Key Takeaways:
- Most “Best HOA Software” lists don’t tell you what actually matters. They rank tools based on review volume and buzzwords—but not on whether they work for real-life board members juggling full-time jobs.
- Nobody’s asking the right questions.The flashy software guides don’ttalk about hidden costs, clunky user interfaces, or whether the tools were built for volunteers vs. property managers.
- The best HOA software solves real-world volunteer board problems. Think: AI that helps you stay compliant with your bylaws and state laws. Tools that make Reserve Study planning simple—not something you pay a consultant to do every year.
- More features doesn't mean better. A tool with 10,000 glowing reviews might still leave your board drowning in complexity, delays, and hidden fees, especially if those reviews are from property managers—not boards.
If you’re googling “best HOA software,” you’ll probably find a handful of legacy names on every list: Buildium, AppFolio, PayHOA, Condo Control Central.
And look, they’re not bad. Most of them have been around for 10+ years. Thousands of reviews. Enterprise integrations. Feature sets a mile long. But that’s exactly what makes them so difficult for everyday users—their systems were designed for professionals who have the time (and training) to learn complex workflows. For a volunteer board member with a full-time job? It gets overwhelming pretty quickly.
But here’s the question no one asks:
Who are those features built for?
Because if you’re a self-managed board… or a small-to-mid-sized community… or a board member with a full-time job and no interest in sorting through accounting modules built for Fortune 500 PMCs—then the answer might look very different. The best HOA software might is going to be different based on whether you're a professional manager or you're a volunteer board member who is self managing (or using a portfolio manager).
The “Best HOA Software” Lists Are Broken
Most of those rankings are based on volume of reviews, not how well the software solves the actual problems boards face.
Solume isn’t at the top of those lists (yet) for one reason: we’re new(ish). Two years in. We don’t have 3,000 reviews on Capterra.
What we do have is a fully operational platform that was built by people who actually understand what HOA boards are dealing with—because we’ve lived it. We also consulted with property managers who have over 20 years of hands-on experience managing HOAs to make sure we built what communities actually need. And we didn’t just design it for pros, we made sure Solume is so easy to use that someone with zero HOA experience, no management background, and no technical know-how can step in and get going on day one.
And because we’re new, we’re still nimble as Gumby. Our users have direct access to our development and support teams. They’ve watched their feedback turn into product updates—sometimes within days.
Try that with one of the legacy vendors and see how far you get.
And let’s not forget another common pain point boards mention: deceptive pricing. A lot of HOA software platforms look affordable upfront, but the basic features you actually need are hidden behind a la carte add-ons. By the time you’ve added everything up, you’re paying far more than expected—without even realizing it. That’s not transparency. That’s bait and switch.
What Boards Actually Need (But Rarely Get)
Here’s what boards really care about when they strip the jargon away:
- “How do we avoid a special assessment?”
- “Why is it so hard to get an answer about our CC&Rs?”
- “Who’s tracking that vendor?”
- “Where’s the reserve study again?”
- “Why do I feel like I’m the only one doing the work?”
Those aren’t software features. Those are stress triggers.
And if your software isn’t built to reduce those stress points, it doesn’t matter how many billing modules it has. Simply put: Solume is the best HOA software because it solves all of those problems for you.
Where Solume Stands Out
We built Solume to solve the three most critical pain points that most HOA software ignores:
1. Reserve Study Management
We don’t just show you a budget—we forecast your capital needs, help you plan reserves, and flag shortfalls before they become emergencies. Most platforms don't even touch this, which is terrible for the long-term viability of a community. For us, it’s a primary distinction. Learn More.
2. Vendor Procurement
Solume doesn’t just track vendor approvals, we help you find vendors in the first place. Our built-in vendor search makes it easy to discover professionals other boards actually trust. You can see who other communities have used. Also, you no longer have to wonder if someone followed up or got a bid—we make it visible, trackable, and easy to act on. You’re never stuck asking, “Did we get a bid for that?” or “Who was supposed to call the roofer?”
3. Solume Assistant (AI Legal Tool)
This one is cutting-edge for communities and saving HOAs and Condos thousands in attorney fees. You can ask plain-English questions about your CC&Rs, bylaws, or state laws, and get real answers without waiting for an attorney or flipping through a 50-page PDF. The answers are directly from the rules that govern your community, not some generic AI integration.
No other HOA platform has this. Period. Learn More.
Why Solume’s “Newness” Is a Strength
Most HOA software companies get worse as they get older.
Their code base gets bloated. Their support gets slower. Their users become ticket numbers.
Solume’s still in that golden window:
- Fast feature development
- Real relationships with users
- No bureaucracy or large call centers
- We actually pick up the phone and respond to emails
We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re building the best possible tool for HOA and Condo boards that care about financial health, legal compliance, and not burning out.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Solume
We’re not for everyone. And that’s fine.
