Hostaway : Is the channel manager worth it in 2025? Our opinion

18 December 2025
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Hostaway has established itself in recent years as one of the most cited names by hosts of vacation rentals. An all-in-one tool, it combines a channel manager and management software to support both independent owners and concierge services that manage dozens of properties. But behind the marketing promises, what is Hostaway really worth in 2025?

Overview of Hostaway

Founded in 2015, the company quickly rose to become one of the strategic partners of Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. Its specialty? Centralizing in a single interface the management of listings, reservations, calendars and payments.

Hostaway is not just a simple channel manager. It is a true PMS (Property Management System), with built-in modules for CRM, financial reporting, task automation, and even a booking engine.

Who is Hostaway for?

The software targets a wide range of users, but its DNA remains oriented toward professional managers of short-term rentals.

  • Individual property owners who want to automate their listings on multiple OTAs.
  • Concierge services managing dozens of properties spread across different platforms.
  • Agencies specializing in vacation rental management seeking a single tool.
  • Real estate investors who want to track the performance of their portfolio.

Key features of Hostaway

Advanced Channel Manager

The channel manager is the cornerstone of Hostaway. The tool allows you to manage the distribution of your listings on the main booking platforms: Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Google Vacation Rentals, but also dozens of secondary OTAs. Synchronization happens in real time: if a traveler books a night on Airbnb, availability instantly disappears from your other channels. Result? No more risk of double bookings, that nightmare that costs hosts and agencies alike.

Système du moteur de réservation hostaway

What sets Hostaway apart is the depth of the integration. As an official partner Preferred+ of Airbnb, Elite at Vrbo and Premier at Booking.com, the software benefits from direct and robust API connections. In practical terms, this means more reliable updates, better visibility on platforms, and access to specific features (such as promotions management or tiered pricing).

PMS and Reservation Management

Behind the façade of the leading reservation centralization platform, Hostaway hides a true Property Management System (PMS). The central dashboard provides a complete view of each reservation: from the first click on the listing to the traveler’s departure.

Calendrier de réservation multi canal de hostaway

Hosts have an integrated CRM to track prospects and keep a record of exchanges. Occupancy, revenue and performance reports help run the business as a hotellerie would for a traditional property. Multi-property managers also appreciate the owner reporting features, which enable sending detailed and transparent statements to each investor.

Unified Communications

Travelers do not always contact via the same channel. Some ask questions through Airbnb, others via Booking, and some prefer WhatsApp or a simple SMS. With Hostaway, everything arrives in one place: a centralized inbox.

Automatisation des messages sur hostaway

This communications hub saves valuable time: no need to open multiple apps. Teams can respond directly from Hostaway, assign a conversation to a specific member, track the message history, and even automate certain responses. For concierge services that manage dozens of apartments, it’s a way to streamline client relationships and reduce the risk of missing messages.

Automations

Automation is one of the most cited strengths by users. The software lets you create tailor-made scenarios:

  • Sending a welcome message as soon as the reservation is confirmed.
  • Automatic follow-up to obtain a review after the stay.
  • Generating tasks for the cleaning team at each departure.
  • Payment reminders sent automatically without human intervention.

These automations are not limited to travelers: they also affect internal operations. For example, Hostaway can create alerts to signal an imminent check-in or schedule the assignment of connected keys. Result: less stress, more consistency.

Payments and Invoicing

Financial management often wastes a lot of time for property managers. Hostaway simplifies this area thanks to its integrated payments module. Compatible with Stripe, Braintree and Authorize.net, it allows you to collect payments directly from the booking engine or via payment links.

The software also offers an automated invoicing system and financial reporting. Property owners receive detailed statements, including gross revenue, platform fees, taxes and commissions. For a concierge, this transparency is a strong selling point with investors.

Marketing Tools

Relying solely on OTAs means giving up a commission on every booking. Hostaway offers an alternative: a direct booking site. The tool includes a secure, customizable payment engine and can be linked to your own domain.

For those already using a site on WordPress or Wix, Hostaway provides widges allowing you to easily add a search engine and a booking calendar. This can encourage travelers to book directly and strengthen your agency’s brand.

Third-Party Integrations

A good software is never isolated. Hostaway has understood this well by developing a marketplace of more than 100 integrations. Among the most popular:

  • PriceLabs or Wheelhouse for dynamic pricing.
  • Breezeway and Turno for cleaning teams management.
  • Minut for noise sensors and security.
  • Zapier to connect Hostaway to hundreds of other apps.

