Airbnb vs Vrbo for Owners - Which is Better in 2025

Is Airbnb or Vrbo Better for Hosts and Property Owners?

Deciding whether to list your property on Airbnb or Vrbo can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this Airbnb vs Vrbo comparison, we break down everything from:

• Fees and payout structures
• Booking volume and guest exposure
• User interface and listing management
• Guest screening and host protection
• Host customer support
• Regulations and Tax Compliance
• Property management system integration
• Market demographics

Along the way, we highlight the biggest differences to make it easy to see which platform is the right fit for your property and strategy.

And while Airbnb and Vrbo dominate the conversation, more and more owners are turning to an alternative worth knowing about: Furnished Finder.

Why owners choose Furnished Finder over Airbnb and Vrbo

Many landlords find Furnished Finder appealing because it targets longer-term, professional renters instead of short vacation guests. In fact, Furnished Finder “focuses specifically on mid-term rentals of 30 days or more,” catering to people like travel nurses, corporate relocations, and digital nomads. These renters typically sign leases of roughly three months on average. Longer stays mean far fewer turnovers (and less wear and tear) than the constant two- or three-night bookings on Airbnb or Vrbo.

Another key difference is cost. Furnished Finder operates on a flat-fee model: hosts pay a one-time annual listing fee (about $179/year) and keep all the rent, with no commission on each booking. By contrast, Airbnb and Vrbo charge service fees on every reservation–usually 3 to 15% of the rental plus guest fees (see below for more details). Many owners like the simplicity of Furnished Finder pricing–one known annual fee instead of uncertain per-booking cuts means landlords effectively keep 100% of the agreed rent. This can be more cost-effective for longer-term rentals, where the commission model on Airbnb and Vrbo would otherwise eat into income over many months.

Furnished Finder also gives landlords more control over the lease and communication. The platform simply connects you with tenants. You negotiate your own lease, set payment terms, and collect rent independently. In practice, this means owners can use any lease agreement or house rules they choose and handle payments on their own schedule.

Communication isn’t locked behind the site as it is on Airbnb and Vrbo. On those sites, hosts must keep messaging within the platform, and contact information is not made available until a guest pays. However, on Furnished Finder, you can talk to prospective renters right away and vet them directly.

In short, Furnished Finder “promotes direct communication between landlords and tenants” with no platform interference, which landlords appreciate when lining up long-term tenants.

In the end, hosts who prefer Furnished Finder do so for the predictability and control it offers: stable, reliable multi-month guests and minimal fees, at the cost of a smaller, specialized audience.

1. Commission fees & payout structures

Airbnb and Vrbo use different fee models. Airbnb’s standard host fee is 3% of the booking subtotal (nightly rates + extras), with the guest paying an additional ~14% service fee. However, Airbnb imposes a host-only fee (~14–16%) for certain listings (e.g. hotels or hosts using API-based property managers). In practice, most independent hosts on Airbnb pay ~3% per booking.

Vrbo offers two payment options for hosts: pay-per-booking or annual subscription. The pay-per-booking model charges 5% of the rental fee plus a 3% payment processing fee (8% total). Alternatively, hosts can pay a flat annual subscription (recently ~$699/year) and avoid per-booking fees. Properties managed via software may incur a 5% commission (for bookings made through Vrbo’s system) or up to 10% if booked through other channels.

Regarding payouts, Airbnb generally pays hosts within 24 hours after a guest checks in.

Vrbo similarly releases funds roughly one business day after check-in (though new-host accounts may see a 30-day delay on first booking).

Hosts should consider these cash-flow timings, as well as payment options (Airbnb supports multiple methods vs. Vrbo’s bank deposits by default).

Why Guest Fees Matter to Hosts Although the traveler service fee is paid by the guest, it can indirectly affect a host’s earnings. A higher guest fee makes the total price higher for travelers, which can discourage some from booking your property. In other words, if guests see a big service fee added, your listing might become less competitive compared to similar listings with lower fees or on other platforms. Over time, this can mean fewer bookings.

