TLDR
TownSq and PayHOA serve different primary use cases. TownSq is a community engagement platform—communication tools, voting, amenity booking—with payment collection bolted on. PayHOA is a dues collection and basic management platform with communication as a secondary feature. Neither was designed around the financial compliance needs of a self-managed volunteer board's treasurer.
| Feature | TownSq | PayHOA | BoardStack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Free-$2/unit/mo | $49-$199/mo | $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 & pricingStarting from different positions
TownSq and PayHOA compete in the same market but from opposite starting points. TownSq started as a community communication platform and added payment features. PayHOA started as a payments and management platform and added communication features. That origin shapes what each tool does well.
For communication: TownSq’s advantage
TownSq’s resident-facing features are well-built. Announcements, community voting, amenity booking, and package notifications work smoothly. The mobile app is designed for residents, not just board members. If your board’s primary challenge is communication—residents who don’t know about meetings, difficulty organizing votes, amenity scheduling conflicts—TownSq addresses those problems.
The free tier is a genuine product. It is not a crippled trial. For a community that needs basic communication tools and cannot justify a software budget yet, TownSq free gives real value.
For financial management: PayHOA’s advantage
PayHOA’s accounting module covers the operational baseline a treasurer needs: track income and expenses, process dues, generate basic reports. It does not require a second subscription. For a volunteer treasurer without bookkeeping support, that matters.
TownSq’s financial management is minimal—it was not built as an accounting platform. A board trying to use TownSq as its primary financial tool will hit its limits quickly.
What neither covers
The reserve compliance gap. Neither TownSq nor PayHOA was built to help a treasurer track reserve fund adequacy, enforce fund separation, or produce state-required reserve disclosures. That is the functional gap that BoardStack addresses specifically. If reserve compliance is on your evaluation list, neither of these tools resolves it.
| Feature | TownSq | PayHOA | BoardStack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing (100 units) | Up to $200/mo (paid) | $99/mo flat | $49/mo flat |
| Free tier | Yes (limited) | No | 30-day free trial |
| Built-in accounting | No | Yes | Yes (native fund accounting) |
| Reserve fund tracking | No | No | Yes (reserve compliance dashboard) |
| Fund separation enforcement | No | No | Yes (operating/reserve separation) |
| Dues collection | Paid tiers only | Yes (all paid tiers) | Yes (all tiers) |
| Community communication | Yes (primary focus) | Secondary | Yes |
| Amenity booking | Yes | Limited | No |
PROS & CONS
TownSq
Pros
- Free tier usable for community announcements and basic resident communication
- Mobile-first design works well for resident engagement
- Voting and amenity booking are well-executed community features
Cons
- Per-unit pricing is expensive relative to flat-tier alternatives for communities above 50 units
- Financial management is minimal—not suitable as a primary accounting tool
- No reserve fund compliance at any tier
PROS & CONS
PayHOA
Pros
- All financial management in one platform without a second subscription
- Flat-tier pricing creates a predictable line item the board can approve
- Covers the core operational needs: dues, violations, documents, communication
Cons
- No reserve compliance tools at any pricing tier
- Operating and reserve funds not separately enforced in the accounting structure
- Transaction fees on dues payments add unplanned cost
Q&A
For a self-managed volunteer board, which is better: TownSq or PayHOA?
For financial management purposes, PayHOA. For community communication on a tight budget, TownSq's free tier. Most boards that self-manage their finances need a tool that covers dues collection and accounting without a second subscription—that points to PayHOA. TownSq's financial management is not adequate for a board without a property manager. Neither tool covers reserve compliance.
Q&A
Can a volunteer board start with TownSq's free tier and upgrade later?
TownSq's free tier works for communication. The challenge is that financial management cannot be added within TownSq without moving to a paid tier with per-unit pricing that may not fit the budget. Many boards that start on TownSq's free tier add a separate accounting tool for financial management, ending up with two systems. Purpose-built HOA tools that cover both communication and accounting as a package typically serve volunteer boards better as the board's needs grow.
Verdict
For a volunteer board that handles its own financial management, PayHOA is the more complete tool. TownSq's free tier is useful for community communication but inadequate for financial operations. Neither covers reserve compliance—the core treasurer requirement that purpose-built tools like BoardStack ($20–$99/mo) address directly.
Frequently asked
Common questions before you try it
Is TownSq free for HOAs?
Does PayHOA or TownSq have better financial management?
Which is more affordable for a 100-unit community?
What financial compliance features do both tools lack?
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