Overview
Is Airbnb better than Vrbo? From my experience… YES. Airbnb is a better short-term hosting platform than Vrbo, especially for new hosts. The main reasons are the general ease of use and setting up a listing, the commission structure, and host support.
There are a ton of blog posts out there that highlight the need to list on multiple platforms from day one. Many are written by software companies that want to sell you their channel management software. They tell you not to put all of your eggs in one basket in the event you run into problems with that company. While there’s some truth to that, it’s really a scare tactic. If you’re an awesome host with a good rating, there’s little chance you’ll be removed from any hosting platform.
Ease of use
Airbnb wins the ease-of-use battle, hands down. From listing setup to booking confirmation, the platform was designed from the ground up to accommodate the needs of its hosts. The company listens to its core hosting community and continues to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of both guests and hosts.
Setup
Setting up a new listing on Airbnb is a breeze once you’ve prepared your listing details and media. You’ll need to upload a few photos before you can move on to the next steps.
Messaging & templates
Guest messaging is an integral part of a successful hosting business. Set up your scheduled messages, quick replies, and merge tags to make the most of this feature. Communication is one of the scores a guest will rate you on after your stay, so it’s important to get it right from the start.
Types of listings
While Airbnb is open to nearly every type of listing, Vrbo does not support shared space short-term rentals. A shared space is a listing where the guest might share areas inside the property with the host or other guests, not in their group. This rules out anyone wanting to rent a private room or space in their house.
Commission (service fee)
The commission structure (host service fee) varies depending on your listing location. Generally, you’ll pay a 3% service fee out of the price you set. 3% is a fair amount because Airbnb asks as the merchant and handles payment from your guest and any potential credit card disputes. Think of it as an industry average credit card processing fee. Your guests will pay a service fee of up to 20%, which will be added to your nightly price.
You do have the option to absorb the guest service fee, but it’s not a common approach. In that case, you’ll pay around a 14% service fee out of the price you set, and the guest only pays the nightly and any required taxes. You may prefer this method depending on the market and your competition.
Host support
As a short-term host, something will eventually happen where you’ll need to contact a support team. Both companies have comparable support for their hosts, but as a Superhost on Airbnb, you’ll have access to an elevated Superhost support team. Not sure what a Superhost is?
The few times I’ve had to contact Airbnb support, the Superhost support team was instantly available and made the issues quick and painless to resolve. This is one of the many perks of gaining Superhost status on Airbnb.
Hardware integrations
Airbnb and Vrbo both offer hardware integrations so this one is a tie. Many hosts prefer to use integrated hardware such as a smart lock or lockbox to automatically assign reservations an extra code that is only valid during their stay. It saves time and ensures that previous guests can’t access your property after they have departed.
We love our IglooHome Smart Lockbox for our Costa Rica rental. The area is prone to occasional power outages and the lock’s algorithm allows codes to be assigned without wifi. It’s crazy cool and amazingly helpful. Check out their whole lineup of smart locks here.
When to use Vrbo?
So, is there a time to use Vrbo? Absolutely! If you’re up and running with Airbnb and can’t quite fill your calendar, you should consider adding another booking channel to your distribution mix. Vrbo is Expedia Group’s vacation rental platform and it’s a great resource to fill your booking calendar. Just remember that you’ll need safeguards in place to avoid double bookings and cancelation penalties.
A channel manager the most common software option to sync multiple booking sources and consolidate guest messages into one unified inbox. Some of the more popular companies are Host Tools, Lodgify, and Guesty. If you’re a new host, stick with Airbnb until you need to bring on another booking platform.
Recap
So, is Airbnb actually better than Vrbo? My opinion… YES. New hosts will love the easy-to-use platform, the Superhost support, and the variety of listing options. It can be overwhelming at first. Let’s connect and discuss your hosting goals and start renting!
