There are plenty of platforms that short-term rental real estate investors can use to market their space, but two of them make up the lion’s share of the industry: Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner). While their primary functions are similar, Airbnb and VRBO have many key differences in the types of properties available, target audiences, fees and commissions, and much more.
Let’s match Airbnb vs. VRBO to determine which platform best suits your investment strategy.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb’s mission is “to lock the power of sharing space, resources, and support in times of need.” The platform started in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to stay in their San Francisco home. Sixteen years later, the platform has grown to more than 4 million hosts and over 220 countries and regions across the globe.
As of December 31, 2022:
- Over 100,000 cities and towns have active Airbnb listings
- There are 6.6 million active listings worldwide
- Hosts have accommodated more than 1.4 billion guest arrivals
What is VRBO?
VRBO’s mission is to “find every family the space they need to relax, reconnect, and enjoy precious time away together.” They have been pairing homeowners and families seeking places to stay since 1995 and have grown into a global vacation brand with more than 2 million whole homes actively available on their platform. VRBOs are currently available in nearly 200 countries.
Airbnb vs. VRBO: Property Types
The most distinct difference between Airbnb and VRBO is the types of homes available on each platform.
Airbnb offers nearly every space imaginable. You can stay in mansions, treehouses, houseboats, tiny homes, private islands, caves, containers, windmills, and everything in between.
These spaces are broken up into four distinct categories:
- Entire space: Guests have the whole place to themselves, which typically includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and a dedicated, separate entrance.
- Traditional…