Quick answer: Of eight channel managers checked on 16 October 2026, seven are listed as Airbnb Preferred+ partners and Smoobu as Preferred, on Airbnb's own software partner page. Published starting prices include $9 per listing a month (Guesty Lite), $14 a month (Lodgify) and €15.50 a month (Beds24). Hospitable has a free plan, and Hostaway quotes on request. This page does not rank the tools. Instead, the page sets out what each company publishes so you can compare like for like.
Airbnb lists 40 software partners, 19 as Preferred+ and 21 as Preferred. This page covers eight of them, and the full list is on Airbnb's page. Guestwise has no affiliate or commercial relationship with any tool on this page, and no company paid to be included. Guestwise runs on Houst's system, which is not compared here.
What does a channel manager for Airbnb or a holiday let do?
A channel manager keeps one calendar and one set of prices in step across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and other sites. Not sure you need one? See how to sync calendars and avoid double bookings. An API connection is a direct link the booking site approves. An iCal link shares calendar dates only: Smoobu's help centre says its iCal link to Vrbo does not sync prices (Smoobu), and Tokeet says iCal "does not send rates" (Tokeet).
Airbnb lists the tools it approves in two tiers, Preferred+ and Preferred, on its software partner page. Booking.com says it is pausing integrations with new connectivity providers and does not show a public partner list (Booking.com Connectivity), so the Booking.com and Vrbo partner levels below are what each company says about itself.
How do the eight compare?
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Tool | Published starting price | Free trial | Airbnb partner tier | Booking.com | Vrbo | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uplisting | £40 a month flat, or £0 a month plus 3% per booking (Independent Host plan) | 14 days, no card | Preferred+ | API/XML, official partner | API/XML, official partner | "No contract, no notice period" on monthly plans |
| Smoobu | €29 a month (Flex, 1 unit), shown as about £24.58. Billed in euros | 14 days, no card | Preferred | API, Premier partner | iCal only, so prices do not sync | 30 days' notice, ends at renewal |
| Lodgify | $14 a month (Basic, 1 property) | 7 days, no card | Preferred+ | API, Premier partner | Official API, Elite partner | No long-term contract, cancel any time |
| Hospitable | Free "Essentials" plan. Paid plan prices were not readable on the pricing page when checked | 14 days, no card | Preferred+ | Official API, Premier partner | "Official Partner Connection", method not stated | Cancel any time |
| Beds24 | From €15.50 a month, usage based. €0.55 a month per channel link | Yes, length not published | Preferred+ | Two-way XML, connectivity partner badge | XML and iCal, preferred partner badge | No contract, no minimum term, no set-up fee |
| Guesty Lite | $9 per listing a month (1 to 3 listings) | 14 days | Preferred+ | Official API, Premier partner | Official API, Elite partner | Contract mentioned, length not published |
| Hostaway | On request (custom quote) | Not published | Preferred+ | API, Premier Plus partner | API, Elite partner 2026 | Not published |
| OwnerRez | $88 a month at the default setting of its pricing slider | 14 days | Preferred+ | API, included free | API, included free | "No setup fees, booking fees, or contracts" |
Prices are shown in the currency each company displays and may change at checkout. Checked 16 October 2026.
Which tool suits which host?
This page does not pick a winner, but the published facts separate the tools on a few points:
- Free plan: Hospitable publishes a free "Essentials" plan.
- Prices in pounds from a UK company: Uplisting, registered in Sheffield.
- Lowest published starting prices: Guesty Lite at $9 per listing, Lodgify at $14 and Beds24 at €15.50 a month.
- UK phone line: Lodgify (sales) and Hostaway (support).
- Vrbo prices will not sync: Smoobu, which connects to Vrbo by iCal.
- 10 or more listings: Rentals United. 20 or more: Avantio (see below).
What does a channel manager cost for 5 or 20 homes?
