The Guesty effect
Increased profitability
Guesty recently performed a market study of 724 US-based property managers with up to 20 properties that onboarded to Guesty in 2022-2024, as compared to benchmarking data from similar regions and size via AirDNA, KeyData and Transparent. Here is what we found:
Connect to hundreds of distribution channels
Functionality review
Guesty vs Hospitable
Both Hospitable (formerly Smartbnb) and Guesty offer a wide range of features for managing short-term rentals, including AI-powered automations, a direct booking suite, and integrated channel management.
However, with Guesty these property management software (PMS) functionalities are joined by an industry-leading selection of booking channels and third-party integrations, advanced native features (such as revenue management and owners portal) and add-ons (such as accounting and an embedded dynamic pricing tool) which you won’t find on Hospitable.
Guesty also offers Guesty Lite, which is a more simple and cheaper solution for smaller businesses with 1-4 listings who need fewer capabilities but would like to benefit from the advanced functionalities of Guesty’s core product and continual innovations
The main differences between these solutions
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Guesty
Along with these essential features, Guesty's next level suite of professional tools includes sophisticated automations, advanced revenue management tools and a customizable owner’s portal. Hosts ready to grow their side-hustle need Guesty’s powerful capabilities.
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Hospitable
focuses on easy-to-use AI-powered automations, a synchronized calendar, and a direct booking website builder, all geared to help individual hosts with small or mid-sized businesses to simplify and streamline operations.
To summarize, with Hospitable you may be getting an easy-to-use management tool to save time and automate operations, while Guesty goes beyond to provide a full-service suite of professional tools and integrations that enables a synchronized, all-in-one property management and an engine of business growth.
A comprehensive feature comparison
Guesty vs Hospitable
See how Guesty and Hospitable compare on key features for managing your short-term rentals.
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Channel manager | 60 channels plus API integration to hundreds more | 5 channels |
Real-time sync | ||
Unified inbox | ||
Multi-calendar | ||
Automated messages | ||
AI-powered messaging | ||
Task automation | ||
Smart locks | ||
Automated reviews | ||
Direct bookings | ||
24/7 guest communication services | ||
Rate plans | ||
CRM/Advanced lead management | ||
Accounting tools | ||
Trust accounting | ||
Brand management | ||
Group reservations | ||
Owners portal | ||
Coupons and promotions | For direct bookings only | |
Damage protection | Integration with Superhog | |
Guest screening tools | Via integration with Autohost | |
Check-in form | Native online check-in form | |
Workflows | Advanced automations- custom workflows & smart pricing | Basic automations - messaging, tasks, reviews & payments |
Housekeeping & Maintenance | Advanced | Basic |
Dynamic pricing | Fully embedded AI-driven solution, plus partner integrations | No native solution, partner integrations only |
Multi-unit management | Flexible, complex management including sub-unit editing | Parent-child property setup for duplexes and triplexes |
Payment processor | Native solution and partner integrations | No native solution, partner integrations only |
Reporting tools & analytics | Robust reporting with advanced analytics and forecasting | Limited analytics and reporting |
Marketplace | 200+ integrations | 40+ integrations |
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Guesty
offers a more comprehensive solution featuring AI-powered communication and revenue optimization tools, team management capabilities, advanced reporting, and integrations to support better efficiency and financial results.
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Hospitable
offers time-saving tools such as AI-powered guest communication and automation tools, a unified inbox, a channel manager with integrations to 5 channels and a direct booking website - making it a suitable solution for individual hosts seeking to simplify their operations.
To summarize, Guesty is the more suitable choice for individual hosts and property management companies seeking advanced operational optimization, customization, and scalability, backed by innovative technology.
Guesty at a glance
With an industry-leading R&D team of 250, as well as a team of experts on the ground, Guesty releases new features almost daily, with ~70% of enhancements based directly on customer feedback.
Reviewed by independent sources
The main distinction between Guesty and Hospitable is that
Guesty is a robust platform designed for professional hosts and property managers looking to increase occupancy, drive higher revenue per listing, and streamline and scale their business operations.
Let’s have a closer look at some of the differences:
Guesty’s Channel Manager connects with many more booking channels
Guesty channel manager supports 60 booking channels through direct integrations all with best-in-class connectivity, as well as hundreds of additional channels through Guesty’s Channel API.
Hospitable supports integrations with only a few of the major booking platforms including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Agoda, as well as Google VR.
Advanced automations to empower efficiency
Guesty offers next-level AI-powered automations for more comprehensive solutions, including guest communications, reviews and task management as well as revenue management such as smart rules for dynamic pricing, post-task completion automation, and compliant accounting.
Hospitable provides basic workflows via AI-powered automations for guest messaging, reviews and task notification.
Advanced automations to empower efficiency
Guesty offers next-level AI-powered automations for more comprehensive solutions, including guest communications, reviews and task management as well as revenue management such as smart rules for dynamic pricing, post-task completion automation, and compliant accounting.
