Hostfully Alternatives: 6 Best PMS Options for B&Bs, Inns and Motels

Compare the 6 best Hostfully alternatives for B&Bs, inns and motels, with pricing models, pros, cons and a switch checklist. See where each PMS fits.
Mayela lozano
July 31, 2026
15
min. read
hostfully-alternatives

TL;DR

  • roommaster: cloud hotel PMS with a real front desk, night audit, a commission-free booking engine, a channel manager and 24/7 phone support, built for B&Bs and inns that also list on OTAs.
  • Hostaway: short-term-rental management platform strong on channel distribution and automation for mid-size Airbnb and Vrbo portfolios.
  • Guesty: enterprise-grade STR platform for larger portfolios and property-management companies that need deep automation and an open API.
  • Lodgify: website-and-booking-focused tool that helps small hosts build a direct-booking site fast.
  • OwnerRez: US-focused, flat-fee STR system respected for reliability, channel sync and reporting.
  • Smoobu: simple, low-cost all-in-one for very small hosts who want predictable flat pricing.

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

Each one fixes a different gap that Hostfully leaves open, from a real front desk to flat, predictable pricing for a small property.

This guide sorts them by all-in-one depth, pricing model, property-type fit and support. Note that Hostfully sells two separate products, the Property Management Platform covered here and a standalone Guidebooks app, and this comparison targets the PMS.

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Why hotels look for Hostfully alternatives

Hostfully runs plenty of short-term-rental businesses well, and operators on r/ShortTermRentals call it one of the more versatile tools for a mid-size portfolio. But a few recurring frustrations push B&B, inn and motel operators to compare options before renewal:

  • Built for whole-home STR, not a front desk: Hostfully centers on Airbnb and Vrbo listing management, so a property with a real check-in desk, night audit, folios and walk-in guests finds those hotel workflows thin or missing.
  • Pricing climbs with the portfolio: Hostfully charges per property on tiered subscriptions, and reviewers note the cost rises noticeably as unit count grows.
  • Two products, two bills: the Property Management Platform and the Guidebooks app are separate purchases, so a B&B wanting both distribution and a digital guest guide manages two subscriptions.
  • Stability and support gripes: public reviews cite bugs, sync hiccups with Airbnb and Vrbo, and support that can feel like a second job during busy periods.

What hoteliers say: On Reddit's r/ShortTermRentals, operators running several units often praise Hostfully as the most versatile pick for a mid-size portfolio, while smaller hosts weigh whether they are paying for depth a two-or-three-room B&B never uses. On the guidebook side, users regularly compare Hostfully Guidebooks against Touch Stay, since that guest-guide product is bought separately from the PMS. Verified Capterra reviews echo both sides, calling the platform adaptable for 100-plus listings but flagging bugs and Airbnb and Vrbo sync issues.

If any of those sound familiar, the six alternatives below map to the switch reasons small-property operators cite most.

Comparing the 6 best Hostfully alternatives

Pricing models below reflect each vendor's published or commonly cited entry point as of July 2026. Ratings referenced in the profiles are from Capterra and G2 with review counts, since sample size matters when a score looks high.

PMS Best for Pricing model Property/segment fit Standout capability
roommaster B&Bs and inns that run a front desk and list on OTAs Custom quote (contact sales) B&Bs, inns, motels, boutique hotels, groups Hotel-grade front desk plus commission-free booking engine and 24/7 phone support
Hostaway Mid-size STR portfolios From ~$100/month, scales by listings Short-term rentals, Airbnb and Vrbo hosts Channel distribution and automation for growing portfolios
Guesty Larger STR operations and PM companies Per-listing tiers, quote-based, premium Mid-to-large STR portfolios Deep automation and open API at scale
Lodgify Building a direct-booking website From ~$16/month plus booking fee on lower tiers Small STR hosts and B&Bs Fast website builder with an integrated booking engine
OwnerRez US STR operators wanting reliability Flat fee from ~$40/month, scales by units US short-term rentals and B&Bs Rock-solid channel sync and reporting, no per-booking fee
Smoobu Very small, budget-first hosts Flat tiers roughly EUR 15 to 45/month 1 to 15 listings, small B&Bs Predictable flat pricing with a free trial

A pricing model tells you more than a single number. Hostfully and roommaster both quote by property, Hostaway and OwnerRez scale with units, Lodgify adds a booking fee on its lower tiers, and Guesty layers premium modules, so a low sticker rate rarely stays low once you add channels and features.

