If you own rental properties, you know how challenging it can be to stay on top of income, expenses, tax reports, and asset performance. Many landlords still rely on clunky spreadsheets or expensive software to manage their portfolios.
Enter Stessa—a free, smart platform that helps real estate investors track, manage, and optimize their rental property performance with ease. Whether you own one single-family rental or a portfolio of multifamily units, Stessa simplifies your property finances in ways that few other tools can.
In this 2025 review, we’ll dive deep into what Stessa is, how it works, and why it’s becoming the go-to software for savvy real estate investors.
What Is Stessa?
Stessa is a free financial management software built specifically for real estate investors. Launched in 2016 and now owned by JPMorgan Chase, Stessa allows landlords to:
- Track rental income and expenses
- Generate tax-ready reports
- Monitor asset performance
- Automate bookkeeping
- Streamline rent collection
With over $60 billion in assets tracked on the platform, Stessa has become one of the most trusted names in real estate investment management.
Key Features of Stessa (2025)
📊 1. Real-Time Financial Dashboards
Stessa offers a clean, visual dashboard that shows the performance of your rental properties at a glance. Track:
- Net cash flow
- Capital expenses
- Property value appreciation
- ROI and cap rate
- Mortgage balances
🔁 2. Automated Income & Expense Tracking
By linking your bank accounts, credit cards, and property management software, Stessa pulls in transactions and categorizes them automatically. This saves hours of manual bookkeeping.
🧾 3. Tax-Ready Reporting
Stessa makes tax season a breeze. You can generate:
- Schedule E reports
- Income statements
- Balance sheets
- Transaction summaries
You can even grant access to your CPA, making collaboration seamless and accurate.
💸 4. Online Rent Collection
With Stessa Rent, tenants can:
- Pay rent via ACH or debit
- Set up recurring payments
- Receive automatic receipts
Landlords receive direct deposits, plus real-time tracking of late or missed payments.
🛠 5. Document Storage
Easily upload and organize lease agreements, receipts, mortgage documents, and inspection reports. Everything is stored in the cloud and linked to the relevant property.
📱 6. Mobile App Access
The Stessa app (iOS & Android) lets you snap receipt photos, categorize expenses, and view performance metrics from anywhere.
How Stessa Works
- Sign up for a free account at Stessa.com
- Add your properties—manually or via Zillow import
- Connect your financial accounts (banks, credit cards, lenders)
- Categorize transactions as rent, repairs, utilities, etc.
- Generate reports, track metrics, and monitor performance
Everything is built to be intuitive—even for landlords who aren’t financial experts.
Stessa for Tax Season (Huge Win)
Come tax time, most landlords spend hours gathering documents and calculating expenses. With Stessa:
- You can export a complete Schedule E package
- Include mileage, depreciation, and capital improvements
- Hand it directly to your accountant or plug into software like TurboTax
This alone makes Stessa an invaluable tool for real estate investors.
Is Stessa Really Free?
Yes, Stessa is 100% free to use. They make money by offering optional services such as:
- Stessa Rent (free basic tier, advanced features optional)
- Banking solutions with Stessa Cash Management (optional)
- Mortgage and insurance partnerships
There are no hidden fees, upsells, or locked features—you get full functionality without paying a dime.
Who Should Use Stessa?
Stessa is perfect for:
- DIY landlords managing 1–50 units
- Short-term and long-term rental owners
- Real estate investors looking for cash flow visibility
- CPAs and property managers needing streamlined bookkeeping tools
Whether you’re just starting with your first duplex or scaling a multi-property portfolio, Stessa provides professional-grade tools without the cost.
Stessa vs Competitors
| Feature | Stessa | Buildium | QuickBooks | Rentec Direct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ✅ Free | $50+/month | $30–$100/month | $35+/month |
| Rental tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 🟡 Manual setup | ✅ Yes |
| Tax reports | ✅ Built-in | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bank syncing | ✅ Yes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ Yes | ✅ | ✅ | 🟡 Limited |
| Online rent collection | ✅ Optional | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best for | Small Investors | Property Managers | General business | Landlords |
Verdict: If you’re a landlord or real estate investor, Stessa offers unbeatable value for its price (free) and simplicity.
Pros and Cons of Stessa
✅ Pros
- 100% free to use
- Built for real estate investors
- Automated bank syncing and transaction tracking
- Clean, intuitive dashboard
- Excellent tax and CPA tools
- Rent collection via ACH
- Mobile-friendly
❌ Cons
- Limited features for commercial property owners
- No built-in tenant screening
- Rent collection doesn’t support credit cards (ACH only)
- More manual setup for very complex portfolios
What Users Say: Real Stessa Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Stessa has completely changed the way I manage my rentals. Tax season used to take days, now it’s done in an hour!”
— Sarah M., Ohio Landlord
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’ve tried spreadsheets, QuickBooks, and other software. Nothing comes close to Stessa for ease and automation.”
— Justin T., Multifamily Investor in Texas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓ Is Stessa secure?
Yes. Stessa uses bank-level encryption (256-bit SSL) and does not store your banking credentials. It uses read-only connections, so your money stays safe.
❓ Can I use Stessa for short-term rentals?
Yes, Stessa can be used for Airbnb and short-term properties, although it doesn’t directly integrate with booking platforms. You can manually track income and expenses or import them from your bank account.
❓ Does Stessa support depreciation tracking?
Yes, you can track depreciation manually and include it in your tax reports.
❓ Can my accountant access Stessa?
Yes, you can invite your CPA to view reports and data, making collaboration effortless.
❓ Is Stessa good for partnerships or joint investments?
Yes, you can invite co-owners or partners to individual properties and set permission levels.
Final Verdict: Is Stessa Worth It in 2025?
Absolutely. Stessa is hands-down the best free financial tool for real estate investors. It combines automation, reporting, and usability into one streamlined platform, making it easy to manage rental properties and maximize ROI.
If you’re still juggling spreadsheets or spending hours prepping for tax season, Stessa will change the way you manage your rental business—for free.
Get Started Today
🎯 Sign Up for Stessa Free
Take control of your real estate portfolio today with the #1 free rental property software for investors.
Tags: Stessa Review 2025, Best Free Rental Property Software, Landlord Accounting Tools, Real Estate Investment Software, Real Estate Tax Reporting, Rental Property Income Tracking, Stessa Rent Collection