HOA software pricing is genuinely confusing because vendors use four different pricing models, each with different implications depending on your community size. A platform that looks cheap for a 200-unit community can be expensive for a 40-unit one, and vice versa. This guide breaks down each model, what it actually costs at different community sizes, and which traps to watch for before signing up.
You pay a fixed monthly fee based on your community size bucket. The price doesn't change whether you have 42 units or 49. Every feature is included at every tier. This is the most predictable model and the easiest to budget for.
What it looks like in practice (AffordableHOA):
Up to 50 units: $49/month · Up to 150 units: $99/month · Up to 300 units: $179/month · Up to 500 units: $239/month · 501-1,000 units: $0.50/unit/month
At $49/month for a 50-unit community, that's $0.98/unit. At the 300-unit tier ($179/month), that's $0.60/unit. The per-unit cost drops as you grow.
Watch for: Some platforms call it flat-tier but lock features behind higher tiers. Make sure the tier you're on actually includes everything: online payments, resident portal, violations, maintenance, and document storage.
You pay a fixed amount per unit per month, typically $1.50 to $8 depending on the platform and feature tier. Scales linearly with unit count, which sounds fair but can get expensive for larger communities on full-featured tiers.
What it looks like in practice:
At $3/unit: 50 units = $150/month, 150 units = $450/month, 300 units = $900/month
At $5/unit: 50 units = $250/month, 150 units = $750/month, 300 units = $1,500/month
Per-unit pricing is most common in enterprise and professionally-managed platforms. For self-managed boards, flat-tier pricing almost always comes out ahead.
Watch for: The headline per-unit rate often doesn't include online payments or the full resident portal. Add those features and the effective per-unit rate can jump significantly.
The platform takes a cut of every dollar collected through its payment system, typically 2% to 5% on top of standard Stripe processing fees. This model scales with your dues volume rather than your unit count, which means larger assessments cost you more for no additional service.
What it looks like in practice:
At 2.5% on a $200 assessment across 50 units: $250/month in platform fees alone
At 2.5% on a $300 assessment across 100 units: $750/month
To be clear: standard Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction, 0.8% for ACH) apply on any platform using Stripe. The problem is platforms that add their own percentage on top of those fees.
Watch for: The subscription price looks low or free, but the real revenue for the vendor is the percentage cut. Read the terms before connecting your payment account.
No published pricing. You fill out a form, talk to a sales rep, and get a quote. Common with platforms like AppFolio (250-unit minimum), Condo Control, and TOPS One. These are built for professional management companies running large portfolios, not volunteer boards.
Contracts are typically annual, implementation takes weeks, and the price reflects the overhead of a sales-driven model. For a self-managed HOA of any size, custom-quote platforms are almost always the wrong fit.
Watch for: Any platform that won't show you pricing on their website is optimized for closing enterprise deals, not serving volunteer boards. Move on.
What you'd pay per month across the four models for a 75-unit self-managed HOA collecting $250/unit in monthly dues:
| Pricing Model | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat-tier (AffordableHOA, 51-150 tier) | $99 | $1,188 | Best value |
| Per-unit at $3/unit | $225 | $2,700 | Reasonable |
| Per-unit at $5/unit | $375 | $4,500 | Expensive |
| 2.5% of dues ($250 x 75 units) | $469 | $5,625 | Avoid |
Whatever pricing model you choose, the platform should include all of the following without requiring an upgrade:
The real question isn't "how much per unit?" It's "what does this cost all-in for a community my size, with the features I actually need, on a month-to-month basis?" Get that number from every platform you're evaluating before comparing.
From $49/month for up to 50 units. No hidden fees, no annual contract.
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