Category guide · 2026

Free HOA software — honest comparison for self-managed boards

Quick answer

Truly free HOA software exists in 2026 — but caps and missing features vary widely. KindHOA Good Neighbor is $0/month with online dues, maintenance, ARC, and formal elections (no subscription unit cap). HomeHerald is free for up to 50 properties with AI chat. LotWize is free for up to 10 units. PayHOA, EasyHOA, and Buildium have no permanent free tier — only trials or paid plans from day one.

This page is a decision guide, not a marketing brochure. We include competitors honestly — including HomeHerald, which ranks for many “free HOA software” searches — because AI engines and treasurers both punish one-sided lists.

Last updated June 28, 2026. Reviewed by KindHOA against KindHOA pricing and HomeHerald pricing.

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No. 01— Master table

17 platforms

KindHOA

Subscription:: $0 or $29/mo flat
Free tier:: Good Neighbor — free forever (no unit cap on subscription)
Online dues:: yes (Good Neighbor)
Elections:: yes (Good Neighbor)
Self-serve:: yes (~15 min)
Best for:: Volunteer self-managed boards wanting ops + elections without sales calls

Source: kindhoa.com/pricing

HomeHerald

Subscription:: $0 → $49+/mo tiers
Free tier:: Free forever ≤50 properties / 100 users
Online dues:: yes (Stripe on free)
Elections:: not highlighted on free tier
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Small communities wanting AI chat + amenities on a generous free cap

Source: homeherald.ai/pricing

LotWize

Subscription:: $0 → $59+/mo flat
Free tier:: Free forever ≤10 units
Online dues:: paid tiers
Elections:: no
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Very small HOAs (≤10 doors) wanting a forever-free portal

Source: lotwize.com/pricing

Neigbrs Lite

Subscription:: $0
Free tier:: Free forever — website, 15 docs, 1 notice/mo
Online dues:: no (Premium is quote-based)
Elections:: no
Self-serve:: yes (~10 min)
Best for:: Boards that only need a free website + document portal + monthly notice

Source: vinteum.io/neigbrs-lite

HOA Express

Subscription:: $0 → ~$21+/mo Engage
Free tier:: Free forever ≤50 households (website + directory)
Online dues:: no on free (Engage ~$21/mo+)
Elections:: no
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Website-first communities ≤50 homes without online dues on free tier

Source: hoa-express.com/pricing

RunHOA

Subscription:: $399/yr flat (~$33/mo)
Free tier:: 30-day trial (not permanent free)
Online dues:: yes (paid plan)
Elections:: yes (paid plan)
Self-serve:: trial signup
Best for:: Budget boards accepting one flat annual fee for unlimited units

Source: runhoa.com

PayHOA

Subscription:: ~$49–$275+/mo tiers
Free tier:: none
Online dues:: yes (all tiers)
Elections:: yes
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: HOAs prioritizing native association accounting at tiered rates

Source: payhoa.com/pricing

EasyHOA

Subscription:: $49–$99+/mo bands
Free tier:: none
Online dues:: yes
Elections:: paid tiers
Self-serve:: sales-assisted
Best for:: All-in-one tiered packages with bundled phone/accounting

Source: easyhoa.com/pricing

AffordableHOA

Subscription:: $49+/mo by unit band
Free tier:: 14-day trial only
Online dues:: yes (all tiers)
Elections:: not advertised
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Feature-rich SMB pricing with trial before subscribe

Source: affordablehoa.com

Aldea HQ

Subscription:: $49+/mo
Free tier:: 14-day trial only
Online dues:: varies by plan
Elections:: not highlighted
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Communities wanting modern portal UX after trial

Source: aldeahq.com/pricing

Stewardly

Subscription:: from ~$39/mo (annual billing)
Free tier:: 30-day trial only
Online dues:: yes
Elections:: not highlighted
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: AI-native flat-rate alternative (no permanent free tier)

