So you’re going on a vacation, but you’re not too keen on being in a hotel and having to adhere to strict checkin/checkout times and other things that you feel may hamper your overall experience. With that in mind, you decide to take the plunge and look into making a vacation rental home or apartment the place you’ll stay for your getaway. The online vacation rental industry is growing at an immense pace, with many companies out there trying to dominate the market, but there are two main companies at the forefront - Airbnb and Vrbo. In this article, we’ll take some time to check both out and lay out their pros and cons - to see which is better, Airbnb or Vrbo. This article will include the most recent analysis and resulting figures that will definitely set out what each vacation rental site has to offer to those who are looking to be either a host or guest. So without further ado, let’s analyze - Airbnb vs. Vrbo.
The history of Airbnb and Vrbo
Airbnb was set up and designed as a company for online hospitality service and marketplace. Beginning in 2008, Airbnb’s main function as an online broker is to guide users to a multitude of properties that they wish to rent from hosts who make their properties available. The website even lists hotel rooms and hostels and even beds for rent. Its main headquarters is in San Francisco, California.
Vrbo is older than Airbnb, having been first established in 2006 after being acquired by HomeAway, which was then acquired by Expedia Group, Inc. on December 15, 2015. It is based in Austin, Texas, and operates in the same fashion as Airbnb with one key exception - they primarily offer only entire properties. In this regard, it is mainly individuals or property management companies that create listings on the website for guests seeking vacation rentals. Vrbo does have a decided advantage in the fact that it has a number of different companies under its umbrella because they help to better shape not only overall policies but also provide a firm framework that addresses all aspects of vacation rental, from inquiries to guest feedback, after their stay.
Accommodation types
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| - offers a variety of properties: hotels, estates, resorts, caravans, etc. - no shared spaces for short-term rentals |
- offers a variety of properties: resorts, hotels, villas, bed and breakfasts, etc. - offers room rentals and shared spaces |
Airbnb |
Both Vrbo and Airbnb offer a wide range of property types, from simple home rentals to lavish resorts, but Airbnb takes a slight lead by offering room rentals on shared homes. Most travelers will certainly find a worthy rental from either website, but those who prefer a budget-friendly stay may opt for a room with access to shared spaces such as a kitchen, laundry facilities, and more.
Selection
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| As of 2022, there are 2 million properties listed on Vrbo. |
As of 2022, there are 5.6 million properties listed on Airbnb. | Airbnb |
No arguments here, there simply are more properties offered by Airbnb around the world.
Airbnb, which at one point early on was dwarfed by Vrbo’s listings, has ballooned to having about 2.3 million listings in 191 countries offered by over 600,000 hosts. And to reiterate an earlier point, Airbnb has a greater variety of options offered through their site. A recent study by Beyond Pricing shows that Airbnb tends to be more favored among those looking at urban destinations and is a primary option for younger travelers who are looking for deals both domestically and internationally. With cheaper options such as shared spaces and single rooms, Airbnb attracts budget-conscious travelers, especially in urban areas where the price of accommodations is higher.
Vrbo at present has over 2 million listings throughout 190 countries. In the previously cited study by Beyond Pricing, Vrbo was shown to have drawn more people who were looking at family-oriented destinations with an emphasis on areas in and close to the United States.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Search functionality
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| The search filter includes: - the price range, number of rooms and spaces, features, and amenities - property reviews (4+ stars, cleanliness, location) - discounts (weekly, monthly, new listings) |
The search filter includes: - the price range, property types, and amenities - a customized section for the location, e.g. Popular in Ogunquit: beachfront location, pool - a map with the nightly price
|
Vrbo |
Guests looking for unique stays might find Airbnb useful for its 50+ Categories, one of which is “OMG!” or listings with wow factor. When a Category is clicked, Airbnb will show properties all over the world, often those you wouldn’t come across in a normal search, giving you more variety. Airbnb also launched Split Stays, which is offered during your search when there are less than 300 listings in your destination.
While the filters for both sites include all essential features and amenities, Vrbo wins in this category for its property reviews filter alone. It’s helpful to immediately see which places have been highly rated and have sent home happy guests in the past.