This richness allows building a tailor-made ecosystem, without giving up the tools preferred by hosts and managers.

Mobile App and API

Mobility is essential in the sector. The Hostaway mobile app lets you manage everything from a smartphone: reservations, messages, tasks, payments. Ideal for on-site concierge services.

For more technical organizations, Hostaway also offers an open API. It enables connecting the software to in-house tools or more complex management systems. It’s a real asset for companies looking to go beyond the standard framework.

AI and Revenue Management

Last pillar: artificial intelligence and revenue management. Hostaway has integrated modules capable of automatically optimizing listing quality, messaging, and task assignment.

But it’s especially in revenue management that AI makes its impact. Thanks to dynamic pricing, the software adjusts rates based on demand, local events and reservation history. Hostaway thus claims an average revenue increase of 20% for its users.

Système de création d'annonce sur Hostaway

Hostaway Pricing

Monthly subscription

Monthly billing with access to all main features. Price on request, generally starting from $100/month depending on portfolio size.

Annual subscription

Same principle, but with a one-year commitment. Benefit: a reduced rate compared to monthly payments.

Setup fees

A fixed cost may be added at startup (between $100 and $500 depending on the case), covering onboarding and technical setup.

Fees on booking engine

For direct bookings via the Hostaway site, a commission of 1.8% is applied (including Stripe fees in the United States).

PlanBillingIncludedNotes
MonthlyFrom $100/monthChannel manager + full PMSMore flexible, but more expensive in the long run
AnnualOn quoteSame as monthlyPossible discount in exchange for commitment
Setup (one-off)100–500 $Training + integrationDepends on number of properties and complexity
Direct bookings1.8% per bookingPayment via Stripe/HostawayApplied only to the booking engine

What do Hostaway users think?

On Trustpilot, Hostaway shows an overall rating around 4.6/5 from nearly a thousand reviews. Users often praise the quality of customer support and the responsiveness of onboarding. Several concierge services also highlight the stability of the channel manager, particularly with Airbnb and Booking.com.

Feedback largely centers on pricing perceived as not transparent and occasional integration bugs. Some users also note a steep learning curve for teams new to the tool.

Advantages and Disadvantages

As with any management software, Hostaway has its strengths… and its blind spots. Some users swear by its automations and deep OTA integrations, while others call out pricing they find opaque. A review of the advantages and limitations reported by the community of hosts and managers.

Advantages

✔️ Official and deep integrations with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com
✔️ Powerful automations (messaging, payments, tasks)
✔️ Customer support praised by the majority of users

Disadvantages

❌ Opaque pricing and additional fees sometimes poorly understood

In summary: our view on Hostaway

Hostaway asserts itself as a must-have player in the market in 2025. Its high-level channel manager, validated by official partnerships with Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo, reassures managers who want to avoid surprises related to double bookings. But the real added value of the software lies in its global ecosystem: PMS, unified communication, automations, direct booking engine, integrations with more than 100 applications… Hostaway goes well beyond a simple synchronization tool.

Of course, not everything is perfect. Its less transparent pricing policy can unsettle new clients, and its overall cost clearly places it in the premium category. Yet, for concierge services and multi-property managers, the investment is largely justified: time savings, professionalization of management, and the potential for increased revenue more than compensate the initial expense.

In short: if you’re looking for a “lightweight” and affordable software, there are simpler alternatives. But if your goal is to structure or scale a vacation rental business, Hostaway is among the strongest and most complete options available today.

Alternatives to Hostaway

Hostaway is a robust solution, but it isn’t the only player on the market. Depending on the profile and needs of the user, other software may prove more suitable.

