AppFolio vs Hemlane

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Our analysts compared AppFolio vs Hemlane based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Property Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

AppFolio is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks. It caters primarily to property managers and real estate professionals, offering a suite of tools that facilitate the management of residential and commercial properties. One of the key benefits of AppFolio is its ability to enhance operational efficiency through features such as online rent payments, maintenance request tracking, and automated property listing. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and the way it simplifies daily management tasks, making it a popular choice among property management professionals. When compared to similar products, AppFolio stands out for its robust functionality and scalability, making it suitable for managing portfolios of various sizes. Pricing for AppFolio typically involves a monthly subscription fee, which may vary based on the number of units managed, emphasizing its flexibility and adaptability to different business needs.

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Hemlane helps owners, agents, managers and tenants manage properties in the long run. Users can advertise properties, automate communication, access credit reports and store contracts. It provides applicant tracking, tenant screening, lease management, online rent and financials, and property maintenance. Customers can choose from three pricing options and take advantage of a one-month free trial.
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$1.49/Unit, Monthly
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$30 Monthly
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Chromebook
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On-Premise
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On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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FAQ
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Increase Visibility: Integrate and manage every property, resident and accounting data from a single platform. Track leads, leases and profitability from the dashboard. 
  • Streamline Communication: Maintain clear lines of communication throughout the organization and record interactions for easy year-end audits. Send and receive emails and text messages through a unified inbox. 
  • Spend Less Time on Admin Work: Automate recurring administrative tasks like rent collection, invoice generation, vacancy posting, utility tracking, report generation, bookkeeping and more. Streamline maintenance activities with smart workflows and AI. 
  • Embedded Intelligence: Leverage AI for tasks like analyzing rent structure, gathering performance insights, assisting prospects through the leasing process and streamlining screening and maintenance activities. 
  • Expedite Turnover Cycles: Always keep properties ready-to-rent and shorten the move-out and move-in cycles through regular updates on every maintenance and vacancy task. 
  • Promote Efficiency and Accountability: Minimize human errors and improve efficiency by automating operations. Promote accountability for activities with role-based user access and itemized history of tracked changes. 
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  • Simplify Administration: Manage marketing, leasing, renting and maintenance workflows from a unified platform. 
  • Streamline Maintenance: Specify service providers for each task and automatically issue work orders whenever tenants put in requests. 
  • Reach More Prospects: Advertise properties on popular listing channels by designing a website and using a channel manager. 
  • Local Support: Owners can connect with local and licensed property managers for assistance during turnovers, showings, move-ins, setting rent and inspections. 
  • Find Reliable Tenants: Check every prospect’s credit and background score through TransUnion. Receive intelligent insights based on reports. 
  • Improve Tenant Experience: Allow tenants to pay rent, view leases and issue maintenance work orders digitally. Set up automatic payments and track work progress. 
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  • Communication: Maintain a flat organization with clear communication between team members, managers, landlords and tenants. 
    • Individual Portals: Provide unique communication portals to associated parties based on their role. Tenants can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, interact with managers and view lease documents. Enables managers to communicate with multiple owners, issue work orders and send notifications and updates in bulk. Owners can track property-specific performance reports, assign tasks and transfer funds. 
    • Document Library: Maintain a centralized library of documents, leases and tenant information. Set role-based access permissions for each document. 
    • Board Member Management: Commercial property businesses can schedule board meetings, conduct polls on invoices and architectural requests, track votes and share documents and reports. 
    • Tenant Insurance: Tenants can submit proof of renter insurance or buy insurance provided by the vendor. Manage each policy and its maturity from the dashboard. 
    • Emails and Surveys: Email surveys, updates and notifications in bulk or send individually based on requirements. Offers unique surveys and text templates. 
    • Mobile App: Access the platform via any device and promote remote workflows. 
  • Accounting and Reporting: Gain visibility and make informed decisions faster. 
    •  Automate transaction recording and property-specific bookkeeping. 
    •  Offers CAM tracking and reconciling modules for commercial properties. 
    •  Use AI and machine learning to read PDF invoices from vendors, identify key information and automate accounts payable. 
    •  Leverage over 80 report templates and automate recurring report generation. Every template is customizable and updated frequently. 
    •  Customize the dashboard with real-time data visualizations and receive AI-driven performance insights. 
    •  Supports integration with personal banks and digital wallets to unify renting, accounting and reporting workflows. 
    •  Customize late fee processes. Set personalized rules in bulk or case-by-case waivers. 
