TLDR
RunHOA ($399/year flat, unlimited units) vs PayHOA ($49/mo for ≤25 units, scaling by size). RunHOA is the cheapest HOA platform with accounting included. PayHOA has the review track record: G2 4.6/5, Capterra ~4.5/5, and a $27.5M Series A backing. RunHOA has zero reviews on any major platform. Both offer HOA-specific accounting. Neither has dedicated reserve fund compliance tools. The choice comes down to whether you trust an unproven platform to save money or pay more for a platform other boards have validated.
| Feature | RunHOA | PayHOA | BoardStack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $399/year flat | $49/mo (≤25 units) | $20–$99/mo |
| Reserve fund compliance | No | No | Built-in, state-specific |
| Built for | Professional management | Professional management | Volunteer boards |
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See plans & pricingThe self-managed board showdown
RunHOA and PayHOA both target self-managed HOA boards directly. Both offer HOA-specific accounting, online dues collection, and community management tools. Both sell to boards without requiring a management company. The similarity ends at price and proof.
RunHOA: the price leader
At $399/year flat, RunHOA undercuts every other HOA platform with accounting. The math is simple: $33.25/month effective, regardless of whether you have 50 units or 500. The feature list reads well on paper: accounting, budgeting, dues collection, e-voting, amenity reservations, 1120-H generation. No per-unit fees means no surprise cost increases.
The absence is what matters. Zero reviews on G2. Zero on Capterra. No native mobile app. No dedicated reserve compliance tools. You cannot find another board that has used RunHOA and reported their experience publicly. For a platform handling community finances, that gap is meaningful.
PayHOA: the validated option
PayHOA has the track record. G2 4.6/5 across roughly 75 reviews. Capterra approximately 4.5/5 across roughly 70 reviews. A $27.5M Series A in May 2024 means the company has funding to sustain operations and development. The platform is purpose-built for HOAs with online dues collection, violation tracking, homeowner portals, and a native mobile app.
All features are included at every tier — no feature gating. Starting at $49/month for up to 25 units, the pricing is higher than RunHOA’s. At 100 units, PayHOA costs approximately $109/month ($1,308/year), more than triple RunHOA’s annual cost.
PayHOA’s reserve tracking is partial: through the accounting module with custom chart of accounts and bank syncing, but no dedicated reserve study module or compliance tools.
The reserve compliance gap
Neither RunHOA nor PayHOA has dedicated reserve fund compliance tools. Both track reserves through accounting modules. Neither offers a percent-funded dashboard, reserve study integration, or state-specific compliance alerts.
For boards in states without mandatory reserve requirements, this gap may not matter today. For boards in Florida (mandatory structural reserve studies), California (30-year reserve projections required), or the growing list of states tightening reserve laws, both platforms leave compliance to spreadsheets.
Where BoardStack fits
We built BoardStack for boards that need the compliance tools that RunHOA and PayHOA leave out. Reserve fund separation is structural, not manual. Reserve study targets are tracked over time. State-specific compliance alerts notify the board when requirements change.
At $20–$99/mo flat, BoardStack sits between RunHOA’s price floor and PayHOA’s per-unit scaling. A 100-unit community pays $49/mo ($588/year) — more than RunHOA, less than PayHOA, with reserve compliance included.
| Feature | RunHOA | PayHOA | BoardStack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $399/year flat | $49/mo (≤25 units, scaling) | $20–$99/mo flat tiers |
| 100-unit annual cost | $399 | ~$1,308 | $588 (Growth tier) |
| 200-unit annual cost | $399 | ~$1,908 | $588 (Growth tier) |
| HOA-specific accounting | Yes | Yes (stronger) | Yes |
| Reserve fund tracking | Partial (accounting only) | Partial (accounting only) | Yes (dedicated compliance) |
| Online dues collection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes | Yes |
| G2 / Capterra rating | 0 reviews / 0 reviews | 4.6/5 (~75) / ~4.5/5 (~70) | N/A (new) |
| Funding | Not disclosed | $27.5M Series A (May 2024) | Self-funded |
| E-voting | Yes | No | No |
PROS & CONS
RunHOA
Pros
- Cheapest HOA platform with accounting: $399/year flat, unlimited units
- Includes e-voting, amenity reservations, and 1120-H tax form generation
- No per-unit fees, no feature gating
Cons
- Zero reviews on G2 or Capterra -- no third-party validation
- No native mobile app
- Partial reserve tracking only, no dedicated compliance tools
PROS & CONS
PayHOA
Pros
- Proven platform: G2 4.6/5 (~75 reviews), Capterra ~4.5/5 (~70 reviews)
- $27.5M Series A (May 2024) signals long-term viability
- All features included at every tier, no feature gating
Cons
- Higher cost: $49/mo+ scaling by unit count
- No dedicated reserve study module or percent-funded dashboard
- Bank integration limited to major banks
Q&A
How much cheaper is RunHOA than PayHOA?
For a 100-unit community, RunHOA saves approximately $909/year ($399 vs ~$1,308). For a 200-unit community, the savings grow to approximately $1,509/year ($399 vs ~$1,908). For communities under 25 units, the gap narrows: RunHOA at $399/year vs PayHOA at $588/year is a $189 difference.
Q&A
Which platform is safer for managing HOA finances?
PayHOA is the safer choice based on available evidence. G2 4.6/5 across 75+ reviews and Capterra ~4.5/5 across 70+ reviews confirm the platform handles dues collection, accounting, and homeowner management as described. The $27.5M Series A provides funding runway. RunHOA has zero independent reviews, making it impossible to verify claims about reliability, support quality, or feature completeness.
Q&A
Does either RunHOA or PayHOA have reserve fund compliance?
Neither platform has dedicated reserve fund compliance tools. Both track reserves through their accounting modules. Neither offers a reserve study module, percent-funded dashboard, or state-specific compliance alerts. For boards in states with mandatory reserve requirements, both leave a compliance gap. BoardStack ($20–$99/mo) was built specifically for this gap.
Verdict
PayHOA is the safer choice: proven by hundreds of boards, funded, and reviewed. RunHOA is the budget choice: cheapest option with accounting, but zero reviews means zero validation. Neither has dedicated reserve fund compliance. BoardStack ($20–$99/mo flat) offers reserve fund tracking and state-specific compliance at a price between the two, with the advantage of purpose-built compliance tools that both RunHOA and PayHOA lack.
Frequently asked
Common questions before you try it
Is RunHOA cheaper than PayHOA for all community sizes?
Does RunHOA or PayHOA have better reserve fund tracking?
Should a board choose based on price or reviews?
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