HeyNeighbor vs HOA Express
2026 side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, and AI capabilities
TL;DR Verdict
HOA Express is an affordable HOA website and engagement platform with Free, Inform, and Engage plans. Its paid Engage plan includes payments, email and text messaging, forums, surveys, groups, and forms. HeyNeighbor.ai is a broader community-management platform whose primary distinction is Howdy AI: resident-facing answers grounded in your governing documents with citations, plus document health and compliance analysis. HOA Express is compelling when a low-cost website and communication hub are enough; HeyNeighbor.ai is designed for boards that also want document intelligence and operational workflows.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HeyNeighbor | HOA Express |
|---|---|---|
| HOA website | Auto-generated community website | Yes (core product) |
| Document-grounded resident AI | Howdy AI (24/7, cites your docs) | No equivalent documented in audited materials |
| Document health and compliance analysis | Yes | No equivalent documented in audited materials |
| Email announcements | Yes | Yes |
| Text messaging | Coming soon | Yes (Engage) |
| Community forums | Yes | Yes (Engage) |
| Online payments | Stripe Connect marketplace | Yes (Engage) |
| Surveys | Yes | Yes (Engage) |
| Violation escalation workflows | Yes | No dedicated workflow established |
| Architectural requests | Yes | General forms |
| Native mobile apps | iOS + Android | Web-based |
| Published starting price | $0.55–$3.00/unit/month | Free; Inform $15/month; Engage $21/month for up to 25 households |
Pros & Cons
HeyNeighbor
Pros
- Howdy answers resident questions directly from community documents with source citations
- Document Intelligence identifies governing-document conflicts, ambiguous language, and compliance gaps
- Includes violations, architectural requests, voting, events, forums, payments, Zoom meetings, and native mobile apps
Cons
- Costs more than a basic HOA website for many small communities
- May be more platform than a board needs if it only wants a public website and announcements
HOA Express
Pros
- Free entry tier and low published prices for small communities
- Purpose-built HOA website templates and straightforward setup
- Engage includes payments, email and text messaging, forums, surveys, groups, and forms
Cons
- No publicly documented equivalent to resident Q&A grounded in governing documents with citations
- No publicly documented governing-document health score or compliance-gap analysis
- Dedicated violation and architectural approval workflows were not established by the audited pricing materials
Who Should Choose Which
Choose HeyNeighbor if:
- •Your board needs to reduce repetitive questions with document-grounded resident self-service
- •You need violations, architectural approvals, voting, meetings, and document intelligence in one platform
- •Native mobile apps and role-based multi-community management matter
Choose HOA Express if:
- •Your primary need is an inexpensive HOA website and communication hub
- •You want published Free, Inform, or Engage tiers for a small community
- •Email, text, forums, surveys, groups, and general forms cover your workflows
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HOA Express only an HOA website builder?
No. HOA Express centers on HOA websites, but its Engage tier also includes online payments, email and text messaging, forums, surveys, groups, and forms. It should be evaluated as a lightweight website and engagement platform rather than as website-only software.
How much does HOA Express cost?
HOA Express publishes a Free plan, Inform from $15 per month, and Engage from $21 per month for up to 25 households when billed annually. Pricing changes with household count and billing terms, so verify the current quote on its pricing page.
What is the main difference between HeyNeighbor.ai and HOA Express?
HOA Express emphasizes an affordable HOA website and communication hub. HeyNeighbor.ai adds resident-facing answers grounded in governing documents with citations, document health and compliance analysis, and operational workflows such as violations and architectural approvals.
External References
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