AppFolio vs Buildium: Price, Minimums and Fit by Size
Both public pricing pages, read on 2026-10-19, put in one table for 20 to 5,000 doors.
How we made this guide: AI agents drafted it from our own tests and the sources listed at the end. Taras Kornichuk checked every claim and edited the text.
Contents
- Short answer
- How much does AppFolio cost compared to Buildium?
- What does AppFolio cost for 50, 100 and 200 doors?
- Which is better for under 50 doors?
- Which is better for 50 to 200 doors?
- Which is better for 500 doors or more?
- What fees come on top of the base price?
- How do the AI features compare?
- Does either tool help you get new owner clients?
- How to choose between AppFolio and Buildium
- Questions
- Sources
How much does AppFolio cost compared to Buildium?
AppFolio prices per unit, and Buildium prices per month from a base. Both pages show “starting at” prices only. Here are the plans as each company shows them on 2026-10-19.
| Plan | Starting price | Minimum | What the plan adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppFolio Core | $1.49 per unit per month | 50 units and a minimum spend | Accounting, leasing, work orders, inspections, Realm-X Assistant |
| AppFolio Plus | $3.20 per unit per month | Units and spend (not shown) | Affordable and student housing tools, advanced budgeting, read-only API |
| AppFolio Max | $5.00 per unit per month | Units and spend (not shown) | Leasing CRM, read/write API, a customer success manager |
| Buildium Essential | $62 per month | None shown | Basic accounting, maintenance and leasing, ticket support |
| Buildium Growth | $192 per month | None shown, onboarding required | Live phone support, analytics, lower eSignature and EFT fees |
| Buildium Premium | $400 per month | None shown, onboarding required | Open API, full automation suite, free inspections and eSignatures |
Source: the AppFolio and Buildium pricing pages. Buildium asks customers with more than 5,000 units to call for a price.
What does AppFolio cost for 50, 100 and 200 doors?
AppFolio Core costs at least $1.49 times your unit count each month. That is the list floor, before the minimum spend that AppFolio does not publish.
| Doors | AppFolio Core floor | AppFolio Plus floor | Buildium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Not sold (50-unit minimum) | Not shown | From $62 |
| 50 | $74.50 | $160 | From $62 (Growth from $192) |
| 100 | $149 | $320 | Quote |
| 200 | $298 | $640 | Quote |
| 500 | $745 | $1,600 | Quote |
We did the math from the per-unit prices. AppFolio Plus also has a unit minimum that the page does not show. Buildium does not show how its price grows with units. So for 100 doors or more, the only true Buildium number is a quote. Use the table to plan a budget, not to sign a contract.
Which is better for under 50 doors?
Buildium is the better fit for under 50 doors, because AppFolio Core has a 50-unit minimum. Buildium Essential starts at $62 per month. The Buildium sign-up form also lets you start a 14-day free trial with sample data and no credit card.
Watch for: Buildium Essential lists $2.35 per incoming EFT payment and $5 per eSignature document. On 30 doors, rent alone is 30 EFT payments a month. Count those fees before you compare plans.
Which is better for 50 to 200 doors?
Both tools fit 50 to 200 doors, so the choice comes down to quotes and fees. AppFolio Core at 100 units starts at $149 per month at list price. Buildium Growth starts at $192 per month and includes live phone support.
What to do:
- Ask for a written quote from each company for your exact unit count.
- Ask about the minimum spend at AppFolio. The pricing page says one applies but does not give the number.
- Ask about onboarding at Buildium. Growth and Premium require it, and the pricing page does not show its price.
- Price your payment volume. Buildium Growth charges $1.35 per incoming EFT payment. AppFolio does not list payment fees on its pricing page, so ask.
- Count eSignatures and screenings. Buildium Growth charges $1 per eSignature document and $20 per enhanced screening.
Which is better for 500 doors or more?
