Comparison
KeepItDirect vs Hostaway for independent hosts
Short answer: Hostaway is full property-management software, sold by custom quote after a demo and aimed at professional managers. KeepItDirect builds your direct booking website for you for $149 plus a flat $19/mo, with no booking commission, two-way Airbnb and Vrbo calendar sync, and request-to-book so you approve every guest. If you have one or a few homes and want your own booking site, KeepItDirect fits; if you run many units with a team, Hostaway does.
Side by side
| Product | Who builds it | Control over who books | Cost for one property | Fees on your bookings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KeepItDirect | Done for you: we build it from photos or an existing listing you provide, in about 48 hours. You review it before it goes live and manage it in a simple Host Portal | Request-to-book: you vet and approve every guest, with an optional deposit to hold the dates. Two-way calendar sync with Airbnb and Vrbo | $149 one-time setup + a flat $19/mo | No booking commission. Guests pay you by Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or card through your own Stripe account (standard Stripe card fees apply) |
| Hostaway | You set it up and run it yourself after a sales demo and onboarding | Full PMS with an instant booking engine | No public price. Hostaway quotes each account after a demo, billed per listing | Not published; ask for your quote |
Sources: hostaway.com/pricing (a quote request form, no listed prices) and Hostaway’s invoice help article (charges are per listing in the account). We don’t print third-party estimates of Hostaway’s price.
Competitor prices were read from each company’s own pricing or help pages on October 20, 2026 (ET) and are shown for one property in US dollars, before tax. Prices change, so check the linked page before you decide. KeepItDirect is not affiliated with any company named here.
Instant booking vs approving every guest
Hostaway’s booking engine is built around instant booking. That is convenient, but on your own website it also means less control over who books your house. Instant booking on your own site lets strangers book without the guest reviews or host protection you get on Airbnb.
KeepItDirect is request-to-book. Guests pick dates and see the price, then send a request. You vet the guest and approve or decline, and you can ask for an optional deposit to hold the dates.
Built for you, not by you
With Hostaway, you build and maintain the site yourself. KeepItDirect is done for you: we build your site from photos or an existing listing you provide, in about 48 hours. You review it before it goes live, and you manage rates, blocked dates and booking requests in a simple Host Portal.
What you get with KeepItDirect
- No booking commission and a flat $19 a month after the $149 setup.
- Two-way calendar sync with Airbnb and Vrbo: platform bookings block your site, and the direct bookings you approve go back to Airbnb and Vrbo.
- Request-to-book so you approve every guest, with an optional deposit.
- Guests pay you directly: Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or cards through your own Stripe account.
- Keep your listings. Airbnb and Vrbo stay exactly as they are.
- Built for independent hosts with a few properties, with a simple Host Portal for rates, blocked dates and requests.
When Hostaway makes more sense
- You manage many units or work with a team, cleaners and owners.
- You want a channel manager that pushes rates and availability to the platforms from one place.
- You want automation, tasks, owner tools and reporting in one system.