HOA-OS vs PayHOA: an honest comparison
PayHOA is an established, accounting-first HOA platform with a long track record. HOA-OS is the newer, AI-forward option built to do the administrative work for the board, not just track it. If you're a self-managed board comparing the two, here's the straight version.
| Feature | HOA-OS | PayHOA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One flat price per community $49 Community / $89 Premium a month. Every unit included, at any size. | Nine tiers by unit count $49 at 25 units up to $0.55/unit above 500 — the price steps up as you grow. |
| AI | Built throughout Drafts newsletters, budgets, violation notices and board packets; 24/7 resident assistant. | None advertised No AI features on their product or pricing pages (checked 2026-08-12). |
| Website builder | AI builds and hosts it for you The board approves a draft site rather than building one. | Included on all plans The board builds the site itself. |
| Payment fees | 1% + standard Stripe rates ≈2.9% + 30¢ card / 0.8% capped $5 ACH — published. | 3.50% + $0.50 per card $2.45 per ACH — published on their pricing page. |
| Board decides | AI drafts; the board approves Everything that goes out is board-approved. | The board drafts everything itself |
Pricing model
- HOA-OS
One flat price per community
$49 Community / $89 Premium a month. Every unit included, at any size.
- PayHOA
Nine tiers by unit count
$49 at 25 units up to $0.55/unit above 500 — the price steps up as you grow.
AI
- HOA-OS
Built throughout
Drafts newsletters, budgets, violation notices and board packets; 24/7 resident assistant.
- PayHOA
None advertised
No AI features on their product or pricing pages (checked 2026-08-12).
Website builder
- HOA-OS
AI builds and hosts it for you
The board approves a draft site rather than building one.
- PayHOA
Included on all plans
The board builds the site itself.
Payment fees
- HOA-OS
1% + standard Stripe rates
≈2.9% + 30¢ card / 0.8% capped $5 ACH — published.
- PayHOA
3.50% + $0.50 per card
$2.45 per ACH — published on their pricing page.
Board decides
- HOA-OS
AI drafts; the board approves
Everything that goes out is board-approved.
- PayHOA
The board drafts everything itself
What it costs at your size
PayHOA's price steps up nine times as your community grows. HOA-OS is one flat price per community, every home included.
HOA-OS
$89 /mo
Premium, flat — every one of your 150 homes included
Lighter needs start at $49 a month.
PayHOA
$129 /mo
Their 101-150 tier, on yearly billing
Steps up again as you grow.
At 150 homes that is $480 a year back in your budget — and it does not move the next time your unit count crosses a tier.
PayHOA figures are their published yearly-billing rates (their cheapest numbers), verified on their pricing page. Compared against HOA-OS Premium, the like-for-like tier.
Why boards switch to HOA-OS
The software does the work, not just the tracking.
AI drafts the budget, the violation notices, the newsletter and the board packet — the board reviews and approves.
One flat price as you grow.
Per-community pricing doesn't climb every time your unit count crosses a tier.
Your website is built for you.
AI drafts and hosts the community site — no page-building project for the board.
The association receives 100% of what it bills.*
Payment fees are added at checkout and paid by the resident — not deducted from what reaches the association's account.
* With the payer-pays fee setting turned on — the default for communities on HOA-OS. The board can choose to absorb payment fees instead.
Meet your AI assistants
The row PayHOA has nothing in. Three specialized assistants that know your community inside and out — answering questions, managing requests, and crunching numbers around the clock.
Included with the Premium plan.
Resident Assistant
Sunset Ridge HOA
Switching is straightforward
Import your roster from a spreadsheet, and AI drafts the first version of your site, budget and newsletter. Try HOA-OS free for 30 days and run it alongside what you have before you decide.