Buildium is a cloud-based property management software that helps businesses manage rental properties located in over 50 countries. The software can manage 5000 (or more) rental properties including residential, commercial, student housing, affordable housing, and community associations.

Best For:

Buildium is the most cost-effective for businesses with over 20 units. The software can handle all of residential properties, community associations, commercial properties, affordable housing, and student housing.

Zoho Books is a popular alternative to QuickBooks Online. It’s a cloud-based accounting software that offers accounts receivables and payables functionality. It lets you manage your financials and banking, create reports, and automate your sales and purchasing workflows.

Best For:

Zoho Books is best for small businesses with up to ten employees in online retail spaces and digital marketing. It’s a great solution for growing organizations that plan to expand their functionality into inventory management, project tracking, and other areas.

7.7

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

10.0

USER RATING

based on 1 user reviews

Our Verdict:

Buildium impressed us with their robust accounting tools–easily handling everything from automated bookkeeping and collections to full-scale accounting, including 1099s. This makes it a fantastic option for larger rental management companies. However, the lack of user-friendliness with tenant onboarding and rent collection left us wanting more.

While Buildium is incredibly scalable with a killer free marketing website, the extra charges and lack of live support in the basic plan may leave smaller businesses and sole property managers feeling like they aren’t a priority.

Pros:

Scalable (can be used for 1 unit or 5,000 units)
Core package includes all property accounting features
No minimum unit count
Annual pricing discounts available
Automated bookkeeping, collections, and payments

Cons:

A la carte pricing for certain features
Electronic leases only free with Plus version
Charges a fee to set up bank accounts
No live support with basic plan

9.0

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

10.0

USER RATING

based on 6 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like Zoho Books’ time-tracking features, strong inventory management, and easy integrations with other Zoho products. It also offers a free version with limited functionality but even its paid plans are less expensive than QuickBooks.

We don’t think Zoho Books is for companies searching for a comprehensive system beyond simple accounting. Zoho is an ecosystem of product suites that can integrate in a piecemeal fashion. You’ll need additional apps for inventory, CRM, and more.

Pros:

Client portal with sales and purchase approvals
Easily integrate with dozens of Zoho products
Time-tracking
Multiple sales and expense form types
Strong inventory tools included

Cons:

Difficult to modify invoices
Time tracking must be tied to projects
Maximum of 10 users
Limited bank syncing
Will require 'Zoho Inventory' if your inventory grows too large

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $55/month
Client OS iOS, Android, Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $15/month
Client OS Web

After extensively testing and reviewing both Buildium and Zoho Books, our editorial review staff is ready to share our insights.

Target Market

Buildium targets larger businesses managing over 20 units, including residential properties, community associations, commercial properties, affordable housing, and student housing. Its accounting features are perfect for handling automated bookkeeping and collections to full-scale accounting, which makes it a great choice for larger rental management companies.

On the other hand, Zoho Books is aimed at small businesses with up to ten employees, particularly in online retail spaces and digital marketing. It’s a fantastic solution for growing organizations that plan to expand their functionality into inventory management, project tracking, and other areas.

Features and Functionality

Buildium’s strengths lie in its scalability and comprehensive property accounting features. It also offers a free customizable marketing website. However, the lack of user-friendliness with tenant onboarding and rent collection might detract from the overall experience. Additionally, smaller businesses might find the extra charges and lack of live support in the basic plan less appealing.

In contrast, Zoho Books stands out with its time-tracking features, strong inventory management, and easy integrations with other Zoho products. It also provides a client portal with sales and purchase approvals. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive system beyond simple accounting, or if your inventory grows too large, you’ll need additional Zoho apps, which could become cumbersome.

Buildium vs. Zoho Books: Which is Best For Most Businesses?

After review, we believe that Zoho Books is the better choice for most businesses. Its versatility and affordability make it an attractive option for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those in the online retail and digital marketing sectors. However, larger property management companies might find more value in Buildium’s specialized features.

While Zoho Books is a versatile and affordable option for many businesses, some of its limitations, such as a maximum of 10 users and limited bank syncing, might pose challenges for larger teams or more complex financial operations.

On the flip side, while Buildium offers capabilities for property management, its pricing structure might not be as appealing to smaller businesses, and some of its features may not be as user-friendly as desired.

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

Buildium

★★★★★

(1)

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$55/month

Client OS

iOS, Android, Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

Zoho Books