Stessa vs Landlord Studio: Complete Comparison 2025
Trying to choose between Stessa and Landlord Studio for your rental property business? We've tested both platforms extensively. Here's our honest, detailed comparison — plus why LandlordTax.tech might be the better choice for tax-focused landlords.
Stessa
If you only need basic income/expense tracking and don't mind limited features.
Landlord Studio
If you need mobile-first property management with tenant communication.
LandlordTax.tech
AI tax insights, 1099 generation, credit card sync, and year-end planning at $9/mo.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Stessa | Landlord Studio | LandlordTax.tech |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Value | |||
| Monthly Cost | Free (limited) | $15/month | $9/month |
| Free Trial | Free tier forever | 14 days | 14 days (no CC) |
| Hidden Fees | Upsells for services | Extra for 1099s | None - all included |
| 1-Year Total Cost | $0 (basic features) | $180 | $108 |
| Tax Features | |||
| Schedule E Export | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ + AI Review |
| 1099 Generation | ❌ No | Extra cost | ✅ Unlimited |
| AI Tax Insights | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Year-End Tax Planning | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Proactive alerts |
| Depreciation Tracking | Basic | Basic | ✅ + Cost segregation |
| Quarterly Tax Estimates | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Account Integration | |||
| Bank Account Sync | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Credit Card Sync | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Payment Reminders | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Credit card due dates |
| OCR Receipt Scanning | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ 95% accuracy |
| Property Management | |||
| Portfolio Overview | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good |
| Tenant Communication | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (tax-focused) |
| Maintenance Tracking | Basic | ✅ Advanced | Basic |
| Rent Collection | Partner integration | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No |
| User Experience | |||
| Mobile App | ✅ iOS/Android | ✅ Excellent | In development |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Bilingual Support | English only | English only | ✅ English + Chinese |
| Customer Support | Email + Chat | Email + Chat | |
Detailed Review & User Ratings
What Users Love
- Free basic features
- Good portfolio overview
- Easy bank sync
Common Complaints
- Aggressive upselling
- No 1099 generation
- Limited tax features
What Users Love
- Excellent mobile app
- Tenant communication
- Maintenance tracking
Common Complaints
- $15/month
- 1099s cost extra
- No credit card sync
What Users Love
- Best tax features
- AI insights
- Credit card sync
- Transparent pricing
Common Complaints
- Mobile app in development
- Less property management focus
Pricing Breakdown & ROI Calculator
Best if you're on a tight budget and don't need advanced tax features.
Actual cost: $180+ with 1099s and add-ons.
All features included. No surprises.
Sarah, a 3-property landlord, switched from Stessa to LandlordTax.tech in November 2024:
AI Year-End Insight
"Complete your $5,200 roof repair before Dec 31 to save $1,300 in taxes (25% rate)"
Action Taken
Sarah scheduled the repair for December → deducted in 2024 instead of 2025
Result
$1,300 tax savings
Software cost: $9. ROI: 14,400%
*Neither Stessa nor Landlord Studio offer proactive year-end tax planning alerts.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Want the best tax optimization features (AI insights, 1099s, year-end planning)
- Need credit card sync for business expenses (Home Depot, repairs, etc.)
- Prefer transparent pricing without upsells ($9/mo, all features)
- File your own taxes or work with a CPA (need clean Schedule E exports)
- Value ROI over free features (one AI insight can pay for years of software)
- • Need a mobile app for on-the-go property management
- • Want tenant communication and maintenance tracking features
- • Don't mind paying $15/month + extra for 1099 forms
- • Care more about property management than tax optimization
- • Only need basic income/expense tracking
- • Don't file 1099 forms or need tax optimization
- • Are comfortable with manual categorization and no credit card sync
- • Absolutely can't afford $9-15/month for better features
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Make the Switch?
Join landlords who chose tax optimization over free features. Try LandlordTax.tech risk-free for 14 days.
14-day free trial • No credit card required • Import your data in minutes