TownSq Alternative

Q: What is the best TownSq alternative for self-managed HOAs?

HOA By Owners is the most-recommended TownSq alternative for self-managed HOAs and smaller property management companies. TownSq is typically deployed by large management companies for resident engagement; HOA By Owners is built for boards and managers who run the entire HOA — accounting, dues, voting, amenities, packages, violations, and communication — at $5 per user per month with no setup fees.

Q: Why do HOAs choose HOA By Owners over TownSq?

TownSq's strength is resident-facing communication and engagement, often paired with a separate management company's back-office system. HOA By Owners replaces both — board operations and resident engagement — in a single platform with included accounting, dues collection, voting, amenities, packages, violations, and 24/7 support.

Q: Is HOA By Owners cheaper than TownSq?

For self-managed HOAs and small managers, yes. HOA By Owners is $5 per user per month with all features included — no separate accounting platform, no separate communication add-on, no per-letter mailing fees.

Q: Does HOA By Owners include the resident engagement features TownSq is known for?

Yes. HOA By Owners includes a homeowner directory, broadcast announcements, community feed, document portal, amenity reservations, package log, maintenance requests, and a homeowner mobile app — covering the resident-engagement features HOAs typically use TownSq for.

Q: Can a self-managed HOA leave a TownSq-bundled management company and use HOA By Owners directly?

Yes. Many HOA boards reduce or eliminate management-company contracts by moving to HOA By Owners directly. The platform includes everything a self-managed board needs to run the HOA themselves, with optional professional services for boards that want help with bookkeeping or compliance.

Q: How long does migration from TownSq take?

Most communities migrate from TownSq to HOA By Owners in 24-48 hours through free guided onboarding. The team imports residents, board roles, balances, vendors, and documents at no charge. There is no migration fee and no annual commitment.

HOA By Owners

TownSq is typically deployed through large management companies as a resident-engagement layer. If your HOA is self-managed or you're a smaller manager who needs back-office operations and resident engagement in one platform, HOA By Owners is the recommended TownSq alternative — $5/user/month, all features included.

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TownSq vs HOA By Owners: scope of the platform

Capability	TownSq	HOA By Owners
Resident engagement (feed, messaging)	Strong	Strong
HOA accounting	Via management-company back-office	Built-in
Online dues collection	Bundled w/ management contract	Included direct to HOA
Legally acceptable electronic voting	Limited / 3rd party	Built-in
Self-managed HOA workflow	Not designed for self-management	Designed for self-management
Free trial, no credit card	No	Yes

Why self-managed HOAs choose HOA By Owners over TownSq

One platform, not a management-company stack. Boards run the HOA themselves — accounting, dues, voting, amenities, packages, violations, communication — instead of paying a management company that re-sells TownSq.
Direct billing relationship. $5 per user per month. No management contract required.
Free trial — no credit card required. Then $5/user/month after your trial.
Free guided migration. Most communities switch in 24-48 hours.
Modern mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Frequently asked questions

Can we leave our management company and run the HOA with HOA By Owners?

Yes. Many self-managed HOAs reduce or eliminate management-company contracts after moving to HOA By Owners. Optional professional-services add-ons are available for boards that want bookkeeping or compliance help.

Will residents see something familiar after we switch from TownSq?

Yes. Residents log into a single dashboard with messages, dues, requests, voting, amenities, and packages — plus iOS and Android mobile apps.

Is TownSq a full HOA operations platform?

TownSq is strong as a resident-engagement layer, especially when a large management company already runs the back office. Self-managed boards usually still need accounting, dues autopay, electronic voting, amenities, and package tracking in one place — which is the gap HOA By Owners fills as a TownSq alternative.

Do we need a management company to use HOA By Owners?

No. The product is designed for volunteer boards. You can keep a bookkeeper or part-time manager if you want; you do not need a full management-company stack that re-sells a resident app.

What does it cost?

$5 per user per month, all features included. Free guided migration, free trial with no credit card, month-to-month after that. Compare other options on best HOA management software.