Looking for a Landlord Studio Alternative?
Landlord Studio is a capable platform, but it costs $12/month and relies on Xero for full accounting. If you want a standalone rental tax reporting tool with no external dependencies and a lower price tag, RentToTax is built for exactly that.
The "You Need Xero" Problem
Landlord Studio is a solid platform, particularly for landlords who want a mobile-first experience with receipt capture and tenant tracking. But a recurring complaint from users is the Xero dependency.
If you want full accounting capabilities — double-entry bookkeeping, professional financial statements, reconciliation — Landlord Studio routes you to Xero. Xero is a full-featured accounting platform, but it costs extra, has its own learning curve, and is designed for businesses well beyond the scale of most small landlords.
"I just want to know my rental income, my expenses, and what to put on Schedule E. I shouldn't need two subscriptions and an accounting degree for that."
— A common sentiment from landlords with 1–5 properties
RentToTax is the alternative for that exact use case. Every input maps to a Schedule E line item. No Xero. No Quickbooks. No external integrations of any kind. Just enter your data and download your report.
RentToTax vs Landlord Studio — Feature Comparison
For landlords who need reliable tax reports without platform complexity
| Feature | Landlord Studio | RentToTax |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $144/year (Go plan) | $49/year |
| Schedule E / tax report | Basic; full accounting via Xero | Built-in — no third party needed |
| External software required | Xero for full accounting features | None — fully standalone |
| IRS tax categories pre-built | General categories | All Schedule E IRS line items |
| Downloadable PDF tax report | Available on paid plans | Yes — included on all plans |
| Bank sync / receipt capture | Yes (OCR receipt scanning) | Manual or CSV import |
| Setup complexity | Moderate (Xero link for full use) | Low — enter data, get report |
| Property management features | Yes (leases, maintenance, tenants) | No — tax-focused only |
Pricing and features based on publicly available information as of early 2025. Verify current details on each provider's website.
Which Tool Is Right for You?
Choose RentToTax if you...
- Want a single, standalone tool — no integrations
- Need IRS Schedule E categories pre-built
- Have 1–10 properties and don't need a mobile app
- Want to spend $49/year, not $144+/year
- Primarily need a tax report, not tenant management
- Prefer manual entry or CSV import over bank sync
Landlord Studio may suit you better if...
- You want a mobile app with receipt photo scanning
- You manage tenants and want everything in one app
- You're comfortable using Xero for deeper accounting
- You want maintenance tracking alongside finances
- You're actively growing a larger portfolio
Ready to simplify your rental taxes?
One tool. One price. IRS-ready Schedule E reports for small landlords — no Xero required.
Start Free — Generate Your First ReportNo credit card required. Free plan available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Landlord Studio and how does it differ from RentToTax?
Landlord Studio is a property management and accounting platform designed for landlords who want to manage tenants, leases, maintenance, and finances in one place. It includes a mobile app with receipt scanning and connects to Xero for advanced accounting. RentToTax is a narrower, more affordable tool focused exclusively on generating IRS-ready rental tax reports — no tenant management, no third-party accounting integrations.
Does Landlord Studio require Xero?
Landlord Studio offers basic income and expense tracking on its own, but for full double-entry accounting, detailed financial reports, and robust bookkeeping, it routes users to Xero — a separate subscription. That means you could end up paying for both Landlord Studio and Xero. RentToTax requires no external software; everything you need for your Schedule E report is built in.
Is RentToTax cheaper than Landlord Studio?
Yes. Landlord Studio's paid plan starts at $12/month ($144/year). RentToTax is $49/year — about one-third of the cost. If you're only using Landlord Studio for income/expense tracking and tax reporting, RentToTax delivers the same output for significantly less.
Does RentToTax have a mobile app like Landlord Studio?
RentToTax is a web-based tool optimized for desktop use. Landlord Studio has a strong mobile app with features like receipt photo capture. If capturing receipts on your phone is important to your workflow, that's a genuine advantage Landlord Studio has. RentToTax focuses on the year-end tax output rather than daily receipt management.
How do I migrate my data from Landlord Studio to RentToTax?
Export your income and expense records from Landlord Studio as a CSV file, then import them into RentToTax. The process typically takes under 15 minutes. Once imported, you can review your IRS category mappings and generate your report immediately.