Hostfully vs iGMS: Which Is Best for Holiday Property Managers?

Choosing a property management system shouldn’t be a matter of guesswork. As your portfolio expands, the differences between platforms become increasingly apparent—from limited automation and basic reporting to extra manual work and rising costs from systems that can’t keep up with your growth.

For hosts starting out on Airbnb, platforms like Hostfully and iGMS provide a reliable foundation. However, as portfolios grow, many managers look for solutions that deliver more advanced automation, a stronger direct-booking framework, and transparent, scalable pricing.

This guide reviews how each platform performs in day-to-day operations, highlighting their advantages and drawbacks, and identifying which offers the most dependable foundation for long-term efficiency and operational control.

What Is Holiday Rental Management Software?

The first distinction to make is whether a platform is designed primarily as a website builder or as an operational engine. Some systems focus on website creation with only limited PMS functionality layered on, while others are built around automation and workflow reliability. Many property managers prefer platforms that deliver both robust website capabilities and strong operational automation, eliminating the need to manage two separate systems.

How to Choose Vacation Rental Software for Your Business?

Automation vs Website Focus

The first distinction to make is whether a platform is designed primarily as a website builder or as an operational engine. Some systems focus on website creation with only light PMS functionality added on, while others are built around automation and workflow reliability. Many property managers prefer platforms that offer both robust website capabilities and strong operational automation so they do not have to manage two separate systems.

Pricing Model and Real Cost of Scale

Pricing should be evaluated beyond the monthly subscription alone. Booking fees, add-on bundles, and enterprise-style charges can escalate quickly if the platform does not meaningfully reduce manual work. The real question is whether the system genuinely saves you time or subtly introduces new tasks.

Feature Depth and Operational Capability

As your portfolio expands, you need technology capable of scaling with it. A robust platform provides reliable OTA synchronisation, automated payments, structured housekeeping workflows, accurate reporting, owner transparency, and rate automation that adjusts to demand without constant oversight. Without these components, operational stability can quickly become vulnerable.

Long-Term Growth and Scalability

Your software should continue to perform efficiently as your inventory expands or as you oversee multiple locations. The right system accommodates growth without necessitating a complete overhaul of your tools or processes.

Hostfully vs iGMS: Head-to-Head Comparison

Choose Hostfully if:

You want a medium-sized, growth-friendly PMS that balances automation, flexibility, and ease of use. The Starter plan is suitable for hosts managing 1-4 listings who want essential tools like messaging automation and direct-booking support, while the Pro and Enterprise plans are designed for growing property managers seeking centralised calendars and streamlined workflows without the complexity of enterprise-level platforms.

Choose iGMS if:

You run a small short-term rental business and want direct integrations with major booking platforms, while valuing automation and affordability over enterprise-level tools.

Hostfully offers small- to mid-sized property managers the automation, direct-booking tools, and channel management they need, providing essential functionality without the complexity of enterprise-level systems.

iGMS is designed for small short-term rental businesses seeking basic tools to simplify daily operations. It’s ideal for hosts who need straightforward automation for routine tasks, reservation management, and guest communication, without the need for advanced features or extensive customisation.

Features

Free plan

All-in-one platform

Direct booking website

Automation & reliability

OTA integrations (Airbnb etc.)

Scalability

(limited for large portfolios)

Reporting

See Why Smart Property Managers Choose Zeevou Over Hostfully and iGMS

Hostfully: Mid-Sized, Growth-Friendly PMS

Hostfully offers a property management platform designed for growing hosts who need automation, streamlined operations, and strong guest experience tools without enterprise-level complexity.

It’s well-suited for mid-sized portfolios, providing messaging automation, digital guidebooks, and direct-booking support, but may be less ideal for large property management companies seeking advanced analytics, full-scale revenue management, or highly customised workflows.

Their main features are:

Customisable direct-booking website with integrated booking engine, custom domains, and SEO tools.
Channel manager synchronising listings, rates, availability, and reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and 50+ other channels.
Unified inbox, central calendar, mobile app, payment collection via Stripe or PayPal, owner portal, reporting features, and guest CRM.
Automated guest messaging, digital guidebooks, pre-arrival forms, rental agreements, and task management.
Broad third-party integrations, multi-property management, and operational efficiency tools.

