Freehold.Pro vs Arthur Online: Which Is Better for Self-Managed Blocks?
Quick comparison TLDR
Bottom Line...
When to choose Freehold.Pro..
Choose Freehold.Pro if you run one or a few small blocks (e.g. 3–10 flats), are an RTM company or share-of-freehold, and want service charge accounting, compliance scheduling, and a resident portal without per-unit or per-user fees.
When to choose
Arthur Online..
Choose Arthur Online if you are a letting agent or landlord with a mixed portfolio (many units across multiple properties), need Xero integration and workflow automation, and manage blocks as part of a larger business rather than as standalone RTM.
Quick verdict...
For self-managed blocks and RTM directors, Freehold.Pro is the better fit. For managing agents and landlords with large unit counts, Arthur Online is the more scalable option.
Freehold.Pro avoids per-user fees. Arthur's per-unit model grows with portfolio.
Freehold.Pro organises by block. Arthur uses property-unit-tenancy structure.
Freehold.Pro offers a leaseholder portal. Arthur centres on agents and tenants.
Freehold.Pro uses per-block pricing. Arthur charges per tenancy and scales with units.
Freehold.Pro focuses on small RTM blocks. Arthur targets letting-agent portfolios.
Feature
Freehold.Pro
Competitor
Desktop & Mobile
Desktop and mobile.
Web and mobile apps.
Noticeboard
Block noticeboard included.
General comms, no board.
Real-time finance
Live block position.
Portfolio-wide, Xero.
Maintenance tracking
Block-level visibility.
Property and unit.
Fire Check tracking
Block-level fire checks.
Generic tasks and docs.
Document Storage
Central block storage.
Portfolio-wide, no hub.
Notifications
Block events, deadlines.
Portfolio-wide alerts.
Required Expertise level
Volunteers, minimal exp.
Agents and landlords.
Transparency for leaseholders
Leaseholder portal.
Tenant and owner focus.
Cancel Anytime
Per-block, cancel anytime.
Unit-based portfolios.
1
Compliance mistakes
Directors don’t realise they are legally responsible.
Small RTM companies often unknowingly miss fire safety checks, records, and documentation requirements. Freehold.Pro structures and logs these automatically.
2
Director workload
The admin slowly becomes a second job.
Volunteer directors end up acting as accountants, secretaries, and compliance officers. Freehold.Pro centralises everything so directors spend minutes per week, not hours.
3
Service charge transparency
Leaseholders start questioning the accounts.
Most disputes in small blocks come from unclear service charge records. Freehold.Pro gives every leaseholder visibility into spending and documents.
4
Losing control to managing agents
The only escape feels like hiring a managing agent.
Many blocks appoint managing agents just to cope with admin. Freehold.Pro lets blocks stay self-managed without losing organisation.
FAQ's
Can I migrate from Arthur Online to Freehold.Pro?
Data migration depends on what you need to bring across (e.g. service charge history, contacts). Export from Arthur and map into Freehold.Pro; we can advise on block-specific imports.
Which is better for fire safety and compliance in a block?
Freehold.Pro includes compliance and fire-safety scheduling and reminders for blocks. Arthur offers workflow and document management but not block-specific compliance tools. For director responsibilities, Freehold.Pro is the better fit.
Does Arthur Online have a resident portal for leaseholders?
Arthur has stakeholder management and mobile apps for tenants and others, but not a dedicated resident portal for block leaseholders. Freehold.Pro includes a resident portal aimed at leaseholders in the block.
How does Arthur Online pricing work for a single block?
Arthur charges per unit (tenancy). A block of 8 flats is 8 units. Pricing scales with total units across your account. Freehold.Pro uses per-block pricing, which can be simpler for one or a few small blocks.
Can I use Arthur Online for an RTM block?
Yes. Arthur supports block management and service charges, but it is not designed around RTM or small self-managed blocks. You would use generic property/unit/tenancy setup. Freehold.Pro is built for RTM and block-centric workflows.
Is your building being managed properly?
Most small RTM and self-managed blocks don’t need a managing agent,
they need a simple system to stay compliant and organised.
Freehold.Pro was designed specifically for 3–10 unit buildings.
Key Differences...
Arthur Online is built around units (tenancies) and portfolios: financials, workflows, and reporting scale with unit count and suit letting agents and landlords. Freehold.Pro is built around the block and the leaseholder: service charge accounting, compliance, and resident communication are designed for small blocks and RTM. If a leaseholder disputes the service charge, Freehold.Pro keeps everything in one block-centric view; in Arthur you are working in a general property/unit/tenancy structure. Arthur integrates with Xero; Freehold.Pro focuses on block-specific reporting and transparency for directors and residents.
Automation
Arthur Online offers workflow automation for tasks, maintenance, and stakeholder actions across portfolios. Freehold.Pro automates block-specific workflows: compliance and fire-safety scheduling, resident communications, and document storage tied to the block. For a single block, Freehold.Pro's automation is purpose-built; for many units across many properties, Arthur's workflow engine is more flexible.
Compliance
RTM directors carry legal responsibilities for fire safety, inspections, and records. Freehold.Pro is designed to support that: scheduling, reminders, and audit trail for block compliance. Arthur Online supports general workflow and document management but does not focus on block compliance or director risk. If a fire inspection is requested, Freehold.Pro keeps it in the block context; in Arthur you would rely on generic tasks and docs.
Workflow
Day to day, Arthur fits an agent or landlord moving between many tenancies and properties: tasks, maintenance, and stakeholder access scale with the portfolio. Freehold.Pro fits directors of one or a few blocks: everything is organised by block and resident, so issuing a service charge, logging a repair, or posting an update stays in one place. If a contractor invoice is missing, both can track it; Freehold.Pro ties it to the block and resident, Arthur to the property/unit.
When Freehold.Pro Wins
Freehold.Pro wins when you are an RTM company or self-managed block, have one or a few blocks (e.g. 3–10 flats), want service charge and compliance built for blocks, need a resident portal, and prefer per-block pricing without per-user or per-unit fees.
When Arthur Online Wins
Day to day, Arthur fits an agent or landlord moving between many tenancies and properties: tasks, maintenance, and stakeholder access scale with the portfolio. Freehold.Pro fits directors of one or a few blocks: everything is organised by block and resident, so issuing a service charge, logging a repair, or posting an update stays in one place. If a contractor invoice is missing, both can track it; Freehold.Pro ties it to the block and resident, Arthur to the property/unit.
Best for Small Blocks
Freehold.Pro is built for small blocks (3–10 flats) with block-centric accounting, compliance, and resident access. Arthur can handle small blocks but is optimised for portfolios and unit count.
Best for Big Blocks
Arthur scales with units and has reporting and workflows for larger portfolios. Freehold.Pro is aimed at small blocks; for very large blocks or many blocks, Arthur's scalability may suit better.
Best for RTM
Freehold.Pro is designed for RTM companies and share-of-freehold: service charges, compliance, and director responsibilities are central. Arthur is not RTM-specific.
Best for Landlords
Arthur Online suits landlords and letting agents with tenancies and rental income. Freehold.Pro is for block management and leaseholders, not buy-to-let landlords.
Trusted by small blocks across the UK
The transparency that Freehold.Pro brings is it greatest feature (imo)
John Hewitt
Block Manager
BN3 1AH
Having everything in one place is an absolute gamechanger, no more searching through email threads to find important documents
Richard Harrison
Director
TCD Property Ltd
Freehold.Pro cut our admin time by half.
Jane Smith
Director
ABC RTM Ltd