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If you’re a landlord scoping out new property management software, you’ve likely come across two names in your search: Buildium and Yardi Breeze. Both solutions offer similar features and different pricing models, so it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out which suits your needs. Maybe you’ll decide on a different solution altogether.
To make your decision easier, we’ll provide a comprehensive comparison of Buildium vs. Yardi Breeze.
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Key Insights
- Both Buildium and Yardi Breeze offer similar features and services, although the availability differs from plan to plan, and you may have to pay extra for certain features.
- Yardi Breeze has more options for landlords that manage different types of properties, but its entry point is more expensive.
- Buildium boasts higher user reviews across all platforms.
- Both Buildium and Yardi Breeze offer mobile apps; however, some users report that the Yardi Breeze app isn’t as user-friendly.
- Landlords considering Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium might be better off with a different property management software solution that’s free to start and offers the critical functionality you need.
Introduction to Buildium
Michael Montiero and Dimitris Georgakopoulos were property managers who started Buildium in 2004 to simplify property management. In December 2019, RealPage acquired Buildium. Now headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with offices around the globe, Buildium is one of the oldest and largest property management software companies on the market today.
Buildium designed its all-in-one software to help landlords market rental properties, screen potential tenants, digitize and track leases, collect rent payments, manage maintenance requests, organize accounting, and more.
While their solution is available for property portfolios of any size, their pricing structure makes the most sense if you’re a property manager with a medium-to-large portfolio.
Introduction to Yardi Breeze
Released in 2018, Yardi Breeze is a solution from Yardi, the parent company, which has been on the market for nearly 40 years.
As its name suggests, Yardi Breeze’s goal is to simplify property management and put landlords in control of marketing, leasing, and managing their entire portfolio from anywhere. Yardi Breeze helps landlords take their operations to the cloud with online payments, financial reporting, and portals for applicants, residents, and owners.
The platform enables property managers to work with a wide variety of property types, including commercial, residential, affordable housing, self-storage, community associations, and manufactured housing.
Yardi Voyager is the company’s more robust alternative to Yardi Breeze, and it is built for very large organizations. This article uses Yardi Breeze for comparison purposes since it’s more comparable to solutions that DIY landlords need.
In-Depth Comparison: Buildium vs. Yardi Breeze
User Interface and Experience
A user-friendly interface and positive user experience in property management software saves you time and keeps you organized by making it easy to access features and complete tasks. Here’s how Buildium vs. Yardi Breeze compares:
Buildium’s ease of use reviews on Capterra stand at around 4.3 out of 5 stars, indicating a generally positive experience. However, some reviewers mentioned challenges with unaddressed bugs, onboarding difficulties, and limitations in running multiple software windows simultaneously.
Yardi Breeze receives mixed reviews in terms of user experience. Some users on Capterra report that the platform is very easy to use and that the company has great training resources. Others complain about updating their apps often and that the app suddenly crashes while using it.
Tenant and Lease Tracking
Tenant and lease tracking in property management software ensures you stay on top of important dates like lease expirations, rent renewals, and tenant communication, reducing the risk of missed payments and vacancy gaps. Here’s how Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium compares:
Buildium lets you create and customize lease agreements, gather electronic signatures, and securely store everything in one place. Plus, you can easily track lease expirations, automate renewals and charges, and manage tenant data efficiently.
Yardi Breeze offers marketing and leasing features, although some are only unlocked when you upgrade to the Breeze Premier package. At the basic level, landlords can complete applications, screenings, and leases online. With Premier, you can execute leases online with state-specific lease agreements and addendums.
Maintenance and Repair Management
Property management software streamlines maintenance and repair management by simplifying work order creation, tracking repair progress, and controlling costs. Here’s how Buildium vs. Yardi Breeze compares:
Buildium simplifies maintenance management in a few key ways:
- Delegate tasks: Offload some of the workload to a remote call center (optional feature).
- Streamlined requests: Submit and track work orders electronically.
- Improved communications: Coordinate with tenants and vendors directly through the platform.
- Digital workflows: Manage the entire work order process electronically, from creation to completion.
Note: Buildium includes some maintenance features in all of their plans.
Yardi Breeze also has comprehensive maintenance features that enable landlords to submit and track resident requests online, manage history by unit, attach photos/documents, assign tasks, monitor progress with notes, link invoices, and even automate tenant charges.
A bonus is that you do not have to upgrade to receive additional Premier features, so these features are available on all plans.
Communication Tools
Effective communication tools allow you to easily stay connected with tenants, resolve issues faster, and build positive relationships. Here’s how Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium compares:
Buildium’s secure portal empowers property managers to connect seamlessly with tenants and contractors. Communication options within the platform include text messages, emails, phone calls, and direct messaging. Managers can also simultaneously broadcast important announcements to targeted resident groups across multiple channels.
While Capterra users praise Buildium’s customer service with a 4.5-star rating, some reviewers have mentioned that their response times can be slow sometimes.
Yardi Breeze doesn’t offer much information on the communication tools featured in its platform. It mentions that its software helps property managers centralize communications with prospects, residents, and owners but doesn’t offer details beyond this.
On Capterra, users report excellent customer service from Yardi Breeze. One reviewer noted that their reps are responsible, knowledgeable, and always ready to help.
Financial Management and Reporting
Financial management and reporting features give you a clear picture of your overall profitability, allowing you to make informed decisions and maximize your return on investment. Here’s how Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium compares:
Buildium’s integrated accounting software lets property managers record and track transactions – fees, deposits, and refunds – in one central location. Built-in calculators automate payment consolidation, streamlining the process for both property managers and residents.