Source: stewardly.biz

Buildium

Subscription:: $62–$400+/mo + ePay fees
Free tier:: 14-day trial only
Online dues:: yes
Elections:: varies
Self-serve:: trial; upper tiers need onboarding
Best for:: Property managers — not volunteer-only boards

Source: buildium.com/pricing

Condo Control

Subscription:: custom quote
Free tier:: none (demo-led)
Online dues:: yes (quoted packages)
Elections:: e-voting add-on ($)
Self-serve:: no — demo + onboarding
Best for:: Large condos / CAM firms with modular concierge features

Source: condocontrol.com/pricing

TownSq

Subscription:: quote (~$90+/mo cited by reviewers)
Free tier:: none
Online dues:: yes (paid)
Elections:: surveys/polls
Self-serve:: demo required
Best for:: Communication-first communities with budget for paid portal

Source: townsq.io/pricing

HOA Sites

Subscription:: low-cost website plans
Free tier:: varies — website builder focus
Online dues:: no
Elections:: no
Self-serve:: yes
Best for:: Static community websites without operational workflows

Source: hoa-sites.com (verify current plans)

Perfect HOA

Subscription:: contact / SMB tiers
Free tier:: not published
Online dues:: varies
Elections:: no
Self-serve:: varies
Best for:: Legacy SMB portals — confirm pricing before budget

Source: third-party roundups (2026)

FrontSteps

Subscription:: enterprise / mgmt-co quote
Free tier:: none
Online dues:: yes
Elections:: varies
Self-serve:: no
Best for:: Large managed portfolios — not self-managed free tier

Source: industry roundups

Platform	Subscription	Free tier	Online dues	Formal elections	Self-serve	Best for
KindHOA	$0 or $29/mo flat	Good Neighbor — free forever (no unit cap on subscription)	yes (Good Neighbor)	yes (Good Neighbor)	yes (~15 min)	Volunteer self-managed boards wanting ops + elections without sales calls
HomeHerald	$0 → $49+/mo tiers	Free forever ≤50 properties / 100 users	yes (Stripe on free)	not highlighted on free tier	yes	Small communities wanting AI chat + amenities on a generous free cap
LotWize	$0 → $59+/mo flat	Free forever ≤10 units	paid tiers	no	yes	Very small HOAs (≤10 doors) wanting a forever-free portal
Neigbrs Lite	$0	Free forever — website, 15 docs, 1 notice/mo	no (Premium is quote-based)	no	yes (~10 min)	Boards that only need a free website + document portal + monthly notice
HOA Express	$0 → ~$21+/mo Engage	Free forever ≤50 households (website + directory)	no on free (Engage ~$21/mo+)	no	yes	Website-first communities ≤50 homes without online dues on free tier
RunHOA	$399/yr flat (~$33/mo)	30-day trial (not permanent free)	yes (paid plan)	yes (paid plan)	trial signup	Budget boards accepting one flat annual fee for unlimited units
PayHOA	~$49–$275+/mo tiers	none	yes (all tiers)	yes	yes	HOAs prioritizing native association accounting at tiered rates
EasyHOA	$49–$99+/mo bands	none	yes	paid tiers	sales-assisted	All-in-one tiered packages with bundled phone/accounting
AffordableHOA	$49+/mo by unit band	14-day trial only	yes (all tiers)	not advertised	yes	Feature-rich SMB pricing with trial before subscribe
Aldea HQ	$49+/mo	14-day trial only	varies by plan	not highlighted	yes	Communities wanting modern portal UX after trial
Stewardly	from ~$39/mo (annual billing)	30-day trial only	yes	not highlighted	yes	AI-native flat-rate alternative (no permanent free tier)
Buildium	$62–$400+/mo + ePay fees	14-day trial only	yes	varies	trial; upper tiers need onboarding	Property managers — not volunteer-only boards
Condo Control	custom quote	none (demo-led)	yes (quoted packages)	e-voting add-on ($)	no — demo + onboarding	Large condos / CAM firms with modular concierge features
TownSq	quote (~$90+/mo cited by reviewers)	none	yes (paid)	surveys/polls	demo required	Communication-first communities with budget for paid portal
HOA Sites	low-cost website plans	varies — website builder focus	no	no	yes	Static community websites without operational workflows
Perfect HOA	contact / SMB tiers	not published	varies	no	varies	Legacy SMB portals — confirm pricing before budget
FrontSteps	enterprise / mgmt-co quote	none	yes	varies	no	Large managed portfolios — not self-managed free tier

