Hostaway Alternatives: 6 Best Options for B&Bs, Inns and Motels That Also List on OTAs

Looking for a Hostaway alternative? Here are six platforms worth comparing: 1. roommaster, 2. Guesty, 3. Lodgify, 4. Hospitable, 5. OwnerRez and 6. Smoobu.

Hostaway is short-term-rental software built for Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com hosts, so each option here fixes a different gap it leaves open, from a real hotel front desk to per-listing pricing that punishes a growing property.

This guide sorts them by property fit, pricing model, distribution depth and support, for B&Bs, inns and motels that also list rooms on the OTAs.

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Why hotels look for Hostaway alternatives

Hostaway is capable short-term-rental software, but B&Bs, inns and motels often outgrow it or find it a poor fit from day one:

• Per-listing pricing that scales against you: Hostaway quotes privately per listing, so a 20-room inn is billed very differently from a two-cabin host, and setup fees run $300 to $1,000.
• No real hotel front desk: it is built around listings, not a front desk, night audit, folios or walk-in check-ins, the daily realities for a motel or inn.
• OTA focus over direct bookings: its strength is Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com automation, so properties wanting a commission-free booking engine tuned for room nights often need extra tools.
• Group, POS and multi-room operations: an inn hosting a wedding block or a motel running a front-desk shift needs group handling and reporting a single-host STR tool treats as an afterthought.

If any of those sound familiar, the six alternatives below map to those switch reasons.

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Comparing the 6 best Hostaway alternatives

Pricing below reflects each vendor's published or commonly cited entry point as of July 2026. Ratings are from Capterra and G2 with review counts, since sample size matters when a score looks high. roommaster is a hotel PMS; the other five are short-term-rental tools, which is the core choice a property listing on both hotel channels and Airbnb has to make.

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A pricing model tells you more than a single number. Guesty, Hospitable, OwnerRez and Smoobu scale per listing or per property, which is fine for a two-unit host but climbs fast for a 15-room inn, while Hostaway and roommaster both quote privately. The real question is whether you pay per Airbnb listing or for a system that runs your building as one hotel.

A worked cost example: what the booking engine saves

Software price is only half the math. For a small inn, the bigger line item is OTA commission. Take a 15-room B&B at 70% occupancy, a $160 average daily rate, with 40% of nights booked through OTAs at a 15% commission:

• Monthly OTA revenue routed through commissions: 15 rooms x 0.70 x 30 nights x $160 x 0.40 = roughly $20,160.
• OTA commission at 15%: about $3,024 per month.

Shifting even a quarter of those bookings to a commission-free booking engine saves close to $750 a month, which usually dwarfs the software subscription. That is why a native direct-booking channel, not just a low monthly rate, should anchor your comparison.

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How we chose these Hostaway alternatives

This list is built for B&Bs, inns and motels evaluating a Hostaway replacement, not enterprise vacation-rental portfolios. Four criteria shaped it:

• Fit for small hospitality: every tool serves small owner-run properties, though only some handle a real front desk. See how a dedicated bed and breakfast software stack differs from a single-host STR tool.
• Distribution depth: priority went to systems combining a channel manager and a direct booking engine, since fragmented OTA tools are a common switch reason.
• Transparent evaluation: pricing models and public Capterra or G2 ratings with review counts, not marketing claims.
• Migration realism: onboarding, data export, setup fees and support hours, because a switch fails on implementation more often than features.

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Top 6 Hostaway alternatives

1. roommaster (best for small hotels, inns and B&Bs that also list on OTAs)

Best for: B&Bs, inns, motels and small hotels that run a real front desk and also list rooms on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com.

roommaster (formerly innQuest) is a cloud hotel property management system that pairs front-desk and reservation workflows with a commission-free booking engine, a channel manager across hundreds of OTAs, built-in revenue management, an AI concierge and a guest app. Unlike a single-host STR tool, it treats your building as a hotel, with folios, night audit and housekeeping, while still distributing to Airbnb, Vrbo and the OTAs.

