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⚡ Korte versie
1–15 properties (especially Europe) → Smoobu. Flat $27/mo, 70+ OTAs, live in one afternoon.
Want a direct booking website → Lodgify. $13/mo entry, best booking site builder in this category.
If you need both multi-channel AND a website: Lodgify Professional at $47/mo beats Smoobu for that specific goal.
Smoobu and Lodgify are both solid tools for small hosts — but they’re solving different problems. Smoobu is about connecting channels fast and keeping things simple. Lodgify is about owning your direct booking presence. Pick the wrong one and you’ll feel it.
The honest difference
Smoobu wins on OTA coverage and ease of setup. You can be live with 70+ channels in an afternoon, and the interface doesn’t require any learning curve. It’s particularly strong for European hosts — channels like FeWo-direkt and Atraveo are first-class connections, not afterthoughts.
Lodgify wins on direct bookings. If reducing your reliance on Airbnb is actually a goal (not just a nice idea), Lodgify gives you a real booking website that converts. The $13/month entry price is the cheapest in the category. But — and this matters — the full channel manager only unlocks at $47/month. So it’s not as cheap as it looks at first.
The subtle thing most comparison posts miss: Smoobu’s $27/month includes everything. Lodgify’s $13/month is essentially a teaser rate unless you only need one OTA channel and a website. Once you need full multi-channel, Smoobu is actually cheaper.
Who should use Smoobu
If you manage 1–15 properties, especially in Europe, and you just want everything synced without fuss, Smoobu is genuinely one of the best options at this price. Flat $27/month, all features, no per-property nonsense.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend Smoobu if your main goal is building a brand away from Airbnb. It doesn’t give you the tools for that. It’s a channel manager with solid messaging automation — nothing more, nothing less.
If you’ve been burned by complicated software before, Smoobu is a genuinely refreshing setup. I’ve seen hosts go from zero to fully synced across six channels in under two hours. That’s not typical — that’s Smoobu’s actual strength.
Who should use Lodgify
If you want guests to find you on Google and book directly, Lodgify is the better choice — no question. The website builder is genuinely good, not just functional. And at $13/month for one channel, it’s an easy way to test whether direct bookings are even viable for your property before committing to the full plan.
The catch: at $47/month for full channel access, it gets more expensive than Smoobu if you need all OTAs. Worth it if the website matters. Not worth it if you just want multi-channel sync.
Lodgify also has a booking fee (1.9%) on the Starter plan — something that catches people off guard. At Professional ($47/mo) the fee disappears. Build that into your math before you decide.
What neither of them does well
Neither Smoobu nor Lodgify are built for serious scaling. If you’re managing 30+ properties and need owner portals, revenue management, or deep API integrations, you’ll outgrow both tools. Guesty or Hostaway are the right destinations at that point — just be ready for a harder setup and higher price.
Neither one has particularly impressive reporting either. You can track bookings and occupancy, but don’t expect dashboard analytics that help you make pricing decisions. For that you’d need a dedicated tool like Pricelabs or Wheelhouse on top of either platform.
Bottom line
They’re built for different hosts. Smoobu is for people who want everything working with minimal effort and the best OTA coverage in Europe. Lodgify is for hosts who are serious about building their own brand and reducing OTA fees over time.
If that distinction doesn’t apply to you yet — start with Smoobu. It’s simpler, cheaper for full features, and you can always switch later if direct bookings become a priority.
→ See how both compare in the full best vacation rental software guide.
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FAQ
Is Smoobu better than Lodgify for Airbnb management?
For pure Airbnb + multi-channel management, Smoobu is slightly ahead — more OTA connections at a lower all-in price. Lodgify is better if you also want guests to book directly through your own website.
Can I use both at the same time?
Not practically — they’d create calendar sync conflicts and you’d end up managing two systems. Pick one as your primary PMS.
What about Smoobu’s free plan?
It connects one channel only. Fine for testing the interface but not useful if you’re on multiple platforms. The 14-day Standard trial is what you actually want.
Which has better customer support?
Both are decent. Smoobu has a strong community and knowledge base. Lodgify offers faster live chat on higher plans. Neither will leave you stranded, but neither will wow you either.