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

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

iGMS (formerly AirGMS) is built for Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, so each of these fixes a different gap it leaves open for a property that also runs a front desk, from a real PMS core to deeper direct-booking tools. This guide sorts them by property-type fit, pricing model, all-in-one depth and support.

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Why hotels look for iGMS alternatives

iGMS does one job well for Airbnb and Vrbo hosts: it runs several short-term listings from one calendar with heavy automation. But a B&B, inn or motel that also staffs a front desk hits its edges, and a few recurring reasons push operators to compare:

• No true PMS core: iGMS centers on OTA listing management, not front-desk operations, so a property that needs reception check-in and check-out, night audit and folios finds those workflows thin or absent.
• Lighter direct-booking and website tools: its website builder and direct-booking layer draw criticism as basic next to dedicated platforms, which matters for an inn trying to cut OTA commission with its own site.
• Thin back-office accounting: hosts note iGMS leans on OTA payouts rather than the owner-statement and deposit-ledger depth a multi-room property or third-party manager needs.
• Reliability and support gripes: public reviews flag occasional booking-sync and calendar-blocking issues after Vrbo reservations, plus mixed support experiences.

What hoteliers say: On the BiggerPockets forum and r/ShortTermRentals, hosts weighing iGMS against Hostaway and Lodgify call it a solid, affordable Airbnb-and-Vrbo automation tool but lighter on the direct-booking and website side, with one operator citing calendar-blocking trouble after a Vrbo booking. On G2 and Trustpilot, reviewers praise the automation and price yet flag a basic website builder and inconsistent reliability. The consensus: great for a pure Airbnb host, thin for a property that runs a front desk and wants to own its direct channel.

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Comparing the 6 best iGMS alternatives

Pricing models reflect each vendor's published or commonly cited entry point as of July 2026. Because these tools split across short-term-rental and hotel categories, read the property-fit column as closely as the price.

The split matters more than any single figure. iGMS, Hostaway, Guesty, Hospitable, OwnerRez and Smoobu are all short-term-rental first, treating a stay as a listing rather than a front-desk arrival. roommaster comes at it as a hotel PMS, the natural pick when your property has a reception, a night audit and OTA channels to keep in sync.

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A worked cost example: what the booking engine saves

Software price is only half the math; the bigger line item is OTA commission. Take a 10-room inn at 70% occupancy, a $140 average daily rate and 40% of nights booked through OTAs at a 15% commission:

• Monthly OTA revenue routed through commissions: 10 rooms x 0.70 x 30 nights x $140 x 0.40 = roughly $11,760.
• OTA commission at 15%: about $1,764 per month.

Shifting even a fifth of those stays to a commission-free booking engine saves close to $350 a month, which usually covers the software bill on its own. That is why a native direct-booking channel, not just a low per-listing rate, should anchor your comparison. A tool light on direct-booking depth, as reviewers say iGMS is, leaves that money with the OTAs.

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How we chose these iGMS alternatives

This list is built for B&Bs, inns and motels that also list on Airbnb and Vrbo, not for a pure single-home host. Four criteria shaped it:

• Fit for small lodging: every tool serves small, room-based or unit-based properties, and the round-up leans on genuine bed and breakfast software needs rather than whole-home assumptions.
• All-in-one depth: priority went to systems that combine reservations, channel management and a booking engine, since stitching separate tools together is a common switch reason.
• Transparent evaluation: published or commonly cited pricing models and public review sentiment from G2, Capterra and host forums, not marketing claims.
• Migration realism: onboarding, data export and support hours, because a switch fails on implementation more often than on features.

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Top 6 iGMS alternatives

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

Best for: B&Bs, inns and motels that take walk-ins and phone bookings at a desk while also listing rooms on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com.

roommaster (formerly innQuest) is a cloud hotel property management system that pairs real 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, with offices in the US, Canada, UK and Australia. Unlike iGMS, it treats a stay as a front-desk arrival, not just an OTA listing.

