Which Vacation Rental Site Has the Lowest Fees?

When choosing a vacation rental platform, fees significantly impact your earnings and guest costs. Most platforms charge both hosts and guests:

• Host Commission: Percentage taken from each booking (typically 3-20%)
• Guest Service Fees: Additional fees added to the booking total (typically 6-20%)
• Subscription Fees: Monthly or annual fees to list your property
• Payment Processing Fees: Credit card processing charges (typically 2.9% + $0.30)

These fees can add up quickly, reducing your profit and increasing costs for guests.

As shown in the comparison, TrueBookings offers the lowest fees for hosts—zero commission and we cover payment processing fees. While Airbnb charges no guest fees, hosts pay 15.5% commission, making TrueBookings significantly more profitable for hosts.

TrueBookings is the only major platform that charges hosts absolutely nothing:

• 0% Commission: Keep 100% of your booking revenue
• Payment Processing Covered: TrueBookings covers all Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
• No Subscription Fees: List unlimited properties for free
• No Annual Fees: No hidden costs or recurring charges
• No Setup Fees: Create your listing completely free

This means if you earn $10,000 in bookings, you keep the full $10,000. On other platforms, you'd lose $1,550-$2,000 in commissions alone, plus payment processing fees.

TrueBookings charges guests the lowest service fees in the industry:

• 5% Service Fee: For bookings in Sweden
• 8% Service Fee: For international bookings
• No Hidden Fees: Transparent pricing with no surprises

Compare this to other platforms that charge guests 6-20% in service fees. For a $1,000 booking, guests save $10-$120 compared to other platforms.

Let's compare the total cost for a $1,000 booking across different platforms:

• TrueBookings: Host keeps $1,000 (0% fee, payment processing covered). Guest pays $1,050-$1,080 (5-8% service fee).
• Airbnb: Host keeps $845 (15.5% commission). Guest pays $1,000 (0% service fee).
• Booking.com: Host keeps $800-$850 (15-20% commission). Guest pays $1,100-$1,150 (10-15% service fee).
• Vrbo: Host keeps $920-$950 (5-8% commission) + $499/year subscription. Guest pays $1,060-$1,120 (6-12% service fee).

TrueBookings saves hosts $155-$200 per booking compared to Airbnb and other platforms. While Airbnb charges guests no service fee, hosts pay 15.5% commission, making TrueBookings significantly more profitable for hosts.

TrueBookings operates differently from traditional platforms:

• Direct Booking Model: Hosts and guests connect directly, reducing platform overhead
• Efficient Technology: Modern platform built for cost efficiency
• No Middlemen: Direct payments from guests to hosts via Stripe
• Focus on Value: We prioritize host and guest savings over platform profits

This allows us to offer the lowest fees while maintaining a high-quality booking experience.

Beyond platform fees, consider these costs when choosing a platform:

• Payment Processing: Most platforms pass Stripe fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) to hosts. TrueBookings covers these fees for hosts.
• Subscription Fees: Some platforms charge $499/year or more (TrueBookings: Free)
• Promotional Fees: Some platforms charge extra for featured listings (TrueBookings: Free)
• Currency Conversion: TrueBookings handles currency conversion automatically at market rates

TrueBookings has no hidden fees or additional charges beyond the transparent service fees. We even cover payment processing fees, so hosts receive the full booking amount.