanced systems use AI to categorize transactions based on over 120 Schedule E categories – offering custom grouping for the official 15 IRS categories that your firm requires.
General ledger and double-entry accounting: Professional property management requires full general ledger capabilities. Double-entry accounting ensures accuracy and provides the foundation for detailed reporting.
Trust accounting functionality: When you handle security deposits or manage properties for owners, you need dedicated trust accounting features that maintain separate ledgers and ensure compliance.
Owner and tenant portals: Secure online portals allow owners to access financial statements on demand and tenants to pay rent and submit maintenance requests.
Financial reporting suite: You need comprehensive reporting including cash flow analysis, balance sheets, rent rolls, aged receivables, vendor payment summaries, and tax-ready documentation.
Integration capabilities: Your accounting software should connect with property management tools, payment processors, and tax preparation software to create a seamless workflow.
Scalability: As your portfolio grows from 10 units to 100 or more, your software should scale without requiring a complete system change.
The Best Accounting Software for Property Managers in 2025
Here are some leading property platforms that offer solutions that help streamline financial operations.
Buildium: Comprehensive All-in-One Solution
Buildium combines full general ledger capabilities with operational tools for tenant screening, maintenance tracking, and lease management. Its trust-accounting features meet California and other state regulations for handling client funds. The platform centralizes communications through dedicated owner and tenant portals, providing 24/7 access to financial statements.
Buildium offers tiers with pricing starting at ~$58/month for the smallest portfolios (Essential plan) with higher tiers (Growth starting ~$183/month, Premium starting ~$375/month) for larger portfolios.
Best for: Professional property managers with established portfolios who need enterprise-grade accounting combined with comprehensive operational tools.
Yardi Breeze: Scalable Industry Leader
Yardi Breeze brings industry titan Yardi Systems to a cloud-based platform. The platform supports portfolios from a few units to hundreds with transparent per-unit pricing (often advertised around ~$1 per unit monthly for basic Breeze plans; pricing varies by contract and modules).
The integrated accounting system manages property-level and portfolio-level finances with features for payables, receivables, and general ledger reporting. Secure online portals facilitate communication and payments. The platform includes maintenance tracking and live-chat support without hidden support fees.
Best for: Property managers seeking scalable platforms backed by established brands with straightforward pricing and no hidden support fees.
AppFolio Property Manager: Enterprise-Grade Platform
AppFolio serves professional property managers with growing portfolios. The platform provides comprehensive management where robust accounting integrates with lease administration, maintenance coordination, and advanced automation.
AppFolio’s AI-driven tools streamline communications and workflows. The complete general ledger tracks payables, receivables, and generates detailed owner statements. Automated workflows manage maintenance requests, leasing communications, and utility billing.
Pricing is custom (per-unit fees + monthly minimums) and based on portfolio size.
Best for: Professional property managers running portfolio management as a core business operation requiring integration and efficiency at scale.
Baselane: All-in-One Integrated Banking Platform
Baselane takes a different approach by combining banking, rent collection, and bookkeeping into a single integrated platform. This eliminates the need to sync multiple systems and provides real-time financial visibility.
It combines banking, rent collection, and bookkeeping into a single platform. Automated AI bookkeeping syncs and categorizes transactions; online rent collection via ACH deposits directly into the platform. Integrated landlord banking offers unlimited free virtual accounts for each property.
Baselane’s Core tools are free to use (no monthly subscription) for rent collection, banking, bookkeeping. Paid upgrade tiers (e.g., “Smart” or advanced automation) are optional — check current rates.
Best for: Property managers want an all-in-one platform that eliminates the complexity of integrating separate systems.
DoorLoop: Modern Interface with Strong Accounting Core
DoorLoop consolidates operations from tenant screening and rent collection to financial reporting. The full accounting suite manages a complete chart of accounts, runs custom reports, and handles bank reconciliations. The integrated tenant portal allows rent payments and maintenance requests through a branded interface.
Pricing begins in the ~$40-60/month range for smaller portfolios, scaling up as units increase (specific unit-based costs may apply).
Best for: Property managers seeking unified systems with transparent starter pricing for smaller portfolios.
QuickBooks Online: Customizable General Accounting
QuickBooks Online serves as the industry standard for small business accounting. Many property managers adapt it for rental management. The platform’s Class or Location tracking features in Plus and Advanced plans allow segmentation of income and expenses by property. Bank feeds and rules automate transaction categorization.
Public subscription prices vary.
Best for: Property managers who need powerful, universally recognized accounting systems that CPAs already know and use.
Propertyware: Enterprise-Level Customization
Propertyware offers enterprise-level platforms for property-management companies with growing portfolios. Fully customizable chart of accounts with automated accounts payable and receivable. Integrated owner and tenant portals provide secure access. Optional 24/7 maintenance and leasing call centres add valuable services.
Pricing is often per-unit (e.g., ~$1/unit/month for basic, ~$1.50–$2/unit for higher tiers) plus implementation fees/minimums — check current contract terms.
Best for: Growth-oriented property managers needing powerful, unified systems to professionalize operations at scale.
