Buildium is built for large property managers. Lodgic is built for you.
Buildium is enterprise property management software starting at $55/month, designed for professional property management companies with dozens of long-term units. If you’re an STR host with 1–20 properties, you’re paying for a tool that was never built for your business.
The price difference is significant.
Buildium starts at $55/month and goes up from there. Lodgic starts at $8/month, and covers more STR-specific ground than Buildium does for a fraction of the cost.
Enterprise software for a problem you don’t have.
Buildium is powerful for a property management company running 50+ long-term rental units. For an STR host with 1–20 properties, it’s expensive, complex, and built for someone else entirely.
Starts at $55/month
Buildium’s entry price is $55/month, more than 6x what Lodgic costs. And that’s before you factor in the complexity tax of learning software built for a completely different use case.
Built for long-term property managers
Buildium is designed for property management companies managing dozens of long-term units: tenant screening, lease management, rent collection. None of that applies to an STR host.
No STR-specific bookkeeping
Buildium has accounting features but they’re not built around IRS Schedule E for rental hosts. There’s no guided monthly book closing, no AI receipt scanning, and no STR-specific tax categories.
Steep learning curve
Buildium takes significant time to set up and configure. It’s built for teams, not solo hosts. Most STR hosts who try Buildium abandon it within weeks because the complexity far outweighs the value.
STR-specific bookkeeping. Up and running in 10 minutes.
Lodgic Books is built around how STR hosts actually manage their finances: IRS Schedule E categories pre-loaded, AI receipt scanning from your phone, per-property P&L reports, and guided monthly book closing. No setup required. No accountant needed.
- ✓IRS Schedule E categories pre-loaded from day one
- ✓AI receipt scanning. Snap a photo, it’s logged
- ✓Per-property P&L reports with one click
- ✓Guided monthly book closing. Takes minutes
- ✓CPA-ready reports at tax time
Property operations built for how STR hosts actually work.
Buildium’s property management features are designed for professional property managers with leases, tenants, and long-term units. Lodgic Manage is built for STR hosts: contractor contacts, maintenance logs, document storage, knowledge bases, and inventory, all organized by property.
- ✓Contractor management with ratings and history
- ✓Service and maintenance logs per property
- ✓Document storage with expiry alerts
- ✓Knowledge base: WiFi, check-in, instructions per property
- ✓Inventory and furnishings tracking
Lodgic vs. Buildium.
For STR hosts specifically, not enterprise property management companies.
| Feature | ✦ Lodgic | Buildium |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $8/mo | $55/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ Forever | ✕ |
| No credit card to start | ✓ | ✕ |
| STR Bookkeeping | ||
| IRS Schedule E categories | ✓ Built in | Generic accounting |
| AI receipt scanning | ✓ Full AI | ✕ |
| Per-property P&L reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly book closing | ✓ Guided | ✕ |
| CPA-ready reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property Operations | ||
| STR-specific workflows | ✓ | ✕ LTR-focused |
| Contractor management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document storage with alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Knowledge base per property | ✓ | ✕ |
| Inventory tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
| Tenant screening & leases | ✕ Not needed | ✓ LTR feature |
| Setup & Usability | ||
| Time to set up | ~10 minutes | Hours to days |
| Built for solo STR hosts | ✓ 100% | ✕ Built for teams |
Who should use which.
Buildium is great software, just not for STR hosts with fewer than 20 properties.
Choose Lodgic if you…
- Self-manage 1–20 short-term rental properties
- Need STR-specific bookkeeping with IRS Schedule E
- Want AI receipt scanning from your phone in the field
- Need a tool that’s up and running in under 10 minutes
- Want to pay $8/mo instead of $55+/mo for features you don’t need
Buildium might work if you…
- Run a professional property management company
- Manage 50+ long-term rental units for multiple owners
- Need tenant screening, lease management, and rent collection
- Have a dedicated operations team who can manage the setup
- Budget allows for $55–$460+/month in software costs
See how Lodgic compares to others.
$8/month. Not $55. Start free today.
Everything Buildium doesn’t do for STR hosts, at a fraction of the price. No credit card required.
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