Avail vs Rentec Direct: which fits your rentals in 2026?
Pricing and features verified from vendor pricing pages on 2026-07-04.
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On pure cost, Avail wins: it has a genuinely usable free plan while Rentec Direct starts at $55/mo. For a landlord with one or two units, that difference compounds to $660+ a year. Who each fits: First-time or small landlords (1-5 units) who want a polished free end-to-end tool and may selectively upgrade single units to Plus. Landlords and small property-management companies who value live US-based support and cheap screening over a modern interface.
Pricing, side by side
| Starting price | Free tier | $55/mo |
| Pricing model | per unit | per unit |
| Plans | Unlimited — $0/mo Free, unlimited units: listings on 19 sites, applications/screening, state-specific leases with e-sign, rent collection (tenant pays $2.50/ACH), maintenance tracking, income/expense tracking Unlimited Plus — $9/mo $9/unit/month; waived tenant ACH fees, next-day FastPay payouts, custom applications and lease clauses, lease cloning, property marketing website, 2x faster support | Rentec Pro — $55/mo $55/mo base for landlords/investors; price scales with unit count up to 2,500+ (contact for more) Rentec PM — $65/mo $65/mo base for property managers; adds trust account management/reporting and owner portal |
| Annual discount | — | Save 10% with annual subscription |
| Tenant screening | Varies by state law; paid by the applicant most commonly, though the landlord can choose to cover it | $10 basic, $13 enhanced, $18 premium per report at discounted landlord rates; cost can be passed to applicant |
Feature checklist
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tenant screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online rent collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accounting & reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Listing syndication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leases & e-sign | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated banking | — | — |
| Landlord mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and trade-offs
Avail
For- Free tier covers the entire rental cycle for unlimited units, including state-specific lawyer-reviewed leases
- Backed by Realtor.com — listings syndicate to 19 sites including the Realtor.com network
- Simple, transparent upgrade: one $9/unit/mo Plus tier, no contracts
- Screening costs are applicant-paid by default
- Free plan pushes a $2.50 ACH fee per rent payment onto tenants (3.5% for cards on any plan)
- Next-day payouts, custom leases, and waived ACH fees are all locked behind Plus
- $9/unit/mo scales badly past a handful of units versus flat-fee competitors
- Accounting is basic income/expense tracking, not real bookkeeping
Rentec Direct
For- Free unlimited US-based phone support, training, and personalized setup
- Free online rent payments — no ACH fees advertised for landlords
- Cheapest screening in this group ($10-$18 per report)
- Trust accounting and owner portal on the PM tier; unlimited properties and users
- Interface feels dated next to newer rivals like Azibo or Stessa
- Pricing scales per unit, so costs grow steadily with portfolio size
- No integrated banking product
- Only a two-week free trial, no free tier
Frequently asked questions
Is Avail cheaper than Rentec Direct?
Avail has a free plan; paid tiers start at $9/mo (per unit). Rentec Direct starts at $55/mo (per unit); save 10% with annual subscription. Subscription price isn't the whole story — compare tenant-side ACH and screening fees too. Screening: Avail Varies by state law; paid by the applicant most commonly, though the landlord can choose to cover it; Rentec Direct $10 basic, $13 enhanced, $18 premium per report at discounted landlord rates; cost can be passed to applicant.
What does Avail have that Rentec Direct doesn't?
At the feature-checklist level they match; the differences are in depth, fees, and support quality — see the full comparison above.
Which is better for a small landlord with 1–5 units?
First-time or small landlords (1-5 units) who want a polished free end-to-end tool and may selectively upgrade single units to Plus. Landlords and small property-management companies who value live US-based support and cheap screening over a modern interface. If you're still unsure, start with whichever has the free tier — you can export your data and switch later.