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Guesty Lite vs Host Tools vs Lodgify

Comparing

Compare Guesty Lite vs Host Tools vs Lodgify for guest messages. Check booking-site links, message rules and who on your team can use them.

Overview

Guesty Lite

Handle guest messages alongside bookings, a shared calendar and assigned tasks.

Best for: Keeping guest-message work close to booking and cleaning tasks.

Host Tools

Automate guest messages and cleaner notices, with Pro for broader booking tools.

Best for: Send guest messages and cleaner notices at key points in a stay.

Lodgify

Use a shared guest inbox. Professional adds custom automatic messages; Ultimate adds team tasks.

Best for: Use one guest inbox with your plan’s message rules.

Showing all 18 detailed properties.
Guesty Lite versus Host Tools versus Lodgify: features and conditions.
What matters to youGuesty Lite
4.5 / 5Out of 2,742 reviews
Guest communication
Host Tools
4.7 / 5Out of 270 reviews
Guest communication
Lodgify
4.6 / 5Out of 6,203 reviews
Guest communication
Score
Score81
STRCompare scoring
Score92
STRCompare scoring
Score64
STRCompare scoring
PropertiesGuesty lists 1–3 listings. Another page says 5 or fewer. Ask Guesty how many your account can use.Host Tools lists prices for 1–134 properties. It is unclear whether Enterprise starts at 134 or above 134. Ask about your account’s limit.Basic allows one property and Starter allows two. We could not confirm a maximum for the account, Professional or Ultimate.
OverviewGuesty Lite combines booking-site tools, messages, a shared calendar and tasks.Messaging automation and a Pro plan adding calendar, rates, direct booking and team access.Four tiers cover booking sites, calendars and a shared inbox. Starter adds website bookings. Professional adds custom automatic messages. Ultimate adds daily work tasks.
Plans and add-ons
Guesty Lite

Guesty lists 1–3 listings. Another page says 5 or fewer. Ask Guesty how many your account can use.

PriceOptimizer · add-on

Paid add-on. Hardware, partner services and usage may cost extra.

LocksManager · add-on

Paid add-on. Hardware, partner services and usage may cost extra.

Messaging

Send messages to guests and cleaners, use mobile tools and translate messages. Calendar and price tools need Pro.

Pro

Adds calendar and rate tools, direct booking, team access and AI. Optional smart locks cost another USD 3 per lock each month.

Enterprise

Ask Host Tools for an Enterprise quote. Its site is unclear whether Enterprise starts at 134 properties or only above 134. Confirm which plan you can use and what it includes.

Smart locks · add-on

You need Pro, plus USD 3 per connected lock each month. You need supported hardware and a linked account.

Basic

One property, with a booking-site calendar, inbox and self-setup. Website access is unconfirmed.

Starter

Up to two properties. Includes Basic tools, plus a website and booking widget, price and payment tools, co-host access and expert setup.

Professional

Includes Basic and Starter tools, plus scheduled messages, manual payment collection, phone and email support, and Dynamic Pricing.

Ultimate

Includes lower plans, plus tasks, automatic check-in and checkout steps, owner statements, a guest app, Turno and priority live support.

Smart Locks · add-on

Pay USD 7 per device each month in advance. You need supported hardware already installed. We could not confirm whether the base plan qualifies.

Price and how you pay
Standard Lite from USD 29/listing/month
Plan prices and conditions

Standard Lite from USD 29/listing/month

These are starting rates. Your total is not confirmed. The marketed range of 1-3 listings is not a firm limit.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Standard Lite: Price not confirmed

From USD 29/listing/month. Monthly advertised rate. These are starting rates. Your total is not confirmed. The advertised 1–3 listing range is not a firm limit.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

LiteOptimizer: Price not confirmed

From USD 9/listing/month. Monthly advertised rate. Adds 1% per reservation. We could not confirm the exact yearly billing terms. These are starting rates. Your total is not confirmed. The advertised 1–3 listing range is not a firm limit.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Messaging entry plan account price · USD 30Total account bill
Plan prices and conditions

Messaging entry plan account price · USD 30

Total account bill

You pay for listings that are turned on. Linked listings for the same property count once. Listings that are turned off are not billed.

Changes during a billing period may add a charge or credit.

Ask how tax applies.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Messaging: Messaging: Price for this selection · USD 30

Total account bill

You pay for listings that are turned on. Linked listings for the same property count once. Listings that are turned off are not billed.

Changes during a billing period may add a charge or credit.

Ask how tax applies.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Pro: Pro: Price for this selection · USD 32

Total account bill

You pay for listings that are turned on. Linked listings for the same property count once. Listings that are turned off are not billed.

