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    Zillow Rental Manager Alternative: MakeLease vs Zillow

    Zillow Rental Manager is free to list a rental on Zillow, Trulia and HotPads, and Zillow says it is free for you and your tenant to sign a lease online. Its current help article on signing, updated in July 2026, describes uploading a lease you already have (PDF, Word or image), placing signature fields and sending it to up to eight tenants, each of whom needs a Zillow account to sign. If you already have a lease and want listings, applications and rent collection in one free place, Zillow Rental Manager is a strong choice. If you need to write the lease first, MakeLease's guided wizard creates it and sends it for e-signature at $0 today, and tenants sign from an emailed link without creating an account. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses, and it does not list rentals, screen tenants or collect rent. Zillow's main Rental Manager pages block automated access, so every Zillow fact here comes from Zillow's public help center.

    Prices and features verified: · by MakeLease Editorial Team

    The short answer

    Choose Zillow Rental Manager if…

    • you want your rental listed on Zillow, Trulia and HotPads from one place, free
    • you want applications with credit and background reports that cost you nothing (the renter pays $35)
    • you already have a lease file and just need it signed and stored
    • you want rent collected online, free to tenants who pay by ACH
    • you want a phone app for managing listings

    Choose MakeLease if…

    • you need to write the lease, not upload one, with a guided wizard
    • your tenants would rather sign from an emailed link without creating a Zillow account
    • you want renewals, a tenant portal and work orders without a listing account
    • you don't need listings, screening or rent collection
    Create a free lease

    Who should choose which

    Landlord who has no lease yet

    Better fit: MakeLease

    Zillow's current signing guide starts with uploading your own lease. MakeLease's 8-step wizard writes one and sends it for e-signature at no cost today. It is not state-specific, so check it against your state's rules before sending.

    Landlord filling a vacancy

    Better fit: Zillow Rental Manager

    Zillow Rental Manager distributes one listing to Zillow, Trulia and HotPads and offers applications with credit and background reports that are free for landlords. MakeLease does not list rentals or screen tenants.

    Landlord with a lease from an attorney or association

    Better fit: Zillow Rental Manager

    If the lease is already written, Zillow lets you upload it, place signature fields, add up to eight tenants and a co-landlord, and collect signatures free. MakeLease only sends leases made in its own wizard.

    Landlord whose tenant doesn't want another account

    Better fit: MakeLease

    Zillow's help center says each signer must sign in to a Zillow account that matches the email on the lease. MakeLease tenants sign from an emailed link without an account.

    Pricing: Zillow Rental Manager vs MakeLease

    Pricing comparison of Zillow Rental Manager and MakeLease, verified 2026-10-28
     Zillow Rental ManagerMakeLease
    Cost to e-sign a leaseYesFree for landlord and tenant[8]$0, no card[14]
    Cost to list a rentalYesFree to list on Zillow, Trulia and HotPads[1]NoNot offered[15]
    Applications and screeningFree for landlords; renter pays $35 (30 days of applications, credit and background)[10]NoNot offered[15]
    Rent payment fees (tenant)ACH free; debit card $9.95 per rent payment; credit card 2.95%[11]NoNot offered[15]

    Zillow's Rental Manager pricing and lease marketing pages returned a bot check to our requests, so prices here come only from Zillow's help center. MakeLease costs nothing today and asks for no card; you need a free account to generate, save or send a lease.

