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.
YOUR SHORTLIST, SIDE BY SIDE
Host Tools vs Lodgify vs OwnerRez
Compare Host Tools vs Lodgify vs OwnerRez for guest messages. Check booking-site links, message rules and who on your team can use them.
Overview
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.
OwnerRez
Handle guest messages with booking records, agreements and payment schedules. Text messaging is a paid module.
Best for: Send guest messages as booking and agreement steps happen.
Showing all 18 detailed properties.
| What matters to you |  Host ToolsGuest communication |  LodgifyGuest communication |  OwnerRezGuest communication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | STRCompare scoring | STRCompare scoring | STRCompare scoring |
| Properties | 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. | We could not confirm a minimum or maximum property count. The minimum monthly fee covers the first property even when it is turned off. This billing rule does not set a property limit. |
| Overview | 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. | Pay for the core plan per property. It manages booking sites, messages and booking records. It also has tools for direct bookings. Optional modules add PM, websites, accounting, SMS and Rezzy. |
| Plans and add-ons | 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. | Core plan Monthly plan priced per property, with no booking or setup fee. Some features appear to be included because the full list of premium-only features does not name them. Confirm that they are in your plan. Property Management · add-on Owner statements and expense accounting cost extra, based on property count. QuickBooks · add-on You need a QuickBooks account. A separate fee depends on your property count. Hosted Websites · add-on A hosted website and custom domain cost extra. The fee depends on your property count. WordPress + Integrated Websites · add-on The supported WordPress plugin and listing-content API option has a separate fee. SMS · add-on Pay for the number or module, plus outgoing text segments above the included amount. Rezzy AI · add-on USD 9 per property each month for AI guest replies and tasks created from action items. The checklist details come from the vendor. |
| Price and how you pay | Messaging entry plan account price · USD 30Total account bill Plan prices and conditionsMessaging 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 conditionsBasic 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. | Core monthly plan · USD 40Total account bill Plan prices and conditionsCore monthly plan · USD 40 Total account bill This is the base monthly price for your property count. Extra tools cost more. Sales tax is extra and depends on your billing address. You still pay the first-property minimum when that property is turned off. 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. Core plan: Core plan: Price for this selection · USD 40 Total account bill This is the base monthly price for your property count. Extra tools cost more. Sales tax is extra and depends on your billing address. You still pay the first-property minimum when that property is turned off. 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. Property Management add-on: Property Management add-on: Price for this selection · USD 10 Total account bill The monthly core total uses your exact property count. Optional modules cost extra. Any sales tax for your billing address costs extra too. The minimum charge for the first property applies even if it is disabled. Add this module fee to the core price; it does not include the core plan. 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. QuickBooks add-on: QuickBooks add-on: Price for this selection · USD 10 Total account bill The monthly core total uses your exact property count. Optional modules cost extra. Any sales tax for your billing address costs extra too. The minimum charge for the first property applies even if it is disabled. Add this module fee to the core price; it does not include the core plan. 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. Hosted Websites add-on: Hosted Websites add-on: Price for this selection · USD 15 Total account bill The monthly core total uses your exact property count. Optional modules cost extra. Any sales tax for your billing address costs extra too. The minimum charge for the first property applies even if it is disabled. Add this module fee to the core price; it does not include the core plan. 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. WordPress + Integrated Websites add-on: WordPress + Integrated Websites add-on: Price for this selection · USD 10 Total account bill The monthly core total uses your exact property count. Optional modules cost extra. Any sales tax for your billing address costs extra too. The minimum charge for the first property applies even if it is disabled. Add this module fee to the core price; it does not include the core plan. 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. Rezzy AI add-on: Rezzy AI add-on: Price for this selection · USD 9 Total account bill The monthly core total uses your exact property count. Optional modules cost extra. Any sales tax for your billing address costs extra too. The minimum charge for the first property applies even if it is disabled. Add this module fee to the core price; it does not include the core plan. 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. SMS add-on: Price not confirmed USD 15 per phone number each month includes 500 outgoing text segments. Extra segments cost USD 0.015 each. Your cost depends on phone numbers and use, not property count. 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. Direct lock connections: Price not confirmed For Schlage, Igloohome and Hubitat, the fee is USD 4 per lock each month. You need the lock count. 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. |
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| Review sources | 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 | CapterraRating 4.9 / 5 · 271 reviews TrustpilotTrustScore 4.7 / 5 · 71 reviews GetAppRating 4.9 / 5 · 271 reviews Software AdviceRating 4.9 / 5 · 271 reviews |
| 01 / Messaging channels | |||
| Unified inbox Which booking sites share one inbox. | 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 | Available Read email, texts and booking-site messages together. Plan: Core plan
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| Airbnb messages Check Airbnb message access and limits. | 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 | Available Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com guest messaging Plan: Core plan
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| Vrbo messages Check Vrbo message access and limits. | 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 | Available Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com guest messaging Plan: Core plan
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| Booking.com messages Check Booking.com message access and limits. | 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 | Available Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com guest messaging Plan: Core plan
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| Email Send guest emails and handle replies. | With conditions Email guests from bookings you entered yourself. Read their replies in Inbox. Plan: Messaging / Pro
| With conditions Edit the email sent to a guest when a booking is cancelled. Details: Check which plan includes cancellation emails.
