The top Airbnb competitors are Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, HomeToGo, Sonder, Marriott Homes & Villas, Vacasa and others. Airbnb is an American company that operates an online marketplace for short- and long-term homestays and experiences, where hosts list their homes for rent and guests can discover and book those places.
Airbnb is a popular online marketplace that provides a platform for people to rent out their properties for short-term stays. Users can choose from a variety of accommodations, ranging from shared rooms to entire homes, and book directly with the host. Airbnb is known for its user-friendly interface, low-cost options, and unique properties, such as treehouses and castles.
One of the reasons for Airbnb’s enormous success is its ability to connect travelers with local experiences, allowing them to immerse themselves in the culture of the destination they are visiting. Hosts often provide information about the best local restaurants, attractions, and events, creating a personalized and authentic travel experience. Additionally, Airbnb has experienced rapid growth in recent years, expanding to over 100,000 cities worldwide and becoming a major player in the travel industry.
- Product Type: Online accommodation rental marketplace and experience provider.
- Industry: Travel, Tourism & Hospitality.
- Founded Date: 2008.
- Founders: Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk.
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Brian Chesky.
- Market capitalization: $73.34 billion (2023).
Table of Contents
Top 26 Airbnb competitors and alternatives:
1) Vrbo
- Product Type: Vacation rental marketplace
- Industry: Travel
- Founded Date: 1995
- Founders: David Clouse
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: John Kim
- Properties: 2 million vacation rental properties
- Countries: Present in 190 Countries
- Market capitalization: $16.21 Billion in 2023 (Expedia)
Vrbo is a considerable player in the home rental marketplace, with a notable edge over Airbnb in terms of the duration of stay. Vrbo is more geared towards long-term, family-oriented stays, and primarily offers entire home or apartment rentals, providing increased privacy. They are also known for their strong presence in popular leisure destinations, particularly in the United States.
2) Booking.com
- Product Type: Online travel agency
- Industry: Travel and tourism
- Founded Date: 1996
- Founders: Geert-Jan Bruinsma
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Glenn Fogel (CEO of Booking Holdings, Booking.com’s parent company)
- Accommodations: 28 million as of 2023
- Countries: Has more than 198 offices Present in 70 Countries
- Visitors: 716 Million
Booking.com is a comprehensive platform for travel reservations that includes accommodations, flights, car rentals, and airport taxis. Where Booking.com stands out is its wide selection of traditional hotels alongside vacation rentals. Its global network and strong presence in the hotel industry position it as a fierce competitor to Airbnb.
3) Expedia
- Product Type: Online travel shopping company for consumer and small business travel
- Industry: Travel and tourism
- Founded Date: 1996 as a division of Microsoft
- Founders: Rich Barton
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Peter Kern
Expedia is a full-service online travel brand that provides various booking services. While it is largely recognized for its hotel bookings, Expedia also offers vacation rentals, directly competing with Airbnb. Additionally, Expedia’s entire suite of travel services, from flights to car rentals, makes it a compelling one-stop-shop for travelers.
4) TripAdvisor
- Product Type: Travel guidance company
- Industry: Travel and tourism
- Founded Date: February 2000
- Founders: Stephen Kaufer, Langley Steinert, Nick Shanny, and Thomas Palka
- Headquarters: Needham, Massachusetts, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Stephen Kaufer
- Revenue: $1.49B (2023)
- Number of employees: 3100 (2023)
TripAdvisor is a travel platform known for its extensive database of reviews, though it also offers vacation rentals. Similar to Airbnb, travelers can book a wide variety of unique homes, which adds a personal touch to their trips. TripAdvisor’s strong reputation as a resource for travel tips and reviews enhances its appeal to travelers evaluating lodging options.
