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Key Takeaways

Generated from the text of customer reviews

Tellus is a cloud-based property management software used by landlords, property managers, and real estate investors in the real estate rental sector. Users value its ease of use, while recurring payment processing issues and limited web-based access are common concerns. Recent updates include a tenant screening feature for rental history, credit, employment, and ID checks.

Our Verdict

Tellus works is good for small landlords and early-stage property managers managing low to moderate rental volumes. Its free pricing model is generally seen as a strong value for budget-conscious users. However, recurring concerns around payment processing reliability make it less suitable for larger portfolios or high-volume rent collection. Recommended for small landlords testing a free PM tool.

Tellus Specifications

  • Tenant Management
  • Lease Management
  • Rent Collection
  • Maintenance Requests
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What Is Tellus?

Tellus is a cloud-based property management software that offers rental solutions to landlords, helping them streamline their administrative workflows. Providing a centralized location for the database allows its users to view their financial processes, rental applications, and work orders and communicate with interested clients easily. Tellus’s property management app is completely free, functioning as part of a broader high-yield savings and real estate-backed lending ecosystem. It also offers automation for rent collections, lease agreements, and reporting, along with a customizable dashboard and quick analytics.

What Is Tellus Best For? 

Tellus is best for chat-based rental communication and work order coordination, where landlords and tenants manage all maintenance requests through a single in-app messaging thread. Tenants can submit repair issues, share photos, and track updates within the same conversation. It helps landlords coordinate with contractors and manage progress without switching between tools or systems. 

How Much Does Tellus Cost?

Tellus's property management software is a free to use software — there are no subscription tiers or per-unit charges for its core toolset, including tenant screening, rent collection, property listing, financial reporting, and maintenance request management.   

Contact us to get a Tellus price quote.

Tellus Integrations

Tellus does not publicly list integrations with major property management platforms, instead operates as a standalone mobile-first property management system with built-in workflows for rent, communication, and maintenance management.

How Does Tellus Work? 

Here is how users can typically start using Tellus: 

  • Download the Tellus mobile application and create an account
  • Add properties and store rental-related records and documents within the platform
  • Publish rental listings and receive inquiries from prospective tenants
  • Collect rental applications and communicate with applicants through in-app messaging
  • Review applicant information and conduct tenant screening, where available
  • Add approved tenants to the system and maintain tenant records
  • Collect rent payments electronically through the platform
  • Manage maintenance requests and track work orders submitted by tenants
  • Track property expenses and rental activity across managed properties
  • Generate reports to monitor financial and operational performance 
Watch a Tellus demo to explore the platform's workflow in detail.

Who Is Tellus For?

It caters to businesses of all sizes. Tellus' users include:

  • Real Estate Investors
  • Landlords
  • Property Managers
  • Home-Owners 

Tellus Use Cases 

Based on our analysis of Tellus's capabilities, we have identified several scenarios where the platform aligns well with the operational needs of landlords and property managers: 

  1. Small Landlords Avoiding The Cost Of Traditional Property Management Software 

For landlords managing only a few rental units, subscription costs can become difficult to justify, particularly when rental income is modest. Tellus is frequently adopted in these situations because it allows owners to move away from spreadsheets and manual recordkeeping without introducing another recurring expense. The platform is often used as a first step toward a more structured property management process while keeping overhead low. 

  1. Independent Landlords Consolidating Applicant Screening Workflows 

Tenant screening often requires landlords to juggle applications, applicant communication, and background checks across multiple systems. As leasing activity increases, that fragmented process can become difficult to manage consistently. Tellus fits landlords who want applicant information and screening-related records connected to the same workflow, reducing the need to move between separate services during the evaluation process. 

  1. Property Managers Coordinating Maintenance Across Multiple Rentals 

Maintenance becomes significantly harder to oversee when repair requests arrive through text messages, emails, and phone calls. Rather than reconstructing conversations later, property managers can keep requests tied to specific properties and tenants from the outset. This is particularly useful for operators responsible for several rentals at once, where visibility into outstanding work and related expenses becomes increasingly important. 

  1. First-Time Landlords Formalizing Rental Operations 

Many rental owners start with informal processes that work well for a single tenant but become harder to sustain as responsibilities grow. Lease documents, payment records, and tenant communication can quickly end up scattered across different locations. Tellus is often introduced during this transition period, helping landlords establish more consistent operational practices before portfolio complexity increases further. 

  1. Mobile-First Landlords Managing Properties Away From The Office 

Not every landlord manages rentals from a desk. Some oversee properties alongside a full-time job, while others spend much of their time traveling between units or working remotely. User reviews frequently mention the convenience of handling day-to-day property activity from a mobile device, making Tellus a practical fit for owners who prefer a phone-centered workflow over traditional desktop-based management systems. 

Is Tellus Right for You?

The size and requirements of a property management business will help determine whether Tellus is a good choice of software for its users. Tellus can provide a valuable solution for real estate investors and property managers looking to manage their properties more effectively and generate passive income from their real estate investments.