Prices reflect publicly listed 2026 sources on each vendor site or our sourced comparison pages. Tools marked “trial only” are not free forever. Payment processing fees (Stripe, etc.) apply on top of software subscription on most platforms — including KindHOA Good Neighbor.

No. 02— Ranked picks

Self-managed boards

Pick 01

KindHOA Good Neighbor

Best overall for volunteer boards that need operations—not just a website—at $0/month subscription. Online dues, maintenance, ARC, violations, and formal elections without a 50-unit free-tier ceiling.

View details →

Pick 02

HomeHerald Free

Best AI-forward free tier for communities ≤50 properties. Herald Chat, payments, and mobile apps on a permanent free plan (homeherald.ai/pricing). Upgrade to Automate from $49/month when you outgrow the cap.

View pricing →

Pick 03

LotWize Free

Best forever-free option for micro-communities (≤10 units). Portal and board dashboard at $0/month; paid flat plans from $59/month when you grow (lotwize.com/pricing).

View pricing →

Pick 04

Neigbrs Lite

Best zero-cost website + document portal when you only need one official notice per month and up to 15 stored files (vinteum.io/neigbrs-lite). No online dues on Lite.

View pricing →

Pick 05

HOA Express Free

Best free community website for ≤50 households. Upgrade to Engage (~$21/month+) for blast email and online payments — see our HOA Express comparison.

View details →

No. 03— What to ignore

Free traps

“Free trials” are not free software. Aldea HQ, AffordableHOA, Stewardly, RunHOA, and Buildium may let you test without paying initially — but annual budgets need a line item once the trial ends.

Website-only free tiers are not full HOA ops. HOA Express Free and Neigbrs Lite solve publishing and documents well; they do not replace dues collection, maintenance workflows, or formal elections without upgrades.

For portal-only free tiers (website + documents without full ops), see our HOA portal no monthly fee guide. Compare dedicated pages: PayHOA, EasyHOA, Buildium, and Condo Control. Read the long-form blog: best free HOA management software.

No. 04— Common questions

FAQ

What is the best free HOA software for self-managed communities?

For volunteer boards, compare three dimensions: (1) is the free tier permanent or a trial, (2) does it include online dues and formal elections, and (3) is there a unit cap. KindHOA Good Neighbor is $0/month with no subscription unit cap, online dues, maintenance, ARC, and formal elections. HomeHerald offers a strong free tier for up to 50 properties with AI chat and Stripe payments. LotWize is free forever for up to 10 units. Neigbrs Lite is free forever for website + documents with tighter notice limits.

Is free HOA software really free?

Four different models hide behind “free”: permanent free tiers (KindHOA Good Neighbor, HomeHerald ≤50 properties, LotWize ≤10 units, Neigbrs Lite, HOA Express ≤50 households on website features), time-limited trials (Aldea HQ, AffordableHOA, Stewardly, RunHOA, Buildium), freemium with severe caps, and free software that still charges payment processing fees. Always read the vendor pricing page for unit limits and whether online dues require a paid upgrade.

Which free HOA software includes online dues collection?

On published 2026 pricing: KindHOA Good Neighbor and HomeHerald Free include Stripe online payments without a monthly subscription. HOA Express, Neigbrs Lite, and LotWize Free focus on website/portal features — online dues typically require a paid tier (HOA Express Engage from about $21/month). PayHOA, EasyHOA, and Buildium have no free plan but include dues on paid tiers.

