Many landlords still believe that accounting software for landlords is only for big property managers or is too expensive to use, but the truth is that even small landlords can benefit from it. With endless spreadsheets, stressful tax preparation, and misplaced receipts, this accounting software can come in handy.
In fact, a recent survey revealed that 75% of small landlords reported increased efficiency after adopting property management software, and many saw time savings of up to 15 hours per week. Time they would normally spend on bookkeeping tasks, freeing up time that could be better spent on other business activities.
That is why this blog post rounds up the best accounting software for landlords, including both paid and best accounting software for landlords free options.
Whether you are looking for rental property accounting software for small landlords, lightweight landlord accounting software free, or even the best free property management software for small landlords, we have got you covered. we have tested and compared tools that deliver real value.
At the end of this post, you will know exactly which software fits your needs, whether you own one unit or a growing portfolio. These suggestions are based on hands-on experience and tested tools, so you can trust they will actually simplify your rental finances. Here is a quick preview;
| Software | Key Features | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | Unlimited users, bank feeds,integrations. | Free trial plan for 30 days, starting price $29. | Perfect for landlord growing into mid-sized portfolios. |
| Landlord Studio | Rent tracking, mobile app, schedule E-reports. | Free plan available, upgrade $15 | Mobile- first landlord |
| Zoho | Rent invoicing, expense tracking, reporting . | Free plan available/ upgrade $15 | For landlord juggling multiple streams . |
| Freshbooks | Easy invoicing, expense tracking and tax reports | Starting price $2 | Landlords new to accounting. |
| Sage | Bank reconcilation, tax management, P&L reports . | Starting price $17 | Small to meduim landlords |
| Precoro | Procurement, invoice approvals, vendor management | Starting price $499 | Landlord with multiple properties and vendors. |
| Puzzle | AI-powered bookeeping, real-time dashboards | Free plan available/ upgrade $50 | Tech-savy landlords who want automation |
| Patriots | Unlimited invoices/customers, vendors, payments, bank imports, expense tracking and robust reporting . | Starting price $10 | Small landlords that need a budget-friendly yet powerful accounting system |
| Stessa | Rental- focused dashboards, receipt scanning, tax ready reports | Free plan available/upgrade $12 | Small and meduim landlords (budget-friendly) |
Best Accounting Software For Landlords
1. Xero Accounting Software
Being a landlord often means juggling spreadsheets, late rent checks, and a pile of receipts come tax season. Xero takes that chaos and simplifies it.
With automated bank feeds, your rental income and expenses appear in Xero daily, so no more manual logging. Its invoice automation and reminders ensure tenants never forget a payment, and you don’t waste time chasing them down.
The paperless record-keeping means you can store receipts and expenses in one secure place, perfect when tax time rolls around. Add in real-time financial dashboards and unlimited user access, and Xero becomes a stress-free, scalable solution for landlords.
| Pros of Xero | Cons of Xero |
|---|---|
| Invoice automation and reminders make rent collectin easier. | Customer support is mainly online |
| Automated bank feeds save time by pulling in transactions daily. | Higher cost compared to some free landlord accounting software . |
| Customizable workflows and pipelines | Free version lacks some automation |
2. Landlord Studio
Unlike general accounting platforms, Landlord Studio is designed with landlords in mind. That means instead of bending business tools to fit rental management, you get features tailored to property ownership from day one.
Tracking rental income, automating expense categorization, and collecting rent online become effortless. The receipt scanner tackles the messy paper trail, while bank feeds keep your accounts up to date without manual data entry. And when tax season comes around, Schedule E and tax-ready reports cut hours off your prep time.
Simply put, Landlord Studio helps landlords run rentals like a business, without needing an accounting degree.
| landlord's studio Pros | Landlord's studio Cons |
|---|---|
| Built specifically for landlords with features like rent collection, tax-ready reports, and tenant screening. | Pricing increases per unit after the base plan |
| Excellent customer support | Limited customization on some features |
| Automated workflows, bank feeds, reminders, and receipt scanning | International users may face feature limitations depending on location. |
3. Zoho Books
If you are a landlord looking for professional-grade accounting software that also works for small businesses, Zoho Books is worth considering. While not built solely for property management, it comes loaded with features that make rental bookkeeping seamless.
You can automate invoices and track payments, ensuring rent is collected on time with minimal effort. The bank reconciliation tool keeps your finances accurate by syncing directly with your accounts, while expense tracking and receipt scanning save you from shoebox chaos.
Plus, with tax compliance tools, you will stay organized when it is time to file.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy for landlords with minimal accounting experience to navigate | Advanced features behind paywalls |
| Free plan available, with higher plans offering additional features and user access | Learning curve for advanced customization |
| Access financials from anywhere, ideal for landlords managing properties on the go | Customer Support inconsistencies |
4. Freshbooks
FreshBooks is perfect for landlords who want simplicity, automation, and time savings. FreshBooks helps landlords simplify rental accounting with automated rent collection, easy expense tracking, and tax-ready reports.
Its real-time financial insights, mobile access, and app integrations make managing multiple properties more organized and less stressful.
Overall, it saves time, reduces late payments, and provides a clear picture of their rental income and expenses.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Automates rent collection and invoicing, reducing late payments. | More suitable for small landlords than large-scale property firms. |
| Extremely user-friendly and simple to learn | No built-in tenant screening or lease management tools |
| Excellent customer support | Some advanced reporting features are limited |
5. Sage
Sage Accounting is designed to take the stress out of managing rental property finances, especially for landlords who juggle multiple properties or need to stay VAT compliant.
