AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based software built for managing residential properties, commercial properties, and community associations. Businesses can manage anywhere from 50 properties to thousands of properties.

Best For:

Appfolio is best used by property management companies that have over 50 units.

Odoo is an open-source ERP software that integrates CRM, manufacturing, eCommerce, and more. Odoo’s accounting module offers functionality in accounts payables and receivables, bank synchronization, and reporting. You can extend the accounting app’s functionality with the tax report module.

Best For:

Odoo is best for small companies (1-10 employees) and mid-sized businesses (50-200 employees). It’s best for organizations that have outgrown their simple accounting and inventory software.

9.4

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

6.8

USER RATING

based on 5 user reviews

Our Verdict:

If you’re a business with at least 50 units craving integrated property management and accounting, then AppFolio could be your new best friend. We loved its AI leasing tool, workflow management, and top-shelf integrations that amp up the automation and help manage your properties like a champ.

But it’s not all roses. If your team doesn’t include folks with an accounting background or training, AppFolio might be a bit of a struggle. Also, it only rolls out the red carpet for companies with 50 or more units, so if you’re rocking fewer than that, AppFolio might not be your perfect match. It’s got some awesome bells and whistles, but it’s not the best fit for everyone.

Pros:

Modern and intuitive user interface
Strong universal search input

Cons:

50 unit minimum
Limited integrations
No API access

8.7

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

8.8

USER RATING

based on 21 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Odoo for its effectiveness as a light ERP, offering modularity, simple integration, and ease of use. As companies scale up, they can add modules piecemeal as needed. Odoo offers inventory management functionalities at a lower price point than many cloud-based ERPs.

On the other hand, you’ll need technical expertise or a dedicated support team to deploy the software, integrate third-party apps, or customize the source code to fit your company’s workflows.

Pros:

Community version is free
Heavy customization options
Double entry inventory system
Full suite of business applications
Traceability reports from customer to supplier

Cons:

May have to build specific modules yourself
No centralized support
Upgrades not free
Cluttered mobile app

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $0.80/unit/month
Client OS Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $25/user/month
Client OS Web

We have reviewed and closely examined two popular solutions: AppFolio Property Manager and Odoo. Our hands-on experience with these platforms allowed us to provide an in-depth comparison of their features, target markets, pros, and cons.

Target Markets

AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based software specifically designed for property management companies overseeing over 50 units. It’s particularly effective for businesses managing residential properties, commercial properties, and community associations.

On the other hand, Odoo is an open-source ERP software suitable for small companies and mid-sized businesses. This versatile platform integrates CRM, manufacturing, eCommerce, and more.

Key Features and Benefits

AppFolio offers a modern and intuitive user interface with a strong universal search input. This software stands out due to its in-built AI leasing tool, workflow management, and high-quality integrations that increase automation. However, it requires a minimum of 50 units and offers limited integrations with no API access.

Odoo, a light ERP solution, is noted for its modularity, easy integration, and user-friendliness. It offers a robust inventory management system at a lower price point than many cloud-based ERPs. However, to deploy Odoo, integrate third-party apps, or customize the source code, technical expertise or a dedicated support team is needed.

Drawbacks

While AppFolio provides a comprehensive solution for property management, it requires at least 50 units, making it less suitable for smaller businesses. Additionally, the lack of an API access and limited integrations may limit functionality for some users.

With Odoo, while it offers heavy customization options and a full suite of business applications, it does present some challenges. These include the potential need to build specific modules yourself, lack of centralized support, and non-free upgrades.

Our Recommendation

After our careful review, we recommend AppFolio for larger property management companies. Conversely, we recommend Odoo for smaller to mid-sized businesses in need of a versatile ERP solution. AppFolio excels in managing larger property portfolios, while Odoo’s modular approach and customization options make it a flexible choice for growing companies.

For more options, check out our roundup of the best ERP software available.

AppFolio Property Manager

★★★★★

(5)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$0.80/unit/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

Odoo

★★★★★

(21)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$25/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud or On-Premises