5) HomeToGo
- Product Type: Vacation rental search engine
- Industry: Travel and tourism
- Founded Date: Jan 2014
- Founders: Dr. Patrick Andrae and Wolfgang Heigl
- Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Dr. Patrick Andrae
HomeToGo is a search engine for vacation rentals, allowing users to compare prices across multiple platforms, including Airbnb’s listings. HomeToGo offers a broad array of accommodations spread across various locations worldwide, making it an appealing option for travelers looking for the best deal.
6) Sonder
- Product Type: Hospitality Service Provider.
- Industry: Hospitality.
- Founded Date: 2012.
- Founders: Francis Davidson.
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California.
- Area Served: North America, Europe and Dubai.
- Current CEO: Francis Davidson.
Sonder represents a distinctive model that blends the best hotels and private rentals. Unlike Airbnb’s host-dependent model, each Sonder space is uniquely designed, outfitted, and maintained by the company, ensuring a consistent experience across properties. Its commitment to combining the comfort of homes and the confidence of hotels sets it apart in the market.
7) Marriott Homes & Villas
- Product Type: Vacation Rental Platform.
- Industry: Hospitality.
- Founded Date: Launched in 2019 by Marriott International.
- Founders: J.W. Marriott Jr.
- Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland.
- Area Served: Global.
- Current CEO : Anthony Capuano (CEO of Marriott International).
Marriott Homes & Villas is the luxury vacation rental extension of Marriott International. Offering over 2000 premium and luxury homes across more than 100 destinations, Marriott Homes & Villas caters to upscale travelers desiring the comfort of home with the service standard of Marriott hotels. It brings a strong brand reputation to the vacation rental sector.
8) Vacasa
- Product Type: Vacation Rental Management Company.
- Industry: Hospitality.
- Founded Date: 2009.
- Founders: Eric Breon and Cliff Johnson.
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon.
- Area Served: North America, Belize and Costa Rica.
- Current CEO: Matt Roberts.
Vacasa is a full-service vacation rental platform managing a vast portfolio of properties across North America, Central and South America, and Europe. It distinguishes itself by providing professional property management for homeowners, elevating the rental experience for guests. The wide range of curated properties offers travelers plenty of choices.
9) TurnKey Vacation Rentals
- Product Type: Vacation Rental Management Company.
- Industry: Hospitality.
- Founded Date: 2013.
- Founders : John Banczak and T.J. Clark.
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas.
- Area Served: Over 80 top U.S. travel destinations across the U.S…
- Current CEO: T.J. Clark (before acquisition by Vacasa).
TurnKey Vacation Rentals is a high-tech vacation rental platform offering professionally managed homes in popular vacation destinations in the U.S. TurnKey integrates smart technology for seamless check-ins and guest support, promising a hotel-like experience. It presents an attractive balance of home comfort and professional service.
10) TripAdvisor Rentals
- Product Type: Online travel agency
- Industry: Travel services
- Founded Date: February 14, 2000
- Founders: Stephen Kaufer, Langley Steinert
- Headquarters: Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Matt Goldberg
- Revenue: US$ 1.49 billion (2022)
- Number of employees: 3,100 (2022)
- It is available in 50 countries and supports 20 languages.
- In 2022, the total number of user reviews and ratings on Tripadvisor globally was 1,000 million.
- Around 12% of travelers in the United States of America booked hotel/private accommodations using TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor Rentals are part of TripAdvisor’s larger travel platform, offering thousands of unique homes worldwide. It leverages TripAdvisor’s large, established user base and abundance of travel resources. Consistent with their commitment to authentic travel experiences, TripAdvisor Rentals provides travelers with the chance to live like a local during their trips.
11) FlipKey
- Product Type: Vacation rental marketplace
- Industry: Travel services
- Founded Date: 2007
- Founders: Jeremiah Gall, Carl Query
- Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Area Served: Worldwide
FlipKey is a vacation rental platform operated under the TripAdvisor umbrella, focusing on unique homes and apartments. FlipKey takes advantage of TripAdvisor’s extensive traveler community to provide personalized recommendations and reviews, making it easier for guests to find the perfect vacation rental.
