Guesty vs Hostaway: Hotel Management Software Compared (2026)
Guesty and Hostaway are two widely compared hotel PMSs. Guesty is short-term and vacation rental management software with channel management, unified inbox, automation, revenue tools, trust accounting and owner statements. Hostaway is vacation rental software with channel management, AI guest messaging, automation and a large integration marketplace, holding preferred-partner status with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 1 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Guesty vs Hostaway: the short answer
Guesty is short-term and vacation rental management software with channel management, unified inbox, automation, revenue tools, trust accounting and owner statements. Hostaway is vacation rental software with channel management, AI guest messaging, automation and a large integration marketplace, holding preferred-partner status with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. Both are hotel PMSs, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, Guesty is described as: per listing per month; Hostaway as: per listing or revenue share. Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. Guesty is positioned for short-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform, and Hostaway for growing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 1 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
Guesty and Hostaway at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Guesty
Guesty · Hotel Management Software
Guesty is short-term and vacation rental management software with channel management, unified inbox, automation, revenue tools, trust accounting and owner statements.
- Pricing
- Lite $39 a month (1-3 listings); Pro by quote (estimated $45+ per listing).
- Best for
- Short-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform
Hostaway
Hostaway · Hotel Management Software
Hostaway is vacation rental software with channel management, AI guest messaging, automation and a large integration marketplace, holding preferred-partner status with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com.
- Pricing
- Custom quote; estimated $20-$40 per listing (20-100 listings) plus $100-$500 setup; 2%-of-revenue option.
- Best for
- Growing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale
Guesty vs Hostaway: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Guesty |  Hostaway |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesShort-term rental management | YesVacation rental software |
| VendorDiffers | YesGuesty | YesHostaway |
| Best forDiffers | YesShort-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform | YesGrowing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesPer listing per month. | YesPer listing or revenue share. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | PartialLite $39 a month (1-3 listings); Pro by quote (estimated $45+ per listing). | PartialCustom quote; estimated $20-$40 per listing (20-100 listings) plus $100-$500 setup; 2%-of-revenue option. |
| Free plan | NoNo | NoNo |
| Free trial | NoNot documented | NoNot documented |
| Hotel Management Software criteria | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesPer listing | YesPer listing / % revenue |
| Starting priceDiffers | Yes$39/mo (Lite) | Partial~$20/listing (est.) |
| Property sizeDiffers | Yes1 to 1,000s of listings | Yes20-100+ listings |
| Best forDiffers | YesSTR managers | YesCost at scale |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises |
| Platforms | YesWeb, iOS, Android | YesWeb, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | YesAirbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, PriceLabs | YesAirbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, PriceLabs |
| API | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. |
Guesty vs Hostaway pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
Guesty pricing
Per listing per month.
- Lite$39 per month · Monthly
- ProQuote (~$45+/listing est.) · Monthly or annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. STR Specialist (July 2026), estimates. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Guesty plans and sources
Hostaway pricing
Per listing or revenue share.
- Growth~$20-$40 per listing per month (est.) · Monthly
- Revenue share2% of revenue · Monthly
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. STR Specialist (July 2026), estimates from September 2025. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Hostaway plans and sourcesGuesty vs Hostaway: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
Guesty: per listing per month. STR Specialist (July 2026), estimates. Hostaway: per listing or revenue share. STR Specialist (July 2026), estimates from September 2025. Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The Guesty profile highlights: 60+ channels; trust accounting; per-listing pricing. The Hostaway profile highlights: preferred OTA partner; AI messaging; revenue-share option.
Integrations and ecosystem
Guesty integrations named in its sources: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and PriceLabs. Hostaway: Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and PriceLabs. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
Guesty runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. Hostaway runs on Web, iOS and Android and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. We did not test setup or migration.
Guesty and Hostaway: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
Guesty
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Polished all-in-one platform.
- Smooth onboarding.
- Built-in back office.
- Pro priced by quote.
- Higher per-listing estimate than Hostaway.
- Estimates may be dated.
Hostaway
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Lower per-listing cost at scale.
- AI handles most messaging.
- 24/7 phone support.
- Setup fee.
- More self-configuration.
- Some OTA sync issues reported.
Guesty or Hostaway: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Guesty if you are…
- Short-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform
- Growing STR portfolios
- Hosts with 1-3 listings (Lite)
Less suited to: hotels; lowest cost at scale.
See the Guesty profile
Choose Hostaway if you are…
- Growing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale
- Multi-market operators
- Tech-savvy hosts
Less suited to: hotels; hands-off onboarding seekers.
See the Hostaway profileSwitching between Guesty and Hostaway.
Moving off Guesty or Hostaway means exporting future reservations, guest profiles, rate plans and folios, remapping rooms and rates on every channel, reconnecting the booking engine, payments, door locks and POS, and retraining front desk staff. Cut over in a quiet period with a manual backup of arrivals. Load your real room types, rates and a week of future bookings into each shortlisted system, then run check-in, check-out and an OTA booking end to end.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Guesty vs Hostaway: questions and answers
What is the difference between Guesty and Hostaway?
Guesty is short-term and vacation rental management software with channel management, unified inbox, automation, revenue tools, trust accounting and owner statements. Hostaway is vacation rental software with channel management, AI guest messaging, automation and a large integration marketplace, holding preferred-partner status with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. Both are hotel PMSs, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. Guesty is positioned for short-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform; Hostaway for growing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale.
Is Guesty cheaper than Hostaway?
It depends on your volume and plan. Guesty: Lite $39 a month (1-3 listings); Pro by quote (estimated $45+ per listing). Hostaway: Custom quote; estimated $20-$40 per listing (20-100 listings) plus $100-$500 setup; 2%-of-revenue option. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do Guesty or Hostaway have a free plan?
Neither documents a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. Guesty free trial: Not documented. Hostaway free trial: Not documented.
Guesty or Hostaway: which is better for small teams?
Guesty and Hostaway are both documented for small teams. Guesty suits short-term rental managers wanting an all-in-one platform; Hostaway suits growing vacation rental managers focused on cost at scale. Neither is best for everyone.
What are the main limitations of Guesty and Hostaway?
Guesty: Pro priced by quote. Hostaway: Setup fee.
How much does Guesty cost?
Lite is $39 a month for 1 to 3 listings; Pro is quoted, estimated at $45+ per listing.
How much does Hostaway cost?
A July 2026 comparison estimates $20 to $40 per listing plus a $100 to $500 setup fee, using September 2025 data.
What are the alternatives to Guesty and Hostaway?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: Guesty alternatives and Hostaway alternatives, each comparing at least four other hotel PMSs on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Hotel Management Software category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Guesty vs Hostaway (updated July 2026) STR Specialist Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the Guesty and Hostaway profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test Guesty and Hostaway?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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