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AppFolio Property Manager

AppFolio Property Manager

Overview

What is AppFolio Property Manager?

AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based property management software that allows multifamily and single-family, commercial, student housing, homeowners and condo association, and mixed portfolio property managers to market, manage and grow their business. AppFolio includes accounting and property management functionality,…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

AppFolio has proven to be a valuable tool for property management, leasing, accounting, and maintenance operations. Users find the …
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AppFolio Limitations

4 out of 10
October 21, 2022
We started using AppFolio when our previous property management software stopped doing updates. They were bought out and destroyed by a …
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Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Community Associations

$0.85

Cloud
per unit/per month

Plus - Community Associations

$0.85

Cloud
per unit/per month

Student Housing

$1.25

Cloud
per unit/per month

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.appfolio.com/pricing

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Details

What is AppFolio Property Manager?

AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based property management software that allows multifamily and single-family, commercial, student housing, homeowners and condo association, and mixed portfolio property managers to market, manage and grow their business. AppFolio includes accounting and property management functionality, including the ability to: provide instant access to reports & statements, post & market vacancies, apply & lease online, screen residents, streamline rent collection, and mobile inspections.

AppFolio Property Manager Screenshots

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AppFolio Property Manager Competitors

AppFolio Property Manager Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Mobile Web
Supported CountriesUnited States
Supported LanguagesEnglish

Frequently Asked Questions

AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based property management software that allows multifamily and single-family, commercial, student housing, homeowners and condo association, and mixed portfolio property managers to market, manage and grow their business. AppFolio includes accounting and property management functionality, including the ability to: provide instant access to reports & statements, post & market vacancies, apply & lease online, screen residents, streamline rent collection, and mobile inspections.

Yardi Voyager and Buildium are common alternatives for AppFolio Property Manager.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 1.

The most common users of AppFolio Property Manager are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(48)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

AppFolio has proven to be a valuable tool for property management, leasing, accounting, and maintenance operations. Users find the program's layout easy to follow and appreciate its pleasing visual design. With AppFolio, users can easily track vendors, owners, tenants, and billing/invoicing, allowing them to streamline their operations effectively. Customer support is quick with a fast turnaround time, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. One of the standout features of AppFolio is its commitment to customer feedback, as it welcomes suggestions and implements updates to improve the software's efficiency. Maintenance orders are made more efficient with integrated vendor and billing information. Additionally, users find it easy to advertise with AppFolio as it reaches multiple locations and websites. The software also integrates seamlessly with company websites to save time in making updates and ensure accurate information. It simplifies the rental application process, including background checks and online rent and deposit payments. Users also benefit from its integration with the investor management portal, which enables property performance assessment. Additionally, AppFolio acts as a portal for residents to make rental payments and access resident files conveniently. The software helps with organizing tasks such as scheduling tours, preparing for move-ins, generating reports, and providing valuable analytics and data insights for market rent and budgeting. One of the key advantages of using AppFolio is its ability to handle multiple entities in one system with a single login. Overall, AppFolio has been praised for improving leasing processes, increasing online availability, tracking vacancies, rent, expenses, work orders, financial statements for multiple rental properties effectively. Moreover, it extends its functionality to managing HOAs by providing a digital platform for all aspects of HOA management. The software offers deep and complex functions for property management tasks and reporting that have been highly beneficial across corporate offices for accounting functions and investment management.

However, some users have noted a decline in customer service quality over time, particularly in the online chat support system. Despite this, AppFolio remains widely used for its communication and collaboration features, addressing the business problem of streamlining communication and avoiding miscommunication between property managers and asset managers. Overall, AppFolio has proven to be a reliable solution for property management businesses, allowing them to efficiently organize their operations and streamline communication between various stakeholders.

Clear Overview of Work Orders: Many users have praised AppFolio Property Manager for providing a clear overview of work orders, allowing them to easily track the progress of maintenance tasks. This feature has been particularly helpful in keeping the maintenance side of their business organized and efficient.

Efficient Tracking of Tenant Payments: Several reviewers appreciate how AppFolio Property Manager makes it easy to track tenant payments and categorize charges and credits efficiently on ledgers. They can quickly see if tenants owe various charges such as water/sewer fees, pet fees, late fees, etc. The system's chronological order organization further enhances usability.

Useful Reports and Letters Section: A number of users frequently utilize AppFolio Property Manager's Reports and Letters section. They find it helpful to have a uniform format that maintains professionalism and consistency when generating reports or sending selective letters to tenants without including everyone. The user also notes that the formatting in this section has improved over the past two years.

