Host software, sorted by what it replaces

Software is the cheapest way to buy back hours and the most expensive way to buy the wrong thing. The two facts that decide both are in every row below: what category the tool belongs to, and whether it needs a property management system underneath it.

Pricing is quoted as the vendor publishes it. Where a vendor publishes nothing, the row says so — an estimate in that column would read like a fact.

laptop dashboard vacation rental host

The list

LogoToolCategoryNeeds a PMSPricingVerdict
uploads/e14f0aeeb08a.webpBnBGeniusAI automation (no-PMS extension)No$10 per unit per month; first 500 messages freeCheapest flat-fee AI stack — phone concierge, tasks, reviews, upsells — with no PMS to buy.
HostBuddy AIAI guest messagingYes$5–$7/listing/mo; 14-day trialGreat superhost-built messaging, but needs a PMS underneath and can hallucinate.
uploads/3a3edea27a5b.webpBoring Host AIAI comms + voiceYes$13/listing/mo, $130/mo floorRare small player with AI phone answering, but priced out under 10 listings.
uploads/e324e927f599.webpNowistayAI co-hostNo€12/property/mo; 1 mo freeAutonomous replies in 90+ languages, no PMS needed — young and per-property.
uploads/01022554a465.webpHost PilotAI receptionist + direct bookingNo€29/mo flat; 30-day trialAI voice + guest guide with no PMS, but ~3x our price and no upsell loop.
OnCallClerkAI phone receptionistNoFree tier; $29–$299/moCheap flat-rate call answering, but a horizontal tool where Airbnb is one template.
uploads/bfd5c1107a48.webpChargeAutomationPayments + upsell engineYesFree (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/moPartial
uploads/9ab184747424.webpSuiteOpGuest portal + smart devices + opsTrialNot published; ~$6–$8/unit/mo (3rd-party); 1-mo trialYes
uploads/b69d422418c3.webpGuestIntroDigital guest manuals + direct bookingYesFree (1 property); Pro from $6.99/mo; site from $19.99/moNo
The Host CoIn-stay upsell storefrontYesFree (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 moNo
uploads/cfb841d33929.webpYourWelcomeIn-property upsell tabletNo$449.99/property/yr (tablet incl.)No
RueBaRueGuest-ops / area guidesTrialNot published; ~$5–$10/property/mo (3rd-party)Partial
ZeevouAll-in-one PMSYesFree tier; paid £18.56–£21.66/unit/mo (3/10/50-unit mins)Yes
uploads/37c0fffb40c9.webpLodgixVacation-rental PMSTrialFrom $79.99/mo (1–7 props) + 0.5% OTA fee; 30-day trialYes
uploads/5002a630e9ef.webpGustaf.aiLite-PMS / automationYesFree (2 listings); Premium $8/property/moNo
uploads/1518ac147a37.webpRevyoosReview aggregation + AI repliesTrialFrom €5/mo; 14-day trialNo
EZcareProperty-care opsTrialNot published (demo); order-meteredPartial
uploads/92988c4984ea.webpQuibbleRevenue management / pricingTrialNot published (quote); flat per-listingYes
RankbreezeAirbnb SEO / rank analyticsTrialNot published; $1 trialNo
MinoanFurnishing / procurementYesFree (trade discounts + Showroom commission)No
uploads/eeb8bdbf7cd1.webpSweeplyHousekeeping / maintenance opsTrial€3/room/mo housekeeping; €99/mo minPartial
uploads/b56b5cf552f0.webpChangeoverCleaning schedulerTrialFrom £6/property/mo (annual); 30-day trialNo
Party SquasherOccupancy / party detectionNo$249/yr (Std), $309/yr (Pro), sensor incl.No
uploads/6c0658d91de8.webpHost ToolsPMS / messaging automationTrial~$28–$30/listing/mo; 14-day trialNo
uploads/5f7a98d4343b.webpAkiaAI messaging (hotel-leaning)NoNot published (Talk to Sales)Partial
iGMSAirbnb-native PMS / automationTrialFLEX $1/booked night (min $20/prop); PRO $18–$21/prop/moPartial
uploads/56e2f362684b.webpTIDYAI ops / cleaning coordinationNo3.9% of gross bookings + spend, $39/mo minNo
uploads/a7b62c419fc8.webpEnso ConnectGuest experience + upsellsNo$100–$525/mo (Launch) up to customYes
uploads/77590c09c27c.webpConduitAI agent platform (voice + chat)No$649/mo (Starter) / $1,499/mo (Growth, voice)Partial
uploads/041838dda3a8.webpBesty AIAI property-manager OSNoNot published (demo); custom per-unitYes
uploads/093a624b4687.webpUplistingPMS / channel managerTrial£72/mo flat (1–5); £16/unit (6–40)Yes
SmoobuAll-in-one PMS (EU)Trial€29/mo +0.9% fee, or €31.50/mo 0%Yes
