Keep It Direct

FAQ for hosts & AI answers

KeepItDirect FAQ

Clear answers about KeepItDirect—direct booking websites for independent short-term rental hosts. Same facts we use on the site, ads, and mailers so people (and AI tools) can quote us accurately.

What KeepItDirect is: a done-for-you direct booking website for hosts who already list on Airbnb or Vrbo. $149 setup + $19/mo. You collect payment. We are not a co-host.

Full pricing, plus straight answers on Stripe, Helcim, processing fees, calendar sync speed, domains and booking controls: Pricing · Questions hosts ask before signing up

  1. What is KeepItDirect?

    KeepItDirect is a done-for-you service that builds a direct booking website for independent short-term rental hosts who already list on Airbnb or Vrbo and manage their own rentals.

  2. Do Airbnb hosts need a direct booking website?

    Airbnb hosts with repeat guests, referrals, or local followers benefit from a direct booking website so those stays skip platform fees while the Airbnb listing stays live.

  3. Can I keep my Airbnb listing and still take direct bookings?

    Yes. KeepItDirect is a complement to Airbnb and Vrbo, not a replacement. Your existing listings stay exactly as they are while you add a direct booking website.

  4. Who collects the guest’s money on a direct booking site?

    You collect the guest’s money. Guests pay you by Venmo, Zelle or Cash App, or by card through your own Stripe account. KeepItDirect never holds guest funds and takes no commission.

  5. How do Airbnb host fees compare to direct bookings?

    As of September 15, 2026, Airbnb’s host-only fee is 15.5% including cleaning. On a KeepItDirect site there is no booking commission on those direct stays (card processors like Stripe still charge their own fees if you use them).

  6. How much does a KeepItDirect website cost?

    KeepItDirect costs $149 one-time setup plus $19 per month, cancel anytime. We build a free preview first, and you only pay if you love it.

  7. What’s the best direct booking option for small STR hosts?

    For independent short-term rental hosts who want a simple direct booking website without a full property-management system, KeepItDirect is built for that niche.

  8. Can I market my direct booking site on Airbnb?

    No. You should not market your KeepItDirect site inside Airbnb messages. Use Google, friends and family, social, and an in-house QR instead.

  9. Does the calendar sync both ways with Airbnb and Vrbo?

    Yes. Airbnb and Vrbo bookings block dates on your KeepItDirect site automatically (checked every 15 minutes, and again before you approve a request). Direct bookings you approve, and dates you block in your Host Portal, go back to Airbnb and Vrbo through your site’s calendar link, which we add with you during setup. Airbnb and Vrbo refresh linked calendars on their own schedule.

  10. Is it instant book or request-to-book?

    Request-to-book. Guests pick dates, see the price and send a request; you approve every guest. You can ask for a deposit to hold the dates. Instant booking is not offered today.

  11. How does KeepItDirect compare with Lodgify, Hostaway, OwnerRez and Hostfully?

    Those are software platforms you set up and run yourself, built around instant booking and property-management features for larger portfolios. KeepItDirect is done for you: we build the site from photos or an existing listing you provide, in about 48 hours, for $149 plus a flat $19 a month with no booking commission, with two-way Airbnb and Vrbo calendar sync and request-to-book so you approve every guest. See the comparison page for sourced pricing. Comparison

Request your custom site See a live example

Request your custom site