Guesty has positioned itself as the "enterprise solution" in the vacation rental software space. Founded in 2013 in Tel Aviv, it has grown to serve thousands of property managers worldwide with what they call a "professional-grade" platform.
But with starting prices that can be 2-3x higher than competitors like Lodgify, the question every host asks is: does Guesty actually justify its premium pricing? In this comprehensive review, we'll break down everything you need to know about Guesty in 2025.
What Is Guesty?
Guesty is a comprehensive vacation rental property management system (PMS) designed primarily for professional property managers and larger portfolios. Unlike simplified tools aimed at individual hosts, Guesty focuses on automation, scalability, and team management features.
The platform covers all the essentials:
- Multi-channel distribution
- Reservation management
- Guest communication
- Revenue management
- Team collaboration tools
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- API integrations
Guesty's core philosophy is providing a solution that can handle complexity and scale with your business growth.
Key Features
Multi-Channel Distribution
Guesty connects to over 100 booking channels, including all major platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, and Google Vacation Rentals. The connections are real-time API-based (not iCal), ensuring fast synchronization and minimal double-booking risks.
What sets Guesty apart is its support for niche and international channels. If you're managing properties in Europe, Asia, or specialized markets, Guesty likely has connections that smaller platforms don't offer.
Unified Inbox
One of Guesty's strongest features is its unified inbox, which consolidates guest messages from all channels into a single interface. This is especially valuable for larger operations where multiple team members need to handle guest communication efficiently.
The inbox includes smart filtering, automated responses, and the ability to assign conversations to specific team members.
Automation Engine
Guesty's automation capabilities are comprehensive, covering:
- Message automation: Pre-check-in instructions, welcome messages, checkout reminders
- Task automation: Cleaning schedules, maintenance requests, key exchanges
- Pricing automation: Dynamic pricing rules based on demand, seasonality, and competitor data
- Review automation: Post-stay review requests and response workflows
The automation builder is visual and intuitive, though it requires significant setup time to configure properly.
Team Management
Unlike most vacation rental software aimed at individual hosts, Guesty was built with teams in mind. Features include:
- Role-based permissions
- Team member assignments for properties and tasks
- Performance tracking
- Communication logs and handoffs
This makes Guesty particularly attractive for property management companies with multiple employees.
Revenue Management
Guesty includes built-in dynamic pricing tools, though many users integrate with specialized revenue management platforms like Beyond Pricing or Wheelhouse for more sophisticated strategies.
The platform provides detailed revenue analytics and forecasting tools that help with financial planning and performance optimization.
Mobile App
Guesty's mobile app is full-featured, allowing hosts and team members to manage properties on the go. The app includes guest messaging, booking management, task coordination, and even maintenance request handling.
Pricing
Guesty's pricing structure is complex and varies significantly based on your specific needs. Unlike competitors with transparent published pricing, Guesty uses custom pricing that typically ranges from $25-50+ per property per month.
The actual cost depends on factors like:
- Number of properties
- Booking volume
- Feature requirements
- Team size
- Integration needs
For comparison:
| Platform | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Guesty | $25-50+/property/mo | 20+ properties |
| Lodgify | $17/mo (1 property) | 1-25 properties |
| Hostaway | $25+/property/mo | 10-50 properties |
Guesty doesn't offer a free trial, which is disappointing given the investment required.
Pros
- Scalability: Built to handle hundreds or thousands of properties
- Team collaboration: Excellent multi-user features and permissions
- Automation depth: Very comprehensive automation capabilities
- Channel breadth: Connects to more platforms than most competitors
- Enterprise features: Advanced reporting, API access, custom integrations
- Mobile experience: Full-featured mobile app for on-the-go management
- Guest messaging: Unified inbox is best-in-class for large operations
Cons
- Premium pricing: Significantly more expensive than alternatives
- Complexity: Steep learning curve and lengthy setup process
- No free trial: Hard to evaluate without committing to a sales process
- Overkill for small hosts: Many features unnecessary for 1-10 property operations
- Custom pricing: Difficult to budget without going through sales
- Limited website builder: Weak direct booking website compared to platforms like Lodgify
Who Is Guesty Best For?
Guesty makes sense for:
- Professional property managers with 20+ properties
- Growing businesses that need to scale rapidly
- Team-based operations with multiple employees
- Complex operations requiring advanced automation and workflows
- International managers needing extensive channel connections
It's less suitable for:
- Individual hosts with 1-10 properties (overkill and overpriced)
- Hosts focused on direct bookings (weak website builder)
- Budget-conscious operators
- Hosts who prefer simple, straightforward tools
How Guesty Compares
| Feature | Guesty | Lodgify | Hostaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $25-50+/property | $17/mo | $25+/property |
| Website Builder | Basic | Excellent | Basic |
| Team Features | Excellent | Limited | Good |
| Automation | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Scalability | Excellent | Limited | Good |
| Learning Curve | Steep | Moderate | Moderate |
| Free Trial | No | Yes | No |
Our Verdict
Guesty is a powerful platform that delivers on its promise of enterprise-grade vacation rental management. For property managers with substantial portfolios and team-based operations, it provides features and scalability that justify the premium pricing.
However, for individual hosts or smaller operations (under 20 properties), Guesty is likely overkill. The complexity, pricing, and learning curve make it a poor fit for hosts who just want simple, effective property management.
If you're managing a growing portfolio and need robust team features, advanced automation, and extensive channel connections, Guesty could be worth the investment. For everyone else, more affordable alternatives like Lodgify offer better value.
Our rating: 4.0/5
The high rating reflects Guesty's excellence in its target market (professional property managers), but the premium pricing and complexity prevent it from earning our top rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Guesty actually cost?
Guesty uses custom pricing typically ranging from $25-50+ per property per month, depending on your specific needs and portfolio size. You'll need to contact their sales team for exact pricing.
Does Guesty offer a free trial?
No, Guesty doesn't offer a free trial. You'll need to go through their sales process and commit to their pricing to evaluate the platform.
Is Guesty overkill for small hosts?
For hosts with fewer than 20 properties, yes. The complexity and pricing make it a poor fit for smaller operations. Platforms like Lodgify offer better value for individual hosts.
Can Guesty handle international properties?
Yes, Guesty excels at international property management with support for multiple currencies, languages, and local booking channels that other platforms don't offer.
How long does Guesty setup take?
Expect several weeks to fully configure Guesty for a larger portfolio. The complexity requires significant upfront time investment, though Guesty provides onboarding support.
Does Guesty include a website builder?
Yes, but it's basic compared to specialized website builders like Lodgify's. If direct bookings are a priority, consider whether Guesty's website capabilities meet your needs.