Key features

• Front desk, reservations, housekeeping and night audit in one cloud PMS, so a small inn closes the day with a proper audit instead of reconciling OTA payouts by hand
• Channel manager with real-time sync across hundreds of OTAs including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Vrbo and Agoda, which stops the double-bookings that follow calendar-sync gaps
• Commission-free booking engine that turns your own website into a zero-fee reservation channel, going straight after the OTA commission that iGMS-style tools leave on the table
• Built-in revenue management that adjusts rates automatically off demand and occupancy, so a two-person team is not pricing rooms by gut feel
• Guest folios, deposits, POS and detailed reporting, giving the owner-statement depth that pure STR tools tend to skip
• AI concierge, AI guest management and a guest app with mobile check-in and digital keys for contactless arrivals
• Integrated PCI-compliant payments and a marketplace of 100-plus integrations for accounting, POS and door locks

Pros

• It is a genuine PMS, so an inn or motel with a staffed desk gets check-in, night audit, folios and shift reporting natively, not bolted onto a listing manager.
• The commission-free booking engine attacks OTA commission, the biggest cost line for most small properties, so the platform can pay for itself in shifted bookings instead of just shaving a subscription.
• 24/7 support by phone, chat and email means a front desk stuck at 2am reaches a human, the exact gap reviewers say STR tools leave.
• One platform covers PMS, distribution, revenue and guest tools, removing the sync errors that come from stitching a separate calendar, website and payments stack together.

Cons

• Pricing is quote-based rather than published, so you need a short sales conversation to benchmark it against a transparently priced tool like OwnerRez or Smoobu.
• A single-owner host renting one or two whole homes on Airbnb will find it heavier than they need.
• As an established hotel platform, some back-office screens are denser than a stripped-back host app, so an owner used to a minimalist tool faces a short learning curve.

Verdict: the strongest fit if your property has a reception and OTA channels to keep in sync, rather than a handful of whole-home listings.

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2. Hostaway (best for growing multi-listing portfolios)

Best for: short-term-rental operators running 10 or more listings who want the widest OTA reach and deep automation.

Hostaway is a portfolio-grade STR platform connecting to 200-plus OTAs with a unified inbox, automated messaging and financial analytics, rated highly by hosts scaling past a handful of properties.

Key features

• Channel management across 200-plus OTAs and metasearch sites, the broadest reach in the STR category
• Unified guest-messaging inbox with automation rules across every connected channel
• Integrations with PriceLabs for dynamic pricing and Stripe for payments
• Customizable direct-booking website and reservation management
• Detailed owner and financial reporting for managers handling multiple properties

Pros

• The 200-plus channel reach helps a growing operator fill units without syncing distribution contracts one at a time.
• Automation of messaging, reviews and tasks scales cleanly, so a manager can add listings without adding admin headcount.
• Onboarding support and analytics get consistent praise from hosts moving up from a lighter tool, lowering migration risk.

Cons

• Per-listing pricing plus reports of hidden fees means the total climbs fast as you scale, a point hosts raise when comparing renewal quotes. Weigh other hostaway alternatives before committing.
• It is a short-term-rental platform, not a hotel PMS, so an inn wanting a staffed front desk, night audit and folios will find those workflows thin. The roommaster vs hostaway breakdown shows where that line falls.
• Some users report occasional system glitches and a setup curve on the deeper automation.

Verdict: a strong pick for a scaling whole-home portfolio, but overkill and off-target for a single B&B with a desk.

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3. Guesty (best for large operators and property managers)

Best for: enterprise short-term-rental managers and large portfolios that need scale, permissions and an open API.

Guesty is an enterprise STR management suite for operators running many units or managing on behalf of owners. It offers multi-user roles, an open API and a wide marketplace.

Key features

• Reservation and channel management across 50-plus OTAs from one dashboard
• Open API and marketplace for connecting payments, pricing and guest-experience tools
• Multi-user permissions and roles suited to teams and sub-managers
• Automation for messaging, tasks and owner reporting
• Analytics and multi-property reporting for portfolio-level oversight

Pros

• Built for scale, so a large manager can run hundreds of units with role-based access and consistent team processes.
• The open API and marketplace let a tech-forward operator assemble a best-of-breed stack around the platform.
• Owner-reporting and accounting tools run deeper than most STR tools, which matters for managers of third-party units.

