Apartments.com Rental Manager

Overview

Owners can advertise rentals, screen applicants, collect rent and deposits, handle maintenance requests, and track expenses. Listings appear across Apartments.com Network websites, and the maker says published rentals also appear on Homes.com. This breadth is useful for landlords who want leasing and basic management in the same service; the appeal depends in part on whether that listing reach matches the audience they want.

The free Basic listing runs for 21 days with standard visibility and a standard-sized ad. It is a way to advertise without a listing charge, but not a lasting high-visibility placement. Premium is the route to increased visibility and a larger ad, with pricing that varies by state and market.

Key features

Listings and leasing

Basic listings appear on six Apartments.com Network websites. For properties with 1–4 units, Premium adds Matterport 3D tours, up to six videos totaling 1GB, a larger ad, and increased visibility. Those additions give owners more ways to present a rental, but the unspecified market-dependent price makes it harder to judge whether the added exposure is worthwhile before activating the feature.

Applicant screening

Screening includes eviction and criminal history, summarized credit risk, and a TransUnion ResidentScore. Applicants pay $32.00 + tax for an application and reports, and can share them for 30 days with up to 10 participating landlords. The shareable report can reduce repeat applications for renters considering several properties; the fee is still a separate cost for applicants.

Rent and communications

Landlords can collect rent and security deposits online, automate reminders and late fees, and access tax documents. Renters pay by checking account for free, or can use a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay for a 2.75% fee. Express Pay is free for eligible established renters in good standing who use ACH, providing payment a day sooner.

Messages brings leasing conversations into a central inbox, with auto-replies, AI-powered response assistance, and the option to invite renters to apply from a chat. That can help keep inquiries and next steps together, though it is specifically a leasing communication tool rather than a substitute for the broader management functions.

Pricing

The Free plan is free and includes a Basic listing, 21 days of standard visibility, a standard-sized ad, and placement on six Apartments.com Network websites. It suits owners who need a no-cost listing window; the time limit and standard placement are meaningful constraints for landlords seeking extended or increased exposure.

Premium listing has custom pricing, billed at a price that varies by state and market and is shown when the feature is activated. For properties with 1–4 units, it includes Matterport 3D tours, up to six videos (1GB), a larger ad, and increased visibility. It is the relevant option for owners who value those presentation upgrades, but the absence of a fixed price makes cost comparison difficult.

Applicant screening costs $32.00 + tax, paid by applicants, for an application and screening reports. Renters can avoid payment-method fees by using a checking account; card and wallet payments carry a 2.75% fee.

Platforms

Rental Manager is available on Android, iOS, and the web. For managing listings on a phone, owners and property managers must use a mobile web browser rather than the Apartments.com app. That distinction makes the service less convenient for anyone expecting listing management inside the native app.

Who it's for

Rental Manager is a sensible fit for landlords who want network listing distribution alongside screening, online rent collection, and everyday tenancy tools. Its free listing can suit owners testing a vacancy listing or working within a modest budget. Owners who need visibility beyond 21 days or upgraded listing media should weigh Premium’s market-specific price, while mobile-first managers should account for the browser requirement.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A free listing includes 21 days of standard visibility across six network sites, giving owners a way to advertise without a listing charge.
• Pros: Screening, rent collection, maintenance requests, and expense tracking sit alongside advertising, reducing the need to assemble separate tools for those tasks.
• Pros: Checking-account rent payments are free, and eligible established renters can receive ACH payments a day sooner through free Express Pay.
• Cons: The free listing lasts only 21 days at standard visibility, limiting its usefulness for owners who need a longer or more prominent campaign.
• Cons: Premium pricing varies by market and is shown when activated, so owners cannot assess its cost from a fixed published price.
• Cons: Listing management on mobile requires a browser instead of the Apartments.com app.
• Cons: Applicants pay $32.00 + tax for screening, and card or wallet rent payments incur a 2.75% fee.

Alternatives

Rental Property Listing Software is a useful place to compare listing-focused options. Choose Rentberry instead if its free tenant plan’s rent negotiation, maintenance requests, and property tour requests better match the tasks you need. Hemlane is another alternative, with a free Starter plan covering rental advertising, applicant and tenant screening, and rental accounting.

Reallyo may suit owners who prioritize an AI marketing suite and video, website, social, and email tools in its free plan. Consider Rental Beast as another rental-management alternative. Revun offers a free plan for 1–2 units that includes leasing, showings, applications, ACH rent collection, and maintenance request intake. TurboTenant is an alternative with a free plan for listing and marketing rentals, screening applicants, and collecting rent online.

Zillow Rental Manager Tenant Screening is worth considering when screening is the priority: its landlord screening plan is free, with the renter paying the application fee. Avail Tenant Screening is another screening alternative, with an Unlimited plan for unlimited units and tenant-paid screening fees that vary by location and reports selected.

Verdict

Apartments.com Rental Manager is a strong fit for landlords who want rental advertising and core leasing operations together, especially if a free 21-day listing is enough to start. Its combination of network distribution, screening, rent collection, and management tools is the main reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need a longer free listing, a predictable Premium price, or native-app listing management.