Our model uses Hospitable's native automation sequences for all guest messaging — that's already handled by the platform. What we care about is how well the PMS supports the rest of our stack: booking data sync, Claude-powered review responses, and monthly owner reports. Our evaluation criteria:
reservation.created and review.created to fire reliably with full data.| Criteria | ⭐ Hospitable | OwnerRez | Hostaway | Guesty | Lodgify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Pricing | $29/mo (Host, 1 prop), $40/mo (Professional, 2 props, +$15/ea), $99/mo (Mogul, 3 props, +$30/ea) | $40/mo for 1 property. Sliding scale discount as you add more. No booking fees. | Custom quote. Typically ~$40–50/listing/mo. Setup fee $100–500. Contract required. | Enterprise pricing. Guesty Lite starts ~$9/mo (1–3 props). Pro requires sales call. Extra for accounting ($8/listing) & analytics ($5/listing). | $16/mo (Starter, 1 prop, + 1.9% booking fee). Professional $40/mo (no fee). Ultimate $59/mo. |
| Cost at 10 properties | ~$160/mo (Professional: $40 + 8×$15) | ~$120–160/mo (sliding scale) | ~$300–400/mo (estimated) | ~$400–600/mo (Pro + add-ons) | ~$200–250/mo (Professional tier) |
| Cost at 25 properties | ~$430/mo (Mogul: $99 + 22×$30 — gets expensive at scale) | ~$250–350/mo | ~$500–750/mo | ~$800–1200/mo | ~$400–500/mo |
| API Type | REST v2 API. PAT (Bearer token). HMAC-SHA256 webhook signing. | REST API + OAuth webhooks. PAT for reads. | Open REST API. OAuth2 authentication. | Open REST API. OAuth2. Enterprise-grade. | Limited API. No open API for custom development. |
| Webhook Payloads | Event + data included. Payout amounts in cents (divide by 100). Clean structure. | Full entity inline (Aug 2025+). No second API call needed. Booking, guest, revenue data all in one payload. | Event notifications. May require follow-up API call for full entity data. | Comprehensive webhooks with detailed event data. Requires Pro+ plan. | Limited webhook support. Most automation requires polling. |
| n8n Compatibility | Very good. Webhook → verify HMAC → parse. One extra verification step — worth it for the security. | Excellent. Webhook → single Set node → done. Full entity payload means zero follow-up API calls. | Good. Works via HTTP Request nodes. No native n8n node. | Good. API works with n8n but setup is more complex. Better suited to Zapier/Make. | Limited. No webhooks for real-time triggers. Would need polling workflows. |
| Built-in AI | Core to our model. Native automation sequences handle all 6 guest touchpoints. AI Copilot for performance insights. This is what we're using — not fighting. | "Rezzy" AI assistant (July 2025). Optional — doesn't interfere with external AI. No native messaging sequences comparable to Hospitable's. | ChatGPT-based AI replies. Dynamic pricing AI. Paid add-on for dynamic pricing per listing. | AI messaging, AI guest screening. Enterprise-grade AI features bundled in Pro+. | Basic AI messaging drafts. Minimal AI footprint. |
| Fit with our AI stack? | Perfect. Native messaging handles guest touchpoints; Claude handles review responses and owner reports. Each tool doing what it does best. | Partial. Good for booking sync and owner reports via API. No native messaging sequences to replace our pipeline — would need to build that in n8n. | Workable. AI replies can be configured or disabled. API works with n8n. | Low. AI features are modular but you're paying for them regardless. | No conflict. Minimal AI = nothing to work around. But also no native messaging. |
| Owner Accounting | Good. Owner statements, payout tracking, owner portal. Built-in payout processing (unique feature). | Best-in-class. Trust accounting, owner statements, fee splits, expense categories, payout tracking. All built in. | Good. Auto-generated owner statements. Owner portal available. | Good (Pro+). Accounting module is $8/listing/mo extra. Owner portal included. | Limited. No owner portal. No trust accounting. Basic reporting only. |
| Channel Management | Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com. Preferred partner status with all three. Google VR via Direct. | Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google VR. Direct API sync. Reliable. | Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Expedia. 200+ integrations. Premier partner status. | 60+ direct channels (after Rentals United acquisition). Broadest distribution. | Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Expedia, Google VR. Solid for the price. |