    Features compared

    Feature comparison of Zillow Rental Manager and MakeLease, verified 2026-10-28
     Zillow Rental ManagerMakeLease
    Create a leaseCurrent signing guide: upload your own lease (PDF, Word or image)[2][9]YesFree, guided 8-step wizard[14]
    E-signatureYesFree; up to eight tenants plus a co-landlord[8][3]YesFree; tenant needs no account[16]
    Tenant account needed to signYes; each signer signs in to a Zillow account[4][7]YesFree; tenant needs no account[16]
    E-sign a lease you already haveYesUpload PDF, Word or image files[2]NoOnly leases made in the wizard can be sent for signing[14]
    Download the signed leaseYesSigned PDF[5]YesFree (free account required)[14]
    Amend a signed leaseNoNot supported; amend outside Zillow and uploadF1[6]PartlyLease plus free landlord forms[14]
    Listing syndicationYesZillow, Trulia and HotPads[1]NoNot offered[15]
    Applications and screeningYesCredit and background reports, renter-paid[10]PartlyOnline application form; no screening[14]
    Online rent collectionYesACH free to tenants; card fees apply[11]NoNot offered[15]
    Maintenance trackingYesMaintenance tracker with notes, photos and expenses[12]YesFree work orders[14]
    Mobile appYesRental Manager app for listings[13]NoWeb only[15]

    An older Zillow help article (last updated February 2024) describes Zillow's rental lease as a location-specific agreement. Zillow's current signing guide (July 2026) describes only uploading your own lease, and Zillow's lease marketing pages blocked our requests, so we could not confirm whether a Zillow-made lease is still offered or in which states. If you see a lease builder in your account, it is not reflected here.

    1. F1. Zillow's help center says Rental Manager "does not support editing, amending, or terminating an active lease" and that amendments must be completed outside Zillow or uploaded.

    ✓ included · ✗ not offered · Paid = paid plan or per-use fee · Partial = offered with a limit noted in the cell. Bracketed numbers link to the source.

    Where Zillow Rental Manager is better

    • Reach: one Zillow Rental Manager listing is distributed to Zillow, Trulia and HotPads at no cost. MakeLease does not list rentals.
    • Screening at no cost to you: Zillow says applications and credit and background reports are free for landlords; the renter pays $35, which covers 30 days of applications. MakeLease has no screening.
    • Rent collection: tenants can pay rent online, with ACH free to them. MakeLease does not collect rent.
    • Bring your own lease: Zillow signs a lease you upload, with up to eight tenants and a co-landlord. MakeLease signs only leases made in its own wizard.
    • Mobile: Zillow has a Rental Manager app for listings. MakeLease is web only.

    Other Zillow Rental Manager alternatives

    MakeLease is not the only free option. These tools ranked above us in our roundup of free lease generators, mainly because they offer state-specific lease content and MakeLease does not.

    • Avail

      Best for: Landlords who want a free, state-specific lease with e-signature and can live with the standard clauses.

      The free plan (named Unlimited) includes state-specific lease templates with digital signing. Avail says all its lease templates and e-sign options are free, offers a free printable lease PDF, and lets you upload your own lease and send it for e-signature at no cost. Avail says the free tier is not a trial.[17][18][19][20][21]

      What Avail charges for

    • Innago

      Best for: Landlords who want a free downloadable state lease template plus free online signing in the same place.

      Innago's pricing page lists online leasing and document storage as free with no setup fee, monthly fee or contract. Its site publishes a residential lease template page for every state and DC (credited to REI Grove), and its signing page says you can sign and store as many leases and documents as you like for free, using Dropbox Sign as its e-signature partner.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

      What Innago charges for

    Switching from Zillow Rental Manager

    1. Download each signed lease from Zillow Rental Manager as a PDF for your records.
    2. Create a free MakeLease account (no card) and draft the next lease for the unit with the guided 8-step wizard.
    3. Check the draft against your state's landlord-tenant rules and add any required clauses or disclosures, since MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses.
    4. Send the lease for e-signature. Tenants sign from an emailed link without creating an account.
    5. Keep using Zillow Rental Manager for listings, applications and rent if you rely on them; MakeLease does not replace those.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Zillow Rental Manager free for leases?

    Zillow's help center says it is free for you and your tenant to sign a lease online. Its current signing guide describes uploading your own lease as a PDF, Word or image file and placing signature fields on it.[8][2]

    Does Zillow Rental Manager write the lease for me?

    We could not confirm it. An older Zillow help article describes a location-specific Zillow lease, but Zillow's current signing guide (July 2026) describes only uploading a lease you already have, and Zillow's lease marketing pages blocked our requests. Check in your account.[9][2]

    Do tenants need a Zillow account to sign?

