Modern HOA management software

Built for self-managed communities

Buildium vs TownSq: which is better for your HOA?

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

Buildium is the better choice when the board needs real accounting: Buildium includes fund accounting from $80 a month for up to 40 homes. TownSq suits communities whose management company runs it for the resident app; TownSq keeps full accounting on its Enterprise plan.

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

What are Buildium and TownSq?

Buildium is property management software from RealPage, used by landlords and community association managers, with fund accounting on its association plans from $80 a month.

TownSq is a community app and management platform sold mostly through management companies, with full accounting from C3 only on its Enterprise plan.

Do Buildium and TownSq pass the HSAT?

HOA Stewardship Accounting Standard

Buildium2 of 5

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

TownSq0 of 5

Accounting on Enterprise only
No 1120-H
Price rises with homes
Fees set by ATG Pay, not published
No export policy published

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 Buildium and TownSq compare feature by feature?

checked Oct 20, 2026

Feature	Buildium	TownSq	Kahoa
Fund accounting	Included	Enterprise plan only	Included
Violations	Included	+$20/mo	Included
Architectural requests	Included	+$20/mo	Included
Elections and voting	Committee voting only	$250 per election + $25 setup	Included
E-signatures	Add-on	Not offered	Included
Email and text blasts	Included	Included; emergency broadcast +$20/mo	Included
Mailed letters	Per-piece mail service	Offered, price not published	At postage cost
Form 1120-H	Not offered	Not offered	Included
Document storage	Unlimited	Not published	Unlimited
Data export	Partial	Not published	Anytime, free
State-law deadlines and citations	Not offered	Not offered	Utah today

IncludedCosts extraNot offered or not published

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 Spot something out of date?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

How much do Buildium and TownSq cost?

Buildium$80+/mo

Buildium's Essential plan covers up to 40 homes, with accounting, violations and architectural requests.

Online payments setup$99 per bank account

E-signaturesAdd-on

TownSq$90–$270/mo

TownSq Pro's price rises with homes, and common tools are add-ons. Full accounting needs the Enterprise plan.

Violations+$20/mo

Architectural requests+$20/mo

Each election$250 + $25 setup

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?
Buildium	$80/mo	Growth from $192/mo, or a quote	Yes, past 40 homes
TownSq	$90/mo	$270/mo, before add-ons	Yes
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
Buildium	$2.35	$7.48	$89.70
TownSq	~$1.50	$9.75–$11.75	$117–$141
Kahoa	$2.45	$7.55	$90.60

Buildium publishes $2.35 per bank transfer and 2.99% by card on Essential. TownSq's processor, ATG Pay, charges about $1.50 per bank transfer and about 3.5% + $1–$3 by card, and TownSq doesn't publish these centrally.

What do Buildium and TownSq look like?

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

TownSq's homeowner account and ledger — TownSq's homeowner account, Jun 2026, names blurred by Kahoa · image: TownSq release notes

Where does each fall short?

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.

TownSq

TownSq's full accounting needs the Enterprise plan.
TownSq sells violations, architectural requests and voting as add-ons.
TownSq doesn't publish homeowner payment fees or an export policy.

Should you choose Buildium or TownSq?

Who keeps the books?

If the board or its bookkeeper keeps the books, choose Buildium, which includes accounting. If the management company keeps them elsewhere, TownSq's resident app may be enough.

How many add-ons would you need?

Add up TownSq's add-ons for violations, architectural requests and voting before comparing prices with Buildium, which includes the first two.

What will homeowners pay by card?

Buildium's 2.99% card fee is lower than TownSq's roughly 3.5% + $1–$3, and Buildium publishes it.

The third option · our product

What about Kahoa?

Kahoa puts the books and the owner portal in one place for $50 a month, with fund accounting, voting and the 1120-H included. Kahoa launched in 2026, so it has the shortest track record of the three.

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?

Does TownSq have accounting like Buildium?

Only on TownSq's Enterprise plan, through C3. Buildium includes accounting on every association plan, starting with Essential.

Is Buildium or TownSq cheaper?

For under 40 homes, Buildium costs $80 a month with accounting and violations included; TownSq Pro costs $90 plus $20 a month for violations, without accounting.

Which has the better resident app?

TownSq's resident app is rated 4.7 of 5 from about 11,000 App Store ratings. Buildium offers resident and board portals as part of its software.

Does Buildium or TownSq prepare the 1120-H?

Neither prepares Form 1120-H.

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.