AppFolio vs DoorLoop (2025 Comparison)
With the help of our in-house editorial team, our platform’s members and external subject matter experts, this comprehensive comparison of DoorLoop vs AppFolio became possible and available for free to those considering these solutions!
In this comparison, we evaluated DoorLoop vs AppFolio in terms of features, plans, pricing and other important aspects to help our readers make a more educated purchase decision.
Overview
DoorLoop and AppFolio are two of the most popular property management software solutions for real estate investors and property management companies.
The platforms feature all the essentials of a good rental property management tool, including tenant application and screening, workflow automation, team communication tools, maintenance management, and integrated two-way communication between landlords and tenants.
Additionally, the software solutions come with mobile apps for convenient access.
DoorLoop has a dedicated app for landlords, while AppFolio Property Manager features separate mobile apps for landlords and tenants.
User Type
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| User type |
|
|
| Optimal experience level | Newbie and intermediate-level landlords/property managers | Newbie, intermediate-level, and enterprise-level landlords/property managers |
| Business size | Small to mid-size teams | Mid-size to large property management companies |
Features
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Maximum portfolio size | Up to 5,000 units | Up to 20,000 units |
| Property marketing website | Yes | Yes |
| Rental listing syndication | Yes | Yes |
| Lease signing and management | Yes | Yes |
| Native CRM | Yes | Yes |
| Property management accounting software | Yes | Yes |
| Team management tools | Yes | Yes |
| Landlord rent collection software | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant application and screening software | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance request tracking and management | Yes | Yes |
| HOA/COA management software | Yes | Yes |
| Landlord-tenant communication | Yes | Yes |
| Zapier-powered integrations | Yes | No |
| API integration | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app for landlords/property managers | Yes | Yes |
| Tenant mobile app | No | Yes |
| Renters’ insurance | Yes | Yes |
Similarities
Marketing Tools
DoorLoop and AppFolio enable you to advertise your rental listings to the general public without relying on a third-party service.
Both property management tools are equipped with the following marketing features:
- Website builders for real estate investors that let you build property marketing sites from scratch, with built-in, customizable themes and a hosting service
- Rental listing syndication to popular third-party platforms such as Zillow, so you can advertise your vacancies to wider audiences and fill your properties faster
Workflow Automation
In both DoorLoop and AppFolio, property management software for landlords features robust automation functions across every aspect of your business.
By using the platforms, you can:
- Add team members and adjust permissions
- Create and delegate tasks to team members
- Set autotriggers that instantly initiate workflows to begin when certain events occur
- Track the status of all workflow processes within one view
- Audit logging to track changes made to specific pages by you and team members
- Generate business and performance reports
Tenant Management
DoorLoop and AppFolio feature advanced tenant management tools that support you throughout the renter’s life cycle, from finding and onboarding new tenants to rent collection, lease renewal, and communication.
The property management platforms both offer:
- Rental applications and screenings
- Lease management and e-signing
- Bank account integration and online rent collection
- Two-way communication
- Renters’ Insurance service
- Tenant portal where your renters can make maintenance requests, communicate with their landlord, and make payments
Differences
Minimum Units Requirement
With DoorLoop, you can manage as little as one unit — there’s no minimum number of units you need to use the platform.
AppFolio requires users to have a minimum of 50 units to use the service.
Rental Portfolio Size
While DoorLoop can be used by solopreneurs, small teams, and large property management groups, it is more tailored for mid-size teams managing up to 5,000 units.
In contrast, AppFolio is ideal for huge teams/firms managing 20,000+ units.
Third-Party Integrations
DoorLoop integrates with Zapier, which means you can connect to numerous services commonly used in business, including real estate CRM software, productivity tools, communication tools, real estate investor accounting software, marketing services, and others.
AppFolio, on the other hand, offers limited integrations. Zapier integration is not supported — the company has specific partners it integrates with, which are listed on the AppFolio official website.
That said, both property management software tools offer API access so you can connect to any solution you might be using in your business.
Mobile App Options
AppFolio features dedicated mobile apps for both property managers/landlords and tenants.
However, DoorLoop does not have an app for tenants. DoorLoop renters can only access their portals through the web app.
Pricing
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Cheapest plan | $79/month ($69/month for annual billing) | Not available |
| Most expensive plan | $229/month ($199/month for annual billing) | Not available |
DoorLoop
DoorLoop lets you pay for subscriptions either monthly or annually. The company offers three plans to choose from:
- Starter: The Starter package costs $79/month ($69 for the yearly subscription) and lets you manage up to 160 rental units. Joining this plan gives you access to basic services such as tenant application and screening, in-app communication, property management CRM access, lease e-signing, real estate accounting software, email and chat support, and automated backups. That said, Starter lacks essential services, such as team management tools and the ability to integrate with third-party solutions.
- Pro: The Pro and Premium packs cater to those managing 160 to 5,000 units. Pro costs $169/month ($139 for an annual subscription) and includes everything in Starter, plus team management tools, advanced landlord accounting software, a maintenance management portal to manage your contractors, and an integrated calendar. Third-party software integrations are available in this plan.
- Premium: The Premium package is designed for landlords who want access to all of DoorLoop’s tools. The plan costs $229/month ($199 for an annual subscription) and includes the services in Starter and Pro, as well as a free real estate investor website builder and real estate website hosting, unlimited storage, unlimited additional users, third-party software integration (Zapier and API access), free document e-signing, and priority customer support.
