Quick answer: Yes. Houfy is a US vacation rental platform run by Houfy, Inc., with 100,000+ live listings in over 100 countries. As of October 2026, it has a 4.8 out of 5 TrustScore from 696 Trustpilot reviews. Book safely by paying only through the listing's checkout.
Key Takeaways
Houfy, Inc. runs Houfy, a vacation rental marketplace where guests book and pay hosts directly.
On Trustpilot, Houfy has a 4.8 out of 5 TrustScore from 696 reviews (checked 27 October 2026). Houfy has claimed its profile and invites customers to review.
The industry publication Rental Scale-Up has profiled Houfy's model.
Like any marketplace, Houfy has scam risks. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card or a link sent in a message.
Who runs Houfy
Houfy is run by Houfy, Inc., a US company founded by Thijs Aaftink. It grew out of a Facebook community for vacation rental hosts that started in 2016. The site lists 100,000+ live vacation rentals in over 100 countries, from single cabins to homes run by property managers. Hosts add their own listings, set their own prices and house rules, and talk to guests directly. Hosts can show their own contact details on a listing.
Rental Scale-Up, which covers the short-term rental industry, profiled Houfy in December 2021 and updated the article in July 2026. It describes Houfy as a "Book Direct OTA": a marketplace that brings listings and travelers together like an OTA, while guests book with hosts directly (Rental Scale-Up).
What Houfy reviews say
As of 27 October 2026, Houfy's Trustpilot page shows a TrustScore of 4.8 out of 5 from 696 reviews. Two things to know when reading them:
Houfy has claimed the profile and pays for a Trustpilot subscription. Trustpilot shows this on the page.
Trustpilot labels Houfy as a company that invites its customers to leave reviews.
Read the 1- and 2-star reviews too. They show what went wrong for people and how Houfy replied.
How Houfy is different from Airbnb and Vrbo
On Airbnb, most hosts now pay a single 15.5% fee on each booking (Airbnb Help). From 29 October 2026, Vrbo pay-per-booking hosts pay 12%, and Vrbo guests still pay a service fee (Vrbo Help).
The trade-off is reach. Houfy has less guest traffic than the big OTAs, so most hosts list on Houfy alongside them, not instead of them. For a side-by-side comparison, see Houfy vs Airbnb 2026.
Is Houfy safe for guests?
Houfy connects you with the host, and the host sets the price, rules and cancellation policy. Houfy does not offer a traveler guarantee like Vrbo's or Airbnb's, so how you pay matters. To book safely:
Pay only through the listing's checkout (Stripe, Square or PayPal). Never pay by wire transfer, Zelle, crypto or gift card, or through a payment link sent in a message.
Read the listing's reviews and the host's profile before you book.
Keep messages with the host on Houfy, so there is a record if something goes wrong.
Check the cancellation policy and the full price before you pay. Every charge is shown before payment.
Tell Houfy about anything suspicious, such as a host asking you to pay off-platform.
Some hosts also offer Houfy Protect, optional damage protection, in place of a damage deposit.
Is Houfy worth it for hosts?
Houfy suits hosts who want a direct relationship with guests:
Quick setup: add your listing and sync your calendar with the booking sites you already use.
Your own website, built from your listing with the vacation rental website builder.
Software you already use: Hospitable, Host Tools, Hostfully, OwnerRez, Lodgify, Hostaway and Rentals United (software partners).
AI reservation messaging that drafts replies for you to review and send (AI messaging).
What it won't do is match the traffic of the largest OTAs on day one. Most hosts keep their OTA listings and send repeat guests to Houfy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houfy a real company?
Yes. Houfy is run by Houfy, Inc., a US company, and lists 100,000+ live vacation rentals in over 100 countries.
What do Houfy reviews say?
As of 27 October 2026, Houfy has a 4.8 out of 5 TrustScore from 696 Trustpilot reviews. Houfy has claimed the profile and invites customers to review, so read the low-star reviews too.
Is it safe to book on Houfy?
Yes, if you pay only through the listing's checkout and keep messages on Houfy. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card or a link sent in a message, and tell Houfy about any host who asks you to.
Can I list on Houfy and Airbnb at the same time?
Yes. Houfy has no exclusivity. Sync your calendars by iCal, or connect a supported PMS, to avoid double bookings.
Houfy has 100,000+ live listings in over 100 countries.
Last Updated: October 27, 2026