12) Agoda
- Product Type: Online travel agency
- Industry: Travel services
- Founded Date: 2005
- Founders: Michael Kenny, Robert Rosenstein
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Area Served: Worldwide
- 25 Worldwide offices
- 2.9 Million properties worldwide
- Presence in 200+ countries
- 38 languages supported platforms
- 5000+ employees around the globe
- Current CEO: Omri Morgenshtern
Agoda is an online travel agency specializing in accommodation bookings, with a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region. It offers diverse options ranging from traditional hotels to vacation rental properties. Agoda’s competitive edge lies in its local expertise and comprehensive inventory, which contributes to its growing popularity among travelers.
13) TUI Villas
- Product Type: Vacation rental marketplace
- Industry: Hospitality, tourism
- Founded Date: 1923 (as Preussag AG)
- Founders: Mining and industrial company Preussag AG
- Headquarters: Hannover and Berlin, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Sebastian Ebel
TUI Villas is a European rental platform under the TUI Group, offering a curated selection of holiday homes primarily in Europe. As a part of a large multinational travel company, TUI Villas leverages their robust network to provide travelers with a secure and reliable booking experience, catering especially to families and larger groups.
14) TravelStaytion
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2012
- Founders: Jason Anastasinis
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jason Anastasinis
TravelStaytion is a platform that specializes in serviced apartments and professionally managed properties. Focusing on the needs of both leisure and business travelers, TravelStaytion offers apartments and homes that provide hotel-like amenities, enabling guests to have a comfortable and efficient travel experience.
15) Plum Guide
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2015
- Founders: Imran Arshed, Alex Lee, Arif Meherali, Doron Meyassed
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Doron Meyassed
- Investors: 19
Plum Guide is a curated platform for vacation rentals that prides itself on its meticulous selection process. The Plum Guide handpicks its properties after a rigorous vetting procedure, ensuring that only the highest quality homes are available. This focus on quality assurance appeals to travelers desiring a higher standard for their accommodations.
16) Luxury Retreats (acquired by Airbnb)
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 1999
- Founders: Joe Poulin
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada (before acquisition)
- Area Served: Worldwide
Luxury Retreats is an upscale vacation rental platform acquired by Airbnb in 2017. It has an exclusive collection of luxury villas and estates worldwide and caters to affluent travelers seeking a personalized, high-end experience. With various concierge services, Luxury Retreats provides the comforts of a lavish home alongside the service level of a five-star hotel.
17) Tujia
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2011
- Founders: Luo Jun, Melissa Yang
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Area Served: Worldwide
- 345 domestic and 1037 overseas destinations with over 1,000,000 online residential houses, including apartments, homestays, villas
Tujia is China’s largest vacation rental platform, offering a wide range of accommodations catering to the growing Chinese outbound and domestic tourist market. Tujia’s expansive network of local operations and commitment to meeting Chinese travelers’ unique cultural and service preferences make it a strong Airbnb competitor in this major market.
18) Xiaozhu
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2012
- Founders: Kelvin Chen Chi, Wang Liantao
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Area Served: Worldwide
Xiaozhu is another emerging Chinese vacation rental platform that connects Chinese homeowners and travelers. Xiaozhu focuses on short-term accommodations and emphasizes safety and service quality by providing amenities like door locks and cleaning services. With strong growth in China, they are well-positioned as a key player in the industry.
19) Zhubaijia
- Product Type: Short-term Accommodation
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: March 2012
- Founders: Unknown
- Headquarters: Unknown
- Area Served: Over 70 countries
Zhubaijia is a Chinese vacation rental platform specializing in overseas listings for Chinese travelers. It provides an array of accommodation options tailored to Chinese preferences, such as Chinese-speaking hosts, preferred locations, and special amenities. Zhubaijia’s dedication to understanding and catering to the specific needs of Chinese tourists distinguishes it in the market.
20) OYO Rooms
- Product Type: Hospitality chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and living spaces.
