AppFolio review

AppFolio ranks first for residential property managers because its entry Core plan already covers property accounting and reports, end-to-end marketing and leasing, work order management, inspections and unit turns, integrated communication and purchase orders with inventory tracking. AppFolio's AI assistant and AI messaging are part of Core, so AI help with tenant messages and routine questions does not need a higher plan. Plus adds affordable and student housing capabilities, advanced budgeting, custom fields, AI automation flows, maintenance scheduling with automated billing and a read-only API. Max is aimed at large operators and adds a leasing CRM, Leasing Signals, a read and write API and a dedicated customer success manager. The published price of $1.49 per unit a month is competitive for mid-size portfolios, but AppFolio applies a 50-unit minimum and a minimum spend, and you still need a quote to buy. Small landlords should look at Buildium or Rentec Direct first.

Who it is for

Property management companies with 50 or more residential units that want one platform for accounting, leasing and maintenance.

Price

Core from $1.49 per unit per month with a minimum spend and 50-unit minimum; Plus from $3.20; Max from $5.00.

Starting at $1.49* Per Unit/Per Month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• Property accounting and reports on the Core plan
• End-to-end marketing and leasing
• Work order management, inspections and unit turns
• AI assistant and AI messaging, with AI automation flows on Plus
• Affordable and student housing capabilities on the Plus plan

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Core plan covers accounting, leasing, maintenance and communication in one platform
• Strength: Plans scale from Core to an enterprise Max tier with read and write API access
• Strength: Affordable and student housing tools are available without switching vendors
• Weakness: A 50-unit minimum and minimum spend apply on Core
• Weakness: Every plan is sold through a quote, even though starting prices are published
• Weakness: Read-only API access starts on Plus and read and write access needs Max

Key facts

• Entry plan: Core, from $1.49 per unit per month
• Unit minimum: 50 units on Core
• Portfolios: Single-family, multifamily, student, affordable, associations, commercial
• AI: AI assistant, AI messaging and automation flows

Where it ranks

AppFolio is No. 1 in our Best Property Management Software verdict.