Choosing the right vacation rental property management system can make or break your hosting business. Two platforms consistently rank at the top of professional hosts' lists: Hostaway and Guesty. Both are powerful, feature-rich solutions designed for serious property managers, but they take different approaches to vacation rental management.
In this comprehensive comparison, we'll examine Hostaway vs Guesty across every dimension that matters: features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, and overall value. By the end, you'll know exactly which platform suits your business best.
Platform Overview
Hostaway: The Growth-Focused Solution
Founded in 2015, Hostaway has established itself as the go-to choice for property managers who prioritize growth and operational efficiency. Based in Toronto with a global presence, Hostaway serves over 8,000 customers managing more than 200,000 properties worldwide.
Hostaway's philosophy centers on providing a comprehensive toolkit that scales with your business, from single-property hosts to enterprise managers with thousands of units.
Guesty: The Enterprise Powerhouse
Guesty, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, positions itself as the premium solution for professional property managers. With over $170 million in funding and a valuation exceeding $1 billion, Guesty serves larger operations and enterprise clients who need robust features and white-glove support.
The platform manages over $3 billion in gross booking value annually and focuses heavily on automation and advanced reporting capabilities.
Feature Comparison
Channel Management
Hostaway connects to 100+ booking channels including all major OTAs (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia) plus niche platforms like Agoda, TripAdvisor, and Google Vacation Rentals. The platform uses real-time API connections where available, falling back to calendar sync only when necessary.
Guesty offers similar channel coverage but with deeper integration customization. Their Enterprise plan includes priority channel partnerships and faster sync times. Guesty also provides more granular control over rate and inventory distribution across channels.
Winner: Tie — Both platforms excel at channel management, with Guesty having a slight edge for enterprise users.
Direct Booking Websites
Hostaway provides a built-in website builder that creates responsive, SEO-optimized booking sites. However, the design flexibility is limited compared to dedicated website builders. The booking engine integrates seamlessly with the PMS.
Guesty takes a different approach by partnering with third-party website builders rather than building their own. This means you'll need a separate solution like WordPress, Lodgify's website builder, or other tools for direct bookings.
Winner: Hostaway — Having an integrated website builder provides better value and fewer moving parts.
Automation & Workflows
Hostaway offers robust automation through their "Tasks" system, which can trigger based on booking events, guest actions, or time-based rules. You can automate everything from guest messaging to housekeeping coordination.
Guesty excels in automation sophistication. Their workflow engine is more advanced, supporting complex multi-step automation chains with conditional logic. The platform can automate guest communication, task assignment, pricing adjustments, and even guest screening.
Winner: Guesty — More powerful automation capabilities, especially for complex operations.
Pricing & Revenue Management
Hostaway includes basic dynamic pricing tools and integrates with popular revenue management systems like PriceLabs, Wheelhouse, and Beyond. The built-in pricing tool covers essential features like seasonality adjustments and minimum stay rules.
Guesty offers more sophisticated native pricing tools with machine learning-powered recommendations. Their revenue optimization features include demand forecasting, competitor analysis, and advanced pricing rules. The platform also provides deeper revenue analytics.
Winner: Guesty — Superior native pricing intelligence and revenue optimization tools.
Reporting & Analytics
Hostaway provides solid reporting with standard metrics like occupancy rates, revenue breakdowns, and channel performance. The reports are functional but not particularly advanced.
Guesty shines in this area with enterprise-grade reporting and business intelligence tools. You get customizable dashboards, advanced filtering, data export capabilities, and even API access for custom reporting solutions.
Winner: Guesty — Significantly more advanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
Mobile Apps
Hostaway offers mobile apps for iOS and Android with core functionality for managing bookings, communicating with guests, and overseeing operations on the go.
Guesty provides more polished mobile apps with better design and more comprehensive feature coverage. The apps feel more like native mobile experiences rather than mobile web wrappers.
Winner: Guesty — Better mobile app experience across both platforms.
Integrations
Hostaway connects to 40+ third-party tools including smart locks, cleaning services, accounting software, and guest screening platforms. The integration marketplace covers most essential business needs.
Guesty boasts 80+ integrations with deeper connection options. Many integrations support bidirectional data sync and more advanced functionality. They also offer better API documentation for custom integrations.
Winner: Guesty — Broader integration ecosystem and more advanced connection capabilities.
