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Whether you manage vacation rentals, short-term stays, or a mix of property types, the right rental management software can save time and boost profitability. From online booking to payment processing, today's platforms offer powerful tools to streamline operations.
Below, we’ve rounded up top short-term rental management software to help you find the best fit for your portfolio and budget.
Looking for an all-in-one solution? DoorLoop makes it easy to manage short-term rentals, vacation properties, and more—all from one dashboard. Schedule a free demo today and see how DoorLoop can simplify your rental business.
Best Short-Term Rental Software at a Glance
This table provides a quick side-by-side comparison.
<table style="width:100%"><tr><th>Software</th><th>Pricing Starts At</th></tr><tr><td>Hostaway</td><td>Contact sales</td></tr><tr><td>Lodgify</td><td>$67 per month for up to 20 rentals and has an additional 1.9% booking fee.</td></tr><tr><td>Guesty</td><td>$49 per month per unit</td></tr><tr><td>LiveRez</td><td>Contact sales</td></tr><tr><td>RMS Cloud</td><td>Contact sales</td></tr><tr><td>Escapia</td><td>Contact sales</td></tr><tr><td>DoorLoop</td><td>$69/month</td></tr></table>
The Best Property Management Software for Short-Term Rentals
There are numerous rental management software options available, each with its unique strengths. Here are seven of the top options in no particular order:
For each tool, we've broken down the following:
- Feature set
- Pros and cons
- Pricing
Some important features to look forward to in these software solutions are payment processing, accounting tools, revenue management, online booking system, a way to accept direct bookings, the ability to accept online payments, tools to manage reservations, automated messages, and more.
Altogether, these features are indicators for the best short-term rental management software.
1. Hostaway
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 (1,303 reviews)
Hostaway is a dedicated vacation rental software with a variety of useful features for short-term rentals.
It offers good reporting features and payment automation for property managers as well as some unique ones like cross-listing optimization. It also has a strong list of integrations you can tap into.
However, where Hostaway falls short is mainly in pricing, coming in at roughly twice the monthly price of some comparable solutions.
Hostaway Features
- Good reporting features
- Automated payments
- Basic accounting features
- Owner portal
- Automated messaging
- Website for direct bookings
Hostaway Pricing
Hostaway does not list the pricing for its vacation rental management system online. Property managers and property management companies will have to submit their contact information to receive a quote.
2. Lodgify
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 (1,137 reviews)
Lodgify is a vacation rental software that offers a clean user interface and a solid base of features.
The vacation rental software allows users to input reservations and offers valuable features like a scheduling calendar.
It also has a great website builder.
Lodgify offers a wealth of guides and resources for getting started, making the process easy for property managers and property management companies.
With that said, you’ll be mostly restricted to what Lodgify can do on its own, unless you want to click between multiple apps; the property management system doesn't offer many integrations for property managers.
Plus, users report that the software's automated messaging system doesn’t work especially well.
Lodgify Features
- Reservations
- Scheduling calendar
- Automated messaging
- Task management
- Direct bookings
- Booking management
Lodgify Pricing
Lodgify's pricing plans for the property management system are a bit complex. They're based on the number of units and have an additional percentage-based booking fee.
For example, the Starter plan for the vacation rental software costs $67 per month for up to 20 rentals and has an additional 1.9% booking fee.
3. Guesty
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.4 (316 reviews)
Guesty is a property management software with several strong features that make it a great choice for those looking for a short-term rental solution.
What helps Guesty stand apart from the short-term rental software options thus far is its great customer service, including a premium 24/7 support line for higher-level customers.
It also offers a good list of integrations, including a channel manager.
However, Guesty is on the pricey side, so property management professionals looking for an affordable solution might find this a no-go.
Guesty Features
- Online payments
- Work order management
- Owner portal
- Management of direct bookings
- Channel manager
Guesty Pricing
Guesty uses an enterprise pricing model. For managing just one rental, it costs $49 per month. For two, it's $74 per month, and for three, it's $99 per month.
You have to contact Guesty directly to get quotes for anything beyond that for all your properties.
4. LiveRez
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 (87 reviews)
LiveRez is a dedicated vacation rental management software with one of the largest collections of features on this list.
Users report that LiveRez’s accounting features and vendor management in particular are strong and offer tools that most competitors lack.
The trade-off in this property management system is that users also report having bad customer service experiences with the company, with either slow response times or, on some occasions, rude customer service reps.
LiveRez Features
- Work order management
- Good accounting features
- Messaging features
- Vendor management
LiveRez Pricing
LiveRez doesn't list the pricing for its property management system anywhere online, so you’ll need to contact its sales team to find out specifics about its pricing plans.
5. RMS Cloud
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.4 (418 reviews)
RMS Cloud has one of the most extensive sets of features compared to the other software on this list, offering everything from work order management to a full CRM.
However, it doesn't offer vendor management, a feature most of its competitors do and users need.