Changes during a billing period may add a charge or credit.

Ask how tax applies.

Optional smart locks cost an extra USD 3/connected lock/month; Hardware and payment-processing costs are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Enterprise: Contact the provider for a quote.

Basic monthly account total · USD 18Total account bill
Plan prices and conditions

Basic monthly account price · USD 18

Total account bill

This shows the monthly account total in USD for the selected setup. Taxes, payment fees and extras are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Basic: Basic: Price for this selection · USD 18

Total account bill

This shows the monthly account total in USD for the selected setup. Taxes, payment fees and extras are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Starter: Starter: Price for this selection · USD 33

Total account bill

This shows the monthly account total in USD for the selected setup. Taxes, payment fees and extras are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Professional: Professional: Price for this selection · USD 58

Total account bill

This shows the monthly account total in USD for the selected setup. Taxes, payment fees and extras are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Ultimate: Ultimate: Price for this selection · USD 85

Total account bill

This shows the monthly account total in USD for the selected setup. Taxes, payment fees and extras are separate.

This estimate covers one account for exactly 1 billable property. Module and occupancy rules still apply. It does not assume how many devices or messages you use.

Limits and requirements
  • Lite does not include the public developer API. Approved partner connections are separate.
  • Cleaner permissions cannot be changed. The current role guide and overview disagree on whether multiple users require Pro.
  • When availability sync is enabled, block dates in Host Tools: channel-only blocks can be reopened.
  • Stripe takes full payment at booking. For split payments or deposit schedules, collect payments by hand through an outside service.
  • Cleaner alerts and Turno projects do not confirm built-in task management or checklists.
  • Basic allows one property. Starter allows up to two. Ask about the limits for Professional and Ultimate.
  • AI Co-Host is beta and requires approval before sending or changing anything.
  • Automatic refunds need eligible website or manual bookings, Policy automation turned on and supported card payments. Booking-site and outside-payment limits still apply.
Review sources
TrustpilotTrustScore 4.6 / 5 · 2,054 reviews
G2Rating 4.6 / 5 · 136 reviews
GoogleRating 4.3 / 5 · 552 reviews
CapterraRating 4.8 / 5 · 182 reviews
TrustpilotTrustScore 4.4 / 5 · 34 reviews
GetAppRating 4.8 / 5 · 182 reviews
Software AdviceRating 4.8 / 5 · 182 reviews
GoogleRating 4.5 / 5 · 54 reviews
CapterraRating 4.5 / 5 · 1,311 reviews
TrustpilotTrustScore 4.7 / 5 · 4,439 reviews
G2Rating 4.4 / 5 · 90 reviews
GetAppRating 4.5 / 5 · 1,311 reviews
Software AdviceRating 4.5 / 5 · 1,311 reviews
GoogleRating 4 / 5 · 363 reviews
01 / Messaging channels
Unified inbox

Which booking sites share one inbox.

Available

Read guest messages in one inbox.

Plan: Lite

Available

Guest and cleaner messages share the same booking conversation.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

Available

Read conversations from connected booking sites together.

Plan: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate

Airbnb messages

Check Airbnb message access and limits.

With conditions

Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com message threads

Plan: Lite

  • Email, text and WhatsApp may need extra accounts or fees. Check each service.
Available

Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Houfy messaging

Plan: Messaging / Pro

Available

Read connected booking-site conversations in the inbox.

Plan: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate

Vrbo messages

Check Vrbo message access and limits.

With conditions

Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com message threads

Plan: Lite

  • Email, text and WhatsApp may need extra accounts or fees. Check each service.
Available

Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Houfy messaging

Plan: Messaging / Pro

Available

Read connected booking-site conversations in the inbox.

Plan: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate

Booking.com messages

Check Booking.com message access and limits.

With conditions

Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com message threads

Plan: Lite

  • Email, text and WhatsApp may need extra accounts or fees. Check each service.
Available

Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and Houfy messaging

Plan: Messaging / Pro

Available

Read connected booking-site conversations in the inbox.

Plan: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate

Email

Send guest emails and handle replies.

With conditions

Email the guest’s main email address or the address supplied by the booking site.

Plan: Lite

  • A booking-site email address sends the message through that site. A personal address sends it to the guest’s email.
  • Unified Inbox is included. Check whether this specific task is included too.
With conditions

Email guests from bookings you entered yourself. Read their replies in Inbox.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

  • You need the guest’s email and a booking entered by hand.
With conditions

Edit the email sent to a guest when a booking is cancelled.

Details: Check which plan includes cancellation emails.