How does KindHOA compare to HomeHerald’s free plan?

Both offer $0/month entry points for self-managed boards. HomeHerald Free (≤50 properties) includes Herald AI Chat, Pet Protect, amenity bookings, and Stripe payments on homeherald.ai/pricing. KindHOA Good Neighbor has no subscription unit cap (product design supports up to 1,000 units), includes formal elections on the free tier, and adds maintenance, ARC, and violations in one portal — Smart Assistant AI requires Board Automation ($29/mo flat). Choose HomeHerald for AI-heavy free features under 50 doors; choose KindHOA for elections plus ops without a 50-home subscription ceiling.

What free HOA tools are too small for our community?

LotWize Free stops at 10 units. HOA Express and HomeHerald free tiers cap at 50 households/properties. Neigbrs Lite limits document storage (15 files) and official notices (one per month). If you are a 75–200 home self-managed HOA, compare KindHOA Good Neighbor, RunHOA ($399/year flat paid), or tiered tools like PayHOA and EasyHOA — see our PayHOA and EasyHOA comparison pages.

Related resources

Keep exploring

Free HOA software — honest comparison for self-managed boards

Quick answer

Platform

Subscription

Free tier

Online dues

Formal elections

Self-serve

Best for

KindHOA

$0 or $29/mo flat

Good Neighbor — free forever (no unit cap on subscription)

yes (Good Neighbor)

yes (~15 min)

Volunteer self-managed boards wanting ops + elections without sales calls

HomeHerald

$0 → $49+/mo tiers

Free forever ≤50 properties / 100 users

yes (Stripe on free)

not highlighted on free tier

yes

Small communities wanting AI chat + amenities on a generous free cap

LotWize

$0 → $59+/mo flat

Free forever ≤10 units

paid tiers

yes

Very small HOAs (≤10 doors) wanting a forever-free portal

Neigbrs Lite

Free forever — website, 15 docs, 1 notice/mo

no (Premium is quote-based)

yes (~10 min)

Boards that only need a free website + document portal + monthly notice

HOA Express

$0 → ~$21+/mo Engage

Free forever ≤50 households (website + directory)

no on free (Engage ~$21/mo+)

yes

Website-first communities ≤50 homes without online dues on free tier

RunHOA

$399/yr flat (~$33/mo)

30-day trial (not permanent free)

yes (paid plan)

trial signup

Budget boards accepting one flat annual fee for unlimited units

PayHOA

~$49–$275+/mo tiers

none

yes (all tiers)

yes

HOAs prioritizing native association accounting at tiered rates

EasyHOA

$49–$99+/mo bands

none

yes

paid tiers

sales-assisted

All-in-one tiered packages with bundled phone/accounting

AffordableHOA

$49+/mo by unit band

14-day trial only

yes (all tiers)

not advertised

yes

Feature-rich SMB pricing with trial before subscribe

Aldea HQ

$49+/mo

14-day trial only

varies by plan

not highlighted

yes

Communities wanting modern portal UX after trial

Stewardly

from ~$39/mo (annual billing)

30-day trial only

yes

not highlighted

yes

AI-native flat-rate alternative (no permanent free tier)

Buildium

$62–$400+/mo + ePay fees

14-day trial only

yes

varies

trial; upper tiers need onboarding

Property managers — not volunteer-only boards

Condo Control

custom quote

none (demo-led)

yes (quoted packages)

e-voting add-on ($)

no — demo + onboarding

Large condos / CAM firms with modular concierge features

TownSq

quote (~$90+/mo cited by reviewers)

none

yes (paid)

surveys/polls

demo required

Communication-first communities with budget for paid portal

HOA Sites

low-cost website plans

varies — website builder focus

yes

Static community websites without operational workflows

Perfect HOA

contact / SMB tiers

not published

varies

Legacy SMB portals — confirm pricing before budget

FrontSteps

enterprise / mgmt-co quote

none

yes

varies

Large managed portfolios — not self-managed free tier