Boardly vs Solume: Which HOA AI Platform Is Right for Your Board?
If you are a self-managed HOA board evaluating AI software in 2026, Boardly and Solume will both come up. Both are AI-first, both answer compliance questions, and both target boards tired of expensive management companies. Here is an honest, side-by-side look at where they differ — so you can pick the right fit.
| Feature | Boardly | Solume |
|---|---|---|
| AI compliance answers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Autonomous daily agent | ✅ | ❌ |
| SMS / text interface | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cites exact statutes | ✅ | ❌ |
| Works without logging in | ✅ | ❌ |
| Management-company replacement | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free compliance audit | ✅ | ❌ |
| Starting price | $49/mo | unknown |
Comparison based on each product's publicly available information as of June 2026. A ❌ means the capability wasn't advertised on Solume's public site at the time of writing, not that it can never do it — verify current features directly. We'll update this as their product evolves.
Both Are AI-First — the Difference Is What the AI Does
Solume, launched in late 2025, and Boardly both lead with AI for HOA management, and both can answer compliance questions in natural language. The meaningful difference is how far the AI goes. Solume, based on its public materials, is built around an AI assistant inside a web portal — you log in and ask. Boardly's Nola is an autonomous agent: she runs daily operational loops (dues tracking, violation notices, meeting prep, incident reports), reaches the board proactively, and acts on a one-tap approval — closer to replacing a management company than to being a smarter help desk.
Statute Citations: Specific Sections, Not Vague Summaries
When Boardly answers a compliance question, it cites the controlling statute by section number— California Civil Code § 5605, Florida Statutes § 718.112, Texas Property Code § 209.0051 — checked against both the statute and your own recorded governing documents. That specificity is what lets a board actually rely on the answer in a meeting or a notice. We built our state guides (California, Florida, Texas, and more) on the same principle.
The SMS Interface: Run the HOA From Your Texts
Boardly is, at its core, a text number that runs your HOA. The board president gets a morning brief by SMS, approves a dues reminder or a meeting announcement by replying “YES,” and residents can open a work order by texting — no app, no portal login required. For volunteer boards that live in their messages, that removes the single biggest barrier to actually using the software. A portal-only product, however polished, still depends on someone remembering to log in.
Which Should You Choose?
If you want a smarter portal with an AI assistant, Solume is a credible new entrant and worth a look. If you want to replace a $300–800/month management company — with an autonomous agent that does the operational work, texts you proactively, and cites the exact statute behind every compliance answer — that is precisely what Boardly is built for, starting at $49/month. The honest test is free: run a compliance audit and ask Nola a real question about your association.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Boardly and Solume?
Both are AI-first HOA platforms that answer compliance questions. The main difference is scope: Solume is built around an AI assistant inside a web portal, while Boardly's Nola is an autonomous agent that runs daily operational loops, reaches the board proactively over SMS, and cites exact statute sections — positioned to replace a management company rather than to be a smarter help desk.
Does Solume have an SMS interface?
Based on Solume's publicly available materials as of June 2026, it operates through a web portal and does not advertise an SMS/text interface. Boardly is built around SMS — the board can run the HOA from text messages, and residents can open work orders by texting, without a portal login. Verify Solume's current capabilities directly, as new products evolve quickly.
How much does Boardly cost compared to Solume?
Boardly starts at $49/month, with Standard at $99 and Pro at $199. Solume's pricing was not publicly listed at the time of writing. Boardly's pitch is replacing a $300–800/month management company at a fraction of the cost.
Does Boardly cite the actual statute?
Yes. Boardly cites the controlling statute by section number — for example California Civil Code § 5605, Florida Statutes § 718.112, or Texas Property Code § 209.0051 — checked against both the statute and your association's own recorded governing documents, so a board can rely on the answer.
Is this comparison fair to Solume?
We based it on each product's publicly available information as of June 2026. A ❌ means the capability wasn't advertised on Solume's public site at the time of writing — not that it can never do it. Solume is a new, fast-moving product; verify its current features directly, and we'll update this page as it evolves.
Comparison based on each product's publicly available information as of June 2026 and is our good-faith assessment for self-managed boards. It is not legal advice and not a statement about Solume's current feature set — verify directly. Boardly is not affiliated with Solume.
The honest test is free: run a Boardly compliance audit and ask Nola a real question about your HOA — with the statute cited.
Try Boardly free → run your audit