Top 6 Airbnb Competitors and Alternatives for Hosts

Have you ever wondered which Airbnb alternatives there are and why you should consider listing your property on sites for vacation rentals other than Airbnb? Airbnb is undoubtedly a vacation rental giant, perhaps even the most popular with a market share of almost 20% of the entire vacation rental market, according to Invezz. With Airbnb’s year-on-year growth, it’s safe to say that this percentage is only going to rise in the years to come.

However, listing your vacation rentals on vacation rental websites is a smart way to ensure business growth and help you present your vacation rental space to a larger pool of renters. In turn, it will result in an increase in your occupancy rate and profits.

Differentiating your listings also keeps you from relying too much on Airbnb, a company that has seen its fair share of complaints, and even lawsuits, from hosts.

While it sounds like a great idea, finding a new vacation rental industry platform to advertise your vacation rentals on might be another challenge. With such a variety of options, it can be difficult to decide which alternative to Airbnb to use. Check out these Airbnb competitors and Airbnb alternatives to learn about the key features to secure your place within the short-term rental market.

1. Vrbo

Another great alternative to Airbnb for property owners is Vrbo, which stands for Vacation Rental By Owner. Airbnb and Vrbo are quite similar, but Vrbo offers only private vacation rental properties, unlike Airbnb, which also offers room rentals.

In 2006, Vrbo was acquired by HomeAway, and as of 2015, the Expedia Group acquired HomeAway, and, thus, Vrbo as well. If you list your property on Vrbo, it will automatically be listed on HomeAway.

Key Features:

• Only privates homes are listed;
• Vrbo charges $499 for an annual subscription or 5% per booking + 3% credit card processing fee;
• Cancelation and payment policies vary by property;
• There are also both paid and “free-to-list” vacation rentals. The advantage is given to paid ones and they are usually more visible on the site;
• Hosts cannot delete any reviews (both positive and unflattering).

2. Booking.com

Booking.com is ahead of the curve with its guest-friendly, easy-to-navigate user interface and instantly bookable vacation rentals. It’s one of the best Airbnb competitors on the market today due to the size of its offerings of vacation rental properties. This makes it a favourite among inquiring guests. These features mean that it may increase your occupancy rate as more guests will opt for making reservations through the Booking.com website due to its simplified booking process.

Booking.com offers over 27 million listings and covers more than 130,000 destinations in 227 countries.

Key Features:

• Booking.com charges a 15% host fee on completed bookings, upon guest arrival. If guests cancel or don’t show up, no fee will be charged;
• Option to upgrade to Preferred Member service;
• More traveler-friendly because of its flexible cancelation options;
• No booking fees for users;
• Check-in process of a hotel – quick and simple;
• Advanced search and filtering system. It shows guests the results based on exactly what they are looking for. This is useful for hosts to promote their property to the exact audience.

3. Expedia

Expedia is another big player in the vacation rental industry and yet not often the first vacation rental platform that comes to guests’ minds when they are looking for vacation rentals. Thus, it is often overlooked by many hosts. Listing your property on Expedia can help you get ahead of the competition as many hosts don’t have it on their radar.

When you list a property on Expedia, your listing will also appear on other leading online travel sites like Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, Wotif, etc.

Key Features:

• Owners pay a commission of 15% of the total amount per booking;
• Last-minute bookings available;
• Localized sites in 33 countries around the world;
• Car rentals, flights, and accommodation are all in one place. It makes Expedia perfect for guests who don’t want to spend a lot of their time researching the best deals.

4. TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor’s most prominent feature is providing feedback from the travel community. This is the number one reason why guests use it as a vacation rental marketplace. It was founded in 2000 and has a massive number of reviews that have been collected over the years. TripAdvisor is a trusted source of information for many travelers.

With TripAdvisor, your property listing will be automatically translated to 26 languages and appear on 26 TripAdvisor sites. This will help you to expand your reach and attract more international travelers to book your rental properties.

Once listed on TripAdvisor, your listing will automatically appear on FlipKey as well.

Key Features:

• TripAdvisor charges a 3% host fee per booking. This commission is based on the host’s total rent, including any required and optional fees specified for the property;
• Many reviews for accommodations, attractions, and restaurants collected over the years;
• Offers car rentals, best deals on flights, and accommodation, all in one place, making it a favorite among tourists. It is helpful in planning their whole trip and finding the best place to stay;
• It was founded in 2000. With such a history, it is a place with the best recommendations and is a trusted platform among travelers.

5. Homestay

Homestay is another search engine well-placed in the vacation rental market. What makes this Airbnb competitor stand out is that it focuses exclusively on vacation rentals where the host is present.

Here you can rent out private rooms, a shared room, or a bed at prices that are more suited for small budgets. It’s a great opportunity for property owners who are just starting out and have an extra room to rent.

