BookBed vs Hostaway

Two PMS, one weekend.
Here's how they actually compare.

Helsinki-based all-in-one PMS with 300+ integrations and an open API. We've used both — and we'll tell you when Hostaway is the right answer for you.

Last verified 2026-05-09
TL;DR
  • — Hostaway is a heavyweight: real PMS, 300+ integrations, dedicated onboarding — and a sales call before you can sign up.
  • — BookBed is lighter, cheaper, self-serve, and ships the same week. Smaller integration catalog and no open API on the entry plan.
  • — If you run 10+ units, need niche integrations, and have time + budget for a sales-led implementation, Hostaway wins. Otherwise BookBed is the faster path.

Feature-by-feature

Feature
BookBed
Hostaway
Starting price
€12/mo (€9 annual)
Approx $40/listing/mo (custom quote, ~5-listing min)
Per-unit pricing model
Plan tiers (3 / 25 / unlimited)
Per-listing scaling, negotiated; revenue-share option available
Booking commission
0% on every plan
0% on PMS plans; direct-booking engine takes a % despite 'free' marketing
Free trial
14 days, no card
No free trial — demo + sales call required
Setup fee
€0
$100–$500 (commonly $500)
Contract length
Month-to-month
Annual contract typical
iCal sync interval
60 seconds
Channel-API native (real-time on Airbnb/Booking/Vrbo); iCal supported
Channel partners (direct API)
Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo
Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda + more
Direct booking widget
Yes — fully white-label on Pro+
Yes (separate paid module taking a % of bookings)
Stripe checkout
Native
Native + Stripe + others
Multi-team / multi-owner
Pro+
Yes
Owner statements
Roadmap
Yes
API + webhooks
Pro+
Yes — open API is a Hostaway selling point
Third-party integrations
~10 today
300+
Mobile app
PWA
iOS + Android
Languages (UI)
EN
10+
Support
Mon–Sun · 06:00–22:00 CET
24/7 advertised; reviews report inconsistent post-sale response
Onboarding / migration help
Free for >5 units
Hands-on onboarding specialist (it's why the setup fee exists)
Where Hostaway wins
  • •300+ integrations — housekeeping (Properly, Breezeway), dynamic pricing (PriceLabs, Beyond), accounting, smart locks, anything you can think of.
  • •Open API on every plan. If you need to wire Hostaway into your own internal tooling, this is a real differentiator.
  • •Dedicated onboarding specialist — that's where the $100–$500 setup fee goes, and reviewers do say the onboarding itself is high-quality.
  • •More direct OTA channels out of the box than BookBed — Expedia, Agoda, and others.
Where BookBed wins
  • •No annual contract and no setup fee. BookBed is genuinely month-to-month; Hostaway typically locks you for a year.
  • •Self-serve. Hostaway requires a demo + sales call before you can even see real pricing. BookBed: card-less trial in 5 minutes.
  • •0% on direct bookings. Hostaway markets a 'free' direct-booking engine that takes a % once it's running — confirmed in multiple G2 reviews.
  • •Predictable monthly bill. €29/mo BookBed Pro covers 25 units. Hostaway negotiates per portfolio and the price moves with your unit count.
  • •Faster iteration on the SMB end. Hostaway's product cadence skews toward agency features; BookBed ships SMB usability fixes faster.
Real pricing math

8 units, billed annually

BookBed
€348 (Pro plan, billed annually @ €29/mo) — no setup fee
Hostaway
≈ $4,340 ($40/listing × 8 × 12) + ~$500 setup
Difference
BookBed saves roughly €4,000/year for 8 units, including the avoided setup fee. Hostaway's 300+ integrations may justify the gap if you need them.

See full BookBed pricing on the pricing page. . Hostaway's pricing was last verified on 2026-05-09 from www.hostaway.com.

Switching from Hostaway

One afternoon, no double bookings.

  1. 1
    In Hostaway: Settings → Account → Data Export. Request reservations CSV (24-hour SLA per docs).
  2. 2
    Map your Hostaway integrations to BookBed equivalents — assume ~60% will have a native BookBed integration; the rest can wire through webhooks.
  3. 3
    Pause Hostaway's channel API connections (Channels → Disable) once your export is in hand.
  4. 4
    In BookBed: Onboarding → Import → upload the Hostaway CSV. Our success manager handles 5+ unit migrations directly.
  5. 5
    Reconnect Airbnb / Booking.com / Vrbo to BookBed (60-second iCal or API where available). Plan a half-day if you have integrations to rebuild.
  6. 6
    Time the cancellation to your annual renewal date — Hostaway typically won't pro-rate. Run BookBed in parallel for 30 days first.

Pick by host type

Solo host, 1–3 units
Pick BookBed

Hostaway won't even talk to you cleanly at this size. The setup fee, the sales call, the annual contract — none of it is built for solo hosts. BookBed is the clear answer.

Small portfolio, 4–25 units
Pick BookBed

Hostaway is over-spec'd here. €29/mo BookBed Pro covers 25 units with no setup fee, no annual contract, no sales call. Move to Hostaway only if you need a specific integration BookBed doesn't have.

Agency, 25+ units across multiple owners
Pick Tie

If you need 300+ integrations, an open API, and a dedicated onboarding manager, Hostaway is built for you. If you need flat unlimited-unit pricing and don't want to negotiate, BookBed Agency is comparable. Demo both.

See it in your dashboard.

14-day free trial · No card · Free migration from Hostaway for 5+ units.

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