Apps Like Airbnb for Hosts: Grow Your Rental Business

Airbnb is one of the first platforms that welcome new hosts with open arms. It doesn’t impose severe requirements, is super easy to use, and has clear policies.

However, at some point, many property owners look into apps like Airbnb to increase their revenue channels.

If you’re on the same quest, this comprehensive guide is for you. It includes diverse alternatives to Airbnb, with everything you need to know about them.

An Overview of Airbnb

Since the launch of Airbnb’s website in 2008, it has quickly dominated the vacation rental scene. It’s now the go-to site for booking short-term and long-term stays, and as of today, it has over 150 million users and active listings in more than 100,000 cities worldwide.

Where Does Airbnb Excel?

The simplicity of use at every stage is the first thing that draws hosts to Airbnb. Setting up a profile is a breeze, and so is adding a listing; even payments are automated, so you won’t have trouble processing them. Even better, the platform doesn’t have many strict requirements, allowing most to turn a profit from this service.

Where Does Airbnb Fall Short?

All bookings on Airbnb are subject to a service fee of 3% for most hosts.

The platform’s background checks are also limited, and they’re not keeping it a secret; it’s stated on their website. This carries some scary possibilities, like becoming a victim of scammers or worse yet criminals.

But, to be fair, there’s a protection program for hosts called AirCover that offers reimbursements for specific issues brought on by guests.

There’s also been a drop in bookings on Airbnb, as confirmed by the platform. This might have something to do with the fact that there’s now plenty of competition on the market.

Apps Like Airbnb: Our Top Picks

1. Vrbo – Best for Renting Various Property Types
2. Booking.com – Best for Gaining Market Exposure
3. Plum Guide – Best for Listing Luxury Properties
4. Homestay – Best for Renting a Room
5. Landing – Best for Long-Term Rentals
6. Agoda Homes – Best for Improving Visibility

The Best Airbnb Alternatives at a Glance

Before we go into detail about the Airbnb alternatives we gathered, we’ll quickly introduce you to the two most important ones.

What Is the Best Alternative to Airbnb?

Booking.com is the best alternative to Airbnb because it effectively markets properties and has a tremendous user base.

This platform also has many useful features, like allowing hosts to import their properties from other websites rather than entering all details again.

Who Is Airbnb’s Biggest Competitor?

Vrbo represents Airbnb’s biggest competitor due to their many similarities in general policies and overall concept.

Despite being founded before Airbnb, Vrbo remains a second choice. That’s mainly because Airbnb offers way more listings and was able to form a larger customer base.

The Best Airbnb Alternatives in 2023

Here’s where we’ll get down to business, revealing the ins and outs of the top Airbnb competitors you can use to expand your passive income network:

1. Booking.com

• Good: Established platform with excellent host support and impressive global reach, with 100 million users recorded in the mobile app alone in 2022.
• Bad: Has a high commission rate. You can’t disable instant bookings.
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: Use Booking.com when you want to market your short-term rental properties effectively.

Overview

Booking.com is one of the world’s renowned and reputable online travel agencies. It’s available in 43 languages and offers lodging in hotels as well as private homes and villas in over 220 countries.

This platform makes travel planning much easier. Not only does it give its users access to various accommodation options, but also flights, car rentals, and other services.

Why Is This a Great Option?

When you list your property on Booking.com, you automatically set it for optimal marketing exposure. The site will boost your property’s visibility on major search engines like Google and their thousands of affiliate partners.

We also can’t deny that Booking.com continues to be a go-to for millions of travelers for various reasons, including diligent customer service and unique listings.

In fact, it has far more listings than Airbnb. To put things in perspective, Booking.com has more than 28 million listings worldwide, while Airbnb offers over 6 million.

Drawbacks to Booking.com

Booking.com’s commission can range from 10% to 20%, which is much higher than comparable sites. You should note that this rate is influenced by various factors, including your property’s type and location.

The platform’s business model also encourages instant bookings, which many hosts find challenging to manage. You see, if you don’t live nearby or aren’t available most of the time, arranging for things at the last minute can be tricky.

2. Vrbo

• Good: Decent reach, with 48 million users and listings in over 190 countries worldwide.
• Bad: Bookings are subject to hefty service fees. Only allows listing for the entire residence; no shared options.
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: Head to Vrbo when you want to grow your chances of renting your entire property with no restrictions on listing frequency.

