One AI agent. Zero manual work. See exactly how StayCraft compares to the PMS you're using now — feature by feature, price by price.
Scroll right to see all competitors. StayCraft column is highlighted in amber.
| Feature | StayCraft ✓ Our Pick |
Guesty | Hospitable | Lodgify | OwnerRez | Hostaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||||||
Starting PricePer month (lowest published tier) |
$29/mo | $31/mo | $40/mo | $17/mo | $40/mo | Custom |
Unlimited PropertiesAll properties at flat rate |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
No Per-Unit FeesFlat rate regardless of portfolio size |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| AI & Guest Communication | ||||||
AI Guest RepliesContext-aware, reads conversation history |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
24/7 Automated ResponsesHandles guest messages around the clock |
✓ | — | Basic | — | — | — |
Intent ClassificationAI identifies what guest actually needs |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
Approve / Edit / RegenerateHuman review before every AI response sends |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Access Management | ||||||
Smart Lock IntegrationConnect locks and manage codes centrally |
✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✓ | — |
8+ Smart Lock BrandsAugust, Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, Lockly & more |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
Per-Booking Access CodesUnique codes auto-generated per guest stay |
✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
Auto-Expiry CodesAccess codes revoke automatically at checkout |
✓ | Limited | — | — | — | — |
| Compliance & Regulatory | ||||||
Permit TrackingSTR permit numbers and renewal dates |
✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
Expiry CountdownsVisual alerts before permits or licenses lapse |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
Occupancy Tax TrackingRecord tax rates per jurisdiction per property |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operations & Turnovers | ||||||
Cleaning Job ManagementTrack and schedule cleaner visits between stays |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Auto-Scheduling TurnoversCleaning window scheduled automatically on booking |
✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Platform & Access | ||||||
Progressive Web App (PWA)Installable, works offline, no app store required |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
Offline AccessProperty details and access codes available offline |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
All Rental DurationsVacation, monthly, and long-term leases |
✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
The same complaints come up again and again. These are the pain points that push hosts to look for something better.
"Guesty was charging me $155/month for 5 properties. The per-unit pricing model punishes you for growing your portfolio. The moment I added a 6th property it jumped to $186. That's not a flat fee — that's a hostage situation."
"I was using Lodgify and spent 2-3 hours every day answering the same guest questions — check-in time, WiFi password, parking. There's no AI. There's no automation that understands context. Just canned templates that guests see through immediately."
"Hostaway couldn't even tell me what it would cost before I got on a 30-minute sales call. No pricing page. No trial without a demo. I just wanted to test the product — not explain my business to a sales rep."
"I had a guest locked out at 11pm because my Hospitable integration with my August lock broke. No smart lock support at all — I had to give out my personal number. StayCraft handles the lock codes natively and the AI drafts the check-in message with the right code."
Guesty charges $31-500/mo, Hospitable starts at $40/mo, OwnerRez at $40/mo. StayCraft is $29 flat — unlimited properties, unlimited features.
None of the five competitors offer AI guest replies. StayCraft reads conversation context and drafts responses — 24/7, under 5 minutes, every time.
Permit tracking with expiry alerts, occupancy tax rates, and a 12-city jurisdiction library. None of these features exist in Hospitable, Lodgify, or OwnerRez.
Most vacation rental software was built 5-10 years ago. StayCraft was built from scratch in 2026 with AI at its core.
Guesty, Hospitable, Lodgify, OwnerRez, and Hostaway all added AI features as afterthoughts — if at all. StayCraft was designed around AI guest communication from the start.
August, Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, Lockly, Ultraloq, igloohome, Nuki. Unique per-booking codes with auto-expiry. No competitor offers this breadth combined with AI code generation.
Every other platform here is web-only. StayCraft is a full Progressive Web App — installable, offline-capable, push notifications. Use it at the property with no signal.
Under 30 minutes. Add your properties, connect your smart locks, and the AI starts drafting guest replies immediately. No data import required to get started — StayCraft works from the current conversation in your inbox. Your historical guest data stays in your email, which is fine. StayCraft handles everything from the moment you connect.
No. StayCraft doesn't require a data import to get value. The AI reads the conversation context in each guest thread and generates relevant responses from day one. If you're migrating from Guesty or Hostaway, there's no export/import step. Connect your properties, paste your property details (WiFi, check-in instructions, rules), and you're live.
StayCraft is $29/month flat — all properties, all features, no per-unit fees. Guesty starts at $31/unit/month, so 5 properties = $155/month. Hostaway requires a custom quote with no public pricing. Most hosts with 3+ properties save money immediately on day one of switching. There are no setup fees and no annual commitment required.
Yes. StayCraft is built around AI guest communication. The AI reads full conversation threads, understands context and urgency, and drafts replies that sound like you — not a chatbot. You can approve, edit, or regenerate each response before it sends. This is not a template system. None of the competitors on this page offer anything comparable.
No. Your reviews live on Airbnb, VRBO, and your booking platforms — not in your PMS. Switching PMS has no effect on your review history or your Superhost status. Your bookings continue as normal on whatever platforms you use.
Yes. StayCraft handles vacation rentals, medium-term monthly stays, and long-term leases. The AI adjusts its communication style based on the rental duration — monthly tenants get professional, lease-aware replies; vacation guests get warm, casual responses. Most competitors only support short-term vacation rentals.
14 days free. Full access to all features. No per-unit fees, ever.