Are you tired of managing your short-term rentals manually? Look no further than the top short-term rental management software. In this article, we’ll explore the 7 best options on the market, providing a detailed comparison of features and pricing to help you make a more informed decision that suits your needs.
What is short-term rental management software?
Short-term rental management software is a type of software designed to help individuals and businesses manage their short-term rental properties, such as vacation homes, rental apartments, and Airbnb listings. This software typically includes features such as reservation management, guest communication tools, housekeeping scheduling, maintenance tracking, pricing optimization, channel management, and reporting tools.
Short-term rental management software aims to streamline the rental process, improve guest satisfaction, and maximize revenue for property owners and managers. It can be used by individuals who rent out their properties as a side business, as well as by property management companies and vacation rental agencies managing multiple properties.
Why use short-term rental management software?
Short-term rental management software can help managers save time, increase revenue, and improve the guest experience while providing valuable insights into the performance of their business.
1. Saves time
Short-term rental management software automates many of the repetitive tasks associated with managing vacation rentals, such as guest communication and payment processing. By streamlining these tasks, managers can save time and focus on growing their business and providing an exceptional guest experience.
2. Increases revenue
Short-term rental management software can help managers optimize pricing, improve occupancy rates, and reduce operational costs. By doing so, managers can increase their revenue and profitability.
3. Provides valuable insights
Short-term rental management software can provide valuable insights into the performance of a vacation rental business, such as occupancy rates, revenue, and expenses. This data can help managers make data-driven decisions to improve their operations.
4. Improves guest experience
Short-term rental management software can improve the guest experience by automating guest communication, providing a centralized platform for managing reservations, and ensuring that the property is clean and ready for the next guest.
5. Enhances efficiency
Short-term rental management software can help managers manage multiple properties across different platforms from a centralized dashboard. This can help managers save time and improve their efficiency.
6. Reduces errors
Short-term rental management software can reduce errors and improve accuracy by automating many manual tasks, such as payment processing and housekeeping.
How to choose short-term rental management software?
If you are managing a short-term rental property, choosing the right management software can make all the difference in streamlining your operations and maximizing your profits. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. In this article, we will discuss the key factors to consider when selecting short-term rental management software.
1. Features and Functionality
The first thing to consider when choosing a short-term rental management software is the features and functionality it offers. Look for software that can handle all aspects of your rental business, including reservations, guest communication, reviews, housekeeping, and pricing. In addition, consider features such as automated messaging, channel management, and reporting tools to help you optimize your revenue and occupancy rates.
2. User-Friendliness
Another important factor to consider is the user-friendliness of the software. The software you choose should be intuitive and easy to use, with a simple and well-designed interface. Look for software that offers a mobile app, which can be a game-changer for managing your rental property on the go.
3. Integration with Other Tools
Your short-term rental management software should also integrate with other tools you use, such as accounting software, property management systems, and channel managers. This will save you time and reduce the risk of errors that can occur when manually transferring data between systems.
4. Customer Support
When selecting a short-term rental management software, it’s important to consider the level of customer support the vendor offers. Look for software vendors that offer timely and responsive customer support and onboarding and training resources to help you get up and running quickly.
5. Cost
Finally, consider the cost of the software. Look for software that offers a pricing model that fits your budget and business needs, whether it’s a flat monthly fee or a percentage of your revenue. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best, and investing in high-quality software can pay off in the long run.
In conclusion, choosing the right short-term rental management software can have a significant impact on the success of your rental business. By considering the software’s features and functionality, user-friendliness, integration with other tools, customer support, and cost, you can find software that meets your needs and helps you achieve your business goals.
7 Top Options for Short-Term Rental Management Software
We’ve handpicked a selection of tools specifically designed for managing vacation or other short-term rental properties. Each of these software offers a range of features to simplify and streamline your rental operations.
We’ve provided a breakdown of each option’s pros and cons, feature set, and pricing, to help you make an informed decision.
The tools are presented in no particular order.