Long-term stays
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| - has a month-long rental page - weekly and monthly discounts are applicable (can be filtered during search) - cancellation policies: there’s no specific policy in place for long-term stays, but Vrbo has a general guide for cancellations (hosts can also set custom policies) - the search results page for month-long rentals indicates “Free cancellation until (date)” |
- has a sublet/monthly rental page - has a page for long-term stays in the US - weekly and monthly discounts are applicable for most properties - the search for monthly rentals already filters properties with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen, etc. - there’s a filter for “dedicated workspace” - offers Split Stays where you can split your stay between 2 properties (this particularly caters to longer bookings and will be automatically shown when there are less than 300 listings in your search) - cancellation policies: Strict Long Term and Flexible Long Term |
Airbnb |
Digital nomads looking for their next home away from home will find suitable stays in both Airbnb and Vrbo, but Airbnb’s filter for “dedicated workspace” and offer for Split Stays means it wins in category easily. Split Stays is a new feature by Airbnb, released in the summer of 2022, which automatically pairs two accommodations in the same region if your destination shows fewer properties for your long-term stay. These listings will have similar features and amenities so your comfort, convenience, and needs aren’t compromised.
Booking
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| - offers instant booking - offers “pay later with Affirm” |
- offers instant booking - offers “Installment Feature” |
Vrbo |
Both sites have made it convenient to secure a property by offering the “Instant Booking” option so guests won’t have to request a booking and wait. However, Vrbo wins this category as it offers up to 24 months of payment using Affirm as opposed to Airbnb’s 12-month Installment Feature.
Flexibility
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Rough guidelines for refunds/cancellations: - No refund: non-refundable for any reason - Strict: full refund for cancellations at least 60 days before the stay - Firm: 100% refund for cancellations at least 60 days before the stay and 50% refund for cancellations within 30 days of check-in - Moderate: 100% refund for cancellations at least 30 days before the stay and 50% refund for cancellations within 14 days of check-in - Relaxed: 100% refund for cancellations at least 14 days before the stay and 50% refund for cancellations within 7 days of check-in - Vrbo hosts can set custom policies beyond these above-mentioned rules. |
Refund/cancellation policies: - Flexible: 100% refund for cancellations at least 24 hours before the stay; for cancellations within 24 hours, the guest will be fully refunded except for the first night - Moderate: 100% refund for cancellations at least 5 days before the stay and 50% refund for cancellations within 5 days of check-in - Firm: 100% refund for cancellations at least 30 days before the stay and 50% refund for all nights if cancelled between 7 and 30 days; no refund if cancelled within 7 days of check-in - Strict: 100% refund if cancelled within 48 hours of booking (must be at least 14 days before check-in); 50% refund for all nights if cancelled between 7 and 14 days - Strict Long Term: 100% refund if cancelled within 48 hours of booking (must be at least 28 days before check-in); no refund on the first month if cancelled within 28 days of check-in - Flexible Long Term: 100% refund for cancellations at least 30 days before check-in; if the guest cancels after, 30 days won’t be refunded (in addition to nights already spent); no refund if less than 30 days remain on the booking - Super Strict 30 Days: 50% refund for all nights if cancelled at least 30 days before check-in; no refund if cancelled within 30 days of check-in - Super Strict 60 Days: 50% refund for all nights if cancelled at least 60 days before check-in; no refund if cancelled within 60 days of check-in |
Airbnb |
Both websites indicate the applicable cancellation policy at the time of booking. While Vrbo has a rough guideline for refunds, the hosts can actually set their own cancellation rules, which might cause confusion. Airbnb offers more flexibility when it comes to cancellations and also has another policy in place specifically for long-term stays.
Pricing and fees
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| - Booking fee: ranges from 6% to 15% of the booking subtotal - Cleaning fee: applicable and set by the owner - Security deposit: the payment method may be charged if damage is caused during the stay |
- Booking fee: ranges from 5% to 20%, but most service fees are under 14.2% of the booking subtotal - Cleaning fee: applicable and set by the owner - Security deposit: the payment method may be charged if damage is caused during the stay |
Tie |
There’s no way to determine which website is better in terms of price and fees. In the end, it all boils down to your requirements: the number of guests, location, duration of stay, amenities, and more.
