HOA By Owners · Software comparison

Best HOA management software, compared

Year-one totals for a typical 51–100 unit community — base price plus setup, training, migration, and the fees competitors usually leave out.

See pricing table Start free
vs Buildium Save $6,100 102% more expensive
vs AppFolio Save $7,000 117% more expensive
vs PayHOA Save $948 + more features
vs CINC Save $3,540 59% more expensive
vs Vantaca Save $5,260 88% more expensive

Executive summary

HOA by Owners is the best fit for most communities — including self-managed boards — at $6,000/year for 51–100 units with zero hidden fees.

Key finding: Communities typically save $948–$7,000 per year, with more features included, 24/7 support, and month-to-month flexibility.

Switching from another platform?

Deep-dive guides with pricing, features, migration timeline, and year-one savings for a typical 51–100 unit HOA.

BuildiumSave ~$6,100/yr AppFolioSave ~$7,000/yr PayHOAMore features, lower total cost CINC SystemsSave ~$3,540/yr VantacaSave ~$5,260/yr Condo ControlAll-in-one for HOAs & condos TownSqFor self-managed HOAs FrontStepsSelf-managed & small managers

Complete pricing comparison

Includes base pricing, setup, training, migration, and hidden fees competitors often charge separately.

Swipe sideways on mobile to see every column.

Software Base Price (Year 1) Setup & Training Hidden Fees (Year 1) Total Year 1 Cost vs HOA by Owners
HOA by Owners $6,000/year $0 (included) $0 (all included) $6,000 Baseline
PayHOA $1,308/year ($109/month) $0 $5,640/year (payment processing, mailing, website) $6,948 $948 more (16%)
Buildium $6,600/year ($550/month) $2,800 (setup, training, migration) $2,700/year (payment, support, eSign, storage) $12,100 $6,100 more (102%)
AppFolio $6,300/year ($525/month) $3,700 (setup, training, migration) $3,000/year (payment, support) $13,000 $7,000 more (117%)
CINC Systems $5,520/year ($460/month) $2,400 (setup, training, migration) $1,620/year (payment, support) $9,540 $3,540 more (59%)
Vantaca $6,180/year ($515/month) $3,100 (setup, training, migration) $1,980/year (payment, support) $11,260 $5,260 more (88%)

Hidden fees competitors often add

Setup ($800–$1,500), training ($600–$1,200), migration (~$1,000), payment processing ($60–$100/mo), priority support ($75–$150/mo), eSign, storage, ACH/credit-card per-transaction fees, mailing, website builder.

No setup fees No training fees No migration fees Support included Everything in one price

HOA by Owners includes all of the above at no extra cost.

Feature comparison

Features competitors charge extra for — or don’t offer — that HOA by Owners includes.

Swipe sideways on mobile to compare every vendor.

Feature HOA by Owners Buildium AppFolio PayHOA CINC Systems Vantaca
Electronic Voting (Legally Acceptable) ✓ Included FREE ✗ Not available or $30+/month ✗ Not available or $30+/month ✗ Limited ✗ Basic only ✗ Limited
Amenity Reservations ✓ Advanced system included ✗ Basic or not available ✗ Basic or not available ✗ Limited ✗ Basic ✗ Limited
Unlimited Document Storage ✓ Included FREE ✗ Limited, pay for more ✗ Limited, pay for more ✗ Limited ✗ Limited ✗ Limited
Package Tracking ✓ Included FREE ✗ Not available ✗ Not available ✗ Not available ✗ Not available ✗ Not available
24/7 Priority Support ✓ Included FREE ✗ $100/month extra ✗ $150/month extra ✗ Limited hours ✗ $75/month extra ✗ $100/month extra
Financial Management ✓ Full suite included ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Basic ✓ Included ✓ Included
Maintenance Requests ✓ Advanced system ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Basic ✓ Included ✓ Included
Violations Tracking ✓ Advanced system ✓ Included ✓ Included ✓ Basic ✓ Included ✓ Included
Mobile Apps ✓ iOS & Android ✓ Available ✓ Available ✓ Basic ✓ Available ✓ Available
Contract Terms ✓ Month-to-month ✗ Annual required ✗ Annual required ✓ Flexible ✗ Annual preferred ✗ Annual required

Detailed competitor analysis

Open a vendor for pricing, drawbacks, and who it’s best for.

