COMPARISON · SPAIN · SES HOSPEDAJES

DirectBookingHost vs
ChargeAutomation

ChargeAutomation charges $2.50–$3.00 per rental per month for SES Hospedajes authority reporting — on top of their base fee. DirectBookingHost includes automatic SES submission free in its $9/month flat plan. No per-rental surcharge. No add-on tiers.

5-day free trial · $9/month flat · No per-rental fees · No booking commissions

ChargeAutomation

SES authority reporting is a paid add-on, priced per rental per month.

1–50 rentals$3.00 / rental
51–250 rentals$2.75 / rental
250+ rentals$2.50 / rental

Plus ChargeAutomation base platform fee.

DirectBookingHost

SES Hospedajes submission is included free. No add-on, no per-rental fee.

1–50 rentals$0 extra
51–250 rentals$0 extra
250+ rentals$0 extra

All features included in the $9/month base plan.

How much you save vs ChargeAutomation

Comparison for SES Hospedajes reporting only, before ChargeAutomation's base fee.

RentalsChargeAutomation / moDirectBookingHost / moMonthly saving
1 rental$3.00$0Save $3/mo
3 rentals$9.00$0Save $9/mo
5 rentals$15.00$0Save $15/mo
10 rentals$30.00$0Save $30/mo
20 rentals$55.00$0Save $55/mo

Full feature comparison

FeatureDirectBookingHostChargeAutomation
Automatic SES Hospedajes submissionIncluded free$2.50–$3.00/rental/month add-on
Base price$9/month flatBase fee + per-rental add-ons
Per-rental surcharge for SESNone$2.50–$3.00/rental/month
Direct booking websiteYes — includedNo (payment links only)
Online check-in with ID collectionYesYes
All-guest ID collectionYesYes
Stripe payment processingYes, built-inYes
iCal sync with Airbnb / VRBOYesLimited
VUD ID display on websiteAutomatic in footerNot applicable
Failed submission auto-retryYes, twice dailyNot documented
Rental agreement and waiversYesBasic terms
Guest messaging / inboxYesNo

Why hosts switch from ChargeAutomation

The most common reasons based on ChargeAutomation reviews and user feedback.

💸

Per-rental pricing adds up fast

ChargeAutomation's SES add-on is $3.00/rental/month. That's $36/year per property just for compliance reporting. With 5 rentals, you're paying $180/year for a feature that DirectBookingHost includes free.

🧩

Too many add-on tiers to manage

Users frequently cite ChargeAutomation's pricing structure as confusing — base fee, authority reporting add-on, and other optional modules priced separately. DirectBookingHost is one flat price that includes everything.

🌐

No direct booking website included

ChargeAutomation automates payments and guest journeys but does not give you a booking website. You still need a separate platform to accept reservations. DirectBookingHost gives you the website, payments, compliance, and check-in in one place.

🔄

Automatic failure recovery

If SES Hospedajes is unavailable, DirectBookingHost retries failed submissions automatically at 8 AM and 8 PM. You see status per booking and can retry with one click. ChargeAutomation does not document automatic retry behavior.

Summary: DirectBookingHost vs ChargeAutomation for Spain

DirectBookingHost and ChargeAutomation both offer automatic guest data submission to SES Hospedajes for Royal Decree 933/2021 compliance. The primary difference is pricing: ChargeAutomation charges an additional $2.50 to $3.00 per rental per month specifically for authority reporting, while DirectBookingHost includes this feature at no extra cost.

ChargeAutomation is a payment automation and guest journey platform. It requires hosts to have an existing booking system and adds SES reporting as a paid tier. Its pricing is volume-based: $3.00/rental for small portfolios, decreasing to $2.50/rental at 250+ properties.

DirectBookingHost is a complete direct booking platform. It includes the booking website, Stripe payments, iCal sync, online check-in, guest ID collection, and SES Hospedajes auto-submission in a single $9/month flat plan. There are no per-rental surcharges for any feature, including compliance reporting.

For hosts already invested in a PMS who only need payment automation, ChargeAutomation fills a specific niche. For hosts who want an all-in-one solution that eliminates per-rental compliance fees, DirectBookingHost is more cost-effective and comprehensive.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to ChargeAutomation for Spain SES Hospedajes?
DirectBookingHost is a cost-effective alternative to ChargeAutomation for Spain SES Hospedajes compliance. ChargeAutomation charges $2.50 to $3.00 per rental per month as an add-on for authority reporting. DirectBookingHost includes automatic SES Hospedajes submission free in its base $9/month plan with no per-rental surcharge.
How much does ChargeAutomation charge for SES Hospedajes submission?
ChargeAutomation charges a tiered per-rental fee for authority reporting: $3.00 per rental per month for 1–50 rentals, $2.75 for 51–250 rentals, and $2.50 for 250+ rentals. This is on top of their base platform fee. DirectBookingHost includes SES submission at no extra cost in its $9/month flat plan.
What are common complaints about ChargeAutomation?
Common user complaints about ChargeAutomation include the per-rental add-on pricing for authority reporting (which adds up quickly for multi-property hosts), the need to purchase SES Hospedajes compliance as a separate tier rather than it being included, and the lack of a full direct booking website — meaning you still need a separate booking platform alongside ChargeAutomation.
Does DirectBookingHost include a booking website like ChargeAutomation?
Yes. DirectBookingHost includes a full direct booking website with Stripe payment processing, whereas ChargeAutomation is primarily a payment and guest journey automation tool that connects to existing booking systems. DirectBookingHost is designed as an all-in-one platform for hosts who want their own booking website with compliance built in.
Is DirectBookingHost cheaper than ChargeAutomation for Spain hosts?
For most hosts, yes. DirectBookingHost is $9/month flat regardless of how many rentals you manage. ChargeAutomation has a base fee plus $2.50–$3.00 per rental per month for SES authority reporting. A host with 5 rentals would pay $15–$25 per month just for SES reporting on ChargeAutomation, versus $0 extra on DirectBookingHost.

Turn one-time guests into repeat direct bookings

Most hosts never see their guests again. Every OTA stay should become your next direct booking — your website accepts commission-free reservations, your WiFi keeps your brand in front of guests long after checkout.

The repeat booking engine
1

Guest books on Airbnb

You pay the OTA commission

2

Stays at your property

Their only visit — for now

3

Connects to your WiFi

Branded splash page

4

Email captured

Added to your guest CRM

5

Automated follow-up

Offers & seasonal discounts

Books directly next trip

Zero OTA commission

Step 1

Direct Booking Website

Accept commission-free reservations from day one. Your own branded site with payments, calendar sync, and automated check-in — live in 15 minutes.

  • Branded booking website with custom domain
  • Stripe payments — zero booking fees
  • Calendar sync with Airbnb & VRBO
  • Pre-signed rental agreements & waivers
Start accepting direct bookings →
Step 2

Guest WiFi Marketing

Stop letting guests disappear after checkout. Capture their email when they log on to WiFi, then automatically invite them back to book direct next time.

  • Branded WiFi splash page & guest email capture
  • Automated rebooking campaigns & seasonal offers
  • Repeat-guest discounts to win the direct booking
  • Guest CRM across all your properties — any router
See WiFi Marketing →

One repeat booking often pays for your subscription many times over — there's no OTA commission the second time around. Bundle subscribers save 30% on Guest WiFi Marketing.

Stop paying per rental for SES reporting

DirectBookingHost includes automatic SES Hospedajes submission free in a flat $9/month plan. No per-rental fees, no add-ons.

No credit card required · Cancel anytime