A worked cost example: what the booking engine saves

Software price is only half the math. The bigger line item for a B&B or inn is OTA commission. Take a 12-room inn at 65% occupancy, a $140 average daily rate and 40% of nights booked through OTAs at 15% commission:

  • Monthly OTA revenue routed through commissions: 12 rooms x 0.65 x 30 nights x $140 x 0.40 = roughly $13,100.
  • OTA commission at 15%: about $1,970 per month.

Shifting even a fifth of those bookings to a commission-free booking engine saves close to $390 a month, which often covers the PMS subscription on its own. That is why a native direct-booking channel, not just a low monthly rate, should anchor your comparison.

How we chose these Hostfully alternatives

This list is built for B&Bs, inns and motels evaluating a Hostfully replacement. Four criteria shaped it:

  • Fit for small room-based properties: every tool serves owner-operated and small-team properties. For a deeper look at tools tuned to this segment, see the best bed and breakfast software options.
  • All-in-one depth: priority went to systems that combine core operations, channel manager and booking engine, since juggling separate tools is 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 and support hours, because a switch fails on implementation more often than on features.

Top 6 Hostfully alternatives

1. roommaster (best for B&Bs and inns that run a front desk)

Best for: B&Bs, inns and motels that operate a real check-in desk and also list on OTAs, and want front desk, distribution and guest tools in one cloud platform.

roommaster (formerly innQuest) is a cloud hotel property management system that pairs core front-desk and reservation workflows with a commission-free booking engine, a channel manager, built-in revenue management, an AI concierge and a guest app. It has run hotel software for more than 25 years.

Key features

  • Full front desk with reservations, housekeeping, night audit and guest folios, so a nightly-rate property closes its books properly instead of stitching together spreadsheets
  • Channel manager that syncs rates and availability in real time across hundreds of OTAs including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Vrbo and Agoda, so you stop double-booking peak weekends
  • Commission-free booking engine that turns your own website into a zero-fee reservation channel, the single biggest lever a small property has against OTA commission
  • Built-in revenue management that adjusts rates automatically off demand and occupancy, so a two-person team gets dynamic pricing without hiring a revenue manager
  • AI concierge, AI guest management and a hotel guest app with mobile check-in and digital keys for the self-service touches guests now expect
  • Integrated PCI-compliant, multi-currency payments plus 100-plus integrations across accounting, POS and door locks, and 24/7 phone, chat and email support

Pros

  • A genuine hotel front desk, night audit and folio system handles the walk-ins, deposits and end-of-day accounting that whole-home STR tools like Hostfully were never built to run.
  • 24/7 expert support by phone, chat and email, staffed from offices in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, means a front desk locked out at 2am reaches a human rather than a ticket queue.
  • The commission-free direct-booking engine goes after OTA commission, the biggest cost line for most small properties, so the platform can pay for itself in shifted bookings.
  • One platform covers PMS, distribution, revenue and guest apps, removing the second-subscription juggling that comes from running an STR tool plus a separate guidebook product.

Cons

  • Pricing is quote-based rather than published, so you need a short sales conversation to benchmark it against transparently priced rivals like Smoobu or Lodgify.
  • The breadth of hotel modules means a pure single-owner, whole-home Airbnb host with no front desk may pay for depth a dedicated STR tool would not charge for.
  • As a long-established platform, some back-office screens are denser than a stripped-back, listing-first STR app, so hosts used to a minimalist interface face a short learning curve.

Verdict: the strongest fit if your property runs a real front desk and lists on OTAs, and you want one hotel-grade system instead of an STR tool bolted to a separate guest-guide product.

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2. Hostaway (best for mid-size short-term-rental portfolios)

Best for: operators running a mid-size portfolio of Airbnb and Vrbo units who want strong channel distribution and automation.

