SheltrIQ vs AppFolio
AppFolio is an enterprise property-management platform with a 50-unit minimum. SheltrIQ is AI tax software for small and DIY landlords. They solve very different problems — here's the honest comparison.
| Feature | SheltrIQ | AppFolio |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small / DIY landlords (1–5 units) | Professional PMs, 50+ units |
| Minimum to start | None — free up to 3 properties | 50-unit minimum + minimum spend |
| Pricing | Free; Pro $15/mo, Business $29/mo | Not public; quote required (reportedly ~$298/mo min) |
| AI expense → Schedule E classification | Yes | No |
| MACRS depreciation scheduling | Yes — 13 asset types, mid-month | No |
| Repair vs improvement (BAR test) | Yes — automatic | No |
| Tax Health Score | Yes | No |
| 1031 / REPS / cost-seg tools | Yes | No |
| 1099 e-filing | 1099 tracking | Yes — e-files with the IRS |
| Online rent collection | No | Yes |
| Leasing & marketing (AI leasing) | No | Yes |
| Maintenance / work orders | Maintenance requests | Full work-order management |
| Owner / tenant / vendor portals | Tenant portal | Full portals |
| Scale & property types | Residential rentals | Residential, commercial, student, HOA |
Choose SheltrIQ if you want...
- + AI tax intelligence for your Schedule E
- + Depreciation, cost-seg, 1031, and REPS tools
- + A small portfolio with no unit minimum (free up to 3)
- + Transparent, flat pricing
Choose AppFolio if you...
- + Manage 50+ units as a professional operator
- + Need rent collection, leasing, and maintenance at scale
- + Want AI leasing and full owner/tenant portals
- + Run mixed property types (commercial, student, HOA)
Different categories, not rivals: AppFolio runs a property-management business; SheltrIQ optimizes a landlord's taxes. If you operate at AppFolio scale, you can still hand its books to SheltrIQ (or your CPA) for the Schedule E and depreciation work AppFolio doesn't do.
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