Guide Compare

Best RUBS software for landlords: an honest comparison

By MeterEase · Updated

RUBS (ratio utility billing) splits a building’s master utility bill among units by a formula such as square footage or occupants. Landlords do it in three ways: a spreadsheet, self-serve software, or an outsourced billing company. Property management suites can also post utility charges. Here is each option, what it costs, and who it fits.

The options at a glance

MeterEase

Self-serve RUBS bill-back software. $14, $34 or $69/month (Portfolio covers 50 units, then $1.50/unit). 7-day Growth trial, card required.

Best for: Landlords who want the master bill split by square footage, bedrooms or occupants and emailed to each tenant with the bill attached, while tenants keep paying them directly.

Spreadsheet

Do it yourself. Free if you already have Excel or Google Sheets.

Best for: One or two buildings and one bill a month, if you are careful with formulas.

SplitUtility

Self-serve bill-splitting tool. $9.80/month (20 bill emails) or $19.90/month (unlimited). 30-day trial, no card.

Best for: Landlords who split by fixed tenant percentages and want the lowest starting price.

Utility Ranger

Self-serve RUBS billing. $2 or $3 per unit per month on their pricing page; their terms add a $30 base (10 units included) for accounts activated on or after June 1, 2026. 60-day trial.

Best for: Owners who want residents to pay from the statement or an admin fee passed through.

Livable

Self-service or done-for-you billing. No published price; starts with a free consultation.

Best for: Property managers on AppFolio, or who want billing automated for them.

Conservice

Outsourced utility billing service. Quote only.

Best for: Large portfolios that want billing, collections and submeters handled for them.

Buildium

Property management software. From $62/month (Essential) per Capterra.

Best for: Landlords who already run their books and leases in Buildium; RUBS is done with common expense allocations.

DoorLoop

Property management software. From $2.50 per unit, minimum $199/month.

Best for: Teams that need a full property management system with online rent.

Avail / TurboTenant

Free landlord software. Free plans; paid tiers per unit (Avail) or monthly (TurboTenant).

Best for: Collecting rent and charges online. They take an amount you enter; they do not describe splitting a master bill.

How to choose

  • Who does the monthly work? If you want to review and send the bills yourself, choose self-serve software. If you want it off your plate, choose an outsourced service.
  • How do tenants pay? MeterEase never touches tenant money; tenants pay you as they pay rent. Some tools collect payments in their own portal.
  • Which split do you use? Check that the tool supports your lease’s method (square footage, occupants, bedrooms, percent or a blend) and a vacancy rule.
  • Price at your unit count. Per-unit pricing is cheaper for a few units; flat plans are often cheaper as you grow.

Prices were checked on October 14, 2026. MeterEase is a math helper, not legal advice; rules for billing tenants for utilities differ by state and city.

Run this split every month without the spreadsheet

MeterEase reads the master bill PDF, applies your method and vacancy rule, and emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers. Plans start at $14/month.

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Questions

What is the best RUBS software for landlords?

It depends on how you work. If you want to run RUBS yourself at a published monthly price and keep collecting rent your current way, a self-serve tool such as MeterEase, SplitUtility or Utility Ranger fits. If you want someone else to run billing, look at an outsourced service such as Conservice or Livable’s automation. If you need full property management, Buildium or DoorLoop handle utility charges inside a larger system.

Do I need software for RUBS at all?

No. A spreadsheet works for a building or two. Software helps when you are retyping bills, writing each tenant email and tracking who paid every month.

How were these prices checked?

Each price comes from the company’s public pricing or help page, or from Capterra for Buildium, checked on October 14, 2026. Prices change; confirm on their site before you buy.

Is this list neutral?

MeterEase wrote it, so it is not neutral. We list where each option is the better fit and link the source for every price so you can check.

Related guides

Sources

Example numbers on this page are made up to show the math. This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules differ by state, city and utility.