The 12 Best Short-Term Rental Websites for Hosts & Property Managers

So, you want to start renting out your property as a vacation home. Or maybe you’ve already been renting out your property, but you want to increase your bookings. How do you boost your rental’s visibility?

One of the easiest ways to get started is to list your property on short-term rental websites.

Advertising your property on websites for vacation rentals can help you reach your target customers, fill your reservation calendar, and diversify your revenue streams. But with dozens of websites to choose from, the biggest hurdle is often choosing which to invest in.

So, we’re sharing the 12 best websites for short-term rentals to get you started, taking into account the websites’ popularity, fees, and other top features.

Don’t see the form to download the Beginner’s Guide to Vacation Rental Online Marketing? Click here.

How to choose the best vacation rental websites

There are numerous vacation home rental websites to choose from. You’re obviously not going to list your properties on all of them, so how do you choose which to prioritize?

We recommend focusing on the following characteristics:

  • Audience: Who are you trying to attract to your vacation rental? Families or young digital nomads? Budget or luxury travelers? Some short-term rental websites have specific niches that you’ll want to keep in mind to attract the right guests and ensure you meet their expectations.
  • Fees: Consider fees not only in terms of what you can afford, but also the fee type. For example, if your vacation rental is only open for a couple weeks out of the year, a commission-based fee might make more sense than a flat fee. Likewise, property managers who expect numerous bookings and large earnings may want to avoid commission-based fees.
  • Reach: Does the short-term rental website have enough users to keep your property booked? While niche or free sites may occasionally make sense, ensure you’re also listing on popular vacation rental websites that will give your property the reach it needs to be successful.
  • Support team: When there’s a problem with your listing, getting solutions quickly will be essential to the success of your business. Make sure that whichever sites you choose have a robust support team with 24/7 availability.

Keeping these factors in mind will help ensure you choose the right short-term home rental websites for your property and goals!

Top short-term rental websites

Now, let’s take a look at some of the best vacation home rental websites for owners to list their properties on.

Airbnb

In summary:

  • 150+ million users
  • Two different fee structures available, a split fee and a host-only fee:
    • Split-fee: hosts typically pay 3% and guests pay up to 14.2%
    • Host-only fee: hosts typically pay 14-16%
  • No listing fees
  • Allows hosts to list private rooms as well as entire properties
  • Offers $1 million in damage protection and $1 million in liability protection via Airbnb AirCover

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Airbnb

Airbnb has come a long way since its 2007 founding in a San Francisco bedroom. It’s now one of the biggest websites for vacation home rentals in existence, is valued at over $91 billion, and boasts over 150 million users and over 4 million hosts. This company pioneered the path for short-term rental sites and continues to be a huge player in the industry.

It’s no surprise, then, that Airbnb is now the world’s top-ranked website in the accommodation and hotels category according to data from SimilarWeb. Due to its massive notoriety, it makes perfect sense to list property on Airbnb.

Want to learn more about listing your vacation rental property on Airbnb? Check out our guide!

Vrbo

In summary:

  • 42 million monthly visitors to the Vrbo site
  • Offers a choice between an annual or pay-per-booking subscription:
    • Annual fee: $499
    • Pay-per-booking fee: 3% payment processing and 5% commission fee (except for properties in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan)
  • No listing fees
  • Suitable for entire properties (no option to list private rooms)

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Vrbo

Part of the umbrella company Expedia Group, Vrbo has much to offer when it comes to listing properties—its 42 million monthly users and 2+ million listings being just a few of them.

For example, Vrbo caters to families looking for the perfect vacation home, and thus tends to attract guests who spend more, book for more people, and stay for longer.

Vrbo gained its popularity by offering a wide range of entire-home accommodations instead of single rooms. As the platform has continued to boom, the variety of properties has followed suit. Now, some of their offerings include unique stays like treehouses, cabins, or houseboats.

Want to learn more about listing your vacation rental property on Vrbo? Check out our guide!