Overview

Vrbo, short for vacation rental by owner, is one of the oldest vacation rental sites, having been founded in 1995.

Since it’s been in the vacation rental market for nearly three decades, it’s safe to say it built a strong presence within the global community of travelers. And, frankly, its user-friendly interface and policies make it pretty easy to lure users in.

Not only that, but this platform has listings for a diverse range of properties, from modest apartments to luxury villas; there’s something for everyone.

Why Is This a Great Option?

When we recommend Airbnb to property owners, Vrbo has to follow. Both sites are quite similar and have a large audience, so competition has always been fierce.

We like how Vrbo welcomes various types of properties, which gives you a better chance of listing yours. The site also has no limit on how often you can rent it out. That way, you can list your property whenever you want to boost your income.

Drawbacks to Vrbo

The platform’s fees are its main disadvantage. Fees are classified into two types: commission fees and processing fees. The former is 5% of the total booking amount, while the latter is 3%.

If you expect to make a sizable profit on your property, you can avoid being charged per booking by purchasing an annual subscription for $499.

We should also point out that while Vrbo is considered Airbnb’s doppelganger, it won’t allow you to rent out just one room in your house. It exclusively accepts listings for the entire property.

3. Plum Guide

• Good: The website lists your property on your behalf, and they use experts to make it look its best. Reasonable service fee.
• Bad: Strict requirements for hosts and high criteria for their properties; it’s not easy to get accepted. Costly joining fee.
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: If you own a charming property and want to make money off it but don’t want careless guests to ruin it, Plum Guide is your best bet.

Overview

Plum Guide is known in the vacation rentals sector to have the best-curated home collection. It does a great job of matching trustworthy guests with dependable hosts.

Doron Meyassed founded this platform in 2016 after he reached what he now calls the “Science Behind the Perfect Stay.” He created the ideal formula with the help of travelers and professionals, including interior designers and psychologists.

All their resolutions were put into Plum Guide, a website that contains accommodation options that rarely disappoint guests. That’s because properties must meet all the site’s 150 requirements before being accepted; otherwise, they won’t be listed.

Why Is This a Great Option?

What truly puts Plum Guide on a pedestal is its team of experts who work to make your property ten times more sellable.

Once you’re approved, they’ll send photographers to take professional photos of your home to include in your listings. Then, their writers will come up with a catchy name and description of your property.

It doesn’t stop there; they also provide a concierge service to direct guests to your home. You can’t imagine how this elevates their experience and, in turn, makes them more likely to return in the future.

We also like how the site built for itself a network of dependable guests, who over the years, have shown higher rates of extended stays and lower rates of cancellation.

After all of that, you might expect the service fee to be exorbitant, but surprisingly, it’s only 3% of each booking, plus any applicable taxes.

Drawbacks to Plum Guide

Due to the site’s stringent vetting process, only 3% of vacation rental properties are accepted. This makes it pretty challenging for many properties to join Plum Guide.

There’s also a high joining fee of £300, or nearly $370, which is deducted from your first booking. This one-time charge is made to cover the work done on your listing curation.

4. Homestay

• Good: The website enables you to turn spare rooms into an extra source of income. It doesn’t impose service fees on hosts.
• Bad: Complete responsibility for establishing policies and collecting payments. No protection coverage whatsoever.  
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: Go for Homestay if you’re sociable and want to rent out a room while living in the house.

Overview

One of the popular platforms dedicated to hosted experiences is Homestay. It allows property owners to list any spare, private room in their house for short-term rentals or extended stays.

Of course, this makes the accommodation cost way less compared to other sites.

That’s why it didn’t take long for this platform to become a favorite among budget travelers, including backpackers and international students.

Why Is This a Great Option?

The first thing that comes to mind is that you’ll profit from unused space without paying a dime.

But when you look past the monetary aspect, you’ll discover that this genuine hosting experience is rewarding in other ways. That is, particularly if you enjoy mingling with people from diverse backgrounds.

Through hosting, you’ll learn more about different cultures, expand your social network, and create memorable experiences. We’ve even heard of long-lasting friendships being formed because of this site!

Drawbacks to Homestay

Because the site doesn’t provide any form of protection, you’re responsible for selecting a suitable guest and setting all ground rules.