With its cloud-based platform, landlords can access their accounts anytime, anywhere, making it easy to stay in control even on the go.
One of the standout features is real-time dashboards and cash flow forecasts, which give landlords a clear view of income, expenses, and upcoming obligations. This ensures you are never caught off guard by surprise costs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted, established brand with strong support | Advanced features cost extra |
| Strong real-time reporting & cash flow forecasting | Limited integrations compared to competitors |
| Powerful customization & scalability | User interface feels dated or unintuitive |
6. Precoro
Precoro is not your typical rental property accounting software, it is a procurement and spend management tool designed for businesses that need full visibility and control over expenses.
For landlords managing multiple rental units, contractors, and property maintenance costs, this is a game-changer. Precoro helps landlords streamline property finances by centralizing expense tracking, enforcing budget controls, and automating purchase orders and approvals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Customizable approval workflows | Advanced features may require training |
| Comprehensive real-time spend analytics and budget control | Integration with legacy or complex systems can be challenging |
| Intuitive and user-friendly interface | Higher pricing tiers |
7. Puzzle
Puzzle acts like a smart financial assistant that works quietly in the background, ensuring that landlords have clear, accurate, and actionable insights into their rental business. Puzzle goes beyond traditional accounting by offering AI-powered insights.
The platform can detect unusual spending patterns, like a sudden spike in maintenance costs, or alert landlords about missed rent payments. This proactive approach helps landlords resolve issues before they become costly problems.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Real-time financial tracking helps landlords monitor cash flow instantly | Still relatively new compared to established tools |
| Automated rent payments, invoices, and expense categorization save time | Heavy reliance on automation |
| AI-powered insights flag unusual expenses and missed payments early | Has a learning curve, especially for non-tech-savvy landlords |
8. Patriots Accounting Software for Landlords
Patriot is designed to make accounting simple, affordable, and stress-free, something every busy landlord can appreciate. With unlimited invoices and customers, landlords can easily bill tenants, track late payments, and even set recurring invoices for rent collection.
Its Stripe integration makes it simple to accept rent via credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, giving tenants more payment flexibility. Patriot also provides easy-to-generate financial reports, so landlords can monitor cash flow, track property performance, and stay tax-ready.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Accept rent payments via Stripe (ACH, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay). | Limited advanced features compared to larger platforms |
| Unlimited invoices, customers, and users with no extra cost | Not specifically designed for landlords |
| Automatic bank imports save time on data entry. | Integrations are limited compared to more robust tools. |
9. Stessa Accounting Software for Landlords
Stessa is designed specifically for real estate investors and landlords who don’t want to get stuck in the weeds of traditional accounting. Instead of double-entry bookkeeping like QuickBooks, Stessa simplifies everything with single-entry books tailored for property owners.
One of the standout features is its mobile app, which allows landlords to scan receipts instantly, track income and expenses on the go, and store records safely, making tax season a lot less stressful.
Its automated bookkeeping connects directly to banks, lenders, and credit cards, ensuring transactions are categorized and synced without manual effort.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free to use, making it highly cost-effective for landlords | More suitable for small to mid-sized landlords, less so for large enterprise |
| Mobile app for receipt scanning and expense tracking | More suitable for small to mid-sized landlords, less so for large enterprises |
| Real-time dashboards and performance reports tailored for landlords | Customer support can be slow during peak periods |
10. REI Hub Accounting Software for Landlords
REI Hub is purpose-built for short-term rental owners and mixed portfolio landlords who want accounting software tailored to their unique needs. Unlike spreadsheets or generic accounting tools, REI Hub simplifies bookkeeping by focusing on rental-specific workflows.
One of its biggest strengths is property-based accounting. Landlords can add properties quickly and track income, expenses, and cash flow on a per-property or portfolio-wide basis.
For those managing vacation rentals, REI Hub makes it easy to import payout statements from platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, generating clear breakdowns by property without extra manual work.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Designed specifically for landlords and short-term rental owners | Fewer third-party integrations compared to larger platforms. |
| Strong customer support team that understands property management and real estate taxes. | Learning curve for those completely new to accounting software. |
| Generates tax-ready reports | Requires internet connection, no offline mode. |
Wrapping Up!
Managing rental property finances does not have to mean endless spreadsheets, missed receipts, and stressful tax prep. The right accounting software can simplify rent collection, automate bookkeeping, and give landlords more time to focus on growing their portfolio.
From powerful all-in-one platforms like Xero and Zoho Books to landlord-specific tools like Landlord Studio, Stessa, and REI Hub, there is a solution for every type of property owner. If you want automation and AI-driven insights, Puzzle and Precoro bring advanced features to streamline operations.
For budget-friendly options, Patriot and FreshBooks offer simple yet effective tools, while Sage provides scalability for landlords with growing property portfolios.
If you are just starting out, you can test the waters with best free property management software for small landlords like Stessa or Landlord Studio’s free plan. At the end of the day, the best accounting software for landlords depends on your goals, budget, and property size.
Whether you need free landlord accounting software, rental property accounting software for small landlords, or a fully integrated system, the tools above are tested, trusted, and designed to make rental accounting easier.
