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Stessa vs Rentspree: Which Should Landlords Choose? (2025)

Comparing Stessa and Rentspree? This guide breaks down features, pricing, tenant screening, and financial tracking to help you decide. Plus, discover why LandlordTax.tech is the better choice for tax-focused landlords.

⚡ Quick Verdict

Rentspree wins for fast tenant screening (1-hour reports). Stessa wins for financial tracking and being free. They serve different purposes - Rentspree has zero financial/tax features. If you have 1-10 properties and prioritize tax savings, LandlordTax.tech ($9/mo) offers AI tax insights, 1099 generation, and credit card sync that neither competitor provides.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Rentspree
Best for: Tenant Screening
$55-65

Per screening report

✓ Strengths

  • Fast screening (1-hour turnaround)
  • TransUnion credit reports
  • Criminal & eviction checks
  • Online rental applications

✗ Weaknesses

  • Zero financial tracking
  • No tax features at all
  • No expense tracking
  • Limited to screening only
Stessa
Best for: Financial Tracking
Free

Basic features

✓ Strengths

  • Free forever plan
  • Bank account sync
  • Portfolio performance tracking
  • Income/expense reports

✗ Weaknesses

  • No credit card sync
  • No 1099 generation
  • No AI tax optimization
  • No tenant screening
LandlordTax.tech
Best Value
Best for: Tax Optimization
$9/mo

All features included

✓ Strengths

  • AI year-end tax planning
  • Credit card sync (unique)
  • Unlimited 1099 generation
  • Depreciation tracking

✗ Trade-offs

  • No tenant screening
  • Mobile app coming Q1 2025
Try Free for 14 Days →

💡 Important: These Tools Serve Different Purposes

Rentspree and Stessa aren't direct competitors - they solve different problems:

Rentspree = Tenant Screening Only

Purely for vetting applicants. No financial tracking, no tax features, no expense management. You'll still need separate software for accounting.

Stessa = Financial Tracking Only

Free income/expense reports and bank sync. But no tenant screening, no credit card sync, no 1099s, and no AI tax optimization.

Bottom line: If you need tenant screening, use Rentspree ($55-65 per applicant). If you need tax-optimized expense tracking, use LandlordTax.tech ($9/month with AI insights and 1099s).

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureRentspreeStessaLandlordTax.tech
Primary PurposeTenant ScreeningFinancial TrackingTax Optimization
Pricing$55-65/reportFree$9/mo
Tenant Screening
Credit Reports
Bank Sync
Credit Card Sync
Expense Tracking
Schedule E ExportBasic✅ + AI Review
1099 GenerationUnlimited
AI Tax Insights
OCR Receipt Scanning

Which One Should You Choose?

Use Rentspree if:
You need fast tenant screening (1-hour reports) with TransUnion credit checks. Keep in mind you'll still need separate software for financial tracking and taxes.
Use Stessa if:
You want completely free basic expense tracking and don't need credit card sync, 1099 generation, or AI tax optimization. Acceptable for very simple portfolios.
Use LandlordTax.tech if:Recommended
  • You have 1-10 rental properties and prioritize tax savings
  • You want AI-powered year-end tax planning with exact dollar savings
  • You pay contractors and need unlimited 1099 generation
  • You want credit card sync for business expenses (Home Depot, repairs)
  • You prefer transparent all-in-one pricing ($9/month, no per-report fees)
Start Free Trial →

Get Tax Optimization, Not Just Screening

Rentspree only screens tenants. Stessa lacks advanced tax features. Get AI tax planning with LandlordTax.tech.

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14-day free trial • Cancel anytime • $9/month after trial

Stessa vs Rentspree: Which Should Landlords Choose? (2025) | LandlordTax.tech | LandlordTax - Schedule E Made Easy for DIY Landlords