Stessa vs Innago: 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 — which Innago doesn't. Who each fits: DIY rental investors who care most about accounting, taxes, and portfolio finances rather than heavy-duty tenant management. Small-to-mid-size landlords who want a genuinely free, full tenant-management workflow and don't mind tenant-side payment fees.
Pricing, side by side
| Starting price | Free tier | Free tier |
| Pricing model | flat | flat |
| 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 | Free — $0/mo No monthly fee, no setup fee, no contract; unlimited units — revenue comes from tenant-side transaction and screening fees |
| Annual discount | Pay annually and Manage drops $15 to $12/mo, Pro $35 to $28/mo (~20% off) | — |
| Tenant screening | $29 credit report or background check, $49 complete package via RentPrep; landlord or applicant can pay | $30 paid by applicant for credit + criminal reports, $35 with eviction history added |
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
Innago
For- Entirely free for landlords — no monthly, setup, per-unit, or per-lease fees
- Free lease templates and unlimited eSignatures included
- Full tenant workflow: applications, screening, invoicing, maintenance in one place
- Frequently praised responsive human support
- Tenants pay $2 per ACH payment and 2.99% for cards unless the landlord absorbs it
- No integrated banking or high-yield cash accounts
- Accounting is lighter than Stessa or Buildium; larger operators often pair it with QuickBooks
Frequently asked questions
Is Stessa cheaper than Innago?
Stessa has a free plan; paid tiers start at $12/mo (flat). Innago is free for landlords — it monetizes through tenant-side fees instead of subscriptions. 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; Innago $30 paid by applicant for credit + criminal reports, $35 with eviction history added.
What does Stessa have that Innago doesn't?
Stessa: Integrated banking. Innago: 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. Small-to-mid-size landlords who want a genuinely free, full tenant-management workflow and don't mind tenant-side payment fees. If you're still unsure, start with whichever has the free tier — you can export your data and switch later.