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Airbnb vs Vrbo: Which is best for your rental property?

Both Airbnb and Vrbo allow property owners to promote their properties online for short-term let. But how do these two digital platforms stack up against each other, and which one should you choose?

21.08.26

By Heath Alexander-Bew

Airbnb Vs Vrbo

Pretty much every property owner, not to mention traveller, will have heard of Airbnb by now. However, it’s not the only short-term rental platform available. Hosts can also list their properties on Vrbo, which is less well-known but has actually been around for longer. So, which one is best for you and your rental property?  

In this article, we compare Airbnb and Vrbo, focusing on functionality, fees, property types, and profitability.  

Airbnb vs. Vrbo at a glance 

To get a sense of how the two platforms compare across key areas, refer to the table below.  

Airbnb

Vrbo

Property types

Flexible. Shared rooms, private rooms, and entire properties. Ideal for unique stays, such as city flats, cabins, and annexes.

Entire properties only. Does not allow shared spaces. Best for traditional, multi-bedroom holiday homes, cottages, and villas.

Typical guest profile

Broader demographic. Attracts a younger audience, solo travellers, couples, and those looking for shorter, often city-based stays.

Families and larger groups. Tends to attract an older demographic planning longer, more traditional holidays.

Host commission fees

Airbnb offers two fee structures: Split fees: 3% fee paid by the host and 14.1% to 16.5% service fee paid by the guest. Single fees: between 14% to 16%. This fee structure is mostly used by hotels and other traditional hospitality listings.

8% per booking (5% commission + 3% payment processing fee). An annual subscription is also available for high-volume hosts. *Fees may vary depending on the country the property is in, and for use of property management software.

Listing flexibility

Very flexible. Hosts can offer single rooms or shared spaces and choose from a wide range of cancellation policies.

More rigid. Only entire properties can be listed. Cancellation policies are generally stricter, suiting planned holidays.

Platform size

Larger. More listings and significantly higher global web traffic, offering a potentially wider audience.

Smaller. Fewer listings but a more focused audience of travellers specifically looking for private, entire-home rentals.

Key takeaway for owners

Choose Airbnb for maximum exposure, flexibility, and if you have a unique property or are renting out a spare room.

Choose Vrbo to target the premium family holiday market if you have a larger property to let in its entirety.

Which one will bring you more profit? 

Every owner wants to maximise the profit generated by their property. When choosing a rental platform, it’s important to understand the value you offer to your guests. The key factors to consider are the type of property you have, who it appeals to, and how these aspects work together.  

When Airbnb launched, its mission was to enable people to earn money by renting out a single room in their home. Today, it still lets you list anything from a single room to shared spaces and entire properties. Its more casual, easy-going approach appeals strongly to younger guests seeking shorter breaks and fun experiences.  

Therefore, choose Airbnb if your property… 

  • appeals to younger guests (50% of Airbnb visitors are 34 or under) 

  • features shared rooms, or a kitchen, bathroom, or living room shared with others 

  • is a good option for city breaks or short stays in general  

  • is somehow unique, quirky, or creative 

Vrbo, meanwhile, prides itself on offering an “entire space, just for you”. Since it doesn’t list shared spaces, it appeals to families and older guests who are planning a longer break and prioritise comfort, privacy, and a consistent experience with “no surprises”.  

Therefore, choose Vrbo if your property… 

  • can only be rented in its entirety (a whole house, cottage, flat, etc.) 

  • is well-suited to family holidays, both in terms of the accommodation and the location 

  • will appeal to older couples who want home comforts while travelling  

  • suits larger groups who need an entire property to themselves 

Should you list on both? 

What if you feel that your property has a broad appeal, and you don’t want to narrow it down? Could you list it on both platforms to maximise your exposure and (hopefully) bookings? 

The answer is yes. There’s nothing to stop you from listing your property on both Airbnb and Vrbo, and you don’t have to be exclusive to one or the other.  

In fact, since both use the same iCal calendar format for bookings, it’s relatively easy to sync your calendars and prevent double-booking. The only real downside is the need to maintain and monitor two separate listings at once.  

UK regulations to be aware of 

By April 2026, the government plans to launch the national register for short-term lets in England, which will be mandatory. Once it comes into force, hosts will be required to register their properties and obtain a unique registration number before they can advertise them on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. The aim is to maintain safety and standards and generate data that local authorities can use to protect local communities and housing markets.  

If your property is in London, you’ll need to understand the 90-day rule. Under current legislation, properties in London cannot be rented out on a short-stay basis for more than 90 days in a calendar year.  

For more detail, check out our complete guide to holiday let rules and regulations.  

Insurance 

Both Airbnb and Vrbo offer hosts ‘free’ insurance as part of their service, but both offerings are fairly limited in scope.  

