Airbnb has become synonymous with the concept of vacation rentals, but it is no longer the only player in the market.
In recent years, several worthy Airbnb competitors have appealed to some travelers who are looking for more options to choose from.
As the platform focuses more on corporate and less personal, many property owners and travelers are seeking alternatives to Airbnb that offer top-notch experience, have more impact on local communities, and are affordable.
So, whether you are planning to list your home while you travel or are looking for something that offers a unique and authentic travel accommodation experience, there is a huge array of platforms and apps that offer similar services as Airbnb.
We will highlight the best alternatives to Airbnb on this guide, which will help you find the best accommodation or capture more bookings.
The Best Sites Like AirBnB
In our breakdown of worthy alternatives to Airbnb, we will explore several competitors, highlighting their strengths and unique offerings.
So, read through this section to get a clearer picture of these alternative sites.
1. Vrbo
Some people may know Vrbo for its contribution to the vacation rental industry.
Much like Airbnb, Vrbo derived its name from an acronym for Vacation Rental By Owners.
The platform, which is part of the HomeAway Group, has over one million homes from different parts of the world.
These homes range from penthouse apartments in Sydney to log cabins in Alaska.
Like other home listing sites, Vrbo provides property descriptions, photos, and a convenient way to communicate with the host.
In addition to this, it provides reviews from previous guests. It also promises a wider reach for travelers.
Specifically, the site promises exposure to over 40 million travelers in a month.
This is possible due to its huge international network of booking and vacation rental sites in the US.
Apart from the fact that Vrbo is one of the viable alternatives to Airbnb, you may also be curious if Vrbo is cheaper than Airbnb.
Well, the site has listings for all budgets, starting from less than $100 per night to over $2000.
Perhaps the major difference with Airbnb is that Vrbo only lists entire residences. So, you will not get an individual room for rent on the site.
What this means is that you and your travel friends will have the entire property for yourself.
The Good
- An attractive loyalty program and powerful search tools
The Bad
- It has confusing cancellation policies, and it also offers only standalone houses.
2. Getaway
Getaway is the best platform for those who are looking for eco-friendly spaces.
It will offer you the opportunity to truly escape the urban life, as all the cabins listed on the site have WiFi due to their remoteness.
This setting makes it ideal for travelers who are looking to totally disconnect from the world and refresh their souls and spirits.
Another unique thing about Getaway is that rather than allowing you to scroll through listings of various types of accommodations, the site simplifies things for you by pairing with the features you need.
The Good
- It is a great platform for nature lovers and offers uniform properties across all locations.
The Bad
- Limited locations.
3. Booking.com
Booking.com is a popular platform for flight and hotel searches. It also offers vacation rentals, making it a better alternative to Airbnb in some aspects.
Most of the properties on Booking.com, especially in major global cities, are apartments in professionally managed buildings.
This aspect alone minimizes the chances of having a dramatic trip.
Besides this, it also simplifies the booking and checking into these apartments.
The only aspect that trails Airbnb is the variety and charm of the listings.
Unlike Airbnb, Booking.com lacks the charm and character usually associated with Airbnb listings.
The Good
- Its listings are more characterized by professionally managed properties, spreading throughout the world.
The Bad
- Lacks the charm and personality. It also offers a limited portfolio.
4. Expedia
Expedia is also one of the suitable alternatives to Airbnb due to its huge portfolio of travel-related services.
Just like Booking.com, it has made inroads in the vacation rental sectors, thus challenging the dominance of Airbnb.
Being a reputable travel platform, Expedia provides its users with diverse accommodations ranging from private homes to hotels.
Perhaps what makes it a top competitor of Airbnb is that it offers a comprehensive travel package, including car rentals, flights, and experiences.
The Good
- Easy to bundle flights and car rental. It also saves money with travel packaging.
The Bad
- Its non-hotel selections are lacking.
5. Plum Guide
If you love the idea of Airbnb but would prefer better quality offers, then the Plum Guide will suit you.
This site only accepts less than 5% of all the properties submitted to them.
The main reason is that they personally vet each listing against more than 150 criteria.
