TurboTenant 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, TurboTenant 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: Cost-conscious DIY landlords with 1-10 doors who want free core tools and don't mind tenants absorbing the fees. 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 | flat (unlimited rentals) | per unit |
| Plans | Free — $0/mo Unlimited rentals; marketing, applications, screening, rent collection, maintenance tracking; tenants pay $55 screening and $2 ACH fee; lease agreements sold a la carte Essentials — $12.42/mo $149/yr billed annually; adds lease agreements/e-sign and other perks; tenants still pay $2 ACH fee Pro — $16.58/mo $199/yr billed annually; tenant ACH fee waived, screening drops to $45, faster rent payouts (2-4 days vs 5-7) | 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 | Displayed prices are annual billing ($149/yr Essentials, $199/yr Pro) | Save 10% with annual subscription |
| Tenant screening | $55 paid by applicant on the Free plan; $45 on the Pro plan | $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
TurboTenant
For- Genuinely usable free plan with unlimited rentals — capped max cost of $199/yr
- Applicant-paid screening means $0 landlord cost to vet tenants
- One-click listing syndication and lead management included free
- Large ecosystem — 1M+ landlords, lots of educational content and templates
- Monetized via renter fees: $55 screening and $2-per-ACH-payment fee on the free plan land on your tenants
- Full accounting requires a separate paid REI Hub subscription
- State lease agreements cost extra unless you're on a paid plan
- Rent payouts take 5-7 business days unless you pay for Pro
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 TurboTenant cheaper than Rentec Direct?
TurboTenant has a free plan; paid tiers start at $12.42/mo (flat (unlimited rentals)). 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: TurboTenant $55 paid by applicant on the Free plan; $45 on the Pro plan; Rentec Direct $10 basic, $13 enhanced, $18 premium per report at discounted landlord rates; cost can be passed to applicant.
What does TurboTenant 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?
Cost-conscious DIY landlords with 1-10 doors who want free core tools and don't mind tenants absorbing the fees. 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.