| Available Guest emails Plan: Core plan |
| SMS Where text messages work and what sending them costs. | With conditions Send texts to cleaners or managers automatically. Plan: Messaging / Pro
| Available Text guests with updates and reminders. Plan: Ultimate
| With conditions Text guests from a dedicated number. Details: SMS premium module
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| WhatsApp Check WhatsApp support and what else you need. | 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. | With conditions Use WhatsApp Business conversations in OwnerRez Inbox. Details: For individual chats only. This does not support group messages or OwnerRez message templates and rules. |
| 02 / Automation and teams | |||
| Scheduled messages When booking events start tasks and which rules apply. | 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
| With conditions Schedule arrival and departure messages. Plan: Professional / Ultimate
| Available Send messages at set times or when booking conditions match. Plan: Core plan |
| Templates and variables Reuse message text and add details from each booking. | 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 | Available Reusable guest-message templates Plan: Core plan |
| AI replies Check whether AI drafts a reply or sends it for you. | 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
| 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
| Available AI drafts replies. Set times for automatic replies and times for drafts only. Details: Rezzy AI premium module |
| Translation Find a message’s language and translate it. | With conditions Translate incoming guest messages with one tap. Plan: Messaging / Pro
| We could not confirm this feature or which plan includes it. | With conditions Translate Airbnb guest messages in the inbox. Details: Core — check that this feature is included.
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| Team inbox Set staff access and assign jobs. | With conditions Invite Assistant, Virtual Assistant, Owner and Cleaner users. Each role can view, edit or be blocked from certain areas. Plan: Pro
| Available Co-host access and team access levels you can set. Details: Starter / Professional / Ultimate; Ultimate | Available Add unlimited staff logins. Choose full, limited or read-only access. Plan: Core plan |
| 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. | With conditions Upload files and share template links; email attachments are discouraged. Photo attachments supported for Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. Details: Check that your plan and account include this.
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| Guest portal Give guests check-in details and a place to find stay information. | 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
| Available My Stay portal for contact details, agreements and deposits. Details: Core — check that this feature is included.
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| Review requests Rules for sending review requests automatically. | 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. | With conditions Add a review-link code to guest email templates. Details: For direct bookings, set templates and rules for the review form. You can also click Request from Guest yourself. |
| 03 / Eligibility and costs | |||
| Property limits Check the actual limit, not just the advertised size. | 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
| 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 a minimum or maximum property count. The minimum monthly fee covers the first property even when it is turned off. This billing rule does not set a property limit.
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| Plans and add-ons Message tools in each plan and add-on. | Available Messaging, Pro; Enterprise quote Plan: Messaging / Pro / Enterprise | Available Basic; Starter; Professional; Ultimate | Available Core plan with optional add-ons |
| Additional fees SMS, AI and optional service charges. | With conditions Optional smart-lock tools cost USD 3 per connected lock each month. Details: Pro + smart locks
| Available Optional advice and add-on services. Plan: Basic / Starter / Professional / Ultimate | Available PM, QuickBooks, sites, SMS and Rezzy cost extra. Plan: Core plan |
Compare tools for guest messages — Host Tools vs Lodgify vs OwnerRez
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.
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.
OwnerRez: what to consider
Match the core tools and paid extras to your message process. Text messages and Rezzy cost extra. Staff tasks are separate from Rezzy’s issue detection. Check any channel or payment rules you need. Read the OwnerRez 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 Host Tools, Lodgify and OwnerRez?
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.
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.
Are all text-message costs included in OwnerRez’s main inbox?
No. SMS text messaging is a paid extra. It also has usage fees above its included limit. Check the tool and how many texts you expect to send before you turn it on. Do not assume the main inbox price covers every text.