Hostaway vs Guesty:
Which Is Best for Vacation Property Managers?
Hostaway vs Guesty: Overview
Choose Guesty if:
You’re looking for a powerful, scalable solution tailored to your business size. Guesty Lite is ideal for hosts managing up to three listings who require essential automation, while the full Guesty platform is designed for professional property management companies seeking advanced tools to manage larger and more complex portfolios efficiently.
Choose Hostaway if:
You manage a medium to large rental business and want to automate your operations efficiently. It’s a strong option for scaling your portfolio, with seamless Airbnb integration and robust management features. However, its limited connectivity with some other channels may restrict your market reach.
Hostaway vs Guesty:
Head-to-Head Comparison
Hostaway vs Guesty: Head-to-Head Comparison
See Why Smart Property Managers Choose Zeevou Over Hostaway and Guesty
Hostaway vs Guesty:
A Quick Feature Breakdown
Hostaway vs Guesty: A Quick Feature Breakdown
Guest Communication and AI
Direct Booking
Support
Integrations
Brand Management
Operations
Automation
Reporting
Hostaway: Enterprise Channel Management
Hostaway position themselves as an all-in-one vacation rental software solution and are one of the most well known solutions in the space. However, it’s not suitable for everyone – they focus on enterprise-grade scalability for large portfolios & comprehensive marketplace integrations with 100+ partners and there are some concerns with expensive pricing structures and slow customer support response times.
Their main features are:
- Direct-booking website builder (customisable templates, integrated booking engine, optional WordPress plugin or custom domain).
- Channel manager that syncs calendars, rates, reservations, and listings across major OTAs like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, and more.
- PMS operations: unified inbox, multi-calendar, mobile app, real-time notifications, reservations/booking management, analytics & reporting, payment processing.
- Automation & AI: automated messaging (including AI-assisted messaging responses), guest reviews, tasks, dynamic pricing, recurring charges, owner statements.
- Smart locks integration for automated guest access code generation and centralised lock control.
Pros:
- Rapid launch of a direct-booking site with integrated engine and support (templates, WordPress plugin, plus onboarding).
- Reliable real-time channel sync prevents double bookings and saves manual effort. (Users consistently praise calendar syncing, unified messaging, and automation efficiency.)
Cons:
- Some users report limited flexibility with website templates and guest portal customisation.
- Onboarding and support have mixed reviews—some rave about responsiveness, others cite a steep learning curve or inconsistent support quality.
Hostaway Setup
- claims to have best customer support for vacation rentals property managers with a 97%+ customer satisfaction rate.
- Reviews highlight complex onboarding with some struggling with technical issues.
- No free trial but guided onboarding provided when you sign up.
Hostaway Pricing Tiers
- Custom pricing model with monthly/annual rates based on business size rather than fixed tiers.
- HotelMinder indicates that monthly fees typically start at £30 per listing and can go as low as £15), with setup fees ranging £75-375.
- Core features included (channel manager, PMS, communications), but add-ons like smart locks and dynamic pricing have additional costs.
Hostaway Reviews
- Users like Hostaway’s easy-to-use platform, all-in-one features, and helpful support that simplify rental management. However, some report difficulty reaching support staff, noting no direct contact number and slow responses in emergencies.
Guesty: All-in-One Property Management Platform
Guesty positions itself as an all-in-one vacation rental software solution and are also one of the most well-known solutions in the space.
But they’re not for everyone – they focus on professional property managers with large portfolios & comprehensive enterprise-grade features and multi-unit management and some user reviews have concerns with high pricing and lack of cost transparency.
Their main features are:
- Direct-booking website builder (customisable templates, integrated booking engine, custom domains, and SEO tools).
- Channel manager that synchronises listings, rates, availability, and reservations across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, and more.
- PMS operations: unified inbox, multi-calendar, mobile app, payment collection (via GuestyPay), owner statements, guest CRM, and accounting features (including Guesty Trust Accounting).
- Automation and AI: automated guest messaging, task management, owner communications, review management, and Guesty PriceOptimiser for dynamic pricing.
- Additional solutions: damage protection (Guesty Shield), revenue management, guest screening, API integrations, and financing options (Guesty Capital).
Pros:
- Comprehensive, enterprise-level feature set: built-in trust accounting, payments, and owner management tools.
- Strong automation suite and integrations help streamline operations for complex portfolios.
Cons:
- Higher pricing compared to many competitors; often considered premium.
- Occasional support delays and learning curve cited in reviews.
Guesty Setup
- Guesty has no free trial for Pro and Enterprise packages.
- Reviews mainly highlight a positive onboarding experience and good customer service, although the AI support has been referred to as frustrating.
Guesty Pricing Tiers
- Lite plan: £12-20/month per listing for 1-3 listings, but during our research, limited time offers have been seen for cheaper.
- Both Pro (4-199 listings) and Enterprise (200+ listings): Custom pricing requiring direct consultation.
- Additional fees: 3-5% per reservation, cancellation charges, and separate costs for premium add-ons.
Guesty Reviews
- Most reviews cite comprehensive features and strong automation. There are also some concerns about the learning curve for smaller operators as well as Guesty having complex pricing.
Where Do Hostaway and Guesty Fall Short?
Both excel at enterprise-level features but can overwhelm smaller operations or mid-size companies. For growing property managers wanting powerful functionality without enterprise complexity, platforms like Zeevou bridge this gap effectively.
Zeevou offers transparent tiered pricing (Spark, Glow, Blaze, Dazzle) starting with a free plan to suit your needs better and it doesn’t charge commissions on bookings.
Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?
The right choice depends on your portfolio size, budget, team expertise, and growth plans.
Enterprise-level operators:
Platforms like Hostaway and Guesty are powerful options for established property managers handling large portfolios, offering advanced automation and integrations
Growing or mid-sized businesses:
If you manage 5–200 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.”
Hostaway vs Guesty: Final Verdict
Hostaway stands out for its strong automation tools, channel integrations, and reliable customer support, making it ideal for experienced property managers who prioritise efficiency and scalability.
Guesty excels with its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly dashboard, and robust integrations, especially suited for large or enterprise-level operations that need advanced functionality and dedicated account management.
However, if your business is smaller or rapidly growing (5–200 properties) and you’re looking for a more affordable, all-in-one alternative, Zeevou is worth considering. It offers automation, direct booking tools, and transparent pricing – without the steep learning curve or high enterprise costs.
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.
