Buildium vs Hemlane: 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, Hemlane wins: it has a genuinely usable free plan while Buildium starts at $62/mo. For a landlord with one or two units, that difference compounds to $744+ a year. Buildium covers landlord mobile app — which Hemlane doesn't. Who each fits: Professional property managers and growing portfolios that need trust accounting, owner reporting, and multi-staff workflows. Remote or hands-off landlords who want human backup (repairs, leasing agents) without hiring a full property manager.
Pricing, side by side
| Starting price | $62/mo | Free tier |
| Pricing model | flat, scales with unit count | per unit + $28/mo base fee |
| Plans | Essential — $62/mo Starting at $62/mo; incoming EFT $2.35/txn, $99 per bank account setup, inspections cost extra Growth — $192/mo Starting at $192/mo; incoming EFT $1.35/txn, 10 free bank accounts, enhanced screening $20 Premium — $400/mo Starting at $400/mo; incoming EFT free 12 months then $0.60, 100 free bank accounts, inspections included; Enterprise pricing above 5,000 units | Starter — $0/mo Free forever, no credit card; core advertising, screening, rent collection basics Basic — $30/mo $2/unit + $28 base fee (= $30/mo for 1 unit); full advertising, screening, $0-ACH rent collection, accounting, lease e-sign Essential — $48/mo $20/unit + $28 base fee (= $48/mo for 1 unit); adds end-to-end repair coordination with 24/7 emergency support and work orders Complete — $86/mo $58/unit + $28 base fee (= $86/mo for 1 unit); adds complete management/leasing assistance with local agents |
| Annual discount | Not stated on the live pricing page (fetched 2026-07-04) | Save up to 20% with annual billing; 14-day free trial on paid tiers |
| Tenant screening | $17-$20 per report paid by landlord, or $35 applicant-paid option | $40 total, paid by the tenant (national credit, criminal, eviction, and income reporting) |
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
Buildium
For- Full professional PM suite: trust accounting, owner portals, inspections, staff roles
- Scales from dozens to 5,000+ units with Enterprise tier beyond
- Listing syndication plus complete leasing workflow
- Large marketplace ecosystem and open API; 14-day free trial, no credit card
- Expensive for small landlords: $62/mo minimum before transaction fees
- Per-transaction EFT fees ($2.35 incoming on Essential) plus $99 per bank account setup
- Standard screening ($17-$20/report) is billed to the landlord unless the $35 applicant-paid option is used
- Property inspections cost extra on Essential ($99 setup + $40-$95/mo)
Hemlane
For- Unique hybrid model: software plus human repair coordination and local leasing agents
- 24/7 emergency maintenance coordination on Essential and above
- $0 ACH rent collection fees on all tiers
- Free Starter tier and syndication to Apartments.com, Zillow, and 7 more sites
- Full rental accounting with bank sync included from Basic up
- $28/mo base fee makes it expensive for 1-2 units vs flat-fee rivals
- No landlord mobile app — only a tenant app; owners use mobile web
- Repair coordination requires Essential ($48+/mo for one unit); Complete approaches traditional PM pricing
- Add-ons stack up: tenant placement from $695, inspections from $300, premium listings $89
Frequently asked questions
Is Buildium cheaper than Hemlane?
Buildium starts at $62/mo (flat, scales with unit count); not stated on the live pricing page (fetched 2026-07-04). Hemlane has a free plan; paid tiers start at $30/mo (per unit + $28/mo base fee). Subscription price isn't the whole story — compare tenant-side ACH and screening fees too. Screening: Buildium $17-$20 per report paid by landlord, or $35 applicant-paid option; Hemlane $40 total, paid by the tenant (national credit, criminal, eviction, and income reporting).
What does Buildium have that Hemlane doesn't?
Buildium: Landlord mobile app. Hemlane: nothing at the checklist level.
Which is better for a small landlord with 1–5 units?
Professional property managers and growing portfolios that need trust accounting, owner reporting, and multi-staff workflows. Remote or hands-off landlords who want human backup (repairs, leasing agents) without hiring a full property manager. If you're still unsure, start with whichever has the free tier — you can export your data and switch later.