Lodgify for Vacation Rentals: Honest Review, Real Use Cases, and Host Verdict

TL;DR Summary

Lodgify is an all-in-one vacation rental management platform that specializes in direct booking site creation and multi-channel property operations. It’s best for hosts who want more control over bookings, branding, and guest communication.
Ideal for: Small to mid-sized Airbnb hosts (1–10 properties), direct booking enthusiasts, and tech-comfortable managers.
Star Ratings:
Features: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐
Support: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STR Specialist Verdict: Recommended for Direct Booking Focus.

Who This Tool is Best For

• Solo hosts (1–5 properties) seeking direct booking control
• Small PMs (up to 10 units) wanting a branded website
• Hosts in competitive urban/tourist markets
• Beginners wanting thorough onboarding support
• Hosts switching from OTA dependence

Not Ideal For:

• Managers of 20+ properties (cost scales quickly)
• Ops teams relying heavily on mobile cleaning apps
• Hosts needing advanced automation and analytics

Contextual Use Cases:
Urban/remote: Direct booking works best in high-traffic locales.
Beginner: Great onboarding helps.
Advanced: Some limitations in channel customization.

Key Features & Benefits for Airbnb Hosts

Feature	Benefit	Airbnb Use Case
Direct Booking Website	Save OTA fees, build brand	Drive repeat guests, manage pricing
Channel Manager	Prevent double bookings	Sync Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com in real time
Unified Inbox	Respond faster, less switching	Centralize all guest messages
Dynamic Pricing	Boost occupancy/revenue	Adjust rates automatically
Automated Messaging	Save hours weekly	Send check-in/checkout instructions
Calendar Sync	No manual updates	Connect with Google Calendar
Cleaning Staff Management	Smooth turnovers	Assign and track cleaning tasks

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent onboarding and setup calls
• Strong direct booking site builder
• Reliable OTA sync (incl. Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking)
• Built-in pricing optimization
• Top-rated support team
• Full PMS features for most hosts

Cons

• Mobile app issues for cleaning staff
• Starter plan adds booking fees
• Limited advanced automation compared to competitors
• Limited website design flexibility
• Support slower on technical problems
• Expensive for large portfolios

How It Compares to Other Tools

Feature	Lodgify	Hospitable	Hostaway
Pricing (1 listing)	$16/mo + 1.9% fee	$29/mo	Custom
Direct Booking Website	Yes	Basic	Yes
Dynamic Pricing	Included	Third-party	Extra
Mobile App	Stable	Stable	Stable
Onboarding	Live calls	DIY	Team
Automation	Basic	Advanced	Advanced
Best For	Direct booking	Automation	Scaling ops

Pricing Breakdown

Plan	Monthly Cost	Properties	Key Features	Best Value For
Starter	$16 + 1.9% booking fee	1	Website, PMS, basic sync	Testing platform
Professional	$46	1	No fees, advanced, integrations	Small hosts/direct bookings
Ultimate	$59	1	PM modules, priority support	Team operations

Scaling costs:
5 listings: $110–$147/mo
10 listings: $155–$206/mo
100 listings: $813–$1,148/mo
Setup fees: None
Free trial: 7 days
Annual discount: Saves 20%

Best Value For: 1–5 listings on Professional (no booking fee).

Ease of Use & Onboarding

• Free, live onboarding calls for all plans
• Medium learning curve—website builder may require learning but support helps
• Resources:
  • Live calls
  • Video guides
  • Help center
  • Email support (no phone)
• Time to first automation: 1–2 weeks with website and channel connections

Real Host Feedback

“The onboarding process was very fast and professional. Lodgify contains most of what I need in my business.” – Ulf Eriksson

“Having my own website and direct bookings is a game-changer – less dependent on Airbnb and VRBO.” – Laura

“The inbox doesn't archive after guests are done; mobile app logs out often which disrupts cleaning team.” – Reddit user

• Praised for onboarding and website builder
• Criticized for mobile app stability and support lag

STR Specialist Verdict

Best for: Hosts wanting direct booking revenue, own website, and solid PMS features; tech-comfortable owners in competitive markets.
Skip if: Automation is top priority, you run large (20+) portfolios, or your team relies on mobile cleaning apps.
ROI: Solid for direct booking-focused hosts with potential 3–15% OTA fee savings and ~20% higher revenue via dynamic pricing.
Time savings: Good, but not automation-first; support and onboarding reduce setup friction.
Scalability: Great up to 10 listings; expensive for large PMs.

Action Steps

• Sign up for a free 7-day trial (no card needed)
• Schedule a demo/onboarding call
• Gather property info (photos, description, OTA logins)

Checklist: 5 Things to Set Up First in Lodgify

1. Connect OTA accounts (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com)
2. Set up automated guest messages
3. Enable dynamic pricing
4. Build your direct booking site
5. Test guest experience end-to-end

Compare more STR tools or read the next review for choosing your perfect PMS.