AppFolio Pricing Breakdown (2026): What You Actually Pay

AppFolio

$280-$400/mo min + $6-8/unit/mo

per month

BoardStack

$20–$99/mo

per month, no setup fee

AppFolio Pricing Tiers

Tier	Price	Includes
Core	$280/mo minimum + $1.40/unit/mo	Online rent/dues collection, Maintenance request tracking, Owner and resident portals, Basic accounting
Plus	$375/mo minimum + $3/unit/mo	Everything in Core, Leasing and screening, AI leasing assistant, Advanced reporting
Max	$1,500/mo minimum	Everything in Plus, Revenue management, Priority support, Custom integrations

Hidden Costs You Won't See on the Pricing Page

⚠ 50-unit minimum: communities under 50 units cannot use AppFolio
⚠ Setup and onboarding fee varies by account size
⚠ Per-unit charges apply on top of the monthly minimum, not instead of it
⚠ AppFolio Invest (for owner portals) is a separate add-on with separate pricing

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How AppFolio pricing works

AppFolio charges a monthly minimum plus a per-unit fee. You pay whichever is higher: the minimum or the per-unit calculation. For most HOAs, the per-unit calculation exceeds the minimum once communities reach a certain size.

At 100 units on the Core tier: $280 minimum vs. $1.40 x 100 = $140. The minimum applies. At 200 units on the Plus tier: $375 minimum vs. $3 x 200 = $600. The per-unit calculation applies.

The professional management company assumption

AppFolio’s pricing model assumes a management company that manages dozens of properties and can spread the minimum across multiple clients. A management company with 50 client HOAs paying the Core minimum splits $280 across all of them, netting $5.60 per HOA per month.

A single self-managed HOA pays the full minimum. That is the structural mismatch.

Feature cost that does not translate to HOA value

The Plus and Max tiers include leasing automation, AI leasing assistants, and revenue management tools. These are rental property management features. A homeowners association does not lease units. Paying for Plus or Max adds cost without adding HOA-relevant functionality.

What a 100-unit self-managed HOA actually pays

Cost component	Monthly
AppFolio Core minimum	$280
Per-unit fee (100 x $1.40)	$140
Effective monthly cost	$280 (minimum applies)
Annual cost	$3,360

Compare to BoardStack at $49/mo ($588/year) for the same community size with reserve fund tracking and HOA-specific compliance tools included.

	AppFolio	BoardStack
Monthly cost	$280-$400/mo min + $6-8/unit/mo	$20–$99/mo
Setup fee	Varies	$0
Contract	Varies	Month-to-month

AppFolio Pricing Tiers
Complete pricing breakdown for AppFolio
Plan	Price	Key Features	Best For
Core	$280/mo min + $1.40/unit/mo	Online payments, maintenance tracking, basic accounting	Management companies with 200+ units
Plus	$375/mo min + $3/unit/mo	AI leasing assistant, advanced reporting, eSignature	Mid-size management portfolios
Max	$1,500/mo minimum	Revenue management, priority support, custom integrations	Large professional management firms

AppFolio requires a minimum of 50 units to use the platform, making it unavailable to smaller self-managed HOAs.

Source: AppFolio pricing page

AppFolio Core starts at $280/mo minimum plus $1.40/unit/mo, putting a 100-unit HOA at $280/mo (minimum applies).

Source: AppFolio pricing page

How much does AppFolio cost for a small HOA?

AppFolio requires at least 50 units and charges a $280/mo minimum on the Core tier plus $1.40/unit/mo. A 75-unit HOA pays $280/mo minimum (since $1.40 x 75 = $105, below the minimum). A 200-unit HOA pays $280/mo on Core.

Are there hidden fees with AppFolio?

AppFolio charges a per-unit fee on top of the monthly minimum, not instead of it. There is also an onboarding fee that varies by account size, and AppFolio Invest (owner portals) is a separate add-on with separate pricing.

Is AppFolio available for self-managed HOAs?

AppFolio enforces a 50-unit minimum and its sales and onboarding process assumes a professional management company is running the software. Self-managed volunteer boards are not AppFolio's target customer.

What does AppFolio cost for a 75-unit HOA?

On the Core tier: $280/mo minimum + $1.40 x 75 = $385/mo. On the Plus tier: $375/mo minimum + $3 x 75 = $600/mo. These are base costs before any add-ons.

Does AppFolio have a setup fee?

AppFolio does not publish a standard setup fee, but onboarding for new accounts typically involves a paid implementation process. The actual cost depends on account size and data migration complexity.

Is AppFolio worth it for a small HOA?

AppFolio is designed for professional management companies managing multiple properties. The minimum pricing, 50-unit threshold, and feature set oriented around rental management make it a poor fit for single self-managed HOAs.

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Best AppFolio Alternative for Self-Managed HOAs

AppFolio costs $280-$400/mo minimum and requires 50+ units. Self-managed HOA boards pay for property management features they do not need. BoardStack starts at $20/mo with no unit minimums.

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