Best Accounting Software for Landlords (2026): 10 Compared

Collecting rent is rarely the hard part of being a landlord. The hard part comes at tax time, with a pile of receipts, one bank account covering three properties and no idea which boiler repair belonged to which flat.

Below are ten accounting tools for landlords in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, with a mix of US and UK options and one that serves both. Each description comes from the provider's own website, re-checked today. If you're still weighing up whether rentals suit you at all, my honest take on how passive rental income really is will help you decide.

Landlord accounting tools in one view

Free plan: Yes means the provider's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited free trial with no ongoing free version, and No means the site points you to a demo.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
DoorLoop	Property management accounting	Growing landlords wanting one platform	No
FreeAgent	UK cloud accounting app	UK landlords tracking property income	Trial only
Hemlane	Property management with accounting	US landlords wanting a free plan first	Yes
Landlord Studio	Rental accounting app	Landlords wanting tax reports on a free plan	Yes
Landlord Vision	UK landlord software	UK landlords wanting Making Tax Digital support	Trial only
Rentastic	Landlord accounting app	US landlords wanting rental-only bookkeeping	Trial only
Rentec Direct	Property accounting software	Landlords wanting ledger-level accounting	Trial only
Stessa	Rental accounting app	New investors wanting a free start	Yes
TenantCloud	Landlord platform with accounting	DIY landlords wanting accounting in one place	Trial only
Xero	UK cloud accounting app	UK landlords wanting mainstream accounting	Trial only

Ten accounting options for rental property owners

DoorLoop

Best for: Growing landlords and property managers wanting rent collection, accounting and reporting inside one property management platform, arranged through a free demo.

FreeAgent

Best for: UK landlords wanting to manage property income and expenses in accounting software, with a 30 day free trial to test it first.

Hemlane

Best for: US landlords wanting to start on a free forever plan and later add rental accounting with bank sync, cash flow reports and income statements.

Landlord Studio

Best for: Landlords wanting rental accounting and Schedule E tax reports, on a plan that stays free after a 14 day trial of the upgraded tier.

Landlord Vision

Best for: UK landlords wanting rental income tracking, expense management, Open Banking bank feeds and Making Tax Digital support, after a 2 week free trial.

Rentastic

Best for: US landlords wanting accounting built only for rentals, with bank sync that categorises transactions and Schedule E-ready reports, after a 7 day free trial.

Rentec Direct

Best for: Landlords with ten or fewer properties, and larger managers, wanting full general ledger accounting for properties, tenants and owners, through a free trial.

Stessa

Best for: Newer rental investors wanting to get organised on a free Essentials plan covering unlimited properties, adding advanced reports on upgraded plans later.

TenantCloud

Best for: DIY landlords wanting accounting, reports and bank reconciliation inside a property management platform, with tax reports on higher plans after a 14 day trial.

Xero

Best for: UK landlords wanting mainstream accounting that tracks property finances, automates rent collection and manages tenants, described as HMRC-recognised and MTD-compliant.

Depreciation over 27.5 years: the IRS rule for US rentals

For US landlords, the IRS's Publication 527 on residential rental property says that residential rental buildings, and structural parts such as furnaces, water pipes and venting, have a recovery period of 27.5 years under the General Depreciation System, or 30 years under the Alternative Depreciation System. Using the general system means the straight line method over 27.5 years, with the percentages in its Table 2-2d based on the month the property was placed in service.

So your accounting software needs to hold two things for every property: the details of the building you're depreciating and the month it was placed in service. If the tool only tracks rent in and repairs out, depreciation ends up in a separate spreadsheet that's easy to lose. Ask whether it records assets per property and produces reports your tax preparer can use.

What changes for UK landlords

UK landlords don't use these IRS rules. You're working with HMRC instead, and Making Tax Digital is the thing to plan around. Several UK tools here mention Making Tax Digital support on their own sites, so check that the software you choose says the same, and ask your accountant how it fits your situation.

Features that save a landlord's tax season

• Per-property tracking: every income and expense tagged to the right address.
• Bank feeds: transactions pulled in automatically, so you're categorising rather than typing.
• Receipt capture: a photo of the invoice attached to the expense it belongs to.
• Tax-ready reports: Schedule E for the US, or Making Tax Digital support in the UK.
• Tenant ledgers: who's up to date and who's behind, without checking the bank.

Getting your rental books in order, one step at a time

1. Open a separate bank account for your rental income and expenses if you haven't already.
2. Set up each property in the software with its address and the date it was placed in service.
3. Connect your bank feed and categorise the last few months to get the rules right.
4. Snap receipts as they arrive rather than saving them for later.
5. Run a report every quarter and compare it with your bank balance.
6. Share read-only access with your accountant before the tax deadline, not after.

If you're in the UK and nervous about a tax enquiry, my guide to what to do if HMRC opens an investigation explains what to expect, and tidy books are the best preparation for it.

Do you make accounting software for landlords? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice for landlords sorting their accounts

If you own one or two properties, start on a free plan or a trial and connect your bank on day one. You'll know within a few weeks whether categorising feels quick or like a chore, and that's the real test.

If you've got a growing portfolio, choose software that tracks each property separately and keeps depreciation or Making Tax Digital in the same place as everything else. And whatever you pick, get your accountant to look at it before you've entered a full year; changing tools halfway through is a headache you don't need.

Related: property management (this site).

Frequently asked questions

Do landlords need accounting software?

It isn't the only way to keep records, but it makes tax time much easier, especially once you own more than one property.

Can I use free accounting software for rental property?

Yes. Several tools on this list have free plans, which suit small portfolios. Upgrades usually add advanced reports or bank features.

How long do you depreciate a US rental property?

The IRS's Publication 527 says residential rental property has a 27.5-year recovery period under the General Depreciation System, using the straight line method.

What is Schedule E?

It's the US tax schedule landlords use to report rental income and expenses. Some landlord tools produce Schedule E-ready reports.

Is general accounting software fine for landlords?

It can be, if it lets you track income and expenses by property. Rental-specific tools add tenant ledgers and property reports out of the box.

Do UK landlords need Making Tax Digital software?

Check with HMRC or your accountant, because it depends on your circumstances. If it applies to you, pick software that says it supports Making Tax Digital.