  • Use the cancellation Message slider, then Send. Check the plan and booking-site limits for other guest emails.
  • This covers cancellation emails to guests. It does not confirm email campaigns or access in every plan.
SMS

Where text messages work and what sending them costs.

With conditions

Send and receive guest texts in Guesty Inbox.

Details: Check which plan includes this.

  • Save a valid guest phone number. Guests in the US and Canada see a US sender number.
  • The limit is 306 GSM-7 characters or 134 Unicode characters. Longer messages are cut off.
  • Message logs last 14 days. Ask about text-message fees and which plan includes them.
With conditions

Send texts to cleaners or managers automatically.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

  • This guide covers texts to cleaners. It does not confirm texts to guests.
  • Ask for text-message fees.
Available

Text guests with updates and reminders.

Plan: Ultimate

  • Ask about text fees, supported countries and message limits.
WhatsApp

Check WhatsApp support and what else you need.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

With conditions

Lodgify says you can use WhatsApp from its inbox.

Details: The provider advertises this. Check setup, which plan includes it and any message fees.

02 / Automation and teams
Scheduled messages

When booking events start tasks and which rules apply.

With conditions

Schedule messages around booking confirmation, check-in, checkout or expected arrival and departure. Booking filters and message rules decide when they send.

Plan: Lite

  • Send through booking sites, email or text. For email or text, you need the guest’s correct contact details.
  • The inbox does not show cleaner messages or replies from people who are not guests.
  • For existing bookings, a new message rule runs only for events that have not happened yet.
With conditions

Set messages around guest and cleaning events. Offer extra nights only when the dates next to the stay are free.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

  • This condition works only for check-in and checkout messages.
With conditions

Schedule arrival and departure messages.

Plan: Professional / Ultimate

  • We could not confirm this feature or what it requires.
Templates and variables

Reuse message text and add details from each booking.

Available

Saved replies

Plan: Lite

Available

Turn on or edit suggested templates, or write new rules.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

Available

Quick replies and reusable templates

Plan: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate

AI replies

Check whether AI drafts a reply or sends it for you.

With conditions

Draft replies or send them for you.

Draft replies
ReplyAI writes a draft. You can edit it, then click Send.
Automatic replies
AutoReply can send replies for you. Choose which types of messages it can answer.

Plan: Lite

  • Turn on the tool before use.
  • For AutoReply, the AI scores each answer. You set the score needed to send it. You review replies below that score.
  • Ask Guesty about AI fees and message limits.
With conditions

AI writes drafts you can review and edit. You can also turn on automatic replies with AI score controls. Use suggestions-only mode to review before sending.

Plan: Pro

  • The AI uses listing details and past conversations for context.
  • The default minimum AI score is 80%. You can also limit replies to positive messages.
  • A person reviews replies with a low AI score or unconfirmed specific details.
  • Automatic sending is a separate mode. Not every mode waits for your approval.
With conditions

AI writes and improves drafts. Co-Host asks you to approve messages and changes.

Details: Basic (1 property); Starter (up to 2); Professional; Ultimate; AI Co-Host beta

  • Access to the test version
  • This is an advertised test feature. Check whether you can use it and what it requires.
Translation

Find a message’s language and translate it.

With conditions

Translate the latest guest message into the app’s display language.

Plan: Lite

  • For current and future messages from guests. It may not work on very short messages or after you reply.
  • ReplyAI is included. Check whether this specific task is included too.
With conditions

Translate incoming guest messages with one tap.

Plan: Messaging / Pro

  • We could not confirm automatic translation of outgoing messages.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

Team inbox

Set staff access and assign jobs.

With conditions

Invite Admin and Cleaner users. Admins have full access. Cleaners have a fixed set of task permissions.

Plan: Lite

  • Guesty’s guides disagree on team access for Lite. Check with Guesty before choosing this plan.
  • Ask how many users you can add.
  • You cannot change Cleaner permissions.
With conditions

Invite Assistant, Virtual Assistant, Owner and Cleaner users. Each role can view, edit or be blocked from certain areas.

Plan: Pro

  • Permissions differ by role. We could not confirm that you can set access for every field.
Available

Co-host access and team access levels you can set.

Details: Starter / Professional / Ultimate; Ultimate

Attachments

File types you can send and limits for each message channel.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

Guest portal

Give guests check-in details and a place to find stay information.

With conditions

Guest App shows booking details and forms to fill in before arrival.

Plan: Lite

  • Set up up to 50 Guest Apps.
  • Payment details, extra information and guidebooks need Pro.
  • Forms collect details. Checking IDs and taking payments are separate features.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

With conditions

Guests can see arrival and stay details in a web portal or app.

