If you own a handful of rental units, you've probably come across TurboTenant. It's one of the best-known "free landlord software" platforms, and it handles a lot: listings, applications, screening, leases, and rent collection. So why do landlords keep searching for a TurboTenant alternative? Usually it comes down to a few complaints. They're tired of doing everything through a web platform, they don't love that applicants pay the screening fees, or they want their property records on their own device and not in someone else's cloud. KeyLoft was built for that last group: solo operators and small landlords who want a simple, private, free tool that works without an internet connection. This comparison covers both apps honestly, including where TurboTenant is clearly the better choice.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | KeyLoft | TurboTenant |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free tier + $9.92/month premium |
| Works Offline | Yes, 100% offline | No, needs an internet connection |
| Account Required | No | Yes (landlords and tenants) |
| Best For | Solo landlords and small operators managing existing rentals | Landlords who regularly market vacancies and screen applicants online |
| Platform | iOS (App Store) | Web-based platform |
| Key Features | Property, unit, and tenant tracking; rent and expense records; lease dates; maintenance logs | Listing syndication, online applications, tenant screening, lease templates, online rent collection |
| Data Privacy | Data stays on your device | Data stored on TurboTenant's servers |
Pricing
TurboTenant's pitch is that it's free for landlords, and for the most part that holds up. You can list properties, take applications, and run basic workflows without paying anything. The catch is who pays. TurboTenant's model shifts much of the cost to tenants. Applicants pay the application and screening fee, and some payment methods carry processing fees. Some landlords are fine with that. Others worry that charging every applicant shrinks their pool or doesn't fit how they want to treat prospective tenants. Many states and cities also regulate application fees, so check your local rules.
Then there's the premium tier, at about $9.92/month. Premium adds things like customizable applications, extra lease and document features, faster rent payouts, and better screening options. If you lean on TurboTenant's leasing workflow, you'll probably end up wanting premium, and over a few years that adds up.
KeyLoft is simpler: it's free. You don't need an account, there's no premium tier holding back core features, and your tenants never pay a fee. You download it, add your properties, and start tracking.
| Cost Period | KeyLoft | TurboTenant (Free) | TurboTenant (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $0 | $0 (tenants pay application fees) | $9.92 |
| 1 Year | $0 | $0 (tenants pay application fees) | ~$119 |
| 3 Years | $0 | $0 (tenants pay application fees) | ~$357 |
| Cost to Tenants | $0 | Application/screening fees per applicant | Application/screening fees per applicant |
A few hundred dollars over three years won't sink anyone. But if you run one duplex and a single-family home, every subscription comes straight out of thin margins. Software you never pay for is one less line item on your cash flow analysis.
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Features
These two tools focus on different parts of being a landlord. TurboTenant is strongest at the start of a tenancy: getting a vacant unit in front of renters and choosing who moves in. KeyLoft is strongest during the tenancy, when the job is the ongoing day-to-day management of properties you already have rented.
Where TurboTenant does well:
- Listing syndication. You write one listing and it gets pushed to several rental sites. For landlords filling vacancies often, this saves real time.
- Online applications and screening. Applicants apply online, and you get credit, criminal, and eviction reports without collecting paperwork yourself.
- Lease templates and e-signatures. State-specific lease options and digital signing make onboarding a new tenant easier.
- Online rent collection. Tenants can pay electronically, which some renters expect these days.
- Tenant portal. Tenants can submit maintenance requests and see payment history through their own login.
Where KeyLoft does well:
- Fast, simple record-keeping. Properties, units, tenants, lease dates, and rent status all live in one clean app. You don't have to get through a dashboard built for marketing vacancies.
- Rent and expense tracking. You can log payments, late fees, and expenses as they happen. At tax time you'll have organized records ready (see our rental property tax deductions guide).
- Maintenance logs. You can record repairs, vendor costs, and dates for each unit, so you always know what was fixed, when, and for how much.
- Works anywhere. Basement mechanical rooms, rural properties, and parking garages often have no signal. KeyLoft works the same in all of them.
- No onboarding friction. You don't create an account, verify an email, or give a bank account to a platform just to start tracking.
