If your HOA or association has used VOLO Village to reach residents, you’re probably asking yourselves: what do we use next?
We’ve heard from several community managers and board members that are looking for a VOLO Village replacement. They need a simple, easy to use platform that will let them keep communicating with their residents, without missing a beat.
This guide covers what to look for in a VOLO Village alternative, how Unity Messaging compares, and how to move your resident list over in an afternoon.
What VOLO Village did for communities
VOLO Village was built for HOAs, condominiums, and residential communities. Boards and managers used it to send voice, text, and email messages to residents from one place. For many communities, it replaced paper mailers and phone trees with something faster.
Whatever happens with VOLO Village, the need stays the same. When a water main breaks or a storm is coming, residents need to hear about it quickly, on the channel they actually check.
What to look for in a VOLO Village replacement
Before you pick a new platform, consider what your community actually relies on. For most associations, it comes down to a few essentials:
- Multiple channels. Some residents read every text but ignore email. Others, especially older homeowners, answer a phone call more reliably than anything else. You need text, voice, and email in one tool.
- Organized resident lists. Owners, renters, board members, a single building, one phase of the community. You should be able to send to exactly the right group.
- Scheduling. Write the pool-closing reminder on Monday and have it go out Friday morning.
- Delivery confirmation. Know which residents got the message, and which ones didn’t.
- An easy move. Importing your existing contacts shouldn’t need a sales call or a long onboarding project.
- No lock-in. After one platform change, most boards don’t want a multi-year contract.
Unity Messaging: A Straightforward VOLO Village alternative
Unity Messaging is a platform built for HOAs and Property Managers. You can manage contacts, send updates – by text, phone, or e-mail, and check delivery status, all from one easy to use dashboard.
Text messages that reach everyone at once
Send an SMS to your whole community or to a specific list in seconds. It works well for short, time-sensitive notices like “Water will be off on Maple Ct. from 9 a.m. to noon today.”
Automated voice calls from your own number
Automated calling reaches residents who don’t text. You can verify and use your association’s or management office’s phone number as the caller ID, so residents see a number they recognize instead of a random one. Answering machine detection helps your message land properly whether a person or voicemail picks up.
Email with attachments and replies
Send email updates with attachments like meeting agendas, budget documents, or a revised pool schedule. When residents reply, the replies come back to your organization, so questions don’t vanish into a no-reply inbox.
Resident lists and targeting
Import your contacts from a spreadsheet or add them by hand, then organize them into lists: all residents, owners only, Building B, the landscaping committee. Send to one list or several.
Scheduled sends and delivery reports
Schedule messages for a specific date and time, or send right away. Every message comes with a delivery report showing each resident’s status, so you can follow up with anyone who didn’t get it.
Room for your whole board
Invite board members and staff with the right level of access. Administrators manage the account and billing, and messengers can send updates. If you’re managing several communities, you can switch between them from one single login.
VOLO Village vs. Unity Messaging at a glance
| Feature | VOLO Village | Unity Messaging |
|---|---|---|
| Text, voice, and email | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Custom caller ID | — | ✓ Bring your own number |
| Email replies | — | ✓ Yes |
| Scheduled messages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Delivery reports | ✓ Yes | ✓ For every recipient |
| Spreadsheet contact import | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free to start | — | ✓ Up to 5 contacts |
| Contracts | Annual license | Month-to-month or annual |
How to move from VOLO Village to Unity Messaging
- Create a Free Unity Messaging account. Sign up free in a few minutes. There are no sales calls or demos, and no credit card is required. No strings attached.
- See for yourself how easy it is. Add up to 5 contacts, such as yourself and a few board members, and try every feature: send a text, an automated call, and an email, schedule a message, verify your caller ID, and check the delivery reports. There’s no time limit on the free account, so take as long as you need to evaluate the platform.
- Activate your subscription when you’re ready. Once your board is comfortable, choose the number of contacts your community needs and activate your subscription.
- Upload your residents. Export your resident list from VOLO Village or your management software as a spreadsheet (CSV) with names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Upload it and sort residents into the lists you use most.
- Let your residents know. Send a short note to the community: “We’ve moved to Unity Messaging – our new notification system. You’ll keep getting important updates by text, call, and email.”
Pricing: Simple and Predictable
Unity Messaging is free for up to 5 contacts with every feature included, so you can test it with your board or decision-makers first. After that, it’s $4 per contact per year, billed annually. You can add contacts as your community grows. See pricing. No contracts. No surprise fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is VOLO Village shutting down?
We’ve heard from several VOLO Village customers who are looking for a replacement. If you’re unsure about the status of your account, contact VOLO directly. Either way, setting up a backup channel now means you won’t be caught without a way to reach residents.
What’s the best VOLO Village alternative for an HOA?
Look for a platform that sends text, voice, and email from one place, lets you organize residents into lists, and confirms delivery. Unity Messaging does all three, and there’s no contract to sign.
Can I import my VOLO Village contacts into Unity Messaging?
Yes. If you can export your resident list to a spreadsheet, you can upload it to Unity Messaging and organize it into lists.
Will residents need to download an app?
No. Residents get messages as regular texts, phone calls, and emails. There’s nothing for them to install.
Can more than one board member send messages?
Yes. Invite as many board members or staff as you need, as either administrators or messengers.
Keep reaching your residents without a gap
Changing platforms shouldn’t mean your residents miss the next boil-water notice or board meeting reminder. Create your free Unity Messaging account and send your first message in minutes. If you’d like help planning the move, call us toll-free at (844) 959-3200.
Related reading: How to Notify HOA Residents Effectively · HOA Communication Software That Works