Airbnb and Vrbo are comparatively equal in weekly rental rate and taxes. According to recent reports, both have a similar figure with an average of 1,050 USD for a weekly rental rate. There’s also a similarity with regards to the cost of taxes, with both having a flat rate over the same period of 115.50 USD, beyond these two points, there are differences in price points between the two companies in service fees and security deposits.
With additional fees, the traveler service fee shows a difference in favor of Vrbo - they actually charge less of a percentage at 6 - 15% to Airbnb’s 5 - 20%. That translates to Vrbo charging a little over 75 USD when it comes to traveler taxes. Their initial booking rates are lower as well, ranging from 4 - 9% on average. There is, however, one sticking point for those using credit cards on the site - Vrbo has a 2.9% rate for those using credit cards to book. According to some analysis, however, Vrbo has been shown to be beneficial to both hosts and guests for stays longer than a few days.
When it comes to additional fees, Airbnb does incorporate value-added tax or VAT that applies when booking in countries such as South Africa, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland as well as those in the European Union. This is seen with the initial booking charge - Airbnb normally charges 6 - 12% for guests on their initial booking. One thing to note is that Airbnb does not have additional charges for payments via credit cards.
Customer service
| Vrbo | Airbnb | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| - Offers 24/7 customer support through chat, e-mail, and telephone - Features a Trust page with all the customer service information available - Offers “Book with Confidence Guarantee” for all reservations. This includes support on: > Property access - if the guest is unable to enter the property upon arrival and the owner is unreachable > Payment protection - for cases of fraud or when the owner wrongfully withholds the security deposit > Owner cancellation - the guest will be assisted in searching for a new property when the owner cancels within 30-days of check-in > Property description - if the property is significantly misrepresented, the guest will be guided in making a new reservation |
- Offers 24/7 customer support through the Airbnb messaging feature - Features a Trust page with all the customer service information available |
Vrbo |
A key factor to consider when it comes to comparing vacation rental services is the availability and consistency of customer service. Both companies have customer service that is available 24/7, but Vrbo leads this category by offering chat, e-mail, and telephone channels. They also help the renter before, during, and after the stay with their “Book with Confidence Guarantee” feature. The ability to provide feedback whether one is a guest or a host is another major point of interest for those who are reviewing both companies. In addition, both have detailed review systems.
The bottom line
When stacked up against each other, Airbnb and Vrbo are positioned at the forefront of the global vacation rental industry for very valid reasons. Each company has capitalized on its own unique approaches to provide guests with attractive properties to check out for their vacation needs. With all of this information, you may be wondering which of the two companies may be better for you when it comes to your vacation?
When compared against these eight categories, Airbnb comes out on top. But it’s a close one, and depending on what you’re looking for, you may lead towards one company over the other. For Airbnb, their focus on expanding to locations big and small around the world has paid off, they’re now recognized for being the go-to vacation rental platform for unique properties such as castles and treehouses. With Vrbo, their aim has been to provide traditional rentals. The main issue that observers have pointed to has been the company’s turbulence in adapting its approaches to gain more users without alienating the hosts who list their properties with them.
Both companies offer rentals that will suit any traveler or group. If you’re unsure of what property to book and are looking for variety, you’re likely to find a place on Airbnb with its 5.6 million options. They also offer more flexibility when it comes to cancellations, including long-term stays, so it’s a great choice if you don’t have concrete plans yet or if there are any disruptions to your visit. If you have lots of preferences when looking at a property, Vrbo’s search functionality is more comprehensive and even includes a filter for discounts. Vrbo also has excellent customer service that will leave you with no worry throughout your stay.
Which is right for you?
If you’re looking to have more of a flexible situation on your vacation and you don’t want to feel too tied down or if you’re heading out somewhere solo, you may be inclined to look into Airbnb.
If you happen to be planning to travel in a large group, be it with family or not, both Airbnb and Vrbo have an extensive list of properties available but Vrbo will provide more of these through established rental companies with proven track records.
Cost isn’t a troublesome factor either with rental consideration as both have rentals on vastly different price scales, with Airbnb offering more variety with regards to space. But all in all, these issues haven’t been heavy deterrents for people. No matter which you choose, it’s a safe bet that with all of this information on hand, you’ll snag yourself a vacation rental that will be totally satisfying.
Frequently asked questions about Airbnb vs. Vrbo
History
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