- Ten vacation rental platforms at a glance
- Software with a direct booking website built in
- Automation and channel managers for working hosts
- Enterprise systems for large portfolios
- Every option, A to Z
- Advice for hosts switching rental software
- Time the switch around your calendar
- Frequently asked questions
The right Guesty alternative depends on how many properties you run and where your bookings come from. A host with a handful of listings usually wants simple automation and a channel manager, an owner chasing direct bookings needs a website built in, and a large operator needs an enterprise property management system.
How many properties are you managing today, and how many do you expect to manage once you've grown? Guesty's own homepage splits its audience on exactly that line, with a Lite version built for one to three properties and the full product for larger portfolios. Work out which side of that line you're on before you compare anything, because the tools below split the same way.
These ten are for vacation rental hosts and property managers leaving Guesty, in no particular order, and Guesty itself isn't one of the rows. I've grouped them by size and focus rather than by name.
Ten vacation rental platforms at a glance
| Tool | Kind of software | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Beds24 | Channel manager and PMS | Rentals and hotels under one system |
| Hostaway | Vacation rental software | Managing listings across the big channels |
| Hostfully | Vacation rental management software | Growing property managers |
| Hosthub | Channel manager and PMS | Avoiding double bookings |
| iGMS | Vacation rental management software | Hosts who want help setting up |
| Lodgify | Rental software with booking website | Owners pushing for direct bookings |
| Lodgix | Vacation rental software | A long-running all-round rental system |
| OwnerRez | Channel manager, PMS and website | Channel manager, PMS and website together |
| Streamline | Enterprise vacation rental PMS | Larger operators focused on operations |
| Track | Enterprise PMS and distribution | Enterprise operators with many moving parts |
Software with a direct booking website built in
Lodgify manages reservations, syncs calendars and is built to grow direct bookings, so it suits an owner who wants guests to book on their own site as well as on the big channels. OwnerRez combines a channel manager, a property management system and a website in one. Hostfully is vacation rental management software aimed at managers who want to scale and grow.
If you're comparing more tools in this space, my list of short-term rental software covers the wider field.
Automation and channel managers for working hosts
Hostaway manages short-term rentals across channels such as Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com from one place. iGMS helps hosts and managers automate their business and says a real person helps if you get stuck. Hosthub is a channel manager and PMS that syncs channels in real time and offers what it calls a zero double booking guarantee. Beds24 covers bookings, channels, calendars, payments and guest communications, and it works for hotels and similar properties as well as rentals. Lodgix has been around a long time and covers channel management, guest messaging, automation, direct bookings and payments.
For a deeper look at the channel side on its own, see my guide to hotel channel managers.
Enterprise systems for large portfolios
Streamline is vacation rental property management software with a complete suite of tools for operations and revenue. The second enterprise name on this list describes itself as one platform for PMS, distribution, direct booking, payments and CRM. Its older address now lands on trackhospitality.com, so check you're reading its current material rather than an old review. These two make sense for operators with teams, owners to report to and many units, not for a host with a couple of flats.
Every option, A to Z
Beds24
Best for: Vacation rentals, hotels and similar properties wanting bookings, channels, calendars, payments and guest messages in one system, which the vendor says saves time.
Hostaway
Best for: Short-term rental managers listing on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com who want every channel handled from one place, per the vendor.
Hostfully
Best for: Property managers focused on scaling their business, using management software the vendor says helps them grow.
Hosthub
Best for: Hosts worried about double bookings who want a channel manager and PMS syncing in real time; the vendor offers what it calls a zero double booking guarantee.
iGMS
Best for: Hosts and managers automating their short-term rental business; the vendor says setup is easy and a real person helps if you get stuck.
Lodgify
Best for: Owners who want reservations, calendar sync and a booking website in one short-term rental tool, which the vendor says is built to grow direct bookings.
Lodgix
Best for: Managers wanting channel management, guest messaging, automation, direct bookings and payments from a vendor that says it's been in business for many years.
OwnerRez
Best for: Property managers wanting a channel manager, property management system and website from one provider, which the vendor describes as all three in one.
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Streamline
Best for: Larger vacation rental operators wanting a complete suite of tools for operations and revenue, as the vendor describes its management software.
Track
Best for: Enterprise operators needing PMS, distribution, direct booking, payments and CRM on one platform, per the vendor's description.
Advice for hosts switching rental software
Pick the group before you pick the tool. A small host who moves to an enterprise system will spend more time configuring than hosting, and a growing management company that picks a lightweight tool will hit its limits fast. Count your properties honestly, then look only at the group that fits.
Ask every vendor how they'll move your existing reservations, guest messages and calendar connections across, and who does the work. Short-term rental rules and tax requirements vary by place, so check with your local authority or regulator rather than assuming any software handles that for you.
Time the switch around your calendar
The riskiest moment in any software change is the handover of channel connections. For a while, your listings may be connected to two systems, and that's where double bookings creep in. A little planning avoids most of the pain.
- Switch in your quietest stretch, not in the middle of peak season.
- Disconnect one channel at a time and check its calendar before moving the next.
- Copy upcoming reservations and guest details into the new system before you cancel the old one.
- Update your direct booking website last, once every channel is confirmed.
Do you make vacation rental software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a version of Guesty for small hosts?
Guesty's homepage describes a Lite version built for one to three properties and its full product for larger portfolios. Check which fits before you compare alternatives.
Which alternatives help with direct bookings?
The tools in the booking website group pair a property management system with a website where guests can book with you directly.
What does a channel manager do?
It keeps your availability in sync across booking sites, so a stay booked on one channel blocks the same dates everywhere else.
Do I need enterprise property management software?
Only if you run a large portfolio with staff, owners to report to and many units. Smaller hosts usually do better with a lighter tool.
Will my bookings move across when I switch?
Ask each vendor how they migrate reservations, guest messages and calendar connections, and plan the move for a quiet period.
Is this list ranked?
No. The tools are in no particular order and grouped by size and focus.
