Keel vs Landlord Studio:
built for NZ, not adapted to it
Both Keel and Landlord Studio are made for self-managing landlords. Landlord Studio is an accounting-led tool - strong on income and expense tracking, receipt scanning, and tax reporting - built for the US and UK markets. Keel is built for New Zealand: Healthy Homes compliance, Tenancy Services bond rules, and RTA-aligned agreements are the defaults, and an AI assistant called Skip drafts tenant comms, triages maintenance, and answers NZ tenancy-law questions - with you approving before anything ships. Keel is $15/month per property in NZD, GST-inclusive.
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Keel vs Landlord Studio: feature-by-feature.
Both help self-managing landlords. Below: where they differ, based on each provider's public pages.
Landlord Studio
Free + paid plans
Keel
$15/mo (NZD)
Comparison points reflect each provider’s public website (landlordstudio.com / onkeel.co.nz) as of June 2026. Landlord Studio prices by region and currency; for the exact rate where you are, see landlordstudio.com/pricing. Keel’s pricing is published in NZD on our pricing page.
Where keel might suit you better.
Built for New Zealand, not adapted to it
Healthy Homes Standards, Tenancy Services bond rules, and RTA-aligned agreements are Keel's defaults - not bolt-ons. Landlord Studio is a US/UK-origin product, so NZ tenancy law and compliance aren't part of how it works.
Skip runs the operations, not just the books
Skip drafts tenant replies, triages maintenance, writes arrears notices for your approval, and answers NZ tenancy-law questions on demand. Landlord Studio's AI is aimed at receipts and expense categorisation - bookkeeping, not day-to-day management.
Tenant comms and notices, drafted for you
RTA-aligned notices (14-day, 21-day, breach, rent-increase) and tenant messaging live in one place, with Skip drafting the wording. You review and approve before anything is sent.
Compliance you can see at a glance
Keel tracks each property's Healthy Homes status and flags deadlines before they hit. No spreadsheet to maintain, no dates to remember.
A tenant portal included
Tenants report maintenance with photos, view their tenancy agreement, track repairs, and message you through their own Keel portal - at no extra cost.
NZ pricing, in NZ dollars
Keel publishes its full price ladder in NZD, GST-inclusive - $15/month for one property, capped at $99 for 10 or more. No currency conversion, no working out what you'll actually pay.
Built for the way
New Zealand actually rents.
Healthy Homes, Tenancy Services bond rules and RTA-aligned agreements are the defaults - not bolt-ons.
Where Landlord Studio does well.
We believe in honest comparisons. Landlord Studio is a real product with real strengths.
Serious accounting and tax tracking
Income and expense tracking, receipt capture, and reporting are Landlord Studio's core strength. If bookkeeping for tax is your main job-to-be-done, it does that well.
A genuine free tier
Landlord Studio's free plan covers up to 3 units, which is generous for a landlord just getting started or running a tiny portfolio.
Smart receipt scanning
Its AI extracts expense details from a photographed receipt, which saves real time when you're reconciling at tax time.
Multi-country if you invest offshore
If you hold property in the US or UK as well as New Zealand, Landlord Studio's multi-market support may suit a mixed portfolio better than an NZ-only tool.
The simplest way to think about it: Landlord Studio is built around the books, for a global audience. Keel is built around NZ operations and compliance, with Skip drafting the day-to-day. Different jobs - pick the one that matches yours.
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Frequently asked questions.
What is the best Landlord Studio alternative for NZ landlords?
Keel is a strong Landlord Studio alternative for landlords who want software built specifically for New Zealand. Keel includes Healthy Homes compliance tracking, RTA-aligned tenancy agreements and notices, Tenancy Services bond handling, and an AI assistant (Skip) that answers NZ tenancy-law questions. Landlord Studio is a capable accounting-led tool, but it's a US/UK-origin product without NZ tenancy-law localisation.
How much does Keel cost compared to Landlord Studio?
Keel is $15/month per property in NZ dollars (GST-inclusive), graduated and capped at $99/month for 10 or more properties. Landlord Studio offers a free tier for up to 3 units plus paid plans from around $12/month with per-unit pricing - check landlordstudio.com for the rate in your currency, since it prices by region. Keel publishes its NZ pricing in NZD on its pricing page.
Is Landlord Studio built for New Zealand?
Landlord Studio is a global product focused on the US and UK markets - its help content references US tax forms and UK regions, and it doesn't include NZ Healthy Homes standards, Tenancy Services bond rules, or RTA notice templates. Keel's defaults are all NZ-specific, so the compliance and tenancy workflows match how New Zealand actually rents.
What does each one do best?
Landlord Studio is strong at the books - income and expense tracking, receipt scanning, and reporting for tax time. Keel focuses on NZ rental operations: tenant communications, maintenance triage, compliance tracking, and RTA-aligned notices, with Skip drafting the work for your approval. If bookkeeping is your main need, Landlord Studio is solid; if NZ-specific operations and compliance are, Keel is built for that.
Can I switch from Landlord Studio to Keel easily?
Yes. Keel offers a 30-day free trial - sign up and run both side by side, export your records from Landlord Studio, and move across once you're comfortable. There's no lock-in. Our free NZ landlord switching checklist walks through exactly what to port.
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- From $15/month
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- Built for NZ