How is A-du different from DoorLoop?

DoorLoop is an all-in-one management dashboard that is often rated the easiest to learn, covering leasing, payments, accounting, maintenance, and reporting for any rental. It is general-purpose and begins at the listing. A-du is built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units and adds the pre-rental side DoorLoop does not have: pre-approved plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, then gives you the tools for tenant screening, a lease and online rent collection.

Is DoorLoop worth the subscription for one ADU?

DoorLoop starts around $59/mo and may add a setup fee, which is reasonable for an owner who wants a full management dashboard but more than a single-ADU landlord usually needs. A-du has no subscription or setup fee, and the workflow is focused on the ADU rather than full portfolio management. 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 DoorLoop help build or permit an ADU?

No. DoorLoop manages 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 want one easy dashboard to manage a mixed portfolio, DoorLoop is a strong, user-friendly option. 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 DoorLoop lacks and keeps screening, leasing, and rent collection in one ADU-specific system.

A-du vs DoorLoop

A-du and DoorLoop are both landlord platforms, but A-du is specialized for Accessory Dwelling Units from plan to rental, while DoorLoop is a general-purpose all-in-one management dashboard for any rental.

DoorLoop is strongest as an easy-to-learn management hub; A-du is strongest at everything specific to creating and renting an ADU.

The short version

DoorLoop is frequently praised for being easy to set up and learn, with broad coverage of leasing, payments, accounting, maintenance, and reporting in one dashboard. For an owner who wants a single software-first hub, it is a capable choice.

A-du is built for a different owner: someone who owns or is building 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 DoorLoop 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 subscription or setup fee to start. 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 DoorLoop for ADU owners (2026)
Feature	A-du	DoorLoop
Primary purposeWhat the product is actually built to do.	ADU marketplace: plans, permit tools, rentals, and management	All-in-one management dashboard
Best fit	ADU owners & small landlordsIn served markets (LA County, NYC)	Software-first ownersWho want one dashboard for everything
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	Tiered subscriptionStarts around $59/mo; setup fee may apply
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
Ease of setupWhere DoorLoop is strong.	SimpleGuided ADU workflow, free to list	EasyRated quick to learn; onboarding/setup fee
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 that starts with pre-approved plans and permit tools and runs through leasing and rent collection, free to list.	An easy, all-in-one management dashboard for any rental, but general-purpose and starting at the listing.

How to think about it

Match the tool to the job. DoorLoop wins as an easy all-in-one dashboard for a mixed portfolio. A-du wins when the rental is an ADU and you want help creating the unit plus a workflow tuned to local ADU rules, without a monthly subscription for capacity you will not use.

Next steps: See how A-du works, explore ADU plans, or review pricing.

Related: vs Buildium · vs RentRedi · vs Hemlane · Best PM software.

Frequently asked questions

How is A-du different from DoorLoop?: DoorLoop is an all-in-one management dashboard that is often rated the easiest to learn, covering leasing, payments, accounting, maintenance, and reporting for any rental. It is general-purpose and begins at the listing. A-du is built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units and adds the pre-rental side DoorLoop does not have: pre-approved plans, permit-fee calculators, GIS lot lookup, and a directory of contractors and trades you hire directly, then gives you the tools for tenant screening, a lease and online rent collection.
Is DoorLoop worth the subscription for one ADU?: DoorLoop starts around $59/mo and may add a setup fee, which is reasonable for an owner who wants a full management dashboard but more than a single-ADU landlord usually needs. A-du has no subscription or setup fee, and the workflow is focused on the ADU rather than full portfolio management. 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 DoorLoop help build or permit an ADU?: No. DoorLoop manages 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 want one easy dashboard to manage a mixed portfolio, DoorLoop is a strong, user-friendly option. 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 DoorLoop lacks and keeps screening, leasing, and rent collection in one ADU-specific system.

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.