Which channel manager to choose?

We're often asked which Channel Manager to choose. That is why we thought to analyse a few commonly used.

Key Points

Lodgify seems to be the best choice for most users, offering a balance of features, pricing, and support.
Smoobu is a strong alternative, especially for cost-conscious users, but has limited support hours.
Guesty is affordable for small operations but lacks a website builder in its basic plan.
The choice depends on your needs, like support availability or direct booking capabilities.

Detailed Analysis

This analysis compares Smoobu, Lodgify, and Guesty as channel managers for vacation rental management, focusing on features, pricing, user reviews, and support to help you choose the best option for your needs. The evaluation is based on the latest available data as of June 2, 2025, and considers the needs of both small-scale hosts and larger property managers.

Overview of Channel Managers

Channel managers are essential tools for property managers in the hospitality industry, enabling synchronization of bookings, rates, and availability across multiple online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo. The three platforms—Smoobu, Lodgify, and Guesty—offer varying levels of functionality, pricing, and user experience, catering to different scales of operation.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing is a critical factor, especially for small-scale hosts. Below is a table summarizing the pricing structures, focusing on plans that include channel management:

Platform	Plan Name	Monthly Price	Booking Fee	Notes
Lodgify	Starter	$16	1.9%	Includes channel manager, website builder; annual plan.
Lodgify	Professional	$40	0%	No booking fee, suitable for higher volumes; annual plan.
Smoobu	Professional Flex	$27	0.9%	Includes channel manager; pricing in euros, converted at current rate.
Smoobu	Professional Prepaid	$32.36	0%	No booking fee, includes channel manager; pricing in euros.
Guesty	Lite	$9	Not specified	For 1–3 listings, includes channel manager but no website builder.
Guesty	Pro	Quote required	Not specified	Likely higher cost, includes advanced features like website builder.

Costs

Lodgify: Offers flexibility with plans starting at $16/month, but the booking fee on the Starter plan can add costs for high-volume bookings. The Professional plan at $40/month eliminates this, making it competitive for larger operations.
Smoobu: No free ongoing plan with channel manager; requires at least $27/month, with the Prepaid option at $32.36/month being fee-free, which is cheaper than Lodgify’s Professional plan for no-fee users.
Guesty: The Lite plan at $9/month is very affordable, but for features like a website builder, users may need the Pro plan, which requires a custom quote, potentially increasing costs significantly.

To illustrate, for a user with $10,000 annual bookings:

Lodgify Starter: $192/year + $190 (1.9% fee) = $382 total.
Lodgify Professional: $480/year, no fee.
Smoobu Professional Prepaid: $388.32/year, no fee.
Guesty Lite: $108/year, but without website builder, may require upgrades.

Feature Analysis

All three platforms offer core channel management features, but additional functionalities vary:

Feature	Lodgify	Smoobu	Guesty (Lite)
Channel Manager (Syncs OTAs)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Website Builder	Yes (Starter)	Yes (Paid plans)	No
24/7 Customer Support	Yes	No	Not specified
Mobile App Rating (Google Play)	4.7	2.8	Not specified
Educational Resources	Yes (Lodgify Academy)	No	No
Google Vacation Rentals Integration	Yes	No	Not specified
Partnerships	Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com	Airbnb only	Major OTAs

Some noteworthy specifications

Lodgify: Stands out with a user-friendly website builder, 24/7 support, and integrations like Google Vacation Rentals, which enhance SEO for direct bookings. It also offers free courses via Lodgify Academy, beneficial for new users.
Smoobu: Includes a website builder in paid plans but has fewer personalization options. It integrates with over 100 platforms, but support is limited to business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:30 am–6 pm CET), and it lacks Google Vacation Rentals integration.
Guesty: The Lite plan includes channel management and automation features like dynamic pricing, but lacks a website builder, which is crucial for direct bookings. Advanced features are in the Pro plan, which may be cost-prohibitive.

User Reviews and Ratings

User feedback is a strong indicator of platform reliability. Ratings from Trustpilot as of June 2025 are:

Platform	Trustpilot Rating	Notes
Lodgify	4.7/5	Praised for ease of use, customer service, and comprehensive features.
Smoobu	4.2/5	Good for value and ease of use, but lower satisfaction with support.
Guesty	4.5/5	High satisfaction for automation and channel management, but mixed reviews on support and pricing transparency.

Ratings

Lodgify’s high rating (4.7/5) reflects strong user satisfaction, with reviews highlighting intuitive interfaces and responsive support. For example, users noted, “Using Lodgify has been an awesome and easy experience from start to finish”.
Smoobu’s 4.2/5 rating indicates good value for money and ease of use, but some users reported issues with support availability, aligning with its business-hours limitation.
Guesty’s 4.5/5 rating shows strong performance for automation and channel management, but some reviews mention high costs and support challenges, especially for the Lite plan.

Support and Usability

Support availability is critical, especially for time-sensitive issues:

Lodgify’s 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email ensures help is always available, which is a significant advantage for international hosts or those in different time zones.
Smoobu’s support is limited to Monday to Friday, 9:30 am–6 pm CET, which may not suit users needing assistance outside these hours.
Guesty’s support hours are not explicitly stated, but reviews suggest it may not match Lodgify’s 24/7 availability, potentially impacting user experience for urgent issues.

Mobile app usability is another factor:

Lodgify’s app has a 4.7-star rating on Google Play, indicating high usability for on-the-go management.
Smoobu’s app is rated 2.8 stars, suggesting potential usability issues.
Guesty’s app rating is not specified, but given its focus on larger operations, it may be robust, though less critical for small-scale users.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Given the analysis, Lodgify appears to be the most balanced choice for most users, particularly those valuing 24/7 support, a website builder, and high user satisfaction. Its Starter plan at $16/month is competitive, and the Professional plan at $40/month is cost-effective for higher volumes without booking fees. Smoobu is a viable alternative for cost-conscious users, especially with its Prepaid plan at $32.36/month without fees, but its limited support hours and lower app rating may be drawbacks. Guesty’s Lite plan at $9/month is attractive for small operations, but the lack of a website builder and potential need for upgrades to Pro make it less ideal for users seeking comprehensive features.

For a user likely managing a small to medium operation (given the context of the query), I recommend Lodgify, as it offers the best combination of features, support, and user feedback. If cost is the primary concern and support hours are flexible, consider Smoobu. For very small operations (1–3 listings) where a website builder isn’t needed, Guesty Lite could be an option, but be prepared for potential additional costs for advanced features.

Why Choose Lodgify?

Lodgify stands out for its comprehensive features, including a channel manager and website builder, starting at $16/month with a 1.9% booking fee. It offers 24/7 customer support, which is crucial for urgent issues, and has a high user satisfaction rating of 4.7/5 on Trustpilot. Its mobile app is highly rated, and it includes educational resources like free courses, making it ideal for both new and experienced hosts.

Why Consider Smoobu or Guesty?

Smoobu is cheaper without booking fees at $32.36/month for its Professional Prepaid plan, but support is only available during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:30 am–6 pm CET). Guesty’s Lite plan is very affordable at $9/month, but it doesn’t include a website builder, which might be a drawback if you want direct bookings. Both are good options if cost is a priority, but they may lack Lodgify’s support and features.

Final Recommendation

Given the balance of features, support, and user feedback, I recommend Lodgify, especially if you value 24/7 support and a website builder. However, if you prioritize lower costs and don’t need extensive support, Smoobu or Guesty could work for you.

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