March 2026 · 11 min read · Updated April 19, 2026

Baselane vs Rentlane: Which Free Landlord Software Is Actually Free?

"Free" is the most abused word in landlord software. Baselane offers a free tier, but the add-on fees matter. Compare it with Rentlane's $8.99/month iOS plan for small-landlord workflows.

Baselane has positioned itself as a modern banking and property management platform for landlords. It offers a landlord banking account, rent collection, bookkeeping, and tenant screening. On paper, it looks like a compelling free option.

But when you look closely at Baselane's pricing, "free" comes with significant asterisks. E-signatures cost $5 each. Lease creation is $10 per lease. Tenant screening runs $24.99 per applicant. These per-use fees add up fast — especially during tenant turnover, which is when you need the most features simultaneously.

The choice comes down to how you collect rent, how much accounting depth you need, and whether you want one place for day-to-day landlord work.

The Real Cost of "Free" Baselane

Let's do the math on a realistic scenario. Say you're a landlord with a single-family home that turns over once a year. During that turnover, you need to:

• Screen 3 applicants: 3 × $24.99 = $74.97
• Create a lease: $10.00
• Get an e-signature: $5.00

Total for one turnover: $89.97

If you have 3 units that each turn over once a year, you're looking at roughly $270 in per-use fees — all on a platform marketed as "free."

Rentlane's iOS plan is $8.99/month for portfolios up to 20 units. The plan is monthly only, with no annual plan yet. It covers reviewable direct-payment records, DocuSeal signing links, maintenance, tenant communication, and rental expense tracking.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Baselane	Rentlane
Trial / access	No early access	Early access for iOS availability updates
Paid plan	$0 base + per-use fees	$8.99/month on iOS, monthly only (1–20 units)
Landlord banking	Yes — built-in bank account	No dedicated banking product
Payment workflow	ACH collection	Reviewable records for bank transfers, checks, Zelle, and Venmo; manual entry
Lease e-signatures	$5 per signature	DocuSeal signing links by text or email
Lease creation	$10 per lease	Signing links for lease documents
Tenant screening	$24.99 per applicant	Not currently included
Bookkeeping	Yes — auto-categorization	Expense categorization; cash-basis property and portfolio P&L
Tax reports	Schedule E export	Schedule E-aligned rental transaction summary CSV
Tenant communication	No	Yes
Mobile app	iOS & Android	iOS; Android not announced
Maintenance requests	Basic	Requests, photos, status, and vendor workflow
Security-deposit records	Not specified	Yes

What Baselane Does Well

Landlord Banking

Baselane's standout feature is its integrated landlord bank account. You get a dedicated banking account designed for rental property finances — with virtual accounts for each property, automatic bookkeeping, and up to 4.19% APY on deposits (rates vary).

If you want to separate rental finances from personal banking, Baselane supports that workflow. Because its banking and software are integrated, transactions flowing through a Baselane account can be categorized in the same workspace.

Bookkeeping and Tax Reporting

Like Stessa, Baselane has strong financial tracking. Transactions are auto-categorized into rental-specific categories, and you can generate Schedule E-ready tax reports. For landlords whose primary pain point is accounting and tax prep, this is valuable.

Modern Interface

Baselane has a clean, modern UI that's notably better than older platforms like Avail. The dashboard provides quick visibility into cash flow, upcoming rent, and recent transactions.

Where Baselane Falls Short

Per-Use Fees Undermine the "Free" Promise

This is the core issue. Baselane's free tier is genuinely free for basic rent collection and bookkeeping. But the moment you need to screen a tenant, create a lease, or get an e-signature — you're paying. And not small amounts.

$24.99 for a single tenant screening report is steep when services like SmartMove charge $25 for the same TransUnion report. The $5 e-signature fee is particularly frustrating when free e-signature tools exist everywhere.

