Enterprise features. Indie host pricing. Actually autonomous.
Hostaway integrates 200+ OTAs and then charges you 1.8% on every booking, $500 for onboarding, and extra for dynamic pricing. For all that money, you're still managing pricing per-channel and manually coordinating cleaners.
Start Free — No Credit Card| Feature | Hostaway | DuneDesk |
|---|---|---|
| OTA integrations | ✗ 200+ OTAs (over-engineered for most hosts) | ✓ Major OTAs — focused, stable |
| Pricing per channel | ✗ Manual setup per OTA required | ✓ Autonomous — AI optimizes per channel |
| Guest screening | ✗ Manual review | ✓ AI auto-declines risky profiles |
| Exception handling | ✗ Owner must approve all complications | ✓ AI resolves autonomously |
| Cleaner coordination | ✗ No easy text reminders to cleaners | ✓ Autonomous scheduling & payment |
| Direct booking site | ✗ Limited customization, VRBO reviews broken | ✓ Full customization |
| Customer support | ✗ Understaffed — 30+ min wait times | ✓ Direct access, Slack integration |
| Billing transparency | ✗ Hidden fees discovered post-purchase | ✓ Public flat pricing, no surprises |
| Time commitment | ✗ 15–20 hrs/week + constant billing disputes | ✓ 2–3 hrs/month reviewing reports |
| Plan / Fee | Hostaway | DuneDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Small portfolio (2–10) | ~$100–300/month (opaque) | $29–79/month (public, flat) |
| Medium (10–50) | ~$300–800/month (custom) | $79/month |
| Booking engine fee | 1.8% per booking (hidden) | None |
| Stripe processing fee | +1% on top (hidden) | Standard Stripe only |
| Onboarding | $200–500 setup fee | Free — 48-hour setup |
| Dynamic pricing | Extra cost add-on | Included — autonomous |
The pattern: Hidden fees (1.8% booking + 1% Stripe), opaque pricing, $500 onboarding, and a platform so complex that small portfolios are overkill. Users report months-long billing disputes.
Hostaway is super sleazy and super dirty.
Customer support is overburdened, understaffed, and the staff lack expertise. I don't even bother reporting issues anymore.
If you want to be overcharged on every month's billing and then fight for months to be given a refund, Hostaway is your program.
DON'T USE HOSTAWAY. Airbnb upgrades features every 6 months. Last time Hostaway compatibility broke with all my listings (4). PMS down 29 days while support failed to fix it.
Result: Owners on DuneDesk spend 2–3 hours per month reviewing reports. On Hostaway, you're spending 15–20 hours per week managing chaos.
Set up takes 48 hours. No sales call, no contract, no credit card required.
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