Chirp Utilities vs Livable
Chirp Utilities
chirputilities.com
Livable
livable.comSide by side
| Figure | Chirp Utilities | Livable |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.40/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 2 |
| Spec score · Property Management Utility Billing Software | 9.1 (#1) | 7.6 (#7) |
| Allocation methods | Allocation can use RUBS, occupancy, square footage, fixed shares, or submetered readings. | Supported allocation methods include occupancy, square footage, sub-metered usage, actual consumption, fixed percentage, per-unit, and custom weighting. |
| Payments | Online resident payments are not available; Chirp records what was paid rather than moving money. | For direct billing, residents can pay through the Livable Resident Portal by ACH, debit card, or credit card, with Auto-Pay available. |
| Product | Chirp is modular property-management software designed for operators managing roughly 50–1,000 doors. | Livable automates utility billing, Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS), and cost recovery for property teams. |
| Security | The security page describes account and property-scoped access checks, human approval before statements are sent, and recorded edits, approvals, and support access. | Livable's privacy policy says it uses security measures against unauthorized access and describes data exchanged between the site and users as SSL-secured and encrypted. |
Plans
Chirp Utilities
- Core platformFree
- Advanced reporting$0.40 a month
- Collections$0.50 a month
- Maintenance & workflows$0.60 a month
- Communications$0.70 a month
- Utility billing & RUBS$0.90 a month
In their own words
Chirp Utilities
Chirp Utilities is modular property management software for independent and mid-sized operators managing 50–1,000 doors. Modules can be adopted alongside an existing system. Its utility-billing workflow supports bill review, allocations by RUBS, occupancy, square footage, or submetered reads, plus owner-share separation and resident statements. Portal and email are live communication channels; phone lanes are built but remain off until a provider is connected. CSV import and export are available, while direct two-way syncs with AppFolio, Buildium, Rentvine, and Yardi are planned rather than live. The pricing page lists a developer API and webhooks available with setup. The first 10 units in every module are free, with unlimited properties and team members; final pricing is confirmed before activation. Online resident payments are unavailable: Chirp records payments but does not move money. Chirp describes account- and property-scoped access checks, recorded edits and approvals, and human approval before statements are sent. It uses passwordless sign-in and HTTPS/TLS, and does not claim SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI certification.
Livable
Livable automates utility billing, Ratio Utility Billing System calculations, and cost recovery for property owners and management teams. Its AI-assisted workflow can acquire utility bills and extract their data. Allocation methods include occupancy, square footage, sub-metered usage, actual consumption, fixed percentages, per-unit calculations, and custom weighting. Managers can review allocations, approve billing batches, and monitor utility activity across a portfolio. Residents use Tenant Connect to view statements, review property bills, and pay online. Direct payments support ACH, debit cards, credit cards, and Auto-Pay. Self Service provides allocation and approval tools; Bill Automation adds automatic bill entry, multilingual support, spike alerts, and adjustment management. Livable syncs charges into AppFolio and describes AI-assisted workflows where no native connection exists. It has no unit minimums, supports web access, and does not sell or install sub-meter hardware.