Buildium is mid-market property management software for professional PM companies (50 to 1,000 units). Shuk is built for independent landlords with 1 to 100 units. This page covers where they overlap, where they differ, and the cost gap most prospects don't see until they're on Buildium for six months.
The 30-second view on which platform fits which landlord.
You manage 50 or more units for third-party owners, need state-compliant trust accounting, owner statements, and 1099 e-filing built into the platform.
You manage 1 to 200 units, want predictable flat pricing, and want zero per-transaction fees creeping in.
Buildium is a mid-market PM platform owned by RealPage. The $62/mo sticker becomes $200-$400/mo effective once per-transaction fees stack: $2.35 per EFT, $5 per eSignature, $99 per bank account, $17-$35 per screening. Shuk's $5 per unit flat with zero ACH fees stays predictable, and our multi-user PM features are rolling out this week.
Pricing, fees, features, and the things landlords ask about most.
Product features that exist on Shuk's platform today and have no equivalent on Avail.
Send us your units and details and we will set everything up for you.
We help set up rent collection and guide you through how to confidently use Shuk.
We guide renters through onboarding and make sure your portfolio is fully activated.
Landlord pricing, tenant fees, and included features across both platforms.
Buildium's entry tier
Starts at $62/mo for up to 20 units, scales per door. Plus $2.35 per incoming EFT, $5 per eSignature, $99 per bank account setup, $17-$35 per screening.
Buildium's mid tier
Live phone support included. Reduced per-transaction fees. Designed for 50+ unit PM companies.
All-in flat pricing
No setup fees, no per-transaction fees. Volume discount at 5+ units.
"Shuk Rentals has helped me receive tenant payments faster than competing platforms. The built-in service provider feature also gives landlords access to reliable, high-quality professionals, making maintenance and repairs easier and more efficient."
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Dan M.
"Shuk allowed me to secure trustworthy tenants more than 60 days prior to lease end date. Tenants searched for my property based on lease dates. For a small property owner, any vacancy is a huge hit, so this feature gave me incredible peace of mind."
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David B.
"Recently started using Shuk and it makes my experience as a renter so smooth and easy! Easy to get set up and super convenient to have access to everything in one place."
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Amanda S.
"I love the lease renewal indicator tool. That is super cool."
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Lori G.
"The Lease Indication Tool is a standout-it helps me predict which tenants are likely to renew, so I can plan ahead, avoid vacancies, and keep providing great places to live. It's smart, intuitive, and makes property management easier and more rewarding than ever!"
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Leule A.
Our founding team includes landlords with 15+ years of experience managing their own properties. Shuk was built to solve the problems we lived every day.
Find answers to common questions about our products and services
How does Shuk help me reduce vacancies and improve lease renewals?
What happens if a tenant doesn’t renew—how does Shuk help?
Can I see how Shuk works before committing?
Are there fees for ACH (bank) payments via Shuk?
What does Shuk cost?
How quickly can I set up my properties on Shuk?
Is Shuk secure for processing rent payments?
What landlords typically ask when comparing Shuk to this platform.
The Essential plan sticker is $62/mo but reviewers consistently report the effective cost runs $200 to $400 per month once per-transaction fees stack on. Specifically: $2.35 per incoming EFT, $0.99 per outgoing EFT, $5 per eSignature, $99 per bank account setup, $17 to $35 per screening pass-through, plus $50 batch + $4.50 per form for 1099 e-filing. At 50 units with normal transaction volume, effective annual cost lands around $3,150 against Shuk's flat $3,000 per year (no transaction stack).
For most landlords under 50 units, Buildium is overkill. The Essential plan is designed to scale into the 50 to 1,000 unit range; the per-transaction fee stack hits smaller portfolios harder because EFT volume is roughly constant per unit regardless of plan tier. At 25 units, Buildium Essential effective annual cost lands around $2,250 (sticker plus realistic fees), versus Shuk at $1,500 per year flat. The differential widens as your tenant ACH volume grows.
Buildium's strongest feature is full trust accounting with segregated owner funds, automated owner statements, and native 1099 e-filing. If your portfolio requires that exact depth (typically 200+ units for third-party owners with state trust-accounting requirements), Buildium has built around it for years. Shuk's multi-user and owner-facing capabilities are rolling out this week and will continue to expand. For most landlords and PMs under 200 units, Shuk's base plan covers what you actually use day to day.
Buildium has been owned by RealPage since December 2019. In August 2024, the DOJ and eight state AGs filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage over its YieldStar / AI Revenue Management software (used by large multifamily operators, not Buildium customers). The case settled in November 2025 with no admission of wrongdoing, no damages, and a 3-year court-appointed monitor on RealPage's pricing-recommendation business. Buildium is NOT named in the case; YieldStar is a different RealPage product targeting a different market segment. Whether RealPage ownership matters to you is a personal call. Buildium's day-to-day product is not affected by the settlement.
Buildium charges tenants $2.35 per incoming EFT on Essential, $1.35 on Growth, $0.60 on Premium (after the first 12 EFTs per year free). Plus 2.99% on credit card payments. Plus $5 per eSignature on Essential. Plus $99 per bank account setup. Plus $17 to $35 per screening pass-through. Shuk charges nothing per transaction on any plan. The ACH cost is absorbed on both sides (landlord and tenant). On a 1-bedroom rented at $1,800/month, a tenant on Buildium Essential absorbs $28.20 per year in EFT fees that Shuk eliminates entirely.
Shuk's onboarding team migrates your properties, tenants, leases, and historical payment records. Most setups are live in less than a week. You can run both platforms in parallel during the transition month so no rent collection cycle is interrupted. Bookkeeping data exports cleanly, and tenants get a Shuk invite during migration with the same login pattern they're used to.
Book a free 20-minute call with Oliver. He's managed rentals for 15 years. Whatever you're dealing with, he's probably dealt with it too.
We'll handle the migration. You'll be set up in less than a week.
