Preferred STR software

Sarasota, Florida
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Preferred STR software

Joe KernPro Member
NYC · Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 16 votes

Hello all - for those of you self managing or property managing short-term rentals/Airbnb related platforms. What are you using to manage everything? Pricing , guest comm, cleaning ,etc. what are your preferred software solutions of choice ? Pricelabs , Hospitable? Looking for your recommendations for a small portfolio <5 properties.

Thanks! 

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Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1w

Hey Joe - I hope you are doing well. For self managing 1 property I dont think you need to spend much on software. You can list on Airbnb, VRBO, and even Booking.com and manage from their apps independently and keep spreadsheet trackers for most items. The only thing I think that has a real benefit is pricing software, so pricelabs. Hope that helps!

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  • John RacinePro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Casselberry, FL · Member since 2008 · 114 posts · 65 votes
    1w

    I just moved from Guesty to Jurny. Jurny may be a challenge for a smaller portfolio. Reason I switched is with Guesty, I had quite a few separate connected apps and it was a premium priced product.

    I now just Jurny which is built on AI and has everything included for my business, Turno for cleanings, and Pricelabs for pricing and calendar management. This whole tech stack is under $70/month per property and is working well for my STR/MTR Hybrid model I am running on my properties and the ones I cohost.

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  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1w

    Hey Joe - I hope you are doing well. For self managing 1 property I dont think you need to spend much on software. You can list on Airbnb, VRBO, and even Booking.com and manage from their apps independently and keep spreadsheet trackers for most items. The only thing I think that has a real benefit is pricing software, so pricelabs. Hope that helps!

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Clever Mukori
    Member since 2026 · 40 posts · 16 votes
    1w

    With under five properties I'd keep the stack small: the Airbnb and VRBO apps plus PriceLabs for pricing, then add a cleaning scheduler like Turno once turnovers start overlapping. A channel manager like Hospitable starts earning its fee once you're on more than one platform, mostly by keeping calendars synced so you don't double-book. The part people skip is the money side. Airbnb payouts come in net of fees and refunds, so give each property its own tag or class in your bookkeeping and reconcile the payout reports every month instead of untangling a year of deposits at tax time.

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  • Cliff H.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Nashua, NH · Member since 2014 · 610 posts · 486 votes
    1w

    And yes I realize temporary phone numbers are not necessarily “new,” but it does appear they’re being geographically phased in or were implemented, pulled back, and reapplied.

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  • Matthew Tregoning
    Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 472 posts · 173 votes
    1w

    We use Hospitable and PriceLabs. For fewer than five places, I’d test the messy situations during the trial: a changed checkout date, a cleaner who can’t make it, and a guest message that needs a real person. The tool that makes those easy is worth more than a long feature list. Are you managing locally or from a distance?

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    • Joe KernPro Member
      OP
      NYC · Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 16 votes
      1w

      Thanks Matthew - from a distance out of state.

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  • Nick Pavlakis
    Investor · Seattle · Member since 2018 · 35 posts · 5 votes
    6d

    Since you're out of state, I'd test the local person's access during the software trial. Can they see the next arrival and any changed checkout without asking you? Can you tell whether the turnover was completed? Those are the details I'd want working before adding more properties.

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  • Kent Morgan
    Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 3 votes
    1d

    Joe, for under five doors managed from out of state, I'd keep it lean: the Airbnb and VRBO apps, PriceLabs for pricing, and Turno or a shared calendar for cleaners. Add a channel manager once you're on more than one platform and calendar sync starts to worry you.

    The part that eats the most time from a distance is guest messaging, the same check-in, parking and Wi-Fi questions at odd hours. Saved replies in the Airbnb app cover a lot of it. Full disclosure, I'm part of BnBGenius, a $10/month Chrome extension that drafts guest replies without needing a PMS or your Airbnb password. Happy to answer questions here.

    (Drafted with AI help.)

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    • Joe KernPro Member
      OP
      NYC · Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 16 votes
      21h

      Thanks @Kent Morgan - would like to learn more about BnBGenius. thanks for the feedback, very helpful. I was thinking hospitable as well for connecting on-site apps for a doorlock + thermostat and the multiple platform syncs as you noted.

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    • Kent Morgan
      Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 3 votes
      15h

      Thanks Joe. Quick rundown: BnBGenius is a Chrome extension that drafts replies to your Airbnb and VRBO guest messages, writes your host review after each stay, and suggests upsells like early check-in, late checkout and gap nights. It doesn't need a PMS or your Airbnb or VRBO password. It's $10/month per unit, and you can start free with the first 500 messages, no card needed.

      For the door lock, thermostat and multi-platform sync you mentioned, Hospitable makes sense. BnBGenius covers the guest messaging, reviews and upsell side, so it's a lighter option for that piece rather than a channel manager. If you'd like the sign-up link, I'm happy to send it by BP message.

      (Drafted with AI help.)

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    • Kent Morgan
      Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 3 votes
      4h

      If you are managing yourself, Hospitable is fine. I used to use them. I prefer Hostaway although now we are thinking of exploring different options for outside the USA. Bnbgenius and pricelabs work well and bnbgenius will be rolling out a pricelabs automation feature in the near future. Another option if you already have a trusted team on the ground is to use a Onefinebnb's off-site model for a small fee which already includes all these applications.

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  • Lee Futcher
    Technology · Vancouver, BC · Member since 2026 · 45 posts · 6 votes
    1d

    Out of state, the guests aren't the problem. The 11pm Wi-Fi question is. Check-in, parking and Wi-Fi come up every single stay, so write those answers once, keep them in saved replies and send them automatically the day before arrival. Most of the late-night pings just disappear. What's eating more of your time right now, the guests or the cleaners?

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