Booking.com

In summary:

  • 110 million users
  • Pay-per-booking commission fee of 10-25%
  • No listing fees
  • Ability to add promotions to increase occupancy

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Booking.com

From a small Dutch startup to an international enterprise, Booking.com is undoubtedly one of the top websites for travelers everywhere.

Every day, guests reserve more than 1.5 million nights on the online travel agency. It’s also hugely global—the site is available in over 43 languages and offers an inventory of over 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay all over the world.

While Booking.com doesn’t cater solely to vacation rentals, the offerings for this section of the website are constantly growing, making it a fantastic vacation rental website for owners and managers to list on.

The search engine layout highlights internal ratings, the overall price for the vacation rental, and frequently an enticing deal or slash of the old price for a new offer. If you regularly run promotions for your vacation rental, this might be a good platform for you to promote your business and lure in new guests with incredible savings.

Want to learn more about listing your vacation rental property on Booking.com? Check out our guide!

Agoda

In summary:

  • 45 million users in the European Union alone
  • No listing or signup fees
  • Per-booking commission varies by property location (typically around 15%)
  • One of Asia’s leading travel tech companies

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Agoda

Agoda started off in Asia in 2005 and was acquired by Booking Holdings, a world leader in online travel and related services, in 2007. Agoda offers 4 million accommodations worldwide, ranging from luxury hotels and entire properties to budget hostels and private rooms.

They pride themselves on reaching a global audience with an Asian focus, so if this fits your property, consider signing up. Whether your listing is in Asia or if you mainly attract guests from Asia, this site offers you plenty of exposure.

Their biggest selling point is that they take a minimal amount of your earnings as compared to competitors. Signup is free, listing is free, and all of the onsite tools they offer are also free.

Expedia

In summary:

  • 48 million users
  • Pay-per-booking commission fee of 10-30%
  • Hosts can implement flexible rate plans, including nonrefundable rates and last-minute deals
  • Automatically lists your property on other platforms owned by Expedia Group

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Expedia

Expedia has been a big name in the travel industry for over two decades. A big advantage of becoming an Expedia Partner (and listing on their site) is the localized sites that are available in 33 countries worldwide.

Expedia’s award-winning app and platform allow travelers to bundle accommodation services with flights, car rentals, and activity bookings. You’ll have the chance to pull in clients who were maybe initially just looking for a flight or car rental, but stumble across your property and fall in love. A wider audience means more clients and bookings for your vacation rental business!

Want to learn more about listing your vacation rental property on Expedia? Check out our guide!

Hopper

In summary:

  • #1 most downloaded travel app in the US
  • No listing or commission fees
  • $1M damage guarantee per booking
  • 50% of Hopper users don’t book travel anywhere else!

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Hopper

Hopper has quickly become one of the biggest short-term rental sites in the industry, with over 80 million downloads and a significant annual booking volume. It’s also fee-free for both hosts and guests, instead building its cost into nightly rates with a dynamic markup.

The platform is also unique in that one in two Hopper users exclusively use the platform for their travel bookings. This not only provides access to a new pool of potential guests but also increases your chances of securing bookings beyond other platforms.

What’s more, Hopper provides white-glove onboarding, in which it creates and manages your listings, as well as a resolution process designed to address any issues within three days. What’s not to like?

Plum Guide

In summary:

  • 114K monthly site visits
  • Two different fee structures available, a split fee and a host-only fee:
    • Split fee: hosts pay 3% per booking and guests pay 12%
    • Host-only fee: hosts pay 16.5% per booking
  • One-time joining fee of $400 per listing
  • Geared toward “exceptional” homes

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Plum Guide

Like onefinestay.com, Plum Guide is also a niche site targeting higher-end homes. Although Plum Guide’s primary audience is in the UK, it claims to offer the top 1% of curated vacation rentals worldwide, with 30,000+ of the world’s most remarkable rentals.