Only some companies publish prices at more than one property. Where they do:
| Tool and plan | 5 homes | 20 homes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uplisting Operator (£16 a listing, £90 minimum) | £90 a month | £320 a month | Uplisting |
| Uplisting Manager (£13 a listing, £208 minimum) | £208 a month | £260 a month | Uplisting |
| OwnerRez | $88 a month at the slider default | Not shown | OwnerRez |
| Tokeet | $134.90 a month for up to 10 rentals | Tokeet | |
| Rentals United Pro | From $330 a month for 10 to 50 listings | Rentals United | |
Totals for Uplisting are worked out from its published per-listing price and monthly minimum. Hospitable charges $10 to $15 for each extra property on paid plans. The other tools on this page do not publish a price at these sizes.
What does each company publish about its own tool?
Uplisting
- Price
- £40 a month flat, or £0 a month plus 3% per booking (Independent Host plan)
- Free trial
- 14 days, no card
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- API/XML, official partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- API/XML, official partner (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Basic site included; Plus site is a £30 a month add-on
- UK support
- UK company registered in Sheffield. Phone support on the Manager plan only
- Contract
- "No contract, no notice period" on monthly plans
Uplisting shows its prices in pounds. Uplisting says Independent Host is "for portfolios up to 4 properties". Larger plans are priced per listing with a monthly minimum: Operator at £16 a listing with a £90 floor, and Manager at £13 a listing with a £208 floor.
Source: Uplisting pricing and Uplisting channel manager and Uplisting legal, checked 16 October 2026.
Smoobu
- Price
- €29 a month (Flex, 1 unit), shown as about £24.58. Billed in euros
- Free trial
- 14 days, no card
- Airbnb
- Preferred partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- API, Premier partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- iCal only, so prices do not sync (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Booking website listed on Prepaid. Smoobu says Flex and Teams include everything in Prepaid
- UK support
- No UK phone. Support Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 CET
- Contract
- 30 days' notice, ends at renewal
Smoobu says all subscriptions are billed in euros and its pound figures are estimates. The Flex plan carries a 0.9% booking fee.
Source: Smoobu pricing and Smoobu help: connecting Vrbo and Smoobu contact, checked 16 October 2026.
Lodgify
- Price
- $14 a month (Basic, 1 property)
- Free trial
- 7 days, no card
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- API, Premier partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- Official API, Elite partner (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- From the Starter plan ($26 a month)
- UK support
- UK sales line +44 20 3319 1383
- Contract
- No long-term contract, cancel any time
Lodgify lists Basic $14, Starter $26, Professional $47 and Ultimate $68 a month. Lodgify's contact page lists UK sales hours of Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm GMT.
Source: Lodgify pricing and Lodgify Booking.com integration and Lodgify contact, checked 16 October 2026.
Hospitable
- Price
- Free "Essentials" plan. Paid plan prices were not readable on the pricing page when checked
- Free trial
- 14 days, no card
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- Official API, Premier partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- "Official Partner Connection", method not stated (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Professional and Mogul plans only
- UK support
- Not published
- Contract
- Cancel any time
The only tool here with a published free plan. Extra properties on paid plans cost $10 to $15 each, according to its pricing page.
Source: Hospitable pricing and Hospitable Booking.com connection, checked 16 October 2026.
Beds24
- Price
- From €15.50 a month, usage based. €0.55 a month per channel link
- Free trial
- Yes, length not published
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- Two-way XML, connectivity partner badge (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- XML and iCal, preferred partner badge (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Booking engine included
- UK support
- Company is Beds24 GmbH. Support tickets in English and German
- Contract
- No contract, no minimum term, no set-up fee
Beds24 charges a handling fee on bills under €50, according to its pricing page.
Source: Beds24 pricing and Beds24 channel manager, checked 16 October 2026.
Guesty Lite
- Price
- $9 per listing a month (1 to 3 listings)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- Official API, Premier partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- Official API, Elite partner (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Website builder included on every plan
- UK support
- London listed as an office city, no address or phone published. Support by ticket
- Contract
- Contract mentioned, length not published
Guesty Pro, for 4 to 199 listings, is priced on request. Guesty lists Advanced Websites as an add-on for Pro and Enterprise.
Source: Guesty pricing and Guesty channel manager and Guesty contact, checked 16 October 2026.