    Yes. Zillow's help center says each signer must be signed in to the Zillow account that matches the email on the lease, and must create one with that email if they don't have one.[4][7]

    What does Zillow charge renters?

    Zillow says applications are free for landlords; renters pay $35, which lets them apply to participating rentals for 30 days and includes credit and background reports. For rent, ACH is free, a debit card costs $9.95 per rent payment and a credit card costs 2.95%.[10][11]

    Can I use MakeLease and Zillow Rental Manager together?

    Yes. You can list and screen on Zillow, then write the lease in MakeLease and send it for e-signature there, or download the MakeLease PDF and upload it to Zillow for signing. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses, so check your state's rules either way.[2][14][15]

    Try MakeLease for your next lease

    Answer eight short sections, generate a PDF and send it for e-signature. It costs nothing today and no card is asked for; you create a free account when you generate the lease. MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses, so check your state's lease rules before you sign.

    Create a free leaseSee what the lease includes

    Sources and methodology

    • We read each company's public pricing, feature and help pages on the date shown. We did not create accounts, start trials or contact sales.
    • A claim appears on this page only if a public page supports it. Anything we could not load or confirm was left out rather than guessed.
    • Complaints are quoted only as what some reviewers report, with a link. They are not statements of fact.
    • We do not publish scores or star ratings. We re-check every source monthly and date each change.
    • Zillow's help-center articles were read on 2026-10-28 through the help center's public article API, which returns the same text as the article pages; MakeLease facts were checked on 2026-10-26. No account was created.
    • zillow.com's Rental Manager pages (features, leases, pricing) returned a "Press & Hold" bot check to both plain requests and headless Chrome, and the Internet Archive had no usable copy. That is why this page cites only the help center and why it does not say whether Zillow currently offers its own lease template.
    • Until those pages are checked in a normal browser, this page is published with a noindex tag.
    1. [1] Zillow help center: About Zillow Rental Manager · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Zillow Rental Manager is a real estate classified listing creation and distribution platform. On Zillow Rental Manager you can create one listing, that will be distributed to HotPads, Zillow and Trulia. ... Click on "List your properties for free" and either choose to log in to your account, or create a new one”
    2. [2] Zillow help center: Signing a Lease (updated 2026-07-01) · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Zillow Rental Manager allows landlords and property managers to upload an existing lease, collect electronic signatures from tenants and co-landlords, and securely store completed lease documents. ... Select Upload lease for e-signing . Upload your lease documents. Supported file types include: PDF Microsoft Word documents Image files”
    3. [3] Zillow help center: Signing a Lease, tenants and signing order · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Enter your tenants' names and Zillow account email addresses. You can add up to eight tenants. ... All tenants receive an email requesting their signatures. After every tenant signs, the co-landlord (if one was added) receives an email to sign. After all tenants and co-landlords have signed, the landlord who created the lease receives an email requesting a final countersignature.”
    4. [4] Zillow help center: Signing a Lease, troubleshooting · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Each signer must be logged in to the Zillow account associated with the email address entered on the lease. If they do not already have a Zillow account, they must create one using that same email address before signing.”
    5. [5] Zillow help center: Signing a Lease, download the completed lease · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Open the completed lease. Download the signed PDF for your records.”
    6. [6] Zillow help center: Signing a Lease, changes after signing · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Once all parties have signed, Zillow Rental Manager does not support editing, amending, or terminating an active lease. If changes are required, you must: Complete a lease amendment outside Zillow. Or upload the lease amendment to Zillow Rental Manager.”
    7. [7] Zillow help center: Uploading an Existing Lease · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Yes, you have the option to add multiple tenants to your lease. You can add up to 8 tenants. Note: Each tenant needs their own email and Zillow account to sign.”
    8. [8] Zillow help center: Do I have to pay to use leases online? · accessed 2026-10-28
      “No, it's free for you and your landlord to sign your lease online.”
