HOA management software covers a wide range, from simple document-hosting tools to full accounting platforms built for professional property management companies. Most self-managed HOA boards are looking for something in the middle: a platform that handles online dues collection, violation tracking, maintenance requests, and resident communication without requiring a professional management background to use.
This guide covers the main platforms available in 2026, what each one actually costs, who each product is built for, and what to watch out for before signing up.
Disclosure: This comparison is published by AffordableHOA, one of the platforms reviewed below. We've tried to be accurate about competitor pricing and capabilities, but you should verify current pricing directly with each vendor before making a decision.
| Platform | Starting price | Pricing model | Built for | Online dues | All features included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AffordableHOA | $49/mo | Flat tiers | Self-managed HOAs | Yes | Yes |
| PayHOA | $54/mo | Flat tiers | Self-managed HOAs | Yes | Most features |
| HOA Express | $29/mo | Flat tiers | Basic website + docs | Basic only | No |
| Condo Control | Quote only | Per-module | Large condos | Yes | Add-ons cost extra |
| Buildium | $58/mo + per-unit | Base + per-unit | Property managers | Yes | No |
| AppFolio | $1.40/unit/mo | Per-unit | Large portfolios | Yes | No |
Pricing: $49/mo (up to 50 units) · $99/mo (up to 150 units) · $179/mo (up to 300 units) · $239/mo (up to 500 units) · $0.50/unit/mo (up to 1,000 units). No per-unit add-ons. Free trial, no credit card required.
AffordableHOA is designed specifically for self-managed HOA boards: communities that run without a professional property management company. It includes online dues collection via ACH and credit card through Stripe Connect, autopay enrollment, violation tracking, maintenance requests, document storage, announcements, an owner/resident portal, e-signatures, architectural review, amenity booking, vendor management with COI compliance tracking, reserve fund planning, and a resident AI assistant. All features are included at every tier.
Pricing: Approximately $54/mo (up to 25 units) · $65/mo (up to 50 units) · $95/mo (up to 100 units) · higher tiers for larger communities. Some advanced features locked to higher-tier plans. Verify current pricing at payhoa.com.
PayHOA is one of the longer-standing platforms in the self-managed HOA space and has a solid reputation among smaller communities. It includes dues collection, violations, maintenance, and a resident portal. Pricing is flat-tier, which works well for larger communities. Some advanced features like certain report types or integrations are available only on higher-tier plans.
Pricing: Starts at $58/mo for up to 20 units, with per-unit charges above that threshold. Electronic payments, onboarding, and certain features cost extra. Verify current pricing at buildium.com.
Buildium is built for professional property management companies, not volunteer HOA boards. It has deep accounting features, full general ledger functionality, and portfolio management tools for managers handling dozens of client communities. For a self-managed HOA, the complexity and cost are typically unnecessary. Buildium is designed for staff who use property management software full-time, not board members who log in once a week.
Pricing: Starts at approximately $1.40/unit/month with a $280/month minimum (200-unit minimum). Verify current pricing at appfolio.com.
AppFolio is designed for large professional property management companies managing thousands of units across multiple property types. Its minimum pricing structure makes it impractical for communities under 200 units, and its feature set (leasing, tenant screening, maintenance workflows at portfolio scale) is oriented toward professional management operations rather than self-managed HOA governance.
Pricing: Free limited tier available. Paid plans start at approximately $29/month. Verify current pricing at hoa-express.com.
HOA Express is primarily a community website builder and document-hosting platform. It works for communities that need a place to post documents and announcements online but do not yet need operational tools. It lacks structured violation tracking, full dues payment processing, and maintenance request workflows. Communities that start on HOA Express typically outgrow it once they need more than a document repository.
The biggest source of confusion in the HOA software market is that two entirely different types of customers are buying HOA software, and most of the well-known platforms are built for the wrong one if you're a self-managed board.
Professional property management companies manage dozens or hundreds of communities as their full-time business. They need multi-portfolio reporting, full accounting ledgers, staff workflows, and sophisticated billing tools. Buildium and AppFolio are built for them. These platforms are feature-rich and expensive, with onboarding processes designed for trained staff who use the software eight hours a day.
Self-managed HOAs are run by volunteer board members who have jobs, families, and lives outside the HOA. They log into the software once or twice a week. They need something they can hand off to the next board member without a training program. Flat-rate pricing, simple interfaces, and features like online dues autopay and a resident portal are far more important than a full GL or multi-portfolio dashboards.
Before evaluating any platform, answer this question: is your community self-managed, or do you employ a professional management company? If self-managed, stick to platforms designed for that. The professional platforms will cost more and deliver complexity you don't need.
No credit card required. Every feature included from day one. Starting at $49/month.
Start Free TrialHOA software for self-managed communities is designed for volunteer boards: easy to use, flat-rate pricing, and operational tools like online dues and violation notices. Property management software like Buildium and AppFolio is built for professional companies managing large portfolios. It has more accounting depth but significantly higher pricing and complexity that self-managed boards don't need.
For self-managed communities, expect $29 to $180/month depending on community size and platform. AffordableHOA charges $49/month for up to 50 units, $99/month for up to 150 units, $179/month for up to 300 units. PayHOA starts at approximately $54/month for 25 units. HOA Express starts at $29/month but covers only basic website and document hosting. Professional platforms like Buildium and AppFolio run $58 to $250+/month and are oriented toward property management firms.
At minimum: online dues collection (ACH and credit card) with autopay; violation tracking with documented notice history; maintenance request workflow; document storage accessible to residents; and board-to-resident announcements. Useful additions include e-signatures, architectural review tracking, amenity booking, vendor management, and reserve fund planning. Most self-managed boards do not need full double-entry accounting; they need operational tools that reduce how much time board members spend on administration.
The most frequent complaints from boards switching platforms are: features that were advertised as included but require an upgrade to access; per-unit pricing that makes costs unpredictable as unit counts change; interfaces designed for professional staff rather than occasional volunteer users; support that routes to a call center rather than someone who knows the product; and annual contracts that make it difficult to leave. Reading reviews on G2 or Capterra before committing is worth the time.
There is no fully functional free platform that includes online payment collection and a resident portal. HOA Express offers a limited free tier covering basic document hosting and a community website. Most platforms offer free trials of 7 to 30 days. For ongoing operational use (dues, violations, maintenance), expect to pay $29 to $99/month minimum.
Both are flat-tier platforms built for self-managed HOAs. AffordableHOA starts at $49/month for up to 50 units with every feature included at every tier. PayHOA starts at approximately $54/month for up to 25 units ($65/month for up to 50 units) with some advanced features restricted to higher plans. AffordableHOA is less expensive at every comparable tier and includes its full feature set across all plans. PayHOA has been in the market longer and has a larger established customer base.
The most commonly used platforms among self-managed communities are AffordableHOA, PayHOA, HOA Express, and Condo Control. A significant number of smaller HOAs still operate on spreadsheets and email; most move to dedicated software when manual dues collection and violation tracking become too time-consuming to manage without a structured system.