Looking for a Buildium alternative? Meet Kera
If you're leaving Buildium over transaction fees, a dated mobile app, or paywalled support, here's what to look for in a replacement — and how Kera measures up.
Buildium is a capable platform, but it isn't the right fit for everyone. The most common reasons people start shopping for an alternative are consistent: per-transaction fees that make the real bill unpredictable, a mobile app that lags the desktop experience, phone support locked behind the Growth tier, and — for Canadian managers — no support for CRA tax forms. If any of those sound familiar, here's how to evaluate a replacement.
Why managers leave Buildium
- Transaction fees: $2.35 per EFT on Essential and $5 per eSignature add up fast, so the invoice rarely matches the advertised price.
- Support access: live phone support requires the Growth plan ($192/mo); lower tiers lean on chat and email.
- Mobile gaps: reviewers report the mobile app missing details and functionality the desktop has.
- Canadian compliance: no T4A/T776, and LTB forms handled manually, despite paying full price.
What to look for in a replacement
Whatever you choose, demand three things. First, pricing you can predict — a flat or clearly bounded subscription, and payment processing that's transparent rather than marked up. Second, a real migration path, ideally one that previews your data before committing. Third, compliance that matches where you actually operate, today and as you grow.
How Kera measures up
Kera as a Buildium alternative
| Feature | Kera | Buildium |
|---|---|---|
| Predictable pricing | Flat tiers, no per-door fees; pass-through payments, no markup | Subscription + per-transaction fees |
| Migration | AI import with preview | Manual / assisted |
| Phone support | All plans | Growth tier and up |
| Canada (T4A/T776, TRESA) | Yes | No |
| US (1099, Schedule E) | Yes | Yes |
| Owner portal & statements | Yes | Yes |
Kera is the modern all-in-one: accounting, leasing, maintenance, owner and tenant portals, and an AI assistant, with a flat subscription and no per-door fees, and payment processing passed through at Stripe's rates with no Kera markup so you choose whether you or the tenant covers it. Its AI-powered import moves your portfolio over with a preview you approve first. And its accounting is built for both Canadian (T4A, T776, GST/HST, TRESA-aligned trust) and US (1099-NEC, Schedule E, state lease law) operators — so it fits whether you're switching within the US or running properties in Canada.
When Buildium is still the better call
If HOA/community-association management is central to your business, Buildium's association tooling is more mature than Kera's today. And if you rely on a niche integration from Buildium's marketplace, confirm Kera supports it before you move. We'd rather you switch for the right reasons than switch and regret it.
Will I lose data moving off Buildium?
No. Kera's AI import reads your Buildium exports and stages properties, leases, tenants, owners, and balances into a preview you approve before anything is written. Historical leases come in as records without re-signing.
Does Kera mark up payment fees like Buildium?
No. Kera doesn't add its own markup to payments the way Buildium's per-transaction EFT fee does — you pay Stripe's standard processing rates and decide whether you or the tenant covers them. Kera's subscription is a flat monthly tier with no per-door fees.
I'm in the US — is Kera only for Canada?
No. Kera fully supports US property managers (1099-NEC, Schedule E, US state lease law) and adds Canadian and cross-border capabilities on top.
Make the switch boring
Import your Buildium data, preview it, and go live — with flat pricing and support on every plan.
