Tenova vs. Pendo Rentals: Canadian Rent Tracking Software Compared
Both are Canadian. But Pendo charges $2.50 per transaction on top of the subscription. For e-Transfer landlords with 1–10 units, here's how the math works out.
Pendo Rentals and Tenova are both Canadian rent tracking tools aimed at independent landlords. That's where the similarities end.
Pendo is a full-featured platform with PAD payment processing, Canadian tenant screening, and a mobile inspection app. Tenova focuses on what solo landlords need most: knowing who paid, automated reminders, and lease expiry alerts — without per-transaction fees.
Where Pendo wins
- •PendoPay (PAD) — Pendo has built-in pre-authorized debit for rent collection. Tenants authorize recurring payments. More reliable than chasing e-Transfers every month.
- •Canadian tenant screening — Pendo uses Certn and Equifax Canada. If screening is part of your workflow, these are the right data sources for Canadian tenants.
- •Mobile inspection app — Digital condition reports with timestamped photos on iOS and Android. Useful for move-in and move-out documentation.
- •QuickBooks + Xero export — If you use accounting software, Pendo connects directly to both.
- •Province-by-province content — Pendo's blog covers rent increase rules for all Canadian provinces. Their regulatory content is broader than most competitors.
The $2.50 per transaction problem
Pendo charges a $2.50 transaction fee on every rent payment — on every plan, including their $45/month Plus tier and $90/month Pro tier.
For a landlord collecting 10 rents per month, that's $25/month in transaction fees on top of the subscription price. Over a year: $300 in fees that add nothing to your subscription.
| Units | Pendo Plus ($45/mo + fees) | Tenova ($29/mo, no fees) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 units | $45 + $12.50 = $57.50/mo | $29/mo |
| 10 units | $45 + $25.00 = $70.00/mo | $29/mo |
| 15 units | $45 + $37.50 = $82.50/mo | $29/mo |
Note: Tenova doesn't process payments — it tracks them. If you collect rent by e-Transfer and want a tool that reminds and records without a fee on every transaction, that's the tradeoff.
Pricing side by side
| Tier | Pendo Rentals | Tenova |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ❌ 30-day trial only | ✅ Up to 3 units, forever |
| Entry | $15/mo — 1–5 units | $15/mo — up to 7 units |
| Mid | $45/mo — 1–100 units | $29/mo — up to 15 units |
| Top | $90/mo — 1–100 units | $49/mo — unlimited |
| Transaction fees | $2.50 per payment | ❌ None |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tenova | Pendo Rentals |
|---|---|---|
| Rent payment tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automated tenant reminders | ✅ 3 days before, day-of, 3 days after | ✅ |
| Lease expiry alerts (60 + 30 days) | ✅ | ❌ Not featured |
| Document storage per tenant | ✅ | ⚠️ Not prominent |
| Online rent collection (PAD) | ❌ | ✅ PendoPay |
| Canadian tenant screening | ❌ | ✅ Certn + Equifax CA |
| Mobile inspection app | ❌ | ✅ iOS + Android |
| QuickBooks / Xero export | ❌ | ✅ |
| Free tier (permanent) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Transaction fees | ❌ None | $2.50 per payment |
| Canada-native | ✅ Calgary-built | ✅ Canadian-built |
When Pendo makes sense
- •You want integrated online rent collection via PAD — no more chasing e-Transfers
- •You need Canadian tenant screening as part of your leasing workflow
- •You manage 20+ units and need multi-user access for a small team
- •You want QuickBooks or Xero integration for tax season
When Tenova makes sense
- •You collect rent by e-Transfer and want to track who paid without per-transaction fees
- •You want automated rent reminders and lease expiry alerts in one focused tool
- •You manage under 3 units and want a free permanent tool with no trial clock running
- •You want the simplest tool that solves the core problem: knowing who paid and who didn't
No transaction fees — try Tenova free.
Tenova automates rent tracking and tenant reminders for Calgary landlords. Try it free for 30 days.
Start Your Free Trial