TLDR
AppFolio's published pricing starts at $280-$400/mo before the per-unit fee. A 100-unit HOA pays $880-$1,200/mo. That cost is built for property management companies billing it across multiple clients. A single self-managed HOA absorbs the entire fee.
AppFolio
$280-$400/mo min + $6-8/unit/moper month
BoardStack
$29-$299/mo billed annuallyper month, no setup fee
AppFolio Pricing Tiers
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $280/mo minimum + $1.40/unit/mo | Online rent/dues collection, Maintenance request tracking, Owner and resident portals, Basic accounting |
| Plus | $375/mo minimum + $3/unit/mo | Everything in Core, Leasing and screening, AI leasing assistant, Advanced reporting |
| Max | $1,500/mo minimum | Everything in Plus, Revenue management, Priority support, Custom integrations |
Hidden Costs You Won't See on the Pricing Page
- ⚠ 50-unit minimum: communities under 50 units cannot use AppFolio
- ⚠ Setup and onboarding fee varies by account size
- ⚠ Per-unit charges apply on top of the monthly minimum, not instead of it
- ⚠ AppFolio Invest (for owner portals) is a separate add-on with separate pricing
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Start Free TrialHow AppFolio pricing works
AppFolio charges a monthly minimum plus a per-unit fee. You pay whichever is higher: the minimum or the per-unit calculation. For most HOAs, the per-unit calculation exceeds the minimum once communities reach a certain size.
At 100 units on the Core tier: $280 minimum vs. $1.40 x 100 = $140. The minimum applies. At 200 units on the Plus tier: $375 minimum vs. $3 x 200 = $600. The per-unit calculation applies.
The professional management company assumption
AppFolio’s pricing model assumes a management company that manages dozens of properties and can spread the minimum across multiple clients. A management company with 50 client HOAs paying the Core minimum splits $280 across all of them, netting $5.60 per HOA per month.
A single self-managed HOA pays the full minimum. That is the structural mismatch.
Feature cost that does not translate to HOA value
The Plus and Max tiers include leasing automation, AI leasing assistants, and revenue management tools. These are rental property management features. A homeowners association does not lease units. Paying for Plus or Max adds cost without adding HOA-relevant functionality.
What a 100-unit self-managed HOA actually pays
| Cost component | Monthly |
|---|---|
| AppFolio Core minimum | $280 |
| Per-unit fee (100 x $1.40) | $140 |
| Effective monthly cost | $280 (minimum applies) |
| Annual cost | $3,360 |
Compare to BoardStack Growth at $79/mo billed annually ($948/year) for the same community size with reserve fund tracking and HOA-specific compliance tools included.
| AppFolio | BoardStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $280-$400/mo min + $6-8/unit/mo | $29-$299/mo billed annually |
| Setup fee | Varies | $0 |
| Contract | Varies | Month-to-month |
| Plan | Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $280/mo min + $1.40/unit/mo | Online payments, maintenance tracking, basic accounting | Management companies with 200+ units |
| Plus | $375/mo min + $3/unit/mo | AI leasing assistant, advanced reporting, eSignature | Mid-size management portfolios |
| Max | $1,500/mo minimum | Revenue management, priority support, custom integrations | Large professional management firms |
Q&A
How much does AppFolio cost for a small HOA?
AppFolio requires at least 50 units and charges a $280/mo minimum on the Core tier plus $1.40/unit/mo. A 75-unit HOA pays $280/mo minimum (since $1.40 x 75 = $105, below the minimum). A 200-unit HOA pays $280/mo on Core.
Q&A
Are there hidden fees with AppFolio?
AppFolio charges a per-unit fee on top of the monthly minimum, not instead of it. There is also an onboarding fee that varies by account size, and AppFolio Invest (owner portals) is a separate add-on with separate pricing.
Q&A
Is AppFolio available for self-managed HOAs?
AppFolio enforces a 50-unit minimum and its sales and onboarding process assumes a professional management company is running the software. Self-managed volunteer boards are not AppFolio's target customer.
Frequently asked
Common questions before you try it
What does AppFolio cost for a 75-unit HOA?
Does AppFolio have a setup fee?
Is AppFolio worth it for a small HOA?
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Sources and Review Notes
BoardStack cites the sources used for this page and records the last review date for each reference.
- AppFolio pricing page
AppFolio pricing page