It’s no surprise, then, that Plum Guide is known for its meticulous selection process, ensuring that only the highest-quality homes are featured on the platform.

Additionally, Plum Guide provides personalized support to hosts, including professional photography services, interior design advice, and even dedicated account managers. This level of assistance enhances the presentation of your property and contributes to a seamless hosting experience.

Want to learn more about listing your vacation rental property on Plum Guide? Check out our guide!

Home & Villas Marriott

In summary:

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Homes & Villas by Marriott

Even the hotel industry is getting in on the vacation rental action. As renting private homes grows in popularity, other chains and hospitality companies are figuring out ways to bridge the two.

Marriott sought out this opportunity by creating Home & Villas Marriott, under the umbrella of the larger Marriott International group.

What’s so great about this listing site is the ability to monetize off what would otherwise be hotel-only traffic. Loyal customers of Marriott and the hotel industry at large now don’t have to stray, as they can book private homes with a company they’re already familiar with. Marriott even allows guests to use their Marriott points towards vacation rentals listed on their site. Bonus!

Whimstay

In summary:

  • 1.2+ million unique users
  • 3-5% per-booking commission fee
  • Promotes last-minute bookings
  • Only works with professional property managers

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Whimstay

Whimstay has made a name for itself by offering guests savings on last-minute bookings—and increasing occupancy for hosts. As much as 75% of Whimstay’s 2023 bookings were made less than 30 days prior to check-in.

Also of note is that Whimstay only works with professional property managers to curate its accommodation offerings and provide a more consistent guest experience.

This, along with Whimstay’s commitment to providing the best deals out there, has led the platform to see 400% growth in bookings in 2023. And Whimstay expects to grow even more in 2024, so if you haven’t already, this could be a good time to list your property!

misterb&b

In summary:

  • 310,000 hosts
  • No listing fee
  • Per-booking commission fee varies by property type and location (minimum of $12)
  • Advertises LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - misterb&b

Founded in Paris in 2013, misterb&b is a travel and vacation rental website that primarily provides accommodation to individuals from the LGBTQ+ community.

The idea of creating a gay-friendly niche travel website occurred to misterb&b’s founder after staying in an Airbnb in Barcelona and receiving poor treatment from his host. misterb&b is now the largest gay accommodation provider on the internet, with 310,000 hosts in over 135 countries.

There’s so much to love about this platform. misterb&b offers members a community to connect with other users on their trips, they offer vouchers and travel credits, they were featured on the famed Rupaul’s Drag Race, and a portion of their proceeds go to LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations.

BringFido

In summary:

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - BringFido

Holidays are no longer just for a select few. Now, travelers are bringing everyone along—pets included!

If your vacation rental welcomes dogs, cats, and other furry creatures with open arms, consider listing with BringFrido.com. When guests see just how accommodating you are to all members of the family, they’ll be ready to leave a stellar review for your open hospitality.

More than just a vacation rental website, BringFido.com is a one-stop shop for all things necessary when it comes to planning dog-friendly getaways, be it restaurant searches or accommodations. Search their 500,000 pet-friendly vacation rentals by price, rating, pet policy, or region!

Glamping Hub

In summary:

  • 125K+ followers on social media
  • No listing fee
  • 4% per-booking commission fee
  • Advertises nature-based accommodations

Best Short-Term Rental Websites - Glamping Hub

Glamping Hub is an online booking website specializing in nature-based accommodations. Lodgers can use its curated booking platform to find the perfect nature getaway, with options ranging from treehouses to domes and tiny houses across 110 different countries.

What’s more, Glamping Hub optimizes listings for SEO, simplifies payment processing with Stripe, and integrates with Kayak to expand listings’ reach.

So, if you own or manage a glamping accommodation, listing on Glamping Hub is a great way to boost your visibility and reach your target market!

Short-term rental website FAQs

What are the best vacation rental websites?

