Hostaway vs. Guesty (and Hospitable)
Comparing three industry giants in vacation rental software
Hostaway and Guesty are well-known enterprise solutions built for property management companies. Both offer an expansive suite of features but require advanced knowledge, lengthy onboarding, and setup costs.
To enrich this comparison, we’re introducing Hospitable—the G2 best-rated vacation rental software of 2024–25, offering powerful automation and unmatched usability.
TL;DR comparison table
Hospitable is the only option that combines host-friendly pricing with tools built for co-hosts and PMs. It also leads in user satisfaction according to reviews on G2 and Capterra.
Guesty splits features: Lite is limited, Pro is enterprise-only with no trial.
Hostaway is fully enterprise-focused, with no free trial and a setup fee.
Platform summaries
Feature comparison
Communication automation and AI
Hospitable is pioneering guest communication and AI solutions.
Hospitable is the only platform with full guest reply automation (you can opt it for AI to answer all guest questions without your review), built-in AI performance insights (ask Copilot questions about finance and booking performance as well as guest reviews and get a detailed response in plain English), and native upsells.
Guesty relies on integrations for upsells and lacks full automation and AI assistance.
Hostaway supports upsells and AI reviews but misses full guest reply automation and AI performance tools.
Operations
Hospitable offers better performance and greater value in operations management than Guesty and Hostaway.
Dynamic pricing: Hospitable includes dynamic pricing for users on Host, Professional, and Mogul plans at no extra cost, while Guesty and Hostaway charge extra.
Smart thermostat management in sync with bookings: included in Hospitable’s packages starting from the Professional one, and not supported by Guesty and Hostaway.
Smart locks: also included in Hospitable starting from the Professional plan, while Guesty and Hostaway charge extra for this feature.
Direct booking
Integrations
Property management solutions
G2 Ratings: Hospitable (Purple) vs. Guesty & Hostaway (Gray) | Winter 2026
Usability
8.18/10
9.11/10
Results
8.18/10
9.26/10
Implementation
Relationship
Why choose Hospitable?
Hospitable is the smarter choice for:
- Hosts and co-hosts - Property managers
It combines:
- Leading AI automation tools - A user-friendly interface - No onboarding fees - No contracts - Dynamic pricing included on Host, Professional, and Mogul plans - Smart lock and thermostat management included from the Professional plan - Full-scale property management solutions, including owner payouts
Common questions
What is the difference between Hostaway and Guesty?
Both are enterprise-grade solutions, but they have different focus areas:
Hostaway is known for its high "Relationship" scores on review sites and its popularity in the Asia-Pacific region. It requires a $500 setup fee and several hours of onboarding.
Guesty is a global brand that splits its product into Guesty Lite (for 1-3 units) and Guesty Pro (for enterprises). Guesty Pro includes a built-in CRM and multi-unit support but often locks users into long-term contracts.
Hospitable (The Alternative): Unlike the others, Hospitable has no setup fees, no obligatory contracts, and consistently wins the G2 "Best Usability" badge.
How do Hostaway’s and Guesty’s prices compare?
Pricing for both is complex and often "hidden":
Hostaway generally requires a custom quote. There is no free trial, and you must pay an onboarding fee to start. Many features like dynamic pricing and smart locks are paid add-ons.
Guesty Lite starts at ~$39/mo, but Guesty Pro is enterprise-priced. Like Hostaway, advanced automation features are often extra costs.
Hospitable starts at $29/mo with a 14-day free trial. Crucially, Dynamic Pricing is included for free on Host, Professional, and Mogul plans, and Smart Lock/Thermostat sync is included starting from the Professional tier.
Which is better for guest communication automation: Hostaway or Guesty?
Both offer scheduled messages and AI-suggested drafts, but they still require a human to "click send" for personalized answers.
Hospitable pioneered Full Guest Reply Automation. Using its Inbox AI, Hospitable can autonomously answer guest questions 24/7 without host intervention.
Which is better for professional property managers: Hostaway or Guesty?
Choose Guesty if you manage boutique hotels or complex multi-unit buildings that require a full CRM.
Choose Hospitable if you want to streamline owner relations. Hospitable is the only PMS that handles Actual Owner Payouts (moving the funds) and provides Branded Owner Portals as a standard feature.
Hostaway is a strong all-rounder for large teams, but its lack of native owner payout tools often requires managers to use external accounting workarounds.
Which is better for STR operations automation: Guesty or Hostaway?
Hospitable integrates the "physical" stay more deeply than its competitors:
Hospitable includes native sync for Smart Locks and Thermostats starting from its Professional plan. In Guesty and Hostaway, these are typically paid third-party add-ons.
Hospitable features Automated Upsells for vacant nights, which proactively messages guests to extend their stays, directly increasing revenue without manual effort.