YARDI vs APPFOLIO?

When it comes to Property Management Software solutions, two great options are Yardi Voyager and AppFolio. But which one is right for you?

Each property is unique. Which means the needs of property managers are always going to be contextual. Deciding which software to use to manage your leases, work orders, finances, and more, is not always a straightforward answer.

Two solutions (Yardi and AppFolio) are popular choices for many of our clients. While Yardi Voyager (the larger sibling in the Yardi family; if you want something smaller, sleeker, and less costly, check out Yardi Breeze) has the benefit of having a long history in the industry, AppFolio has the advantage of being the hot newcomer on the block.

If you’re trying to choose between Yardi and AppFolio, here is a brief list of how the two are different. (Alternatively, consider booking a free 30 minute consultation with our Subject Matter Experts to see what might be right for you!)

• FUNCTIONALITY & FEATURES

  It’s hard to compete with the sheer size of Yardi in terms of its comprehensive suite of solutions for property management. But AppFolio’s growing set of in-house features make it a better choice for many.

• Yardi Voyager

  • Industry leading suite of solutions for property management (both residential and commercial)

  • While suitable for smaller companies, excels at handling larger and multiple assets

• AppFolio

  • Full stack of in-house apps (eliminating need for 3rd party integrations)

  • Intuitive and simple to use

  • Ever growing list of features for this younger, newer software company

• ACCOUNTING & FINANCES

  While AppFolio has made gains to increase their accounting side of things, Yardi has the clear edge with the most robust accounting features.

  • Yardi Voyager

    • Robust capacity for custom reports

    • Industry leading accounting functionality

  • AppFolio

    • Automated reporting options

    • Single dashboard for ease of use (but lacks the depth of capacity found in Yardi)

• USER INTERFACE & EXPERIENCE

  AppFolio is the clear winner here. While Yardi offers a lot (in terms of functionality), most clients find AppFolio to be the best looking, easiest to use Property Management software on the market.

  • Yardi Voyager

    • Feature rich interface

    • Can be a rough learning curve

  • AppFolio

    • Most modern looking interface on the market

    • Easy to use; intuitive; great UI

• CUSTOMIZATION

  Yardi has the advantage as it offers myriad ways for clients to setup their system exactly as they need.

  • Yardi Voyager

    • High degree of customization

    • Users can tailor software to their specific needs

  • AppFolio

    • Less customization options

    • No API access

• INTEGRATIONS

  Since Yardi has been around longer, they’ve amassed a large number of third party integrations. However, many clients love how AppFolio has everything you need built in to the app—and they’re growing quickly!

  • Yardi Voyager

    • Known for its many integrations

    • Lots of third-party applications and services to utilize

  • AppFolio

    • AppFolio has a robust stack of applications built into its infrastructure for marketing, analytics, screening and more

• CUSTOMER SUPPORT

  If speed is what you’re looking for, consider AppFolio. If depth of knowledge is more your priority, consider Yardi.

  • Yardi Voyager

    • Great customer support with knowledgeable team members

    • Offers a lot of great training and support resources

  • AppFolio

    • Often is more efficient in response time and solution finding

    • Offers more affordable Support Solution

• COST

  While each situation is different (depending on client’s needs), generally speaking Yardi will cost more than AppFolio.

  • Yardi

    • Costs can be negotiated depending on client’s needs

    • Generally considered a significant investment (but you do get a lot for your money)

    • If cost is a concern, try out the smaller, sleeker version, Yardi Breeze

  • AppFolio

    • More competitive pricing than Yardi

    • Less features and functionality, but the price appeals to smaller companies

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Final Verdict?

In the end, while both software options provide excellent features and will handle all your property management needs, we tend to steer clients toward AppFolio for their ease of us, forward facing model, and growth potential.

However, if managing large properties is your situation, and you need more robust accounting features, then perhaps Yardi Voyager will do even better.

Ready to Choose the Right Software for You?

If you need more help deciding between Yardi or AppFolio for your Property Management Systems, schedule a free, no obligation 30 minute consultation with us today!