DirectBookings
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💰 Save 90% — $9/mo vs $30-100+/mo per property

Hostaway alternative for
small hosts

Hostaway is built for enterprise property managers with 20+ units. DirectBookings is built for small hosts with 1-10 properties. Same core features, 90% less cost, zero enterprise bloat.

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Cost comparison

Properties
1 property
DirectBookings
$9/mo
Hostaway
$30+/mo
5 properties
$29/mo
$150+/mo

Save $1,500-5,000+ per year with DirectBookings

Why small hosts are switching from Hostaway

Hostaway is powerful but overkill for hosts with 1-10 properties

💰

90% cost savings

Hostaway charges $30-100+ per property per month. DirectBookings is $9-79/month total for up to 10 properties. For 3 properties, that's $9-29/month vs $90-300+/month.

⚡

No enterprise bloat

Hostaway has 100+ features designed for property management companies with staff teams. DirectBookings focuses on what small hosts actually need.

🛡️

Pre-signed agreements included

Custom waivers, rental agreement with No Tenancy Rights clause, and overstay fee enforcement. Hostaway doesn't offer these host agreement features.

🚀

Live in 15 minutes

Hostaway requires 2-4 hours of setup plus onboarding calls. DirectBookings takes 15 minutes — add your property, connect Stripe, and publish.

DirectBookings vs Hostaway

Feature-by-feature comparison

Feature
DirectBookings
Hostaway
Monthly cost (1 property)
$9 flat
$30+ per property
Monthly cost (5 properties)
$29 flat
$150-500+
Booking commissions
✓ $0 forever
✓ $0
Direct booking website
✓ Included
✓ Included
Custom domain
✓ Included
✓ Included
Stripe payments
✓ Integrated
✓ Multiple processors
Calendar sync
✓ iCal hourly sync
✓ API + iCal (100+ channels)
Setup time
15 minutes
2-4 hours + onboarding
Learning curve
Simple — 3 screens
Complex — 100+ features
Legal waivers & e-signatures
✓ Unlimited custom
✗ Not available
Rental agreement with No Tenancy Rights
✓ Auto-generated
✗ Not available
Automated check-in flow
✓ Fully automated
✓ Automated messaging
Team management
✗ Single user
✓ Multi-user with roles
Owner portal
✗ Not available
✓ Available
Task management
✗ Not available
✓ Advanced tasks
API access
✗ Not available
✓ Full API
Best for
1-10 properties
20-500+ properties

Everything small hosts need

No enterprise bloat — just the essentials

🌐

Direct booking website

Professional booking site with your branding and custom domain. SEO-optimized for Google and AI search engines.

💳

Stripe payments

Accept credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Money goes straight to your Stripe account. No platform commission.

📅

Calendar sync

Hourly iCal sync with Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. No double bookings. Keep all your existing listings.

✍️

Custom waivers

Create legal waivers guests must sign before check-in. Property damage, pool, pet — fully customizable with e-signatures.

🛡️

Rental agreement

Auto-generated agreement with No Tenancy Rights clause, overstay fees, and trespass protection. IP-logged for legal compliance.

🔑

Automated check-in

Guests sign waivers, accept terms, and receive access credentials automatically. No manual work from you.

Frequently asked questions

How is DirectBookings different from Hostaway?
Hostaway is enterprise software built for property management companies with 20+ units, starting at $30-100+/month per property. DirectBookings is built for small hosts with 1-10 properties at $9-79/month total. Hostaway has hundreds of features for multi-property operations. DirectBookings focuses on what small hosts actually need: a booking website, Stripe payments, calendar sync with Airbnb/VRBO, legal waivers, and automated check-in.
What does DirectBookings cost compared to Hostaway?
DirectBookings costs $9/month for 1 property, $29/month for up to 5 properties, or $79/month for up to 10 properties. Hostaway starts at $30+ per property per month for their basic plan, and goes up to $100+ per property for advanced features. For a host with 3 properties, that's $9-29/month with DirectBookings vs $90-300+/month with Hostaway.
Does DirectBookings have a channel manager like Hostaway?
DirectBookings uses iCal sync to keep your calendar in sync with Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and any platform that provides an iCal feed. Sync runs every hour to prevent double bookings. Hostaway has API integrations with 100+ channels, which is designed for property managers listing on dozens of platforms. For small hosts using Airbnb, VRBO, and a direct booking site, iCal sync is simpler and more reliable.
Can I switch from Hostaway to DirectBookings?
Yes. You can export your property details from Hostaway and add them to DirectBookings manually (takes about 15 minutes per property). Your existing Airbnb and VRBO listings stay active — DirectBookings just adds a direct booking channel on top. Many small hosts switch because Hostaway is overkill for portfolios under 10 properties and the cost savings are significant.
What features does Hostaway have that DirectBookings doesn't?
Hostaway has enterprise features like: multi-user team management with role permissions, owner portal for property owners, advanced accounting integrations, API access for custom integrations, white-label options, task management for cleaning teams, and integrations with 100+ channels. These features are designed for property management companies with 20+ units and staff teams. DirectBookings is designed for small hosts who manage their own properties.
What does DirectBookings have that Hostaway doesn't?
DirectBookings includes pre-signed agreement features that Hostaway doesn't offer: custom waivers with e-signatures (damage, pool, pets), rental agreement with No Tenancy Rights clause, overstay fee enforcement, and IP-logged signatures for compliance. These features document clear guest responsibility before check-in. DirectBookings also costs 90% less for small portfolios.

Switch from Hostaway in 15 minutes

$9/month for 1 property. No booking fees. Pre-signed agreements included. 5-day free trial.

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