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Guides

Guides for hosts and property managers

Plain answers on platform fees, platform rules, direct bookings and co-hosting. Every fee and policy comes from the company's own page and carries the date it was checked.

26 guides and 8 comparisons
Last updated Nov 11, 2026

Platform fees

What the listing platforms take from a booking, and what that adds up to in a year.

In-depth guide · 12 min

Host service fees

How much does Airbnb charge hosts? Most pay a 15.5% service fee on each booking as of November 2026. See what Airbnb host fees apply to, with examples.

Cleaning fees for hosts

The average cleaning fee Airbnb hosts charge has no official figure. See the numbers that exist, what the platform takes from the fee and how to set yours.

The 15.5% host-only fee

The Airbnb host fee change moved hosts from a 3% split fee to a single 15.5% fee taken from the payout. See who is affected, what it costs and how to price.

Vrbo fees for hosts

Vrbo fees for hosts are now a single 12% commission on bookings made from October 29, 2026. See what the Vrbo fee applies to, and what you keep per booking.

Host Fee Calculator

Enter your nightly rate, booked nights and cleaning fee. See what the platform takes per booking and per year, and what the same bookings would keep on your own site.

Work out my fees

Platform rules

What hosts can and cannot ask of guests, with the changes for bookings made from November 20, 2026.

In-depth guide · 12 min

Platform rules for hosts

Airbnb rules for hosts changed in 2026: new limits on house rules, checkout chores, fines, contracts and guest data for bookings made from November 20, 2026.

Checkout instructions

Airbnb checkout instructions changed for bookings made from November 20, 2026. See which chores hosts can no longer require, and what to ask for instead.

House rules template

Airbnb house rules now use seven standard rules plus requests, for bookings from November 20, 2026. A house rules template for your listing and your site.

Security deposits and damage claims

An Airbnb security deposit is off limits for most hosts. See who can still charge one, how damage claims work, the 14-day deadline and what a guest must pay.

The off-platform policy

The Airbnb off-platform policy keeps bookings, payments and guest contact on the platform. See what hosts cannot do, what they can and how direct bookings fit.

Direct bookings and marketing

How to win guests the platforms did not send you, without breaking their rules.

In-depth guide · 13 min

How to get direct bookings

Direct bookings come from demand you build yourself: a site that takes bookings, search traffic, ads and past direct guests. A plan that follows platform rules.

Beach house names

Beach house names sorted by style: classic, funny, classy and cottage names, plus a word-bank method for making your own and the checks to run before a sign.

Cabin names

Cabin names sorted by style: classic, funny, clever and mountain names, with a paper cabin name generator and the checks to run before you carve the sign.

Google Vacation Rentals partners

Google Vacation Rentals partners are the booking systems that feed your property into Google's rental results. Who is eligible, how to list and what it costs.

Marketing a short-term rental listing

Airbnb marketing in two parts: what lifts a listing in search, using the platform's own ranking factors and discounts, and how to build demand that you own.

Vacation rental names

Vacation rental names that guests remember and can search for: how to pick one, a name formula to try, the checks to run first and ideas by property type.

Co-hosts and property managers

How managing for other owners works, what it pays and how to win clients.

In-depth guide · 12 min

Co-hosting

An Airbnb co-host helps a listing owner run a listing for a share of the booking. See what co-hosts can do, how co hosting pays and how to win your first owner.

Property management leads

Property management leads come from search, referrals, outreach, platforms and paid ads. See what each costs, who controls it and how to sign more owners.

Short-term rental management fees

Airbnb management fees have no standard rate. See the fee models, published prices you can check, what the percentage is taken from and questions to ask.

Starting a management business

An Airbnb management business runs short-term rentals for owners for a fee. See the two models, the setup, how to win a first owner and what to call yourself.

Platforms and alternatives

Where else to list, and how your own site compares.

In-depth guide · 13 min

Listing sites compared

Vacation rental listing sites compared for owners: what each one charges, who books there, what rules come with it and how to list on several without clashes.

Alternatives for hosts

Airbnb alternatives for hosts come in two kinds: other listing platforms such as Vrbo, and a booking site of your own. Compare fees, rules and guest sources.

When bookings are down

Airbnb bookings down at your listing does not mean the platform is shrinking. What its own 2026 figures show, why one listing dips and what you can do about it.

Comparison · 7 min

Direct booking vs listing platforms

Direct booking vs Airbnb and Vrbo, compared on fees, rules, risk and who owns the guest relationship. See what each channel costs across a year of bookings.

Comparison · 7 min

Listing platforms compared for hosts

Vrbo vs Airbnb for hosts, compared on the 12% commission and the 15.5% single fee, payouts, deposits, cancellation options and rules. Checked November 2026.

Websites and builders

What it takes to get a booking site of your own, and which route fits.

How to build a direct booking website

How to build a direct booking website for your rental in ten steps: booking engine, build route, domain, pages, payments, terms and SEO. Honest costs included.

Comparison · 7 min

Website builders compared

A vacation rental website builder is the fast, cheap way to get a booking site. Compare the main builders and done-for-you options on price, commission and fit.

Comparison · 8 min

WordPress plugins and themes

A WordPress vacation rental plugin adds a calendar, rates and checkout to your own site. Compare standalone plugins, booking software plugins and themes.

Booking software

The tools behind a direct booking site and how they connect.

Direct booking engines

A direct booking engine takes the reservation and the payment on your own website. What it does, what four common tools charge on a booking and how to pick.

Comparison · 6 min

Lodgify alternatives

Lodgify alternatives compared on price, the fee on a direct booking and the website you get: Hospitable, OwnerRez, Smoobu, Hostfully and a custom site.

Comparison · 7 min

Lodgify vs Hospitable

Lodgify vs Hospitable, compared for hosts who want direct bookings: plans, the fee on each booking, the website each one gives you and where a custom site fits.

Comparison · 6 min

OwnerRez vs Hospitable

OwnerRez vs Hospitable for hosts who want direct bookings: what each costs at one and five properties, the fee on a booking, payments and website options.

Websites for your booking software

How a custom site connects to the booking software you already use, with a page each for Hospitable and OwnerRez.

See the integrations

Running direct bookings

Agreements, deposits and the day-to-day of bookings you take yourself.

Vacation rental agreement

A vacation rental agreement sets the dates, price, rules, deposit and cancellation terms of a stay. See what to include, a sample template and where it applies.

Vacation rental security deposit

A vacation rental security deposit is one of four ways to cover guest damage. Compare deposits, card holds, damage waiver fees and insurance on direct bookings.

Comparison · 10 min

Waivo vs Safely

Waivo vs Safely for vacation rental damage: one is a waiver priced per booking, the other is insurance priced per night. See cover, deadlines and real quotes.

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WentDirect is an independent third party and is not endorsed by or associated with Airbnb, Inc. or its affiliates, or with Vrbo.

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