✅ Solume is for you if:
- You’re a self-managed HOA or condo board (or a smaller property manager)
- You want better financial forecasting and compliance tools
- You want to move fast and get real support
- You’re tired of dealing with clunky legacy platforms
🚫 Solume might not be right if:
- You’re managing 5,000+ units and need massive enterprise integrations
- You prefer a company with 10,000 possibly paid-for reviews and a call center that services dozens of unrelated companies
- You’re locked into a 5-year contract
Final Word (from the Founder)
I’m Joe Braun, founder of Solume. I didn’t come from property management—I came from a lifetime of building stories and businesses that move people to action. I spent years in Hollywood working on hit TV shows like ER, The OC, and Third Watch, and most recently directed the feature documentary Ticking Time Bomb, which exposed one of the biggest scandals in automotive history: the Takata airbag crisis. I’ve also built companies, led teams, and solved hard operational problems in the real world. Whether it’s film or software, I’ve always been focused on revealing what’s hidden and making it make sense. That’s what Solume is doing for HOA boards and homeowners.
And that’s really what Solume is about: making HOA management transparent, efficient, and human again.
We don’t think your board should have to navigate overly complicated software just to stay compliant. You shouldn’t have to spend your weekend decoding budgets or waiting two weeks to hear back from support.
Software should make your life easier. If it’s not doing that, it’s the wrong software.
If you want to try something different, let’s talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best HOA software for self-managed communities?
Solume is ideal for self-managed HOAs because it includes reserve planning, vendor procurement, and legal compliance tools—all in one, easy-to-use platform. It has all the other features you'd expect and find in a number of other platforms: dues collection, databases, violations, ARC requests, etc.
Q: Can HOA software actually replace a management company?
Sometimes. Not always. But a good platform like Solume can delay or reduce the need. If your board is involved and your community isn’t already facing legal trouble, you might only need light help. We’ve seen boards ditch full-service contracts and save 20–30% of their budget because Solume filled the gap. It’s not about replacing people. It’s about giving boards options.
Q: What features really matter in HOA software—and which ones are just fluff?
The stuff that actually matters solves problems. Reserve forecasting. Vendor tracking. Legal clarity. If your board can’t plan five years ahead or answer a basic question about your bylaws without calling a lawyer, the rest doesn’t matter. Most platforms brag about features like event calendars and pet registries. That’s not going to stop a special assessment or keep you out of legal trouble. Solume cuts the noise and focuses on what keeps your community financially healthy and legally compliant. (BTW, we do have event tracking but we don't have pet registries.)
Q: Why did I build Solume instead of using what was already on the market?
Because everything else felt like it wasn't built for the end user. Most of the platforms out there were made for professional management companies—not regular people trying to serve their communities. I kept hearing the same story from boards: “We’re doing the work ourselves anyway, and the software isn’t helping.” So we built something for them—for the board member who has a full-time job and doesn’t want to spend Saturday buried in spreadsheets.
Q: What’s the hidden cost of most HOA software platforms?
It’s not just the price—it’s the time suck. Most platforms look cheap upfront, but then you realize basic features are behind a paywall. You’re paying extra to send automated reminders. You’re paying extra for reports. And when you actually need support? You’re ticket #832. That “affordable” price balloons quickly, and you’re still stuck doing the hard stuff manually.
Q: How does Solume compare to Buildium, PayHOA, or AppFolio?
Those are solid tools—for the right use case. If you’re managing 5,000+ units and need integrations with five accounting systems, go with Buildium. If you want a lightweight tool with no depth, PayHOA might work. But Solume was built for self-managed boards that need real forecasting, real legal/compliance help, and real tools to get organized. We don’t nickel and dime you. We don’t ignore feature requests. We’re here to help you run better.
Solume offers faster support, simpler pricing, and real AI-powered tools. While legacy platforms have... well, legacy, they’re often harder to use and slower to evolve.
Q: What surprised me most when I started talking to HOA boards?
How many board members feel completely alone. They get voted in, handed a binder, and told “Good luck.” No training. No support. No tools. And then they’re blamed when something breaks. I kept thinking: this isn’t a board problem, it’s a system problem. That’s what pushed me to create something different. Not just software, but a support system.
Q: What are the most common mistakes HOA boards make when choosing software?
They go with the cheapest or the most reviewed—without ever asking if it actually solves their real problems. They don’t ask what’s included, how fast support responds, or how it handles compliance. And they don’t test how easy it is to use. If your board can’t figure it out in a day, you’re going to be paying for complexity and headaches—not solutions.
Q: What do self-managed boards care about that management companies often overlook?
Clarity, speed, and transparency. A self-managed board doesn’t want to wait two weeks for an answer or chase down a payment for a vendor that’s completed the work. They want to know where things stand, what’s been approved, and what’s coming. Most management companies focus on their process and force you into their red-tape bureaucracy. Boards want outcomes. That’s why Solume gives them the tools to actually move things forward.
Q: How should a board know if it’s time to switch HOA software?
When the software feels like more work than the board can handle or it is limited in features your community needs. If you're spending more time figuring out how to use the platform than actually getting things done, it’s time to switch. If basic things like tracking vendors, managing dues, or accessing reserve studies require three different logins or a phone call to support… you're not being served. You’re being slowed down.
Q: What do most HOA software reviews leave out?
Support. Update cycles. How easy it is to get a real human on the phone. Reviews tend to focus on how smooth the demo was or whether the dashboard looks clean. But no one talks about what happens three months in—when you need help, or something breaks, or your board turns over. That’s where Solume shows up different. Because we’re still in that phase where we actually care.