Hostaway is a short-term-rental management platform built around channel distribution, automated messaging and a marketplace of integrations. Like Hostfully, it targets whole-home rental operators rather than front-desk hotels.

Key features

  • Channel manager that pushes rates and availability across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and more from one dashboard
  • Automated guest messaging and task assignment so a lean team can run more units without more staff
  • Unified inbox that consolidates guest conversations across every channel into one thread
  • Marketplace of integrations for dynamic pricing, upselling, insurance and cleaning coordination
  • Reporting and owner statements suited to property managers handling third-party owners

Pros

  • Deep channel distribution and automation let a mid-size portfolio scale listings without the manual sync work that eats an owner's week, which is why Hostfully switchers shortlist it.
  • The integration marketplace lets operators assemble a best-of-breed stack, keeping tools they already trust for pricing or upselling.
  • Owner statements and reporting are built for third-party management, a workflow small STR tools often lack.

Cons

  • Pricing is quote-based and scales with listing count, and reviewers note it can climb quickly, so budget-first owners should confirm the all-in number. Weigh other Hostaway alternatives if predictable cost matters.
  • Like Hostfully, it centers on whole-home STR, so a property with a staffed front desk, folios and night audit will find hotel workflows missing.
  • The breadth of automation carries a setup curve some smaller operators find heavier than a two-or-three-unit host needs.

Verdict: a strong pick for a growing STR portfolio, though a front-desk B&B or inn will still miss true hotel operations. See the side-by-side roommaster vs Hostaway comparison to judge the trade.

3. Guesty (best for larger STR operations)

Best for: larger short-term-rental portfolios and property-management companies that need deep automation and an open API.

Guesty is an enterprise-grade STR platform that consolidates distribution, automation, payments and reporting for operators managing many units, and it is the scale option on most Hostfully-alternatives lists.

Key features

  • Multi-channel distribution across major OTAs with centralized rate and availability control
  • Advanced automation for messaging, tasks and workflows across a large portfolio
  • Open API and a broad integration marketplace for custom tech stacks
  • Guesty Payments and unified accounting and owner reporting
  • Multi-user roles and permissions suited to a management company with teams

Pros

  • The depth of automation and API access suits operators who have outgrown a simpler tool and need to run hundreds of units without adding headcount.
  • Centralized distribution and reporting give a management company one control panel across a large, dispersed portfolio.
  • Enterprise features like granular roles and owner accounting are more mature than most small-property tools offer.

Cons

  • Guesty is among the most expensive options here, with per-listing tiers that make it heavy for a small B&B or inn. Compare other Guesty alternatives first.
  • The platform is built for scale, so a two-to-ten-room property pays for complexity it will not use.
  • It remains an STR platform at heart, so front-desk, night-audit and walk-in workflows are not its focus.

Verdict: the pick for a large STR operation, but overbuilt for the B&B and inn segment. The roommaster vs Guesty breakdown shows where a hotel PMS fits better.

4. Lodgify (best for building a direct-booking website)

Best for: small hosts and B&Bs that want to spin up a professional direct-booking website quickly.

Lodgify is known for its website builder paired with a booking engine and channel manager, aimed at hosts who want to drive direct reservations rather than automate a large portfolio.

Key features

  • Drag-and-drop website builder with templates designed for vacation rentals and small properties
  • Integrated booking engine so guests reserve directly on the host's own site
  • Channel manager that syncs with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com
  • Payment processing and automated booking confirmations built in
  • Reservation and calendar management sized for small hosts

Pros

  • The website builder lets a non-technical owner launch a polished direct-booking site fast, cutting reliance on OTA commission.
  • An integrated booking engine on the host's own domain captures commission-free reservations, the lever that makes direct booking valuable for any small property.
  • Lower entry tiers make it approachable for a host testing direct bookings before committing to a heavier platform.

Cons

  • Lower Lodgify tiers add a booking fee on top of the subscription, so the effective cost per reservation can surprise a budget-first operator. Review other Lodgify alternatives if fee structure matters.
  • It centers on the website and STR distribution rather than a front desk, so an inn with staffed check-in and folios will outgrow it.
  • Deeper reporting and multi-property operations are limited next to a full PMS.