Airbnb’s AirCover covers property damage up to $3 million, your liability if a guest gets injured while staying at your property, up to $1 million, and $1 million liability cover if a guest is hurt during an ‘Airbnb Experience or Service’. However, AirCover isn’t comprehensive, so it’s not a substitute for your own insurance. In fact, it isn’t actually an insurance policy at all, meaning you have no recourse through an ombudsman, as you would with an FCA-regulated insurer. 

Vrbo provide a similar level of cover, with both liability and property damage covered up to $1 million. Again, however, it may not cover everything you need, and considering the costs that can be involved in an injury liability claim, $1 million of cover may not be sufficient.  

For comprehensive protection with all the options you need, consider specialist short-stay or holiday home insurance. Our bespoke short-stay insurance is designed to provide the widest possible cover, including: 

  • buildings and contents, including theft and damage by guests 

  • liability to guests and the public 

  • employers’ liability insurance for any cleaners or maintenance staff 

  • standard perils such as fire, flood, subsidence, etc 

  • loss of expected rental income, based on past and future bookings 

  • alternative accommodation for guests if the property is uninhabitable due to an insured event 

Our short-stay policies offer cover for a wide range of property uses, including entire properties, single rooms, serviced accommodation, and properties let out on a ‘rent-to-rent’ contract. You can also switch between different tenancy types within the same policy. (Please note, the policy requires all guests to be from the same group and no sharing with another group(s) / guest(s) is permitted). 

 

Cancellation policies 

Airbnb lets you choose one of four cancellation policies: 

  • Flexible: a full refund if guests cancel up to 24 hours before check-in. Cancellation within 24 hours, or after check-in, will result in a pro-rated refund of taxes, and you’ll be paid for every night they’ve stayed, plus one additional night. 

  • Moderate: a full refund up to five days before check-in, after which hosts receive payment for each night guests stay, plus one extra night, plus 50% for all unspent nights. 

  • Limited (available from 1st October 2025): guests must cancel at least 14 days before check-in to receive a full refund. Cancellation between seven and 14 days will receive a 50% refund, and you’ll receive 50% of the total booking amount. Cancellation less than seven days before check-in will result in a refund of pro-rated taxes only, and you’ll receive 100% of the total booking amount. 

  • Firm: guests must cancel 30 days before check-in to receive a full refund, or between seven and 30 days for a 50% refund, and you’ll receive 50% of the booking amount. 

Other options include three ‘strict’ policies only available to certain hosts chosen by Airbnb. More information can be found here. 

Vrbo hosts can offer their own cancellation policies, or choose from one of the following: 

  • Relaxed: a full refund if bookings are cancelled at least 14 days before check-in, with 50% at least seven days before. 

  • Moderate: a full refund at least 30 days before check-in, with 50% refunded if cancelled at least 14 days before. 

  • Firm: a full refund before 60 days and 50% before 30 days. 

  • Strict: a full refund is available if cancelled at least 60 days before booking; otherwise no refund is provided. 

You can also choose not to offer refunds at all. 

Reviews 

Both Airbnb and Vrbo allow hosts and guests to submit reviews of each other on the platform, but there are some key differences.  

On Airbnb, both hosts and guests have 14 days to leave a review, using a five-star rating system. Guests are encouraged to rate the accuracy of the property description, cleanliness, communications, location, check-in, and value for money. Hosts, meanwhile, can comment on guests’ behaviour and reliability.  

On Vrbo, hosts and guests can leave a review for up to 180 days after the stay, after which the other party has 14 days to respond. Guest reviews are in a five-star format, but hosts can also leave a written response. This helps to show subsequent guests how the host deals with feedback.  

Functionality 

Both Airbnb and Vrbo are well-established, fully developed platforms that offer an excellent user experience for both hosts and guests.  

Airbnb’s basic search filters include destination, check-in and checkout dates, and total number of guests. Guests can also search by price, type of accommodation, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, property type, amenities, accessibility features, and instant booking availability. Featured collections highlight interests such as national parks, houseboats and camper vans, beaches, cabins, and remote islands.  

Vrbo offers similar search features, plus filters for WiFi, cancellation policies, and guest ratings. Guests can also look for properties that are on the beachfront, have a pool, or accept pets.  

Special features 

Airbnb Experiences lets you offer unique, host-led experiences to your guests. These can include activities, guided tours, and learning experiences. With your help, guests can explore the local area or try something new.  

Vrbo, meanwhile, offers a Trip Board feature to help travellers plan their trip by saving and comparing properties. It’s particularly useful for people booking for large groups, as group members can discuss and vote on properties and destinations.  

For more information on letting your property, check out our landlord advice hub.  

To list your property on the two platforms covered in this article, you can become a host on Airbnb or list your property on Vrbo.  

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