Vrbo vs. Airbnb: The 2025 Showdown

A little backstory

• Airbnb: Started in 2008, now worth over $100 billion (yep, billion with a “B”). They’ve got everything from couch-surfing style shared rooms to castles and treehouses. Over 7 million listings across the world.
• Vrbo: Been around since 1995 (so it’s the OG), now part of Expedia. They’ve got about 2 million listings, but they stick to whole homes only—no bunk beds in strangers’ basements.

Who they’re for

• Airbnb: Think students, digital nomads, budget travelers, and people who want quirky stays. Works best for city spots.
• Vrbo: Tailor-made for families, retirees, or groups looking for a whole vacation house. If your place has a yard, pool, or extra bedrooms, Vrbo is your playground.

👉 The takeaway: Got a cute city apartment? Airbnb. Got a beach house with five bedrooms? Vrbo.

Vrbo’s 2025 Rulebook: The New Stuff You Can’t Ignore

1. The Host Communication Rule (starts Jan 1, 2025)

• You’ve gotta send all the important info—check-in instructions, lockbox codes, Wi-Fi passwords—at least 72 hours before arrival.
• Response time is now on a timer:
  • 24 hours (if stay is still 5+ days away)
  • 12 hours (if stay is 1–4 days away)
  • 1 hour (on check-in day, between 8 AM–9 PM local time)
• Mess this up, and Vrbo can cancel the booking, refund your guests, and even boot you from Premier Host status.

🙄 Annoying bit? Vrbo never defined exactly what “critical information” means. So… just overshare to be safe.

2. Selling Your Property? No Free Pass (Jan 1, 2025)

In the past, if you sold your place and canceled bookings, Vrbo cut you some slack. Not anymore—now you’ll get hit with cancellation fees.

3. The New Cancellation Penalties (Oct 1, 2025)

• Cancel close to a guest’s stay, and your fees can jump anywhere from 10% to 50%.
• If a guest can’t access your property, penalties double.
• Even missing the communication deadlines above counts as a cancellation.

Basically, Vrbo is trying to weed out hobbyist hosts and keep things professional.

Becoming a Premier Vrbo Host in 2025

Why bother?

• Average Vrbo hosts make around $26k/year.
• Premier Hosts earn more—about 8% higher revenue—and show up higher in searches.

Steps to get started:

1. Check your local rules: Permits, taxes, zoning laws—boring but necessary.
2. Prep your place:
   • Safety gear (smoke alarms, fire extinguishers).
   • Must-have amenities (Wi-Fi, comfy linens, stocked kitchen).
   • Killer photos—listings with pro shots get 118% more clicks.
3. Set up your account: Upload ID, tax info, proof of ownership.
4. Optimize your listing:
   • Snappy title (20+ characters).
   • Detailed description (400+ words).
   • At least 10 high-res photos (think 4K quality).

Fees

• Pay-per-booking: 8% cut.
• Annual subscription: $699.
• Airbnb looks cheaper on the surface (around 3% for hosts), but they make up for it with higher guest fees.

Read more about Vrbo fees here.

How to Make Money and Not Lose Your Shirt

Dynamic Pricing

Don’t just “set it and forget it.” Use tools like PriceLabs to adjust your rates for seasons, holidays, and slow weeks. Sometimes charging less doesn’t actually help you rank higher.

Insurance & Protection

• Vrbo gives you $1M in liability coverage.
• Damage protection: up to $5,000, or you can set security deposits yourself.
• Specialty vacation rental insurance costs $600–$2,000/year but covers lost income too.

Guest Fees

Be upfront about cleaning fees and local taxes. Guests hate surprises, and bad reviews are expensive.

Keeping Guests Happy (and Your Property Safe)

Talk to your guests

Automated messages are your best friend. Confirmations, check-in info, even a “hope you got in okay” text—keep it flowing. And remember: on check-in day, you’ve got one hour to reply.

House Rules

Don’t be shy about rules—they save you headaches later. Good ones to include:

• Quiet hours (11 PM–8 AM).
• No surprise parties.
• Smoking? Only where allowed.
• Pets? Your call (unless it’s a service dog—more on that below).
• Pool/hot tub safety.
• Checkout checklist.

Vrbo gives you 3 custom rule slots, so pick wisely.

Rental Agreements

Upload a PDF with occupancy, payment terms, and what happens if someone breaks the rules. It’s not fun, but it’s protection.

Animals

• Service dogs: Legally, they’re in no matter what. No extra fees.
• Emotional support animals (ESAs): Totally up to you—unless your local laws say otherwise.

Tech & Tricks for Smarter Hosting

Direct Bookings

Want to skip Vrbo and Airbnb fees? Build your own booking site and keep your guests’ info (so you can invite them back directly next time).

Tools that make life easier

• Channel managers: Sync calendars so you don’t double-book.
• Dynamic pricing tools: Adjust rates automatically.
• Digital guidebooks: Send guests all the info they need—rules, Wi-Fi, local tips—without printing a novel.

The Vrbo Survival Stack

• Basic: Send check-in info early, test the locks.
• Pro: Get a backup co-host, automate guest reminders.
• Bulletproof: Record a video walkthrough, save proof of communications, and invest in extra insurance.

Quick FAQs

What’s Premier Host?

Basically, Vrbo’s gold star for top hosts.

How much can you make?

Around $26k/year on average.

Can I list on both Airbnb and Vrbo?

Yep—just use a channel manager.

Do I have to allow service animals?

Yes. No fees allowed.

Does Vrbo penalize cancellations?

Yep—big time, up to 50%.

Read more about surprising Vrbo rules here.

Wrapping It Up

So, here’s the deal: Vrbo’s not messing around in 2025. The new rules are all about keeping things professional and reliable. If you want to win, you’ve gotta stay on top of communication, play by the house rules, and think like a business owner, not just someone renting out their spare beach house.

My advice? Automate where you can, invest in great photos and safety stuff, and don’t skimp on insurance. And hey—if you’re serious, start building your own direct booking system so Vrbo and Airbnb don’t take all your hard-earned cash.

Do that, and you’ll not just survive 2025—you’ll crush it.