LotWize vs. Spreadsheets — Stop Managing Your HOA in Excel
Most self-managed HOAs start with a shared Google Sheet and a group email thread. It works for 20 units. By 50 units, it becomes a liability — missed violations, lost payments, inconsistent enforcement, and boards burning out. LotWize replaces the spreadsheet chaos with organized, AI-powered automation.
When DIY Spreadsheets makes sense
Spreadsheets work for tiny communities (under 10 units) with minimal violations, 100% payment compliance, and board members who never turnover. As soon as any of those conditions change, the spreadsheet breaks.
Feature comparison
| Feature | LotWize | DIY Spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|
| Free to use | ||
| AI violation notice drafting | ||
| Automated payment tracking | ||
| Legal audit trail | ||
| 24/7 resident self-service | ||
| CC&R citation in every notice | ||
| Auto late fees and reminders | ||
| Meeting agenda generation | ||
| Custom spreadsheet formulas | ||
| No setup time | ||
| Data survives board turnover | ||
| Mobile app for homeowners |
DIY Spreadsheets strengths
- Free to use (Google Sheets, Excel)
- Infinitely flexible — you can structure data however you want
- Familiar to most board members
- No learning curve or onboarding required
DIY Spreadsheets limitations
- No automation — every violation, payment, and resident email is manual
- No audit trail — it's impossible to prove when notices were sent or who approved what
- Selective enforcement risk — inconsistent violation tracking without legal citations
- Data loss when board members turnover — institutional knowledge walks out the door
- No resident self-service — every question goes to the board via email
- Payment tracking is error-prone and reconciliation takes hours
Where LotWize goes further
Pricing comparison
DIY Spreadsheets
$0
Free, but costs 10–15 hours/week of volunteer labor at $0/hour — until the board burns out
LotWize
Free for up to 10 units, then $59/month flat
Pays for itself by replacing 1 hour of labor at any reasonable wage
LotWize plans at a glance
Free
Forever free$0/mo flat
Up to 10 units
- Homeowner portal
- Board dashboard
- Member management
- Basic violation tracking
Starter
$59/mo flat
or $35/mo hybrid
Up to 50 units
- Violations & notices
- Dues & payments
- Resident portal
- Meeting management
Growth
Most popular$99/mo flat
or $75/mo hybrid
Up to 150 units
- Everything in Starter
- AI Meeting Intelligence
- AI Violation Autopilot
- AI Communications Suite
- Priority support
Pro
$149/mo flat
or $99/mo hybrid
Up to 300 units
- Everything in Growth
- AI Board Assistant
- AI Architectural Review
- Unlimited AI usage
- PMC-ready portfolio
Hybrid pricing: lower monthly base + 1% convenience fee collected from homeowners on dues payments. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial — no credit card required.
See LotWize for yourself
14-day free trial — no credit card required. Or get started on our Free plan forever. Set up your board in minutes and see how AI automation changes the way you manage your community.
Feature comparisons reflect publicly available information as of 2026. Pricing is approximate — contact each vendor for current rates. LotWize is not affiliated with any competitor listed on this page.