Difficult to Use: Several users have found the system difficult to use, particularly for non-technical individuals. They have expressed frustration with navigating through the software and understanding its features.

Issues with Parking Tracking and Reporting: Users have mentioned issues with parking tracking and generating reports that contain all the necessary information for their company's vehicles. This has caused inconvenience and hindered their ability to effectively manage their parking operations.

Challenging Pricing Structure: Some users have complained about the pricing structure, especially for large multi-unit buildings with parking. They feel that the costs are not reasonable or transparent, which has led to dissatisfaction among customers.

The recommendations from users are as follows:

  • Take advantage of the training videos offered for free with the program.
  • Balance accounts before transitioning to the AppFolio accounting system.
  • Avoid using the software for larger properties with many regulations.
  • Switch to AppFolio+.
  • Ask questions and request a hands-on demo when meeting with the AppFolio team.
  • Utilize the help offered by the support team.

Users highly recommend:

  • Making the switch to AppFolio for property management needs.
  • Taking advantage of all the helpful trainings and features.
  • Asking for help from the community of experts for quick and personalized service.

Users find AppFolio:

  • Easy to learn and navigate with responsive support staff.
  • A great value for property management software.
  • Immensely helpful for property management.
  • Great for simplifying accounting processes and improving efficiency.

Users recommend:

  • Using AppFolio for larger companies or those managing different types of properties.
  • Researching the right software before making a decision.
  • Testing the system and not being afraid to explore it.
  • Tracking and updating home inspections for better reporting.

Some users suggest:

  • Creating more opportunities for user customization and improving usability.
  • Using AppFolio despite higher costs, as it has been a huge success for their business.

Users highly recommend using AppFolio:

  • For managing complexes remotely, as it gives their business an advantage over competitors.

They believe that using AppFolio:

  • Is a great product with a great team that listens to feedback.

Users highly recommend taking advantage of all of AppFolio's features. They also find it to be:

  • Great software with an affordable price.

They praise:

  • The ease of use, mobility, and customer service of AppFolio.

Overall, users think that AppFolio:

  • Is constantly evolving and highly recommend it.

They suggest using the online help center for quick answers to any questions.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-16 of 16)
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January 22, 2024

Don't bother

Xander Brennan | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I think if you wanted something to work with your Google accounts and never had any support request. This might be a fit. If you need something robust for anything bigger than a mom & pop out fit - in my opinion, look elsewhere. I think if you want something closer to enterprise level, flee from AppFolio Property Manager.
Maura Crawford | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The AppFolio Property Manager App is user friendly and easy to use. The receipt and recording of rents is apt as is the work order flow. When we signed up for AppFolio Property Manager we communicated to every point of contact from the sales agent to the implementation team, that our revenue model stems from marking up bills and services 10%. Everyone told us repeatedly that this was EASILY accomplished through AppFolio Property Manager. Once we spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on implementation, we now realize that those representations were, in my opinion, false. In our old software, markups could be accomplished at the bill level (click a button for markup or discount and input the percentage). In my experience in AppFolio Property Manager, to mark up a bill or service, numerous steps are required. First you must create a work order where detailed information must be input (who creates a work order for a home-depot bill?); close the work order and then go to the work order page, select the work order and "create bill" from the work order; enter all the same detailed information plus additional information; mark up the bill and save; then go to payables, insert bank account and vendor to find the bill - then pay the bill. In my experience when entering 100 home-depot charges on the other software, we would go to vendor, select "mark up" and the percentage, then enter the 100 charges by property; save the bill and then pay it. This might take 20 minutes. In our experience in AppFolio Property Manager, for us to make our profit which enables us to stay in business and pay our AppFolio Property Manager fees, rent, payroll etc., we have to spend ALL DAY creating work orders for every separate home-depot charge and then hop through all of the other hoops and do it 99 other times. My entire office is so frustrated and we cannot focus on marketing, leasing, work orders or getting new business because we are spending all day jumping through all of these hoops to achieve our mark up. In our experience, we reach out to customer service again and again and are only answered by bots. The bots are no help so our issue escalates to a real person. The person is no help and escalates the issue. Ive been told 10 times that i will receive an emailed answer to my question - but no email has arrived and our issue remains unaddressed. In our experience, we are then pointed to "suggestion boards" where there is nothing but dissatisfied AppFolio Property Manager customers who are not receiving answers to their issues. To say that we have buyers remorse is an understatement
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have 6 apartment buildings that we manage. Every month we were having to drive to each location to collect rent checks. Since using appfolio, we only have a couple of renters that still send in a paper check, the rest pay online, so we are ensuring that our renters are paying on time.

