Lodgify and OwnerRez have risen to prominence as comprehensive and user-friendly platforms that empower property owners and managers to scale and streamline their short-term rental businesses. Each platform brings its unique set of features, tools, and benefits to the table, catering to the diverse needs of the vacation rental industry.
As the demand for seamless online booking experiences, robust channel management, and effective communication with guests continues to grow, the question arises: which of these two industry leaders is better suited to meet the distinct needs of your vacation rental business?
Who is it for?
Lodgify
Lodgify is a versatile solution that caters to various vacation rental businesses, whether you manage a single property or oversee a portfolio of more than 30 rentals. It’s designed to provide hosts with an intuitive and user-friendly experience, enabling them to handle their operations effortlessly.
OwnerRez
While OwnerRez markets to both small hosts and larger companies, it’s basic plan is expensive and offers far fewer features than Lodgify’s. As a result, it may be more suitable for larger property management companies.
How much does it cost?
Lodgify
Lodgify provides a range of affordable pricing options designed to meet different budget needs. Pricing plans are structured in three tiers, with the most economical plan starting at a reasonable $15 per month. This plan includes all the necessary features essential for effectively managing your business, including a channel manager, a bookable website, a reservation and payment system, and a property management system.
The Professional plan offered by Lodgify is highly popular among users, as it offers access to more advanced features. Starting at a modest $43 per month, this plan provides additional features to enhance your business operations.
For businesses seeking even more extensive features, Lodgify offers the Ultimate plan. This plan is tailored to meet the requirements of businesses that need accounting, cleaning, and task management tools, among others. The Ultimate plan starts at an affordable price of $55 per month, providing a comprehensive solution for such businesses.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez starts at $40, but this is only for channel management and digital signature features. If you include property management features, a host website, basic SMS functionality, and third-party integrations, users will have to pay $80 a month for just one rental.
Note that while SMS functionality is included in the aforementioned plan, there is a usage fee applied after 500 outbound messages. No discount is offered for subscribing to one or two-year subscriptions.
What are the main differences?
Website builder
Lodgify
Lodgify’s website builder tool is well-known for its user-friendly interface and customizable templates. With just a few clicks, users can create their own bookable website under their desired domain (www.yourwebsite.com) in less than 5 minutes without requiring any technical expertise. What sets Lodgify apart is that its websites are optimized for SEO, resulting in an average of 40% of bookings being made directly by customers.
For users who already have a website created using WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or any other CMS, Lodgify offers seamless integration. By embedding the Lodgify booking widget, guests can now book properties directly on their website, even if it was previously not equipped for bookings.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez provides an effective website builder that allows you to accept direct bookings for your listings. Although it is sufficient for most needs, OwnerRez’s website builder is not as sleek and offers fewer templates and customization options than Lodgify.
Furthermore, OwnerRez users must either subscribe to a premium plan or pay more to get their desired domain name.
Onboarding
Lodgify
Every customer receives a free personalized onboarding experience. An expert from Lodgify carefully evaluates the unique requirements of each user’s business and collaborates with them to establish their account, integrate their listings, and provide comprehensive guidance on utilizing all the available features. Although thorough, it’s a quick and simple process.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez does the majority of your setup work for you, but it is not an express service, as they themselves admit. Their ProConnect onboarding service typically lasts 3-6 weeks and requires the user’s regular involvement to ensure they have all the data required.
After the first free session, ProConnect onboarding starts at a whopping $500, which covers up to 2 properties, and then it’s $150 per property for the next seven properties and $100 per property for 10 properties and more, making it a very costly experience.
User interface (UI)
Lodgify
Lodgify sets itself apart with an exceptionally user-friendly and sleek user interface, creating a seamless experience for property managers. The intuitive design and well-organized layout make navigating through various features and functions simple.
Lodgify’s UI not only enhances efficiency but also provides a visually appealing platform that promotes effortless interaction.
OwnerRez
In contrast to Lodgify’s modern and intuitive user interface, OwnerRez presents a more dated design that demands a substantial learning curve for users. The disparity between the two platforms becomes evident as OwnerRez’s UI lacks the streamlined and user-friendly features that characterize Lodgify’s interface.
Navigating through OwnerRez may prove to be more time-consuming, necessitating additional effort from users to grasp its functionalities effectively. This discrepancy in user experience underlines how Lodgify’s contemporary UI offers a distinct advantage, facilitating smoother interactions and a quicker acclimatization process for property management professionals.
