Zeevou vs Smoobu:
Which Is Best for Holiday Property Managers?
Selecting a property management system shouldn’t be a guessing game. As your portfolio expands, the gaps between platforms become more noticeable — limited automation, simple reporting, extra manual tasks, and rising costs from tools that don’t scale effectively.
To help you make an informed choice, this guide compares Zeevou and Smoobu in real-world use, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and which platform provides a stronger foundation for long-term efficiency and control.
What Is Holiday Rental Management Software?
Holiday rental management software centralises the key functions of running short-term rentals or property management businesses, including bookings, guest communication, payments, channel distribution, operations, and reporting.
Top platforms don’t just store reservations — they streamline workflows from start to finish, ensure accurate syncing across channels, reduce repetitive tasks, and provide a dependable foundation that supports growth without adding extra work.
How to Choose Holiday Rental Software for Your Business
Automation vs Website Focus
Start by identifying whether a platform is primarily a website builder or an operational engine. Some systems emphasise creating attractive websites but offer limited PMS functionality, while others are designed around automation and reliable workflows. Many property managers prefer solutions that combine strong operational automation with robust website capabilities, so they can manage everything in a single system.
Pricing Model and Real Cost of Scale
Look beyond the monthly subscription. Booking fees, add-on bundles, and enterprise-style charges can quickly add up if the platform doesn’t significantly reduce manual work. The key question is whether the system genuinely saves time or quietly creates extra tasks.
Feature Depth and Operational Capability
As your portfolio grows, your software must keep pace. A strong platform offers accurate OTA syncing, automated payments, structured housekeeping workflows, precise reporting, owner transparency, and rate automation that adapts to demand — all without constant oversight. Without these features, operational stability can become fragile.
Long-Term Growth and Scalability
Choose software that continues to perform as your inventory expands or you manage multiple locations. The right system supports growth seamlessly, without requiring a complete restructuring of your tools or processes.
Zeevou vs Smoobu: Head-to-Head Comparison
Choose Smoobu if:
You are a small short-term rental host who values simplicity, wide channel connectivity, and cost-effectiveness over complex enterprise-level features.
Choose Zeevou if:
You want an all-in-one solution to manage short-term rentals, serviced apartments, or vacation rentals. It’s ideal if you’re looking to automate bookings, guest communication, payments, and owner reporting, while enjoying a commission-free direct booking website. With powerful tools for operations, marketing, and multi-unit management, Zeevou helps you streamline daily tasks and scale your business efficiently.
Zeevou is a comprehensive, automation-focused platform tailored for mid-sized short-term and vacation rental operators looking to grow. By integrating a full PMS, real-time channel management, and a direct-booking website, Zeevou helps managers increase direct bookings, reduce dependency on OTAs, and streamline daily operations.
Smoobu is designed for small hosts and short-term rental businesses that prioritise simplicity, dependable channel management, essential automation tools, and affordable pricing. It’s a great fit for owners who want an easy, straightforward system without the heavy, complex features that larger enterprise platforms require.
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 Smoobu
Zeevou: All-In-One PMS for Multiple Brand Management
Zeevou is an all-in-one, automation-focused platform built for vacation rental operators and property managers aiming to scale. By centralising operations, minimising dependency on OTAs, and offering tools to optimise revenue, Zeevou enables managers to run multi-property portfolios efficiently and expand their business with confidence.
Their main features are:
- Designed for property managers who need robust automation and reliable operations in a single, scalable platform.
- End-to-end automation for booking confirmations, payments, security deposits, and guest verification, reducing manual work.
- Integrated direct-booking engine and SEO-friendly website builder.
- Full control over branding, custom rates, promo codes, and upsells.
- Optimised to increase direct bookings and overall revenue.
Pros:
- Secure payment and deposit handling with 3-D Secure flows.
- Automated tools to maximise occupancy, including monetising short gaps and orphan nights.
- Detailed revenue controls with Stop-Sell options and rate rules based on lead time, occupancy, and stay length.
- Operational workflows managed via a housekeeping app that auto-assigns tasks, tracks progress, and logs issues in real time.
- Owner portal and automated reporting for full financial transparency.
- Advanced payment workflows covering deposits, charges, and refunds beyond standard Stripe setups.
