Hostaway vs Lodgify: Which Is Best for Vacation Property Managers?
Choosing a property management system shouldn’t be a matter of guesswork. As your portfolio grows, the differences between platforms become increasingly apparent—from limited automation and basic reporting to additional manual work and rising costs from systems that can’t keep up with your expansion.
Hostaway and Lodgify present themselves as “all-in-one” solutions — but they’re built for fundamentally different types of businesses.
This guide evaluates how each platform handles daily operations, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and determining which provides the most dependable foundation for long-term efficiency and control.
What Is Holiday Rental Management Software?
Holiday rental management software centralises the core functions required to operate short-term rentals and property management businesses, including bookings, guest communication, payments, channel distribution, operations, and reporting.
The top platforms go beyond simply managing reservations. They streamline complete workflows, ensure precise synchronization, remove repetitive tasks, and offer a dependable operational framework that supports business growth without adding extra workload.
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 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.
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.
Hostaway vs Lodgify: Head-to-Head Comparison
Choose Lodgify if:
You want a brandable direct-booking site out of the box and a classic all-in-one stack (website + channel manager + PMS) with modern add-ons like Smart Locks. It’s a great choice for hosts focused mainly on Airbnb, though its limited integration with other channels may reduce your overall visibility and reach.
Choose Hostaway if:
You manage a medium-to-large rental business and want to automate operations efficiently. It offers robust management features and seamless integration with major OTAs like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, making it a strong option for scaling your portfolio. However, some channels may require manual setup, and not all features sync fully, which can limit market reach without occasional oversight.
Hostaway is tailored for medium-to-large rental businesses, providing powerful automation, OTA integrations, centralized management, and advanced operational features — making it ideal for efficiently scaling large portfolios.
Lodgify positions itself as a solution for vacation rental businesses of all sizes, whether managing a single property or a portfolio exceeding 30 units. Its platform supports multiple interface languages and includes a built-in website builder, making it particularly appealing to hosts seeking robust direct-booking capabilities.
Features
Free plan
All-in-one platform
Direct booking website
Automation & reliability
OTA integrations (Airbnb etc.)
Scalability
Reporting
See Why Smart Property Managers Choose Zeevou Over Hostaway and Lodgify
Hostaway: Comprehensive Property Management & Channel Management Platform
Hostaway is a full-featured property management system that helps hosts and managers automate operations, sync listings across OTAs, manage bookings, and build direct-booking websites. Its all-in-one approach suits growing portfolios, though it may be more than needed for single-property hosts.
Their main features are:
- Direct‑booking website builder: Hostaway lets you create a direct‑booking website, with integrated booking engine and no coding required.
- Channel manager: synchronises calendars, rates and reservations across major OTAs.
- PMS tools: unified inbox for guest communication, multi‑calendar and reservations manager, payment processing, mobile app, task/cleaning workflows.
- Automation & AI: automated guest messaging, review automation, automated tasks (cleaning/maintenance), automated payments, reports and analytics.
- Smart‑locks add‑on: Hostaway offers a “Smartlocks” feature through its operations tools so you can manage access codes and lock control centrally.
Pros:
- Easy to launch a direct‑booking website and booking engine without coding. (Website builder + direct booking)
- Comprehensive onboarding and support for those managing multiple properties — many users consider the support and unified setup helpful when scaling.
- Solid calendar/listing synchronisation and channel‑manager reliability to avoid double bookings across OTAs.
- A full‑feature PMS and channel manager can be more complex — perhaps more than needed for hosts with just one property or small portfolios.
- Pricing and onboarding costs may be less transparent — the official pricing page notes that rates depend on number of listings and business size; add‑ons (e.g. smart locks, dynamic pricing) may come extra.
- As a more comprehensive, professional‑grade tool, there is a learning curve compared to simpler, more minimalistic platforms.
Hostaway Setup
Hostaway does not offer a free trial.
Onboarding typically begins with a demo or an initial call to configure the account and set up listings. The billing cycle (subscription) normally starts on the day of the first onboarding call.