For example, Airbnb noted that hosts who switched to a no-guest-fee (host-only) structure saw about a 17% increase in bookings on average (likely because their listings appeared cheaper with no extra guest fees). As a host, being aware of these fees is important. Even though you aren’t paying the guest service fee out of pocket, it influences the overall value perception of your listing.

2. Booking volume & guest exposure

Airbnb boasts over 7 million active listings worldwide, spanning 220+ countries (cities, apartments, unique stays, etc.). In Q1 2025, Airbnb recorded about 143.1 million booked nights (+8% YoY), driven by its broad audience.

Vrbo (part of Expedia Group) has far fewer listings at around 2 million globally, with ~630,000 in the USA. Expedia Group’s combined lodging (including Vrbo) did about 107.7 million room nights (+6%) in Q1 2025. Notably, “two-thirds of [Expedia’s] bookings come from the U.S. point of sale.”

Airbnb’s brand recognition and diverse inventory mean properties (especially in urban or tourist centers) can get very high guest exposure.

Vrbo’s audience is smaller but often highly targeted: it excels at family and group vacation rentals.

In practice, Airbnb tends to generate more frequent bookings for hosts, whereas Vrbo may give access to travelers specifically seeking whole-home vacation stays. It’s also worth noting that Airbnb has expanded its offerings for guests with their new Experiences and Services products. This could lead to increased guest engagement on the platform.

3. User interface & listing management

Airbnb is widely regarded as having a polished, user-friendly host interface. Hosts often note that listing creation and calendar management feel streamlined. For example, one experienced host calls Airbnb’s UI “slick and user-friendly,” with a straightforward setup process.

The platform’s dashboard and mobile app are well-developed, offering intuitive tools (e.g. calendar sync, guest messaging, pricing suggestions) and extensive help resources. Unique Airbnb features–like customizable “Categories” for listings, “Instant Book” triggers, and a community-driven design–can make managing even multiple properties efficient.

Vrbo’s host interface is solid but sometimes seen as less modernized. It provides the essentials (listing editor, calendar, messages), but some hosts feel it’s not quite as intuitive as Airbnb’s. Vrbo’s dashboard is straightforward, and its mobile app has improved, but advanced host features (e.g. promotion tools) are fewer.

Hosts who operate through Property Management Systems (PMS) can manage Vrbo listings via integrations, though doing so affects fee structure. Overall, Airbnb tends to win on UI “polish,” while Vrbo offers all key functionality in a simpler format.

4. Guest screening & host protection

Airbnb and Vrbo both offer safety nets, but Airbnb’s AirCover program is more comprehensive for hosts.

Airbnb requires guest identity verification and reservation screening as part of AirCover, and provides up to $3 million host damage protection (for property damage) plus $1 million liability insurance. Hosts with AirCover can be reimbursed for guest-caused damage to their home or belongings (beyond any security deposit) up to $3M. Airbnb also handles extra cleaning costs (stains, pet damage, smoke, etc.) and lost income if a booking must be canceled due to damage.

By contrast, Vrbo’s standard safety policy (Book with Confidence) covers guests, not hosts. Vrbo includes $1 million liability insurance for hosts (covering guest injuries or damage to guest property) with every booking, but does not offer a damage insurance or guarantee to cover guest-caused damage to the host’s property. Hosts must rely on voluntary security deposits (held for up to 14 days) or personal insurance to cover damage on Vrbo.

Airbnb also enforces a host resolution process: if a host and guest dispute damages or refund issues, Airbnb’s Resolution Center mediates claims (using AirCover if needed).

Vrbo likewise offers dispute assistance (e.g. refunding guests or mediating issues under its safety policy), but hosts often find they have to be proactive in claiming deposits or handling guest damages with limited platform support.

Finally, both Airbnb and Vrbo have provisions for large-scale emergencies or “extenuating circumstances” that allow them to override normal cancellation rules in extraordinary situations. These policies give the platforms broad discretion to refund guests without host approval when major disruptive events occur. In practice, this means a host’s own cancellation policy can be superseded if Airbnb or Vrbo decides an event warrants special treatment – a measure that can significantly impact host earnings and control over cancellations.

