Lodgify vs Smoobu for small holiday lets

Owners with a handful of lets tend to land on Lodgify vs Smoobu because both can sync Airbnb without looking like enterprise software. You’re not choosing a 40-key operating system. You’re choosing how much you care about the public site versus a small-host PMS billed in euros.

I ship Lodgify as the engine when the public site matters. Smoobu is a fair tool if you want calendar, messages and an included builder more than Lodgify-grade marketing. I’m not going to move you for branding. I’m going to ask whether a guest can see a week’s price and pay a deposit. If Smoobu already does that job, keep it.

Fit

Smoobu is a small-host PMS, not an agency operating system. German company (Smoobu GmbH), billed in EUR, HomeToGo group. Website builder is included on every paid plan, custom domain on all plans. Lodgify fits owners who want the booking path to look like a business and who will treat the site as the reason to buy. One property shortlists live in best vacation rental software for 1 property.

If Sykes is in the mix, neither of these replaces SuperControl. That’s a different comparison. Here we’re in small-host, global-OTA territory. Smoobu vs Lodgify is the “I have two cottages and I don’t want an agency OS” conversation, not the 40-key one. Smoobu is not UK-agency software. There is no documented Sykes, cottages.com or Hoseasons product on smoobu.com.

Website

Lodgify’s website builder is the product pitch. Smoobu’s builder is included; it is not why people buy Smoobu. Four public showcase sites. If Google and conversion are the job, Lodgify or a custom front on the Lodgify API wins. If you only needed a widget on WordPress, either can embed — with the usual iframe fights. The builder exists; it is not why I would pick Smoobu over Lodgify if Google is the job.

A cheaper PMS with a weak homepage still sends the guest to finish on Airbnb. That’s the website argument, not a loyalty argument.

Channels

Airbnb and Booking.com are vendor-stated two-way APIs on Smoobu. Vrbo is iCal in Smoobu’s help centre — no messages, no pricing, not real time. Treat Vrbo as iCal, not as an API peer. Lodgify’s API channels are Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. Neither replaces SuperControl for Sykes. Check Airbnb and Booking.com two-way connections on the plan you will actually buy.

Price shape

Smoobu’s published cards, billed in EUR: Professional Flex is €29 a month plus 0.9% per booking. Professional Prepaid is €35 a month at 0% (10% off yearly, 20% off two-year). Teams Pro+ is €55. GBP figures on the page are estimates. Extra units from €9.60; 20+ properties go to a quote. No setup fees. 14-day trial on Prepaid, no card. That is not cheaper than Lodgify Basic at $14. Directionally cheaper than Lodgify Professional or Ultimate at one unit. Lodgify’s published plans are in Lodgify pricing, and Lodgify’s pricing page for the live cards. A cheaper subscription does not change what Airbnb takes. If Smoobu’s calendar already takes the week, don’t buy Lodgify to feel more international.

OwnerRez as a third option

Lodgify vs OwnerRez shows up next to Smoobu for one-property hosts. OwnerRez is US-leaning, strong on booking rules, with a hosted website add-on from $15/month for one property. Three-way: Lodgify for the website, Smoobu for simple ops at those EUR prices, OwnerRez if you already like its tools. Guesty is not in this race unless you want Lite at $9 — Lodgify vs Guesty.