Managing a large-scale rental business with dozens of units or multiple apartment complexes can be an overwhelming task. The sheer volume of maintenance requests, tenant screenings, rent collections, and other administrative tasks can quickly become a logistical nightmare.

Investing in a comprehensive property management software solution is essential as a property manager overseeing dozens (or hundreds) of units. However, with tight budgets and the need to maintain profitability, the cost of such software can be a significant concern.

Fortunately, there is a solution that can help streamline your operations without breaking the bank: free property management software. These tools offer a range of features designed to simplify the management of your rental business, allowing you to focus on growth and tenant satisfaction.

In this article, we will explore the key factors to consider when selecting free property management software for your large-scale rental business. Additionally, we will highlight six top options to help you efficiently manage your apartment complexes, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience for you and your tenants.

How To Choose the Right Free Property Management Software 

Property management software makes your life easier by automating tasks like tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance tracking, and financial reporting. 

To find the best fit for your business, assess your requirements and identify the key features you need, like tenant screening tools, user-friendly online portals, and comprehensive property listing features. You should also consider how easy and potent software is to use and whether or not the interface is intuitive so your team can quickly get up to speed if you choose it. 

Remember to look into the security features and data protection measures to keep sensitive information safe. Lastly, reading reviews and testimonials from other property managers can give you a good idea of how the software performs in real-world situations and the quality of customer support.

Related Read: 6 Rental Verification Form Must-Haves (+ FREE CHECKLIST)

Considering all this, let's look closer at our top picks for free property management software. We’ll cover full-service property management tools as well as integration tools and services you can use to streamline your operations.

1. Stessa

Stessa is a free property management platform for landlords and real estate investors. It helps users track their investments, manage daily operations, and maximize profits. Stessa is completely free to use for an unlimited number of rental properties. 

Stessa partners with RentPrep, which is owned by Roofstock and uses Transunion for screening services. While this setup allows for comprehensive tenant screening, it may lead to customer support challenges and slower help, as responsibility for support doesn’t fall on one clear company.

Key features include:

• Unlimited property portfolios
• Automated accounting tools and bank feeds
• Centralized dashboard with key metrics and complete chart history
• Rental applications and tenant screening (in partnership with RentPrep)
• Online rent collection and landlord banking
• One-click smart receipt scanning and mileage tracking
• eSigning capabilities (in partnership with DocuSign)
• Mobile app for iOS and Android
  
  

2. Intellirent 

Intellirent offers a top-of-the-line tenant screening and online application service that integrates with larger property management platforms like Yardi and Rent Manager. Our service offers tools designed to help users attract high-quality renters, screen applicants efficiently, and fill vacancies in record time. 

Our tool is 100 percent free for landlords and property managers. Instead of shelling out money every time you need to screen a new applicant, you can use Intellirent for your application and screening needs.

If you already have a property management tool you like, but want to save time, money, and hassle on tenant screening reports, credit checks, and online application processes, Intellirent might be the right choice for you. 

Our tenant screening suite helps you ensure your tenants are thoroughly vetted. Our screening process includes verification of tenancy and employment and a credit check, which provides a comprehensive report of potential renters to property managers at zero additional cost. 

Intellirent’s key features include:

• Renter SmartMatch™ technology to automate and accelerate the leasing process
• Property advertising across multiple listing sites with a single click
• Efficient applicant screening and Renter Resume™ generation
• Integrated credit and background reporting through partnerships with Transunion Nova
• Customizable online rental applications
• Integration with major property management software, including AppFolio, Rent Manager, and Yardi
  
  

Related read: 5 Top Tenant Screening Companies

3. Landlordy 

LandLordy is a mobile app for property management that simplifies tasks and helps users stay organized, manage finances, and communicate effectively with tenants. Despite its advantages as a mobile-first platform, Landlordy has several significant limitations. 

The app may be inconvenient for users who prefer to work on larger screens or with physical keyboards. Also, all data is stored locally on the user's device without automatic cloud backups. Users can lose critical data if their device is lost, stolen, or damaged. Manual backups to Dropbox are possible with an additional subscription. Lastly, while LandLordy is free for a single property, the cost jumps to $14.99 monthly for two or more properties.

Key features offered by LandLordy include:

• Property management tools
• Rent payment tracking and tenant balance history
• Expense tracking with digital receipts using a smartphone camera or imported files
• Appliance safety checks and maintenance record management
• Reminders for outstanding payments, expenses, and important dates
• Instant financial reports for individual properties or entire portfolio
• Communication tools for sharing payment receipts, rent invoices, and balance reports with tenants or accountants
  
  

4. Innago 

Innago is a free property management software for landlords and managers. It streamlines the rental process, from listing to maintenance management. Tenants pay a small fee for rent payments and can also opt for additional paid add-ons like tenant screening and renters insurance.

While Innago does not handle employment and tenancy verification as Intellirent does, landlords can add an additional charge to the application fee to cover the cost of evaluating the application and contacting references.

Key features include:

• Online rental applications and customizable tenant screening
• TransUnion credit, criminal, and eviction reports
• State-specific, attorney-reviewed lease agreements with e-signature capabilities
• Online rent collection and automatic late fees
• Maintenance request tracking and management
• Tenant communication tools, including email and text messaging
• Financial tracking and reporting
• Vendor payments and management
• Mobile app for iOS and Android devices
  
  

5. Avail 

Avail is a property management software for small-scale property managers with one to 50 units. Its Unlimited plan is a free offering that includes syndicated listings, state-specific leases, online rent collection, maintenance tracking, a tenant portal, and property accounting tools. 

For an additional price, landlords can choose which type of TransUnion-provided reports they want for each tenant, giving them control over their screening expenses.

Avail’s key features include:

• One-click rental listings across top sites like Realtor.com and Apartments.com
• Online rental applications and comprehensive tenant background, credit, and eviction checks
• Lawyer-reviewed, state-specific lease agreement templates with e-signature capabilities
• Online rent collection and FastPay for faster payments
• Rental property accounting for tracking income and expenses
• Maintenance request tracking and tenant communication tools
• Educational content and resources for landlords
  
  

6. TurboTenant 

TurboTenant simplifies the rental process for self-managing landlords with smaller portfolios. The platform offers a range of tools for finding and managing tenants. It’s also easy to use and affordable. The software operates on a freemium model, with core features available at no cost to landlords. 

TurboTenant generates revenue by charging tenants for screening reports and offering premium features to landlords through a paid plan. Some features only available in the paid plan include custom application questions, income verification, and direct chat support.

Key features offered by TurboTenant include:

• Property marketing and advertising across multiple rental sites
• Online rental applications and tenant screening services (financial, criminal, and eviction history)
• State-specific lease agreement templates and e-signature capabilities
• Rent collection software with tracking, autopay, reminders, late fees, and receipts
• Integrated accounting software for tracking expenses and generating tax reports
• Tenant communication tools, maintenance management, and document organization
  
  

The Best Free Property Management Software For Your Properties 

While all the options in this post have merits, you must make the best choice for your business and properties.

If you prioritize ease of use and are looking for an all-in-one, free platform, consider Intellirent. Our user-friendly interface lets you create professional property listings and post them across hundreds of listing sites with just a few clicks. Plus, our unique partnership with Transunion provides access to comprehensive, reliable tenant screening reports.

Create your free account today to start exploring our features. With no hidden fees or commitments, you can experience firsthand how Intellirent can help you attract high-quality tenants, reduce vacancy rates, and streamline your rental management process.