The best Airbnb alternatives in 2026 are Vrbo for family homes, Booking.com for city apartments, Furnished Finder for monthly stays, and Houfy for booking direct with the host. Plum Guide suits vetted design homes, Hipcamp outdoor stays, and TrustedHousesitters free stays in exchange for pet care. HomeToGo and cozycozy search many sites at once.
Airbnb changed its fees this autumn. In most markets it no longer adds a separate guest service fee at checkout. Instead the host pays a fee, typically 15.5%, which is built into the nightly price you see. So the useful question is no longer "which site has the smallest fee line?" It is "which site shows me the full price early, and leaves the host room to charge less?"
The 12 alternatives at a glance
Site | Best for | What guests pay on top of the host's price | What hosts pay |
|---|---|---|---|
Houfy | Booking direct with the host | No platform service fee. Bookings through certain PMS integrations add a 5% API connection fee, paid as a separate transaction to Houfy at checkout. | 0% commission; a one-time verification fee and optional subscription plans |
Vrbo | Whole homes for families and groups | A service fee that varies with the reservation amount | 12% commission from 29 Oct 2026 |
Booking.com | City apartments and mixed hotel/rental trips | Typically no separate booking fee; property fees apply | Commission, about 15% on average (10–25%) |
Expedia / Hotels.com | Packages with flights and car hire | Shown at checkout | Varies |
Plum Guide | Vetted design-led homes | 12% on shared-fee listings, nothing on host-only listings | 3% or 16.5%, by fee model |
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy | Premium homes, earning Bonvoy points | Shown at checkout | Varies |
Furnished Finder | Monthly stays (travel nurses and others) | No booking fee listed; deposits set by the landlord | $199 a year per listing |
Hipcamp | Camping, glamping, cabins on private land | Shown at checkout | Varies |
TrustedHousesitters | Free stays in exchange for pet care | Membership | Membership |
HomeToGo | Comparing prices across many sites | The fees of the site you book on | — |
cozycozy | Comparing rentals, B&Bs and hotels | The fees of the site you book on | — |
The host's own website | Repeat stays | Set by the host | Whatever the host's own booking tools cost |
Fees as published by each company or reported in the sources below, checked 27 October 2026. Fees change often, so always compare the total price for the same dates before you pay.
1. Houfy: book direct with the host
Houfy is a marketplace where you deal with the host directly. You can message the host before you book, and every amount you pay is shown before you pay.
Guests pay the host directly, through the host's own Stripe, Square or PayPal account. Houfy never holds or routes that money.
Best for: travellers who want to talk to the owner and book with them directly. Watch out for: a smaller selection than the biggest sites in some areas.
2. Vrbo: whole homes for families
Vrbo lists only whole homes: no shared rooms. It is strong in US beach, lake and mountain areas. Guests pay a service fee at checkout, which varies with the reservation amount. From 29 October 2026 hosts pay a single 12% commission.
Best for: families and groups who want a full house. Watch out for: compare the total with the guest fee included, not the nightly rate.
3. Booking.com: city stays and mixed trips
Booking.com covers apartments, homes and hotels in one search. It charges hosts a commission and typically adds no separate booking fee for guests, so the price you see is closer to what you pay (taxes and the property's own fees aside).
Best for: city breaks and trips that mix hotels and apartments. Watch out for: cleaning fees and deposits set by the property. Read the policy before booking.
4. Expedia and Hotels.com: packages
Both belong to the same group as Vrbo and show many of the same rentals. Their strength is bundling a stay with flights or car hire.
Best for: package trips. Watch out for: compare the rental's total against booking the same home on its other channels.
5. Plum Guide: vetted design homes
Plum Guide lists a small share of the homes it reviews. Guests pay 12% on shared-fee listings and nothing extra on host-only listings.
Best for: special trips where quality matters more than price. Watch out for: fewer homes, higher prices.
6. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy: premium with points
Premium homes managed by professional companies, with Bonvoy points on the stay.
Best for: Bonvoy members and premium group trips. Watch out for: fees are shown at checkout. Compare the total.
7. Furnished Finder: monthly stays
Built for stays of a month or more, especially travel nurses. Landlords pay a yearly listing fee ($199 per listing in 2026), and Furnished Finder says it takes no booking fees or commissions.
Best for: monthly stays. Watch out for: you arrange the lease and payment with the landlord, so check them carefully.
8. Hipcamp: the outdoors
Campsites, glamping, cabins and RV spots on private land.
Best for: nature trips and road trips. Watch out for: facilities vary a lot. Read what's included.
9. TrustedHousesitters: free stays for pet care
Members stay free in someone's home in exchange for looking after their pets. It runs on paid membership.
Best for: flexible travellers who love animals. Watch out for: it's a commitment to care for the animals, not a holiday rental.
10 and 11. HomeToGo and cozycozy: search many sites at once
These are search engines for rentals. They show listings from Vrbo, Booking.com and others and send you there to book.
Best for: checking that you're seeing the best price for a home. Watch out for: you pay the fees of the site you end up booking on.
12. The host's own website
Many hosts take bookings on their own site, sometimes for less than on the big platforms. Find them by searching the property name, or ask after a stay.
Best for: repeat stays. Watch out for: check reviews elsewhere and pay by card for protection.
How to choose
Families and groups: Vrbo or Houfy.
City breaks: Booking.com.
A month or more: Furnished Finder.
The lowest total price: compare the same home on a search engine like HomeToGo, then check whether the host takes direct bookings on Houfy or their own site.
Something special: Plum Guide.
How to pay less on any site
Compare the total for the same dates, not the nightly rate.
Message the host. Ask about weekly or monthly discounts.
Book midweek or out of season.
Book direct for repeat stays.
Read the cancellation policy before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Airbnb?
Vrbo is the closest like-for-like for whole homes. For booking direct with the owner, Houfy. For city stays, Booking.com.
Which Airbnb alternative is cheapest?
It depends on the home and the dates. Sites that don't charge hosts a commission, like Houfy, or the host's own website, leave the host room to charge less, but it isn't guaranteed. Compare the total for the same dates.
Does Airbnb still charge a guest service fee?
In most markets there's no separate line any more. Since autumn 2026 the host pays a fee, typically 15.5%, that is built into the price.
Does Booking.com charge guests a fee?
Booking.com charges hosts a commission and typically adds no separate booking fee for guests. Property fees such as cleaning still apply.
What happened to Sonder?
Sonder shut down in November 2025 after Marriott ended its partnership, so it is no longer an option.
Is booking direct with a host safe?
It can be, if you check the host first. Read reviews, message them before you book, and pay by card or through a payment provider that offers buyer protection.
Sources
Last Updated: October 27, 2026
