A-du vs AppFolio
How A-du and AppFolio compare for ADU landlords. AppFolio is enterprise software for large portfolios; A-du is ADU-specific, has no platform minimum, and adds pre-approved plans and permit tools before the listing.
A-du and AppFolio are both landlord platforms, but A-du is specialized for Accessory Dwelling Units and small landlords, while AppFolio is enterprise management software built for large portfolios at scale.
AppFolio is strongest at high-volume automation; A-du is strongest at everything specific to creating and renting an ADU.
The short version
AppFolio is frequently ranked the most powerful property management platform, with deep AI-assisted leasing, self-guided tours, and bulk operations. That power is built for scale. It carries a platform minimum of roughly $298/mo and is aimed at portfolios of 200 units or more.
A-du is built for the opposite end: a homeowner or small landlord with an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Before the unit exists, A-du offers pre-approved ADU plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, none of which AppFolio has. After it is built, A-du gives you the tools to order tenant screening, e-sign a California lease and collect rent online through Stripe, with no platform minimum. Listing is free, the first 15 published listings pay 0% landlord service fee, locked permanently, and other listings pay a 3% platform service fee on rent collected through A-du.
Feature comparison
| Feature | A-du | AppFolio |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purposeWhat the product is actually built to do. | ADU marketplace: plans, permit tools, rentals, and management | Enterprise portfolio management at scale |
| Best fit | ADU owners & small landlordsIn served markets (LA County, NYC) | Large operationsTypically 200+ units |
| Pricing model | Free to listLandlord: 0% for the first 15 listings, then 3% of rent collected through A-du. Tenant: free by bank transfer, 2.99% credit card surcharge when offered, or check at no charge | Per-unit + high minimumRoughly $298/mo platform minimum and up |
| ADU plan marketplace & pre-approved plansHelp before the unit exists. | YesPlan marketplace incl. LADBS Standard Plan | No |
| Permitting tools | YesLA County + NYC permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup | No |
| Contractor and trades directoryYou hire and pay each one directly. | YesListed by category; check licenses with the state board | No |
| AI leasing automationWhere AppFolio is strong. | FocusedADU-specific workflow, not high-volume automation | DeepAI leasing assistant, self-guided tours, bulk renewals |
| Tenant screening | FCRA-compliantPass/fail, adverse-action workflow, landlord pays, applicants pay nothing | YesBuilt-in screening |
| Local ADU specialization | DeepADU rules, permit data & renter audience | General-purpose |
| Bottom line | An ADU-specific marketplace for owners and small landlords: pre-approved plans and permit tools, then leasing and rent collection, with no platform minimum. | Powerful, AI-assisted enterprise software for large portfolios: excellent at scale, but priced and sized well beyond a single ADU. |
How to think about it
This is mostly a question of scale and rental type. AppFolio is the right tool for a large, professional operation that needs enterprise automation. A-du is the right tool when the rental is an ADU and you want help creating it plus a workflow tuned to local ADU rules, without paying enterprise prices for capacity you will not use.
Next steps: Explore ADU plans, see the rent-collection fees, or read the full software roundup.
Related: vs Buildium · vs Avail · vs TurboTenant · Best PM software.
Frequently asked questions
- How is A-du different from AppFolio?
- AppFolio is enterprise property management software with deep, AI-assisted automation built for large operations, typically 200 or more units. A-du is built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units and the owners and small landlords who have them. A-du also covers the pre-rental side AppFolio does not: pre-approved plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, alongside screening, leasing, and rent collection.
- Is AppFolio worth it for a single ADU?
- Generally no. AppFolio carries a platform minimum of roughly $298/mo and is designed for portfolios at scale, so the cost and complexity are hard to justify for one or two units. A-du has no platform minimum and is sized for ADU owners rather than enterprise managers. Listing is free. The first 15 published listings pay 0% landlord service fee, locked permanently; after that, landlords pay a 3% platform service fee on rent collected through A-du, taken from the payout, never on deposits. Paying rent through A-du is optional for tenants: bank transfers through A-du are free, and credit cards, when offered, carry a 2.99% surcharge on the rent only. Tenants can always pay the landlord by check or money order at no charge.
- Does AppFolio help build or permit an ADU?
- No. AppFolio focuses on managing and leasing existing units at scale. It has no ADU plan catalog, permit-fee tools, or GIS lot lookup. Those pre-rental tools are what A-du is built for, in addition to leasing and rent collection.
- Which should I choose?
- If you run a large professional portfolio and need enterprise automation, AppFolio is among the most powerful options available. If your rental is an ADU (or you are building one) in a market A-du serves, A-du adds the plan and permit tools AppFolio lacks, without an enterprise price tag.
Comparison reflects publicly available product information as of 2026 and A-du features at time of writing. Competitor pricing and capabilities change; confirm current details with each provider.