Yardi Breeze offers comprehensive rent collection, accounting, and accounts payable tools. With the platform, tenants can collect rent, automate recurring rent and fee postings, track budgets, generate financial statements, and more.
The Breeze Premier level offers more features, including customizing financial statements, tracking job costs, etc.
Pricing Comparison
We know cost is always a top consideration when choosing the best solution. Finding a platform that comfortably fits your budget is critical to supporting your future business goals. Buildium and Yardi Breeze offer multiple pricing options depending on your portfolio size and business needs. Here’s how Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium compares:
Buildium pricing comes in at three different levels:
- Essential: $55 per month for up to 20 units
- Growth: $174 per month for up to 50 units
- Premium: $375 per month for up to 150 units
Pricing increases at predetermined intervals once an account holder surpasses a fixed number of properties by tier. There are also some potential extra costs to take into account when considering Buildium:
- Property inspections (starting at an additional $40 per month with the Essential plan)
- eSignatures ($5 per signature with the Essential plan)
- Online payment fees (amounts vary by tier)
- Bank account setup fees ($99 per bank account for all three tiers; 5 accounts included with the Growth plan; 15 accounts included with the Premium plan)
Buildium also offers potential customers a free 14-day trial across all three tiers.
Yardi Breeze pricing differs based on the property types you manage. For each type of property, there’s a “Breeze” option that offers more basic features and a “Breeze Premier” option that gives you access to more.
- Residential portfolios: $1 per unit per month with a $100/month minimum (Breeze), $1 per unit per month with a $400/month minimum (Breeze Premier)
- Commercial portfolios: $2 per unit per month with a $200/month minimum (Breeze). Their website did not provide information about Breeze Premier pricing. Prospects must book a call to learn more about this pricing level.
- Affordable housing portfolios: $3 per unit per month with a $400 per month minimum (Breeze Premier). This Premier pricing option was the only option listed on their website, which may mean that this feature is only available at the Premier level.
- Associations portfolios: Only Breeze Premier pricing was available, listed at $1 per unit per month with a $400/month minimum.
An important aspect of Yardi Breeze’s pricing is that it is based on an annual agreement. They don’t appear to offer a free trial period.
Mobile App Availability and Features
Landlords are constantly on the go, so it’s crucial to have software that’s compatible with your desktop and a cell phone or tablet app. Here’s how Yardi Breeze vs. Buildium compares:
Buildium’s mobile app boasts higher scores on both the Apple and Google Play stores. Positive reviews state that the app is easy to use and well-designed.
Some negative reviews complain about limited functionality and poor customer service, but those reviews appear to be in the minority. Buildium also responds to most reviews, giving them credibility for being receptive and responsive to feedback.
Yardi Breeze’s mobile app scores significantly lower with users in both the Apple and Google Play stores. Users complain about limited functionality and issues with the app crashing. Yardi Breeze also appears to respond to most of their negative reviews, reassuring customers that they’re working on fixes to their problems.
User Reviews: Buildium vs. Yardi Breeze
To analyze user reviews, we’ll examine ratings across four platforms: Capterra, Apple App Store, Google Play, and Trustpilot.
Buildium users return the following ratings:
- Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Google Play: 4.4 out of 5 stars
- Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 stars
Yardi Breeze reviews show the following ratings:
- Capterra: 4.1 out of 5 stars
- Apple App Store: 3.9 out of 5 stars
- Google Play: 3.7 out of 5 stars
- Trustpilot: No Reviews
Making the Right Choice: Factors to Consider
Property management software is a lifesaver, but with so many options, choosing the right one can feel confusing. Here are four key factors to consider before making your decision:
- Understand Your Needs:
Knowing your pain points will help you choose software with features that directly address them. Here are some questions to ask yourself to get a better understanding of what your needs are:
- What are my biggest challenges? Collecting rent on time, managing maintenance requests, or staying organized?
- What tasks do I spend the most time on each day?
- What size of portfolio am I currently working with?
- What are my future goals?
- Set a Budget:
Property management software costs vary. Some charge per property, while others offer different plans with various features. Decide how much you’re comfortable spending before you start shopping around.
- Consider Your Portfolio Size:
The number of properties you manage plays a role. A simple program might suffice for a few rentals, but a more extensive portfolio needs robust tenant communication and record-keeping features. Choose software that can grow with you.
- Prioritize Customer Support:
Even the best software can have issues. Reliable customer support is critical for resolving problems quickly and minimizing downtime. Look for a company with multiple support options (phone, email, chat) and a good reputation for responsiveness.
With these factors in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to choose software that simplifies your life and helps you manage your rentals more efficiently. No more struggling with spreadsheets or feeling overwhelmed.
Why TurboTenant Stands Out
Buildium and RentRedi are both serviceable solutions, but there’s a third option on the market that combines all their capabilities at a lower cost: TurboTenant.
TurboTenant is the top property management software in the industry. Like Buildium and RentRedi, TurboTenant offers users an all-in-one suite of features:
- Tenant credit check and screening
- Digital tenant applications
- State-specific rental lease agreements
- Rent collection software
- Maintenance management
- Integrated accounting and reporting
- Rental marketing
Beyond its long list of capabilities, thousands of TurboTenant users report great reviews across multiple platforms:
- 4.9 stars on the Apple App Store
- 4.7 stars on Google Play
- 4.5 stars on Capterra
TurboTenant’s free software allows users to test-drive the product before potentially upgrading to its fully loaded Premium version, which is still significantly more affordable than both Buildium and Yardi Breeze.
Sign up for a free TurboTenant account today to start streamlining your property management business instantly.