| Direct Booking Website | Included in Professional+. Google VR integration. Direct Premium includes ID verification & damage coverage. | Included. Template-based. Custom domain. Payment processing via Stripe. | Included. Website builder. Custom domain. SEO tools. | Pro+ only. Booking engine + website. $15–25/mo for custom domain. $49/mo for advanced site. | Standout feature. Best website builder in the category. Drag-and-drop. SEO optimized. |
| Messaging API Access | Included. Read/write messages via API with PAT. No partnership needed. Available immediately. | Requires partnership. Email partnerships@ownerrez.com for messaging API. Until approved, route via email or platform native. |
Included. Full messaging API in Open API. | Included. Open API covers messaging. | Not available. |
| Dynamic Pricing | Included in all plans. No extra cost. Saves ~$20–30/mo vs. OwnerRez path. | Via PriceLabs, Beyond Pricing, Wheelhouse integration. ~$20–30/mo extra. | Built-in ($10/listing/mo add-on) or PriceLabs/Wheelhouse integration. | Via PriceLabs or built-in (Pro+). Extra cost. | Via PriceLabs integration. Not built-in. |
| Setup Time | 30–45 min. Fastest onboarding. Imports existing listings automatically. | 60–90 min per property. Steeper learning curve. Worth the investment for owner accounting. | 60–90 min. Onboarding specialist assigned. Contract negotiation adds time. | 2–4 weeks. Enterprise onboarding. Most complex setup. | 30–60 min. Intuitive setup wizard. |
| Customer Support | Mixed reviews. Good chat support. Phone support inconsistent. Some billing complaints. | Exceptional. Highest-rated support in the category. Personal, knowledgeable. 4.9/5 on G2. | 24/7 phone support (advertised). Mixed real-world reports — some find it excellent, others can't reach anyone. | 230-person team. 24/7 availability. Dedicated technical managers for complex setups. | Free 24/7 support via phone, chat, email. Well-regarded onboarding. |
| QuickBooks Integration | Via third-party (Ximplifi or manual export). | Yes (premium add-on). Real-time sync. | Yes, via integration. | Yes (Pro+ with accounting module). | No native integration. |
Hospitable is our primary PMS because it's the only platform where native automation sequences and our Claude/n8n stack work in genuine complementary partnership. Hospitable handles all six guest touchpoints natively — booking confirmation through post-stay review request — with flexible templates, smart shortcodes, and reliable scheduling. Claude handles the two workflows where AI genuinely outperforms templates: public review responses (visible to future guests, high stakes) and monthly owner reports (the trust-building narrative that keeps owners renewing).
The result is a simpler, leaner stack. No messaging pipeline to build and maintain in n8n. Dynamic pricing included. Fastest setup. And a platform that's actively improving the exact features we rely on most.
A strong runner-up with the best owner accounting in the category — trust accounting, detailed financial statements, fee splits, payout tracking, and QuickBooks integration. If your clients need institutional-grade financial reporting, OwnerRez delivers in a way Hospitable doesn't fully match. The Aug 2025+ full-entity webhook payload also simplifies booking sync.
The limitation in our model: OwnerRez doesn't have native automation sequences comparable to Hospitable's, so you'd need to build the guest messaging pipeline in n8n yourself — adding complexity our stack is specifically designed to avoid. Best for: operators where owner accounting depth is the priority and who are comfortable building the messaging automation layer themselves.
A strong all-in-one platform with 300+ integrations and the broadest channel distribution. The Open API is capable, and the first PMS to hit $1B valuation (Feb 2026) signals long-term viability. However, opaque pricing (requires a sales call, contract, and setup fee) is a dealbreaker for our model where we're onboarding owner-clients who each need their own accounts. Dynamic pricing is an extra per-listing cost on top of an already higher base price.
Best for: mid-to-large management companies (20+ properties) who want everything under one roof and don't mind paying premium pricing for it.