Key features

• Front desk, reservations, housekeeping and night audit in one cloud PMS, so a motel or inn runs off a single system of record, not a listings dashboard
• Channel manager with real-time sync across Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Vrbo and Agoda to cut the double-booking risk of managing OTAs by hand
• Commission-free booking engine that turns your own website into a zero-fee reservation channel, which matters more for room nights than occasional stays
• Built-in revenue management that adjusts rates automatically off demand and occupancy, so a small team captures yield without a revenue manager
• AI concierge, AI guest management and a hotel guest app with mobile check-in and digital keys
• POS, folios and group-block handling for inns hosting small weddings or corporate stays, plus reporting sized for owner-operators
• Integrated payments and 100+ integrations, including a fit for a mixed property that also runs a hostel management software setup with dorm-bed inventory

Pros

• A real front desk, night audit and folios mean a motel or inn taking walk-ins and phone bookings is not forced to fake hotel operations inside a listings tool, the core gap Hostaway leaves.
• The commission-free booking engine attacks OTA commission, the biggest cost line for most inns, so the platform can pay for itself in shifted bookings.
• 24/7 support by phone, chat and email means a front desk locked out at 2am reaches a human, not a ticket queue.
• One platform covers PMS, distribution, revenue and guest apps, removing the data-sync errors of stitching four separate vendors together.

Cons

• Pricing is quote-based rather than published, so you need a short sales conversation to benchmark it against transparently priced tools like Smoobu or Lodgify.
• It is a hotel PMS, so a pure single-owner Airbnb host with one or two cabins and no front desk will find it heavier than a dedicated STR tool like Hospitable.
• As a long-established platform, some back-office screens are denser than a mobile-first app, so staff used to an Airbnb-style dashboard face a short learning curve.

Verdict: the strongest fit if you run a real hospitality property that also lists on the OTAs and want one system for the front desk and distribution.

2. Guesty (best for professional STR managers scaling portfolios)

Best for: professional short-term-rental managers running dozens or hundreds of listings across many channels.

Guesty is an enterprise-grade vacation-rental platform for operators managing large portfolios who want automation, distribution and unified operations at scale.

Key features

• Distribution across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and 60-plus channels with real-time sync
• Unified inbox and automation for guest messaging, tasks and reviews across a portfolio
• Multi-calendar and multi-unit tools built for managers, not single owners
• Revenue-management and analytics tooling across the portfolio
• Open API and a marketplace of third-party integrations

Pros

• Its distribution reach and portfolio-level automation suit an operator scaling past the point where manual OTA management works.
• The unified inbox consolidates guest communication across every channel, so a manager with many listings is not juggling Airbnb, Vrbo and email all day.
• It scores well on review sites, with a 4.6 on G2 (64 reviews) and a 4.4 on Capterra (417 reviews) as of July 2026.

Cons

• Guesty is built and priced for professional managers, so a single inn or B&B often pays for portfolio depth it never uses. Reddit STR threads repeatedly flag it as expensive and aimed at larger operators.
• Per-listing pricing on the Pro tier, cited around $40 per listing per month as of July 2026, climbs quickly for a room-based property.
• It is a vacation-rental platform, not a hotel PMS, so a motel wanting a front desk and walk-in handling will find those absent. See other guesty alternatives or the roommaster vs guesty comparison.

Verdict: the pick for a growing STR management company, but heavy and pricey for a single small hospitality property.

3. Lodgify (best for a branded direct-booking website)

Best for: hosts and small properties that want a professional, branded direct-booking website plus a channel manager.

Lodgify is best known for its website builder, which lets a host launch a direct-booking site quickly, paired with a channel manager that syncs the major OTAs. It is a frequent Hostaway alternative for owners cutting commission through their own site.

Key features

• Website builder with templates and a direct-booking engine, so a property gets a branded site without a developer
• Channel manager syncing Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and other OTAs
• Reservation and calendar management with automated messaging
• Payment processing and a booking widget for an existing site
• Reporting and owner tools sized for small operators

Pros

• The website builder is genuinely strong for a host who wants a commission-free direct channel fast, the clearest path to reducing OTA fees.
• It rates well for onboarding and value, with a 4.5 on Capterra (1,300+ reviews) as of July 2026, and onboarding specialists draw near-universal praise.
• The all-in-one bundle keeps the website, channel manager and payments on one bill, which suits a small team.

Cons

• Some lower tiers carry a booking fee of around 1.9 percent as of July 2026, so at higher nightly rates the effective cost climbs above the sticker subscription.
• It is a vacation-rental tool, not a hotel PMS, so an inn or motel wanting a front desk, folios and night audit will find those missing.
• Reviewers note full features sit on higher tiers, so the low entry rate rarely reflects real cost. Compare other lodgify alternatives or the roommaster vs lodgify breakdown.

Verdict: a smart choice when a branded direct-booking website is the priority and you do not need hotel front-desk tools.

