When it comes to the short-term rental market, Airbnb is a big player. But as the company continues to grow, it's facing more and more competition from other startups and established businesses. So who are Airbnb's competitors? And how do Airbnb competitors compare?
In this comparison, we'll take a look at some of the biggest players in the short-term rental market, and see how they stack up against Airbnb.
Who is Airbnb's biggest competitor?
HomeAway is often regarded as one of Airbnb's most serious rivals. HomeAway, like Airbnb, allows people to advertise their properties or apartments for rent through a platform. They also provide travelers with another option besides traditional hotels.
Expedia Group bought HomeAway on December 15, 2015, according to Wikipedia.org. Vrbo was formed by the merging of rival vacation rental sites HomeAway and Vrbo in 2020. This means Vrbo is currently the most significant short-term rental site that is not Airbnb.
What is Airbnb's competition?
The main competition for Airbnb is platforms that specialize in the niche-specific rental market. For example, Wimdu is an Airbnb competitor that specializes in apartment rentals, while Anyplace is focused exclusively on short-term sublets.
Some rivals have an edge over Airbnb in terms of customer service. Platforms like Plum Guide and TravelStaytion offer a concierge service to help guests with things like booking restaurants and making travel arrangements.
What differentiates Airbnb from its competitors?
Airbnb differentiates itself from its competition in a few key areas such as local experience, safety and security, a larger selection of listings, cheaper prices, and a user-friendly interface.
Local experience
One of the things that make Airbnb unique is its focus on providing a local experience. When you book an Airbnb, you're not just renting a room or an apartment - you're renting someone's home. And that comes with a lot of added benefits, like getting insider tips on the best places to eat and drink, and getting to know your neighborhood like a local.
Safety and security
Another thing that sets Airbnb apart is its commitment to safety and security. Airbnb has a strict set of standards for all of its listings, and it offers a $1000 guarantee to protect against damages.
Larger selection of listings
The simple answer is that Airbnb has been around longer than most of its competitors, and it's had time to build up a large database of listings.
Cheaper
Additionally, Airbnb is generally cheaper than its competitors. This is because most Airbnb listings are private rooms in someone's home, while VRBO and HomeAway listings are mostly entire homes or apartments.
User-friendly interface
Finally, Airbnb has a much more user-friendly interface than its competitors. The website is easier to navigate and the booking process is simpler. This makes it a better option for people who are less tech-savvy or who are looking for a more streamlined booking experience.
What is Airbnb's competitive advantage?
Airbnb's competitive advantage is its brand. Airbnb is the most well-known and trusted name in the short-term rental market. And that gives them a huge leg up on the competition. Airbnb market share according to Statista, Airbnb's market share is currently at 31.36%, while its closest competitor, Booking.com, is at 20.09%.
This shows that Airbnb is the clear leader in the short-term rental market.
Airbnb competitors analysis
Here's a closer look at the short-term rental sector and how major rivals compare to Airbnb.
Booking.com
This company offers a user-friendly website that provides a wide range of accommodation options, including vacation rentals. While Booking.com doesn't focus specifically on the short-term rental market, it's a major player in the travel industry.
They have a strong domain name which attracts many online search users who are looking for vacation rentals. Booking.com also publishes amazing content for its blog, which helps it attract organic traffic. This free traffic from online searches gives them an advantage over their competitors.
Another strong selling point of Booking.com is that they offer a wide range of accommodation options, from hotels to apartments to vacation rentals. This makes them a one-stop shop for travelers, which is a major convenience.
For example, if you need a car rental, you can book it through Booking.com. However, one of the main drawbacks of Booking.com is that they don't have the same focus on providing a local experience as Airbnb does. And they also don't have the same commitment to safety and security.
Although they are not focused on short-term rental specifically, they are a well-known brand name in the travel industry. This gives them a competitive advantage over some of the newer, lesser-known companies in the short-term rental market.
When it comes to the travel industry, booking.com is a powerful player. But when it comes to the short-term rental market, they are not as big of a threat to Airbnb as some of the other companies on this list.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is one of the most well-known travel websites, and while it doesn't focus specifically on vacation rentals, it offers a wide range of accommodation options, including short-term rentals.
TripAdvisor's major selling point over Airbnb is that it provides a more comprehensive look at each rental property. This is because TripAdvisor includes reviews from previous guests, as well as photos and descriptions.
This allows potential guests to get a better sense of what the property is like and whether or not it would be a good fit for their needs.
Adoga
Adoga is a much smaller company than Airbnb, but it's quickly gaining popularity in Africa. This is because they offer a wide range of accommodation options, as well as a user-friendly interface and competitive prices.
Adoga also has a strong commitment to providing a local experience. This is evident in the fact that they have a team of local experts who can help guests plan their trip and find the perfect rental property. Adoga's provides both hosts and guests with an end-to-end solution.
This means that they take care of everything from listing your property to managing bookings, cleaning, and maintenance. They also provide 24/7 support for both hosts and guests. Airbnb, on the other hand, is a platform that connects people who need a place to stay with people who need to rent out extra space.
While Airbnb does offer some support, they don't manage the property or take care of things like cleaning and maintenance. This can be a problem if there are issues with the property during a guest's stay.
TravelStaytion
TravelStaytion is one of the world's fastest-growing holiday rental platforms. It allows vacationers to experience every corner of the globe from a home in their own neighborhood.
With operations based in London, it is the first center that offers a comprehensive range of Host Reception Services. Travelers are unlikely to simply reserve a location. Rather, they'll expect a variety of services from the host to improve their stay and experience. The main difference between Airbnb and TravelStaytion is that the latter offers a more personalized service.
