HOA software
PayHOA alternatives for self-managed HOAs.
PayHOA is a popular self-management software for small HOAs, focused on dues collection and basic resident communication. Boards comparing alternatives often want an AI bylaw concierge that actually answers questions from the CC&Rs — not just a document repository — and that is the core of what Communities does differently.
Why boards search for PayHOA alternatives
These are the search-intent patterns we hear from boards reaching out — what they say they want from the next platform, not accusations against the incumbent.
An AI assistant that actually reads the CC&Rs and answers with section + page citations.
A resident-facing portal that handles bylaw lookup, not just account balances.
Built-in Trojan-horse tools (Health Check, Resident Handbook, Manager Comparison) for board work beyond dues.
Programmatic SEO surfaces (state guides, topic guides, role guides) that bring residents and boards in organically.
How Communities is built differently
- 1
AI bylaw concierge with section + page citations — answers any question from your governing documents.
- 2
Five free Trojan-horse tools: CC&R Health Check, Manager Comparison, Resident Handbook, Manager Breakup Kit, Instant Board Packet.
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Free for boards under 250 homes — no per-action charges, no per-resident upcharge.
- 4
Public community page (`/community/[slug]`) and shareable bylaw answers (`/qa/[id]`) act as branded landing pages.
Free tools for the switch
Each tool is free to run, no credit card required. Use them before signing the new workspace contract or sending the notice letter.
Manager Comparison Calculator
Side-by-side cost estimate based on your current monthly fee and home count.
Open toolManager Breakup Kit
Notice letter, records-retention demand, document-transfer request, and 90-day transition checklist.
Open toolCC&R Health Check
Spot ADA gaps, unenforceable breed bans, and vague fine authority before the next amendment cycle.
Open tool
Common questions
How is Communities different from PayHOA?
Communities is built around an AI bylaw concierge that reads the full CC&R + Bylaws + Rules + Architectural Guidelines and answers questions with citations. PayHOA's strength is dues collection and resident communication; Communities adds the bylaw-lookup, document-classification, and acquisition-tool layer on top.
Does Communities handle dues collection?
The dues scaffold is shipped — boards configure assessments and residents see balances. Stripe payment wiring is on the roadmap (waitlisted until enough boards request it). Boards needing online payments today typically run dues through their bank's ACH or a separate payment processor.
Can we move from PayHOA without losing data?
Yes — boards export resident lists and document files from PayHOA and re-upload to Communities. The bylaw concierge classifies governing documents (Declaration, Bylaws, Rules, Architectural Guidelines) automatically based on filename and content. Resident lists import via a single CSV.
Is Communities free for small HOAs?
Yes — boards under 250 homes are free, no credit card required. The free tier includes the bylaw concierge, resident portal, violation tracking, dues scaffold, and all five Trojan-horse tools.
What does Communities not do that PayHOA does?
PayHOA has more mature integrations with traditional accounting workflows (1099 reporting, tax exports). Communities focuses on the bylaw-lookup, communication, and acquisition workload — the financial-export layer is on the roadmap and not yet at PayHOA's depth. Boards with complex accounting needs sometimes run both side by side during the transition.
This guide is general orientation, not legal advice. Review your specific contract and state statute with counsel before sending termination notices.
On the board?
See the role-by-role guide
Each board role has a different stake in a management switch. The president signs the notice letter; the treasurer reviews the cost delta; the secretary handles records transfer.
Most boards run both in parallel for a month
Stand up Communities first. Send the notice letter when you're ready.
Free for boards under 250 homes — no credit card required. Upload your governing documents once and the bylaw concierge is ready immediately.
Run an HOA? Free for boards under 250 homes.
Ask unlimited bylaw questions, manage violations, and share cited answers with your residents — no credit card required.