Hostaway vs. Hospitable vs Streamline: The Best Choice for Your Vacation Rental Business

Running a short-term rental business sounds simple until you're fielding late-night guest messages, updating five different booking platforms and scrambling to avoid a double booking that could tank your reviews.

Sound familiar?

That’s where vacation rental software comes in. The right platform can automate your guest communication, sync calendars across major booking platforms and even help you build a direct booking website, saving you hours every week.

But not all tools are created equal. In this article, we’ll compare Hostaway, Hospitable and Streamline to see how they stack up. Whether you're just starting out or managing multiple properties with a growing team, you’ll walk away knowing which platform is the best fit for your vacation rental business.

How Hostaway, Hospitable and Streamline stack up at a glance

Not sure where to start? Here's a side-by-side look at Hostaway, Hospitable and Streamline, comparing their most important features and strengths. Whether you're focused on guest messaging, need a strong channel manager or want to build a direct booking website, this table gives you a snapshot of what each platform offers.

Hostaway: An All-in-One Solution

If you're managing multiple properties or looking to grow, Hostaway is built to handle the chaos. It’s made for property managers who want to stay organized, save time and run things more smoothly.

One thing Hostaway does really well is take care of the repetitive stuff. From scheduling turnovers to assigning tasks to your cleaning staff, it helps you keep everything moving without having to micromanage. It’s especially helpful for teams managing lots of listings or just trying to get out of the weeds of daily coordination.

It also keeps your calendars and pricing synced across platforms, which means you’re less likely to deal with the headache of double bookings.

Where Hostaway really sets itself apart, though, is its use of AI. Instead of just automating messages, it actually helps you understand trends, respond faster and make better decisions without digging through reports.

According to Marcus Rader, CEO and founder of Hostaway, “Hostaway AI isn’t just a collection of features, it’s a major leap forward in how short-term rental businesses operate. These new tools give property managers an edge – more insight, more control and more revenue, with less manual effort.”

Key features:

• Centralized messaging and communication tools

• Website creation functionality with branding options

• Streamlined workflows through AI-powered task automation

• Broad software integrations and partner ecosystem

• Custom reporting dashboards with detailed reporting

• Tools to support staff coordination and team access

• Mobile app for on-the-go access

Hostaway isn’t just for big companies, it’s a smart choice for any host who wants more structure and better tools as they grow.

Hospitable: Smart Simplicity for Independent Hosts

If you're not running a big team or you're just getting started with one Hospitable is designed with simplicity in mind. It’s a go-to choice for individual hosts and smaller teams who want to stay organized without getting buried in complexity.

At its core, Hospitable focuses on streamlined communication and task coordination. It offers solid tools for task management, a centralized inbox and basic automation for messaging and check-outs. The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to get started especially if you’re managing just one listing or a small handful and don’t plan to grow beyond that.

That said, the simplicity comes with trade-offs.

Hospitable works well for day-to-day operations, but it doesn’t offer the same depth of customization or scalability as platforms built for larger portfolios.

While Hospitable offers useful integrations with pricing tools and calendars, it lacks more advanced features like customizable reporting, enterprise-ready property management software or a robust open API for deeper workflow automation. If you’re growing fast or need a platform that supports team permissions, complex automations or broader analytics, those limitations can become noticeable.

Pricing is transparent and follows a subscription-based pricing model, which many solo hosts appreciate. It’s predictable, but as you scale, you may find yourself needing to switch platforms to unlock more advanced tools.

Key strengths:

• Beginner-friendly setup

• Smooth tools for messaging, task scheduling and check out

• Clean calendar view and intuitive interface

• Integrates with other tools like pricing engines

• Transparent pricing that helps save money

• Great for solo or small-scale hosts

Hospitable is a great starting point, but for those who plan to grow or who already manage a team or multiple properties, it may not offer the flexibility, power or long-term support that a more advanced platform provides.

Streamline: Enterprise-Level Power for Complex Portfolios

Streamline lives up to its name when it comes to managing large, complex operations. It’s built as a true property management system, the kind of management software you’d expect to find in established companies handling hundreds of units across multiple locations.

One of its standout strengths is its all-encompassing reservation system, which keeps bookings, availability and custom pricing rules tightly controlled. This makes it a strong fit for teams with dedicated staff for accounting, operations and guest services.

Streamline also offers a deep toolkit for enterprise-scale needs, including payment processing, advanced accounting reports and a wide range of integrations with major booking channels. These features are paired with options like dynamic pricing to help optimize revenue across busy seasons.

That said, the enterprise focus comes with trade-offs. While the platform packs plenty of powerful tools, it also has a higher setup time, more complex workflows and features that may go unused by smaller businesses. New users should expect a significant onboarding process before they’re fully up and running.

It’s a good choice for large-scale operators who want maximum control, but for hosts seeking flexibility, faster setup or a more intuitive experience, it can feel like more software than they truly need.

Key strengths:

• Enterprise-grade property management software

• Advanced reservation system with custom pricing options

• Integrated payment processing

• Dynamic pricing solution for revenue optimization

• Broad integrations with major booking channels

• Detailed accounting and operational reporting

• Suitable for complex, multi-location businesses

Streamline is best suited for professional operators who value depth over simplicity.

Which Platform Is Best for You?

Choosing between Hostaway, Hospitable and Streamline really comes down to your size, goals and how much flexibility you want as you grow.

If you’re just starting out and keeping things small, Hospitable can be a friendly, low-maintenance option. It’s quick to learn, straightforward to use and covers the basics without much setup.

For large, complex operations with specialized departments and heavy reporting needs, Streamline delivers depth and customization but it also requires a bigger time and training investment to get the most out of it.

For everyone who wants a balance of powerful features, scalability and ease of use, Hostaway stands out. It has the infrastructure to support growing teams while still being approachable for smaller operations, plus the added advantage of industry-first AI tools to help make better decisions, faster.

In the end, all three platforms will help you run your short-term rental business, but if you want a solution that grows with you and keeps you competitive, choose Hostaway, it makes a strong case for being the best long-term partner.

FAQs About Choosing Vacation Rental Software

1. Can I migrate my existing data if I switch platforms?

Yes, most major providers support data migration, but the process can vary widely. Some offer automated import tools, while others require manual assistance or paid onboarding services. Always ask about this before committing to a platform.

2. How long does it usually take to fully implement new property management software?

It depends on the complexity of your business. A single-property host might be set up in a day, while enterprise-level operators with multiple integrations could take several weeks.

3. Will using a vacation rental platform improve my ranking on Airbnb or Vrbo?

While these platforms can help you manage your listings more effectively, they don’t directly influence ranking algorithms. However, features like automated responses, accurate calendars and faster turnaround on inquiries can indirectly boost your visibility.

4. Is it possible to use more than one property management platform at the same time?

Technically yes, but it’s rarely recommended. Running multiple systems can cause syncing conflicts and duplicate updates. Most hosts find it more efficient to choose one primary platform that integrates with all their needed tools.

5. Can I integrate my vacation rental software with other business tools?

Yes. Hostaway, in particular, offers one of the widest selections of integrations in the industry, connecting with pricing engines, CRMs, marketing platforms and cleaning coordination tools. This means you can manage most of your operations from one central hub.

6. How can AI features help me manage my rentals more efficiently?

AI tools can help you spot booking trends, optimize response times and identify opportunities for increased revenue. By analyzing patterns in your reservations and guest behavior, it reduces the guesswork and allows you to focus on growth.