This is because TravelStaytion has a team of local experts who can help guests plan their trip and find the perfect rental property. Another difference is that TravelStaytion offers a wide range of services, from listing your property to managing bookings, cleaning, and maintenance. This is a one-stop solution for those who want a hassle-free experience when renting out their home.
HomeToGo
HomeToGo is a German startup that was formed in 2014 and offers local applications and websites in 25 different countries across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Asia-Pacific.
HomeToGo offers a more comprehensive selection of rental properties from a variety of different providers compared to Airbnb. This gives travelers more options to choose from, and it makes it more likely that they'll find the perfect place to stay for their trip.
Plumguide.com
This website collects a list of short-term rental properties. It began as a city-focused project, with collections in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles among its initial cities. The firm has expanded over the course of the previous decade and it creates a database of all the properties available in a destination, then goes through rounds of quality control, including a Plum Test, to arrive at the finest houses.
A Home Critic inspection is also included. The Plum Guide's advantage over Airbnb is that it offers a more curated selection of rental properties. This is because they have a team of local experts who go through rounds of quality control to make sure that only the best houses are included in their database.
This is the perfect solution for those who want to find the perfect place to stay for their trip without having to worry about the quality of the rental property.
9flats
9flats offers a variety of accommodations, including apartments, vacation homes, and bed and breakfasts. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. One of the advantages of booking with 9flats over Airbnb is the local hosts that guests can connect with.
These hosts can provide insider tips and recommendations on things to do and see in the area. Another advantage of using this platform is that guests have the flexibility to book for a single night or for an extended stay.
Finally, all of the properties listed on their site go through a strict quality control process to ensure that they meet the company's high standards.
Anyplace
Anyplace enables you to live the life you choose. There is furnished accommodation with flexible-term leases available in major cities across the world for 30 days or more. Explore a variety of flats, co-living spaces, and long-term hotels that are ready to move in and have utilities and internet access set up for you.
Anyplace Select provides more flexibility and control than the typically shared workspace. With Anyplace Select, you can take advantage of a fully equipped office with gigabit internet for remote workers.
Anyplace advantage over Airbnb is that it offers a variety of furnished accommodations with flexible-term leases in major cities across the world. Another advantage is that all of the properties listed on their site go through a strict quality control process to ensure that they meet the company's high standards.
This is the perfect solution for those who want to find a furnished rental property with flexible terms in a major city.
Wimdu
Wimdu, a HomeToGo-powered online marketplace for booking accommodation available via the website and mobile app for iOS and Android, is an example of such a service. The firm does not own any lodgings and simply acts as a broker, earning commissions from every booking.
Wimdu is a Berlin-based company that specializes in short-term housing rentals and was founded in 2011. Wimdu's advantage over Airbnb is that it offers a wide range of accommodation types, from apartments and vacation homes to bed and breakfasts and even castles.
This gives travelers more options to choose from, and it makes it more likely that they'll find the perfect place to stay for their trip. Another advantage of using Wimdu is that guests have the flexibility to book for a single night or for an extended stay.
Finally, all of the properties listed on their site go through a strict quality control process to ensure that they meet the company's high standards.
Trip.com
Trip.com is an international online travel agency. Trip.com Group (formerly Ctrip.com International, Ltd. in China) is the owner of Skyscanner's website. With over 400 million users worldwide, it is one of the world's largest online travel agencies and the parent of Skyscanner.
Trip.com's advantage over Airbnb is that it offers a wide range of accommodation types. This gives travelers more options to choose from, and it makes it more likely that they'll find the perfect place to stay for their trip.
GlampingHub
GlampingHub is one of the newer players in the vacation rental market, and they’re already making waves. Based in Austin, Texas, GlampingHub offers unique accommodations all over the world.
You can find everything from treehouses to yurts to safari tents on their site. And if you’re looking for something truly off-the-beaten-path, they even have listings for igloos and caves.
The feature that distinguishes GlambingHub from Airbnb is that they provide a wider range of unique lodgings that aren't readily available on other vacation rental platforms.
If you're looking for something truly different for your next vacation, then GlampingHub is definitely worth checking out.
Airbnb competitor's market share
According to Wikipedia, Airbnb's competitor's market share is as follows:
- Booking.com - 20.09%
- Tripadvisor - 11.58%
- Adoga - 11.31%
- Expedia - 11.15%
- TUI Villas - 0.93%
As you can see, Airbnb is the clear leader in the short-term rental market, with a market share of 31.36%. Their closest competitor, Booking.com, is 20.09% behind them. This shows that Airbnb has a significant competitive advantage over its competitors.
Airbnb vs VRBO
While Airbnb is focused on the urban short-term rental market, Vrbo has a more diverse offering, with vacation rentals in rural and suburban areas as well. When it comes to size, Airbnb has a slight edge, with over three million listings in 191 countries and Vrbo has over two million listings in 190 countries.
While VRBO has a more diverse range of vacation rentals, Airbnb's focus on the urban short-term rental market gives it a distinct advantage. Airbnb also has an edge when it comes to naming recognition.
Thanks to its aggressive marketing and huge investment in branding, Airbnb is one of the most well-known companies in the sharing economy. And while VRBO has been around for longer, it doesn't have the same level of brand name recognition as Airbnb.
Finally, Airbnb has several unique features that set it apart from VRBO. For example, Airbnb offers an "experiences" service, which allows people to book local experiences and activities in their destination city. This is something that VRBO doesn't offer.
Conclusion
Airbnb is the clear leader in the short-term rental market. They have a significant advantage over their competitors thanks to their aggressive marketing, large investment in branding, and unique features like "experiences." However, VRBO is still a strong competitor.
Make sure to keep an eye out for this company and the other ones mentioned in this article. As investors, it's important to understand the competitive landscape to make the best investment decisions.