Mobile app
Lodgify
Hosts can manage their business on the go on the recently updated mobile app, which is available for Android and iOS. Users on the Ultimate plan can also download the Lodgify PM app to connect with cleaners, check-in agents, and rental managers. Plus, guests can download the Lodgify Guest app to easily access host resources, such as guidebooks, WiFi passwords, check-in details, etc.
The Lodgify mobile app is rated 4.9 stars on Google Play.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez doesn’t offer a mobile app for either iOS or Android.
Customer support
Lodgify
All subscribers and trial users enjoy the benefits of Lodgify’s customer support, available 24/7 through phone, chat, and email. Their dedicated team ensures swift responses, making sure users receive the assistance they need promptly. The Contact page provides convenient telephone numbers for the Customer Success team in multiple regions, including the U.S. & Canada, the U.K., Spain, and Italy.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez doesn’t provide 24-hour support and only has representatives in three countries: the U.S., the U.K., and Italy.
Vacation rental courses
Lodgify
Lodgify provides free vacation rental courses to help and educate users on everything they need to know to start and grow a successful vacation rental business. Users who sign up for the Lodgify Academy can learn how to attract more direct bookings, how to use social media as a marketing tool, and how to take high-quality photos for their property listing.
OwnerRez
This service is not provided.
Can I try it before I buy?
Lodgify
Property managers have the opportunity to explore Lodgify at no cost with a 7-day trial, which can be extended upon request. They can also gain insights into Lodgify’s functionality by scheduling a personalized demo call with a knowledgeable product expert. During the demo, the expert will provide a comprehensive overview of all the features and offer recommendations on the most suitable subscription plan.
For immediate testing without the need to input rental or user data, Lodgify offers access to a pre-configured test demo account.
OwnerRez
OwnerRez provides a 14-day free trial; however, there is no option for a demo call or demo account.
What do customers say about Lodgify?
Finding reliable and unbiased information while researching products online can pose a challenge for prospective customers. As a result, a significant majority of consumers, approximately 93%, state that online reviews have a significant impact on their purchasing choices.
When it comes to vacation rental owners and property managers, making informed decisions is crucial for the success of their business. Users can explore and compare Lodgify online, along with assessing the opinions of Lodgify customers. Here’s where to compare us:
Trustpilot
What people on Trustpilot are saying about Lodgify:
“Using Lodgify has been an awesome and easy experience from start to finish. Not only is the platform intuitive and really easy to use, they offer an onboarding service that teaches you how to make the most of the Service. Sara (our onboarding team member) could not have been more helpful, really supported us to make sense of the platform and how to get it to do most of the hardwork so we can focus on other things. Highly recommend to anyone managing short term holiday lets.” -Charlie H.
Lodgify rating: 4.6
Capterra
What people on Capterra are saying about Lodgify:
“We have no doubt that we chose well. The price is fair, service is excellent, the software is easy to use and it is a company that is always innovating and improving.” -Djamila D.
Lodgify rating: 4.5
GetApp
What people on GetApp are saying about Lodgify:
“The best feature about this product is the seamless-ness between third party software and my own website. It has all the information from everywhere in one place.” -Tara S.
Lodgify rating: 4.5
G2.com
What people on G2.com are saying about Lodgify:
“We went from being held back by AirBNB to in control of our own bookings! Occasionally, AirBNB would not authorize a booking or hold our account until an issue was resolved. Now we can offer direct bookings and VRBO booking options to our best guests. We love the ease of use of Lodgify, and how their customer support made it easy to implement both direct bookings and VRBO integration. We now only use Lodgify’s interface every day…” -Steven W.
Lodgify rating: 4.0
Which vacation rental software should I use?
In summary, both Lodgify and OwnerRez present robust functionalities aimed at simplifying the management of vacation rentals. Lodgify particularly shines with its user-friendly website builder, placing a strong emphasis on driving direct bookings, while OwnerRez’s strengths lie in catering effectively to larger vacation rental companies.
The best choice for your business hinges on your specific needs, preferences, and business objectives. However, if your ambitions include expanding your listings across platforms beyond Airbnb or showcasing your property on Google Vacation Rentals, Lodgify emerges as the more suitable option. OwnerRez’s highly expensive onboarding process is a huge turn-off for smaller businesses.
We advise exploring both options through free trials, demo versions, and reading customer reviews before making a final decision. While assessing factors such as value for money, integration capabilities, customer support, and scalability, you can confidently select a solution that seamlessly accommodates the growth of your vacation rental business.
Why not take Lodgify for a spin? Complete the form below and enjoy a free trial. Discover how Lodgify can revolutionize your vacation rental business today!