Airbnb or Booking.com : which platform to choose for your rentals ?

Airbnb, with over 8 million ads active in 2025, has established itself as the leading platform for stays unique and warm. Booking.com with its 20.1 million unique visitors per month and more than 28 million ads in the world, remains a juggernaut-style hotel that is preferred for its international reach and its effectiveness.

In this article, we are going to compare in depth the two platforms : their major differences, the types of accommodation to choose from, the profiles of the customers, the charges applied, but also on the management of payments, disputes, and assistance to guests. The goal ? To help you understand their strengths and learn how to make the best of it.

Airbnb or Booking.com at a glance

Although they are all designed to both market-short term rentals, Airbnb and Booking.com adopt approaches are radically different. Airbnb is distinguished by a strong brand image, focusing on the experience and authenticity. Booking.com put on the speed, the efficiency and the volume, which draws a clientele wider and more diverse.

Comparative global

Category	Airbnb	Booking.com
Style platform	Personal connection, focuses on design and storytelling	Style hotel, based on the volume and efficiency
Customer dominant	Milléniaux, Generation Z, those in search of experiences	Families, international tourists, business travelers
Behavior of booking	Longer stays, higher average price	Short stays, price sensitive, last-minute bookings
Type of properties	Housing integers, private rooms, accommodation atypical	Hotels, apartments, resorts, lodges
User experience	Frequent, strong communication	Instant reservation, minimum interaction

In summary, Airbnb promotes personalization and brand loyalty, while Booking.com emphasizes simplicity and the massive reach.

What types of accommodations are on each platform ?

The two platforms cover a wide range of accommodations, but their DNA is separate. Airbnb highlights the originality : houses, unusual tree houses, castles, or shared spaces. It is ideal for travelers in search of memorable experiences.

Booking.com, in contrast, is built on a base of a hotel. Even if today we find many apartments or holiday homes, the approach remains more standardized. Its strength lies in the diversity of the offer and the convenience : in addition to the housing, it is possible to book a flight, a car or a complete package.

The customer profiles : who are Airbnb and Booking.com ?

Understanding the travellers who frequent each platform is essential to align its offering.

Airbnb attracts mainly young generations (Milléniaux, Generation Z, nomads digital). These travelers prefer to stay longer, appreciate the accommodation authentic and are looking for a relationship, the more human with their host.

Booking.com to him, attracted a clientele that is much more varied. There are families, international tourists, but also many business travelers. These clients prefer efficiency, quick reservations and a standard hotel clear, without surprise.

Distribution of customers

Category	Airbnb	Booking.com
Typical customer	Young travellers, digital nomads	Families, business travelers, seniors
Expectations	Unique experiences, local atmosphere	Standard hotel, efficiency, equipment clear
Communication Style	Many exchanges with the host	Minimum Interaction
Average length of stay	3 nights +	Short stays of frequent

How do I post an ad ?

The registration process is simple on both platforms, but the experience is very different.

Airbnb offers a guided configuration, thought to be user-friendly. The host is accompanied by step-by-step : photos, description, rules of the house. The goal is to create an ad that tells a story and attracts by its authenticity.

Booking.com adopts a more administrative approach and oriented volume. Ads are published after validation, guests must fill in many of the technical details. This system is less intuitive but suitable for professional managers.

Payments and fees : cost the most expensive ?

The two platforms charge close to 15 % in average, but the manner of presentation is different.

• Airbnb : model costs split (shared between the host and client), or model ‘ host-only ‘, more common outside North America.
• Booking.com : commission classic of 15% to 25% paid only by the host, with the possibility to charge additional fees (cleaning, laundry).

In terms of payment, Airbnb handles everything in-house and reverse the revenue 24 h after the arrival of the travelers. Booking.com more freedom, but also more risk, since the host must often collect and securing himself the payments.

Cancellation policies and litigation management

Airbnb offers cancellation policies, standardized (flexible, moderate, strict, non-refundable, etc) with a degree of predictability for the hosts. Disputes are handled through a resolution centre built in, which simplifies the process.

Booking.com offers more control to the guests but also more responsibilities. Cancellations can be managed according to your own policies (flexible, non-refundable, deposits, prepayments). However, the resolution of disputes remains largely at the expense of the host, which must themselves be proved and charge in case of a problem.

Assistance to and protection of hosts

Airbnb has reinforced its reputation thanks to AirCover, free protection that includes up to $ 3 million against property damage and $ 1 million liability. In the event of a problem, the platform serves as an intermediary between the host and the traveler.

Booking.com also offers liability insurance for free (up to $ 1 million), but does not automatically damage. Guests must protect themselves through deposits or third-party systems.

Side assistance, Airbnb is distinguished by superior responsiveness, especially in cases of emergency. Booking.com provides a comprehensive resource via its Partner Hub, but hosts often have to solve problems alone.

Automation tools, and multichannel management

Manage multiple ads on different platforms can quickly become a headache. This is where the PMS (Property Management Systems) and the solutions multichannel come into play.

Tools such as Hostaway allow you to centralize your ad Airbnb, Booking.com (and others) in one single dashboard. You can synchronize your calendars, automate your messages, adjust your prices in real time and avoid double bookings.

For conciergeries and portfolio managers, it is a huge time-saver and a safety essential for growth

Airbnb or Booking.com : do we really have to choose ?

The reality is that you don’t have to decide. Airbnb and Booking.com cater to different audiences and meet additional needs.

• Airbnb is ideal for enhancing a brand image and seduce travelers in search of unique experiences.
• Booking.com offers an international scope and a regularity reassures guests looking for volume.

The best strategy is to adopt a presence through multiple channels. By posting on the two, you can maximize your chances of fulfilling your calendar while balancing your income sources.

Conclusion : combine and optimize your reservations

Rather than choosing a single platform, the future is the smart combination. With the right tools, you can automate the management, keep control and enjoy the benefits of both worlds.👉 You want to simplify your management while maximizing your performance ? Test a software, multi-channel as Hostaway and learn how to get the best out of the Airbnb and Booking.com.