Cons

• Per-listing pricing at the enterprise end makes it expensive and heavy for a small B&B or inn, so the value only lands at real portfolio scale. See other guesty alternatives if you run a handful of rooms.
• It is a short-term-rental suite, not a hotel front-desk PMS, so a staffed reception still needs desk, night-audit and folio workflows it does not center on. The roommaster vs guesty comparison spells out the gap.
• The breadth brings a steeper learning curve and heavier setup than a small team usually wants.

Verdict: the right tool for a large STR manager, and more platform than a single small property should buy.

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4. Hospitable (best for automated guest messaging)

Best for: small STR hosts who want the strongest automated guest communication on a few listings.

Hospitable is an automation-led platform best known for AI-assisted guest messaging that handles inquiries, check-in details and reviews with little manual work, connecting to the major OTAs at a price aimed at hosts running a few listings.

Key features

• AI guest messaging that auto-answers common questions and sends stay information on schedule
• Channel management across roughly 30 OTAs including Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com
• Automated review requests and team task assignment
• A direct-booking website option to capture commission-free reservations
• Unified inbox consolidating guest conversations across channels

Pros

• Its guest-messaging automation is widely rated the best in the STR category, so a lean team keeps response times fast without staffing the inbox.
• Pricing from around $32 a month for five listings is approachable for a small host, with clear per-listing scaling.
• Setup is quick and the interface is friendly, so a non-technical owner is live in days.

Cons

• Hosts describe it as strong on guest communication but lighter on property management, so it is not a full operations system for a property with a desk. The roommaster vs hospitable view shows where operations depth diverges.
• It is short-term-rental focused, with no real front-desk, night-audit or folio workflow for an inn or motel.
• Fewer OTA connections than Hostaway or Guesty can limit reach for a host chasing maximum distribution.

Verdict: excellent for automating guest chat on a few whole-home listings, thin as a core system for a staffed property.

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5. OwnerRez (best for flat pricing and direct-booking control)

Best for: owner-operators and small managers who value transparent pricing and strong control over their own direct-booking channel.

OwnerRez is a short-term-rental system hosts choose for a flat monthly rate with no per-booking fee, plus solid channel management and direct-booking tools, with a loyal following among operators who want predictable cost and control.

Key features

• Channel management across roughly 20 OTAs with two-way calendar sync
• Direct-booking website widgets and a hosted booking page
• Flexible rate rules, surcharges, taxes and fee handling
• Guest CRM, messaging templates and e-sign agreements
• Owner statements and reporting for managers handling third-party units

Pros

• Flat pricing at about $40 a month with no per-booking cut makes budgeting simple and rewards higher-volume hosts.
• Direct-booking widgets and rate control are strong, pushing guests to a commission-free channel with granular fee and tax handling.
• Owner-statement and accounting features run deeper than most STR tools, suiting a manager handling other people's properties.

Cons

• Hosts consistently flag a clunky interface and a steep learning curve, so the power comes with a slower start. Compare the roommaster vs ownerrez setup if ease of use matters.
• It is built for rentals, not a hotel front desk, so an inn with a reception still lacks native check-in, night-audit and folio workflows.
• Getting full value often means configuring rules and widgets yourself, which takes time a small team may not have.

Verdict: a smart flat-rate choice for a direct-booking-focused host who can invest setup time, less so for a desk-run property.

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6. Smoobu (best for the simplest setup)

Best for: single owners and very small B&Bs who want an easy channel manager and booking engine without a learning curve.

Smoobu deliberately keeps its feature set narrow: a channel manager, basic automation, a booking engine and a guest portal. That focus makes it one of the fastest tools to set up for owners who want simplicity over depth.

Key features

• Channel manager syncing availability and rates across the major OTAs
• Booking-engine website builder for commission-free direct reservations
• Guest portal with automated messages and check-in details
• A shared calendar and basic reservation management
• Add-on integrations for payments and dynamic pricing

Pros

• The narrow feature set means a fast setup and a flat learning curve, so a non-technical owner is running in a day or two.
• Tiered pricing from roughly $27 a month keeps it affordable for a one or two-property owner.
• Support earns solid ratings, and the booking engine gives even a tiny B&B a commission-free direct channel.

