Guide
Stessa vs. Baselane: Free Landlord Banking Compared
Stessa's portfolio-based accounting compared against Baselane's unlimited sub-accounts, both with built-in banking - sourced from both companies' pricing pages.
Reviewed September 22, 2026
Both are landlord accounting tools with real banking built in now, not just bookkeeping on top of an outside account - the split is less "who has a bank account" and more depth of reporting versus simplicity of the free tier. Priced and sourced as of September 2026. Pricing changes, so verify current numbers before you buy.
Pricing, Side by Side
| Tier | Stessa | Baselane |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Essentials: unlimited properties, 1 portfolio, Cash Management banking (Thread Bank, pass-through FDIC), bank feeds, rent collection, tenant screening | Core: banking (Thread Bank pass-through FDIC), bookkeeping, rent collection, unlimited sub-accounts per property/entity |
| Mid tier | Manage, $15/mo ($12 annual): Schedule E reporting, 60+ legal forms, accelerated rent payments | Smart, $20/mo (annual): auto-tagging, 2-day rent deposits, shared access |
| Top tier | Pro, $35/mo ($28 annual): unlimited portfolios, advanced reports and budgeting, up to 3.49% APY on cash | - (no published tier above Smart) |
Both now offer real banking through Thread Bank with pass-through FDIC insurance, on the free tier in both cases - the premise that only one of them banks you is outdated. Stessa's paid ladder tops out at $35/mo versus Baselane's single $20/mo paid tier.
What Each Tool Actually Does
Stessa combines Cash Management banking with income/expense categorization, Schedule E tax prep, and a rent-collection/tenant-screening layer, and organizes accounts by named "portfolios" - useful for investors running multiple LLCs or entities, with unlimited portfolios at Pro. Baselane's banking is organized around unlimited sub-accounts per property or entity from the free tier itself, paired with automatic bookkeeping and tax-ready reports; its paid Smart tier adds auto-tagging and faster rent deposits rather than a deeper reporting ladder.
Where Stessa Is the Better Fit
- You manage multiple entities/LLCs and want that structure named explicitly - Pro's unlimited portfolios is built for it.
- You want a dedicated legal-forms library (60+) and Schedule E reporting bundled into a mid tier.
- You want a stated top cash-balance yield (up to 3.49% APY at Pro).
Where Baselane Is the Better Fit
- You want unlimited property/entity sub-accounts from the free tier without upgrading.
- You'd rather pay $20/mo once than move up a $15/$35 reporting ladder.
- You want automation (auto-tagging, 2-day deposits) rather than a deeper portfolio/forms structure.
The Bottom Line
Both bank you for free through the same kind of pass-through-FDIC arrangement now, so pick on reporting depth instead: Stessa's ladder is built for multi-entity operators who want named portfolios, tax forms, and a stated yield; Baselane's flatter structure suits someone who wants unlimited sub-accounts and simple automation without climbing a reporting tier.
Sources
If neither fits because you want scored, multi-strategy underwriting instead, see how Basis compares to Basis vs. Stessa.
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