Key Features:

• A small host service fee (3% of deposit/minimum charge $1);
• Great platform for hosts who are just starting their business;
• Attracts more students and younger people. Promoting on Homestay will make your rental visible if your goal is to attract those in need of affordable accommodation.

6. HomeToGo

HomeToGo is a vacation rental search engine that allows users to search and compare over 18 million vacation rental listings from other vacation rental sites, including the aforementioned Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and more.

It has a wider range of listings because it aggregates listings from multiple platforms. This means that users can find unique and diverse rental options on HomeToGo that may not be available on Airbnb.

Key Features

• Wish list your favourite properties
• Last-minute deals sent via email with discounts of up to 75%
• Dedicated customer support team that is available 24/7

How Do I Choose the Right Listing Site for My Short-Term Rentals?

Sites like Airbnb can offer a wider range of features that you might not have known about previously. Vacation rental brands like Booking.com and Vrbo have slightly different offerings, including hotel rooms and luxury rentals. Some also have alternative accommodations like yurts and chalets.

You need to choose the Airbnb alternative that’s best for your business type. Consider the following factors before choosing your

Consider Your Target Audience

Think about your ideal guest profile. Some platforms cater to specific types of travelers, such as families, business travelers, or couples. Choose a platform that aligns with your target audience to maximize your bookings.

Evaluate Fees and Costs

Different vacation rental platforms have varying fee structures for hosts. These fees can include listing fees, service fees, and payment processing fees. Understand the cost structure of each platform and calculate how it will affect your overall income.

Read Terms and Conditions

Carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of the vacation rental platforms you’re considering. Pay attention to cancellation policies, payment processing, and any processes on dispute resolution. Make sure you are comfortable with the platform’s rules and regulations before you register with them!

Look at Additional Features

Be sure to look over the features and tools offered by each platform to help you manage your listing. This can include calendar management, pricing settings, communication tools, and the ability to add amenities or restrictions. Choose a platform that provides the tools you need to effectively manage your rental. For example, Airbnb has Instant booking, which some other rental platforms might not have.

Check for Local Regulations

Be aware of local regulations and laws regarding short-term rentals. Some platforms may have partnerships with local governments to ensure compliance with regulations. Make sure the platform or online travel agency you choose is supportive of your legal obligations as a host.

Look at User Reviews and Ratings

Read reviews and ratings from other hosts who have used the platform. This can give you insights into the experiences of other hosts and any issues they may have encountered.

Customer Support and Assistance

You never know when you’ll run into an issue with your vacation homes so make sure that you’re happy with the level of customer support and assistance offered by each platform. You may need assistance with issues such as guest communication, booking inquiries, or technical problems. Choose a platform that provides reliable customer support.

Payment and Payout Options

Review the payment and payout options offered by each platform. Ensure that the payment methods are convenient for you and that the payout schedule meets your needs.

Test the Platform

Before committing to a single platform, you may want to list your property on a few different sites simultaneously for a short period to see which one performs the best. Monitor the number of inquiries, bookings, and overall guest experience on each platform.

Monitor Performance

After listing your property, regularly monitor the performance of your listing on the chosen platform. Make adjustments to your pricing, listing description, and photos as needed to optimize your bookings.

Conclusion

To establish a successful vacation rental business and draw more attention to your property, you might want to consider using the aforementioned Airbnb competitors. Promoting your listing across various rental websites will help you attract more guests, and increase your occupancy rate and profits.

We would recommend listing your property on more than one vacation rental listing site, to give you the best chance of getting as many nights in your calendar booked as possible. However, there are some tools that you’ll need to engage before you register on more than one platform.

Double bookings are notorious for getting hosts a poor rating on their listing profiles. Naturally, guests expect to be the only party booked into a listing at one time and if your decision to list on more than one platform disrupts that, then you’re in for some pretty poor reviews.

So how do you stop this? Well, you’ll need a property management software, and iGMS is one of the best. iGMS offers integration with some of the most prominent Airbnb competitors to make your job a lot easier. You can use our software to manage multiple properties listed across various rental platforms.

• Managing multiple accounts and listings on the top OTAs from a single interface
• Synchronizing reservations across multiple platforms to eliminate the risk of double bookings
• Organizing messages into a single feed with a unified inbox
• Improving communication with automated templates and triggered messaging
• Automating the process of guest reviews
• Creating and coordinating cleaning tasks with live tracking to completion
• Creating your own direct booking website
• Managing direct bookings using a direct booking management toolkit
• Processing payments securely via integration with Stripe.
• Creating essential reports on your business results within minutes
• Adjusting your pricing in a smart way through integrations with PriceLabs, DPGO, and Wheelhouse

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