Yardi vs ExactEstate: Choosing the Right Property Management Software

Updated May 2026

TL;DR

Yardi has been the industry's enterprise standard for decades, and for massive multi-entity portfolios with complex accounting needs, it earns that reputation. For everyone else — affordable housing operators, mid-market portfolios, anyone tired of paying for modules they barely use — Yardi is slow, expensive, and harder to justify than it needs to be. ExactEstate delivers full affordable housing compliance tooling at $3/unit/month flat, with everything included and live U.S.-based support available to every customer regardless of size. For related operational guidance, review affordable housing compliance software.

Why this comparison matters

Selecting the right software in property management can make or break your operational efficiency. We’ll unpack a suite of considerations for managers who are shopping for software. We’ll also explore lesser-known aspects of good PMS platforms, like the ethics of your software provider. A provider committed to ethical business practices can help you avoid legal pitfalls.

We're comparing two notable players in the field: Yardi, a long-standing industry giant, and ExactEstate, an innovative newcomer making waves with its user-centric approach. Here’s how the two stack up against each other.

Ease of Use

Yardi

Yardi offers a comprehensive suite of tools, but many users report a steep learning curve. One reviewer mentioned spending "a full day on a Yardi task" due to its complexity. This can lead to inefficiencies and frustration for property managers who need to focus on their core responsibilities. Some say the learning curve has a payoff, but onboarding isn’t the smoothest.

ExactEstate

ExactEstate prides itself on its intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Their platform is designed for quick adoption, emphasizing simplicity with efficiency and smooth onboarding. Users can quickly learn to navigate the system effortlessly, allowing them to spend more time managing properties rather than learning software.

Customization

Yardi

Yardi sells extensive customization options, catering to various property types, from multifamily to senior living, when users pay for it. While this is beneficial, some users wish the platform was more flexible.

ExactEstate

ExactEstate takes customization to the next level. Their platform allows for advanced property customizations, letting users set custom rules for each property and tailor workflows to fit specific needs. This level of personalization ensures that property managers can operate in a way that best suits their unique requirements.

Customer Support

Yardi

While Yardi has a strong reputation in the industry, challenges with customer support response times are often reported.  Delays in assistance can hinder operations and create frustration for users needing immediate support.

ExactEstate

ExactEstate offers live U.S.-based customer support. This commitment to exceptional service ensures that users receive timely assistance whenever needed, fostering a positive user experience.

Transparent Pricing

Yardi

Yardi's pricing is high, and its structure can be complex, with various modules and add-ons that may lead to unexpected costs. This lack of transparency can concern businesses trying to manage their budgets effectively. Users are often disappointed that features they want are locked behind paywalls. 

ExactEstate

ExactEstate offers a transparent and simple pricing model with no hidden fees, upcharges, or premium plans - just $3.00 per unit per month. This transparency allows businesses to plan their budgets accurately without worrying about unexpected costs down the line.

Integrations

Yardi

Yardi offers extensive integration capabilities with a wide range of third-party systems and services, including accounting software, payment gateways, marketing tools, maintenance systems, and document management solutions. However, users often report that setting up and maintaining these integrations can be challenging and time-consuming due to the complexity of Yardi's system.

ExactEstate

ExactEstate takes a more streamlined approach, adding API integrations to its existing built-in features to facilitate easier connections with other software. ExactEstate focuses on seamless data flow and user-friendly setup processes. This flexibility allows clients to build custom integrations and connect the tools they need more efficiently. 

Commitment to Ethics

Yardi

Yardi’s ethical standing has recently been scrutinized due to a class action lawsuit filed against them and several property management companies. In response to these allegations, Yardi has published explanations of how their pricing system works, attempting to address misconceptions and demonstrate transparency. However, the legal challenge raises questions about the ethical implications of pricing tools in the rental market and how they impact fair competition and housing affordability.

ExactEstate

ExactEstate is committed to ethical business practices and follows all applicable laws and regulations. We do not use illegal pricing tools or methods, including sharing other users' data, to recommend rent rates. Our platform offers tools and data to help property owners and managers make informed decisions about their rental properties, but we do not provide specific rent rate suggestions.

Fraud Detection

Yardi

Yardi offers fraud prevention tools for property managers, including ScreeningWorks Pro, which provides background checks, credit reports, and eviction history searches. For their higher-paying clients, their ID Verify feature uses biometric technology and AI to authenticate government-issued IDs and match them with applicant selfies, effectively detecting fake IDs. Yardi's Income Verification module accesses over 350 million records from major employers to quickly verify applicant income claims. But again, some of these features are locked behind paywalls. 

ExactEstate

ExactEstate is enhancing its fraud prevention capabilities through a partnership with TenantAlert. They offer ID fraud detection, pre-qualification screening, and bank verification services that provide up to 90 days of transaction history. With TenantAlert, ExactEstate hopes to shield against emerging fraud trends in the property management industry with TenantAlert's innovative technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yardi worth it for a portfolio under 200 units?

In most cases, no. Most Yardi modules carry a 200-unit minimum, which means smaller operators either get pushed toward Yardi Breeze — which has real compliance limitations for affordable housing — or end up paying enterprise prices for capabilities sized for a much larger operation. ExactEstate has no unit minimum and includes the full platform at $3/unit/month, starting with the first unit.

What does Yardi actually cost compared to ExactEstate?

Yardi doesn't publish pricing, and the modules quoted at signup rarely reflect the eventual run-rate cost once compliance, screening, e-signature, marketing, and analytics modules are layered in. Customers commonly report final costs running well above initial expectations. ExactEstate is $3/unit/month flat with everything included — for a 500-unit portfolio, that's $1,500/month total, with no module fees on top.

Does ExactEstate cover the same affordable housing programs as Yardi?

Yes. ExactEstate supports LIHTC, Section 8 Project-Based and Tenant-Based, Section 202, Section 811, USDA Rural Development, HOME, Tax-Exempt Bond, Public Housing, RAD conversions, and state HFA programs. Layered certifications across multiple programs in the same unit are supported. HOTMA-compliant relationship codes, the $50,000 asset de minimis, and the combined disability and medical deduction stack are all built into the data model — not sold as a compliance add-on.

What is the Yardi RevenueIQ lawsuit, and should I be concerned?

The ongoing class-action litigation against Yardi and other vendors alleges that algorithmic rent-pricing tools drawing on aggregated customer data may facilitate price coordination among landlords. Yardi disputes the allegations, and the case remains active. Operators using algorithmic pricing tools should track the outcome with their counsel. ExactEstate provides market reporting and occupancy analytics to help operators make their own decisions, but does not recommend specific rent rates or pool customer data for that purpose.

How long does implementation take compared to Yardi?

Yardi implementations are typically measured in months — the configuration scope is large, integrations are numerous, and the professional services engagement is involved. ExactEstate implementations are typically measured in days. MAT file import handles HUD data, CSV and Excel bulk imports cover the chart of accounts, units, residents, designations, and balances, and a dedicated Customer Success Manager owns the launch from Day 1.

If Yardi is the industry standard, why would I switch?

Yardi is the right answer for enterprise portfolios that need maximal customization, deep multi-entity accounting, and the broadest integration catalog — and have the budget and staff to deploy it all. The most consistent feedback we hear from operators who switched is some version of: "We were paying for modules our team didn't know how to use and getting support that didn't answer." If that pattern sounds familiar, the math on switching is worth running.

Key takeaways

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