Modern HOA management software

Built for self-managed communities

AppFolio vs Buildium for HOAs: which is better?

Updated Oct 20, 2026 · prices checked against each vendor's site

Buildium is the better fit for a small association portfolio: Buildium starts at $80 a month for up to 40 homes, with no unit minimum. AppFolio suits management companies with at least 50 homes and room for a minimum spend, starting at $1.49 per home a month.

Kahoa makes Kahoa, a third option, so we show it beside both. Every claim links to the vendor's own page.

What are AppFolio and Buildium?

AppFolio is property management software for management companies running rentals and associations, priced per home with a 50-home minimum and a minimum spend.

Buildium is property management software from RealPage for landlords and association managers, with association plans from $80 a month for up to 40 homes.

Do AppFolio and Buildium pass the HSAT?

HOA Stewardship Accounting Standard

AppFolio1 of 5

Fund accounting
No 1120-H
Per-home pricing, 50-home minimum
Fees shown only at payment
Report-by-report export

Buildium2 of 5

Fund accounting
No 1120-H
Price rises past 40 homes
Homeowner fees published
Full ledger export not self-serve

Kahoa · our product5 of 5

Fund accounting
1120-H included
$50 at any size
Homeowner fees published
Export anytime, free

The HSAT is Kahoa's own five-question standard, not an official accounting standard. How the HSAT works

How do AppFolio and Buildium compare feature by feature?

checked Oct 20, 2026

Feature	AppFolio	Buildium	Kahoa
Fund accounting	Included	Included	Included
Violations	Included	Included	Included
Architectural requests	Included	Included	Included
Elections and voting	Not offered	Committee voting only	Included
E-signatures	Not published	Add-on	Included
Email and text blasts	Included	Included	Included
Mailed letters	Mailing service, price behind login	Per-piece mail service	At postage cost
Form 1120-H	Not offered	Not offered	Included
Document storage	Not published	Unlimited	Unlimited
Data export	Report by report	Partial	Anytime, free
State-law deadlines and citations	Not offered	Not offered	Utah today

IncludedCosts extraNot offered or not published

Sources: appfolio.com/pricing · buildium.com/pricing · kahoa.app/pricing. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't list it publicly. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

How much do AppFolio and Buildium cost?

AppFolio$1.49/home/mo

AppFolio Core starts at $1.49 per home a month and Plus at $3.20, with a 50-home minimum and a minimum spend set in a quote.

Minimum50 homes + minimum spend

Mailing servicePrice in the app

Buildium$80+/mo

Buildium's Essential plan covers up to 40 homes; Growth starts at $192 a month.

Online payments setup$99 per bank account

E-signaturesAdd-on

Kahoa · our product$50/mo

One flat price for any number of homes, with every tool included.

1120-H preparationIncluded

Mailed letterat postage cost

Board price	Smallest community	Largest band	Grows with homes?
AppFolio	50-home minimum + minimum spend	From $1.49/home/mo	Yes, per home
Buildium	$80/mo	Growth from $192/mo, or a quote	Yes, past 40 homes
Kahoa	$50/mo	$50/mo	No

What do homeowners pay to send dues?

on a $250 dues payment

Software	Bank transfer	Card	Card, 12 payments
AppFolio	$2.49	~$7.50	~$90.00
Buildium	$2.35	$7.48	$89.70
Kahoa	$2.45	$7.55	$90.60

AppFolio doesn't publish homeowner payment fees; third-party reports put them at $2.49 per bank transfer and about 3% by card. Buildium publishes $2.35 and 2.99% on Essential.

What do AppFolio and Buildium look like?

AppFolio's association overview dashboard for board members — AppFolio's association overview · image: AppFolio product update, 2024

Buildium's bank reconciliation matching ledger entries to the bank feed — Buildium's bank reconciliation · image: Buildium help center

Where does each fall short?

AppFolio

AppFolio requires 50 homes and a minimum spend.
AppFolio has no homeowner voting and no 1120-H.
AppFolio doesn't publish homeowner payment fees.

Buildium

Buildium's Essential plan stops at 40 homes.
Buildium doesn't prepare the 1120-H.
Buildium's full ledger export isn't self-serve.

Should you choose AppFolio or Buildium?

How many homes do you manage?

Under 50 homes, AppFolio's minimum rules it out, so Buildium is the only one of the two that fits. Above that, get quotes from both.

Rentals too, or only associations?

Both handle rentals and associations. AppFolio's portfolio reporting suits larger mixed firms; Buildium suits smaller ones.

Do you need homeowner voting?

Neither runs homeowner elections. If the board votes online, budget for a separate tool or choose HOA software that includes it.

The third option · our product

What about Kahoa?

Kahoa is built for the volunteer board rather than the management company: $50 a month for any number of homes, with no minimum, fund accounting, voting and the 1120-H included.

Start a 30-day trial

Kahoa's dues screen showing 34 of 47 homes paid — Kahoa's dues ledger · image: Kahoa

What else do boards ask?

Is AppFolio or Buildium better for HOAs?

Buildium, for small portfolios and single associations, because it has no unit minimum. AppFolio fits management companies running 50 or more homes.

Is AppFolio or Buildium cheaper?

Buildium, for small portfolios: $80 a month up to 40 homes. AppFolio's 50-home minimum comes to at least $74.50 a month before its minimum spend.

Do AppFolio and Buildium prepare the 1120-H?

Neither prepares Form 1120-H. Buildium e-files 1099s; AppFolio associations usually have a CPA file the return.

Do AppFolio and Buildium have voting?

Neither has homeowner elections. Buildium offers committee voting on architectural requests.

Neither one quite right?

Try one that passes all five

Thirty days, no card. Bring last year's bank statements and Kahoa builds the ledger from them.

Start a 30-day trial See pricing

5 of 5on the HSAT, for $50 a month flat.