Stessa

Stessa is rental-property portfolio software that combines bookkeeping, reporting, rent collection, leasing, and tenant screening. It fits individual landlords and growing investors who want those jobs in one service. The free tier is useful for basic tracking, while Pro is the practical choice for multiple portfolios or heavy receipt capture.

Overview

Stessa is designed around real-estate ownership rather than generic bookkeeping. It imports, categorizes, and indexes rental transactions with single-entry bookkeeping, then connects data from banks, lenders, credit cards, and property managers. That consolidation can give an owner one financial view instead of several disconnected accounts. Marketplace syndication and a rental website also support listing and marketing workflows.

The main compromise is tiering. Essentials and Manage both allow unlimited properties but only one portfolio and five receipt scans per month. Multiple portfolios and unlimited scanning begin with Pro, so the free and lower-cost options suit lighter administrative workloads better than complex investment structures.

Key features

Bookkeeping and reports

Real-time dashboards cover an Income Statement, Net Cash Flow, Schedule of Real Estate Owned, and Tenant Ledger. These are useful owner-focused views for cash flow, holdings, and tenant balances, while single-entry bookkeeping keeps the accounting approach straightforward for landlords who do not need a more elaborate ledger structure.

Rent, leasing, and screening

Online rent collection accepts ACH, credit cards, and debit cards, with automated reminders and late fees. That centralizes recurring collection, although the stated payment methods do not establish what fees apply. Leasing includes state-compliant agreements, legal forms and templates, and e-signatures, with meaningful signature limits on the lower plans. RentPrep integration adds background and credit checks for tenant screening.

Mobile and security

iOS and Android apps support receipt scanning and transaction management away from a desktop. Stessa says data in transit uses 256-bit SSL encryption and data at rest uses AES-256. Optional multi-factor authentication, role-based access, automatic backups, fraud monitoring, and routine security testing add sensible controls. Banking services come from Thread Bank, Member FDIC; eligible deposits may receive up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance through a deposit-sweep program, subject to conditions.

Pricing

Essentials

Essentials is free forever. It includes unlimited properties, one portfolio, and five receipt scans per month. State-compliant leases cost $15 each. This is a reasonable starting point for an owner with modest paperwork, but the single-portfolio and scan limits make it poor for frequent expense capture.

Manage

Manage costs $12 per month when paid annually or $15 per month when paid monthly. It keeps unlimited properties, one portfolio, and five monthly receipt scans, then adds one eSignature per month and priority chat support. Choose it when chat assistance and occasional digital signing matter; it does not solve the lower-tier portfolio or scanning caps.

Pro

Pro is $28 per month annually or $35 per month monthly. It adds unlimited portfolios, unlimited receipt scanning, seven eSignatures per month, and priority phone support while retaining unlimited properties. This is the tier for active investors and multi-portfolio operators, though its recurring cost is substantial compared with the free plan.

Platforms

Stessa runs on the web and has apps for Android and iOS. Mobile receipt scanning and transaction management make it practical for owners recording expenses during property visits or away from a computer.

Who it's for

Stessa suits novice landlords who want rental bookkeeping, payments, leases, and screening together, as well as sophisticated investors who need portfolio reporting. Essentials works for one portfolio with light scanning; Manage fits owners wanting limited e-signing and priority chat; Pro is the clear fit for multiple portfolios or high receipt volume. Owners needing more than seven monthly e-signatures or a different accounting model should compare alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Rental-specific reports and transaction indexing; online rent collection with reminders and late fees; leases, forms, e-signatures, and RentPrep screening in one service; unlimited properties on every plan; web, iOS, and Android access; stated encryption and security controls.
• Cons: Essentials and Manage allow only one portfolio and five receipt scans monthly; Essentials charges $15 per state-compliant lease; Manage includes just one eSignature monthly; unlimited scanning and portfolios require Pro; paid plans cost more when billed monthly.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of accounting-focused tools, see Property Accounting Software; for listing-oriented choices, see Rental Property Listing Software.

• REI Hub is a fit for investors seeking a free trial and a Professional plan priced at $9 per year for up to three units.
• Brikone suits a very small landlord wanting a free-forever plan capped at three units, with broader paid options.
• Hemlane is worth choosing when a free-forever starter tier combining advertising, screening, and rental accounting is the priority.
• Hutstack Property offers a free Dwell tier for landlords managing one to 10 properties with rent, tenant, lease, maintenance, and expense tracking.
• Landlord Studio is an alternative for owners comfortable with a free plan limited to three units, one user, and 10 documents.
• Entrata is a paid property-management platform with demo-led pricing.
• MRI Property Management X is a paid option with demo-led pricing.
• Rentastic is a lower-cost alternative whose Core plan starts at $5 per month when billed annually, for two properties.

Verdict

Choose Stessa if you want rental bookkeeping, owner reports, rent collection, leasing, and screening in one web-and-mobile service, especially when unlimited properties matter. Look elsewhere if you need several portfolios or extensive receipt capture without paying for Pro, or if the stated e-signature allowances are too restrictive.