When I first dipped my toes into managing vacation rentals, I quickly learned how overwhelming the entire process can be. Between juggling guest communication, handling multiple bookings across platforms, and keeping track of cleanings and maintenance, it felt like I was always putting out fires. That’s when I started looking into tools that could help streamline the workload, and Guesty kept popping up as a solution.
But here’s the thing—while Guesty claims to simplify rental management, is it really the right fit for every host? In this review, I’ll break down everything I’ve learned about the platform so far and help you decide if it’s worth your time and investment.
What Is Guesty?
Guesty isn’t your traditional property manager—it’s a platform designed to help you manage your vacation rentals more efficiently.
The platform was founded in 2013 by Amiad and Koby Soto, right when the short-term rental industry was booming thanks to Airbnb’s rise. Guesty’s headquarters is located in Tel Aviv, Israel, and since its launch, it has raised over $284.5 million in funding. It has also expanded by acquiring two other rental management startups: Your Porter App and MyVR.
How Guesty Actually Works
Guesty is built to simplify the management of your vacation rentals, and it’s a mobile-first platform, so you can manage everything from your smartphone, whether you’re on Android or iOS. Of course, if you prefer working from your desktop, Guesty is fully functional there too.
One of the best things about Guesty is how easily it integrates with the major short-term rental platforms, like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.
Getting started is straightforward: all you need to do is import your existing listings from these platforms, and Guesty syncs everything—including your bookings and reservation calendars—into one place.
Besides the big players, you can also connect to other channels like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and CanadaStays, though these integrations are limited to calendar and reservation sync only. For Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, you’ll have full access to Guesty’s services, making management across multiple platforms seamless.
Once your listings are synced, Guesty makes it easy to stay on top of things. All your guest communication, bookings, and calendars are consolidated into a single dashboard..
If you’re new to Guesty or need guidance, the platform offers step-by-step support through its Help Center. They provide detailed guides to make the setup process as stress-free as possible, which is a huge plus for hosts who want to hit the ground running.
While Guesty automates many aspects of property management, it’s important to remember that you’re still the one managing your rentals. Guesty helps make the process more efficient, but you’ll still be actively involved in running your business.
What Can You Do with Guesty? (Key Features You Should Know)
Let me walk you through some of the most useful tools it offers and how they can make a real difference in your daily operations.
The Features That Could Save You Time
Here are the standout features that could really save you time and effort:
Multi-Calendar
The multi-calendar is one of the most valuable tools in Guesty for Hosts. It pulls together all your booking calendars from different platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com into a single dashboard. You can even include bookings from your own website if you have one.
The calendar gives you a clear overview of all your reservations across channels, making it easy to adjust rates and check availability in one place. Plus, you can share the calendar with partners, team members, or co-owners, so everyone stays on the same page without constant back-and-forth communication.
Automated Messaging
Guesty’s automated messaging is a massive time-saver, especially when you’re fielding tons of guest inquiries and bookings. You can create message templates in multiple languages and set automation rules for everything from responding to common questions to sending check-in and check-out instructions.
The system can even handle booking approvals automatically. After your guests check out, Guesty will automatically send reviews. Overall, the automated messaging feature promises to save over 40 hours per week.
Website Builder
This tool lets you create your own direct booking website, which helps you gain exposure to more guests while avoiding the commissions typically charged by platforms like Airbnb. While it only supports listings available on Airbnb, it syncs seamlessly with all your properties and features, like the multi-calendar and automated messaging.
Smart Pricing Integration
These tools help you optimize your nightly rates based on market demand, seasonality, and competition, so you can strike the right balance between pricing and occupancy. The only downside is that if you use a pricing tool outside of PriceLabs and Wheelhouse, you’ll need to manually refresh the rates in Guesty.
This sync happens in real-time for Airbnb and daily for Vrbo and Booking.com, which can be a bit of a drawback if you’re managing a lot of properties.
What Does Guesty Really Cost?