    9. [9] Zillow help center: What’s included in my rental lease? (last updated 2024-02-02) · accessed 2026-10-28
      “The rental lease is a location-specific agreement that’s written to cover most common single-family home and multi-unit property leasing requirements.”
    10. [10] Zillow help center: How much does the application service cost? · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Applications and tenant screening reports are free for landlords. The $35 fee allows prospective renters to apply to an unlimited number of participating rentals for 30 days, and also includes their credit and background reports.”
    11. [11] Zillow help center: What does it cost to pay my rent using your service? · accessed 2026-10-28
      “ACH payments are free. There is a flat fee to pay by debit card ($9.95 for rent and $4.95 for other rent-related charges) and a percentage fee of 2.95% fee when using a credit card.”
    12. [12] Zillow help center: Managing a Lease, maintenance tracker · accessed 2026-10-28
      “Landlords and property managers can use Zillow Rental Manager to log past and current maintenance tasks, track their progress by logging notes and photos, and resolve them by marking them as complete and logging any expenses.”
    13. [13] Zillow help center: Mobile & Apps · accessed 2026-10-28
      “The Zillow Rental Manager app, specifically for rentals , allows you to quickly create, distribute and manage your rental listings from your phone”
    14. [14] MakeLease lease agreement generator · accessed 2026-10-26
      “Creating a lease, downloading the PDF and sending it for e-signature cost nothing today, and no card is asked for. You need a free account to generate, save or send a lease.”
    15. [15] MakeLease generator: honest limits · accessed 2026-10-26
      “MakeLease does not add state-specific clauses. It does not collect rent, run credit or background checks, syndicate listings, or have a mobile app.”
    16. [16] MakeLease e-sign guide · accessed 2026-10-26
      “Tenants sign from an emailed link without creating an account. MakeLease records the signer's name, a timestamp, IP address and browser user agent, and stores a SHA-256 hash of the generated PDF.”
    17. [17] Avail pricing: free plan · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Unlimited $0/unit Unlimited Units Access basic rental property management tools. ... Use state-specific leases with digital signing”
    18. [18] Avail lease agreement page: cost FAQ · accessed 2026-10-27
      “All Avail lease agreement templates and e-sign options are free to use.”
    19. [19] Avail lease agreement page: printable PDF · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Prefer a physical lease you can print? Download our free lease PDF and other helpful templates now.”
    20. [20] Avail lease agreement page: upload your own lease · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Simply upload your lease, add unlimited digital signatures for free, and send it directly to your tenants — all within our platform.”
    21. [21] Avail pricing FAQ: free tier vs trial · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Our base Avail pricing tier is entirely free for landlords, with no time limits or hidden trial expirations.”
    22. [22] Innago pricing page · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Every Feature listed below is included in your Innago account at absolutely no cost to you.”
    23. [23] Innago pricing page: leasing row · accessed 2026-10-27
      “No Setup Fee No Monthly Fee No Contract ... Online Leasing & Document Storage FREE”
    24. [24] Innago sitemap: state lease pages · accessed 2026-10-27
      “https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/alabama/ … https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/wyoming/ … https://innago.com/residential-lease-agreement/district-of-columbia/”
    25. [25] Innago California residential lease agreement page · accessed 2026-10-27
      “To make your journey easier, REI Grove is offering a California lease agreement template for download.”
    26. [26] Innago online lease signing page · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Sign and store as many leases and other documents as you like, as always – for free.”
    27. [27] Innago online lease signing page: e-signature partner · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Our eSignature partner, Dropbox Sign (formerly Hellosign), helps us ensure that both your convenience and security are making a serious improvement.”
    28. [28] Innago online lease signing page: custom templates · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Create as many custom lease templates as you need. Automated fields make the process a breeze.”
    29. [29] Innago free landlord forms page · accessed 2026-10-27
      “Lease Agreements, Addendums, Notices, & Many More Available. Easily Download, Edit, or Print Documents. Sign Online With Our Free Software.”

    Zillow Rental Manager, Avail and Innago are trademarks of their respective owners. MakeLease is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Names are used only to identify the products being compared. This page is general information, not legal advice.