The enterprise gold standard with the most mature API and the widest channel distribution (60+ direct integrations). If we were managing 100+ properties with a team of 5, Guesty would be the pick. But for our lean AI-first model, it's overkill. The pricing is opaque and expensive, accounting is an $8/listing/mo add-on, analytics another $5/listing/mo, and setup takes 2–4 weeks. We'd be paying for enterprise infrastructure we don't need because our automation layer replaces most of it.
Best for: large property management companies (50+ units) with dedicated ops teams.
Lodgify has the best direct booking website builder in the market and fair pricing for small operators. But the lack of an open API is a fundamental disqualifier for our stack. Without webhook support and programmatic access, we can't connect it to n8n, can't trigger Claude workflows, and can't automate anything. It's a manual-operation PMS, not an automation-first one. The 1.9% booking fee on the Starter plan also erodes margins.
Best for: self-managing hosts who want a beautiful direct booking site and don't need external automation.
| Line Item | ⭐ Hospitable Path | OwnerRez Path | Hostaway Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMS (10 props) | ~$160/mo | ~$140/mo | ~$350/mo |
| PriceLabs (dynamic pricing) | Included ✓ | ~$20–30/mo | ~$100/mo ($10/listing) |
| n8n Cloud | $20/mo | $20/mo | $20/mo |
| Anthropic API (Claude) | ~$5/mo | ~$5/mo | ~$5/mo |
| Owner portal (your choice) | $0–49/mo | $0–49/mo | $0–49/mo |
| Slack | Free | Free | Free |
| GitHub Pages + Domain | ~$1.25/mo | ~$1.25/mo | ~$1.25/mo |
| Total Monthly | ~$186–235/mo | ~$186–245/mo | ~$376–425/mo |
| Annual Cost | ~$2,232–2,820/yr | ~$2,232–2,940/yr | ~$4,512–5,100/yr |
At 10 properties averaging $3,500/mo gross revenue each, an 18% management fee generates $6,300/mo in revenue. The Hospitable stack costs represent just 3.7–3.9% of revenue — leaving 96%+ as operating margin before labor. The two primary paths are essentially cost-equivalent; the deciding factor is messaging API access and accounting depth, not price.
Primary PMS: Hospitable. The only platform where native automation and our Claude/n8n stack work in true partnership. Hospitable owns the guest messaging layer — all six touchpoints, natively, through the booking channel. Claude/n8n owns the high-judgment layer — review responses that future guests will read, and monthly owner reports that build the trust that keeps clients renewing. Each tool doing what it does best. That division of labor is cleaner, leaner, and more scalable than any alternative.
Secondary / Deep Accounting: OwnerRez. The right choice when clients specifically need institutional-grade owner accounting — trust accounting, detailed financial statements, QuickBooks sync. Understand the tradeoff: you'll need to build the guest messaging pipeline in n8n yourself, adding complexity Hospitable eliminates by default.
Not recommended for our stack: Hostaway, Guesty, Lodgify. Hostaway and Guesty are priced for large operations that need everything under one roof — features our stack replaces at a fraction of the cost. Lodgify has no open API and is fundamentally incompatible with any automation-first approach.
| PMS | Auth Method | Webhook Setup | Base URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Hospitable | PAT: Authorization: Bearer YOUR_PAT. No OAuth app needed for webhooks. |
Settings → API → Webhooks → Add URL → subscribe to reservation.created, reservation.updated, message.created, review.created. HMAC-SHA256 verification in n8n. | public.api.hospitable.com/v2/ |
| OwnerRez | PAT (reads): Basic Auth with email + pt_ token. Webhooks require OAuth app with username/password credentials. |
Developer/API Settings → Create App → set webhook URL + credentials → subscribe to Booking & Review entities | api.ownerrez.com |
| Hostaway | OAuth2 client credentials | API dashboard → configure webhook endpoints → subscribe to events | api.hostaway.com |
| Guesty | OAuth2 / API key (varies by plan) | Developer portal → webhook configuration → event subscriptions | open-api.guesty.com |
February 2026. Pricing and features verified via official websites, Capterra, G2, GetApp, and StayFi reviews. Hostaway pricing is estimated from third-party reports as they do not publish rates publicly. Guesty Pro pricing is estimated from user reports and comparison sites. All figures should be verified with a direct quote before committing.