AppFolio vs Boardly
AppFolio vs Boardly: Which HOA Software Is Right for Self-Managed Boards?
AppFolio starts at $1.40+/unit/month with a $280/mo minimum and onboarding fees — and it's designed for large multifamily portfolios. Boardly is $299/mo flat, built specifically for volunteer HOA boards.
TL;DR
AppFolio for professional property management companies running large multifamily portfolios. Boardly for volunteer HOA boards that need AI-powered violation notices without enterprise overhead.
Pricing: What a 200-Unit HOA Actually Pays
AppFolio Core (200 units)
AppFolio
$280–$1,000+
/month · per-unit fees + $400 onboarding minimum
- Core: $1.40/unit/mo (min $280) → $280/mo at 200 units
- Plus: $3.00/unit/mo (min $1,500) → $600/mo at 200 units
- Max: $5.00/unit/mo (min $5,000)
- $400 mandatory onboarding fee
Boardly Starter (200 units)
Boardly
$299
/month flat · no per-unit fees · no onboarding cost
- Flat $299/mo regardless of unit count
- AI violation notices included
- No setup fees
- Cancel anytime
Annual savings on Boardly Starter vs AppFolio Core (200 units): the fees are comparable at the minimum — but AppFolio scales up with every unit you add, and the $400 onboarding is mandatory. At 300 units, AppFolio Core runs $420/mo vs Boardly's flat $299/mo.
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
Boardly |
AppFolio |
| Starting price |
$299/mo |
$500+/mo + unit min |
| AI violation notices |
✓ Auto-generated |
— Manual |
| Ease of use |
✓ Board-friendly |
Manager-focused |
| Setup time |
Minutes |
Weeks |
| No unit minimum |
✓ Yes |
— (50+ unit minimum) |
| Pay-per-notice option |
✓ $5/notice |
— No |
| Free trial |
✓ Yes |
— Sales call required |
| Mobile optimized |
✓ Yes |
✓ Yes |
Choosing the Right Tool
When AppFolio makes sense
Choose AppFolio if you…
- Run a professional property management company
- Manage large multifamily apartment complexes
- Need full rent collection, accounting, and owner reporting
- Have dedicated staff who will be trained on the platform
- Require robust tenant and owner portals
When Boardly is the right choice
Choose Boardly if you…
- Run a self-managed HOA with volunteer board members
- Need AI-drafted violation notices from photos in minutes
- Want flat pricing — not a bill that scales with unit count
- Manage a community under 500 units
- Need to be up and running same-day, no onboarding required
See Boardly in action — no signup needed
Upload a violation photo and watch the AI draft a legally-referenced notice in under 30 seconds.