Cons:
- New users may need time to set up and learn the platform due to its extensive features, though support is available.
- As an all-in-one solution, it offers fewer third-party integrations than larger platforms like Guesty.
Zeevou Setup
Zeevou allows free sign-up so you can explore the platform before choosing a paid plan. When ready, you can pick from several plans tailored to different operational needs and automation levels.
Onboarding support includes live Q&A sessions, 24/7 chat for daily issues, and, on higher-tier plans, a dedicated Customer Success Manager to help configure workflows, connect channels, and maximise system benefits.
Zeevou Pricing Tiers
Zeevou offers one free plan and three paid tiers, with annual subscriptions saving up to 80%. All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee:
- Spark (Free): Core PMS, direct-booking website, automation, guest messaging, basic payments.
- Glow (~£14/unit): Adds channel manager, unified inbox, mobile app, and more integrations.
- Blaze (~£26/unit): Includes dynamic pricing, automated owner reporting, full operations (housekeeping, maintenance).
- Dazzle (~£42/unit): AI-powered 24/7 guest messaging and advanced automation.
- Custom pricing and bulk discounts are available for large portfolios.
- Some plans may include a 10% fee for Google Vacation Rentals.
Smoobu: A Simple, Affordable PMS
Smoobu is a unified vacation-rental platform combining a PMS, real-time channel manager, automated guest messaging, a booking engine, and a website builder into a single system.
Their main features are:
- Direct-booking website builder with customisable templates.
- Multi-calendar for centralised scheduling.
- Unified inbox for streamlined guest communication.
- Mobile app for management on the go.
- Invoice generation and financial reporting.
Pros:
- Affordable for small to mid-sized hosts.
- Supports multiple users and integrates with other tools.
- Simplifies operations with an intuitive dashboard.
- Multilingual support.
- May not scale well for larger portfolios or enterprise operations.
- Reporting and analytics are limited.
- Occasional calendar sync delays.
- Costs increase per property as the portfolio grows.
- Limited built-in accounting features.
- Some learning curve when setting up pricing and rules.
Smoobu Setup
Smoobu offers a 14-day free trial along with free setup and onboarding.
Personalised support guides users step-by-step through listing imports, channel syncing, and website setup as needed.
Smoobu Pricing Tiers
Smoobu has three main plans, with 10–20% discounts on annual and two-year subscriptions, plus a 14-day free trial:
- Professional Flex: ~£21.60/month for the first unit + 0.9% commission.
- Professional Pre-paid: ~£27/month for the first unit, no commission.
- Teams Pro+: ~£41.40/month for the first unit, with additional team features.
- Optional add-ons, such as write-access accounts, e-invoicing, and dynamic pricing, range from ~£5–£12/month.
Where Does Smoobu Fall Short?
Smoobu delivers a simple all-in-one platform that includes a PMS, channel manager, and direct-booking website, making it a strong fit for small hosts who want an easy system. However, its simplicity also means it lacks some advanced reporting, deeper integrations, and enterprise-level tools that larger or fast-growing portfolios might need.
Zeevou offers a more automation-driven, comprehensive platform with built-in operations, cleaner workflows, and fixed pricing. By centralising housekeeping, tasks, messaging, and payments, it provides the scalability and structure that growing portfolios require.
Which Platform Matches Your Business Model?
The right choice depends on your portfolio size, budget, team expertise, and growth plans.
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.
Small to mid-sized hosts:
If you run 1–20 properties, Smoobu is a practical and budget-friendly option. Its simple interface, essential automation, and straightforward channel management make it ideal for hosts who want an easy setup without advanced operational tools.
Zeevou Sells "Financial Independence", Not Just " Automation”.
Zeevou vs Smoobu : Final Verdict
If your business is rapidly growing and you’re looking for an all-in-one alternative, Zeevou is worth considering. Its richer feature set – including automated workflows, owner portal, dynamic rate controls, and full operational oversight – positions Zeevou as a forward‑looking tool for growing or mid‑sized rental businesses.
For individual hosts or small-scale property managers, Smoobu remains a competitive option. Smoobu is renowned for its simplicity, intuitive user interface, and value for money. It offers a highly reliable channel manager for real-time calendar and rate synchronisation across up to 100 platforms.
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.