5. Customer support & dispute resolution

Both Airbnb and Vrbo claim 24/7 support, but host experiences vary. For travelers, NerdWallet notes each platform “offers 24/7 customer support” to handle emergencies (unresponsive hosts, cancellation issues, withheld deposits, etc.). Similarly, hosts can contact support through phone or online channels on both platforms. Airbnb emphasizes its global support team and online Resolution Center for host–guest disputes. Whereas Vrbo (Expedia) offers phone support and a “property description guarantee” for certain issues.

In practice, many hosts report mixed satisfaction. Some find Airbnb’s online support challenging (with first-line responses via chat or email), though Airbnb has improved its responsiveness. 

Others praise Vrbo’s phone-based support (through Expedia), noting agents often know the software well.

Hosts should consider their own preferences: Airbnb’s tech-centric resolution tools vs. Vrbo/Expedia’s more traditional call center.

Regarding disputes, both platforms require owners to report damage within a time window. Airbnb’s Resolution Center allows host claims on a guest’s security deposit or via AirCover after checkout. Vrbo holds any refundable damage deposit for up to 14 days post-stay. If the host reports damage, the guest is notified and the host can request a claim. Neither system is foolproof, so many hosts carry their own insurance.

6. Regulations and tax compliance

Here in the United States, short-term rental (STR) platforms must navigate a patchwork of local laws. How Airbnb, Vrbo, and Furnished Finder each handle regulation and taxes can be a deciding factor for hosts. Below we compare their track records in dealing with STR rules and occupancy taxes.

Airbnb’s regulatory crackdowns

Airbnb has developed a reputation for responding to local STR enforcement by delisting noncompliant hosts on a large scale. In late 2019, for instance, Airbnb purged more than half of its Boston listings virtually overnight to comply with a new city ordinance – an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 unregistered rentals were deactivated in one sweep. Similarly, when New York City began enforcing a strict registration law in 2023, the number of Airbnb short-term listings plummeted by about 15,000 (nearly 70%) as illegal listings were wiped from the site. Airbnb has even coordinated with some cities preemptively: in Philadelphia, where officials identified roughly 1,500 unlicensed rentals, the company worked with regulators to flag and remove those listings within days of being notified. These high-profile crackdowns show Airbnb’s willingness – if not always voluntary, then under legal pressure – to purge listings that violate local STR rules.

Tax collection and local cooperation

On the tax front, Airbnb and Vrbo differ in how they handle occupancy taxes. Airbnb has struck many agreements with U.S. jurisdictions to automatically collect lodging taxes from guests and remit them on hosts’ behalf, simplifying compliance.

Vrbo (HomeAway, part of Expedia Group) also collects taxes in certain areas, but its coverage is less uniform; there are places where Airbnb will add the required hotel or occupancy tax to the bill while Vrbo leaves it up to the host to collect and pay it.

For example, in Palm Desert, California, Airbnb automatically tacks on the city’s transient occupancy tax, whereas Vrbo does not. Meaning, a host who lists on Vrbo must handle that tax themselves.

Even within the same market, differences can exist. In Austin, TX, both platforms collect the state hotel tax for bookings, but neither collects the separate city lodging tax, leaving Austin hosts responsible for remitting the local portion on their own.

The key is that each platform only collects taxes where they have an agreement or legal obligation to do so, so hosts should not assume it’s fully taken care of in every location.

Airbnb has generally become more cooperative with local authorities under regulatory pressure. In several cities it has agreed to share data or comply with subpoena requests to help enforce local rules, following legal battles and settlements.

Vrbo, for its part, tends to follow legal requirements as well, but often with a lower profile. In Philadelphia’s case, for example, Expedia (Vrbo) noted that it “works with officials across the country to support regulations that address local needs.”

In practice, neither major platform wants to be caught enabling illegal rentals or tax evasion. The difference is that Airbnb has pioneered more formal partnerships for tax collection and data-sharing with governments, whereas Vrbo historically left a bit more of the compliance and tax remit burden to owners. Property owners should be mindful of these nuances, especially if they list on multiple sites, to ensure all local taxes are paid and rules followed.

