Which is Better Airbnb or Vrbo? The Travel Virgin Answers

Check out the comparison between Airbnb and Vrbo and make the best decision when planning your next family vacation or adventure. The Travel Virgin answers ‘Which is better Airbnb or Vrbo?’

If you wonder which one is superior, you’ve come to the right blog. The main distinction between these two platforms is the sort of lodging they provide. Vrbo only provides stand-alone holiday houses. It does not often include “shared” private rooms or more odd possibilities such as campgrounds.

Airbnb provides stand-alone holiday houses, communal spaces, and even hotel rooms. Although it began as a home-sharing idea, it currently hosts a wide range of lodgings.

In other words, if you’re seeking a place to stay for a family reunion, both Airbnb and Vrbo are viable options.

Which is Cheaper?

Stick with Airbnb if you want a cheaper shared space or something out of the ordinary. If you’ve had negative luck in the past with holiday rentals that were dingier or dirtier than the photographs represented, you can look for Airbnb “Plus” properties, which have been checked in-person for quality.

Vrbo does not provide long-term stay discounts, but Airbnb does. These reductions may add up when staying for a week or longer, so digital nomads and those wishing to establish temporary roots might consider Airbnb.

Let’s Talk About Vrbo.

Both Airbnb and Vrbo provide comparable, user-friendly search options. Airbnb’s page looks much better, and it contains some good visual components on the map, such as rates and prominent locations. In comparison, Vrbo’s page is clumsy and old, with a banner ad.

Aesthetics aside, Vrbo provides considerably superior filter and sort features than Airbnb. Vrbo, for example, allows you to filter by user evaluations, including properties rated highly for cleanliness and rentals rated four stars or higher.

Vrbo’s filters are also more user-friendly. The “pets permitted” selection is featured on Vrbo’s initial search page, which is necessary for many tourists. On the other hand, it’s hidden deep inside Airbnb’s menus under “house rules.” Overall, Airbnb severely restricts consumers’ ability to filter and search using these simple criteria. Want to find the best-rated Airbnb property in your search area?

The website does not allow users to search or filter by guest rating, generally the most significant factor for tourists.

About Listings

This one is a no-brainer. In 2020, Airbnb will have 5.6 million active listings, and while Vrbo does not publicize this figure, it is probably definitely lower. Searching the same area on both platforms soon displays the difference. An Airbnb search in the little hamlet of Forks, Washington, yields 42 listings with a wide range of housing options and pricing.

A comparable search on Vrbo yields only one current listing (the Pin does not count). This isn’t a coincidence. In terms of the sheer volume of listings available, Airbnb dominates.

Airbnb Gets the Advantage in This One-Which is better Airbnb or Vrbo?

Both vacation rental businesses are booking platforms for property hosts. That is, you are not reserving “an Airbnb,” but rather a rental “through Airbnb.” As a result, folks who are used to staying in hotels may find the booking procedure unusual.

You must start sending a booking “request” to all Vrbo and some Airbnb homes, including a pricing quotation and a note to the owner. The host then reviews the request, considering your profile and past ratings from other hosts before confirming or denying it. In other words, before your booking is verified, you must first obtain clearance from the host.

If that seems like too much trouble, Airbnb provides a “quick book” option on select homes, which is exactly what it sounds like.

This removes an annoying step from the booking process, giving Airbnb an advantage in this area.

About Booking Cancellations

Both Airbnb and Vrbo allow the property management to establish the cancellation and change policies for the booking. Because these regulations differ from one property to the next, it’s impossible to say which one provides the most overall flexibility.

However, how these regulations work varies; again, Airbnb has a slight advantage.

Airbnb allows hosts to select from many predefined flexibility policies, ranging from “flexible” to “strict.” Each policy has a color-coded chronology to assist potential visitors in understanding it.

Airbnb’s local regulations and simple explanations alleviate some of the stress associated with determining whether or not to click “book.” Based on the booking dates, it’s clear to determine when you may obtain a complete refund or perhaps lose your entire booking cost.

Vrbo Policies

Vrbo’s policies, on the other hand, are not as clear or straightforward. These vary from “no refund” to “14/7,” which implies you’ll get a full refund if you cancel 14 days or more ahead of time and a 50% refund (less the service charge). These regulations are comparable to Airbnb’s but more difficult to compare.

The underlying issue with Vrbo is that it permits “custom” rules. This implies that a host can establish regulations that differ from standard policies, and you, as a visitor, must read the tiny print to comprehend them. While this does not necessarily imply that Vrbo rentals have less flexible regulations than comparable Airbnb units, it does imply that they are more difficult to grasp.

About Pricing-Which is Better Airbnb or Vrbo?

Because each property is unique, comparing the overall cost between these two services is challenging. They both impose a service fee on top of the base cost, which generates money.

Although Airbnb and Vrbo enable hosts to decide whether to impose refundable security deposits for guests, we found more of these deposits on Vrbo homes when we searched. These deposits add another layer of complication and potential expense for visitors.

Cleaning fees irritate many vacation renters, yet both Airbnb and Vrbo properties charge them. The hosts, not the platform, set them.

Differences Between VRBO vs. Airbnb the basics-Which is Better Airbnb or Vrbo?

Unlike VRBO, Airbnb is a considerably newer firm. Airbnb was founded in 2008 under the moniker Air Bed & Breakfast and came to completion in 2009 following a rebranding.

However, according to the most recent data, Airbnb is a force to be reckoned with, with a total of 80 million monthly visitors (website). Every night, it is estimated that 2 million guests stay in an Airbnb home.

VRBO: Airbnb’s Biggest Competitor is VRBO-Which is Better Airbnb or Vrbo?

VRBO, which stands for Vacation Rental by Owner, has been in operation since 1995. Moreover, VRBO has progressively expanded into a global community since combining with Homeaway.com in 2005 and VacationRentals.com in 2007.

VRBO is a prominent participant in the travel sector, owing to its strong track record and presence in 190 countries.

HomeAway and VRBO both have the same properties.

For example, searching one site yields the same results as searching another.

Differences Between Airbnb vs. VRBO at Service Fees-Which is Better Airbnb or Vrbo?

Airbnb and VRBO both impose service fees to offset the costs of their respective products and services.

The most typical charge structure (Airbnb) deducts 3 percent from the hosted payment. A guest service fee is less than 14.2 percent of the booking subtotal (the nightly rate plus cleaning and additional guest fees, if applicable).

Occasionally, properties will charge a host-only fee of 14 percent -16 percent, with no Airbnb service fee charged to visitors.

When renting with VRBO, guests pay a 6-12 percent service fee of the entire reservation cost, fewer taxes. It is vital to remember that hosts are unable to reduce or waive the service price.

If the reservation is within the cancellation policy’s window for a full refund, the service fee will be automatically returned when the cancellation is verified.

The service charge % is often greater for lower-priced homes and lower for higher-priced properties with both platforms.

Who is the Winner? Airbnb!

There are various reasons why you should utilize Airbnb to find your next vacation home. It features millions of listings (literally), a diverse range of housing alternatives, and simple booking.

Vrbo itself is a “family” brand. Moreover, its stand-alone house rentals certainly fit that description. However, besides better sorting and filtering features, it’s difficult to explain to anyone, especially families, bothering Vrbo.