Pros:

Cons:

Hostfully Setup

Hostfully does not offer a free plan for its full property management platform, though users can request a free demo to explore its features before committing. The onboarding process is guided, with new users assigned an onboarding specialist and access to live 1:1 calls, on-demand tutorials, and checklist.

Additional resources include 24/7 in-product chat, email support, and a user community to ensure a smooth transition and efficient management from day one.

Hostfully Pricing Tiers

Hostfully offers three pricing tiers based on the size of your property portfolio with ~10% discount for annual billing.

Starter Plan: 1–4 listings
Pro Plan: up to 5-199 listings
Enterprise Plan: 200+ listings
One-time setup / implementation fee: £315 (waived if you pay annually)

Reviews

4.4

Capterra

4.4

Trustpilot

4.7

4.6

Capterra

4.6

Trustpilot

4.5

Reviews

Review Platforms

Capterra

Trustpilot

iGMS: Easy Automation for Small to Mid-Scale Hosts

iGMS presents itself as an easy-to-use, plug-and-play tool designed for hosts with small to mid-sized portfolios (around 3–10 listings). Its main advantages are solid multi-channel automation for Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com – especially automated guest messaging and organising team tasks – all managed through a clean and straightforward dashboard.

Their main features are:

Supports direct bookings, though with more limited functionality than other platforms.
Prioritises operational tools over website customisation.
Offers a unified calendar for Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.
Multi-channel integration designed for high-volume Airbnb hosting.
Automated guest messaging with customisable templates.
Team task scheduling and coordinated operations.

Pros:

Cons:

iGMS Setup

iGMS provides a 14-day free trial. New users can connect listings, set up automated messaging templates, payments, and team tasks in a 30–60 minute onboarding session, including free direct-booking website setup.

For additional help, an optional £150 Expert Onboarding package provides personalised support.

iGMS Pricing Tiers

iGMS offers three pricing plans with both monthly and annual subscription options. Pricing depends on the number of properties managed, with higher-tier plans offering more advanced features.

Basic per-property model starts from £14/month.
PRO plan is currently £14/unit/month (discounted for new users).
PRO+ plan costs £16/unit/month and includes advanced features
Growing managers can upgrade to PRO+ for expanded functionality at £16/unit.

The Trade-Off Dilemma

Hostfully provides robust automation and guest-experience tools, though some users find its reporting, channel integrations — particularly with Booking.com — and payment workflows less comprehensive than those of enterprise-level systems.

iGMS is suited for small to mid-sized rental portfolios but has certain limitations. It supports real-time syncing only with Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, and its daily cleaning automation and reporting tools are basic. For larger portfolios or hosts requiring advanced operational and financial features, iGMS may lack the necessary depth, scalability, and automation.

Hosts seeking a combination of these strengths often turn to integrated platforms like Zeevou, which offer advanced automation, extensive channel connections, and strong direct-booking capabilities.

Zeevou: Setup and Pricing Overview

Zeevou makes it easy to get started with a free plan and a structured, portfolio-friendly pricing model. You can sign up instantly, explore the system, and upgrade only when you’re ready.

Spark (Free): Core PMS features, a direct-booking website, automated workflows, guest messaging, and basic payments.
Glow (~£14/unit): Adds a channel manager, unified inbox, mobile app, and more integrations.
Blaze (~£26/unit): Includes dynamic pricing, automated owner reporting, housekeeping & maintenance workflows.
Dazzle (~£42/unit): Adds AI-powered 24/7 guest messaging and advanced automation tools.

All paid plans offer up to 80% savings on annual subscriptions, include a 30-day money-back guarantee, and support custom pricing or bulk discounts for larger portfolios. (Some plans apply a 10% fee on Google Vacation Rentals.)

Zeevou’s onboarding is designed to support you at every stage – from live Q&A and 24/7 chat support to a dedicated Customer Success Manager on higher-tier plans to help with workflow setup, channel connections, and system optimisation.

