Stessa vs Hemlane: which fits your rentals in 2026?
Pricing and features verified from vendor pricing pages on 2026-07-04.
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Both have free plans, so the decision comes down to where each one hides its costs — check the per-transaction and tenant-side fees in the tables above, because those are what you (or your tenants) will actually pay. Stessa covers integrated banking, landlord mobile app — which Hemlane doesn't. Who each fits: DIY rental investors who care most about accounting, taxes, and portfolio finances rather than heavy-duty tenant management. Remote or hands-off landlords who want human backup (repairs, leasing agents) without hiring a full property manager.
Pricing, side by side
| Starting price | Free tier | Free tier |
| Pricing model | flat | per unit + $28/mo base fee |
| Plans | Essentials — $0/mo Free forever; unlimited properties, bank feeds, basic reports, rent collection, vacancy marketing, up to 1.88% APY on cash Manage — $12/mo $12/mo billed annually ($15 month-to-month); adds maintenance tracking, Schedule E, 60+ legal forms, 1 eSignature/mo Pro — $28/mo $28/mo billed annually ($35 month-to-month); unlimited portfolios, advanced reports/budgeting, 7 eSignatures/mo, up to 3.24% APY | 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 | Pay annually and Manage drops $15 to $12/mo, Pro $35 to $28/mo (~20% off) | Save up to 20% with annual billing; 14-day free trial on paid tiers |
| Tenant screening | $29 credit report or background check, $49 complete package via RentPrep; landlord or applicant can pay | $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
Stessa
For- Genuinely useful free tier with unlimited properties and automatic bank feeds
- Best-in-class investor accounting: Schedule E, tax packages, portfolio dashboards
- High-yield cash management accounts (up to 3.24% APY on Pro)
- No per-transaction rent collection fees advertised on any tier
- Maintenance tracking and eSignatures locked behind paid plans
- eSignatures tightly capped (1/mo on Manage, 7/mo on Pro)
- Lighter on day-to-day tenant management than Buildium or Innago
- Complete screening package ($49) costs more than Innago or TenantCloud equivalents
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 Stessa cheaper than Hemlane?
Stessa has a free plan; paid tiers start at $12/mo (flat). 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: Stessa $29 credit report or background check, $49 complete package via RentPrep; landlord or applicant can pay; Hemlane $40 total, paid by the tenant (national credit, criminal, eviction, and income reporting).
What does Stessa have that Hemlane doesn't?
Stessa: Integrated banking, Landlord mobile app. Hemlane: nothing at the checklist level.
Which is better for a small landlord with 1–5 units?
DIY rental investors who care most about accounting, taxes, and portfolio finances rather than heavy-duty tenant management. 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.