The best website for short-term rentals depends on your specific needs as a host. Fees, property types, and even target customers vary from one site to the next.

What is the most popular vacation rental website?

The most popular vacation rental site is Airbnb. Airbnb has 150+ million users and 4+ million hosts, as well as 7+ million active listings in 100 thousand cities and towns around the world. In fact, Airbnb has become so popular that its name is now synonymous with vacation rentals.

What is the largest vacation rental website?

Airbnb is the largest vacation home rental website in the world, with 150+ million users, 4+ million hosts, and 7+ million active listings in 100 thousand cities and towns around the world.

But the very best vacation rental website might just be…yours!

Increasingly, property owners and managers are using their own websites alongside other platforms to become more independent and diversify their revenue streams. Creating your own direct booking website can also be a great way to build your brand, get more bookings, and attract guests from all over the world.

Remember that the more channels you add, the greater chance you have of keeping your reservation calendar packed—even outside of the peak months.

And lastly, whichever short-term rental websites you choose to list on, make sure to keep all your calendars synced with a channel manager!

Don’t see the form to download the Beginner’s Guide to Vacation Rental Online Marketing? Click here.

What do you think about this article?

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Show Comments (24)
  1. Whilst you say that Booking.com doesn’t charge the guest a fee many owners will hike their prices to cover some or all of the 15% commission they get charged. Booking says it will match any price the guest can find cheaper elsewhere but only on like for like bookings so all owners need to do is offer something slightly different on Booking and they can charge more on the site. Going Direct is always going to be cheaper.

  2. It’s probably not a major site on the scale of the ones above, but we are getting a good response from My Favourite Holiday Cottages for our property in Devon. The site has around 800 UK holiday cottages listed. We particularly like it as we can display our online booking calendar within our advert to get online bookings – no commission or booking fees. The web address is http://www.myfavouriteholidaycottages.co.uk

    in the meantime we’ll check out the Bringfido site as we also advertise on HA but haven’t come across it before.

  3. We have been using vrbo (homeaway) and feel that their fees are reasonable considering they take care of most of the booking finances. Not having to deal with the security deposit is a bonus. Inquiries have been steady, We went the yearly payment route and are happy with it. We signed up at Tripadvisor as well as I have always been a fan of the site. We haven’t had any inquiries and constantly get Tripadvisor junk mail… we will be dropping them.

  4. For Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) guests http://www.micazu.com offers global vacation rentals. Currently aiming for German and English speaking markets as well. As rental property owners ourselves we have had quite some bookings from them. Two models, either subscription or 10% of rental fee.

    1. Hi Rita! TBC stands for “to be confirmed”. We’re still waiting for confirmation from these vacation rental websites. Thanks for asking and let us know if you have any other questions. 🙂

  5. We are about to let our VRBO/Homeaway subscription lapse because of their new fee structure, forced online booking, and the fact that they collect and hold owners monies. I noticed that you have Homeaway listed with a $549 option where you don’t have to have guests book online. Are you sure about that? Would love to find a site that will charge me a fee and stay out of the way so I can run my rental business.

    1. Hey Dana, we’ve just updated the blog post with the new subscription fee. HomeAway changed their policies a month ago and they now offer a flat rate of $399 and require owners to offer online booking to renew their subscriptions. If you’d like to learn more about their latest changes, you can have a read through this blog post: https://www.lodgify.com/blog/optimize-homeaway-listing/

      The best site you’ll find that won’t charge you any fee and will help you boost your vacation rental website is your own. Have you considered creating your own website? Although listing sites are a great way to diversify your revenue stream and distribution channels, relying exclusively on these sites for all of your bookings is never a great idea!

    2. I hear you. This year I started listing with TripAdvisor/FlipKey under their annual subscription plan this year as an alternative to HomeAway. TripAdvisor/FlipKey charges $599 for this type of listing plan, but there are no fees to the guest. And I get paid right away, I only use them to advertise. You have to ask for this specifically. I get mixed messages on my ranking on their list, but they say it does not affect the ranking (order you show up in the search engine). We’re not in heavy booking season so I’m not sure how well this will work. This is my test year for them.

