August vs NRLA

August is the #1 landlord app in the UK, rated by thousands of landlords managing properties across England, Scotland, and Wales. This article compares August and NRLA PortfolioPlus across features, pricing, and suitability to help you make an informed decision.

August is a property management platform built specifically for UK self-managing landlords. It covers rent tracking, compliance reminders, document storage, landlord finances, advanced financial reporting, and Making Tax Digital (MTD) submissions. August works across native iOS and Android apps and a full web desktop product.

NRLA PortfolioPlus is the property management software offered by the National Residential Landlords Association. It connects to bank accounts via open banking, with manual transaction categorisation, allowing you to track rent payments, and handles compliance document management. It is available as an add-on to NRLA membership, meaning you pay for membership first and PortfolioPlus sits alongside the wider range of NRLA member benefits. There is no native mobile app,, the platform is web-based and designed to work on mobile browsers.

These are quite different products. August is a standalone property management platform built around landlord software. NRLA PortfolioPlus is a member benefit that works well if you already want NRLA membership for its wider resources, guidance, and representation.

NRLA pricing depends on whether you are already an NRLA member. If you are, Portfolio is included in your membership at no extra cost. If you are not a member and want PortfolioPlus with open banking and MTD, the total cost is £17 per month for the software alone, or £27.42 per month when combined with NRLA membership at approximately £10.42 per month equivalent.

A few things stand out from this comparison. NRLA Portfolio at £12 per month does not include open banking automation, which is a significant limitation for landlords who want rent tracking to happen automatically. To get open banking, MTD, and advanced reporting you need PortfolioPlus at £17 per month. August includes all of those features plus AI assistance, a native mobile app, guided compliance, and a free tenant app starting from £8.99 per month.

If you are already an NRLA member and Portfolio is included in your membership, the value equation changes. In that case PortfolioPlus at £17 per month is a reasonable add-on. The question is simply whether the product meets your needs, and the absence of a mobile app, AI assistance, and guided compliance is still worth factoring in.

Full August pricing details are on the August pricing page.

NRLA pricing is based on publicly available rates as of early 2026. Please verify directly with the NRLA before making a decision.

The NRLA is the UK's largest landlord membership organisation. Membership brings access to legal advice, tenancy documentation, training, legislative updates, and industry representation that goes well beyond property management software. If you value that wider support network, NRLA membership has genuine standalone value and Portfolio or PortfolioPlus simply comes alongside it.

PortfolioPlus includes an SA105 summary for self-assessment tax returns and has pre-tenancy workflow support through partner add-ons covering advertising, viewings, and tenant onboarding, which August does not currently offer.

A native mobile app. Neither NRLA Portfolio nor PortfolioPlus has a dedicated mobile app. Both are web-based. August is purpose-built for iOS and Android with a full desktop web product alongside it, meaning you can manage your portfolio from your phone in minutes rather than loading a mobile browser.

A free tenant app. August includes a free native tenant app where tenants can pay rent, report maintenance with photos, and access documents securely. NRLA offers a tenant web portal but no app, which means a less seamless experience for your tenants day to day.

AI assistance on every plan. August Intelligence is included from the free plan upward. You can ask questions about your own data, scan tenancy agreements automatically, and get instant plain-English answers to compliance questions. Neither NRLA Portfolio nor PortfolioPlus offers any AI assistance at any price point.

Guided compliance. August does not just track compliance deadlines and send reminders. It guides you through what needs doing and why, covering Gas Safety, EICR, Right to Rent, deposit protection, and more in plain English. See how the August compliance checklist works.

Open banking included free. NRLA Portfolio at £12 per month does not include open banking. You need to upgrade to PortfolioPlus at £17 per month to get automated rent tracking. August includes open banking rent tracking from the free plan upward.

Property insights. August automatically pulls EPC ratings, council tax bands, and property valuations into your dashboard. Neither NRLA tier includes external property insights. Learn more about August property insights.

No membership required. August is a standalone product. You do not need to join an organisation or pay a membership fee to access the software.

Choose NRLA Portfolio or PortfolioPlus if you already want to be an NRLA member for its legal advice, tenancy documents, training, and industry representation, and you want a property management tool to sit alongside that membership. If Portfolio is included in your membership it costs you nothing extra. PortfolioPlus at £17 per month is a reasonable add-on if you need open banking and MTD. Bear in mind that neither tier has a native mobile app, neither offers AI assistance, and the tenant experience is limited to a web portal. If you are only signing up to get the software and have no interest in NRLA membership itself, there are better-value options available.

Choose August if you want a standalone property management platform that handles rent tracking, finances, compliance, reporting, and Making Tax Digital without requiring a membership fee or organisation sign-up. You get open banking rent tracking on the free plan, AI assistance from day one, guided compliance in plain English, a native mobile app, a full desktop product, automatic property insights, and a tenant app that actually impresses your tenants.

Does August have a free plan? Yes. August is free for up to 2 tenancies and includes rent tracking, open banking connection, compliance tools, and basic reporting. No credit card is required.

Does August support Making Tax Digital? Yes. MTD and HMRC submission is included across all paid August plans. Read the MTD guide for landlords for more detail.

Can I manage my portfolio on desktop as well as mobile? Yes. August has a full web desktop product as well as native iOS and Android apps. You can switch between them freely.

Does August support HMOs and limited companies? Yes. August supports HMOs, buy-to-let, student housing, shared ownership, and properties held in both personal name and limited company structures.

Where can I read reviews of August? You can read verified landlord reviews on the August reviews page.