Hospitable (Smartbnb) vs Hostaway – Comparing Popular Vacation Rental Software [2023]

In your pursuit of the ideal vacation rental management software, it’s no surprise that Hospitable and Hostaway have caught your attention. Both platforms offer powerful features that can enhance your rental business. However, selecting the software that truly aligns with your specific requirements is no easy task.

When comparing Hospitable (Smartbnb) vs Hostaway as vacation rental management solutions, it’s important to consider several factors such as features, pricing, and customer support. Let’s delve into each of these aspects to help you make a decision tailored to your property rental business.

Hospitable vs Hostaway: An Overview

Hospitable (formerly Smartbnb) is a one-stop-shop type of software that aims to make “hosting short-term just as easy as traditional, long-term hosting.” Starting from a direct booking website and channel manager to price synchronization and payments, you’ll have a complete set of tools for managing short-term rentals.

Hostaway is one of the leading vacation rental platforms designed to help you scale your rental business and easily manage all day-to-day tasks. Its list of features is impressive, including a website builder, reservations management, muti-calendar management, and automation functionality. 

Pricing

Winner: Hospitable

The cost of using Hospitable depends on the number of properties you manage. The starting price is $40/month for up to 2 properties, and as your vacation rental business grows, you will only be charged for properties that have had check-ins. Regardless of how many units you manage, you will get access to all software features. 

To make your decision even easier, Hospitable offers a 14-day free trial.

Hostaway follows a distinct pricing model rather than relying on fixed costs. Instead of a predetermined price, they offer a custom pricing structure tailored to your specific needs. You’ll need to schedule a demo with their reps, discuss your requirements, and provide details about your rental business, and in turn, you will receive a unique offer.

When it comes to payments, we think Hospitable has a slight advantage, due to their transparent pricing and all-inclusive package. 

Features

Winner: Tie

Hospitable and Hostaway offer similar tools, making it difficult to declare a clear winner between the two. However, there are certain differences worth considering.

While both Hospitable and Hostaway support sending automated messages based on triggers, personalizing messages with shortcodes, and customizing them based on special conditions, Hospitable takes it one step further. 

Hospitable uses AI technology to detect questions on topics and sends automated responses to guests with the necessary information. According to Hospitable, they can handle up to 90% of the communication with guests.

Hostaway, on the other hand, has the advantage when it comes to built-in accounting tools, lead management functionality, and a guest portal where guests can access all necessary information.

Customer Support

Winner: Tie

Whether you choose Hospitable or Hostaway, you can expect prompt and friendly communication with their support representatives. Both platforms have received positive reviews from users, with reviewers expressing satisfaction with their experiences. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that you can rely on their support teams whenever you encounter any issues or have questions about the platforms.

Conclusion – Hospitable or Hostaway?

Our advice is to base your decision between Hospitable and Hostaway on one key factor—your priorities. 

If guest communication and satisfaction are high on your list, Hospitable may be the ideal platform for you. With their expertise in automated and effective communication, Hospitable can alleviate the burdens of guest engagement. This platform is also a great pick for beginners as you can enjoy all features at an affordable price even if you manage a couple of properties. 

Hostaway has distinct advantages in areas such as advanced reporting, synchronization capabilities with a wider range of channel managers, and robust accounting functions. If these features are critical to your vacation rental business, Hostaway may be the better fit for your needs. These advanced functionalities will also come in handy as your business grows or if you already handle a larger portfolio of units.

Alternatives to Hospitable and Hostaway

Committing to a vacation rental management software is a significant decision, and it’s only natural to want peace of mind knowing that you have thoroughly explored all your options before making a final choice. 

Our top recommendation when it comes to a great price-value ratio is Uplisting. This feature-rich software packs all the essential tools and delivers top-notch customer service.  

Compare vacation rental software options with our spreadsheet.

View spreadsheet

While Uplisting is a strong contender, it’s also worth exploring other notable platforms such as OwnerRez, Lodgify, Hosthub, and Smoobu. Each of these platforms brings its own unique strengths and features to the table. If you’re interested in a detailed comparison of Hospitable with other sought-after platforms, delve deeper into our article on the best Hospitable alternatives.

Written by The Floorspace Team

This article was written as a collaborative effort by multiple members of the Floorspace team. We're a group of internet marketers and designers, with a wide range of experience marketing and managing short-term rentals.