Kahoa
Kahoa costs $50 a month at any size, with no minimum, and includes fund accounting, voting and the 1120-H.
Modern HOA management software
Built for self-managed communities
AppFolio pricing, reviews and the best alternatives for HOAs
AppFolio starts at $1.49 per home a month with a 50-home minimum and a minimum spend, so AppFolio is built for management companies rather than volunteer boards. Reviewers rate AppFolio 4.6 of 5 on G2, mostly for rental property management. The best AppFolio alternatives for an HOA board are Kahoa, PayHOA and RunHOA, which publish flat or banded prices with no minimum.
Kahoa makes Kahoa, one of the alternatives here. AppFolio is scored with the same HSAT as every other tool, and every claim links to its source.
What is AppFolio?
AppFolio is property management software for management companies that run rental properties and community associations. AppFolio's association tools cover accounting, violations, architectural requests, board portals and owner payments.
AppFolio prices per home with a 50-home minimum and a minimum spend. Homeowners pay fees on online payments, which AppFolio shows at checkout rather than publishing.
How much does AppFolio cost?
appfolio.com/pricing, checked Oct 20, 2026| The board pays | Price |
|---|---|
| Core plan | from $1.49/home/mo |
| Plus plan | from $3.20/home/mo |
| Minimum | 50 homes + minimum spend |
| Mailing service | Price shown in the app |
AppFolio doesn't publish its minimum spend; quotes start with a demo.
| Homeowners pay | Per payment |
|---|---|
| Bank transfer | $2.49, reported |
| Card | ~3%, reported |
Does AppFolio pass the HSAT?
HOA Stewardship Accounting StandardAppFolio1 of 5Passes one of the HSAT's five pass-or-fail questions on its entry plan.
- Are operating and reserve funds kept apart?Yes
- Is the 1120-H included?No
- Does the price stay flat as homes are added?No, per home
- Are homeowner fees published?No, shown at payment
- Can the board leave with its books?No, report by report
The HSAT is Kahoa's own five-question standard, not an official accounting standard. How the HSAT works
What do AppFolio reviewers say?
G2, Oct 2026What reviewers like
- User friendly, with good training
- Easy to email a whole association
- Frequent updates
What reviewers flag
- Homeowners can't email through the portal
- Many features cost extra to enable
- Built for rentals more than condos
“AppFolio Is the Gold Standard for HOA Management”Stephen D., on-site general manager, G2, Jan 29 2026
“Inability for homeowners to send emails directly through portal.”Brenda H., operations manager, G2, May 22 2024
“Meant for Residential More than Condos”Verified user, nonprofit management, G2, Jul 14 2022
Most of AppFolio's G2 reviews come from rental property managers; these three are from association managers.
What are the best AppFolio alternatives?
| Software | HSAT | Board pays | 1120-H | Homeowner bank fee | Better than AppFolio at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppFoliothe one you're replacing | 1 of 5 | From $1.49/home/mo | Not offered | $2.49 | — |
| Kahoaour product | 5 of 5 | $50/mo | Included | $2.45 | No minimum, flat price, 1120-H |
| PayHOApayhoa.com/pricing | 3 of 5 | $54–$275/mo | From $399 extra | $2.45 | No minimum, published bands |
| RunHOArunhoa.com/pricing | 5 of 5 | $399/yr | Included | 0.8%, max $5 | Lowest price |
| Buildiumbuildium.com/pricing | 2 of 5 | $80/mo | Not offered | $2.35 | Smaller portfolios |
| Condo Controlcondocontrol.com/pricing | 1 of 5 | From $67.50/mo | Not offered | Not published | Staffed condo buildings |
HSAT: one point per question passed on the entry plan. Prices checked against each vendor's pricing page, Oct 20, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
PayHOA
PayHOA starts at $54 a month for up to 25 homes, with accounting and violations on every plan.
Buildium
Buildium starts at $80 a month for up to 40 homes, with Growth from $192 for bigger portfolios.
Who should stay on AppFolio?
When AppFolio is still the right call
- Your management company runs AppFolio across many communities.
- You manage rentals and associations in one system.
- You need AppFolio's portfolio-wide reporting.
Leaving AppFolio
How do you switch from AppFolio?
- Ask your manager for owner balances, the general ledger and documents from AppFolio's reports.
- Load them into the new tool and match opening balances to the bank.
- Give the management company notice once the new books match.
What else do boards ask about AppFolio?
Can a self-managed HOA use AppFolio?
Rarely. AppFolio's 50-home minimum and minimum spend are set up for management companies, so most volunteer boards are better served by HOA software with published prices.
How much does AppFolio cost for an HOA?
AppFolio starts at $1.49 per home a month on Core and $3.20 on Plus, with a 50-home minimum and a minimum spend that AppFolio sets in a quote.
Does AppFolio prepare the 1120-H?
No. AppFolio doesn't prepare Form 1120-H; associations on AppFolio usually have a CPA file it.
Does AppFolio have homeowner voting?
No. AppFolio has no homeowner voting feature for association elections.
Leaving your management company?
Run the books yourselves for $50 a month
Thirty days, no card. Kahoa builds the ledger from your export and last year's bank statements.
$50a month, flat, at any size. The 1120-H is included.