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2013
- Founders: Ritesh Agarwal
- Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India
- Area Served: Asia, Europe and Americas
- Revenue (2022): 48 billion Indian rupees
- Employee Count: 1,988 as on June 30, 2023
OYO Rooms is an India-based hotel booking platform that partners with budget hotels and small properties, offering affordable accommodations to travelers. With an ever-expanding presence in various countries around the world, OYO Rooms represents a significant Airbnb competitor, particularly in the economy segment.
21) Google
- Product Type: Search engine, Online advertising, Cloud computing, Software, Hardware
- Industry: Internet
- Founded Date: September 4, 1998
- Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California, U.S.
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Sundar Pichai
- Google’s revenue amounted to 279.8 billion U.S. dollars (2023)
Google is a global technology giant, which, through its travel products, has ventured into the accommodation industry. Google Travel and Google Maps incorporate hotel and vacation rental listings, providing users a simple and integrated way of finding accommodations. By leveraging its search engine dominance, Google is gradually becoming a major player in the travel sector.
22) Hotels.com
- Product Type: Hotel booking service
- Industry: Travel services
- Founded Date: 1991
- Founders: David Litman, Robert Diener
- Headquarters: Dallas, Texas, U.S.
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Raised over $1.94B in funding across 82 funding rounds involving 160 investors
- 13 public and 25 acquired companies in the entire competition set.
- Hotels.com has 1356 Employees
Hotels.com is a widely recognized platform for booking hotel accommodations, offering thousands of properties worldwide. Alongside traditional hotels, Hotels.com now includes vacation rentals to cater to customers looking for more personalized experiences. Its rewards program and price guarantee attract travelers who seek value and convenience.
23) Trivago
- Product Type: Metasearch for hotel prices
- Industry: Travel, Hotel, Information technology, Marketing
- Founded Date: January 2005
- Founders: Rolf Schrömgens, Stephan Stubner, Peter Vinnemeier, Malte Siewert
- Headquarters: Düsseldorf , Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Axel Hefer
Trivago is a hotel metasearch engine aggregating listings from various online booking platforms, including vacation rentals. By comparing prices across multiple sites, it helps users find the best accommodation deals. Trivago’s comprehensive search capabilities make it a relevant player in the space as more users look for one-stop solutions for their travel needs.
24) Hostelworld
- Product Type: Online booking platform for hostels
- Industry: Travel services
- Founded Date: 1999
- Founders: Feargal Mooney
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Hostels across over 180 countries
- More than 13.7 million reviews
- Website and app operate in 19 different languages
Hostelworld is a leading booking platform for budget accommodations, specializing in hostels. While not directly competing with Airbnb’s private home listings, Hostelworld targets the same budget-conscious and experience-driven audience. Hostelworld embraces communal and social experiences, making it an attractive alternative for travelers who prioritize interactions with fellow travelers.
25) Couchsurfing
- Product Type: Social networking service and Homestay network
- Industry: Hospitality and Tourism
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: Casey Fenton, Daniel Hoffer, Sebastian Le Tuan and Leonardo Bassani da Silveira
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, U.S.
- Area Served: Worldwide
Couchsurfing is a platform that connects travelers with locals willing to offer their homes or couches as free accommodations. Although not a direct competitor to Airbnb due to its non-commercial nature, Couchsurfing does target travelers in search of unique and personal experiences. It fosters the idea of cultural exchange and promotes the community-driven aspect of travel.
26) 9flats
- Product Type: Online marketplace for vacation rentals
- Industry: Hospitality
- Founded Date: 2011
- Founders: Stephan Uhrenbacher
- Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
9flats is a European vacation rental platform offering a wide selection of private accommodations, from apartments to entire homes. The platform caters to travelers seeking authentic experiences and the opportunity to live like a local. 9flats is growing in popularity, particularly in the European region, as travelers look for alternatives to traditional hotels.
These were all the competitors of Airbnb. If you know any other competitors, please write in the comments below.
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