RentMerchant vs AppFolio

RentMerchant: an AppFolio alternative for landlords

AppFolio is built mainly for property management companies. If you are an independent landlord, RentMerchant gives you online rent, leasing, and owner reporting, with no unit minimum and a free plan for up to three properties.

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Independent landlords across the country use RentMerchant to get paid on time.

If you are comparing rent-collection tools

AppFolio is built for property management companies, with plans that run from small firms to its largest operators. RentMerchant is built for the landlord doing this themselves, so there is no unit minimum and the price is flat for the whole account.

Everything below is what RentMerchant actually does today. We are not going to put words in AppFolio's mouth or invent a comparison table. If AppFolio fits how you work, great. If you want free, flat-priced rent collection with the whole rental in one login, here is what you get.

What RentMerchant gives you

No unit minimum

AppFolio's pricing page lists a minimum spend and a 50-unit minimum (checked September 2026). RentMerchant has neither. Add your rental, set the rent, and invite your tenant. A building counts as one property, however many units it has.

Flat pricing, not per-unit

AppFolio says its pricing is per unit, per month, and lists each plan as quote-based (checked September 2026). RentMerchant is free for up to three properties, with no limit on units or tenants. Pro is $180 a year (or $20 month to month) for the whole account. RentMerchant charges no setup fee, has no contract, and lets you cancel any time.

Keep the full rent by default

Tenants pay the processing cost by default, so you receive the full rent, or you can choose to absorb the fee instead. Tenants pay by bank transfer or card, and recurring rent is invoiced and emailed automatically, with reminders and late fees built in.

Why landlords choose RentMerchant

Collecting rent is free for landlords on up to three properties, and there is no percentage taken from the rent.
Pro is a flat $180 a year (or $20 month to month) for unlimited properties, so your cost does not climb with every door.
Tenants pay by bank transfer or card, one time or on autopay, and they cover the processing fee at checkout.
The whole rental lives in one login: online applications, lease e-sign, recurring rent, reminders, maintenance, documents, owner statements, and messaging.
Payments run through Stripe, raw card and bank numbers are never stored, and accounts can use two-factor login.
You can run RentMerchant alongside your current setup until you are ready to switch fully.

Want the detail? See the full feature list and pricing.

AppFolio is a trademark of its owner. RentMerchant is not affiliated with or endorsed by AppFolio. Details about AppFolio come from publicly available information and may have changed.

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Independent landlords use RentMerchant to get paid on time, every month.