Hostaway vs Smoobu

Two PMS,
compared like they're not paying for the listing.

We've signed up for both. Here's where Hostaway wins, where Smoobu wins, and the third option most hosts haven't considered yet.

Last verified 2026-05-09
TL;DR
  • — Hostaway: Helsinki-based all-in-one PMS with 300+ integrations and an open API.
  • — Smoobu: Berlin-based all-in-one PMS popular with European hosts.
  • — BookBed: An alternative to both — plan-tier pricing, 60-second iCal sync, white-label widget, EU data residency. From €9/mo.

Feature-by-feature, three columns

Feature
Hostaway
Smoobu
BookBed
Starting price
Approx $40/listing/mo (custom quote, ~5-listing min)
€19.95/mo (single unit, annual)
€12/mo (€9 annual)
Per-unit pricing model
Per-listing scaling, negotiated; revenue-share option available
Per-unit, slabs above 1
Plan tiers (3 / 25 / unlimited)
Booking commission
0% on PMS plans; direct-booking engine takes a % despite 'free' marketing
—
0% on every plan
Free trial
No free trial — demo + sales call required
14 days, no card
14 days, no card
Setup fee
$100–$500 (commonly $500)
—
€0
Contract length
Annual contract typical
—
Month-to-month
iCal sync interval
Channel-API native (real-time on Airbnb/Booking/Vrbo); iCal supported
~15 minutes
60 seconds
Channel partners (direct API)
Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda + more
Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda, HomeToGo
Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo
Direct booking widget
Yes (separate paid module taking a % of bookings)
Yes — branded on entry plan
Yes — fully white-label on Pro+
Stripe checkout
Native + Stripe + others
Native + Mollie + PayPal
Native
Multi-team / multi-owner
Yes
Yes
Pro+
Owner statements
Yes
Yes
Roadmap
API + webhooks
Yes — open API is a Hostaway selling point
Yes
Pro+
Third-party integrations
300+
—
~10 today
Mobile app
iOS + Android
iOS + Android
PWA
Languages (UI)
10+
13+
EN
Support
24/7 advertised; reviews report inconsistent post-sale response
—
Mon–Sun · 06:00–22:00 CET
Onboarding / migration help
Hands-on onboarding specialist (it's why the setup fee exists)
Self-serve docs only
Free for >5 units
Accounting integrations
—
DATEV, lexoffice, QuickBooks
CSV export only
Support hours
—
Mon–Fri · business hours CET
Mon–Sun · 06:00–22:00 CET
SLA-backed uptime
—
Not advertised
Agency plan

Who each is best for

Hostaway fits if…

  • — 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.
BookBed vs Hostaway →

Smoobu fits if…

  • — Direct OTA integrations beyond Airbnb/Booking/Vrbo (Expedia, Agoda, HomeToGo). If you list on those, Smoobu is a better fit today.
  • — Owner statements + accounting handoff (DATEV, lexoffice, QuickBooks). BookBed exports CSV; Smoobu posts ledger entries.
  • — 13+ UI languages out of the box — important for non-English-speaking cleaning teams or co-hosts.
BookBed vs Smoobu →

BookBed fits if…

  • — You don't want per-unit pricing surprises at unit 8.
  • — You want a fully white-label direct-booking widget on a mid-tier plan.
  • — EU data residency and a 60-second iCal cadence matter to you.
See BookBed pricing →
Or skip the comparison

Try BookBed free for 14 days. No card.

List real units. Take real bookings. We migrate your reservations from Hostaway or Smoobu for free.

Start free trialSee pricing