You're considering Hospitable, or you're already on it and wondering whether it still fits. Maybe guest messages are eating your evenings, or you've added a direct booking goal and aren't sure which plan covers it. This review sticks to what Hospitable publishes about its plans and gives you a way to test the rest on your own listings.
First action: write down the three jobs you'd pay software to do, in order. For example: "answer routine guest questions", "keep Airbnb and Booking.com calendars in line", "take direct bookings". Hospitable's plans are tiered by feature, so that order decides which plan you'd actually need, and what it costs.
Hospitable was called Smartbnb until August 2021, when the company renamed itself, with the same team and product.
What does Hospitable include in each plan?
Hospitable has four plans: a free Essentials plan with the unified inbox, automated messaging and channel sync, and paid Host, Professional and Mogul plans that add AI tools, a direct booking website and owner management.
This summary is taken from Hospitable's pricing page. Prices depend on how many properties you enter, so run your own count there:
| Plan | What it adds, as published |
|---|---|
| Essentials (free) | Unified inbox and automated messaging; Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Agoda sync; upsells and guest portal; cleaning and teammate workflow automation |
| Host | Message AI assistant, dynamic pricing, metrics dashboard, unlimited secondary users |
| Professional | Direct booking website, smart lock and thermostat automations, guest payment collection, customizable dashboards |
| Mogul | Custom-branded direct booking site, accounting, inbox AI assistant, owner portal, payouts and statements, commission tracking |
Other published details: a 14-day trial with access to all features and no credit card, a 12% saving on annual billing, and prices shown excluding VAT. Hospitable's homepage also says its unified calendar is included on any plan.
Where does Hospitable fit well, and where doesn't it?
Based on its plan structure, Hospitable fits hosts whose main pain is guest communication and routine operations. It fits less well if a branded direct booking channel is your first priority on a tight budget, because those features sit in the upper plans.
This is our reading of the published plans, not a hands-on benchmark.
Likely strengths
- Messaging comes first. Automated messaging and the unified inbox are in the free plan, so you can test the core workflow without paying.
- Operations beyond messages. Cleaner and teammate workflows are included from Essentials, with smart device automations on Professional.
- Room to grow. The Mogul plan covers owner statements and payouts, which matters if you start managing for other owners.
Trade-offs to check
- Direct bookings cost more. A direct booking website starts on Professional, and a custom-branded site on Mogul. If direct bookings are your first goal, price Professional at your property count.
- Cost rises with properties. Because the price follows the number of properties you enter, compare it at next year's unit count, not just today's.
- Channel connection details. The pricing page lists which platforms sync, not how each is connected. Ask support whether each channel uses an API connection or iCal, and how fast bookings cross over. Our iCal sync guide explains why it matters.
Want an automation-first comparison? Hospitable vs Hostaway looks at the two side by side.
How should you test Hospitable in the free trial?
Use the 14-day trial on one real listing, test the job you ranked first, and score each item below before you commit. Two weeks is enough if you plan the tests on day one.
| Day | Test | Pass if |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connect one listing on every platform you use | Bookings from each appear in one calendar, and you know how each connection works |
| 1–2 | Rebuild your three most-sent messages as automated templates | They send at the right moment with the right guest details |
| 3–7 | Let the automations run on live bookings | You didn't have to correct or resend anything |
| 7 | Price your plan at today's and next year's property count | You're comfortable with both totals |
| 8–10 | If you need direct bookings, set up the direct site on the trial | Payment reaches you and the dates block on the other platforms |
| 11–14 | Export your reservations and contacts | You get a usable file, so leaving stays possible |
If messaging passes but direct bookings or cost don't, that's a sign to pair a lower Hospitable plan with another tool, or to choose a different tool. For setting up messages in any tool, see how to automate guest messaging.
Which Hospitable alternatives fit different needs?
The right alternative depends on which part of Hospitable doesn't fit you: price at your size, direct bookings, or team and owner features. Here's how to shortlist by need, not by feature count.
- Direct bookings at a flat price: BookBed includes a direct booking widget with Stripe checkout on its Starter plan (€9/month on annual billing, up to 3 units). It uses two-way iCal sync with Airbnb and Booking.com, so check whether that fits how fast your dates sell. See BookBed vs Hospitable.
- Larger teams and property management companies: Hostaway and Guesty target managers with staff. Guesty's pricing page lists plans for 1–3, 4–199 and 200+ listings. See Hostaway alternatives.
- A website-led direct channel: Lodgify and Smoobu both sell booking engines and website builders. See Smoobu vs Lodgify.
Our wider roundup, best Airbnb PMS software, compares seven tools on pricing model.
When this advice does not apply
- Existing customers on older plans: plan names and inclusions can differ from what's published today, so check your billing page.
- Enterprise portfolios: for hundreds of units, you'll negotiate terms directly, and published plan features matter less.
- Airbnb-only hosts: Airbnb's software rules can change your fee structure. Airbnb says hosts who use property management software pay its single host-paid fee.
What to do next
- Rank the three jobs you need software for.
- Match your top job to the lowest Hospitable plan that includes it.
- Price that plan at your current and expected property count.
- Run the six-row trial scorecard on one real listing.
- If a row fails, shortlist one alternative for that need and trial it on the same listing.
FAQ
Is Hospitable free?
Its Essentials plan is listed as free and includes the unified inbox, automated messaging and channel sync. The direct booking website and AI features are in paid plans.
Is Hospitable the same as Smartbnb?
Yes. Smartbnb renamed itself Hospitable.com in August 2021 and said the team and product stayed the same.
Does Hospitable include a direct booking website?
On its Professional plan and above. A custom-branded direct booking site is listed on the Mogul plan.
Considering alternatives? BookBed includes an embeddable direct booking widget with Stripe checkout on every plan, starting with Starter at €9/month on annual billing, and takes 0% commission on those bookings. The full Hospitable comparison shows where each tool fits.
Sources
- Hospitable, "Pricing" — Verified 2026-09-30
- Hospitable, "Smartbnb becomes Hospitable" — Verified 2026-09-30
- Hospitable, homepage ("Unified Calendar … included on any plan") — Verified 2026-09-30
- Airbnb Help Center, "Airbnb service fees" — Verified 2026-09-30
- BookBed, "Pricing" (public/pricing.md) — Verified 2026-09-30