Plan: Ultimate

  • Ultimate has a guest web portal or app with stay details. We could not confirm other actions there.
  • We could not confirm other actions in the portal.
Review requests

Rules for sending review requests automatically.

We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.

With conditions

The Messaging plan lists automatic requests for guest reviews.

Details: Check message rules and guest or booking-site requirements. Asking guests for reviews is separate from writing reviews of guests.

With conditions

Ask for reviews automatically after checkout.

Details: Set the time and template, and check your plan. Writing a review of an Airbnb guest is separate.

03 / Eligibility and costs
Property limits

Check the actual limit, not just the advertised size.

Guesty lists 1–3 listings. Another page says 5 or fewer. Ask Guesty how many your account can use.

  • We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it.
With conditions

The public price table goes up to 134 listings. Ask Host Tools for an Enterprise quote. Its site is unclear whether Enterprise starts at 134 listings or only above 134.

Host Tools lists prices for 1–134 properties. It is unclear whether Enterprise starts at 134 or above 134. Ask about your account’s limit.

Plan: Messaging / Pro / Enterprise

  • Host Tools is unclear about Enterprise. One page starts it at 134 properties. Its FAQ starts it above 134. The price table includes 134 properties.
  • We could not confirm a maximum account size.
Available

Basic: 1 property; Starter: 2 properties

Basic allows one property and Starter allows two. We could not confirm a maximum for the account, Professional or Ultimate.

Plan: Basic / Starter / Professional / Ultimate

  • We could not confirm property limits for Professional or Ultimate.
Plans and add-ons

Message tools in each plan and add-on.

Available

Guesty Lite

Plan: Lite

Available

Messaging, Pro; Enterprise quote

Plan: Messaging / Pro / Enterprise

Available

Basic; Starter; Professional; Ultimate

Additional fees

SMS, AI and optional service charges.

With conditions

PriceOptimizer, LocksManager and Damage Protection add-ons

Plan: Lite

  • Ask about add-on prices and fees for each transaction.
With conditions

Optional smart-lock tools cost USD 3 per connected lock each month.

Details: Pro + smart locks

  • You need lock hardware and a compatible provider connection.
Available

Optional advice and add-on services.

Plan: Basic / Starter / Professional / Ultimate

Compare tools for guest messages — Guesty Lite vs Host Tools vs Lodgify

List the messages your guests need before, during and after a stay. Check where those messages arrive and who should reply. Separate reply drafts from messages sent on their own. Then confirm the plan, channel coverage and any extra SMS charges for the process you want.

Guesty Lite: what to consider

Check which booking sites and paid tools the plan includes. Cleaner access has fixed permissions. Confirm that those permissions fit the people who handle your guest and cleaning work. Read the Guesty Lite profile for its plans and requirements.

Host Tools: what to consider

Check that your booking channels and team roles fit. Cleaner notices do not establish built-in task checklists. If you need calendar or rate rules too, compare the Pro plan alongside your messaging needs. Read the Host Tools profile for its plans and requirements.

Lodgify: what to consider

Choose the tier for your planned messages rather than the inbox alone. AI Co-Host is beta and needs approval before sending or making changes. Check access before relying on it for guest replies. Read the Lodgify profile for its plans and requirements.

Explore all guest communication options, how to plan automated guest messages, how guest tools fit your software setup to continue your shortlist.

Common questions

Which messages should I test in Guesty Lite, Host Tools and Lodgify?

Try a new inquiry, a confirmed booking and a changed arrival time on your booking channels. Check where the replies appear and who gets a notice. This helps you spot gaps before guests depend on the setup.

What should I check if I want AI replies from one of these tools?

Check whether the tool writes a draft for you or sends replies on its own. Decide who handles questions outside its scope. Keep your property instructions current, and check that a guest can still reach a person when needed.

Should I check Guesty Lite’s ReplyAI draft before it is sent?

Yes. The described ReplyAI workflow lets you review, edit and send the draft. Check facts such as entry times and property rules first. This is the draft tool’s workflow; other Guesty AI tools may send replies under different settings.

Can Host Tools send a cleaner a booking-change notice?

Its support guide describes email and text rules for cleaners or managers. Enter the person’s email address or phone number in the rule. A notice does not prove that the cleaner took the job or finished it. Agree how they should confirm the work.

How does Lodgify’s AI Messaging Assistant differ from a scheduled message?

The assistant suggests a reply for you to check, edit and send. A saved template can send at a time or booking event you choose. Check which tool you are setting up. A useful draft is not the same as an automatic reply.

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