USA's vacation rental sector is on boom, and it has multiple software platforms catering to property owners who need tools for managing booking, marketing, and guest messages.
- GraceSoft
Overview: Highly used by vacation rental providers in short-term stays, Gracesoft permits vacation rental providers to list rentals, determine their own prices, and book spaces.
Best For: The kind of simplicity needed by those demanding a worldwide appeal.
Features:
- Simple website-based platform to put up rentals on.
- Online processing of payment along with safety checks.
- Guest messaging and review system.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Access to millions of travelers.
- Vrbo
Overview: Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a big vacation rental website in the U.S. that specializes mainly in whole-home rentals (not shared accommodations).
Best For: Whole-home owners or large property owners.
Features:
- Big exposure to whole-home searchers.
- In-built booking management system.
- Owner dashboard for booking and pricing control.
- In-built insurance for hosts.
- Reviews and ratings system.
- Guesty
Overview: A vacation rental business-specific property management software. Guesty is an all-encompassing platform that assists in managing multiple listings on different booking platforms.
Best For: Property owners and managers with multiple listings.
Features:
- Multi-channel distribution (syncs listings on platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com).
- Automated messaging and check-in/check-out.
- Payment processing and invoicing.
- Calendar management and booking optimization.
- Team management features for large operations.
- Lodgify
Overview: Lodgify is a vacation rental management software that offers property owners the option of creating their own website and publishing their properties across various booking websites.
Best For: Owners looking to create their own website and minimize dependence on third-party websites.
Features:
- Vacation rental website builder.
- Channel manager to synchronize with websites such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.
- Built-in booking engine.
- Payment processing and invoicing.
- Tools for managing reservations.
- Hostaway
Overview: Hostaway is a short-term rental property management platform. It automates operations and facilitates multi-channel booking management.
Best For: Multiple listing property managers managing listings on various platforms.
Features:
- Multi-channel distribution and synchronization.
- Automated messaging and reviews management.
- Pricing and revenue management tools.
- Customer support and team management features.
- Integration with third-party apps and tools.
- Tokeet
Overview: Tokeet is a vacation rental management software that makes it easier for property owners and managers to operate. It features property listing management, payment processing, as well as client communication.
Best For: Small property ownership or small property management companies.
Features:
- Multi-channel distribution.
- Management of the booking calendar.
- Email and invoice template customization.
- Payment processing integration.
- Automation of guest messaging.
- Rentals United
Overview: Rentals United is a vacation rental distribution software that helps property managers list on multiple sites without having to do each one separately.
Best For: Large property management companies who need to list on numerous booking sites at once.
Features:
- Multiple-channel management with a large number of integrations (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.).
- Dynamic pricing features.
- Listing template customization.
- Automated messaging and notifications.
- Analysis and reporting tools.
- Your Porter App
Overview: Your Porter App is a vacation rental management software used to help owners manage bookings, guest messaging, and pricing on one platform.
Best For: Small vacation rental owners and managers.
Features:
- Booking management and calendar synchronization.
- Messaging automation.
- Cleaning and task management.
- Multi-channel booking integration.
- Analytics and reports.
- Zeevou
Overview: Zeevou is a property management solution software that takes all the fundamental vacation rental functions and puts them into one integrated platform, and it emphasizes high levels of automation.
Best For: Property managers looking for a completely automated solution for their vacation rental business.
Features:
- Multi-channel distribution.
- Reservation management.
- CRM and guest communication tools.
- Automatic invoicing and payment collection.
- Property website builder and booking engine.
- BookingSync
Overview: BookingSync is a feature-rich vacation rental software solution, geared towards property managers, and provides a host of tools for enhancing the efficiency in managing vacation rentals.
Best For: Property managers who require an all-in-one solution for booking management and guest communication.
Features:
- Channel manager integration with major booking websites.
- Automated messaging and marketing features.
- Customizable booking engine and website.
- Invoicing and payment processing.
- Multi-user management for teams.
Selecting the Best Software
The best vacation rental software is based on the following criteria:
Number of properties: Are you handling one vacation rental or several properties? Software such as Guesty and Lodgify is ideal for large-scale operations, but sites such as Airbnb or Tokeet work well for smaller-scale owners.
Customization needs: If you wish to create your own site and have more control over branding, Lodgify is the perfect option.
Channel management: In case you wish to spread your listings on several platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.), a tool such as Rentals United or Guesty will assist you in making the process simpler.