AppFolio Plus and Max target larger and mixed portfolios. Plus adds affordable housing and student housing tools, advanced budgeting and custom fields. Max adds a leasing CRM, a read/write API and a dedicated customer success manager.
Buildium Premium also adds an Open API and the full automation suite. Premium includes up to 100 free business bank accounts and free incoming EFT payments for the first 12 months. Above 5,000 units, Buildium sets the price by phone.
What fees come on top of the base price?
Buildium lists its add-on fees on the pricing page. AppFolio says to “contact us for details”. Here are the Buildium fees as shown on 2026-10-19.
| Buildium fee | Essential | Growth | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming EFT payment | $2.35 | $1.35 | Free 12 months, then $0.60 |
| Outgoing EFT payment | $0.99 | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Credit card payment | 2.99% | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| eSignature | $5 per document | $1 per document | Included |
| Business bank account setup | $99 each | 10 free, then $99 | 100 free, then $99 |
| Property inspections | $99 setup, $40–$95 per month | Included | Included |
Buildium also charges $17 per tenant screening, or $20 for enhanced screening on Growth and Premium. Applicant-paid screening costs the applicant $35. 1099 e-filing costs $50 per batch plus $4.50 per form.
How do the AI features compare?
Both companies now sell AI inside the software. AppFolio puts Realm-X Assistant and Messages in Core and Realm-X Flows in Plus. Buildium Essential has the Buildium AI Assistant, Growth adds AI-enhanced communications, and Premium has the full AI and automation suite. Buildium prices its Lumina AI Workforce per account, on a separate page.
These AI tools help your team work faster inside the software. They do not make ChatGPT or Google name your company to owners. That is a separate job: see how rental owners use AI to choose a property manager.
Does either tool help you get new owner clients?
Buildium owns All Property Management, a service that sells leads from owners who look for a manager. Buildium Premium customers get up to $500 in free leads, after they buy their first lead. AppFolio does not list a lead service on its pricing page.
Paid leads are one channel. Your own site and AI answers are another, and you own them. Read why owner leads are dropping for the full picture.
How to choose between AppFolio and Buildium
Use your door count first, then your fees.
- Under 50 doors: Buildium. AppFolio Core does not sell below 50 units.
- 50 to 200 doors: get both quotes. Compare the total with payment and eSignature fees, not the base price.
- Affordable or student housing: look at AppFolio Plus first. It lists tools for both.
- More than 5,000 units: both sell custom plans. Call each company.
Before you sign, set your own management fee with the property management fee calculator. Software is a cost per door. Your fee must cover it.
Disclosure: this page has no affiliate links. Neither AppFolio nor Buildium paid for it or checked it.
Questions
How much does AppFolio cost per unit?
AppFolio Core starts at $1.49 per unit per month, Plus at $3.20 and Max at $5.00 (AppFolio pricing page, 2026-10-19). A minimum spend applies to each plan. Core also has a 50-unit minimum.
How much does Buildium cost per month?
Buildium Essential starts at $62 per month, Growth at $192 and Premium at $400 (Buildium pricing page, 2026-10-19). The page shows starting prices only. Payment, eSignature and screening fees come on top and change by plan.
Does AppFolio have a minimum number of units?
Yes. AppFolio Core has a 50-unit minimum and a minimum spend. Plus and Max also have unit and spend minimums, but the pricing page does not give the numbers.
Is Buildium or AppFolio better for a small portfolio?
Under 50 doors, Buildium is the one of the two that sells to you, from $62 per month with a 14-day free trial. AppFolio Core needs at least 50 units.
Which is cheaper for 100 doors, AppFolio or Buildium?
At list price, AppFolio Core for 100 units is at least $149 per month, before its minimum spend. Buildium Growth starts at $192 per month, but Buildium does not publish how the price grows with units. Ask both for a written quote for 100 units.
Do AppFolio and Buildium offer a free trial?
Buildium offers a 14-day free trial with sample data and no credit card. The AppFolio pricing page offers a free demo and a quote, not a trial.