    •  Manage multiple tenant accounts, track lease lifecycle and refund deposits directly from escrow. 
  • Marketing and Leasing: Generate leads, schedule showings, design leases and screen prospects from the dashboard. 
    • AI Leasing Assistant: Use an AI chatbot to automate property showing appointments, qualify leads according to set parameters, cross-sell units and answer FAQs. Respond to customer queries 24/7 through texts or emails. 
    • Omnichannel Marketing: Syndicate portfolio on multiple internet listing services (ILS) and manage every listing from the dashboard. Get real-time notifications upon each engagement and generate custom guest cards to track prospects. 
    • Personal Website: Design a personalized website with brand color and logo for portfolio marketing. Available at an extra cost. 
    • Rent Analysis: Retain a competitive edge by comparing rental prices of neighboring units to determine the best price for marketed properties. 
    • Virtual Showings: Accommodate prospects’ needs by scheduling and running live virtual tours of listed properties. Supports integrations with PropTech like smart locks and HVACs to facilitate self-guided property tours by prospects. 
    • Vacancy Management: Consolidate vacancy postings and tasks, view current status, and market units on multiple ILS from the unified dashboard. 
    • Tenant Screening: Screen every applicant’s credit score, eviction history, income verification and criminal record via TransUnion. Property managers can either pay for the reports or charge applicants. 
    • Leasing Hub: Design custom leases with personalized clauses and allow applicants to eSign them from anywhere. Track every lease lifecycle and set defaults for automatically updating lease dates, rent structures and statuses upon expiration. 
    • Student Housing: Supports lease and tenant management based on beds occupied. 
  • Maintenance: Streamline maintenance processes with AI and intelligent workflows. 
    • Smart Maintenance: Use the mobile app to receive maintenance requests, issue work orders and track progress. Set default rules to automatically dispatch pre-approved vendors. Accurately calculate the shared fee for common area maintenance and send invoices to renters. 
    • Vendor Onboarding: Vendors can access the platform, receive work orders, share status and send invoices. Automate bills payable and maintain records of work done for a clear audit trail. 
    • Utility Management: Track and charge each renter based on actual consumption and automate utility invoice processing. Use analytics to identify and fix leaks. 
    • Mobile Inspections: Perform mobile inspections, log issues and expedite turnovers. 
    • Auditing Center: View an itemized history of every activity and track changes made by team members and vendors. Use unique filters to identify and correct mistakes quickly. 
    • 24/7 Maintenance Contact Center: Deal with tenant calls, dispatch pre-approved vendors and input data directly to the user database. 
  • Team Management: Onboard unlimited team members, define role-based access levels and manage each person’s workflow. 
    • Training: Embed training manuals into the software to onboard new hires more easily. Centralize policies and procedures to ensure associates follow protocols while performing tasks. 
    • Task Management: Set tasks, assign staff and monitor progress with an interactive calendar. Team members can share tasks and customize workflows. 
    • Universal Search: Use the search bar to quickly navigate and find documents, records or data. 
  • Integrations: Supports integrations with personal marketing websites and third-party applications, including BlueMoon, CodeBox, Engrain, MatterPort and CIT. 
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  • Marketing: Increase virtual visibility of portfolios and maximize lead conversion using these tools. 
    • Listing Syndication: Advertise properties on more than 30 rental websites and track which sources provide the most qualified leads. 
    • Listing Management: Make changes to property details, pricing and availability from the dashboard, which will reflect on every website. Prepare for turnover based on upcoming vacancy notifications. 
    • Professional Website: Design and devise professional listing websites to attract renters and promote business brands. 
  • Applicant Management: Streamline the application process with the following: 
    • Rental Showings: Screen and hire local licensed agents for property showings. Pre-screen prospects, send reminders and follow up on them. 
    • Tenant Leads: Track the contact information and qualifications of every prospect. Follow up with leads using custom emails or phone calls to push conversion. 
    • Application Form: Provide prospects with free application forms and receive self-declared information about conviction and eviction history, pets, parking requirements, contact details and employment history. 
  • Tenant Screening: Find the most suitable tenants through a comprehensive screening of credit report and score and background check for criminal or eviction history. Share information with tenants to maintain transparency. Choose the best tenant according to intelligent recommendations. 
  • Leases: Receive reminders about lease renewals and notify managers and owners about tenants’ subsequent actions. Store unlimited documents, leases and inspection photos, along with communications with tenants and prospects, in a cloud-based location for easy review during leasing. 
  • Payments: Add and verify unlimited bank accounts and accept rental payments via ACH transfers, credit and debit cards. Send automatic requests for late fees as per lease agreements. Track income and expenses through manual entries, documents and receipts. 
  • Maintenance Repairs: Streamline communications with a 24/7 US-based team receiving maintenance requests, coupled with photos and video documentation. Manage contact information of local professionals, assign work orders when needed and update tenants on work status from the dashboard. 
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Product Ranking

#1

among all
Property Management Software

#35

among all
Property Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

93
70
92
68
100
53
100
67
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Business Operations
Dashboards and Reporting
Leasing
Marketing
Platform Capabilities
Leasing