No Zelle Tracking

Baselane handles rent collection via ACH through its banking platform. If your tenants prefer to pay via Zelle — and in 2026, the majority do — Baselane can't automatically match those payments. You'll see the deposits in your Baselane bank account, but you'll need to manually reconcile who sent what.

Banking Lock-In

Baselane works best when you use their banking product. If you want to keep your existing bank account and just use Baselane for management, the experience is less integrated. The bookkeeping auto-categorization, in particular, works better with Baselane's own bank account than with external accounts connected via Plaid.

This creates a subtle lock-in: the more you use Baselane banking, the harder it is to leave. Your rent payments flow through their accounts, your bookkeeping is tied to their categorization, and switching means re-setting up everything.

No Tenant Communication Tools

Baselane doesn't offer built-in messaging or SMS communication with tenants. For day-to-day management — maintenance coordination, lease reminders, general communication — you're still using your personal phone or a separate tool.

What Rentlane Does Well

Predictable Pricing

Rentlane's iOS plan is $8.99/month for portfolios of up to 20 units. It is a monthly plan, with no annual plan yet. Join early access for iOS availability updates.

Reviewable direct-payment records

Rentlane keeps bank transfers, checks, Zelle, and Venmo in one reviewable ledger. Tenants pay landlords directly; Rentlane records the payment but does not move it. Eligible connected-account details can support a suggested match for landlord review, and manual entry remains available.

Lease Signing by Text

Rentlane uses DocuSeal to send signing links by text or email. Tenants can review and sign from the link, while the landlord keeps the signing activity with the rest of the rental record.

All-in-One Management

Rentlane brings payment records, signing links, maintenance requests, tenant communication, expense categorization, cash-basis property and portfolio P&L, security-deposit records, and Schedule E-aligned CSV export into one workflow for landlords managing up to 20 units.

Where Rentlane Falls Short

No Banking Product

Rentlane is not a landlord bank account. It records payments received through the landlord's existing accounts; it does not hold or transfer rent. If virtual sub-accounts and integrated banking are your priority, Baselane is the closer fit.

Less Mature Accounting

Rentlane focuses on rental recordkeeping rather than full accounting. It categorizes expenses, shows cash-basis P&L by property and portfolio, records security deposits, and exports a Schedule E-aligned rental transaction summary CSV. It does not file taxes or automate depreciation, so landlords who need those workflows may prefer Baselane, Stessa, or a CPA-led system.

Early access availability

Rentlane's iOS workflow is available through early access. Join the list for availability updates; landlords who need a public product today should choose an existing platform.

Who Should Use Baselane?

• Landlords who want integrated banking. If a dedicated landlord bank account with auto-bookkeeping is your top priority, Baselane's banking product is unique.
• Low-turnover landlords. If your tenants rarely change, the per-use fees for screening and leases won't add up as fast.
• Finance-focused investors. If you need detailed financial analytics and tax-ready reports, Baselane's accounting features are strong.

Who Should Use Rentlane?

• Cost-conscious landlords. If you want a clear monthly price, Rentlane's iOS plan is easy to budget.
• Landlords with turnover. If you sign leases regularly, keeping signing links, payment records, and maintenance in one workflow can simplify turnover.
• Landlords accepting direct payments. Rentlane keeps bank transfers, checks, Zelle, and Venmo in a reviewable ledger, with manual entry available.
• Landlords who want one workflow. Rentlane brings payment records, signing links, maintenance, tenant communication, expense categorization, and rental financial summaries together on iOS.

The Bottom Line

Baselane is a good product — especially its banking features. But calling it "free" requires an asterisk. The per-use fees for screening ($24.99), leases ($10), and e-signatures ($5) mean you'll spend $90-270+ per year on a "free" platform if you have any turnover at all.

Rentlane's iOS plan is $8.99/month for portfolios up to 20 units, with monthly billing and no annual plan yet. For landlords with recurring turnover, compare that monthly price with Baselane's per-use charges across the features you actually need.

Choose the platform that matches your priorities. If it's banking, Baselane. If it's management with predictable costs, Rentlane.