Pricing is often a key factor when selecting a property management system, and Guesty offers flexible options depending on the size and needs of your business. Here’s a breakdown of the three Guesty subscription plans:
- Lite: The Lite plan is designed for hosts managing 1-3 properties, making it ideal for smaller-scale operations or those just starting out. This plan includes essential features like direct reservations, multi-calendar, unified inbox, task management, and payment solutions. The monthly cost for the Lite plan starts at $23 when billed monthly or $16 per month when billed annually.
- Pro: The Pro plan is tailored for those managing 4-199 listings. It’s a great option for individual property managers and small- to medium-sized property management companies. The Pro plan includes everything in Lite, along with advanced features such as multi-unit management, revenue management, advanced analytics, and more. Pricing for this plan is customized based on your specific business needs, so you’ll need to contact Guesty for a quote.
- Enterprise: This plan is designed for large-scale operations managing 200+ properties. The Enterprise plan includes everything in Pro, with additional enterprise-grade features, automation, premium support, and advanced analytics. As with the Pro plan, pricing is customized, so a quote from Guesty’s team is required based on your company’s size and complexity.
Guesty offers a 14-day free trial of their Lite package, allowing you to test the platform’s features without a credit card. While there isn’t a completely free version of Guesty, this trial gives you the opportunity to see if the platform suits your business needs before committing to a subscription.
In addition to the standard pricing, there are a few extra fees for certain features:
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Smart Lock Automation: $0.75 per code, which integrates with smart lock systems to send gate codes to guests automatically.
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Chargeback Protection: 2% per transaction, offering 3D verification for direct booking payments to prevent fraudulent charges.
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Self Domain: $100 per domain, if you want to use a custom domain when building your direct booking website through Guesty.
When it comes to cancellations, Guesty allows you to manage this directly from your desktop account. If you cancel, you can still use the platform until the end of your current billing cycle, but they do not offer refunds. If you add or remove listings during an annual subscription, Guesty will prorate the charges or fees accordingly.
What Are Other Hosts Saying? (User Reviews)
When it comes to user feedback, Guesty has received a lot of attention from vacation rental hosts and property managers alike. I’ve taken a look at what people are saying, and the reviews are a bit of a mixed bag, though overall, the platform is rated quite well.
Guesty has an impressive TrustScore of 4.5 out of 5, based on over 300 reviews. Most of the positive reviews highlight the platform’s ease of use and the support offered by the Customer Support Team.
In special I would like to mention they have a great support department which will help you in any way possible.
Thomas R K.
Many users have mentioned how the platform has helped them optimize and scale their rental management business, praising its robust features and overall effectiveness in reducing the time spent on manual tasks.
However, not everyone has had a perfect experience with Guesty. Some users have reported issues with technical glitches and found that the customer support experience can be inconsistent.
Customer support is the worst I even experienced. Only can communicate via email and they are on a different tome zone so if they call you it is a 3 AM EAT.
EDWARD C.
There are also complaints about the pricing structure, with some users finding the costs too high as they added more listings to their account.
On Capterra, another trusted review platform, Guesty holds an overall rating of 4.5 as well. Many hosts appreciate the platform’s power and ease of use, but some feel that the user interface (UI) and experience (UX) could be improved. While satisfied users are happy with how the platform has simplified their day-to-day operations, others have pointed out that they’ve found better alternatives for their specific needs.
If you’re considering trying Guesty, the 14-day free trial is a good way to test the waters and see if the platform fits your property management style. Ultimately, it’s worth considering both the positive and negative feedback to determine whether Guesty will work well for your rental business.
Is Guesty Really Worth It? My Final Thoughts
After reviewing Guesty’s features and considering the feedback from other hosts, I’d say it’s a solid option for anyone looking to streamline their rental management.
However, the cost can add up quickly, especially if you’re managing more properties. Some users have also reported occasional issues with customer support and technical glitches. But overall, if you’re managing multiple properties or plan to scale your business, Guesty’s comprehensive tools could be worth the investment.
The 14-day free trial is a great way to test it out before committing. For most hosts, Guesty can be a smart way to save time and optimize property management.