With that said, it's a good option for anyone mostly concerned with features and capability and less on pricing.
RMS Cloud Features
- Online payments
- Work order management
- Robust reporting
- Real-time reservations
RMS Cloud Pricing
Like several on this list, RMS Cloud uses an enterprise pricing model. You’ll need to contact its sales team to find out more about its pricing model.
6. Escapia
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.6 (182 reviews)
Escapia is another great option with solid lead management and booking tools.
The software is relatively intuitive and easy to use, with a convenient smartphone app version you can use on the go.
Unfortunately, while Escapia has a strong set of features, users often report that the software itself can be unreliable and riddled with glitches that make daily use of it a bit difficult.
Escapia Features
- Owner portal
- Reporting
- Reservation calendar
- Basic accounting features
Escapia Pricing
Escapia doesn’t offer its pricing online, so you’ll need to contact its sales team to find out more.
7. DoorLoop
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 (693 reviews)
DoorLoop is an all-in-one property management suite designed to make managing your entire portfolio easier.
It includes the tools you may need in vacation rental software as well as solutions for other types of properties, making it a great option for all your properties if you have a mixed portfolio.
It’s perfect for property managers looking for a solution that allows them to manage multiple different types of properties simultaneously, from vacation rentals to multi-family rental properties and anything else.
And if you’re a property management professional looking for something that goes above and beyond for your short-term or vacation rental business, DoorLoop’s affordable pricing, great customer service, and ease of use make it an all-around great choice for getting the most out of your rental properties.
DoorLoop Features
- Rent collection: With automatic payments, payment reminders, payment processing, and more, your rent collection can be easier than ever. There are also multiple options, such as credit card payments.
- Robust accounting features: Looking for a replacement for QuickBooks? You’ve got everything you need. Would you rather continue using QuickBooks and adopt DoorLoop as your dedicated property tool? You can do that too with a convenient QuickBooks Online integration.
- Maintenance management tools: Manage all your maintenance requests, assign to vendors, payout vendors, and more straight from the app.
- eLeasing: Accept applications online and even screen those applicants to ensure you’re bringing in quality tenants you can count on.
- Tenant portal and communications tools: Give tenants one central place to see all their responsibilities and you a convenient place to centralize communications with them.
And there's much, much more than that in DoorLoop's rental software.
DoorLoop Pricing
DoorLoop lets you get started with its rental software for as little as $69 per month when paid annually, giving you access to the lion’s share of its deep feature set.
Schedule a free demo and try DoorLoop today.
Choosing the Right Short-Term Rental Management Software
Selecting the right short-term rental management software can be challenging, but considering the following factors can help you make an informed decision:
- Cost: Evaluate the cost of the software and determine if it is cost-effective for your business. Consider both the initial investment and ongoing expenses.
- Features: Identify the features you need and ensure the software offers them. Prioritize features that will have the most significant impact on your operations.
- Integration: Check if the software integrates with other tools and services you use, such as accounting software and property management systems.
- Customer Support: Reliable customer support is crucial. Look for software that offers robust support options, including 24/7 assistance if needed.
- Scalability: Ensure the software can grow with your business. It should be able to handle an increasing number of properties and bookings as your business expands.
Supercharge Your Business with Short-Term Rental Management Software
Managing rental properties with Excel spreadsheets is a thing of the past.
Now, sophisticated property management software allows you not only to streamline complicated systems but also to automate many cumbersome processes for all your properties.
Use the best rental management software to give your portfolio an advantage, and save yourself both time and hassle in the process.
Want to compare more vacation rental software and property management software systems? Download this free whitepaper to get the inside scoop on the most popular picks!
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is short-term rental management software?
Short-term rental management software is a digital platform that helps property owners and managers automate and streamline tasks such as booking, guest communication, payment processing, and calendar syncing across platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. It is designed to save time, reduce errors, and improve the guest experience through one centralized system.
How does short-term rental software work?
Short-term rental software works by connecting your property listings, calendars, and guest communications in one centralized platform. It automates key tasks like syncing availability across booking sites, sending messages to guests, processing payments, and managing check-ins and cleanings.
Do I need software if I only manage a few properties?
Yes, even if you manage just a few properties, short-term rental software can save you time and help avoid costly mistakes like double bookings or missed messages. It automates daily tasks, keeps everything organized, and gives you a more professional setup, especially as your business grows.
What features should I look for in short-term rental management software?
Look for features that help automate and simplify your workflow, such as calendar syncing, automated guest messaging, booking management, and payment processing. Integration with platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, as well as tools for cleaning schedules, reviews, and dynamic pricing, are also key. The best software fits your portfolio size and helps you scale with ease.
How much does short-term rental software cost?
The cost of short-term rental management software varies, but most platforms charge a monthly fee based on the number of properties or features included. Prices typically start around $20 to $50 per month for a single property.
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