You can import your Airbnb listing to Houfy in under five minutes using your Airbnb listing URL. Houfy pulls in your photos, description, and property details automatically. From there, you sync your calendars via iCal to prevent double bookings, set your prices, and go live, with zero commission fees on either side
Watch the full walkthrough: Houfy Import Listing from Airbnb on YouTube.
Why Hosts Are Re-evaluating Airbnb
Short-term rental hosts built businesses on Airbnb, but the fee structure has always been the friction point.
Airbnb currently operates two fee models. Under the standard split-fee structure, hosts pay around 3% per booking and guests pay a separate service fee that typically adds 14% or more on top of the nightly rate. Under the single-fee model (used by some hosts with strict cancellation policies), hosts absorb a flat 15.5% cut directly. In practice, guests on Airbnb routinely see totals that are 15-20% higher than the listed price by the time service fees are added.
That math hits guests and hosts differently, but both feel it.
Beyond fees, Airbnb's 2025 policy updates removed the ability for hosts to suggest off-platform contact, share personal email addresses, or reference their own websites during messaging. The platform controls the relationship, the data, and increasingly, the terms.
For hosts searching for a true Airbnb alternative, a fee-free direct booking platform is no longer a nice-to-have. It is the logical next step.
What Is Houfy? Houfy vs. Airbnb at a Glance
Houfy is the world's largest fee-free vacation rental marketplace, with 87,000+ properties across 50+ countries. Hosts keep 100% of their booking revenue. Guests pay zero service fees. The platform supports 60+ currencies and 8 languages, and every host is verified before listing.
Houfy is not an Airbnb replacement in the sense that you need to close your Airbnb account. Most hosts run both in parallel, using Houfy to capture direct bookings while maintaining their Airbnb presence. The result is lower dependency on a single platform, full guest data ownership, and more profit per booking.
What Gets Imported From Airbnb?
When you import a listing from Airbnb to Houfy, the following data transfers automatically:
Property title and description
All listing photos (in the original order and resolution)
Property type, room count, and amenities
Location information
You will need to manually enter your pricing, house rules, and cancellation policy in Houfy after import. Airbnb reviews and booking history do not transfer, as those belong to Airbnb's ecosystem.
Step-by-Step: Import Your Airbnb Listing to Houfy
Watch the full video walkthrough:
Step 1: Create a Houfy Account
Go to houfy.com and sign up as a host. Host verification is a one-time process. Houfy's free plan requires a $5.99 one-time verification fee, after which you can list and accept bookings. Paid plans (Lite at $7.99/listing/month, Premium at $11.99/listing/month) unlock additional features like priority placement and direct messaging tools.
Step 2: Navigate to "Add Listing"
Once your account is active, go to your host dashboard and select "Add Listing." You will see an option to import from an existing platform.
Step 3: Paste Your Airbnb Listing URL
Copy the URL of your Airbnb listing from your browser (it will look like airbnb.com/rooms/XXXXXXXXX) and paste it into the Houfy import field. Houfy will fetch your listing content automatically.
Step 4: Review and Edit Your Listing
Houfy pre-fills the title, description, photos, and amenities. Review each section for accuracy, update your pricing, and add your Houfy-specific house rules and cancellation policy. This step takes about 5-10 minutes for a complete listing.
Step 5: Publish Your Listing
Once satisfied, publish your listing. It will go live on Houfy's marketplace immediately and become searchable by guests booking without service fees.
How to Sync Your Calendars
Running Houfy alongside Airbnb requires calendar sync to prevent double bookings. Both platforms use iCal, a universal calendar format.
Exporting your Airbnb calendar to Houfy:
In Airbnb, go to your listing's calendar settings and locate the "Export Calendar" option. Airbnb provides an iCal URL.
In your Houfy dashboard, navigate to your listing's calendar and select "Import Calendar."
Paste the Airbnb iCal URL. Houfy will sync blocked dates from Airbnb automatically.
Exporting your Houfy calendar to Airbnb:
In Houfy, export your listing's iCal URL from the calendar settings.
In Airbnb, go to your listing's availability settings and import the Houfy iCal URL.
Calendar sync updates typically every few hours, so confirm the sync is working before opening both calendars for bookings.
Houfy also has a dedicated video tutorial for calendar sync: How to Sync Your Calendars on YouTube.
What Happens to Your Pricing and Reviews?
Pricing: Houfy lets you set your own nightly rates, seasonal pricing, minimum stay requirements, and cleaning fees. Your Airbnb prices do not transfer, so you set them fresh in Houfy. Many hosts find they can list at lower total prices on Houfy while still earning more per booking, since Houfy takes no commission.
Reviews: Airbnb reviews belong to Airbnb's platform. They do not port to Houfy. New reviews build organically on Houfy as guests book and complete stays. For new hosts on Houfy, social proof from existing Airbnb reviews can still be referenced in your listing description while your Houfy review history builds up.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Every booking you take through Houfy is a booking where you keep 100% of your revenue. For a host doing $50,000 a year in bookings, the difference between a 15% Airbnb commission and 0% on Houfy is $7,500 per year. Across multiple listings, the math accelerates quickly.
List your property on Houfy for free and import your Airbnb listing in under five minutes. Your guests pay less. You earn more. That is the whole point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my Airbnb listing open after joining Houfy?
Yes. Most hosts run both platforms simultaneously. Publishing your listing on Houfy does not affect your Airbnb account in any way. Use iCal calendar sync to keep both availability calendars aligned and prevent double bookings. Over time, as more guests find and book through your Houfy listing directly, your reliance on Airbnb — and the fees that come with it — naturally decreases.
Does Houfy charge any commission on bookings?
No. Houfy takes zero commission on bookings. You keep 100% of your nightly rate, cleaning fee, and any additional charges you set. Payment processing is handled through Stripe, which charges its standard processing fee (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Guests also pay no service fee on top of your listed price.
Is Houfy safe for guests?
Yes. Every host on Houfy goes through identity verification before their listing goes live. Payments are processed securely through Stripe, and Houfy offers HoufyProtect for additional booking coverage. Houfy holds a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot from over 562 verified reviews.
What if my listing details change on Airbnb after I import?
The import is a one-time transfer — it does not create a live sync between your Airbnb and Houfy listings. Any updates you make on Airbnb after the import (photos, description, amenities) will need to be applied to your Houfy listing manually. The iCal calendar sync runs continuously, so availability stays current on both platforms automatically.
Does Houfy integrate with property management software?
Yes. Houfy integrates with a range of PMS tools including Hospitable, OwnerRez, Hostfully, and Rentals United, among others. The full list is available on the Houfy software partners page. Bookings made through PMS-connected integrations carry a 5% guest API fee.
Is Houfy a good Airbnb alternative for hosts?
For hosts who want to reduce OTA fees, own their guest relationships, and control their own pricing and policies, Houfy is the most direct alternative available. You list for free, pay no commission, and communicate with guests without platform restrictions. For a host earning $50,000 per year in bookings, moving even a portion of those bookings to Houfy can recover thousands of dollars that would otherwise go to Airbnb fees.
