If you’re a landlord researching property management software, you’ve probably come across TurboTenant.
It’s a popular platform that helps with marketing, screening, leasing, and rent collection.
The big question is: is TurboTenant legit, and is it the right solution for landlords who want to manage their own rentals?
Let’s explore how it works, what it costs, the benefits and risks, alternatives in the market, and why many landlords ultimately choose it.
Here’s how I got involved with it (if you’d like to know).
We had a rental and a great property manager.
She retired. (Yikes!)
Then we started a multiple year process (almost a decade) of trying to find a good property manager before coming to the conclusion that I didn’t need to give away half the first months rent and 10% of the rent payment for somebody to do something poorly… something I could do better.
After looking at different programs, I landed on TurboTenant and I’ve been using it ever since.
So here’s the skinny on the TurboTenant software.
How TurboTenant Works
TurboTenant is designed for landlords who want to self-manage their properties while using professional tools.
The process is simple:
First, you create a listing in TurboTenant.
That listing can then be syndicated to major rental websites, helping you get more eyes on your property without the hassle of posting everywhere manually.
Second, prospective tenants apply online through TurboTenant’s rental application.
The application gathers important details like income, rental history, and employment information, which you can easily review and compare.
Third, you can run tenant screenings directly within the platform.
These reports usually include credit history, criminal background checks, and eviction records.
Most of the time, the applicant pays for their own screening report, though landlords can choose to cover the cost themselves.
Fourth, once you’ve chosen a tenant, TurboTenant allows you to generate state-specific lease agreements.
These can be e-signed, so there’s no need for in-person paperwork.
Finally, TurboTenant supports online rent collection.
Tenants can pay by ACH transfer or credit/debit card, and you can set up automatic late fees, reminders, and payment tracking.
The system even offers optional credit reporting so tenants can build their credit history by paying on time.
The great thing about the automatic reminders and automatic late fees is that it helps the tenant pay on time and as a landlord, that’s the most important part of a good tenant (other than not destroying your property).
What TurboTenant Costs
TurboTenant advertises itself as free for landlords, and for the most part, that’s true.
You can list properties, accept applications, and generate leases without paying a subscription fee. However, there are some costs to be aware of.
Tenant screening reports are typically around $55 and are usually paid by the applicant.
If you want to pay for screenings yourself, you can, but most landlords let applicants cover this.
Rent collection has small processing fees.
ACH bank transfers generally cost a flat fee per transaction, while credit and debit card payments come with a percentage-based processing fee.
There are also optional services like tenant credit reporting, which allows renters to report their on-time rent payments to credit bureaus for a small monthly fee.
In short, you can run the basics of your rental business almost entirely for free, but you and your tenants may run into small transactional charges depending on which features you use.
TurboTenant Hack: If you upgrade to one of the tiers, the tenants get a discount on their application fee and it’s only $45.
Benefits of Using TurboTenant
One of the biggest advantages is time savings.
Posting to multiple sites in one click, collecting online applications, and having all tenant data in one place makes management much easier.
Another major benefit is professional screening.
TurboTenant integrates credit, criminal, and eviction checks in a way that’s fast and standardized, giving landlords confidence in their tenant decisions.
Documentation is also a strength.
Having digital leases, signed records, payment receipts, and applications all stored in the platform gives landlords a strong paper trail if disputes arise.
The rent collection feature is especially useful for keeping payments organized.
Automated reminders, late fee settings, and payment histories reduce friction with tenants and help ensure steady cash flow.
And perhaps most importantly, the platform has very little upfront cost.
Many competitors require monthly subscriptions or per-unit fees, while TurboTenant offers most essentials at no cost to landlords.
Why Use TurboTenant Instead of a Property Management Company
Hiring a property management company can cost anywhere from 8% to 12% of monthly rent, plus leasing fees.
That means if your property rents for $1,500 per month, you could be paying $150 or more every month just for management.
TurboTenant allows landlords to keep that money while still getting access to professional-grade tools.
Self-managing also gives you full control.
You decide on tenant criteria, handle communications directly, and move at your own pace when filling vacancies.
For landlords who like to be hands-on, TurboTenant provides the tools to make self-management realistic.
Another overlooked benefit is building stronger tenant relationships.
When you manage directly, tenants know they are dealing with the property owner, which often leads to quicker resolutions and better long-term tenant satisfaction.
Things to Be Careful About When Placing Tenants
Even with software like TurboTenant, landlords must be careful when screening tenants.
Fair housing laws require you to apply consistent criteria to all applicants.
That means you should clearly define your screening standards, document your process, and apply the same rules across the board.
It’s also important not to rely only on automated screening reports.
While they provide useful information, you should still check references, verify employment, and confirm income ratios.
A strong screening process blends both data and personal verification.
Landlords should also be mindful of payment timing.
ACH transfers can take several days to clear, while credit and debit card payments are faster but cost more in fees.
Planning around this prevents surprises with your cash flow.
Finally, while TurboTenant’s leases are state-specific, local laws can vary by city or county.
Always make sure your lease complies with local ordinances, especially when it comes to security deposits, rent control, or inspection requirements.
Other Property Management Software Options
TurboTenant isn’t the only player in the property management software space.
Other notable platforms include:
Avail – A competitor aimed at small landlords, offering similar tools like listings, applications, leases, and online rent collection.
It often has premium features behind a subscription, but it’s popular with landlords who want an alternative to TurboTenant.
Buildium – More robust software built for professional property managers and larger landlords.
It offers accounting, maintenance tracking, and advanced reporting, but it comes with higher costs and is better suited for people managing dozens or hundreds of units.
AppFolio – Another enterprise-level option that includes accounting, maintenance, marketing, and tenant portals.
AppFolio is powerful, but it typically requires a minimum unit count and charges per-unit fees, making it less attractive for small landlords.
Cozy (now part of Apartments.com) – A once-popular platform that offered free rent collection and applications.
Today, its features have been integrated into Apartments.com’s landlord tools, making it another option for landlords who want a simple, tenant-facing interface.
Each of these tools has strengths, but for small landlords who want an affordable, easy-to-use solution, TurboTenant usually provides the best balance of features and cost.
Why TurboTenant Is the Best Option for Most Independent Landlords
TurboTenant is legitimate, widely used, and tailored for landlords who want to keep costs down while still running their rentals professionally.
I’m not saying that because I get a kickback (because I don’t get anything from them).
Listen up TurboTenant…. if you have an affiliate program please reach out to me because I could promote you more if there were an affiliate program. 🙂
Anyway, it covers the full rental cycle — marketing, screening, leasing, rent collection — in one system without charging heavy monthly fees.
Compared with property managers, it saves thousands of dollars per year in fees.
Compared with other software platforms, it offers the most functionality for free while still allowing upgrades when needed.
For landlords with just a few properties, or even those scaling to a small portfolio, TurboTenant offers the best mix of affordability, professional features, and ease of use.
That’s why so many independent landlords consider it the best property management software for self-managing rentals.
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