The best fit depends on how many properties you run and how many booking channels you use. Solo hosts usually want an easy system with guest messaging and calendar sync. Growing managers need a full property management system, and if you already have one you like, a channel manager can sit on top of it.
Every host has a double-booking story, and nobody wants another one. Whatever you move to from Lodgify, the job doesn't change: keep calendars, channels and guest messages in step across every site you list on. These eight platforms, in no particular order, handle it in different ways and for different sizes of business.
Hosts, managers and connectors
Solo hosts and small portfolios
Smoobu and Hospitable are aimed at hosts who want one tool to do most of the work. One bundles a channel manager, property management system and guest messaging; the other focuses on listing across platforms without clashes and filling gap nights. If you run a handful of properties yourself, start here.
Growing management companies
Guesty, Hostaway, Hostfully, Hostify and Avantio are built for managers with growing portfolios and teams. Their pitches cover multi-channel listings, operations, direct bookings and, increasingly, AI help. Some lean on Airbnb, some on direct bookings and scaling across countries, so read each homepage with your own channel mix in mind.
Just the channel connection
Rentals United is a channel manager rather than a full system. It's the option to look at if you're happy with your current property management system and only need it connected to more booking channels.
Small hotels and B and Bs can use several of these too, though a few are clearly built around holiday homes rather than rooms. Check how each one handles room types before you book a demo. If you're running both rooms and whole homes, you'll want to see that working in a live account, not just on a slide.
Keeping every calendar in step
The thing to test in any replacement is how calendars, channels and guest messages stay in sync without double bookings. Ask how each tool connects to the big channels: a direct connection usually updates faster than a calendar file that's checked every so often, and that gap is where clashes happen.
Guest messages are the other half. If a guest books on one channel and writes to you on another, does the conversation land in one inbox, against the right booking? A tidy shared inbox saves more time each week than almost any other feature.
Platforms side by side
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Avantio | Vacation rental software | Managers growing direct bookings across markets |
| Guesty | AI vacation rental software | Operators from solo hosts to large portfolios |
| Hospitable | Short-term rental operations | Listing on several sites without double bookings |
| Hostaway | Vacation rental software | Managing listings across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com |
| Hostfully | Vacation rental management | Property managers scaling a business |
| Hostify | Airbnb management software | Airbnb-heavy managers wanting an all-in-one PMS |
| Rentals United | Channel manager | Connecting an existing PMS to more channels |
| Smoobu | Channel manager and PMS | Smaller hosts wanting everything in one tool |
Eight platforms, A to Z
Sorted alphabetically, not ranked. Each line reflects the vendor's own description of its software.
Avantio
Best for: Property managers automating operations and growing direct bookings, with the vendor stressing software that scales globally.
Guesty
Best for: Short-term rental operators of any size; the vendor says it serves everyone from solo hosts to large portfolios, with AI throughout.
Hospitable
Best for: Hosts listing on several platforms who want to avoid double bookings and fill gap nights; the vendor names a free option.
Hostaway
Best for: Managers running properties across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com from one place, which is the vendor's core pitch, now with AI features.
Hostfully
Best for: Property managers looking to scale, with the vendor describing one home where the whole vacation rental business comes together.
Hostify
Best for: Airbnb-focused managers who want an all-in-one property management system to simplify operations, as the vendor puts it.
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Rentals United
Best for: Managers who already have a property management system and want it linked to many booking channels with rates and availability synced, per the vendor.
Smoobu
Best for: Smaller hosts wanting a channel manager, property management system and guest messaging together; the vendor names a free trial.
My advice for hosts changing rental software
Move in your quietest season, and never mid-way through a busy weekend. Connect channels one at a time, check every future booking has arrived with the right dates and guest details, and only then disconnect the old system. Keep a simple list of upcoming stays as a safety net for the first few weeks.
Software won't fill your calendar on its own. If you want more direct bookings, these on-page SEO tips for a vacation rental website are worth an hour, and this rundown of Airbnb alternatives can help you spread your listings so one channel never controls your income.
Signs you've made the right move
- Every booking appears on every calendar within minutes, with no manual fixes.
- Guest messages from all channels land in one inbox, linked to the right stay.
- Cleaners and maintenance staff know about changes without you forwarding emails.
- You can see future occupancy across all properties on one screen.
- Your team stopped keeping a backup spreadsheet after the first month.
Short-let rules, registration and tourist tax obligations vary by city and country, so check with your local authority before you list on new channels.
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 the difference between a channel manager and a property management system?
A channel manager syncs availability and bookings across booking sites. A property management system adds guest messaging, operations, cleaning, owners and reporting, and often includes a channel manager.
How do I avoid double bookings when I switch software?
Connect one channel at a time, check every future booking has transferred, and only disconnect the old system once calendars match everywhere.
Can small hotels use vacation rental software?
Some can, especially for a few rooms or apartments. Check how each tool handles room types and rates before you commit.
Do I need a direct booking website?
It helps you rely less on one channel and keep a closer relationship with guests. Many rental platforms include a booking site builder.
Is short-term letting regulated in my area?
Often, yes. Rules on registration, night limits and tourist tax vary by city and country, so check with your local authority.