Comparing Property Management Accounting Software: What You Really Need
With so many options available, how do you choose the right accounting software for property management companies? The answer depends largely on your portfolio size and business model. Here's a practical framework to guide your decision:
|
Portfolio Size |
What You Need |
Recommended Platforms |
Key Features |
|
Under 10 units |
Simplicity and affordability |
Baselane, DoorLoop |
Automated transaction syncing, basic financial reporting, integrated rent collection |
|
10-50 units |
Robust accounting with property-level tracking |
Buildium, Yardi Breeze, QuickBooks Online |
Trust accounting capabilities, owner reporting portals, scalability |
|
Over 50 units |
Enterprise-grade solutions |
AppFolio Property Manager, Propertyware, Yardi Voyager |
Advanced features, automation, scalability for complex operations |
|
White-label property management |
Maximum flexibility and customization |
Platforms with API access |
API access, extensive integration capabilities, white-label options |
Your choice should align with where you are today and where you plan to be in three to five years. Starting with an enterprise solution when you have five properties wastes money and adds unnecessary complexity. Conversely, choosing a basic platform when managing 75 units will quickly become a bottleneck. The key is finding software that matches your current needs while offering a clear upgrade path as you grow.
The Hidden Cost of Managing Your Own Accounting Software
Here's what most articles about property management accounting software don't tell you: choosing the right software represents only the beginning. The real question is whether you should manage complex accounting software at all.
Consider the actual cost of managing your own accounting:
Time investment: Even with automation, you'll spend hours monthly on bank reconciliations, transaction categorization, vendor bill entry, owner statement generation, and financial report review. That's time away from tenant relations, property inspections, lease negotiations, and business development.
Learning curve: Every software platform requires training. You're learning how to properly structure your chart of accounts, maintain trust accounting compliance, generate accurate financial reports, and troubleshoot integration issues.
Compliance risk: Property management accounting involves complex regulations. Security deposit handling, trust accounting requirements, tax documentation, and owner reporting all carry legal implications. Mistakes can be costly.
Software management: You're responsible for maintaining integrations, managing software updates, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring data security. This requires ongoing attention and technical knowledge.
Opportunity cost: Every hour you spend on accounting is an hour you're not spending growing your business. Could you acquire more properties in the time you spend reconciling accounts? Could you improve tenant retention by addressing concerns more quickly?
Why Outsourced Accounting Services Make Sense for Property Managers
The main goal of transitioning from in-house to outsourced accounting is to enhance efficiency by focusing on your business goals and serving clients.
Expert handling of specialized software: Professional accounting teams have already mastered the best accounting software for property management. They know how to optimize Buildium, configure Yardi Breeze, leverage AppFolio's advanced features, and integrate systems seamlessly. You get the benefits of premium software without the learning curve.
Accuracy and compliance: Dedicated accounting professionals ensure your books are maintained to the highest standards. They understand trust accounting requirements across different states, stay current with tax law changes, handle proper depreciation schedules, and ensure all regulatory compliance.
Scalability without chaos: As your portfolio grows, your accounting complexity increases exponentially. Outsourced teams scale seamlessly whether you manage 10 units or 1,000 units. There's no scrambling to hire staff or implement new systems.
Cost efficiency: When you factor in software subscriptions, training time, employee costs for accounting staff, and the opportunity cost of your own time, outsourced accounting often costs less than managing it internally.
Strategic advantage: With professionals handling your books, you receive real-time financial insights, customized reports for decision-making, benchmarking data across your portfolio, and strategic advice on financial optimization.
Making the Decision: Software, Staff, or Outsource?
When you're determined to manage your own accounting, the best accounting software for property management depends on your specific situation. Buildium and AppFolio offer the most comprehensive all-in-one solutions. Yardi Breeze provides enterprise backing with straightforward pricing. Baselane delivers integrated banking and accounting on one platform. QuickBooks Online offers maximum flexibility for those comfortable with general accounting.
But before you commit thousands of dollars annually to software subscriptions and countless hours to financial management, ask yourself these questions:
Does accounting represent your core competency? When you become a property manager to manage properties and serve tenants rather than become an accountant, outsourcing makes strategic sense.
What is your time worth? Calculate your hourly rate based on your salary or desired income. Now multiply that by the hours you spend on accounting monthly. Would outsourcing cost less than that number?
How complex is your portfolio? The more properties you manage, the more complex your accounting becomes. On a certain scale, professional accounting services have become a necessity.
What are your growth plans? When you're planning to scale your portfolio, building accounting infrastructure now that can grow with you saves major headaches later.
What's your risk tolerance? Accounting mistakes in property management can lead to legal issues, unhappy clients, tax penalties, and lost opportunities. Professional accounting reduces these risks significantly.
Getting Started with Better Property Management Accounting
Whether you choose to invest in accounting software for property managers or partner with an outsourced accounting service, the most important step is recognizing that proper financial management directly impacts your success.
Your properties are valuable assets that deserve professional financial oversight. The question now becomes whether you want to spend your time becoming an accounting expert or working with professionals who already possess that expertise.
The best accounting software for property management works seamlessly in the background while you focus on what you love: growing your property management business and serving your clients.
Your properties deserve professional financial management. The question becomes whether that professional should be you, or whether our team of experts who do this every single day should handle it.
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Author
John Bugh
John Bugh is the Chief Revenue Officer for Pacific Accounting and Business Services (PABS), responsible for the strategic direction, planning, vision, growth, and performance of the company’s marketing, branding, and revenue streams.
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