Once we have an applicant apply, the old way was to take their scanned application, review, and then pay to have a background check conducted. Now, with appfolio, we are able to have them apply, sign off on the background check, and pay their deposit all in one shot. It has allowed our property managers to focus on other property items rather than conducting background checks.
October 21, 2022

AppFolio Limitations

Score 4 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Don't attempt to use this software for summer rentals or short-term rentals. It's impossible to handle taking security deposits for the next tenant coming in when the current tenant is still in residence.
Lisa Reinhart | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We needed a platform that we could easily migrate our HOA into from an outside management company, but one that allowed for the majority of business to be done and maintained in a cloud based environment.

Onboarding was very thorough and allowed us to really break down the processes and make sure that we had all of the areas of management identified.

Where we struggled was in the post launch support. You have to reach out to the support team in a forum rather than by email and phone and then wait. That piece has made it a little more difficult to smoothly launch certain features like email, setting up reoccurring fees, and things that the homeowners really should see very little stumbling in from their board.
May 26, 2021

AppFolio Review

Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
AppFolio Property Manager for our residents is phenomenal. It serves us and our residents very well as far as them having access to their portal. I find the program difficult to use from a data entry standpoint. There are many features on our end that make usage for us much more difficult.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I think it is one of the best solutions out there for the price. Cheaper solutions don't have the same features (i.e. check printing for multiple bank accounts). If you need personal support or are not overly tech-savvy, you will be better off with a higher-end product that delivers more personalized service. If you are a tech-forward organization that can figure out your needs and features on your own, then I think Appfolio is a great solution.
Chantal Matthews, MSEd, CHES®, CHWC | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are able to manage the move-in process from scheduling a tour to the day of move-in through AppFolio. On the management side, budgetary things are managed in this system as well. When it comes to a true tool that’s easy to use and effective in helping to manage a property--this is it! Leasing consultant performance can even be tracked easily in this system.
Arcoma L. Briceño | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
AppFolio Property Manager has focused on larger PM clients for the past couple of years. In the past, circa 2014, any company willing to pay their fees would be able to get the program. They experienced more problems with smaller PMs who were growing (probably because the businesses were growing and the staff was not as seasoned), so they blocked smaller PMs in 2018 or so. This made them more profitable because the 80/20 rule was used to focus on their best, most efficient use of resources, but it limited the clients who could get the program. I think this was a mistake long term. It was short-sighted, and instead of fixing and supporting the small PM problems and helping them grow into larger PMs that could utilize the program, they just blocked anyone who was not yet their most profitable client.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If any colleague or resident asked about the system we used, I would highly recommend it. It is a huge step up from the other platform software we were using, so there are so many more features for both managers and our tenants. As a tenant, it seems they really enjoy the cleanliness of logging in, paying rent, asking for maintenance or contacting the manager. Easy and clean!
Heather Urban | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
AppFolio Property Manager is great for small to medium-sized businesses (managing 300 - 1,000 units). I don't know if it would be as useful for extremely large organizations or extremely small organizations. There are so many features that we don't use (we don't currently have a need for) but I can't imagine a smaller business owner needing half of the features this software offers. As I haven't worked for a large organization that utilizes this program, I'm not sure if it would be beneficial or if it would meet all the needs of an extremely large organization (10,000+ units); therefore, I'm unable to speak on that portion.
December 05, 2017

The best there Is

Robin Quick, CPM®, HCCP | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I can only speak for the types of properties I am currently managing, which are single-family, multi-family and small retail. AppFolio is well suited for property management of each of these. As my business grows I will be better able to determine if AppFolio will be suited for other types of property management. I feel very confident that if I have a situation arise that doesn't appear to work well with AppFolio that their development team will work to correct the problem(s).
Vivian McClintock | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I would recommend the program to anyone that does property management. The search features and user-friendliness of the program alone has helped functionality of our company greatly. Their support is great and replies in a timely manner. Appfolio overall has helped our company be more productive and reach more customers locally and internationally with streamlined processes that have been great time savers.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
AppFolio Property Manager is best suited when there are multiple people who must receive a specific report related to the on-site property management of a specific asset. This is where it excels the most. However, it can be tricky to export the data sometimes for use in modeling. A lot of the tinkering with numbers must be done within the program rather than externally.
Christy Bertani | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If you have only 1-5 properties to manage, AppFolio might be overkill. But once you get over 10, it becomes more valuable. If you, also, have mult-unit properties, this only increases AppFolio's value. The property management side is so detailed and complete that it is well worth dealing with an antiquated accounting system.
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