HOA by Owners — best overall value $6,000/yr

Pricing: $6,000/year for 51–100 units. All features included. Zero hidden fees.

  • Most affordable comprehensive solution
  • Legally acceptable electronic voting included
  • Advanced amenity reservations & package tracking
  • Unlimited document storage
  • 24/7 priority support included
  • Month-to-month contracts

Best for: HOAs of all sizes that want full features at a clear price.

Buildium — expensive enterprise option $12,100/yr

Pricing: $12,100/year total ($6,600 base + $2,800 setup + $2,700 hidden fees)

  • 102% more expensive than HOA by Owners
  • $2,800 upfront setup, training, and migration
  • $2,700/year hidden fees (payment, support, eSign, storage)
  • Limited or paid electronic voting; annual contract required

Best for: Large property management companies managing many properties.

AppFolio — most expensive option $13,000/yr

Pricing: $13,000/year total ($6,300 base + $3,700 setup + $3,000 hidden fees)

  • 117% more expensive than HOA by Owners
  • $3,700 upfront fees; $3,000/year hidden fees
  • Limited or paid voting; annual contract required

Best for: Large PM companies with complex enterprise needs.

PayHOA — low base, high hidden fees $6,948/yr

Pricing: $6,948/year total ($1,308 base + $5,640 hidden fees)

  • 16% more expensive once fees are included
  • Per-transaction ACH/CC fees and mailing charges
  • Fewer features (no package tracking; basic voting)

Best for: Very low transaction volume — though fees still add up.

CINC Systems — mid-range pricing $9,540/yr

Pricing: $9,540/year total ($5,520 base + $2,400 setup + $1,620 hidden fees)

  • 59% more expensive than HOA by Owners
  • Upfront setup/training/migration plus ongoing fees
  • Basic voting; annual preferred

Best for: Boards that want an established brand and will pay more for it.

Vantaca — high-end pricing $11,260/yr

Pricing: $11,260/year total ($6,180 base + $3,100 setup + $1,980 hidden fees)

  • 88% more expensive than HOA by Owners
  • Large upfront + annual fee stack
  • Limited voting; annual contract required

Best for: HOAs with specific enterprise requirements.

Why HOA by Owners wins

Best value

Save $948–$7,000 per year vs major competitors while getting more included features.

Transparent pricing

No setup, training, migration, support upgrades, or surprise add-ons — one clear price.

More included

Electronic voting, amenities, unlimited storage, package tracking, and 24/7 support included.

Flexible contracts

Month-to-month. Most competitors lock you into annual commitments.

Modern product

Clean interface, strong mobile experience, and regular feature updates.

Support included

24/7 priority support at no extra cost — competitors often charge $75–$150/month.

Which software is right for your HOA?

Choose HOA by Owners if

  • You want the best value and comprehensive features
  • You need legally acceptable electronic voting
  • You want transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • You prefer month-to-month flexibility
  • You need amenities, storage, package tracking, and 24/7 support
  • You’re looking to save $948–$7,000 per year

Consider competitors only if

  • Buildium/AppFolio: You manage 100+ properties and need enterprise tooling (expect ~2× cost)
  • PayHOA: Extremely low transaction volume (you’ll still often pay more overall)
  • CINC/Vantaca: You have specific legacy requirements (expect 59–88% more)

Ready to switch?

For most HOAs, HOA by Owners is the clear year-one winner: full features, $6,000 for 51–100 units, and no fee stack.

Get started →