Stessa vs REI Hub 2026: Free vs Paid Real-Estate Books

Stessa is a free, automated transaction-categorization tool that produces a passable Schedule E packet for landlords with simple structures. REI Hub is paid, double-entry bookkeeping designed for real-estate operators who need a real general ledger. They look similar; they are not the same product. The CPA-friendly answer past 5 doors is usually REI Hub.

If you've ever had a tax preparer ask "is this cash or accrual?" and you weren't sure, this comparison is for you. Below is the honest split — by portfolio shape, not marketing tier.

TL;DR verdict

• Choose Stessa if: you own 1–10 doors, you self-manage, your structure is one or two LLCs at most, and you want $0 books that produce a clean enough Schedule E.
• Choose REI Hub if: you own 5+ doors, you have multiple LLCs or beneficial owners, your CPA wants a real general ledger, or you've outgrown "spreadsheet plus Stessa" and need true double-entry books.
• Choose neither if: you manage property for other owners — both are landlord-bookkeeping tools, not PM trust-accounting platforms. You need a full PM suite for that.

Pricing structure

Stessa is free at the core (with paid upgrades for advanced reporting and faster banking). REI Hub is a per-property monthly subscription.

What you actually pay:

• Stessa free: $0 for unlimited properties. Stessa Pro adds advanced reports, faster banking, document storage at a published monthly rate.
• REI Hub at 5 properties: a low double-digit monthly rate per property, less on annual. At 25 properties, the per-property rate drops in tiered pricing.

The structural difference matters more than the headline. Stessa is "free if you don't need real books." REI Hub is "paid because it's real books."

Features that actually matter

Bookkeeping foundation

• Stessa: Single-entry, cash-flow categorization. Transactions are tagged to a property and a category. There is no balance sheet in the accounting sense.
• REI Hub: True double-entry. Every transaction has a debit and a credit. You can produce a balance sheet, run trial balances, and reconcile in ways your CPA recognizes.

Edge: REI Hub, the moment you care about a balance sheet or have an LLC with a real basis to track.

Tax-time output

• Stessa: Generates a Schedule E packet that works for simple structures. Lots of small landlords file directly from Stessa's exports.
• REI Hub: Same Schedule E output, plus depreciation schedules, mortgage amortization tracking, and a real general ledger your preparer can audit.

Edge: REI Hub if you have depreciation, mortgages with paydown to track, or a CPA who wants to see the books not the summary.

Multi-entity / multi-LLC

• Stessa: Workable for 1–2 entities. Beyond that, the structure gets unwieldy.
• REI Hub: Built for multi-LLC. Each entity gets its own books, consolidated reporting on top.

Edge: REI Hub.

Mileage and travel

• Stessa: GPS-based mileage tracking in the app. Useful if you drive to properties.
• REI Hub: Manual entry. No native mileage app.

Edge: Stessa.

Automation and rules

• Stessa: Strong auto-categorization. Bank feed comes in, transactions get tagged.
• REI Hub: Rules-based categorization plus manual entry. Slightly more setup, more control.

Edge: Tie. Stessa is faster out of the gate; REI Hub is more correct over time.

Reporting depth

• Stessa: Cash flow, P&L, Schedule E, net worth dashboard. Slick.
• REI Hub: Balance sheet, P&L, GL, Schedule E, custom reports. CPA-recognizable.

Edge: REI Hub for accounting depth, Stessa for the consumer dashboard feel.

What both don't tell you

• Stessa's "free" depends on Stessa Cash Management. They monetize via banking spread, screening fees, and the Pro tier. If you keep operating cash there, the free price tag holds; if you don't, expect a Pro upgrade nudge eventually.
• REI Hub's per-property pricing adds up. At 25 properties you're spending real money — still less than a PM suite, but no longer "trivial."
• Neither replaces a PM tool. Both are bookkeeping. Lease docs, tenant portals, screening, maintenance work-orders — that's PM software, separate purchase.
• Stessa is single-owner-mindset. It assumes you are the beneficial owner. The moment you have a partner with their own basis, the model creaks.
• CPAs prefer REI Hub. Anecdotally, but consistently. A tax preparer who has seen both will tell you the second one is easier to defend in an audit.

Decision matrix

If you're hitting Stessa's ceiling and considering REI Hub, that's the right move for books. If you're also adding leasing, maintenance, and tenant portal needs on top, that's when a real PM platform earns its keep. Proprietio is one option in that lane — flat monthly, no per-door fees, built for mixed portfolios with the PM workflow and reporting built in.

FAQ

Can I use Stessa for tax prep? Yes — for simple Schedule E filings on 1–5 doors with a single owner. The output is structured for it. Beyond that, ask your CPA.

Does REI Hub integrate with rent collection? Yes, via RentRedi and bank feeds. It is not itself a rent-collection tool; it's the books layer.

Can I run both? Some operators do: Stessa for the mileage tracking and consumer-friendly dashboard, REI Hub for the actual books. It's a duplicative cost; valid if you like both.

What about QuickBooks Online? QBO works fine for real estate with the right chart of accounts and a CPA who has set it up. REI Hub is real-estate-specific out of the box; QBO is general. Both produce defensible books.

This isn't tax advice — consult a CPA licensed in your state.

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