Verdict: a smart choice for a small host whose priority is a direct-booking website, less so for a property that needs real front-desk operations. See roommaster vs Lodgify for the operational gaps.

5. OwnerRez (best for US operators wanting reliability)

Best for: US-based short-term-rental operators and B&Bs that value dependable channel sync, reporting and a flat fee.

OwnerRez is a long-standing, US-focused STR system respected for stability, accurate channel sync and detailed reporting, the reliability pick on most Hostfully-alternatives lists.

Key features

  • Two-way channel sync with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com that reviewers rate for accuracy
  • Hosted booking widgets and a WordPress plugin for direct bookings on your own site
  • Detailed reporting, owner statements and QuickBooks integration
  • Automated guest messaging, e-signature agreements and damage protection options
  • Flat monthly pricing that scales with unit count, with no per-booking fee

Pros

  • OwnerRez earns a reputation for reliable, accurate channel sync, which reduces the double-booking risk that plagues operators juggling several OTAs.
  • Flat pricing with no per-booking fee makes total cost predictable, a relief after Hostfully's per-property tiers climb.
  • Strong reporting and QuickBooks integration give owner-operators accounting clarity many lightweight tools lack.

Cons

  • Coverage, support and integrations are strongest in the US, so a property elsewhere may find fewer local connections.
  • The interface is powerful but utilitarian, and some new users report a learning curve before it clicks.
  • It remains an STR-first tool, so a B&B or inn running a staffed front desk will still miss hotel-grade operations.

Verdict: a dependable, fairly priced choice for a US STR operator, though front-desk properties should compare roommaster vs OwnerRez for the operations gap.

6. Smoobu (best for very small, budget-first hosts)

Best for: very small B&Bs and hosts with a handful of units who want simple, predictable, low-cost software.

Smoobu is an all-in-one STR tool with a channel manager, booking engine, website builder and guest communication, priced in flat tiers for small portfolios and positioned as the value option.

Key features

  • Channel manager that syncs Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and more from one calendar
  • Booking engine and simple website builder for commission-free direct reservations
  • Guest communication and automated messages sized for a solo or two-person team
  • Flat pricing tiers for roughly 1, 5 or 15 listings, so cost stays predictable
  • Unified reservation calendar and basic reporting

Pros

  • Flat, low tiers make Smoobu one of the most affordable and predictable options here, ideal for a host replacing Hostfully mainly to cut cost.
  • The all-in-one bundle keeps channel manager, booking engine and website on one bill, matching the single-vendor simplicity many switchers want.
  • A free trial and quick setup lower the risk of trying it.

Cons

  • Feature depth is tuned for very small portfolios, so a growing property will hit ceilings on reporting and operations.
  • It is an STR tool, not a hotel PMS, so front-desk, folio and night-audit workflows are absent.
  • Support and integrations are lighter than the pricier platforms, which matters when a sync breaks during a busy weekend.

Verdict: the value pick for a tiny B&B that leads with budget and can live without hotel-grade front-desk tools.

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How to choose between Hostfully and these alternatives

Use the switch reason, not the feature list, to narrow the field. Borrow the questions any good PMS demo should answer:

  • Do you run a real front desk, or manage whole-home listings? A staffed check-in, night audit and folios point to roommaster; pure whole-home hosts are well served by Hostaway, OwnerRez or Smoobu.
  • Is the channel manager and booking engine included, or an add-on? All-in-one billing favors roommaster and Smoobu; confirm what each quote bundles.
  • How big is your portfolio? Very small properties lean to Smoobu or Lodgify, mid-size STR portfolios to Hostaway, larger operations to Guesty, and front-desk B&Bs, inns and motels to roommaster. Longer-stay and dorm properties should also weigh dedicated hostel management software.
  • Is budget the deciding factor? Smoobu and Lodgify compete on price; check what booking fees or add-ons the quote assumes.
  • What are support hours, migration fees and data export terms? Confirm these in writing before you sign, since implementation is where switches fail.

