Is it better to list on Airbnb or Vrbo?

Airbnb and Vrbo are undoubtedly the two biggest vacation rental listing sites in the world. While we always recommend listing your vacation home on both platforms, it’s smart to know which site reigns supreme for your particular vacation home. Let’s see how they stack up.

What is the difference between Airbnb and Vrbo?

Understanding their distinctions can help you decide which platform aligns best with your vacation home and goals. Let’s dive in.

Target audience

Airbnb

Airbnb is especially popular with millennial travelers looking for unique, local experiences. Airbnb’s city homes are well-suited for travelers who want to be in the middle of the action and business travelers looking to be close to urban centers.

Vrbo

Families and large groups looking for multiple rooms and beds under one roof like to turn to Vrbo’s collection of private, full-rental vacation homes.

Property types

Airbnb

In addition to mainstream vacation homes, Airbnb allows homeowners to rent out city apartments, private rooms in a shared household, and unconventional stays like boats, treehouses, and even castles.

Vrbo

Vrbo features traditional vacation homes, like beach condos, mountain cabins, or lake houses. Plus, they only allow homeowners to rent out the full property, not just a room.

Fee Structure

Airbnb

Airbnb hosts can split service fees with guests, where hosts pay about 3% of the booking subtotal and guests cover about 14%. Alternatively, hosts can choose a host-only fee model.

Vrbo

Vrbo's fee structure includes a guest fee of 10-11% of the booking price and a host fee where hosts can choose a yearly subscription of $499 or pay per booking, which is approximately 8% of the property's nightly rate.

Guest cancellation policies

Airbnb

Airbnb hosts get to choose a cancellation policy from these options:

1. Flexible cancellation policy:

Guests can cancel until 24 hours before check-in for a full refund. If they cancel after that, the host will be paid for each night they stay, plus one additional night.

2. Moderate cancellation policy:

Guests can cancel until 5 days before check-in for a full refund. If they cancel after that, the host will be paid for each night they stay, plus one additional night and 50% for all unspent nights.

3. Strict cancellation policy:

Guests must cancel within 48 hours of booking and at least 14 days before check-in to receive a full refund. If they cancel after that, the host will be paid 50% for all nights if canceled between 7 and 14 days before check-in, and 100% if canceled less than 7 days before check-in.

4. Super strict 30 days and super strict 60 days cancellation policies:

These policies are available by invitation only to seasoned hosts. Under these policies, guests receive a 50% refund if they cancel at least 30 or 60 days before check-in respectively, with no refund if canceled after that.

5. Long term cancellation policy:

This policy applies to stays of 28 days or longer and overrides the standard cancellation policy for those stays. Guests must cancel within 48 hours of booking and at least 28 days before check-in to receive a full refund.

Vrbo

On Vrbo, hosts also have several options to choose from for a cancellation policy.

1. No-refund policy:

Bookings at this property are non-refundable.

2. 60-day refund policy:

Guests can receive a 100% refund if they cancel at least 60 days before check-in.

3. 30/14-day policy:

Hosts offer a 100% refund if a guest cancels at least 30 days before check-in. If the guest cancels at least 14 days before check-in, they receive a 50% refund (minus the service fee). There is no refund if guests cancel less than 14 days before check-in.

4. 14/7-day policy:

Hosts offer a 100% refund if a guest cancels at least 14 days before check-in. If the guest cancels at least 7 days before check-in, they receive a 50% refund (minus the service fee). There is no refund if guests cancel less than 7 days before check-in.

Host cancellation policies

Sometimes it’s hosts who have to cancel on a booking. Both Airbnb and Vrbo will charge hosts a minimum of $50 for doing so, based on when they do it:

• 50% of the reservation amount for cancellations 48 hours or less before check-in
• 25% for cancellations between 48 hours and 30 days before check-in
• 10% for cancellations more than 30 days before check-in

Hosts who cancel confirmed bookings without a valid reason may also face consequences such as suspension or removal of their listing or account, loss of Airbnb Superhost or Vrbo Premier Host status, and withholding of payouts for the canceled reservation.

Reviews

Airbnb

Airbnb publishes reviews once both parties write theirs or after 14 days. Airbnb also includes star ratings for different factors like cleanliness and communication.

Vrbo

Vrbo reviews are similar to Airbnb. They’re private until both parties submit them or after 14 days.

Host support

Airbnb

Airbnb provides 24/7 support for hosts and guests through different channels, including phone, web, and chat. They also offer a Resolution Center for disputes and mediation services if needed.

Vrbo

Vrbo offers 24/7 guest and host support via telephone or online chat.

Can you list on both Airbnb and Vrbo?

Yes, you can list on both Airbnb and Vrbo. In fact, that’s what we’d recommend—list on both channels to reach the largest audience possible. However, expect things to get complicated, quick. You’ll now have multiple log-ins, calendars, bookings, guest emails, and more opportunities for overbookings (and chaos).

That’s where Vacasa can help. We can handle your listings on Airbnb and Vrbo (and all the other places guests are looking and booking) for you. This includes syncing availability and bookings, and responding to guest inquiries—all included in our full-service vacation rental management.