Hostaway vs Zillow Rental Manager
In short.
Pick Hostaway if you run Airbnb & short-term rentals;
pick Zillow Rental Manager if you run DIY & small landlords.
Hostaway starts with custom pricing,
Zillow Rental Manager free.
Short-term-rental PMS for growing professional STR portfolios.
- Best forAirbnb & short-term rentals
- Starts atCustom
- Free optionNo
- Mobile appYes
Free listings and light rental tools backed by Zillow's traffic.
- Best forDIY & small landlords
- Starts atFree
- Free optionFree plan
- Mobile appLimited
Feature comparison
| |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Online rent collection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tenant screening | ✕ | ✓ |
| Listing syndication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online applications | ✕ | ✓ |
| Lease management | ✕ | Partial |
| Maintenance requests | ✓ | ✕ |
| Accounting | ✓ | ✕ |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
| Owner portal | ✓ | ✕ |
| Tenant portal | ✕ | ✕ |
| Document storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✕ |
| Bank integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renters insurance | ✕ | ✕ |
| AI features | ✓ | ✕ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | Partial |
Pricing
Hostaway
| Customquote-based · get a free quote | $None |
|---|
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Zillow Rental Manager
| Freefree listings + basic tools | Free |
|---|---|
| Premium listing90-day boost · varies by market | $39.99unverified |
Starting prices — vendors may add per-unit or transaction fees.
Pros & cons
Hostaway
Pros
- Strong channel management, automation and integrations
- Scalable for growing STR managers
Cons
- Pricing is opaque and quote-based
- Annual commitment; costly at low listing counts
Zillow Rental Manager
Pros
- Massive listing reach and traffic
- Free and simple for 1–few units
Cons
- Shallow — no accounting, owner portal or maintenance
- Listing fees introduced in some markets; not a true PM system
FAQ
What is the difference between Hostaway and Zillow Rental Manager?
Hostaway is best for Airbnb & short-term rentals, while Zillow Rental Manager is best for DIY & small landlords.
Is Hostaway or Zillow Rental Manager cheaper?
Zillow Rental Manager is the cheaper option — it offers a free plan.
Which is better for Airbnb & short-term rentals?
For Airbnb & short-term rentals, Hostaway rates slightly higher (4.7★ on Capterra).