The Good HOA vs. paid HOA management software
Paid HOA platforms range from simple dues portals to full accounting suites built for management companies. The Good HOA is free for self-managed associations. Here is what the difference means in practice, including where a paid platform is worth it.
| The Good HOA | Paid HOA software | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for HOAs up to 400 units, every core module included. | A monthly or annual subscription, commonly priced per unit or tiered by community size, sometimes with setup fees. |
| Payment processing | Card and ACH fees are shown before anyone pays, and the board chooses who covers them. We never take a cut of dues. | Varies widely. Ask who pays the fee, whether there is a markup, and how long payouts take. |
| Features | Dues and autopay, violations, maintenance requests, voting, documents, and budgets — nothing gated behind a higher plan. | Often tiered, with features like online voting or a resident portal reserved for higher plans. |
| Commitment | No contract and no subscription. Export your data any time. | Some platforms require an annual term; check the cancellation terms and data export. |
| Built for | Volunteer boards running their own community. | Many are built first for management companies running portfolios of associations. |
| Accounting | Dues ledger, vendor bills with approvals, budgets, bank reconciliation, financial reports, and exports. Books sync is on the roadmap. | Higher-end platforms often include a full general ledger, bank reconciliation, and payables workflows. |
| Support | Email support for every community. | Varies by plan; phone support and dedicated onboarding are often paid extras. |
Choose The Good HOA if
- You are a self-managed board with up to 400 units.
- You want the core modules without a per-unit subscription.
- You value owner transparency and a clean audit trail over deep accounting features.
Choose paid software if
- Your community has more than 400 units.
- You are a management company that needs portfolio tools across many associations.
- You need a full general ledger inside the same system, or guaranteed phone support.
The bottom line
For most self-managed boards the deciding question is whether a paid plan includes something you will actually use. If it does not, a free platform does the same core job and leaves the subscription money in your reserves.