Comparison
The Lessor vs Avail
Avail, now part of Realtor.com, is a strong free platform for DIY landlords — unlimited units on the free tier and lawyer-reviewed, state-specific leases. The Lessor takes a different trade: fewer listing and screening features, far deeper accounting, and a transfer fee your tenant does not have to carry.
Avail figures below are their published list prices as of September 2026. Check their site before deciding — pricing changes.
What Avail does well
- Unlimited units on the free plan, where The Lessor's free plan covers one property with up to two units.
- State-specific, lawyer-reviewed lease templates with locally generated clauses and disclosures.
- Listing syndication to Realtor.com, Zumper, PadMapper, Apartment List and others.
- Tenant-initiated TransUnion credit, criminal and eviction screening.
Where The Lessor wins
Your tenant is not charged per transfer
On Avail's free plan tenants pay $2.50 for every ACH rent payment; waiving it requires Unlimited Plus at $9 per unit per month. On The Lessor the bank transfer costs 0.8% capped at $5, and you can absorb it per lease so the tenant pays nothing.
Books, not just income and expense tracking
Avail tracks income and expenses. The Lessor keeps a real double-entry ledger with a P&L, balance sheet, trial balance, fixed-asset depreciation and loan amortization — included free.
Flat pricing, not per unit
Avail Unlimited Plus is $9 per unit per month, so ten units is $90. The Lessor is $39.99 a month for up to 25 units.
Commercial property support
CAM reconciliation, rent roll, aging and sales tax for commercial leases. Avail is residential only.
Side by side
| The Lessor | Avail | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $0, then $14.99/month flat | $0, Unlimited Plus $9 per unit/month |
| Free plan size | 2 properties, up to 4 units | Unlimited units |
| Tenant bank-transfer fee | 0.8% capped at $5; landlord can absorb it | $2.50 per transfer on the free plan |
| Card payment fee | 2.9% + $0.30, debit only, tenant's choice | 3.5% on all plans |
| Accounting depth | Double-entry books, P&L, balance sheet, trial balance | Income and expense tracking |
| Fixed assets, depreciation, loans | Yes | No |
| Listing syndication | No | Yes |
| Commercial property support | Yes | No |
Who should not switch
- You have more than two units and want to pay nothing. Avail's free tier is unlimited; ours covers one property with up to two units.
- State-specific lease templates are your main reason for using software. Avail's lease library is more thorough.
- You rely on listing syndication to fill vacancies — The Lessor does not list rentals.
Questions people ask
Try it on one property before you move anything
Free forever on your first two properties. No credit card required.