TokeetModular PMS suiteTrial~$134.90/mo for 10 rentals; free plan undefinedYes
Beds24Channel manager + PMSTrialFrom ~€15.50/mo + per-channel feesYes
OwnerRezPower-user PMSTrialFrom $40/mo (published ladder) + add-onsYes
uploads/46d988e3cbac.webpHostfully GuidebooksDigital guidebooksYesFree (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/moNo
uploads/f0cf6ea411d2.webpTouch StayDigital guidebooksTrialFrom ~$15/property/mo (calculator)No
uploads/4bfd807bf045.webpChekinCheck-in + legal complianceTrialFrom €3.95/property/mo (3-unit min) + txn feesPartial
uploads/07bce5939f80.webpProperlyCleaning ops (photo checklists)Trial$12.99–$14.99/property/mo; 30-day trialNo
uploads/3d7e0f4a1046.webpDoinnCleaning ops + EU vendor marketplaceNoNot published (quote); Power-Ups €25+€0.80/propPartial
ResortCleaningHousekeeping softwareTrial$5/property/mo or $1.39/appt; $20/mo minNo
uploads/b68f38579fa7.webpOpertoSmart access + ops suiteNoNot published (quote)Yes
uploads/19fedb18f9d0.webpStayFiGuest WiFi data capture / marketingYes$19/mo software + hardware $99–$303/unitNo
WheelhouseAnalytics + dynamic pricingYesFree tier; Dynamic Sets $12.99/set; pricing 1% or $16.99–$19.99/listingPartial
uploads/c288686fd504.webpDPGOAI dynamic pricingTrial$18/listing/mo, or 0.5%/booking, or $1/night; 30-day trialNo
uploads/d770ebfb4cae.webpRoomPriceGenieHotel/B&B RMSTrialNot published (quote, annual)Yes
uploads/25ccc2034475.webpRemoteLockSmart access controlNo$6/door/mo (Premium) / $12/door (Enterprise)Partial
uploads/f05c83fcb6d0.webpSeamSmart-lock developer APIYesFree dev tier; $5/device/mo → $50/device/moNo
uploads/94395b3d8601.webpMinutNoise/occupancy/smoke sensorNo$5/$10/$15 per unit/mo + sensor hardwareNo
uploads/552b50f18043.webpRoomonitorNoise monitoring + human responseNoFrom €13/mo (noise) + service tiersNo
AirROISTR market analyticsYesFree analytics; API pay-as-you-go from $0.01/callNo
uploads/a89c379d952c.webpAutohostGuest screening / fraudNoPer verification $0.12–$7.25Partial
uploads/00fb7b5ab55a.webpTruviScreening + damage protectionNoPer booking $12.60–$28.75; no subscriptionPartial
uploads/5acdfb0956fe.webpSafelyPer-night STR insuranceNoPer occupied night (~$4–$10), quotePartial
uploads/be85e9bb022c.webpProper InsuranceSTR insurance policyNoNot published (quote); annual policyNo
WaivoDamage waiverNoNot published (per booking)No
uploads/2fc7749550f4.webpAvantioAgency-grade PMSNoFrom €14/property/mo, €295/mo min (<20 props)Yes
uploads/60ddf9c4574a.webpTrackEnterprise PMS suiteNoNot published (demo)Yes
uploads/fc737b4a51dd.webpStreamline VRSEnterprise PMSNoNot published (demo)Yes
Rentals UnitedChannel managerNoNot published (quote, 5+ props)Partial
uploads/114cab0a6e3d.webpHospitableFull PMSNoFree Essentials; paid per-property (hidden)Mature all-in-one, but AI locked to top "Mogul" tier and real cost is opaque.
uploads/9990c8fda49f.webpGuestyEnterprise PMSNoFrom $9/listing/mo; Pro/Ent customBuilt for management companies — heavy, sales-led, overkill for 1–5 listings.
HostawayEnterprise PMSNoNot published (quote only)Well-capitalized giant with zero pricing transparency and annual contracts.
LodgifyPMS + website builderYes~$16–$59/rental/mo (+1.9% fee on Starter)Best direct-booking site builder, but the cheap tier taxes every booking.
uploads/806574268444.webpDuveHotel-grade guest experienceNoFrom $120/$150/$200/mo minimumYes
TurnoCleaning marketplaceYesFree (1 prop / marketplace-only); $10/mo BYO cleanersNo
uploads/29c80da6537e.webpBreezewayProperty-ops platformYesFree (1 prop); from $19/unit/mo + add-onsPartial
PriceLabsDynamic pricingTrial$19.99/listing/mo (RoW $9.99)Partial
uploads/ff89eb956d13.webpBeyond InsightsMarket analytics + pricingYesFree benchmarking; paid 1%–1.25% of bookingsPartial
AirDNASTR market dataYesFree tier; paid from ~$20/mo (market-size dependent)No
uploads/2996ff7dadc6.webpAirbnb Smart PricingNative dynamic pricingYesFree (built-in)No
EscapiaPMS (Expedia Group)NoNot published (demo)Yes
uploads/27683f3e3511.webpPointCentralSmart-property platform (Alarm.com)NoNot published (quote)Partial
August / Yale HomeSmart-lock hardware (ASSA ABLOY)NoHardware only $179.99–$279.99, no subscriptionNo

