The short answer
FrontSteps is a full suite for managed communities with a staffed gatehouse; BAB is a simple resident app with a published price.
- Choose FrontSteps if you have a guard booth that needs license plate recognition, key fobs or RFID tags, or if a management company already runs your accounting on FrontSteps.
- Choose BAB if you're a self-managed or small board that wants QR guest passes, voting and maintenance in one app, with a price you can see before you call anyone: $3 per door per month, capped at $149 a month up to 300 doors.
- FrontSteps doesn't publish its prices. Ask for a written quote and compare it with BAB's yearly cost below.
Side by side
| BAB | FrontSteps | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $3 per door per month, capped at $149/month up to 300 doors; published on the site | Not published; request a demo for a quote |
| Guest / visitor passes | Included (QR guest pass) | Digital QR guest passes, in its Dwelling security product |
| Gatehouse hardware | None needed | License plate recognition, ID scanning, key fobs, RFID tags and remote gate control (Dwelling) |
| Voting | Included (polls with quorum tracking) | Voting booth, per its help center |
| Maintenance requests | Included, with SLA tracking and photos | Maintenance requests, work orders and violations |
| Amenity booking | Included | Included |
| Dues collection and online payments | Not included: keeps your existing accounting and bank | Separate product (FrontSteps Payments) |
| Accounting | Not included | Separate product (FrontSteps Caliber), built for management companies |
| Resident app | Native iOS and Android app | FrontSteps Community app for iOS and Android |
| Contract | None; cancel anytime | Not published |
| Trial | Free 90-day pilot | Not published; demo on request |
FrontSteps features from frontsteps.com product pages and its help center, checked September 29, 2026.
What it costs at your community's size
FrontSteps quotes each community separately, so we can't show its price. Here is BAB's full yearly cost to set next to a FrontSteps quote.
| Community | BAB per month | BAB per year |
|---|---|---|
| 30 doors | $90 | $1,080 |
| 50 doors | $149 | $1,788 |
| 100 doors | $149 | $1,788 |
| 200 doors | $149 | $1,788 |
| 300 doors | $149 | $1,788 |
Over 300 doors, BAB is priced by quote. BAB has no setup fees and needs no gate hardware.
What to ask for in a FrontSteps quote:
- The yearly total for the products you need (Community, Dwelling, Payments), not only a starting price.
- Setup, onboarding and training fees.
- Gate hardware and installation, if you want license plate recognition or RFID.
- Contract length and the notice needed to cancel.
- Payment processing fees paid by homeowners.
Which one fits your community
FrontSteps is the better fit if:
- You have a staffed guard booth and want license plate recognition, ID scanning, key fobs or RFID tags.
- A management company runs your community and already uses FrontSteps for accounting.
- You want accounting, payments, security and the resident app from one vendor.
BAB is the better fit if:
- You're self-managed and want a price you can see today, without a sales call.
- Residents send QR guest passes from their phones, and you don't need gate hardware.
- You want voting, maintenance and amenity booking in one app for $149 a month or less, up to 300 doors.
- You want to try it for 90 days with no contract.
Switching from FrontSteps to BAB
- Check your FrontSteps contract for its end date and cancellation notice.
- Start BAB's free 90-day pilot before that date and import your unit and resident list; the BAB team helps with onboarding.
- Move guest passes, maintenance requests, amenity booking and announcements to BAB. Keep your accounting where it is.
- Decide at the end of the pilot. Your data exports with you either way.
FAQ
Is BAB cheaper than FrontSteps?
FrontSteps doesn't publish its prices, so ask for a written yearly quote. BAB costs $3 per door per month, capped at $149 a month up to 300 doors, with no setup fees.
Does BAB work with gate hardware?
Not today. BAB uses QR guest passes that residents send from the app. If you need license plate recognition or RFID tags, FrontSteps Dwelling offers them.
Does BAB do accounting?
No. BAB doesn't collect dues or keep the books. Keep your current accounting and add BAB for residents, guests and maintenance.
Can I try BAB without a contract?
Yes. The pilot is free for 90 days, then $3 per door per month, capped at $149 for up to 300 doors, with no contract.
See also: BAB vs TownSq · BAB vs PayHOA · All comparisons
FRONTSTEPS is a trademark of its respective owner. BAB is not affiliated with or endorsed by FRONTSTEPS. FRONTSTEPS features are from frontsteps.com as of September 29, 2026 and may change.