Stessa vs TenantCloud: 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, Stessa wins: it has a genuinely usable free plan while TenantCloud starts at $15/mo. For a landlord with one or two units, that difference compounds to $180+ a year. Stessa covers integrated banking — which TenantCloud doesn't. Who each fits: DIY rental investors who care most about accounting, taxes, and portfolio finances rather than heavy-duty tenant management. Budget-conscious landlords with a handful of leases who want listings, screening, and rent collection for a low flat fee.
Pricing, side by side
| Starting price | Free tier | $15/mo |
| Pricing model | flat | flat, capped by lease count |
| 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 — $15/mo $15/mo billed annually ($18 month-to-month); up to 10 leases, ACH $1.95/txn Growth — $29.17/mo $29.17/mo billed annually ($35 month-to-month); up to 30 leases, adds inspections and reporting, ACH $1.75/txn Pro — $50/mo $50/mo billed annually ($60 month-to-month); up to 60 leases, adds tax reports and bank reconciliation, ACH $1.50/txn Business — custom Starting around $100/mo; custom lease limits, team management and tools |
| Annual discount | Pay annually and Manage drops $15 to $12/mo, Pro $35 to $28/mo (~20% off) | ~17% off with annual billing (e.g. Starter $18 to $15/mo, Pro $60 to $50/mo) |
| Tenant screening | $29 credit report or background check, $49 complete package via RentPrep; landlord or applicant can pay | $30 background check, $30 credit check, $40 full check — paid by applicant by default |
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
TenantCloud
For- Cheap entry point at $15-$18/mo with unlimited properties
- Listings, screening, maintenance, and rent collection all in the base tier
- Applicant-paid screening powered by TransUnion and Asurint
- Clear upgrade path from solo landlord to team plan
- No free plan — the old free tier was discontinued
- Lease-count caps (10 on Starter) force upgrades as you grow
- Landlord pays ACH fees per transaction ($1.95 on Starter)
- Tax reports and bank reconciliation locked behind the $50+/mo Pro tier
Frequently asked questions
Is Stessa cheaper than TenantCloud?
Stessa has a free plan; paid tiers start at $12/mo (flat). TenantCloud starts at $15/mo (flat, capped by lease count); ~17% off with annual billing (e.g. Starter $18 to $15/mo, Pro $60 to $50/mo). 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; TenantCloud $30 background check, $30 credit check, $40 full check — paid by applicant by default.
What does Stessa have that TenantCloud doesn't?
Stessa: Integrated banking. TenantCloud: 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. Budget-conscious landlords with a handful of leases who want listings, screening, and rent collection for a low flat fee. If you're still unsure, start with whichever has the free tier — you can export your data and switch later.