Stessa vs Baselane: pricing and fees in 2026

Stessa and Baselane both start free and both pair bookkeeping with rent collection and bank accounts through Thread Bank. Stessa's paid plans are Manage at $12 a month and Pro at $28 a month, paid annually. Baselane has one paid plan, Smart, at $20 a month on an annual plan.

Prices read from Stessa's pricing page and Baselane's pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Side by side

 StessaBaselaneRentra
Starting priceFree; Manage $12 a month paid annuallyFree; Smart $20 a month on an annual plan$5 per unit per month, $25 monthly minimum
How it's pricedFree plan, plus two flat paid plansFree plan, plus one flat paid planPer unit, every feature included
Free plan or trialFree Essentials planFree Core plan; 30-day trial of Smart14-day free trial, no card to start
Built forInvestors who care most about accounting and reportingLandlords who want banking and bookkeeping in one accountLandlords who manage their own rentals
Tenant ACH paymentsNot listed on its pricing page$2 to $5, waived when rent lands in a Baselane account0.8% per payment, capped at $5; you choose who pays
Tenant screeningIncluded as a feature; price not listedFrom $24.99Not offered (on the roadmap)
Schedule E reportManage and ProCore and SmartIncluded

Rentra is our product. We've tried to be fair about where others fit better. It is in the table for reference.

Plans and prices

Stessa

  • Essentials: Free
  • Manage: $12 a month paid annually, or $15 paid monthly
  • Pro: $28 a month paid annually, or $35 paid monthly

Baselane

  • Core: $0 a month
  • Smart: $20 a month on an annual plan 30-day trial.

Which one fits

Pick Stessa if

  • You want advanced reports, budgeting, and pro-forma analysis, which are on Pro.
  • You want to pay monthly. Stessa lists monthly prices of $15 and $35; Baselane lists Smart on an annual plan only.
  • You want state-specific lease agreements and legal forms, which come with Manage.

Pick Baselane if

  • You want Schedule E reports on the free plan. Baselane includes them in Core; Stessa adds the Schedule E report on Manage.
  • You want physical and virtual debit cards with spend controls for each property.
  • You want AI to tag transactions and match receipts, which comes with Smart.

Where Rentra fits

Rentra is our product. We've tried to be fair about where others fit better.

Stessa and Baselane are accounting-first, and both cost less than Rentra. Rentra connects to your existing bank through Plaid and includes Schedule E, depreciation with Form 4562, and 1099 tracking. Its price, $5 a unit with a $25 monthly minimum, mostly pays for tenant-facing work the other two don't list: an AI text line that answers from the lease and repair triage with vendor texting.

See Rentra pricingRentra vs Stessa

Stessa vs Baselane FAQ

Is Stessa or Baselane cheaper?

Both have free plans. Among paid plans, Stessa Manage is the lowest at $12 a month paid annually. Baselane Smart is $20 a month on an annual plan, and Stessa Pro is $28 a month paid annually.

Which includes Schedule E reports for free?

Baselane lists Schedule E reports in its free Core plan as part of the accountant tax package. Stessa's free Essentials plan has a basic tax package, and the Schedule E report starts on Manage.

Do both offer bank accounts?

Yes. Both offer accounts with banking services provided by Thread Bank. Baselane lists unlimited checking and savings accounts with debit cards, and Stessa lists cash management accounts with a higher interest tier on Pro.

See all pricing guides or alternatives guides.

Try Rentra on your own rentals

Upload a signed lease and Rentra sets up the tenant, the rent and the lease dates. Free for 14 days, then $5 a unit a month.