  • Lodgify : Often presented as the direct competitor of Hostaway, Lodgify stands out for its transparent pricing policy. Unlike Hostaway, prices are clearly displayed on the site, with several plans suitable for independents as well as small agencies. Its strong point lies in its direct booking engine and its integrated website: in a few clicks, a host can create a professional site, connected to a secure payment system. Less feature-rich than Hostaway in terms of complex automations, Lodgify remains a highly popular option for owners who want to keep control without breaking their budget.
  • Guesty : A true industry giant, Guesty targets the large-scale operations: established concierge services, real estate agencies, managers of several hundred properties. Its features go far: advanced financial reporting tools, contract management, customized owner portals, 24/7 support… In return, the price is significantly higher than that of Hostaway or Lodgify. Guesty is clearly aimed at players seeking to industrialize their business and who can absorb a substantial software cost.
  • Smoobu : In contrast to Guesty, Smoobu leans into simplicity. It’s one of the most accessible softwares on the market, both in price and usability. Less feature-rich than Hostaway, it remains more than enough for a solo host or a small property that simply wants to synchronize listings and centralize reservations. Its strength: a clear interface, quick onboarding, and a lower monthly cost. Its limitation: as activity grows, Smoobu can reveal weaknesses in automation and customization.
  • Avantio : Lesser known internationally, Avantio is a well-established player in Europe, notably with agencies specializing in vacation rental. The software offers a complete suite: channel manager, PMS, direct booking engine and marketing services. Its ecosystem is designed for organizations managing a large portfolio of properties, often located in tourist destinations where competition is fierce. Its main advantage: strong knowledge of European specifics and a close relationship with its clients.

How to use Hostaway effectively?

Hostaway is a comprehensive tool. And like any dense software, it can feel a bit intimidating at first. Here is a step-by-step guide to get the most out of the platform and avoid wasting time digging through the menus.

1. Nail onboarding from day one

Onboarding is the foundation of your Hostaway experience. Take the time to :

  • Import all of your properties (photos, descriptions, rules).
  • Immediately connect your Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo accounts and other OTAs you use.
  • Verify proper calendar and price synchronization.

Test a fictitious booking to verify that everything shows up in the dashboard.

2. Configure your automations

That’s where Hostaway saves you valuable time. Even before welcoming your first guests, configure :

  • Automatic messages (booking confirmation, check-in, departure reminder).
  • Review reminders to maximize your ratings.
  • Tasks for the cleaning team automatically triggered at each departure.

Personalize your messages with variables (first name, arrival date) to keep a human tone despite the automation.

3. Leverage key integrations

Hostaway shines with its ecosystem. Go explore the marketplace and connect :

  • A dynamic pricing tool (PriceLabs, Wheelhouse) to optimize your revenue.
  • A cleaning/maintenance software (Breezeway, Turno) to automate your schedules.
  • Noise sensors or connected locks to strengthen security.

Also consider Zapier: it opens the door to hundreds of no-code automations (e.g., sending your bookings to Google Sheets).

4. Train your teams in unified communications

The centralized inbox is one of the major advantages. But it only works if everyone plays along.

  • Show teams how to assign a conversation to a colleague.
  • Use tags to classify messages (e.g., “urgent”, “cleaning”, “check-in”).
  • Set up response templates to avoid copy-pasting.

5. Set up invoicing and payments

Nothing is more unpleasant than payment issues. Make sure your Stripe or Braintree accounts are properly connected and that invoicing rules are defined from the start. Also configure your owner reports so your investors receive their statements automatically every month.

6. Use reporting to run your business

The reports generated by Hostaway aren’t there for decoration. They allow you to :

  • To track occupancy rate and revenue per property.
  • To compare performance across platforms.
  • To identify slow periods to adjust prices or run promotions.

Schedule a fixed moment each week to review your reports, like a real management check-in.

7. Take advantage of dynamic pricing and AI

Hostaway integrates smart features to adjust your rates based on demand and local events. Enable them and test them: you could increase your revenue by 15 to 20% with no extra effort.

8. Use the mobile app on the field

Finally, don’t forget the mobile app. It’s valuable for :

  • Confirm a booking on the go.
  • Track housekeeping or check-ins in real time.
  • Respond instantly to a traveler without having to be at the office.

FAQ about Hostaway

1. How to log in to my Hostaway account?

To access your account, go to the official Hostaway login page, enter the email address and password you set during sign-up. If you forget, a 'Forgot password' feature allows you to reset your access in a few minutes.

2. Can I use Hostaway from my mobile?

Yes. Hostaway offers a mobile app available on iOS and Android. It lets you manage your bookings, communicate with your travelers and monitor your operations without going through a computer.

3. How to cancel my Hostaway subscription?

Cancellation is done directly via support or by contacting your account manager. The terms depend on the type of commitment chosen (monthly or annual). It is therefore advised to check the terms of your contract before proceeding.

4. What to do if I encounter a connection issue?

If you can’t log in, first check your credentials and the stability of your Internet connection. If the problem persists, Hostaway has 24/7 technical support that can reset your access or resolve any blocks.

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