15 min readSoftware gave real estate agents and property management teams a competitive advantage in the early 2000s, but not anymore. In today’s real estate world, commercial property management software is essential to stay organized, compliant, and productive. The real estate software market is estimated to reach $28.53 billion by 2031.
The top commercial property management software will streamline your workload, simplify communication, and help you make better decisions. It will also save you numerous hours each week and give you space to focus on important tasks.
This article explores the best commercial property management software to help you gain better control of your workload and grow your portfolio.
What is commercial property management software?
Property management software includes multiple features to help those involved with property management do just that-manage properties. Depending on your needs, it can help with tenants, leases, maintenance, financial management, and much more.
There are countless all-in-one tools for property management. However, commercial property management software for real estate tends to be more expensive. That’s because commercial properties can be more complex to manage and additional features are often required.
Why commercial management software is more complex:
- Lots of parties are involved in commercial property management. Property managers, management companies, landlords, stakeholders, investors, and others regularly share information.
- More advanced features are needed to manage accounting, finance, marketing, tenant and lease management, maintenance, expenses, vendor management, etc.
- High-value investments require in-depth planning and analysis, so commercial property software tends to have more advanced tools to help you make better decisions.
Leading commercial property management software is typically cloud-based. One of the advantages of cloud-based software is you don’t need to download it. Cloud-based software is ideal for those in real estate who are always on the go. Access your account from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, knowing your data is stored securely in the cloud.
Most commercial property management software pricing is tiered, with a monthly subscription fee. Some commercial property management software will have a mobile app, too. This adds convenience so you can manage properties wherever you are.
Why should property managers use commercial property management software?
If you don’t use best commercial property management software, you’re left juggling platforms, repeating tedious tasks, and spending way too much time in your email. It’s a fractured way of working that keeps you stuck in reactive mode with little time to explore new opportunities and grow.
Commercial management software well and truly revolutionized the industry.
The best commercial property management software helps you:
- Save time: You can save countless hours with property management software for commercial use as you won’t need to switch between different platforms to complete tasks. (Say goodbye to endless password resets, too!)
- Save money: Best Commercial property management software can save you money through improved financial management, faster repairs, and better tenant retention.
- Boost productivity: The best commercial property management software lets you complete many tasks from one platform. You can boost productivity even further with CRM integrations that push client updates and new leads to your CRM system.
- Improved organization: Store important documents in one centralized platform to make them accessible for all parties involved.
- Fluid communication: A shared portal, calendars, and email notifications keep everyone in the loop.
- Better tenant experience: Automated invoices and convenient online portals give tenants greater transparency and convenience.
- Reduced risk of legal issues: Compliance tracking tools and centralized storage help you stay aware of compliance to avoid unwanted legal trouble.
- Make data-backed decisions: Real-time data and finance tools help you make decisions based on data. Your software for commercial property management may also alert you to insights that could boost revenue.
- See where you stand with real-time visibility: Integrating systems gives you synchronized visibility, so you always know where you stand with a single source of truth.
- Scalability: Significantly reducing the workflow and making better decisions reduces the growing pains of scaling. Some of the best commercial property management software featured in this article have fantastic education centers to help you keep learning as you explore new ground.
Who uses commercial property management software?
Property managers, property owners, asset managers, real estate firms, and brokerages are the ones who pay for it and use the management features. They will use the software for commercial property management to manage lease agreements, send invoices, track finances, view reports, and more.
Tenants, leasing agents, accountants and bookkeepers, maintenance teams, and vendors also use the software. For example, tenants will access the electronic invoices and portals, while leasing agents will use the software to schedule showings.
The 10 best commercial property management software.
1. DoorLoop
DoorLoop’s interface is easy to get to grips with and has an extensive list of features to help you manage and grow your property portfolio.
DoorLoop has plenty of 5-star reviews across Capterra, Trustpilot, and G2, which makes it a popular choice for commercial property managers.
It also has many resources to help you keep learning. You can access blogs, webinars, podcasts, legal guides, marketing trends, and more.
Customers praise it for:
- Helpful and speedy customer service
- A tidy and intuitive interface
- A minimal learning curve
Customers criticize it for:
- Expense procedures could be improved
- Being quite expensive if you have 1-3 properties
DoorLoop’s pricing:
- Starter – $59 per month
- Pro – $119 per month
- Premium – $169
2. AppFolio
AppFolio is another favorite in the property management space. It’s primarily known for its accounting and advanced tenant features, such as insurance and screening.
Lately, AppFolio has made some noise with its impressive AI assistant, Lisa. Lisa can answer queries 24/7, so leasing teams are only contacted when needed.
Customers praise it for:
- Listening to customer feedback
- Great training resources
- Quick responses to questions
Customers criticize it for:
- No open API, so integrations are limited
- Costs are quite high for small portfolios
AppFolio pricing:
- Prices aren’t listed.
3. Buildium
Buildium’s interface is intuitive and looks as sharp on mobile devices as on desktops. We particularly liked its lease management and automation features; both were easy to set up.
Communication is a pleasure, too. Interacting with lessees, owners, and vendors via the portal is effortless.
Customers praise it for:
- Excellent customer service
- Automations are effective and easy to set up
- User-friendly
Customers criticize it for:
- Lack of customization options
- Expensive for small portfolios
Buildium pricing:
- Essential – starting at $55/month
- Growth – starting at $174/month
- Premium – starting at $375/month
4. Entrata
Entrata is a popular choice for office, retail, and mixed-use properties. It has a super clean and minimalistic interface to keep your mind focused on tasks.
