HolidayFox vs Hostaway
- HolidayFox
- HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays: calendar, bookings, payments, guest messaging, self check-in, a daily agenda, a booking widget or hosted website, after-hours live chat, and Google Hotels.
- Hostaway
- Short-term rental PMS + channel manager for property managers
- Hostaway pricing
- Quote-only. hostaway.com/pricing (checked 2026-09-13) is step 1 of 3: how many listings, then “Get a free quote”. No published £/$ starting price. Do not treat third-party or help-article invoice examples as their plan card.(checked 2026-09-13)
- HolidayFox pricing
- free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website + 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox
If you search “property manager channel manager” or “Hostaway vs OwnerRez”, Hostaway is on the page. They sell to hosts and PMs who run multiple Airbnb / Vrbo / Booking.com listings from one dashboard.
I run HolidayFox, so this is not a neutral page. Both can hold a book. The useful question is whether you need a PM-grade STR channel manager (and will take a quote), or a PMS that answers at 9pm on your own website.
What Hostaway is, and what they do well
Cloud PMS + channel manager + inbox + owner reporting, aimed at portfolios rather than a single B&B. Billing is per listing; they say you are charged for listings in the account even if a channel is not connected.
Things they genuinely do well:
- It is a real short-term-rental ops system. Calendar, channels, inbox, owners — built for listing portfolios.
- No public starting price on 13 September 2026. hostaway.com/pricing is a three-step wizard. Step 1: 2–14, 15–49 or 50+ listings (one listing is a separate “more info” link). Step 2: “Get a free quote” — email, name, then Next. We will not invent a per-listing dollar figure from a help-centre invoice example.
- That extra — a quoted PM channel manager — is why a 20-listing operator talks to them.
- Dynamic pricing and other add-ons are sold on top. Ask them what the invoice is.
If your priority is “a property-manager STR stack and I will take a quote,” Hostaway is a credible answer. We cannot say whether 5% is cheaper than their software cost because they did not publish a number.
What HolidayFox is, and where we are different
HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays: calendar, bookings, payments, guest messaging, self check-in, a daily agenda, a booking widget or hosted website, after-hours live chat, and Google Hotels.
Widget checkout is live on your domain (Stripe). Paying inside the chat thread is still rolling out. You do not need Hostaway for the diary. If you already have it, iCal can sync — you do not have to.
Side by side
| Capability | Hostaway | HolidayFox |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | STR / PM channel manager + PMS | Full PMS for independent stays |
| The diary | Yes — inside a portfolio stack | Yes — that is the product |
| Website | Direct booking inside their product | Your WordPress / widget, or Website in a Box |
| Live chat that sees stock | Inbox / automations, not our stock assistant | Yes — part of the book, on your site |
| Google Hotels | Not the headline public product | Yes — feed included |
| Pricing model | Quote by listing count | free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website + 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox |
Hostaway: no public plan card on hostaway.com/pricing, checked 2026-09-13. HolidayFox figures from holidayfox.com/en/partners, reviewed 2026-09-13.
Talk to us
15 minutes with Hannah. She will show you the book. If you already run Hostaway you can keep it. You do not need it for the diary.
Frequently asked questions
Is HolidayFox a Hostaway alternative?
Yes, for the diary. HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays. Hostaway’s extra is a short-term-rental channel manager for property managers, sold on a quote.
How much does Hostaway cost?
They do not publish a starting price. hostaway.com/pricing (checked 2026-09-13) asks how many listings you manage, then collects a quote form. HolidayFox: free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website plus 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox.
Can I keep Hostaway and use HolidayFox?
You can sync via iCal if you already have it. You do not need to. HolidayFox is the diary.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-13