- Repetitive and manual tasks add up and take away hours of your day when it could easily be automated
- Automating tasks with the right mix of tools not only benefits you, but can improve the experience for your tenants
- Not every app on this list will be right for everyone; some are better for small landlords, others are great for large-scale managers
Rent collection, maintenance coordination, lease renewals, accounting, tenant screening...these are all repetitive tasks that you shouldn't have to spend manual time on.
That’s where automation comes in. The right tools won’t just make life easier—they’ll reduce human error and help keep tenants happy. The trick is choosing apps that actually save time without creating more work.
Below are ten of the best apps for automating the most tedious parts of property management.
1. Buildium
What it does: Full-service platform for rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and tenant communication.
Why it helps: Buildium's automation features cover almost every base: it sends rent reminders, applies late fees, routes maintenance requests to vendors, and automatically generates owner statements. The accounting tools integrate with QuickBooks, and you can set up recurring payments or batch-process work orders.
Practical example: Instead of manually reminding tenants that rent is due or chasing down late payments, Buildium sends scheduled reminders and automatically enforces your late fee policy.
Best for: Mid- to large-sized portfolios that need robust automation in one place.
2. Upfirst
What it does: AI-powered property management answering service that handles incoming calls, takes messages, schedules appointments, and answers FAQs.
Why it helps: Property managers get a lot of calls—and many of them don’t require your direct attention. Upfirst can screen calls based on your preferences, take messages, and forward only the important ones. It can also answer common questions about rent, maintenance, and more, so you're not stuck repeating the same info over and over. It's like having a virtual receptionist service that's solely dedicated to your business.
Practical example: A tenant calls about a lost key at 10 p.m. Upfirst identifies it as a non-emergency, shares your locksmith policy, logs the call, and sends you a summary and transcript—no late-night wake-up needed.
Best for: Property managers who want to stop being glued to their phones and never miss an important call.
3. AppFolio
What it does: Property management software with a sleek interface and powerful automation features.
Why it helps: From online leasing and maintenance to marketing and accounting, AppFolio covers it all. It also includes an AI leasing assistant that follows up with leads automatically and can help close leases faster. Real-time dashboards give a clear picture of performance, which helps streamline decision-making.
Practical example: AppFolio can automatically respond to new listing inquiries, schedule showings, and even guide applicants through the leasing process—all without manual input.
Best for: Larger portfolios, especially with mixed-use or commercial properties.
4. TenantCloud
What it does: All-in-one property management platform that simplifies day-to-day tasks.
Why it helps: TenantCloud is great for small to medium portfolios. It automates rent payments, late fees, lease tracking, and maintenance requests. It even includes marketing tools like property listings and tenant screening.
Practical example: You can set up automatic rent payment reminders and recurring charges, while also routing maintenance requests directly to your preferred vendors.
Best for: Landlords or managers with 5–50 units who want automation without a steep learning curve.
5. RentRedi
What it does: Mobile-friendly app that handles rent collection, maintenance, and tenant communication.
Why it helps: RentRedi focuses on the essentials. It automates payment collection, allows tenants to report maintenance issues through the app (including video), and integrates with TransUnion for tenant screening. You can even set up auto-late fees.
Practical example: A tenant reports a leak via video, and RentRedi automatically sends a text to your preferred plumber while alerting you with a summary.
Best for: Hands-on landlords and property managers who want a mobile-first tool with core automation features.
6. Propertyware
What it does: Property management solution built specifically for single-family rentals.
Why it helps: Propertyware makes managing single-family homes at scale easier. It automates inspections, recurring payments, and owner reporting. Maintenance workflows can be customized, and accounting features include full ledger tracking.
Practical example: Schedule quarterly property inspections across all your units, and Propertyware will automatically notify tenants, assign vendors, and document the results.
Best for: Property managers with 50+ single-family homes who need deep customization.
7. Hemlane
What it does: Leasing and property management software with an option to use local agents for boots-on-the-ground support.
Why it helps: Hemlane combines solid automation with human support. You can automate leasing steps (listing, screening, signing), rent collection, and maintenance triage. Then, for in-person needs, you can assign local agents from their network.
Practical example: You can automate the listing and lease process for a vacancy, then assign a local agent to handle showings and move-in inspections.
Best for: Out-of-state landlords or anyone managing properties remotely.
8. DoorLoop
What it does: Modern, cloud-based property management software with full-featured automation.
Why it helps: DoorLoop covers accounting, maintenance, and communication in a centralized dashboard. It’s intuitive and fast to set up, with templates for leases, reports, and maintenance workflows. Rent payments are automatic, and tenants get reminder emails and texts.
Practical example: DoorLoop automatically sends maintenance requests to the appropriate vendor, tracks the status, and follows up with tenants after the work is completed.
Best for: Managers who want full control without a steep learning curve.
9. Landlord Studio
What it does: Rental accounting and management software with mobile-first tools.
Why it helps: Landlord Studio offers automated bank feed syncing, mileage tracking, and receipt scanning—all geared toward keeping your financials in order. It even lets you send rent reminders and track income on the go.
Practical example: Take a photo of a receipt, and it’s automatically logged against a specific property. Meanwhile, mileage to and from that unit is tracked for tax season.
Best for: Small landlords who want clean books and tax-ready data.
10. Stessa
What it does: Free financial tracking tool built for real estate investors.
Why it helps: Stessa tracks property performance, automates income and expense reports, and generates tax-ready documentation. It syncs with your bank accounts and categorizes expenses automatically. You can scan receipts from your phone, and it links to Schedule E forms.
Practical example: At tax time, export all your income, expense, and depreciation reports with a click—no digging through spreadsheets.
Best for: Investors who care about cash flow and tax efficiency.
Wrapping It Up
Property management is already a full-time job—you don’t need to waste more time on repetitive tasks. With the right mix of tools, you can automate the parts of the job that drain your time, reduce your risk of human error, and improve the experience for your tenants.
Not every app on this list will be right for everyone. Some are better for small landlords, others for large-scale managers. But the goal is the same: take the work off your plate so you can focus on higher-value tasks (or maybe even take a day off without worrying the whole system will fall apart).
If you're not using automation yet, now's the time to start. Your future self will thank you.
