How is A-du different from Avail?

Avail is a clean, affordable DIY toolkit for hands-on landlords: strong state-specific leases, applications, screening, and payments with no rent transaction fees. It is general-purpose and begins at the listing. A-du is built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units and adds the pre-rental side Avail does not have: pre-approved plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, plus required identity verification for renters.

Avail is nearly free. Is A-du?

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. The landlord pays $40 per screening report, and applicants pay nothing. Avail has a free plan plus a Plus tier around $9/unit/mo and does not charge transaction fees on rent. Both are inexpensive; the difference is that A-du also has tools for planning and permitting an ADU, which Avail does not.

Does Avail help build or permit an ADU?

No. Avail focuses on DIY leasing and payments for existing rentals. It has no ADU plan catalog, permit-fee tools, or GIS lot lookup. Those pre-rental tools are exactly what A-du is built for, in addition to leasing and rent collection.

Which should I choose?

If you are a hands-on landlord with a standard rental anywhere in the US and want simple, low-cost leasing tools, Avail is an excellent fit. 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 Avail lacks, plus renter identity verification and an ADU-tuned workflow.

A-du vs Avail

A-du and Avail are both landlord platforms, but A-du is specialized for Accessory Dwelling Units from plan to rental, while Avail is a general-purpose DIY leasing and payments toolkit for hands-on landlords.

Avail is strongest as a low-cost leasing toolkit; A-du is strongest at everything specific to creating and renting an ADU.

The short version

Avail is a favorite among DIY landlords for good reason: clean state-specific lease templates, straightforward applications and screening, and rent payments with no transaction fees, at a very low price. If you own a standard rental and want simple tools, it is hard to fault.

A-du is built for one specific kind of rental, the Accessory Dwelling Unit, and for the steps Avail never touches. 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. After it is built, A-du adds required identity verification for renters, FCRA-compliant screening, e-signed leases, and rent collection. 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

A-du vs Avail for ADU owners (2026)
Feature	A-du	Avail
Primary purposeWhat the product is actually built to do.	ADU marketplace: plans, permit tools, rentals, and management	DIY leasing & payments for hands-on landlords
Best fit	ADU owners & small landlordsIn served markets (LA County, NYC)	DIY landlordsAny standard rental, nationwide
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	Free + paid tierPlus plan around $9/unit/mo; no rent transaction fees
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
State-specific leasesWhere Avail is strong.	YesGenerated lease + supplemental docs, market-aware terms	YesWell-regarded state-specific lease templates
Identity verification	Required for rentersStripe Identity before booking; landlords verify through Stripe Connect to take rent through A-du	LimitedNot a required gate
Local ADU specialization	DeepADU rules, permit data & renter audience	General-purpose
Bottom line	An ADU-specific marketplace that offers pre-approved plans and permit tools before the listing, then leasing and rent collection, with renter identity verification built in.	A clean, affordable DIY toolkit for hands-on landlords: great leases and payments, but general-purpose and starting at the listing.

How to think about it

Both are inexpensive and easy to start. The deciding factor is the rental itself. For a standard house or apartment you are renting yourself, Avail is a great, low-friction toolkit. For an ADU, especially one you are still planning or building, A-du adds the plan and permit tools Avail lacks, plus renter identity verification and a workflow tuned to local ADU rules.

Next steps: Explore ADU plans, see the rent-collection fees, or read the full software roundup.

Related: vs TurboTenant · vs Buildium · vs AppFolio · Best PM software.

Frequently asked questions

How is A-du different from Avail?: Avail is a clean, affordable DIY toolkit for hands-on landlords: strong state-specific leases, applications, screening, and payments with no rent transaction fees. It is general-purpose and begins at the listing. A-du is built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units and adds the pre-rental side Avail does not have: pre-approved plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, plus required identity verification for renters.
Avail is nearly free. Is A-du?: 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. The landlord pays $40 per screening report, and applicants pay nothing. Avail has a free plan plus a Plus tier around $9/unit/mo and does not charge transaction fees on rent. Both are inexpensive; the difference is that A-du also has tools for planning and permitting an ADU, which Avail does not.
Does Avail help build or permit an ADU?: No. Avail focuses on DIY leasing and payments for existing rentals. It has no ADU plan catalog, permit-fee tools, or GIS lot lookup. Those pre-rental tools are exactly what A-du is built for, in addition to leasing and rent collection.
Which should I choose?: If you are a hands-on landlord with a standard rental anywhere in the US and want simple, low-cost leasing tools, Avail is an excellent fit. 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 Avail lacks, plus renter identity verification and an ADU-tuned workflow.

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.