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

AppFolio
Hemlane
+ Add Product + Add Product
Accounting & Financial Management Business Operations Dashboards And Reporting Leasing Maintenance Marketing Platform Capabilities 92 100 100 97 86 93 93 68 53 67 89 83 31 79 0 25 50 75 100
88%
8%
4%
73%
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27%
100%
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88%
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86%
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86%
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67%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

75%
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1847 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 252 reviews
92%
of users recommend this product

AppFolio has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 1847 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

97%
of users recommend this product

Hemlane has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 97% when considering 252 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.7 (14)
5.0 (2)
4.6 (187)
5.0 (11)
n/a
4.83 (126)
4.6 (1640)
4.8 (113)
4.2 (6)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated AppFolio and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall Property Management Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Business Operations, Dashboards and Reporting and Integrations and Extensibility. AppFolio stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

Analysts' Pick Award
User Favorite Award
Business Operations Award
Dashboards and Reporting Award
Integrations and Extensibility Award

Hemlane stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Maintenance Management: 89% of users discussing this aspect said that they saved time with smart maintenance workflows.
Workflow Localization: According to 96% of users who reviewed this benefit, the software is feature-rich and localizes accounting, marketing and management workflows.
Ease of Use: It’s an intuitive platform that doesn’t require technical knowledge for beginners, as mentioned by 95% of users reviewing the user interface.
Collaboration: It provides an efficient centralized communication hub, according to 100% of reviews on native interactions.
Universal Search Bar: All the reviews on the search bar noted that it’s easy to locate documents and data throughout the organization.
Mobile App: Users can perform every major function remotely via the app, according to 88% of users reviewing the mobile app.
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Streamlined Rent Collection: Hemlane automates rent collection, late fees, and payment tracking, simplifying the process for both landlords and tenants.
Comprehensive Tenant Screening: The platform offers thorough tenant screening, including credit, criminal, and eviction history checks, to help landlords select reliable tenants.
Efficient Maintenance Management: Hemlane facilitates maintenance requests, allowing tenants to submit requests online and landlords to track progress and communicate with vendors.
Financial Tracking and Reporting: The platform provides tools for tracking income and expenses, generating reports, and exporting data for tax purposes.
Marketing and Leasing Tools: Hemlane assists with marketing rental properties, listing them on popular rental websites, and managing tenant inquiries and applications.
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Integrations: It doesn’t support unique integrations with third-party software, according to 89% of reviews on backend connectivity.
Reporting: Reports generated through the platform lack customizations, as observed by 73% of reviews on the analytics module.
Accounting: Lack of automatic bank feeds and weekly recurring transactions and recording expenses without creating bills hinder smooth accounting, according to 57% of users reviewing the accounting module.
Customer Support: 67% of users mentioning customer support said that they were not satisfied with the support response time.
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Limited Functionality for Property Managers: Hemlane's software may not be robust enough for professional property managers due to limitations in accounting features, reporting capabilities, and work order management tools.
Customer Service Issues: Some users have reported challenges in reaching Hemlane's customer support, experiencing long wait times and difficulties getting timely assistance.
Pricing Structure: The platform's pricing structure, which includes per-unit fees and potential add-on costs, can become expensive for landlords with larger portfolios, especially when compared to competitors with more straightforward pricing models.
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AppFolio is an all-encompassing platform covering every aspect of property management. According to reviews, it’s an intuitive platform that localizes business processes and offers unique collaboration tools and a mobile app. Along with AI-embedded maintenance workflows, the universal search bar is one of its standout features. However, reviews noted that it’s difficult to understand a variety of nuanced features without proper training. Also, due to no open API, businesses should be wary of their existing software stack requiring integration with the platform. In conclusion, AppFolio is a robust management platform with various advanced features to support every kind of property. But the high cost, hit-or-miss support suite and scarce training resources can make it inconvenient for single landlords and managers with smaller portfolios.

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Over the past year, Hemlane has garnered a reputation for streamlining rental management, but it's not without its quirks. Users frequently praise its comprehensive suite of features, particularly tenant screening, online rent collection, and maintenance management tools, which significantly reduce the time and effort involved in property oversight. The platform's user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it accessible even for those with limited tech experience. However, some users have expressed concerns about occasional customer support delays and limited customization options for certain features. Hemlane distinguishes itself by offering a hybrid approach that combines technology with human support. Users can opt for a DIY approach or leverage Hemlane's network of local agents for tasks like property showings and tenant placement. This flexibility caters to a wide range of landlords, from hands-on individuals to those seeking a more hands-off experience. While Hemlane may not be the most budget-friendly option on the market, its comprehensive features and hybrid model make it a compelling choice for landlords with multiple properties or those seeking to streamline their rental management processes. Keep in mind that the online landscape is constantly evolving, so it's always a good idea to check the latest reviews and updates before making a decision.

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