While the three platforms are similar — showcasing home listings — each offers different perks and features that could make a big difference when you're planning your next trip.
So which rental site is right for you? Here's what you need to know if you're deciding between Airbnb and VRBO and Houfy.
Founded in 2008 originally as Air Bed and Breakfast until a 2009 rebrand, Airbnb is a home rental platform with a simple premise: connect homeowners to customers looking for short term rentals. The idea came from founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia in 2007 after the two were looking to rent space in their San Francisco apartment to help them afford the cost of rent. Later, they brought on Nathan Blecharczyk as chief technology officer, and Airbnb was born.
VRBO is short for Vacation Rental By Owner, and as the name implies, it specializes in vacation rentals of all types: houses, apartments, condos, villas, etc. The site was founded in 1995 and allows homeowners to advertise property listings to renters. In 2006, VRBO was acquired by HomeAway, and joined the HomeAway network which includes other sites like VacationRentals.com
Houfy provides an easy to use, unique and enhanced experience to list or find vacation rental properties with no communication restrictions between hosts and guests.
Houfy's mission is to connect people and places. Houfy derived its name from “HOUse For You” and includes a social site where members can share local information around their place.
If there is one thing that sets Airbnb apart from other platforms, it's the service's extensive host network that offers literally millions of listings. In fact, Airbnb announced in 2017 that it hosts more than 4 million listings in over 191 countries. Anyone can become an Airbnb host and rent out spaces as big as a whole house or as small as a shared room.
Like Airbnb, anyone can become post a listing on VRBO, and the site offers a range of rental types including houses, apartments, castles, tree houses, and more. However, unlike Airbnb, you can only rent entire homes on VRBO, which means it has fewer rentals than Airbnb. (On VRBO's website, it boasts that it has over 2 million rentals worldwide, compared to Airbnb's 4 million.)
Houfy will be combining entire places, shared rooms as well as multiple room listings (Small Hotels).
Airbnb charges both hosts and guests fees. Guests are typically chargedup to 14 percent of the reservation subtotal. Meanwhile hosts are charged a 3 percent fee every time a booking is completed with Airbnb. And if you're hosting an experience, Airbnb will charge a 20 percent service fee.
Like Airbnb, VRBO also charges fees to both homeowners and guests. Guests are typically charged a 6 percent to 12 percent service fee. The service fee is more complicated for homeowners. To list a rental on VRBO, they must pay a subscription fee. There are two primary subscription payment plans available for VRBO hosts: pay-per-booking, in which hosts are charged 8 percent for each booking received through the site (VRBO recommends this option for new renters or people who rent for less than six weeks per year) and an annual subscription payment, which charges homeowners a flat $499 fee up front for the year.
Houfy will soon start charging hosts a flat fee per listing per month. Houfy will not charge service fees on bookings. Direct payment systems have been added to the platform (Stripe/Square) and direct communication between owners and guests will always be available.
What do others have to say about these companies?
That depends on which kind of trip you're looking for. Considering the flexibility of rental type, the extensive host network, and the suite of "explore" features, Airbnb may be better for anyone dedicated to a more adventurous trip.
However, if you're committed for a full vacation, a true escape for yourself, VBRO may be better suited for you. Of course, that's not a hard and fast rule, and each website offers a range of tools and rentals that'll help you book the dream trip.
Houfy will definitely be the place to go to save $$$$ for the same place you find on Airbnb and or VRBO.
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