What the order means

The order is this desk’s reading of what each tool covers, how much of it works without a property management system behind it, and how openly it prices. It is not a benchmark score, and no vendor pays for a position.

Pricing is quoted as the vendor publishes it. Where a vendor publishes nothing, the row says so rather than carrying an estimate that would read like a fact. Twenty-five of the 74 tools tracked are listed here.

How host software is priced

Per listing, per month — the default. Cheap at one property, the main cost line at twenty.Usage-based — messages, jobs or bookings. Fine while you are small, worth modelling before a busy season.Percentage of revenue — usual for pricing tools. It scales with your success, which is either fair or expensive depending on the year.

For what a per-unit tool costs against a percentage of revenue, compare the best airbnb pricing tools with the fee bands above.

Choosing between tools

01 Do I need a property management system at all?

Below roughly a handful of listings, usually not: a pricing tool and a messaging tool cover most of the hours. The column that says whether a tool needs a PMS exists because that is the fork in the road.

02 One suite or several small tools?

Suites cost less to run and more to leave. Small tools cost more attention and can be replaced one at a time. If you are still learning what you need, replaceable is worth paying for.

03 Why do so many vendors hide their pricing?

Because the number depends on listing count and add-ons, and because a quote lets them meet you where you are. It is not automatically a bad sign — but it is a reason to get the total in writing before connecting a calendar.

Some outbound links on this page are commercial. Placement in the register is not for sale.