Looking for a Stessa Alternative?
Stessa is a solid platform — but if you only have a few rental properties and want a simple, affordable way to get IRS-ready tax reports, RentToTax may be a better fit. No bank sync. No $28/month fees. Just clean Schedule E reports.
Why Small Landlords Look for Stessa Alternatives
Stessa is a well-designed property management platform with a strong free tier. If you're growing a portfolio and want automatic transaction syncing, rent collection, and a dashboard of metrics, it's worth considering.
But many small landlords — those with one, two, or three properties — run into friction with Stessa:
- Schedule E reports are gated behind a paid plan. Stessa's free tier doesn't include the tax reports most landlords actually need. The Pro plan runs $12–$28/month, or $144–$336/year.
- Bank sync is practically required. Stessa is built around automatic transaction import. If you prefer to enter expenses manually or don't want to connect your bank, the experience feels incomplete.
- The platform is broad. Rent collection, tenant portals, maintenance tracking — Stessa does a lot. If you only need tax-ready financials at year end, that complexity adds noise without value.
RentToTax is a focused alternative: enter your income and expenses, map them to IRS categories, and download a clean PDF report. That's it. No tenant features, no bank connections, no subscriptions that balloon over time.
RentToTax vs Stessa — Feature Comparison
For landlords with 1–10 properties who primarily need tax reporting
| Feature | Stessa | RentToTax |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $144–$336/year (Pro plan) | $49/year |
| Schedule E report | Pro plan only ($12–$28/mo) | Included on all plans |
| Bank sync required | Yes — required for full features | No — manual or import |
| Built for 1–3 properties | Designed for larger portfolios | Purpose-built for small landlords |
| IRS tax categories pre-built | Partial (some manual mapping) | Yes — all Schedule E categories |
| Generate report in minutes | Requires setup & sync first | Yes — enter data, download PDF |
| No account required to try | Account required | Free plan, no credit card |
| Tenant management features | Yes (adds complexity) | No — focused on tax reporting |
Pricing based on publicly available information as of early 2025. Always verify current pricing on each provider's website.
Who Should Choose RentToTax Over Stessa?
RentToTax is the right fit if you...
- Own 1–5 rental properties
- Need Schedule E reports, not tenant management
- Prefer to enter expenses manually or via CSV
- Don't want to connect your bank account
- Want a flat annual price with no tier upgrades
- Hand your report directly to a CPA or H&R Block
Stessa may be better if you...
- Manage 10+ properties actively
- Want automatic bank transaction import
- Need rent collection and tenant portals
- Want maintenance tracking in one place
- Are growing a real estate portfolio over time
Ready to simplify your rental taxes?
Join landlords who switched from complex platforms to a simple, affordable tax reporting tool.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stessa generate Schedule E reports?
Stessa does offer Schedule E reports, but only on paid Pro plans starting at $12/month ($144/year). RentToTax includes Schedule E reports on all plans, starting at $49/year — and the free plan lets you try the full workflow before paying.
Do I need to sync my bank account to use RentToTax?
No. RentToTax lets you enter income and expenses manually or via CSV import. You never have to connect a bank account. This is a common concern landlords raise about Stessa, which relies on bank sync for automatic transaction categorization.
Is RentToTax good if I only have 1–3 rental properties?
Yes — RentToTax is built specifically for small landlords with 1–10 properties. Stessa's feature set is broad and can feel like overkill if you just need a clean tax report at year end.
Can I switch from Stessa to RentToTax mid-year?
Yes. You can export your income and expense data from Stessa as a CSV and import it into RentToTax. Your historical data comes with you and you can generate a report immediately.
What does RentToTax actually produce?
RentToTax generates a tax-ready PDF report organized by IRS Schedule E categories: rents received, advertising, auto and travel, insurance, management fees, mortgage interest, repairs, supplies, taxes, utilities, depreciation, and other expenses. You hand the report to your accountant or enter it directly on Schedule E.