Landlory

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.

Hostaway

★ 4.7 · Capterra Custom

Short-term-rental PMS for growing professional STR portfolios.

  • Best forAirbnb & short-term rentals
  • Starts atCustom
  • Free optionNo
  • Mobile appYes
Visit Hostaway →

Zillow Rental Manager

★ 3.8 · mixed Free plan

Free listings and light rental tools backed by Zillow's traffic.

  • Best forDIY & small landlords
  • Starts atFree
  • Free optionFree plan
  • Mobile appLimited
Visit Zillow Rental Manager →

Feature comparison

Hostaway Zillow Rental Manager
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).

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