Hostaway Pricing Tiers
Hostaway uses customised pricing. Cost depends on the number of listings/properties and features – there’s no fixed “one‑size‑fits‑all” plan.
- Typical per‑listing fees range between £9 and £44 depending on portfolio size.
- On average, many customers report paying roughly £31 per listing.
- The base price includes core platform features: PMS, channel manager, guest communications, direct‑booking website builder, analytics/reporting.
- Optional add‑ons (e.g. smart locks, dynamic pricing, additional services) may incur separate charges.
Reviews
G2
4.7
Capterra
4.8
Trustpilot
4.5
G2
4
Capterra
4.5
Trustpilot
4.8
Reviews
Review Platforms
G2
Capterra
Trustpilot
Lodgify: Website-First Property Management Platform
Lodgify is designed to support independent hosts and property managers by enabling direct bookings and multi-channel management. But they’re not for everyone – they focus on website building and direct booking optimisation and comprehensive channel management across major OTAs and there are some concerns with subscription cancellation difficulties and inconsistent customer service responsiveness.
Their main features are:
- Direct-booking website builder with ready-made templates, an integrated booking engine, and support for custom domains.
- Channel manager that synchronizes calendars, rates, and reservations across major OTAs.
- PMS tools, such as a unified inbox, multi-calendar, payment processing, and a mobile app for on-the-go management.
- Automation and AI, including saved replies, AI-driven guest messaging, task and cleaning workflows, and reporting tools.
- Smart Locks add-on, offering automated code generation and a centralized dashboard for managing all locks.
Pros:
- Easy website creation.
- Responsive onboarding team
- Solid calendar synchronisation to avoid double bookings.
- Occasional critiques around template/website flexibility or learning curve.
- Scattered complaints about onboarding depth.
- Slow in resolving complex technical issues.
Lodgify Setup
Lodgify provides a 7-day free trial with no credit card needed.
New users are offered a personalised onboarding session that guides them through listing imports, calendar synchronisation, and setting up a direct booking website.
Onboarding is optional and accessible in several languages.
Lodgify Pricing Tiers
Lodgify offers three pricing plans, and pricing increases as you add more properties. Annual and multi-year plans provide 20–25% discounts.
- Starter plan from £12/month (annual billing) with 1.9% booking fee.
- Professional (£29/month) and Ultimate (£45/mo) plans eliminate booking fees and add advanced features.
The Trade-Off Dilemma
Hostaway excels at creating visually appealing direct-booking websites and managing multiple booking channels, though its automation features — such as messaging workflows and task management — can feel less developed.
Lodgify also shines in building attractive direct-booking websites, but automation capabilities often take a back seat.
Hosts seeking the best of both worlds often turn to integrated platforms like Zeevou, which combine advanced automation with robust direct-booking functionality.
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.
Medium-to-large rental business : Hostaway suits hosts who want a strong direct-booking website and multi-channel management. Its robust booking engine and channel integrations make operations smoother, though some users report that automation features, like guest messaging and workflow tasks, feel secondary.
Small- to medium-sized businesses: Lodgify suits hosts who want an all-in-one system to manage bookings, build their own website, and sync listings across platforms. Its intuitive interface and integrated channel manager make operations smoother, though some users note limited website customisation and occasional channel-sync issues.
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”.
Hostaway vs Lodgify: Final Verdict
Hostaway stands out for property managers and multi-listing hosts who need a unified ecosystem for both direct bookings and comprehensive channel distribution. Its advanced website creation tools, combined with robust integrations across major booking platforms, make it particularly effective for operators seeking to strengthen their direct brand presence while maintaining broad OTA visibility.
Lodgify is well-suited for hosts and managers who prioritise simplicity and consistency in managing direct reservations alongside external channels. Its intuitive website builder and dependable connectivity with multiple booking platforms provide a solid foundation for operators focused on establishing or scaling their direct-booking identity without relying solely on OTAs.
For rapidly expanding businesses seeking a more cost-effective, all-in-one solution, Zeevou is a compelling option. It provides automation, direct booking tools, and transparent pricing without the steep learning curve or high costs associated with enterprise-level 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.