Cons

• The deliberate simplicity means limited depth in automation and reporting, so a growing inn quickly finds the ceiling. Owners comparing simple builders often also weigh lodgify alternatives.
• It has no true front-desk PMS layer, so a motel or inn with a staffed reception, night audit and folios needs more than Smoobu provides.
• Deeper features like dynamic pricing rely on add-ons, so the low base rate climbs as you extend it.

Verdict: the value pick for a single small B&B that wants the simplest path onto the OTAs and a direct site.

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How to choose between iGMS and these alternatives

Use your switch reason, not a feature checklist, to narrow the field. Match property type and priority first, using the picker below, then interrogate the shortlist with demo questions.

Then pin down the operational questions any good demo should answer:

• Is the channel manager and booking engine included, or an add-on? All-in-one billing favors roommaster.
• Do you run dorm or bed inventory? Weigh dedicated hostel management software alongside the roundup.
• What are support hours, migration fees and data-export terms? Confirm these in writing before you sign, since implementation is where switches fail.

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Why roommaster is a strong iGMS alternative

For an operator leaving iGMS, the switch usually is not about better OTA automation, which iGMS does well. It is about needing a real property system underneath it. iGMS centers on listing management and leans on OTA payouts, while a B&B, inn or motel needs the pieces a staffed property reaches for:

• A genuine PMS core: front desk, night audit, folios and shift reporting that a listing manager does not provide.
• A commission-free booking engine and channel manager in one platform, so direct bookings and OTA sync stay aligned instead of living in separate tools.
• Built-in revenue management that prices rooms off demand and occupancy without a spreadsheet.
• 24/7 phone, chat and email support for the overnight desk emergencies a small team cannot cover alone.
• Deeper back-office and reporting, the owner-statement and accounting depth reviewers say iGMS keeps light.

That said, be honest about the trade. If you rent one or two whole homes and never staff a desk, iGMS or a dedicated STR tool like OwnerRez or Hospitable will feel lighter and cheaper, and roommaster's pricing means a sales conversation. But for a property that greets guests at a reception and wants to own its direct channel, moving from an OTA-listing tool to a full hotel PMS is the practical win.

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

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Bottom line

iGMS is a capable Airbnb and Vrbo automation tool, but if a missing front desk, a light direct-booking layer or thin back-office accounting is pushing you to compare, the six alternatives here cover every switch reason. For a pure whole-home host, OwnerRez, Hospitable and Smoobu compete on price and simplicity, while Hostaway and Guesty scale for larger portfolios.

For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a reception and lists on the OTAs, roommaster is the most complete fit because it is a real hotel PMS, not a listing manager. Shortlist two, run demos with your own numbers, and let total cost, not the sticker rate, decide.

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FAQs

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

For a B&B, inn or motel that runs a front desk and lists on OTAs, roommaster is the strongest fit because it is a full hotel PMS with a commission-free booking engine. For a pure whole-home host, OwnerRez or Smoobu compete on price and simplicity.

How does roommaster compare to iGMS?

iGMS is an Airbnb and Vrbo listing manager with strong automation, while roommaster is a hotel PMS with front desk, night audit, folios, a channel manager and 24/7 phone support. roommaster suits a staffed property; iGMS suits a whole-home host.

Is iGMS good for direct bookings?

iGMS includes a website builder and direct-booking tools, but reviewers describe them as basic next to dedicated platforms. If commission-free direct booking is a priority, roommaster and OwnerRez put more weight on that channel.

Are there cheaper alternatives to iGMS?

iGMS starts around $14 per property per month. Smoobu (from about $27/month) and OwnerRez (about $40/month flat) are transparently priced options, while roommaster quotes per property. Always confirm which features and add-ons a quote includes.

What is the difference between iGMS and airGMS?

They are the same product. iGMS is the current name for the platform formerly called AirGMS, so "airgms alternatives" and "igms alternatives" point to the same set of options.

Which iGMS alternative is best for a property with a front desk?

roommaster, because it is a hotel PMS with native check-in and check-out, night audit, folios and shift reporting. The STR-focused alternatives here manage OTA listings well but do not center on staffed front-desk operations.