Which Platform Matches Your Business Model?

The right choice depends on your portfolio size, budget, team expertise, and growth plans.

Mid-sized, automation-focused teams:

Hostfully suits managers who want a flexible, user-friendly PMS with solid automation, direct-booking tools, and strong guest-experience features.

Small-scale, automation-friendly hosts:

iGMS is ideal for hosts with a handful of properties who need straightforward multi-channel management, basic automation, and easy-to-use guest communication and team-task tools.

Growing or mid-sized businesses:

If you manage 10–200 properties, Zeevou offers a more scalable and cost-effective solution, designed to help you grow efficiently without the complexity or high costs of enterprise tools.

Zeevou Sells "Financial Independence", Not Just " Automation”.

Hostfully vs iGMS: Final Verdict

Hostfully is best suited for mid-sized or growing teams seeking strong automation, digital guidebooks, and direct-booking support without the complexity of enterprise-level systems. It provides a flexible, growth-friendly PMS but may not offer the operational depth needed for very large portfolios.

iGMS is ideal for small rental businesses looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use solution that covers the essentials. It works well when simplicity, affordability, and basic automation are more important than advanced features, complex financial workflows, or large-scale operations.

For rapidly expanding businesses seeking a cost-effective, all-in-one platform, Zeevou is a strong option. It delivers automation, direct booking tools, and transparent pricing without the steep learning curve or high costs associated with enterprise systems.

The information presented in this comparison is based on publicly available data and our independent analysis as of July 2025. Features, pricing, and capabilities may change without notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iGMS a good investment?

iGMS is well-suited for small to medium-sized short-term rental businesses (around 3-10 properties). It saves time with automated guest messaging, multi-channel syncing, and team task management. However, for larger portfolios or hosts needing advanced reporting, financial tools, or full scalability, it may become limiting over time.

Is Hostfully Worth It?

Hostfully is a solid choice for small- to medium-sized property managers seeking a user-friendly platform with automated workflows, OTA integrations, owner portals, and a direct-booking website. It helps streamline operations efficiently, though some reporting and channel connections can be limited.

Is iGMS good for large portfolios?

iGMS works well for small to medium portfolios, or as a lightweight solution when you’re just starting or managing a modest number of properties. But for large portfolios — especially with many units, staff, owners or complex operations — iGMS is likely to feel limiting.

Does Hostfully automate guest communication?

Yes — Hostfully automates guest communication through message templates, scheduled triggers, and a unified inbox that centralises conversations from all channels. It also includes AI-assisted responses through InboxAI, helping managers automate confirmations, check-in details, reminders, and other routine guest messages.

Can I use iGMS for direct bookings?

Yes – iGMS supports direct bookings. You can create a direct-booking website or widget, sync reservations with your calendar, automate guest messaging, and manage payments.

What makes Zeevou different from Hostfully and iGMS?

Zeevou stands out by combining strong automation, a robust direct-booking engine, and full operational tools in one unified platform. While Hostfully focuses on website building and multi-channel management, and iGMS excels in guest messaging and automation of small portfolios, Zeevou offers an end-to-end system that includes channel management, dynamic pricing, housekeeping and maintenance workflows, owner reporting, and even AI guest messaging on higher tiers. This makes it a more comprehensive, scale-ready option for property managers who want everything integrated without relying on multiple add-ons or external tools.

Does Zeevou offer a free plan or trial?

Yes – Zeevou provides a free plan called Spark, giving access to core PMS functions, a direct-booking website, basic automation, guest messaging, and payment processing. As your portfolio expands or you require more advanced tools — such as full channel management, dynamic pricing, automated owner reporting, and AI-powered guest messaging – you can move up to paid plans like Glow, Blaze, or Dazzle. All plans feature transparent pricing with no hidden fees or commissions, ensuring predictable costs as you grow.

How does migration from a PMS to Zeeovu work?

The Zeevou team provides free onboarding support, ensuring a smooth transition without downtime.