Choose by how many properties you run and which booking sites you list on. Hosts with a few listings need a simple channel manager with guest messaging. Growing property managers need a full property management system, and anyone happy with their current system may only need a channel manager. Always test calendar sync before you switch.
A double booking is the nightmare every host knows. Two guests, one property, and a very awkward message you'd rather not write. Hostaway pitches itself as the way to manage short-term rentals across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking from one place, and keeping those calendars in step is the reason most people buy software like this in the first place. If you're weighing up a move, here are eight alternatives for hosts and property managers, in no particular order.
Calendars, channels and guest messages in sync
The thing to test in any replacement is whether calendars, channels and guest messages stay in sync without double bookings. That sounds basic, and every vendor will tell you it's handled. The difference shows up at the edges: a last-minute booking, a cancellation on one site, a blocked date for maintenance, or an owner stay you add by hand.
Guest messages matter almost as much. If messages from different booking sites land in different inboxes, replies get missed, guests get anxious and reviews suffer. You'll want them in one place. A good tool pulls them into one place and lets you send the routine ones, like check-in instructions, automatically.
Tools in this space split by who they're built for and how much you set up yourself. Some are ready for a host with two apartments. Others expect a team running dozens of properties, with owner reports, housekeeping and accounting on top.
Eight rental tools compared
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Avantio | Vacation rental software | Property managers growing direct bookings |
| Guesty | Vacation rental software | Operators from solo hosts to large portfolios |
| Hostfully | Vacation rental management | Bringing the whole rental business into one tool |
| Hostify | Property management system | Airbnb managers wanting an all-in-one PMS |
| iGMS | Short-term rental automation | Hosts growing beyond a single booking site |
| OwnerRez | Channel manager, PMS and websites | Owners wanting channels, PMS and a website together |
| Rentals United | Channel manager | Connecting an existing PMS to many booking sites |
| Smoobu | Channel manager and PMS | Channels, property management and guest messages together |
Three ways to run your rentals
Hosts with a handful of listings
Smoobu and iGMS speak to hosts moving beyond a single booking site, with channel management, guest messaging and automation for people who don't have a team behind them.
Growing property management companies
Guesty, Hostfully, Hostify, Avantio and OwnerRez offer fuller property management systems, adding more operational tools, direct bookings or website building as your portfolio grows.
Keep your PMS, add channels
Rentals United is a channel manager that connects to a property system you already use. It's for managers who are happy with their operations software but want more booking sites in sync.
All eight from A to Z
Alphabetical, not ranked. Each line reflects how the vendor describes its own product.
Avantio
Best for: Property managers wanting an all-in-one rental platform focused on automating operations and growing direct bookings, per the vendor.
Guesty
Best for: Short-term rental operators of every size, from solo hosts to large portfolios, who want rental software with AI features built in.
Hostfully
Best for: Property managers who want the whole rental business to come together in one tool as they grow, as the vendor puts it.
Hostify
Best for: Airbnb and vacation rental managers who want an all-in-one property management system to simplify operations, according to the vendor.
iGMS
Best for: Hosts who are growing beyond Airbnb and want to automate much of their short-term rental business, as the vendor describes it.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
OwnerRez
Best for: Owners who want a channel manager, property management system and website from one provider, without the rental becoming a full-time job.
Rentals United
Best for: Managers who already have a property system and want a channel manager syncing rates, availability and inventory to sites like Vrbo and Booking.com.
Smoobu
Best for: Hosts wanting a channel manager, property management system and guest communication in one place, per the vendor.
Advice for hosts changing rental software
Plan the switch for your quietest weeks. Moving calendars and channel connections during peak season is asking for trouble, because any gap in sync is exactly when a double booking slips through. Give yourself a few days of overlap where you check every calendar by hand. It's tedious, but it's far less painful than refunding a guest who's already on their way.
Think about direct bookings too. Every booking site takes a share, so a tool with a website builder or direct booking engine can help over time. My on-page SEO tips for vacation rental websites will help that site get found, and if you're rethinking which booking sites to list on, my guide to Airbnb alternatives is a good place to start. Local rules on short-term lets, taxes and guest registration vary, so check with your local council or regulator.
Moving your listings without a gap
- Export every future reservation, with guest details and payment status, before you disconnect anything.
- Connect one booking site at a time to the new tool and check the calendar matches before adding the next.
- Block any dates that are booked elsewhere, including owner stays and maintenance.
- Copy your saved messages and check-in instructions into the new tool and test them on a dummy booking.
- Only disconnect the old system once every calendar has matched for several days running.
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
What's a channel manager?
It's software that keeps your availability and rates in sync across booking sites, so a booking on one site blocks the same dates everywhere else.
What's the difference between a channel manager and a PMS?
A channel manager syncs calendars and rates across booking sites. A property management system adds the running of the business, such as guest messages, cleaning schedules, owner reports and payments.
How do I avoid double bookings when I switch software?
Connect one booking site at a time, check every calendar by hand during the overlap, and only disconnect the old tool when everything matches.
Do I need vacation rental software for one property?
Not always. If you list on a single site, its own tools may be enough. Once you list on two or more sites, a channel manager saves a lot of risk.
Can vacation rental software send messages to guests automatically?
Many tools send routine messages, such as booking confirmations and check-in instructions, on a schedule you set. Test them on a dummy booking first.