Pricing Analysis
Hostaway Pricing
Hostaway uses custom pricing based on your specific needs, but here's the general structure:
- Starter: Around $30-40 per property per month
- Growth: Around $40-60 per property per month
- Scale: Around $60-80 per property per month
Pricing includes all core features, with higher tiers adding advanced reporting, white-label capabilities, and priority support. All plans include unlimited users and most integrations.
Guesty Pricing
Guesty's pricing is also custom but generally higher:
- Core: Around $40-60 per property per month
- Plus: Around $60-90 per property per month
- Enterprise: $90+ per property per month
Enterprise features like advanced workflows, custom reporting, and dedicated account management come at a premium. Volume discounts are available for larger portfolios.
Pricing Comparison
For a 10-property portfolio:
- Hostaway: ~$400-600/month
- Guesty: ~$500-800/month
For a 50-property portfolio:
- Hostaway: ~$1,500-2,500/month
- Guesty: ~$2,000-3,500/month
Winner: Hostaway — Generally more affordable, especially for growing businesses.
Ease of Use
Hostaway
Hostaway's interface is clean and intuitive, with most functions accessible within 2-3 clicks. The learning curve is moderate — most users can become productive within a week. The platform prioritizes functionality over flashy design.
Guesty
Guesty's interface is more sophisticated but can feel overwhelming initially. The abundance of features and customization options means a steeper learning curve. However, once mastered, power users appreciate the depth of control available.
Winner: Hostaway — Easier to learn and use for most property managers.
Customer Support
Hostaway
Hostaway offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. Response times are generally good (under 4 hours for email, under 10 minutes for chat). They also provide extensive documentation and video tutorials.
Guesty
Guesty provides tiered support based on your plan level. Higher-tier customers get dedicated account managers and faster response times. The support team is knowledgeable, but access levels vary significantly by plan.
Winner: Hostaway — More consistent support experience across all customers.
Who Should Choose Hostaway?
Hostaway is ideal for:
- Growing property managers with 5-50 properties
- Cost-conscious operators who want premium features at reasonable prices
- Hosts seeking simplicity without sacrificing functionality
- Businesses prioritizing direct bookings (thanks to the built-in website builder)
- Teams that value responsive customer support
Who Should Choose Guesty?
Guesty makes sense for:
- Large-scale operations with 25+ properties
- Enterprise clients needing advanced reporting and workflows
- Property managers with complex operations requiring sophisticated automation
- Businesses with dedicated IT resources to leverage advanced features
- Companies willing to pay premium for premium features
Alternatives to Consider
If neither platform feels quite right, consider these alternatives:
- Lodgify — Best for independent hosts wanting an all-in-one solution with excellent direct booking capabilities
- Smoobu — European-focused platform with competitive pricing
- OwnerRez — Highly customizable option for tech-savvy users
The Verdict
Both Hostaway and Guesty are excellent platforms, but they serve different market segments:
Choose Hostaway if you want a growth-focused platform that balances features, usability, and affordability. It's perfect for property managers who want professional-grade tools without enterprise-level complexity or costs.
Choose Guesty if you run a large operation that needs advanced automation, sophisticated reporting, and don't mind paying premium prices for premium features. It's built for property management companies that treat vacation rentals as a serious business.
For most property managers with 5-25 properties, Hostaway offers better value. For larger operations with 50+ properties, Guesty's advanced features justify the higher cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Hostaway to Guesty (or vice versa)?
Yes, both platforms offer migration assistance, but expect the process to take several weeks and require careful planning to avoid booking disruptions.
Do both platforms support international properties?
Yes, both support multiple currencies, languages, and international payment methods. Guesty has slightly better international support with local offices in key markets.
Which platform is better for Airbnb Plus or luxury properties?
Guesty's advanced guest screening and communication tools make it slightly better suited for high-end properties, but both platforms can handle luxury rentals effectively.
Do I need technical skills to use either platform?
Hostaway requires minimal technical knowledge. Guesty benefits from having someone with technical skills on your team to maximize its advanced features.
How long does setup take?
Hostaway: 1-2 weeks for full setup Guesty: 2-4 weeks due to more complex configuration options
The choice ultimately depends on your business size, technical requirements, and budget. Both platforms will serve you well — it's about finding the right fit for your specific needs and growth trajectory.