TapeAndFloat.com for small landlords & PMsAppFolio and Buildium alternatives for small landlords
An AppFolio or Buildium alternative for small landlords is any setup that handles maintenance and vendor follow-up without a full platform. AppFolio's pricing page starts at $1.49 per unit per month with a 50-unit minimum, and Buildium starts at $62 a month (AppFolio, Buildium).
Price and fit, from each vendor's own page
| Option | Price (checked Oct 25, 2026) | Built for | New app to learn? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TapeAndFloat | Free 60-day pilot, then about $15/month per company (planned $10-20) | Small offices: 1-10 people | No: works in your own email and Google Sheet |
| AppFolio | From $1.49/unit/month; minimum spend and 50-unit minimum apply | Property management companies | Yes: your team moves its work into it |
| Buildium | From $62/month (Essential); onboarding required on Growth/Premium | Growing PM portfolios | Yes: your team moves its work into it |
| Yardi Breeze | From $1/unit/month, $100/month minimum, annual agreement | Residential and commercial managers | Yes: your team moves its work into it |
| Rent Manager | Custom quote | Property management companies of every size | Yes: your team moves its work into it |
When a full platform makes sense
- You want online rent collection, leasing, screening and owner statements in one system.
- You have staff who will log in daily.
When it usually does not
- You have a handful of doors and already collect rent another way.
- Your pain is maintenance and vendor follow-up, not accounting.
- You do not want to migrate data or train anyone.
The small-landlord alternative
Keep your email and a Google Sheet. Add an assistant that turns forwarded requests and invoices into rows, and tells you each morning what is open or missing. That is TapeAndFloat: about $15 a month after a free 60-day pilot.
Free 60-day pilot: forward your job emails to the assistant, keep working in your own Sheet, and get a short daily list of what is slipping. No new app, no card. Request a pilot spot.
More guides
- Managing maintenance requests and vendor work orders for small landlords
- Tenant communication for small landlords: templates that cut the follow-up calls
- Unit turnover checklist for small property managers
- Collecting and tracking vendor COIs and invoices for small landlords
Frequently asked questions
How much does AppFolio cost?
Its pricing page lists plans starting at $1.49 per unit per month, with minimum spend and a 50-unit minimum.
How much does Buildium cost?
Its pricing page lists Essential from $62/month, Growth from $192/month and Premium from $400/month.
How much does Rent Manager cost?
Rent Manager's pricing page asks for a quote.
Is TapeAndFloat property management software?
No. It is a low-cost assistant for maintenance and vendor follow-up that works in your email and Sheet.
Want this tracked for you? Join the free pilot.