Hostaway
- Price
- On request (custom quote)
- Free trial
- Not published
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- API, Premier Plus partner (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- API, Elite partner 2026 (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Listed as a feature; whether included is not published
- UK support
- UK support line +44 20 3514 8487, 24/7. Describes itself as a "fully remote company"
- Contract
- Not published
Hostaway says pricing "scales with your portfolio" and gives a tailored quote.
Source: Hostaway pricing and Hostaway contact, checked 16 October 2026.
OwnerRez
- Price
- $88 a month at the default setting of its pricing slider
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Airbnb
- Preferred+ partner on Airbnb's software partner page
- Booking.com
- API, included free (as the company states)
- Vrbo
- API, included free (as the company states)
- Direct booking site
- Hosted websites are a paid premium feature
- UK support
- Not published. Support by chat, form and forums, no phone
- Contract
- "No setup fees, booking fees, or contracts"
OwnerRez does not show a single-property price on its pricing page.
Source: OwnerRez pricing and OwnerRez support, checked 16 October 2026.
Which tools are built for larger portfolios?
Two Airbnb partners say they are aimed at bigger operators. Rentals United's Pro plan starts at $330 a month for 10 to 50 listings (Rentals United). Avantio says its software is "designed to work best alongside a portfolio of 20+ properties" (Avantio).
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Airbnb channel manager?
A channel manager is software that connects one calendar and set of prices to several booking sites, such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo, so a booking on one site blocks the same dates on the others. Airbnb lists the tools it approves on its software partner page.
What is the difference between an API and an iCal connection?
An API connection is a direct link the booking site approves. An iCal link only shares calendar dates. Smoobu's help centre says its iCal link to Vrbo syncs the calendar but not prices, and Tokeet says iCal "does not send rates".
What is an Airbnb Preferred+ software partner?
Airbnb's software partner page lists approved tools in two tiers, Preferred+ and Preferred. Airbnb lists 19 Preferred+ and 21 Preferred partners. When checked on 16 October 2026, Uplisting, Lodgify, Hospitable, Beds24, Guesty, Hostaway and OwnerRez were listed as Preferred+, and Smoobu as Preferred.
Is there a free Airbnb channel manager?
Hospitable publishes a free "Essentials" plan. Holidu offers a free account with no subscription, but does not publish its fees on the page checked and is not listed on Airbnb's software partner page. Most other tools offer a free trial of 7 to 14 days.
How much does a channel manager cost in the UK?
Published starting prices checked on 16 October 2026 include $9 per listing a month at Guesty Lite, $14 a month at Lodgify, €15.50 a month at Beds24 and £40 a month at Uplisting. Hostaway and Guesty Pro give prices on request. Prices are in different currencies, so compare them at today's exchange rate.
Which channel managers connect to Booking.com and Vrbo by API?
All eight say they connect to Booking.com by API or XML. Uplisting, Lodgify, Guesty, Hostaway and OwnerRez say they connect to Vrbo by API. Smoobu says it connects to Vrbo by iCal only, Beds24 lists both XML and iCal, and Hospitable calls its Vrbo link an "Official Partner Connection" without stating the method.
Which channel managers have no minimum contract?
Uplisting, Lodgify, Hospitable, Beds24 and OwnerRez each say on their own sites that there is no long-term contract or that you can cancel any time. Smoobu asks for 30 days' notice.
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Related guides
Sources
- Airbnb: software partners
- Uplisting pricing
- Uplisting channel manager
- Uplisting legal
- Smoobu pricing
- Smoobu help: connecting Vrbo
- Smoobu contact
- Lodgify pricing
- Lodgify Booking.com integration
- Lodgify contact
- Hospitable pricing
- Hospitable Booking.com connection
- Beds24 pricing
- Beds24 channel manager
- Guesty pricing
- Guesty channel manager
- Guesty contact
- Hostaway pricing
- Hostaway contact
- OwnerRez pricing
- OwnerRez support
- Tokeet channel manager
- Booking.com Connectivity
- Rentals United pricing
- Tokeet pricing
- Avantio pricing
- Holidu channel manager
Prices, plans and partner status are as published by each company and Airbnb on 16 October 2026, and change often. Check the company's own site before you sign up.