      On HomeAway I accept online bookings, but I don’t collect rent through them. And after my person books and pays the service fee, I take it from there. I get paid immediately. I have a better credit card fee from my direct account with Vacation Rent Payment, outside of HomeAway. Plus wherever people see me, I always get paid the same way, which I like. This is still okay with them, but I have to deal with erroneous automated emails and those can confuse people. But otherwise, I only use HomeAway/VRBO for advertising, nothing else. (I can run my own business thank you very much, don’t need them to do it for me.)

      I love my Lodgify website, and all my repeat guests I channel to that. So after year 1 with HomeAway, repeat guests can save the fee and book directly with me. It is not well known enough to be an advertising website on it’s own, but it’s better than having to build my own website. I put their link in other ads I have. Prices are fair and I like their feature of showing several similar units on one website. Love that.

      Overall I much prefer to pay to list, and have my guests book free. This is generally cheaper in total. And it all comes out of my pocket anyway. I dislike the sliding % fee scale HomeAway has, it really hurts my smaller condos. Plus 15% on TripAdvisor’s regular listing plan is too high, hence my choice of the fixed fee plan.

      But overall, there has been a rapid spike in the cost to market a condo since HomeAway changed. Condo margins are typically low, particularly for seasonal rentals. (We have summer beach places.) So the high booking fees to guests, means my prices have to dip to remain in the market. Unfortunately I do need to make cash to make the business viable, equity does not pay the bills.

      Rates up to 15% are too high for my seasonal rentals. I can hire a local agent for that, and they do a lot of the work, so I could then have a real job to pay the bills. But … then I don’t have time to keep my places super nice. An owner will always take better care of their condo than a 3rd party. So it’s a catch 22, especially for nicer condos. The high booking fees make it almost impossible to make a living at this. Heck I don’t make 15% myself in cash and I am the business. I’m the one who cleans toilets, does laundry, deals with clients, marketing, repairs, painting, billing, on call 24/7, bookkeeping, taxes, check in & out, takes huge risk, basically I do everything. So why should the advertising company make more than me? !$%#^! Drives me crazy, and I’m still looking for the solution.

    3. I totally understand you letting go of your VRBO. I will tell you stay AWAY from Airbnb. They are totally over charging and you cannot call to discus any problems with them. They get a fee from the person making the booking and then they charge me a service fee. Now they take like $30.00 per night off my total rent some nights are higher if they rent for less days. So I was suppose to get after their service fee a total of $1934.65 I was paid $1789.65 What happened to the $145.00. We need to get together and make a site for us. We can do it

    4. I feel the same , VRBO/HOMEAWAY fees are getting really high, they have me on a hold because I didn’t answer a renter fast enough, we were out of cell phone signal that day, and I had just paid them the yearly fee, I don’t recommend them!

  6. Another one that isn’t listed here is Fetch My VR. Professionally managed vacation rentals worldwide with no service fees to the traveler.

  7. There’s another Florida niche Vacation Rental website that just launched. It’s quickly gaining market share and vacation rental properties. It has a super reasonable introductory listing subscription of $99.00. There are no guest traveler fees and no host commissions making it a great choice for both homeowners and travelers to connect. All communication is direct with the traveler and you can advertise your own websites on it. I listed my properties and got a booking within 3 weeks. The best return on investment out there in my opinion!

  8. Great article. One update, as of July 2021 VRBO no longer offers the annual fee to new hosts. This is per the VRBO “IPMS” employee who onboarded my properties from Lodgify.

  9. Being a property owner, I feel how tricky this one is to find out a good property rental site that charges less in order to list your property. Therefore, thank you so much for sharing such an extensive list of property rental sites to list your property rental. I would definitely try a few of them out to list my own property rental

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