They look at everything from the quality of linen to shower pressure.
So, when you book for accommodation via the Plum Guide, you are guaranteed to find quality offers.
The strike acceptance criteria doesn’t mean that you will have fewer choices in terms of accommodations.
In fact, there are plenty of homes listed on the site from several destinations across the world.
Another good thing is that these listings cover different budgets.
The only drawback of using the Plum Guide is that there are no reviews from guests who have stayed in the property before.
The Good
- Meticulous vetting and reliable staff. On top of this, the properties are beautiful.
The Bad
- It is expensive and may have a long-stay minimum.
6. Wimdu
Wimdu is also among the fantastic alternatives to Airbnb.
While the sites currently cover only 20 countries, it has units in larger cities.
The accommodation options range from apartments to hotel rooms and even houseboats.
Another excellent thing about it is the search and filter options. It also provides average ratings.
The Good
- Abundance of search and filter options.
The Bad
- Mostly limited to big cities
7. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor excels best when it comes to traffic-related reviews. But the site offers more than just reviews.
With close to one million properties listed in about 200 countries, TripAdvisor rented is surely a worthy alternative to Airbnb.
Besides offering you plenty of options to choose from, the site also provides excellent reviews about the properties it lists.
The Good
- Offer great assistance in trip planning and aggregate many properties from across the web.
The Bad
- It doesn’t manage the properties it lists.
8. Outdoorsy
This is another platform that targets nature-conscious travelers.
The only difference with Getaway is that Outdoorsy goes beyond renting stationary cabins.
With this platform, you can rent a camper fan, an RV, or even a travel trailer.
The idea is that you should not be limited to one destination.
The Good
- 24/7 roadside assistance and sufficient training. It also offers plenty of styles and sizes of vehicles.
The Bad
- You may need a specialized license to operate an RV.
9. Homestay
Homestay truly lives up to its name.
The way Homestay works is how Airbnb was supposed to operate. Travelers stay in a host’s home, so it is a genuinely hosted experience.
What it means is that you get a genuine local experience, as you will do things as the locals do.
And the good thing is that you can use the platform to book homes around the world, including big cities like London and Paris.
The Good
- It excels at the original concept of Airbnb, involving hosts in your stay, leading to a better experience and cultural exchange.
The Bad
- Lack of privacy and independence.
10. Marriott Homes and Villas
Marriott is one of the most respected hotel brands in the world, especially for its premium services.
It also has an independent vacation rental platform, which is sort of a cool offer to Marriott members.
Marriott Homes and Villas tries to bridge the gap between renters and homeowners.
The platform allows renters to earn and redeem Marriott loyalty points.
And since it is part of the Marriott Bonboy, you can book tours and car rentals within the same platform.
The good thing with Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is that it only lists homes managed by a premium property management company.
As you would expect, all rental homes are professionally cleaned, come with fast WiFi, and have 24/7 support.
The Good
- Allows renters to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points. The properties offered are also of high standards.
The Bad
- Offers limited portfolio
Other Worthy Alternatives to Airbnb
- HomeToGo
- 9flats
- FlipKey
- Sonder
- Only-Apartments
- GuestReady
- Hopper Homes
- HomeAway
- Flat4Day
- Holiday Lettings
- Tujia
- Hipcamp
- Agoda
- Homestayin
- Blueground
- Onefinestay
- Glamping Hub
- ThirdHome
- Vacasa
- Kid & Coe
- Picasso
- Oliver’s Travels
- Novasol
Final Thoughts
Important points from the above list are that there are several worthy alternatives to Airbnb.
And the good thing is that some of them cater to a specific group of travelers or regions, making it easier to choose the right property that appeals to your taste.
Platforms like VRBO, Expedia, Trip Advisor, Plum Guide, and Booking.com offer attractive benefits that can cater to your specific needs.
In fact, some of these Airbnb alternatives offer more than just vacation rental booking.
And if you are a property owner, the above list offers you options to effectively market your home.
So, if you are looking to maximize bookings and enhance the visibility of your property, it is best to advertise on multiple platforms rather than sticking to Airbnb alone.
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