Still not sure about the software? Contact our customer support team on 661-384-7070 for guidance toward the best decision.

Tellus Features

Tenant Screening

The tenant screening feature in Tellus helps landlords to find reliable tenants and minimize the risk of rental defaults or property damage. Landlords can ensure that tenants are financially responsible and trustworthy by conducting background checks and credit score assessments.

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Rent Collection

The rent collection module can simplify the payment process for tenants and landlords. By offering a digital solution, landlords can minimize physical transactions and keep track of rent payments more effectively. The automatic reminders can also help reduce delayed or missed costs.

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Property Listing Services

The property listing services feature can help landlords to showcase their properties to a broad audience of potential renters. Detailed descriptions, photographs, and essential property features can attract tenants and reduce the time and effort required to list properties.

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Financial Reporting

Financial reporting can help landlords track their rental property income and expenses, monitor cash flow, and generate financial reports for tax purposes. It can simplify the accounting process and allow landlords to make informed decisions about their rental properties.

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Maintenance Request Management

The maintenance request management feature can help landlords handle tenants' maintenance requests more efficiently. By keeping track of repairs, scheduling maintenance appointments, and coordinating with preferred service providers, landlords can reduce the hassle associated with property maintenance and ensure the longevity and value of the property.

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In-App Communication

Tellus features in app communication and centralizes landlord-tenant communication through built-in messaging. Property owners can discuss maintenance issues, share updates, and keep conversations connected to specific properties and tenants, reducing reliance on separate email or text message threads.

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Pros And Cons of Tellus

Pros

  • Easy to use for tracking time across multiple clients and projects

  • Free tool with reliable time tracking and activity monitoring

  • Provides clear reports on hours worked and task-level productivity

  • Simple switching between tasks and clients during the workday

Cons

  • Limited tracking depth compared to more advanced monitoring tools

  • Lacks mobile app support for on-the-go time tracking

  • Basic feature set may not suit complex project management needs

Tellus Reviews

Total 39 reviews

4

All reviews are from verified customers

Rating Distribution

5

Stars

41%

4

Stars

38%

3

Stars

10%

2

Stars

3%

1

Stars

8%

Share your experience

A

Anonymous

Small Business, 11-50 employees

1.0
January 2025

full of payment issues

Pros

The one upside was that it didn't cost anything but that pretty much matched the overall quality.

Cons

I ended up leaving it because the payment problems were too serious to ignore and made me question where the money was actually being held and whether it was secure. Some tenants were charged twice without approval, other payments failed with no notice to the tenant or to me and even when a tenant did submit a payment, it could sit stuck in processing for more than 14 days until I reached out to support. On top of that, the fact that Tellus had no web-based login made it inaccessible for certain tenants.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

2

Value for money

1

Customer Support

1

Functionality

2

PS

Perry S.

Real Estate, 1-10 employees

1.0
October 2024

Payment failures and weak support

Pros

I don't have anything positive to mention here except that it's a free property management software.

Cons

While using it, we ran into several payment problems that created both financial and legal concerns. There were unauthorized double withdrawals from my tenants, delayed payment remittances and a lack of proper detection or communication around payment issues. Support was also very limited, responses were slow, often not very helpful and only available through the app, with no phone or email option. Those problems were the reason we eventually moved to a different platform. On a smaller note, it could only be accessed through the app and not from a web browser or any other method.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

2

Value for money

3

Customer Support

1

Functionality

1

KK

Kathleen K.

Small Business, 1-10 employees

5.0
March 2023

Offers high APR

Pros

Compared with other online banking options, this one offers the highest APR I've seen. They use real estate to make that possible which means returns can be up to 17x higher than what traditional savings accounts usually offer. On top of that, it's completely free which makes it even more appealing.

Cons

There are a few restrictions around the minimum balance and how APR is earned but the threshold is still low when you compare it with traditional bank savings accounts. Aside from that, everything else is pretty simple.

Rating Distribution

Ease of use

10

Value for money

10

Customer Support

10

Functionality

10

Frequently Asked Questions

What languages does Tellus support?

It supports English.

Does Tellus support mobile devices?

Yes, it does offer support for iOS, Android and iPad.

Does Tellus offer an API?

Yes, it provides an API.

Who are the typical users of Tellus?

It caters to businesses of different sizes. Tellus' users include Real Estate Investors, Landlords, Property Managers and Home-Owners. 

What other apps does Tellus integrate with?

The vendor has not disclosed any information regarding its third-party integrations.

What level of support does Tellus offer?

Tellus offers customer support directly through its mobile application, including in-app live chat, email assistance, and access to a comprehensive online knowledge base.

What pricing plans does Tellus offer?

Tellus software offers a free trial and a free version. However, its cost may differ depending on the organization's type and needs. For a customized pricing plan, get a Tellus cost quote.