Why roommaster is a strong Hostfully alternative

For teams leaving Hostfully specifically, roommaster closes the exact gaps that trigger the switch. Hostfully is a capable short-term-rental platform, versatile for mid-size portfolios and paired with its own Guidebooks product, but it was built for whole-home listings rather than room-based hospitality. roommaster adds the pieces a front-desk property reaches for:

  • A real hotel front desk with reservations, night audit and folios, so a B&B or inn with staffed check-in runs proper operations instead of forcing STR software to fake them.
  • A commission-free booking engine that attacks OTA commission, the biggest cost line for a small property, in a way a listing tool plus separate guidebook cannot.
  • A channel manager and built-in revenue management in the same platform, so distribution and pricing stay in sync without a second subscription.
  • 24/7 phone, chat and email support from offices across the US, Canada, UK and Australia, covering overnight front-desk emergencies.
  • AI concierge, AI guest management and a guest app that deliver the mobile touches Hostfully splits into a separate Guidebooks purchase.

That said, be honest about fit. If you run a mid-size portfolio of whole-home Airbnb and Vrbo units with no front desk, a dedicated STR tool like Hostaway or OwnerRez is genuinely well suited, and Hostfully's versatility for that use case is real. Smoobu will also beat roommaster on a published, budget price. For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a front desk and lists on OTAs, though, moving from an STR-first tool to one hotel-grade platform is the practical win.

See how roommaster handles your front desk, distribution and direct bookings in one platform. Book a demo and bring your current Hostfully setup to compare like for like.

Bottom line

Hostfully runs plenty of short-term-rental businesses well and earns its reputation for mid-size versatility, but if a growing per-property bill, a missing front desk, or juggling the PMS and Guidebooks as two products are pushing you to compare, the six alternatives here cover every switch reason. For a pure whole-home portfolio, Hostaway, Guesty, OwnerRez and Smoobu each fit a different size and budget.

For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a real front desk and still needs OTA reach, roommaster is the most complete fit. Shortlist two, run demos with your own occupancy and OTA numbers, and let the total cost, not the sticker price, decide.

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FAQs

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

For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a real front desk and also lists on OTAs, roommaster fits best because it adds hotel-grade operations Hostfully's STR platform lacks. For a pure whole-home host, Smoobu or OwnerRez are strong, more affordable picks.

How does roommaster compare to Hostfully?

Both manage bookings and OTA channels, but roommaster is a hotel PMS with a full front desk, night audit, folios and a commission-free booking engine, while Hostfully centers on whole-home short-term-rental listings and sells its guest Guidebooks as a separate product.

Are there cheaper alternatives to Hostfully?

Yes. Smoobu offers flat tiers roughly EUR 15 to 45 per month, and Lodgify starts around $16 per month on lower tiers, though Lodgify adds a booking fee. Hostfully, roommaster and Guesty quote by property or listing, so confirm the all-in number as of July 2026.

What is the difference between Hostfully's two products?

Hostfully sells a Property Management Platform for running bookings and channels, and a separate Guidebooks app for digital guest guides. They are bought independently, which is one reason some operators consolidate onto a single platform that includes guest tools.

Which Hostfully alternative is best for a whole-home STR portfolio?

For mid-size whole-home portfolios, Hostaway and OwnerRez are strong, and Guesty suits larger operations. These are dedicated STR tools, so a front-desk property will still miss hotel operations that roommaster provides.

What features should I look for in Hostfully competitors?

Prioritize an included channel manager and booking engine, transparent pricing, front-desk operations if you run staffed check-in, mobile guest tools, real support hours, and clear data-export terms so a future switch stays low-risk.

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Mayela lozano

Mayela Lozano is a content strategist with a passion for hospitality and technology. She collaborates with roommaster on content creation, highlighting how technology can streamline hotel operations and enhance guest satisfaction. When she’s not creating content, Mayela loves to travel and spend time with her two little ones, discovering new adventures and making memories along the way.

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Join Thousands of Hotels Thriving with roommaster

The transition to roommaster is straightforward and efficient. Our implementation team handles data migration including reservations, guest profiles, and historical information.

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