4. Hospitable (best for hands-off Airbnb and Vrbo automation)

Best for: single and small-portfolio Airbnb and Vrbo hosts who want automation over operational depth.

Hospitable (formerly Smartbnb) centralizes listings in one dashboard and automates guest communication, reviews and team tasks. It is a popular Hostaway alternative for hosts who want the software to run in the background.

Key features

• Automated guest messaging across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com from one inbox
• Task automation for cleaning and turnovers tied to the booking calendar
• Direct-booking website option to reduce OTA reliance
• Team access and permissions for a small remote team
• Review automation and centralized multi-listing management

Pros

• Guest-messaging automation is its clear strength, so a hands-off host spends far less time on repetitive replies and check-in instructions.
• It earns very high satisfaction scores, with a 4.9 on G2 (238 reviews) and a 4.6 on Capterra (142 reviews) as of July 2026.
• A free Essentials tier and a low single-property entry point make it easy for a tiny host to start without commitment.

Cons

• Hospitable is automation-first, not a full PMS, so an inn or motel needing a front desk, folios, POS and night audit will hit a ceiling fast.
• Pricing scales per property, so a multi-room property is billed differently than a single owner expects.
• Its OTA-host focus means walk-in and phone-heavy operations, common at motels, are not the design center. See the roommaster vs hospitable breakdown if you need hotel operations.

Verdict: ideal for a hands-off Airbnb host, but too light for a property that runs a real front desk.

5. OwnerRez (best for power users who want deep control)

Best for: owner-operators and small managers who want granular control over accounting, CRM and direct bookings.

OwnerRez is a respected vacation-rental system known for depth in channel management, CRM, accounting, messaging and direct-booking websites. It attracts power users who value control over polish.

Key features

• Channel management across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com with two-way sync
• Deep accounting, owner statements and QuickBooks integration
• Direct-booking websites and hosted booking widgets
• CRM, automated messaging and digital signatures for rental agreements
• Payment processing and detailed reporting for owners

Pros

• Its accounting and owner-statement depth is a genuine differentiator, so an owner handling finances gets tools most STR tools lack.
• It earns outstanding review scores, with a 4.9 on Capterra (260+ reviews) as of July 2026.
• Direct-booking and CRM tools help an operator build a commission-free channel and manage guest relationships over time.

Cons

• The interface is powerful but dated and complex, so reviewers consistently note a steeper learning curve than lighter tools.
• It is a vacation-rental system, not a hotel PMS, so front-desk, night-audit and walk-in workflows are outside its scope.
• Configuration depth means setup takes time and patience a very small B&B may not want. See the roommaster vs ownerrez comparison.

Verdict: a strong pick for a hands-on owner who wants control and accounting depth, less so for a property needing a front desk.

6. Smoobu (best for very small hosts on a budget)

Best for: single-property B&Bs and very small hosts who want a simple, affordable all-in-one.

Smoobu is a lightweight channel manager and PMS that connects the major OTAs and adds a booking website, guest communication and a calendar in one low-cost package. It is a common Hostaway alternative for budget-sensitive hosts.

Key features

• Channel manager across 50-plus OTAs including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Agoda
• Booking website and widget for commission-free direct reservations
• Unified inbox and automated guest messaging
• Calendar sync, cleaning tasks and basic reporting
• Multi-currency handling for international guests

Pros

• Its low monthly entry point for a single property, among the more affordable in this set as of July 2026, makes it an easy way for a tiny host to connect the OTAs.
• The all-in-one bundle keeps distribution, a booking site and messaging on one bill, which suits a single-property B&B that wants simplicity.
• Setup is straightforward, so a non-technical owner can connect channels without a long onboarding.

Cons

• Feature depth is tuned for very small hosts, so an inn or motel with a front desk, POS or group blocks will outgrow it quickly.
• Its G2 rating sits lower than peers, around 3.9 from a small sample as of July 2026, though its Capterra score of 4.5 from roughly 195 reviews is stronger.
• Some plans carry a small booking fee, and integrations are thinner than larger platforms. Smoobu has no direct roommaster comparison page yet, so use the checklist below to benchmark it.

Verdict: the value pick for a single-property host who wants the OTAs connected cheaply and can live with a light feature set.

Not sure whether a hotel PMS or a short-term-rental tool fits your property? Book a demo and walk through your own occupancy, OTA mix and front-desk needs.