Plenty of small landlords also have other work going. If you're self-employed and splitting your week between rentals and freelance or consulting jobs, Stintly pairs well with KeyLoft for time tracking and small-business finances. And if you're taking on a big renovation or managing contractors on a rehab, TrestleBook covers construction project management, contractor billing, and job costing, which neither KeyLoft nor TurboTenant is designed to do.
Rule of thumb: if most of your week goes to finding tenants, TurboTenant's tools pay off. If most of it goes to managing tenants you already have, KeyLoft is the leaner fit.
Want to try KeyLoft for free? Download KeyLoft for Free — no subscription required.
Offline & Privacy
This is where the two products differ most, and it's KeyLoft's biggest advantage.
TurboTenant is a web platform. Everything runs through its servers: your property data, tenant applications, screening reports, and payment records. That's how it can offer syndication and online payments, but it also means you need a working internet connection, a login, and trust that the platform will store and handle your data and your tenants' data well. If the site is down, your connection drops, or the company changes its pricing or policies, your workflow goes with it.
KeyLoft takes the opposite approach. It works 100% offline, and your data stays on your device. There's no account to create, so no profile sits on a server waiting for a breach. Here's why that matters in practice:
- On-site inspections. During a move-in or move-out inspection, you can take notes and update records even when the unit has no Wi-Fi and poor cell coverage.
- Tenant privacy. Tenant names, phone numbers, and payment histories are sensitive. Keeping them on your device means fewer places they can leak.
- No lock-in. Your records don't depend on a company's business model staying the same.
- Speed. Local apps open right away. You aren't waiting on page loads to check when a lease ends.
To be fair, there's a tradeoff. Offline-first also means KeyLoft doesn't give your tenants a portal or process online payments for you. If those features are essential to you, that matters. Many small landlords already collect rent through bank transfer or payment apps and only need a reliable place to record it, and that's the job KeyLoft is built for. For more on setting up records that hold up, see our rental property record-keeping system guide.
Who Should Use TurboTenant
TurboTenant is a solid product, and for some landlords it's the right pick. Consider it if:
- You fill vacancies often. With frequent turnover across several units, listing syndication and online applications save hours per vacancy.
- You want built-in tenant screening. Getting credit, background, and eviction reports in one place is convenient, especially if you follow a structured tenant screening process.
- Your tenants expect online rent payments. If renters want to pay through a portal, TurboTenant has one ready.
- You're comfortable with applicant-paid fees. If the fees are legal in your area and don't bother you, the free tier is a good deal.
- You work mostly from a computer. If you manage from a desk with reliable internet, the web-only setup won't get in your way.
Some landlords use both: TurboTenant to market and screen during a vacancy, and a simpler tool for ongoing records once the lease is signed.
Who Should Use KeyLoft
KeyLoft fits landlords who want a tool that stays out of the way. It's a strong choice if:
- You're a solo operator or small landlord. With one to a dozen units, you probably don't need a full leasing platform. You need clear records.
- Your tenants are long-term. If turnover is rare, paying for leasing features you use once every few years makes little sense.
- You want zero cost, for you and your tenants. No subscriptions, no premium tier, and no fees for applicants.
- You value privacy. Your data stays on your iPhone, with no account and no cloud dependency.
- You work in the field. If you handle your own showings, inspections, and maintenance calls, offline access means your records are there when you need them.
- You're moving off spreadsheets. KeyLoft gives you more structure than a spreadsheet without the learning curve of a full platform.
The Bottom Line
TurboTenant and KeyLoft aren't really after the same job. TurboTenant is a leasing and marketing platform: it does well at getting vacant units rented, screening applicants, and moving payments online. It's "free" for landlords because tenants cover much of the cost, and the premium tier at $9.92/month is where many of the most useful features sit. It also requires an account and an internet connection for everything.
KeyLoft is a free, private tool for running the rentals you already have. It works offline, needs no account, keeps your data on your device, and charges no one. If you're a solo landlord or small operator who wants organized records without subscriptions, logins, or fees passed to tenants, KeyLoft is the better fit. If you're constantly marketing vacancies and want online applications and screening built in, TurboTenant is worth a look, and you can still use KeyLoft for day-to-day management.
For most small landlords, the honest answer is this: start with the free, simple tool. Add complexity only when your portfolio actually needs it.
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