1. Hostex
Hostex is highly Cost-Effective short-term rental management software that offers everything you need to manage your properties efficiently, from changing prices to responding to messages, sending reviews, and adjusting inventory can be done in one platform. And with its automation tools, Hostex does all the heavy lifting for you, allowing you to sit back and relax while your rental business runs smoothly.
Main features:
- Channel manager: Seamless API integrations with popular booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda, Trip.com, and more. You can effortlessly maximize your visibility and reach without the need to visit multiple channel websites. Say goodbye to the hassle and hello to efficient management!
- Automation tools: Hostex offers a suite of powerful tools designed to streamline the management of short-term rentals. From automated replies, check-in guides, guest messaging, cleaning tasks, reviews, and pricing, Hostex’s automation tools simplify and optimize your workflow.
- Team portal: Hostex allows you to set up multiple team accounts with different roles, giving you the ability to assign specific permissions to team members such as owners, customer service reps, accountants, and cleaners. It optimizes your time and streamlines task delegation, so you won’t have to handle everything alone.
- Reporting tools: Hostex offers powerful reporting tools that allow you to track key metrics, such as occupancy rates, revenue, and expenses.
- Direct booking website builder: Hostex offers a direct booking website builder. You can easily create your website, upload your content and pictures, and set up connections to booking portals, payment gateways, and more.
- Mobile app: Hostex has a mobile app that allows you to manage your properties on the go, from anywhere in the world.
Pricing:
Hostex.io offers a 15-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial period, pricing starts at $2.6 per room per month.
Additionally, first-time subscribers can enjoy a special 20% discount on their initial subscription.
2. iGMS
iGMS is a comprehensive short-term rental management software that offers good automation and channel management features. It is good for hosts who want to become efficient at property management and streamline their routine operations. Moreover, their pricing model is flexible and based on a per-night fee, which means you only have to pay for properties once they receive reservations.
Main features:
- Channel manager: iGMS direct integration with top vacation rental channels enables real-time, stable synchronization of reservation data and availabilities. No more double bookings.
- Automated messaging: iGMS’ messaging system allows you to automate guest communication, including check-in instructions and house rules.
- Direct bookings: Enter your guest’s contact details, number of booked nights and the host’s contact information to create a direct booking in iGMS.
- Task management: iGMS’ task management tools allow you to automate many of the repetitive tasks associated with managing short-term rentals, including housekeeping and maintenance.
- Reporting tools: iGMS offers reporting tools that allow you to track key metrics, including occupancy rates, revenue, and expenses.
Pricing:
iGMS offers services starting at $27/property/month when paid annually for the Pro plan. You can also opt for the flexible plan, which charges $1 per booked night, with a minimum threshold of $20/property/month.
3. Guesty
Guesty is a property management software designed for larger-scale enterprises. What sets it apart from other options is its exceptional customer service, including a premium 24/7 support line for high-level customers. However, its higher price point may not make it the most practical option for hosts seeking more affordable solutions.
Main features:
- Multi-integration: Guesty integrates with multiple short-term rental platforms, and many useful tools, to help you reach more guests and increase your bookings.
- Unified Inbox: Guesty provides a unified inbox to manage all guest communications in one place, including SMS, email, and OTA messages.
- Booking Website: Guesty offers a branded booking website, with no competing listings or OTA fees, in order to help you increase brand awareness and boost customer loyalty.
- 24/7 guest communication: Guesty offers 24/7 guest communication support, ensuring that your guests always have someone to turn to if they have questions or issues.
Pricing:
If you manage 3 listings or fewer, Guesty will charge you $34/listing/month when paid annually. If you have more than 3 listings, Guesty employs an enterprise pricing model; however, they do not publicly disclose their current pricing, and interested parties must contact Guesty directly to discuss further details.
4. Lodgify
Lodgify’s property management software allows you to manage all your bookings from one online centralized platform. Additionally, it offers many website templates, allowing you to create a website easily. However, Lodgify’s app has many limitations, with most things needing to be handled on a computer.
Main features:
- Drag-and-drop interface: Lodgify’s platform is easy to use, with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create a custom website without any coding knowledge.
- Booking engine: Lodgify’s booking engine is fully integrated with your website, allowing guests to book directly from your site.