Entrata’s lease workflows were one of our favorites of all the software we tried. Creating customized documents and reports is straightforward, allowing you to track and monitor information easily.
Customers praise it for:
- Easy navigation
- Great customer service
- No fluff
Customers criticize it for:
- Missing features
- Fine-tuning reports can take some time
Entrata’s pricing:
- Prices aren’t listed.
5. Rent Manager
Rent Manager is intuitive to use and the learning curve is minimal. Users enjoy its high level of customization, accounting, and finance management features. It’s also scalable as your portfolio grows.
Customers praise it for:
- Ease of use
- Fantastic educational resources
- Great customer support
Customers criticize it for:
- Customization can take time to master
- The mobile app isn’t as fluid as the desktop experience
Rent Manager’s pricing:
- Basic – $1.00 per unit/per month
- Plus – $1.50 per unit/per month
- Premium – $2.50 per unit/per month
6. VTS
Over 10 billion square feet of commercial space in the US is managed by VTS. The platform is geared towards leasing and asset management. It may not be as well-rounded as others on this list, but it’s popular for its business intelligence analytics and marketing features.
Customers praise it for:
- Helpful overviews and updates
- Ease of use
- Tracking deals functionality provides excellent visibility
Customers criticize it for:
- Interface doesn’t suit brokers so well
- Not enough tutorials
VTS pricing:
- Pricing isn’t listed.
7. CRESSblue
CRESSblue specializes in net lease properties. It offers expansive lease management features that make tracking terms, escalations, and renewals easy.
Its automated CAM (Common Area Maintenance) is also a big time-saver. It calculates charges for common area maintenance and other expenses, so you can bill confidently.
Customers praise it for:
- Workflow functionality
- Great filtering options
- Helpful customer service
Customers criticize for:
- Lengthy setup times
- Lack of additional training for large teams
CRESSblue pricing:
- Custom – use CRESSblue’s calculator to determine the cost.
8. Re-Leased
Re-Leased’s interface was one of our favorites on the list. Its color scheme is easy on the eye, and we had no trouble finding our way around.
Re-Leased has some fantastic finance reporting tools to analyze performance It also does a great job of training you at a gradual pace in the lead-up to your go-live date, too.
Customers praise it for:
- Continuous improvements
- Helpful customer service team
- Intuitive file storage that’s easy for all parties to find what they need
Customers criticize it for:
- A lack of integration options
- The accounting features take some getting used to
Re-Leased pricing:
- New starter – from $199 per month.
- Core – request pricing on the website.
- Pro – request pricing on the website.
9. MRI Commercial Management
MRI Commercial Management is renowned for its accounting and finance features. Usually, the financial features can be the hardest areas to navigate in property management platforms, but it’s straightforward with MRI.
It’s a pleasure navigating around the platform as it’s specifically made for commercial management. It’s a cloud-based tool like the others on this list, but there’s also an on-premise option.
Customers praise it for:
- Easy navigation
- Web and Windows versions available
- Great accounting and financing tools
Customers criticize it for:
- Lack of customization options
- The interface could be easier on the eye
MRI Commercial Management pricing:
- Prices aren’t listed.
10. Total Management
Total Management might be the easiest platform to use out of all the best commercial property management software on this list. Interface-wise, it doesn’t look as stylish as the others, but that’s a minor complaint.
Customers praise it for:
- User-friendly interface
- Good value for money
Customers criticize it for:
- Costs are pretty high for advanced features
- Training resources are lacking in some areas
Total Management pricing:
- Commercial – $2.50 per unit/per month
(Please note: Software companies frequently make updates and improvements based on customer feedback. Check recent reviews and visit the software providers’ websites to get the most current information about features, pricing, and user experiences.)
How to choose the right commercial property software?
There are nuances between all of the software for commercial property management featured in this article. You must be happy with your choice as you’ll spend many hours using it. Here are the steps we recommend you take to find the best commercial property management software for your needs:
Steps to find the best software for commercial property management
- List your immediate needs: Note all the features you require and separate your ‘must-haves’ from your ‘nice-to-haves’. If you still need to figure out what they are, list all of the regular tasks you’re looking for help with.
- List possible future needs: Anticipate what features you could need later down the road. Will more stakeholders and investors be involved? Will you need more advanced finance tools for forecasting? Note as many as you can think. This step could prevent you from switching to a different software later.
- Make a shortlist and do your research: Visit all of the software websites you’re considering to make sure they fit your needs. Check their reviews on Capterra, G2 Crowd, Trustpilot, and Software Advice for a balanced view.
- Start a free trial: Most commercial property management softwares will offer a free trial. Start trials with the ones that best match your current and future needs lists. Get comfy with the interfaces to see which one you enjoy using. If software providers don’t offer a free trial, look for a free demo to watch instead.
- Reach out to their customer service: Ask the customer service team for help during your free trial. The quality of help you receive should be a huge factor in your end decision. You’ll feel more confident with your software choice when you trust the support team.
- Make your choice: Now it’s over to you! Pick the commercial property management software that best meets your needs, feels good to use, and has a helpful customer service team.
- Suggest improvements: If there’s one feature you don’t enjoy using or you notice a software bug, always get in touch with your software provider. Commercial management software regularly makes updates to provide customers with a better experience. Your feedback also helps the software improve.
We may have listed 10 popular commercial real estate property management software, but the best software is the one that works for you and that you feel comfortable using day-to-day. And you only find that out by giving them a go.
Enjoy your free trials and the many benefits that come with commercial property management software. Your days are about to get a whole lot more productive!
Learn how SignMore can answer every phone call around the clock to help you capture more commercial property leads and grow. Book a free consultation today.