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How to choose between Hostaway and these alternatives

Use the property type and switch reason, not the feature list, to narrow the field. The first question is whether you run a hotel-style operation or a set of whole-home listings:

• Do you run a real front desk with walk-ins, folios and night audit? That points to roommaster; pure listing tools like Hospitable, OwnerRez and Smoobu do not cover front-desk operations.
• Is your priority a branded direct-booking website? Lodgify leads there, with OwnerRez strong for owners who also want accounting depth.
• Are you scaling a large short-term-rental portfolio? Guesty is built for that, while a single small property will find it heavy and costly.
• Is budget the deciding factor for one property? Smoobu and Hospitable's lower tiers compete on price; confirm booking fees and per-property scaling.
• Do you list on both hotel OTAs and Airbnb or Vrbo? A hotel PMS with a channel manager, like roommaster, handles both, while a pure STR tool such as Hostaway centers on the vacation-rental channels. The hospitable vs hostaway comparison helps inside the STR category.

This table maps the common property situations to a recommended pick:

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Why roommaster is a strong Hostaway alternative

For B&Bs, inns and motels leaving Hostaway specifically, roommaster closes the gap a short-term-rental tool cannot: it treats your property as a hotel while still distributing to the vacation-rental channels. Hostaway is strong software for whole-home Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, with genuine automation, a unified inbox and a large marketplace, but a room-based property reaches for pieces it does not center on:

• A real front desk, night audit and folios run daily hotel operations a listings dashboard was never built for.
• A commission-free booking engine attacks OTA commission, the biggest cost line for an inn, in a way per-listing STR pricing does not.
• A channel manager across hundreds of OTAs keeps Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo in sync from the same system that runs the front desk.
• 24/7 phone, chat and email support covers overnight front-desk emergencies.
• Group blocks, POS and multi-room reporting handle the weddings, corporate stays and walk-in traffic a small hotel actually sees.

That said, be honest about fit. If you are a single-owner host with one or two whole-home Airbnb listings and no front desk, a dedicated STR tool like Hostaway, Hospitable or Guesty suits you better than a full hotel PMS, and roommaster's quote-based pricing means a sales conversation. For a property that runs a front desk and also lists on the OTAs, the switch to one platform that carries the whole operation is the practical win. The side-by-side roommaster vs hostaway breakdown helps you judge the trade honestly.

See how roommaster handles your front desk, distribution and OTA listings in one platform, and bring your current Hostaway quote to compare.

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Bottom line

Hostaway is solid short-term-rental software for whole-home Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, but if per-listing pricing, a missing front desk or thin hotel operations are pushing you to compare, the six alternatives here cover every switch reason.

A single-owner host leans to Hospitable, Smoobu or Lodgify; a growing portfolio manager fits Guesty. For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a front desk and also lists on the OTAs, roommaster is the most complete fit. Shortlist two, run demos with your own numbers, and let the total cost, not the sticker price, decide.

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FAQs

What is the best Hostaway alternative for small hotels and B&Bs?

For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a real front desk and also lists on the OTAs, roommaster is the strongest fit because it adds folios, night audit and a commission-free booking engine that a short-term-rental tool lacks. A pure Airbnb host is better served by Hospitable or Smoobu.

How does roommaster compare to Hostaway?

Both distribute across Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, but roommaster is a hotel PMS with a front desk, night audit, POS and group tools, while Hostaway is short-term-rental software built around whole-home listings. roommaster suits room-based properties; Hostaway suits vacation-rental hosts.

Are there cheaper alternatives to Hostaway?

Hostaway quotes privately per listing with setup fees of $300 to $1,000, so comparison is quote-to-quote. Smoobu, Lodgify and Hospitable publish lower entry prices as of July 2026, though per-property scaling and booking fees can raise the real cost. Always confirm what a quote includes.

Is Hostaway good for a property that also lists on Airbnb and Vrbo?

Hostaway is built for Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, so it handles those channels well. But a property that also runs a hotel front desk usually needs a PMS like roommaster that manages both OTA listings and daily front-desk operations from one system.

Which Hostaway alternative works for a motel or inn with a front desk?

roommaster is the clearest fit, since Guesty, Lodgify, Hospitable, OwnerRez and Smoobu are short-term-rental tools without front-desk, night-audit or walk-in workflows. Only a hotel PMS covers the daily operations a motel or inn runs.

What features should I look for in Hostaway competitors?

Prioritize a real front desk if you run one, an included channel manager and commission-free booking engine, transparent pricing, group and POS tools for small hotels, real support hours, and clear data-export terms so a future switch stays low-risk.