- Third-party integrations: Lodgify integrates with a range of third-party tools, including payment processors and channel managers, to help you manage your operations more efficiently.
- Custom branding: Lodgify allows you to customize your website with your own branding and logo, creating a unique brand identity.
Pricing:
The Starter version of Lodgify is priced at $13/month/property if paid annually, with an additional 1.9% booking fee for every reservation (even if the reservation has been canceled). Or you can choose the Professional version, priced at $38/month/property if paid annually, with no booking fee.
5. Kigo
Kigo is a web-based, scalable solution that provides vacation rental managers with all of the critical features they need in one, easy-to-use solution, including reservation management, distribution, marketing, revenue management, eSignature, and websites.
Main features:
- Centralized dashboard: Kigo’s dashboard allows you to manage all of your bookings across multiple channels, including Airbnb and Booking.com.
- Automated pricing: Kigo offers automated pricing tools that can help you optimize your rates and increase your revenue.
- Messageing templates: Kigo provide a ready-to-use template for your automated guest messaging system. You can manage internal and external communications through the same platform.
- Reporting tools: Kigo offers robust reporting tools that allow you to track your performance across all channels, including occupancy rates, revenue, and expenses.
Pricing:
Like Guesty, Kigo doesn’t offer its pricing online either, so you’ll need to contact their sales team to find out more.
6. OwnerRez
OwnerRez integrates with channels like Vrbo, AirBnb, and Booking.com to seamlessly sync availability, rates, rules, and listing content. Get your own modern fast website, process payments directly, and manage inquiries, communication, and guest checkout with e-sign renter agreements.
Main features:
- Channel manager: OwnerRez integrates with multiple platforms, including Airbnb, Vrbo, Home to Go, and Booking.com. Every tiny change in OwnerRez is instantly pushed to the channel when it changes in OwnerRez.
- Dynamic messaging: With OwnerRez, you can automate communication with guests, including automatic emails and messaging for check-in and check-out.
- Payment processing: OwnerRez offers a range of customizable booking and payment options, including credit card processing and payment schedules.
- CRM: Customer Relationship Management is key to running a successful business. OwnerRez helps automate and store all guest records for your own marketing purposes to build, and maintain, a relationship with your customers over time.
- Renter Agreements: It’s very important to make sure both parties to a rental understand the terms involved. OwnerRez makes it easy to get electronically signed documents with its built-in e-sign support.
Pricing:
OwnerRez offers services starting at $40/property/month when paid annually. If you need to use premium features, each feature will require an additional payment.
7. Tokeet
Tokeet is a short-term rental management software that centralizes your operations so that all calendar management, guest communications, price-setting, invoicing, reporting, and owner reports are done in one tool. Once you’re set up with Tokeet, you rarely have to log on to the channels at all.
Main features:
- Channel manager: Tokeet synchronizes availability on all your channels automatically with instant API synchronization with Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, HomeAway, and Expedia.
- Automated messaging: Tokeet executes all the tasks related to a guest booking, from alerting staff of upcoming arrivals or greeting your guests, to sending contracts.
- Direct bookings: Tokeet can help you set up a booking site for your short-term rentals so you can get rid of the channel split and get the most out of repeat visits.
- Staff management: Save the time and hassle taken to schedule your property operations and maintenance by allowing Checklist to prepare your service providers.
- Premium services: Tokeet provide one-on-one phone call support when you need it.
Pricing:
Tokeet offers services starting at $12/property/month when paid annually. When managing over 200 properties, the monthly cost per property can go as low as $5.
In conclusion, the short-term rental management software options on the market offer a range of features and pricing plans to meet the needs of different types of users. For larger property management companies, Guesty is a great choice due to its advanced automation tools and 24/7 guest communication support. However, for individual Airbnb hosts or smaller property management companies, Hostex is a versatile and budget-friendly option with comprehensive features and a lower cost of around $4 per month per property.
Before making a final decision, it’s important to evaluate your specific needs and compare them with the features and pricing of each software. Consider factors such as the number of properties you manage, your budget, and the level of automation you require. By doing so, you can make an informed decision and choose the best short-term rental management software for your needs.
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