Compare · Water submetering
Fourplex vs SimpleSub: submetering, or your whole HOA?
SimpleSub focuses on one job: water submetering with strap-on ultrasonic sensors. Fourplex submeters water too — and gives self-managed HOAs one place to run the entire association, end to end.
The short answer
Fourplex is the tool for self-managed HOAs that want to run the whole association in one place.
SimpleSub is a good fit if all you need is the bare minimum: water submetering on a smaller property, as cheaply as possible. Fourplex submeters water for $5 per unit and adds everything else a self-managed board needs — dues and utility billing in one place, compliance tracking, document storage, a custom HOA email, bank reconciliation, financial reports, announcements, and maintenance and ARC requests — starting at $29/mo for the platform.
- Water submetering
- Fourplex $5/unit/mo · SimpleSub $6/unit/mo (published pricing, October 2026)
- What else is included
- Fourplex: dues, trash billing, accounting, bank reconciliation, financial reports, compliance tracking, documents, HOA email, website, announcements, maintenance and ARC requests · SimpleSub: water submetering
- Best for
- Fourplex: self-managed HOAs of all sizes that want one tool for everything · SimpleSub: smaller properties that only need water submetering at the lowest cost
Fourplex vs SimpleSub at a glance
What a self-managed board gets from each.
| Feature | Fourplex | SimpleSub |
|---|---|---|
| Water submetering | $5/unit/mo — read, bill, and collect | $6/unit/mo — read, bill, and collect |
| Meter hardware | Mechanical or ultrasonic NextCentury meters, built into the pipe | Strap-on ultrasonic sensors |
| Water usage reporting | Granular reporting and water trends | Water usage reporting |
| Dues billing & autopay | One autopay setup for dues, trash, and utilities | Water submetering only |
| Trash billing | Shared trash bills split by unit | Water submetering only |
| Accounting & bank reconciliation | Linked bank accounts; match deposits to the units that paid | Not offered |
| Financial reports | P&L, balance sheet, dues collection, reserves | Not offered |
| State compliance tracking | All 50 US states | Not offered |
| Document storage | Permissioned library and records requests | Not offered |
| Custom HOA email & website | Permanent HOA address, shared inbox, community website | Not offered |
| Announcements | Email every owner from your HOA address | Not offered |
| Maintenance & ARC requests | Owners submit, the board tracks and decides | Not offered |
| Meetings & voting | Agendas, quorum, polls, and elections | Not offered |
Pricing: what each really costs
The same 4-unit community, monthly. Water submetering costs less per unit on Fourplex; the platform fee is what turns it into a complete HOA tool.
Fourplex
Our pricing- Water submetering: $5/unit ($20/mo)
- HOA platform: $29/mo, every feature included
- Dues, trash, accounting, compliance, documents, email, and more
- Month to month, or billed yearly for one month free
SimpleSub
- Water submetering with strap-on ultrasonic sensors
- HOA dues, accounting, and records are separate tools
- Compliance, email, and website not included
One tool for the whole HOA
What a self-managed board runs every month — and where it lives.
With Fourplex
Everything in one login
- Dues, trash, and utility billing in one place, on one autopay setup
- Bank reconciliation and financial reports for the annual meeting
- State compliance tracking with reminders in all 50 states
- Document storage, custom HOA email, and announcements
- Maintenance and ARC requests from owners, tracked by the board
With SimpleSub
Water submetering
- Water submetering with strap-on ultrasonic sensors
- Dues, accounting, and records live in other tools
- Board communication and compliance handled elsewhere
Water submetering and usage data
Both read, bill, and collect for water. The difference is the meters.
With Fourplex
In-pipe NextCentury meters
- Mechanical and ultrasonic meters, built into the pipe
- NextCentury meters and gateways at a low price
- $5 per unit per month
- Granular usage reporting and water trends for every unit
With SimpleSub
Strap-on ultrasonic sensors
- Strap-on ultrasonic sensors
- $6 per unit per month
- Read, bill, and collect
- Water usage reporting
Which one is right for you?
Choose Fourplex if…
- You self-manage an HOA of any size
- You want dues, trash, and utility billing in one place
- You want compliance tracking, documents, email, and financial reports in the same tool
- You want an all-in-one solution covering all of your HOA's needs at a lower price
Choose SimpleSub if…
- You only need water submetering — nothing else
- Your property is small and the lowest monthly cost is what matters most
- You already have separate tools for dues, accounting, and records
Moving from SimpleSub to Fourplex
Fourplex can easily transfer your properties and meters from other billing companies. Reach out to our team to get started.
Tell us about your properties, meters, and billing cycle.
Units, owners, dues, and water rates — plus meters, transferred or quoted at a low price.
One autopay setup covers dues, trash, and water from the first billing period.
Water submetering is one line on an HOA's to-do list. Fourplex handles that line and everything else a self-managed board does.— Fourplex product team
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what boards ask before they switch.
Is Fourplex cheaper than SimpleSub?
What does Fourplex include that SimpleSub doesn't?
How are Fourplex meters different from SimpleSub's sensors?
When is SimpleSub the better choice?
Can we move from SimpleSub to Fourplex?
Run your whole HOA, in one place.
Start managing your HOA on Fourplex — plans from $29/month for small, self-managed communities.
Get started