Furnished Finder’s hands-off approach

In contrast, Furnished Finder approaches regulation and taxation very differently. This platform specializes in furnished rentals for longer stays (often 30+ days, such as monthly rentals for traveling nurses), so many STR rules and hotel taxes simply don’t apply. (In many locales, only rentals of 30 days or less are legally defined as “short-term” and subject to transient occupancy tax or STR permit requirements.) As a result, a typical Furnished Finder listing usually falls outside the scope of strict STR ordinances that impact Airbnb-style stays.

Equally important is Furnished Finder’s role (or lack thereof) in the transaction. Unlike Airbnb and Vrbo, Furnished Finder is not a booking intermediary – it doesn’t process guest payments or collect taxes at all. The site primarily serves as a marketplace to connect landlords and tenants, and it puts the onus on property owners to comply with any applicable laws themselves. That means if permits or taxes are required for a given rental, it’s up to the host to handle it.

Furnished Finder will not step in to remove your listing due to local STR bans or tax rules; it’s essentially a hands-off service. This can be an advantage if your rental is for longer occupancies that skirt STR regulations, but it also means you must be diligent in understanding and following your area’s laws. Unlike Airbnb or Vrbo, Furnished Finder won’t actively help with compliance or collect taxes on your behalf.

7. Integration with Property-Management Tools

Both Airbnb and Vrbo integrate with third-party channel managers and property-management systems (PMS), but the fee impacts differ.

Airbnb’s API is widely used by PMS providers, but any host syncing via API must use the host-only fee (unless most listings are in certain exempt countries). That means an Airbnb listing managed through software typically incurs ~15% commission instead of 3%. (Some software solutions may force this higher fee, so hosts often choose which listings to connect or use split-fee for independent accounts.)

Vrbo supports PMS connections and syndicates listings to other Expedia-owned sites. The fee rules for Vrbo via PMS are: 5% commission on bookings made through Vrbo’s own checkout flow, but 10% if booked through other channels (Airbnb, Booking.com, etc.). In both cases, Vrbo still charges the 3% processing fee (though it’s often waived when using authorized PMS).

Many hosts find Vrbo’s integration more straightforward because Vrbo itself encourages channel management; however, note that a higher 10% fee applies if you double-list outside Vrbo’s checkout.

In summary, Airbnb + PMS = ~15% host fee (hotels/PMS mandates host-only). Vrbo + PMS = 5–10% host commission depending on booking source. Hosts using multiple platforms frequently rely on a channel manager (e.g. Hostaway, Guesty, Hospitable) to synchronize calendars, but should account for these fee implications.

8. Geographic focus, market reach & guest demographics

Airbnb is truly global. With ~7 million listings worldwide, it spans urban apartments, unique stays (treehouses, yurts, etc.), and vacation homes. Its guest base is extremely diverse: from budget backpackers and solo travelers to business guests and families. Airbnb guests “often seek experience-based stays” and include many younger travelers, although the platform increasingly attracts all ages. This means city condos, quirky properties, and flexible pricing tend to do well on Airbnb.

Vrbo (originally HomeAway) has its roots as a family-vacation site, and that focus remains. It exclusively lists entire homes (no shared or hotel rooms), primarily in vacation areas (beach towns, mountains, resort areas). Vrbo’s market is strongest in North America (630K of its 2M listings are U.S. properties) and other vacation-heavy countries. Vrbo guests tend to book multi-bedroom homes (with pools, kitchens, game rooms) and often stay a week or more. Airbnb does have families too, but younger and mixed travelers gravitate towards its vast inventory of unique listings, while Vrbo draws those seeking traditional vacation rentals.

In summary, Airbnb’s reach is broader and more urban/global, whereas Vrbo is U.S.-heavy and vacation-focused. According to industry research, Airbnb had roughly 1.4 million listings in 2024 vs. Vrbo’s ~630,000, reflecting Airbnb’s much larger supply (and guest traffic). Demographically, Airbnb’s user base skews younger and more international, while Vrbo’s skews older/familial. 

Property owners should choose based on their market: a mountain cabin or beach home may do well on both, but Airbnb will cast a wider net, whereas Vrbo will target vacationing families.