Search for self managed hoa software and PayHOA is one of the names that comes up next to BoostHOA. Both products target the same board: a small or mid-size association that runs its own community instead of hiring a management company. Here is how the two actually compare on price and features.
Who PayHOA is built for
PayHOA is HOA-specific software aimed at self-managed associations. Its feature set covers dues collection, an owner portal, document storage, violation tracking, and broadcast email and text messaging to residents. On Capterra, PayHOA holds a strong 4.7 out of 5 rating across roughly 500 reviews. Reviewers frequently praise the owner portal, the document storage, and responsive customer support during setup. Some reviewers note the built-in accounting tools feel limited next to dedicated accounting software, especially for boards with more complex bookkeeping needs.
Pricing: a unit-based subscription vs. no subscription at all
This is where the two products diverge most. PayHOA charges a flat monthly subscription based on unit count. The entry tier starts around $54 a month for up to 25 units on monthly billing, or about $49 a month if paid annually. The price climbs through higher tiers as unit count grows, though every tier gets the same feature set. A board is never paying more to unlock functionality, only to cover more units.
BoostHOA takes a different approach: no monthly subscription fee, for any number of properties. The association pays only when money actually moves through the platform. That means 3.5% + $0.50 on card payments or 1% capped at $10 on ACH transfers, with property management, violation tracking, document storage, and online payments included at no separate charge.
Which model costs less depends on the community. A larger association with steady dues volume might do better under a flat subscription. A smaller or newer association with irregular payment activity may prefer not carrying a fixed bill every month regardless of what came in. Run the numbers against your own unit count and typical payment volume before assuming either model wins.
Where the two overlap
For the core job of running a self-managed HOA, PayHOA and BoostHOA cover a lot of the same ground:
- Online dues collection and payment tracking
- A homeowner portal for residents to check balances and documents
- Violation tracking with a documented history
- Document storage for bylaws, minutes, and notices
- Announcements and mass communication to owners
Boards evaluating self-managed HOA software will find both platforms handle this baseline reasonably well. The deciding factors tend to come down to pricing structure and packaging rather than a missing feature on either side.
Where they differ
The clearest difference beyond price is how each product charges as an association grows. PayHOA’s tiers step up with unit count no matter how active the association is that month. BoostHOA’s cost moves with actual payment activity instead. A quiet month with fewer transactions costs less, and there is no flat bill to justify if collections slow down. For a board comparing free HOA software and other low cost options, that distinction in how the bill gets calculated matters as much as the feature list.
The honest takeaway
PayHOA is a solid, well-reviewed option built specifically for self-managed boards. Its flat per-tier pricing can be predictable for an association that wants the same bill every month regardless of activity. If a fixed, all-features-included subscription fits your board’s budgeting style, it is worth a look.
If your board would rather not pay a monthly fee at all, BoostHOA, sometimes searched as “Boost HOA,” was built around that idea from the start. Get started for free and see which pricing model actually fits your community’s dues volume.