You’re also in charge of collecting the payment, which opens the door to several unfavorable scenarios, one of which is dealing with con artists. Alternatively, you can secure a deposit via Homestay, but this option comes with a 3% service of the deposit amount.

5. Landing

• Good: Long-term rental ensures a more steady revenue. Tenants are subjected to several security checks before being accepted.
• Bad: There’s a strict approval process that not all properties can pass. Hosts are charged multiple fees.
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: If you’re looking for long-term rentals with reliable tenants, Landing is the answer.

Overview

When it comes to renting fully furnished apartments with flexible lease terms, Landing is one of the top choices. It was founded with the goal of revolutionizing the rental industry, and it absolutely nailed it.

The platform has over 20,000 fully equipped apartments available for rent with flexible lease terms. This is a dream come true for anyone who wants a stress-free moving experience and doesn’t want to commit to one place.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Unlike long-term rentals, short stays generate unpredictable revenue and can be a hassle to manage. When you’re ready to make a more consistent profit, Landing is a great place to start, as it’ll connect you with numerous people looking for long-term residence.

The platform also understands what makes a good tenant. It carefully selects them and conducts several background checks, so your renting process should go without a hitch. Even if it didn’t, they offer damage reimbursements.

Drawbacks to Landing

Properties must meet several requirements to get approved, which might limit your house’s chances of being listed. For example, the site mentions specific types of furniture and appliances that should be available in the house, or they won’t be accepted.

Landing also charges two types of fees, which can add up to a significant portion of your profit. The first is a base fee of 8% of the total amount paid by the tenant, plus a payment processing fee of 2.9%.  

6. Agoda Homes

• Good: One of the top platforms to boost property visibility, with about 18 million users worldwide.
• Bad: Imposes costly commission fees on hosts.
• When to Choose This Airbnb Alternative: Use Agoda Homes when you want to expand your property’s reach.

Overview

Agoda, like Booking.com, is an online travel agency that facilitates the bookings and reservations involved in planning a trip. The site contains Agoda Homes, which is specifically designed to connect anyone renting out a home with potential guests.

What sets Agoda Homes apart is the great deals it offers; sometimes, they’re too good to be true, leaving people wondering if Agoda is legit. Don’t worry, it is. These unbelievable discounts are just one of their renowned marketing strategies.

Why Is This a Great Option?

We always encourage property owners to list their homes on major sites that can help increase their exposure, and Agoda certainly qualifies. As we mentioned above, this platform is constantly driving more traffic through its exclusive offers, so you should capitalize on that.

Drawbacks to Agoda Homes

The main issue that hosts face with Agoda Homes is their high commission rate, which varies by location but ranges between 15% and 20%.

Notable Mentions: Even More Options to Check Out

We’re not done yet; here are three more sites like Airbnb that can help you with seamlessly listing your property online:

1. Blueground

Blueground is a platform with a concept similar to that of Landing but with a twist.

When Blueground accepts your application, you’ll enter into a lease agreement with them. This means that your property will be theirs to furnish and rent. What about the profit, then? It’ll be shared with them according to your agreement.

We think it’s a fantastic choice for anyone with vacant properties who’s looking for an experienced organization to manage them. But, if you prefer greater control over the rental process and profits, this might not be the best option for you.

2. Outdoorsy

Although Outdoorsy doesn’t exactly list vacation rental homes, it does rent out some pretty cool RVs. On-the-road adventures are becoming more popular, so if you own an RV, you might as well make money from it.

Hosts on this platform are estimated to earn $185 per night on average, which is quite good. What isn’t is their exorbitant fee, which ranges from 20% to 25% of the total amount paid.

3. Vacasa

Don’t want anything to do with managing your vacation rental property? Vacasa is the secret word. We won’t lie: the platform does have steep commission rates that can reach 30% or more.

However, it’s run by a team of professionals who have extensive marketing knowledge and use advanced technologies to promote your property. This will most likely increase your profit, as it has for many homeowners who use this site.

Wrapping Up

When you have the right resources, renting your home becomes much easier and more profitable.

No doubt, Airbnb is a fantastic platform to showcase your property. But if you’re looking for more rental opportunities, you should get started on Booking.com, then Vrbo.

You’re also now aware of which websites are suitable for extended stays, luxurious experiences, shared residences, and more. Choose wisely based on your property type and current situation to ensure you’re putting your time and effort in the right place.