What Is TurboTenant?
TurboTenant is one of the most widely used free landlord platforms in the U.S. It offers online listings (syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Apartments.com, and others), tenant screening, online rent collection, lease creation, and basic maintenance tracking — all at no cost to the landlord on the free tier.
That "free" model is funded primarily by tenant-paid screening fees and payment processing charges. This works fine for many landlords, but creates some friction worth understanding before you sign up.
Bottom line up front: TurboTenant is an excellent choice if a $0/month landlord cost is your priority. It's well-built and feature-rich for a free tool. But the tenant-side fee model is a real trade-off, and landlords who've been burned by it — tenants who refuse to pay application fees, or who feel nickel-and-dimed on payment processing — often switch to a flat-rate paid alternative like LevelLandlord.
Pricing: Free, But There's a Catch
| Plan | Cost to Landlord | Tenant Screening Fee | ACH Fee (Tenant) | E-Signatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | $45–$55 per applicant (paid by tenant) | ~$2 per payment | Limited |
| Pro | $149/year ($12.42/mo) | ~$35–$45 (split or landlord can cover) | $0 (ACH free for tenants) | Unlimited |
The math is straightforward: if you're screening 3–4 applicants per vacancy and collecting rent from one tenant monthly, the tenant-facing fees can add up to real friction. Some applicants balk at paying $45+ for a screening report. And tenants who notice a $2 fee every time they pay rent may associate that irritation with you — even though TurboTenant is charging it.
The Pro plan at $149/year ($12.42/month) eliminates the ACH fee for tenants and gives landlords unlimited e-signatures, better accounting tools, and priority support. At that point, you're paying comparable to LevelLandlord's $10/month — and LevelLandlord offers state law news and AI lease analysis that TurboTenant doesn't.
Features: Genuinely Strong Where It Counts
Listing Syndication
One of TurboTenant's strongest features. Create a listing once and it syndicate to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Apartments.com, and a dozen smaller sites. For landlords who struggle to get tenant applications, this is meaningful reach. LevelLandlord and Avail offer listing tools but with fewer syndication partners.
Tenant Screening
TurboTenant's screening product is genuinely solid. You get a full credit report, background check, eviction history, and income verification in a single dashboard. Reports typically return within minutes. The free-tier model passes this cost to the applicant — standard in the industry but worth repeating here.
Online Rent Collection
Tenants can pay via ACH bank transfer or credit/debit card. ACH is free on the Pro plan; on the free plan tenants pay a small processing fee. Credit card payments carry a 3.49% fee (tenant-paid). Autopay is available on Pro. Funds deposit in 5–7 business days on ACH, which is slower than some competitors.
Lease Creation & E-Signatures
TurboTenant includes lease templates for every state. On the free tier, you can create and send leases but e-signature use is capped. Pro unlocks unlimited e-signatures. Lease storage and document management are functional, though the interface for managing existing leases is less polished than the listing and screening tools.
Maintenance Tracking
Tenants can submit maintenance requests through the portal with photos and descriptions. Landlords receive notifications and can track status. Basic, but it works for most landlords' needs.
What TurboTenant Doesn't Do
TurboTenant does not provide state-specific legal news or AI lease analysis. It doesn't have full accounting (no P&L reports, no Schedule E output). It doesn't offer a dedicated legal compliance section. For landlords who want to stay on top of rent control laws, eviction procedure changes, or local ordinances, TurboTenant leaves you on your own.
Pro tip: If you're already on the TurboTenant Pro plan at ~$12/month, you'd be paying roughly the same as LevelLandlord at $10/month. It's worth comparing what each platform includes at that price point before deciding.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuinely free for landlords on the base plan
- Strong listing syndication to major rental sites
- Solid tenant screening (credit, background, eviction)
- Large user community and extensive documentation
- Established brand — tenants recognize and trust it
- Pro plan ($149/yr) adds meaningful features
- Works for landlords with any number of units
Cons
- Free tier shifts fees to tenants — creates friction
- ACH processing is slower (5–7 days) vs. competitors
- No state-specific legal news or compliance tools
- No AI lease analysis
- Free e-signatures are limited
- Pro plan cost approaches LevelLandlord's flat rate
- No dedicated accounting or tax reporting
Who Should Use TurboTenant?
TurboTenant makes the most sense for landlords who:
- Need $0/month software and understand the tenant-fee trade-off
- Are actively advertising vacancies and need strong listing syndication
- Have tenants who are accustomed to paying application fees
- Want a well-documented platform with an active user community
- Don't need state law news or AI lease tools
If you've been on TurboTenant free and are upgrading to Pro, this is a good moment to compare it against LevelLandlord — you may find you prefer LevelLandlord's flat pricing and legal tools for a similar monthly cost.
Our Verdict: 4.2/5 — Good, With a Notable Caveat
TurboTenant is one of the best-built free landlord platforms available. If $0/month is a hard requirement, it's a strong choice. But the tenant-fee model is a genuine trade-off, and once you start factoring in Pro plan costs, the pricing advantage over flat-rate paid platforms narrows significantly. Landlords who value a cleaner tenant relationship and want legal/compliance tools should consider LevelLandlord or Avail instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TurboTenant really free?
Yes — free for landlords. Tenants pay for screening reports ($45–$55 per applicant) and a small processing fee on ACH payments (~$2/transaction). The Pro plan ($149/year) eliminates the tenant ACH fee and adds features like unlimited e-signatures and autopay.
What does TurboTenant Pro include?
TurboTenant Pro includes unlimited lease e-signatures, free ACH payments for tenants, autopay scheduling, enhanced accounting features, and priority customer support. At $149/year it's $12.42/month — comparable to some flat-rate paid alternatives.
How many units can I manage with TurboTenant?
TurboTenant has no hard cap on unit count for either plan. It scales reasonably well for landlords with larger portfolios, unlike some platforms that change pricing models at certain thresholds.
Is TurboTenant better than Avail?
For listing syndication and screening, TurboTenant has a slight edge. For interface design and tenant experience, Avail is comparable. Both have free tiers with tenant-side fees. See our Avail review for a full side-by-side assessment.
What are the best TurboTenant alternatives?
The top alternatives are LevelLandlord (flat $10/mo, best for small landlords), Avail (free tier + $7/unit paid), and Rentec Direct (more robust, $45+/mo). See our full TurboTenant alternatives guide.