AppFolio
The AppFolio property management software has three subscription packs.
However, the company hasn’t revealed the prices for any of the plans. You have to book a consultation to find out how much you’ll be paying based on the size of your portfolio.
The AppFolio pricing plans include:
- Core: By availing of this package, you get access to basic accounting tools, maintenance management features, integrated SMS and email communications, entry-level marketing and leasing tools, basic reporting, and access to Realm-X (AI assistant and messaging center). Note that student housing management is not available in Core.
- Plus: In Plus, you can manage all residential property types. The package includes all Core features as well as access to all accounting tools, bulk leasing tools, advanced team management functions, advanced reporting, API read access, AI automation engine (Realm-X Flows), AppFolio integrations, and priority support.
- Max: In Max, you get access to every advanced service AppFolio has to offer. This includes everything in Plus, along with API read/write access, all real estate marketing tools, and the leasing CRM.
AppFolio has unique packages for community association management and investment managers.
Refund Policy
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Partial refund | No | No |
| Full refund | No | No |
| Cancellation fee | No | No |
DoorLoop
The DoorLoop property management software lets clients terminate service use at any time by contacting support.
You won’t receive any (partial or full) refunds, whether you are a monthly or annual paying user. There are also no cancellation penalty fees.
After you terminate service use, you will be allowed to access the platform until the end of your current subscription, after which access will be revoked.
AppFolio
The AppFolio residential and commercial property management software allows you to cancel your subscription by sending a written request at least 15 days before the next billing date for monthly subscriptions (or 30 days before for annual-paying users).
There are no cancellation fees.
Integrations
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Zapier | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks | Yes | No |
| Google Calendar | Yes | No |
| Zillow | Yes | Yes |
| Apartments.com | Yes | No |
| HotPads | Yes | No |
| Apartment List | Yes | No |
| Homebase | No | Yes |
| LeadSimple | Yes | Yes |
| PropStream | Yes | No |
| RentCheck | No | No |
| Knock | No | Yes |
| NetVendor | No | Yes |
| OJO Bookkeeping | No | Yes |
| Breezeway | No | Yes |
| ShowMojo | No | Yes |
Support
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Phone | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 support | No | No |
Customer Reviews
Rating Summary
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| 3.1/5 | 3.8/5 | |
| 4.2/5 | 3.0/5 | |
| Trustpilot | 4.3/5 | 3.2/5 |
Pros & Cons
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
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Popularity
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Social media following | DoorLoop has a decent social media following. The company has over 4,400, 7,700, and 10,500 subscribers on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, respectively. | AppFolio has over 29,000 followers on Facebook, 5,400 on Instagram, and 4,300 on YouTube, indicating its vast reach and popularity. |
| User base | The DoorLoop landlord mobile app has received 50,000+ downloads across Google Play and the iOS App Store. | AppFolio has a massive user base. The landlord mobile app has received over 100,000 downloads, while the residents’ app has 1M+ downloads. |
| Media mentions | Over the years, DoorLoop has received over $100 million in funding. For each round of funding, the platform has been featured in many online real estate media outlets. | AppFolio is often featured in finance digital media outlets when it announces its quarterly and annual financial reports. |
| Awards | DoorLoop was awarded top Category Leader by GetApp in 2022. In 2021, the platform won the Best Ease of Use award from Capterra. | In 2021, the Business Intelligence Group recognized AppFolio’s AI Leasing Assistant as Product of the Year, and honored AppFolio Smart Maintenance with the award for Best Use of Automation. |
Adoption
| DoorLoop | AppFolio | |
| Live onboarding | Yes (Additional fees required) | Yes |
| Video tutorials | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Documentation | Yes (For the highest-tier subscription plan) | Yes (For the higher-tier subscription plans) |
Why Choose DoorLoop vs AppFolio?
DoorLoop may be the better property management service for you if:
- You’re a less established investor with fewer than 50 units.
- You run a small to mid-size property management team.
- You want a platform with simpler, more transparent pricing.
- You want a rental management tool with a simple, straightforward interface that provides an easy learning curve.
- You want a platform that emphasizes responsive, same-day support.
- You need a platform that supports Zapier integration.
Why Choose AppFolio vs DoorLoop?
AppFolio Property Manager is ideal for you if:
- You need powerful workflow automation tools to manage your portfolio.
- You run an established property management company that needs an enterprise-grade tool that can easily scale.
- You manage tens of thousands of units.
- You want a platform with stronger analytics and reporting.
- You want a platform that offers product certifications and comprehensive team training and onboarding resources.
Alternatives
Similar Software
- TurboTenant
- Avail
- RentSpree
- Baselane
- Stessa
- RentPrep
- Buildium
- Innago
- Landlord Studio
- Hostfully
- Hostify
- Azibo
- RentRedi
- TenantCloud
- iManageRent
- Re-Leased
- Rentec Direct
Comparisons
With over 20+ years of experience in real estate investment and renovation, Brian Robbins brings extensive knowledge and innovative solutions to the HouseCashin team. Over the years Brian has been involved in over 300 transactions of income producing properties across the US. Along with his passion for real estate, Brian brings with him a deep understanding of real estate risks and financing.
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