July 29, 2025

Hostfully vs Beds24 : Which Is the Right Fit for Your Short Term Rental Business?

Trying to decide between Hostfully and Beds24 for your short-term rental business? This blog breaks down the differences to help you choose the right fit.

If you're managing a short-term rental or vacation rental business, having the right property management software is crucial. It helps automate daily operations, sync calendars across booking platforms, streamline guest communication, and ultimately save you time while maximizing your revenue.

Two well-known options in the market are Hostfully and Beds24. Both are popular vacation rental software platforms, but they cater to different types of hosts and property managers.

So, which one is better for you?

In this comparison, we’ll look at Hostfully vs Beds24 side-by-side—covering features, ease of use, pricing, pros, cons, and more—to help you make the best decision for your vacation rental business.

What Is Hostfully?

Hostfully is an all-in-one property management system (PMS) designed specifically for vacation rentals. It combines booking management, automation tools, a channel manager, and a powerful digital guidebook into one clean, user-friendly platform.

Hostfully Key Features:

  • Multi-calendar and unified inbox
  • Channel manager for Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct bookings
  • Automated messaging and task scheduling
  • Built-in digital guest guidebooks
  • Owner portal and reporting dashboard
  • Smart lock, dynamic pricing, and accounting integrations

Best for: Small to mid-size property managers who want a plug-and-play solution with automation and guest-facing features.

What Is Beds24?

Beds24 is a flexible and affordable vacation rental management software that offers a high level of customization. While the interface isn’t the most modern, it’s incredibly powerful once set up correctly.

Beds24 Key Features:

  • Customizable booking engine and widgets
  • Advanced automation rules and triggers
  • Extensive OTA integrations (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, and more)
  • Rate and availability sync
  • White-label options and API access
  • Invoicing and accounting tools

Best for: Tech-savvy hosts and larger property managers who need full control and value flexibility over aesthetics.

Pros and Cons

✅ Hostfully Pros:

  • Clean and intuitive interface
  • Built-in digital guidebooks (great for guest experience)
  • Ideal for mid-size teams
  • Excellent customer support and onboarding
  • Works well out of the box

❌ Hostfully Cons:

  • Higher cost compared to Beds24
  • Less customization
  • Fewer advanced pricing rule options

✅ Beds24 Pros:

  • Extremely affordable, especially at scale
  • Deep customization and advanced rule setup
  • Wide range of integrations and OTAs
  • Great for managing multiple listings or accounts
  • API and white-label options available

❌ Beds24 Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Outdated interface
  • Limited customer support (no live chat)
  • No built-in guest guidebook

Hostfully vs Beds24: Pricing Breakdown

Hostfully Pricing

Starts at $109/month for up to 4 properties. Digital guidebooks can be added separately or bundled with premium plans. Pricing increases as you scale, and certain add-ons (like e-signatures and API) may cost extra.

Beds24 Pricing

Starts around €9/month per property, depending on selected features. The modular pricing system means you only pay for what you use—ideal for cost-conscious managers who want control over every part of their setup.

Which Vacation Rental Software Should You Choose?

The choice between Hostfully and Beds24 depends on your goals, tech comfort, and business size.

Choose Hostfully if:

  • You want an easy-to-use, ready-to-go platform
  • You’re looking to impress guests with built-in digital guidebooks
  • You value responsive support and onboarding
  • You're scaling a small to medium property portfolio

Choose Beds24 if:

  • You’re comfortable with technical configuration
  • You want full control over every part of your business
  • You’re managing a large portfolio and want to keep costs down
  • You need advanced rule-based pricing or automation

Final Verdict

Both Hostfully and Beds24 are powerful vacation rental management platforms, but they serve different needs. Hostfully shines with its user-friendly design and guest experience features, while Beds24 wins on flexibility, automation, and pricing.

Whichever software you choose, make sure it aligns with your workflow, guest expectations, and growth plans.

Try Before You Decide

Most property management systems offer free demos or trials, so test them out and see what fits your business best: