Quick Answer
RingCentral does not natively integrate with AppFolio. When property managers are comparing alternative software, they should prioritize direct integration, industry-specific features, and support quality over brand size.
What Should Property Managers Look for in a Phone System?
There are many important considerations to take into account when looking for a phone system, ranging from the actual software to the company and team behind it. The most important things to look for are:
- Whether the system connects directly to AppFolio records
- Whether calls and texts are logged automatically or require manual entry
- Whether the provider understands property management workflows specifically
- What onboarding and implementation involve
- How quickly the provider responds to feature requests or product feedback
Integration with Your Property Management Software
Since AppFolio does not include a built-in phone system, a phone integration is essential. The phone integration needs to connect calls and texts directly to AppFolio records to be the most beneficial to a team. Without this, teams must manually enter details after every call, which leads to missed information and miscommunication.
Call and SMS Documentation
Manual note-taking creates gaps and inconsistencies in records. Automated logging keeps resident, owner, and vendor history accurate and complete so everyone is on the same page.
Industry-Specific Workflows
Leasing, maintenance coordination, and resident support each involve different call patterns to different people. A general purpose phone system treats all calls the same way with the same routing and logging. Providers built for property management design around specific workflows.
Onboarding and Ongoing Support
Setup complexity varies between providers. A complex onboarding process can slow things down for teams and make it difficult to transition smoothly. Ongoing support matters more once the system is in daily use, not just during setup.
Flexibility to Adapt as Your Business Grows
Portfolio size, staffing, and workflows change and fluctuate over time. A rigid system that isn’t able to adapt alongside a business can become a limitation rather than a tool.
Does RingCentral Integrate With AppFolio?
RingCentral is a general purpose VoIP and unified communications platform. It combines things like phone calls, video calls, messaging, and automated AI tools into one application. RingCentral does not offer a native, pre-built integration with AppFolio. Connecting the two requires custom API work and ongoing maintenance. A common question among AppFolio users researching phone options is the native integration capabilities. RingCentral is not compatible in that area.
Why AppFolio Users Look for a RingCentral Alternative
No Native AppFolio Integration
Calls and texts happen outside of AppFolio by default. Anything going through RingCentral is not connected to AppFolio without a separate connection that must be built and maintained.
Generic Features Not Built for Property Management
RingCentral features are designed for broad business use, not specifically for leasing or maintenance workflows. This makes it so that call routing and reporting aren’t organized around property management use cases.
Slower Support and Feature Requests at Scale
Large providers serve many industries at once since they are broader based businesses. Feedback and feature requests can take longer to reach product teams and aren’t centered around property management.
What to Look For in a RingCentral Alternative
Automatic Call and SMS Logging in AppFolio
- Calls and texts recorded directly in the relevant AppFolio record
- No manual entry required after each interaction
AI That Goes Beyond Transcription
- Automating routine calls and scheduling
- Intelligently routing callers to the right team member
- Surfaces missed revenue opportunities from call data instead of just producing a transcript
Personalized Onboarding and Support
- Guided setup and training specific to property management use
- Ongoing support as workflows or staffing change
Built for Multi-Location, Industry-Specific Workflows
- Designed around businesses with multiple locations or properties
- Workflows built for property management specifically, alongside similar industries
How CRM Connect Compares
CRM Connect is SimpleVoIP’s integration with AppFolio Property Manager. SimpleVoIP is an official AppFolio Stack™ App Partner, allowing for easy integration. CRM Connect is available directly through the AppFolio Stack™ Marketplace and is built for and around property managers, rather than having general-purpose VoIP features. CRM Connect has all of the features listed above that a property manager may be looking for in a RingCentral alternative.
Important Considerations
- An active SimpleVoIP subscription is required to use the CRM Connect integration
- CRM Connect logs both calls and SMS directly within AppFolio. Connecting RingCentral to AppFolio requires custom API work with no equivalent built-in logging.
- Businesses using multiple property management platforms should confirm compatibility beforehand
- As with any new phone system, migrating numbers, retraining staff, and adjusting workflows takes time. SimpleVoIP has 24/7/365 customer support to help with any and all onboarding help.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. AppFolio does not include a native phone system. Property managers need to connect a third-party phone solution through an integration available in the AppFolio StackTM Marketplace.
CRM Connect is a separate SimpleVoIP integration. An active SimpleVoIP subscription is required to use it, and it’s accessed through the AppFolio StackTM Marketplace.
Yes. CRM Connect logs SMS messages within AppFolio in addition to calls, keeping communication history in one place.
Standard deployment is around 2 weeks after a project kickoff.
No. RingCentral does not offer a native, pre-built integration with AppFolio. Connecting the two requires custom API work and ongoing maintenance, unlike CRM Connect which is a certified AppFolio StackTM Marketplace integration.
It depends on your current plan. Core plan users would need to speak with their AppFolio account manager about upgrading to Plus or Max, or adding the Premium add-on.
Get Started With CRM Connect
If you’re evaluating a RingCentral alternative for your AppFolio account or would like to learn more about the phone integration, please email sales@simplevoip.com, or get a quote from us by filling out this form to see how CRM Connect fits your workflow.
