RentalNoodle vs Innago: Free Landlord Software Compared
Innago is free for landlords with tenant-paid ACH; RentalNoodle Free covers one property with a different fee model. Honest comparison — checked 2026-10-12.
Innago and RentalNoodle both appeal to budget-conscious self-managers, but “free” means different things. Innago advertises free software for landlords with revenue from tenant-paid services — commonly about $2 for ACH rent payments and about 2.99% for card payments, plus tenant-paid screening roughly in the $30–$35 range (checked 2026-10-12 on Innago pricing and FAQ). RentalNoodle Free covers one property; renters use the portal free; ACH runs through Stripe Connect with no RentalNoodle platform fee on ACH (processor costs may still apply). RentalNoodle does not offer listing syndication today and tracks late fees without automatically adding them to ACH. Compare total tenant cost, not only the landlord subscription line.
Payment and screening fees affect tenants and may require lease disclosures. This page is educational. Confirm Innago’s live fee schedule and RentalNoodle plan limits on official sites before switching mid-lease.
Quick snapshot
| Dimension | Innago | RentalNoodle |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord subscription (checked 2026-10-12) | Free for landlords | Free 1 property; Pro $12/mo or $102/yr; Portfolio $29/mo or $249/yr |
| Tenant portal | Yes | Free for tenants |
| Tenant ACH fee (typical) | About $2 per payment (FAQ/pricing) | No RN platform fee on ACH; Stripe Connect processing applies |
| Tenant card fee (typical) | About 2.99% | Stripe card rates if card enabled |
| Screening | Tenant-paid ~$30–$35 (confirm packages) | SmartMove link-out workflow — not in-house screening product |
| Listing syndication | Confirm Innago marketing | Not currently available |
| Trial on paid plans | Confirm Innago paid upsells if any | 14-day trial on Pro/Portfolio checkout |
Pricing and fees (checked 2026-10-12)
Innago’s pricing page states the platform is free for landlords. FAQ and pricing materials describe tenant ACH fees around $2 and card processing around 2.99%, with screening commonly tenant-paid in the $30–$35 range (checked 2026-10-12). RentalNoodle Free is limited to one property. Pro is $12/mo or $102/yr for up to five properties; Portfolio is $29/mo or $249/yr for up to twenty-five. Sources: https://innago.com/pricing/ and https://innago.com/faq/
| Cost line | Innago | RentalNoodle |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord monthly software | $0 advertised | Free (1 property) or paid Pro/Portfolio |
| Per ACH rent payment | ~$2 tenant-paid (typical) | No RN platform fee on ACH |
| Card rent | ~2.99% tenant-paid (typical) | Stripe rates if enabled |
| Screening | ~$30–$35 tenant-paid | SmartMove link-out; separate vendor pricing |
| Multi-property free | Innago free model — confirm property limits | Only 1 property on Free |
On a $1,500/mo rent, a $2 ACH fee is small but real for tenants every month. Twelve payments × $2 × multiple tenants adds up across a portfolio. Model tenant-facing fees before you call either product “free.”
Who each product suits
| Situation | Often better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord wants $0 subscription on many doors | Innago | Free-for-landlord model (tenant fees fund the stack) |
| One property, minimize both landlord and platform ACH fees | Compare both | RentalNoodle Free (1 property) vs Innago with ~$2 ACH |
| Inspections, maintenance depth, Investor Map | RentalNoodle | Ops-first product; confirm Innago against your checklist |
| Tenant-paid screening under ~$35 | Innago | Published tenant-paid screening band ~$30–$35 |
| Late fee automation on ACH pulls | Neither as full autopilot | RentalNoodle tracks late fees but does not auto-add to ACH |
Limitations to weigh honestly
Innago limitations (practical)
- Free landlord pricing shifts cost to tenants via ACH (~$2) and card (~2.99%)
- Screening ~$30–$35 tenant-paid — disclose in applications
- Confirm property limits, syndication, and inspection tools vs your standards
- “Free” may still mean paid premium features elsewhere
- Switching payment processors mid-lease needs clear tenant notice
RentalNoodle limitations (implemented facts)
- Free is only 1 property — Innago may fit more doors at $0 landlord subscription
- Paid Pro required for more properties (up to 5) and Portfolio for up to 25
- No listing syndication
- SmartMove link-out — not Innago-style bundled tenant screening UX
- Late fees tracked but not automatically added to ACH
- Schedule E prep exports are not tax filing
Operations after move-in
Innago competes in the same “free landlord software” aisle as Avail and TurboTenant: strong on applications, leases, and rent collection with tenant fees. RentalNoodle emphasizes the ongoing ops hub — maintenance, inspections, electronic lease execution of your documents, and finance prep exports — with a smaller free property cap. If vacancy and applicant flow dominate your year, Innago’s free landlord sticker may win. If move-in documentation and repair history dominate, weigh RentalNoodle’s ops tools against Innago’s feature list live.
Common questions
Is Innago really free?
Innago markets free software for landlords (2026-10-12). Tenants commonly pay about $2 ACH and about 2.99% for cards per Innago FAQ/pricing. That is free for the landlord ledger, not necessarily free for the household paying rent.
Does RentalNoodle charge tenants a platform ACH fee?
RentalNoodle does not charge a platform fee on ACH via Stripe Connect. Stripe and banking rules still apply. Card payments follow Stripe if you enable them.
Which is better for three properties on a tight budget?
Innago’s $0 landlord subscription may beat RentalNoodle Free (one property only) unless you upgrade to Pro ($102/yr for up to five). Compare total tenant ACH fees across three tenants against Pro’s annual cost.
Decision checklist
Before you choose
- Count properties — Innago free vs RentalNoodle Free (1) vs Pro (5)
- Multiply ~$2 ACH × tenants × 12 months
- Compare screening: Innago tenant-paid ~$30–$35 vs SmartMove link-out
- Confirm syndication needs — RentalNoodle has none today
- Re-verify https://innago.com/pricing/ and /pricing on subscribe day
Example: You have one tenant and care about $2/month ACH friction. RentalNoodle Free plus Stripe Connect may be worth Pro later. You have five doors and refuse a landlord subscription — Innago’s model may fit if tenants accept disclosed fees and the ops feature set matches.
Authoritative sources
Related guides
Compare true cost of “free”
RentalNoodle Free: 1 property. Pro $12/mo or $102/yr for up to 5 properties with a 14-day trial. ACH has no RentalNoodle platform fee via Stripe Connect.
View RentalNoodle pricingEducational content for independent landlords. RentalNoodle is property management software — not a law firm, CPA firm, or government agency. Rules vary by state and locality. Confirm legal and tax questions with qualified professionals.