Hospitable provides basic workflows via AI-powered automations for guest messaging, reviews and task notification.
Embedded financial and analytics tools
Guesty offers advanced embedded accounting and analytics tools to centralize all of your operations into one, streamlined solution including in-house payment processing, dynamic pricing, robust accounting, reporting tools, and advanced analytics.
Hospitable only enables you to integrate with payment processing solutions such as Stripe and PayPal and offers basic metrics on reservations, Airbnb reviews, tasks, and taxes.
Guesty’s advanced CRM drives more bookings
Guesty embedded CRM and partner integrations (such as Mailchimp) allow you to collect and consolidate all guest and lead data to personalize the guest experience, win repeat bookings, and enable smarter, data-driven decision-making.
Hospitable integrates with Mailchimp for email marketing automations, but does not offer a CRM or lead management capabilities.
Advanced customization & flexibility
Guesty provides a higher level of customization and control, allowing property managers to tailor the platform to their specific needs. This includes custom workflows, advanced reporting, and extensive configuration options for pricing, availability, and communication.
Hospitable offers a high degree of automation and customization in terms of guest messaging, templates, and task management. However, it is generally less customizable in terms of its core features.
Guesty is the best choice for property managers seeking a feature-rich, scalable platform.
It goes beyond basic automation to efficiently manage all aspects of their short-term rental business today and in the future.
Comprehensive guide
Selecting the right property management software for your short-term rental business
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1. Define your business needs
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Evaluate core needs
Which booking platforms matter most to your business – are you focused on major sites like Airbnb and Booking.com, or do you need broader reach? Consider whether features like a custom booking website, integrated payments, and smart pricing tools align with your goals.
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Determine size and scale
Consider your portfolio size and growth plans. While platforms like Guesty accommodate everything from single properties to large-scale operations, other solutions like Hospitable better serve smaller vacation rental businesses.
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2. Essential platform features to look for
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Channel Manager
The platform you choose should seamlessly connect with all the leading booking platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Google Vacation Rentals and Marriott, plus specialty niche marketplaces like Mister B&B and TravelStaytion, maximizing your exposure across diverse audiences.
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Guest communications and unified inbox
Outstanding reviews start with responsive communication. Select a platform offering comprehensive messaging options, including email, SMS, and WhatsApp integration for seamless guest engagement.
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Unified Inbox & Guest Communication
Achieving consistent great reviews requires being responsive to guest messages. Make sure you choose a PMS with a robust messaging system that enables different forms of communication, including SMS, email, and Whatsapp integration to improve communication.
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Task Management
Seek tools that organize daily activities efficiently – from check-ins and housekeeping to maintenance scheduling and staff coordination.
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Direct booking capability
Look for robust website creation tools, customizable templates, and search optimization features to build your direct booking, commission-free revenue. Strong CRM capabilities and marketing tools help cultivate repeat guests and reduce OTA dependence.
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Dynamic Pricing
AI-powered tools for optimizing rates based on market trends can help you reach the optimal balance of occupancy and revenue.
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Payment Processing
For a smooth payment process, choose a platform with built-in hospitality-focused payment solutions while ensuring compatibility with trusted third-party processors like Stripe for flexible payment options.
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3. Interface and customization
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API Access
An API allows integration with existing systems and additional tools. For larger property management companies, an Open API that allows you to connect custom built tools is especially important.
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Automate Routine Tasks
Features like automated guest communication, booking engine management, and payment processing can save you hours each week and drive efficiency for your business.
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4. Automation and integration capabilities
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User experience
Choose an intuitive platform that minimizes training time and allows for a quick transition. Guesty’s dedicated onboarding specialists help accelerate platform adoption.
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Mobile app functionality
Confirm full support across all major mobile platforms – Android, iOS, and Windows for on-the-go management capability.
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Customizable branding elements
Seek customizable components such as templates and widgets for creating distinctive booking experiences for your website.
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5. Premium advanced features
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All-in-one management
Seek comprehensive solutions like Guesty that provide a robust variety of advanced features. Guesty offers all the tools you need to run a successful vacation rental business from one central platform, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools.
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Digital marketing and SEO
Prioritize platforms that will improve SEO to gain visibility on Google Vacation Rentals and your direct booking website. Additionally a CRM tool is essential to promote guest retention and lead management.
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Customer Support
Verify availability of round-the-clock support through multiple communication channels to ensure swift assistance if issues come up.
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6. Additional considerations
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Growth potential
Ensure your chosen platform can scale alongside your business, whether your goals are to professionalize a small business or you aim to require enterprise-level solutions.
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Price
Compare pricing models relative to business size and included features.
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Onboarding Support
Select a platform offering thorough onboarding assistance for smooth transition.
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Real users, real reviews