VRBO Subscription vs Pay-Per-Booking

Trying to know about the Difference between VRBO Subscription & Pay Per Booking? As a vacation rental host, it can be helpful to take steps to get more bookings as the more visibility your property gets means more bookings and more income. Listing on platforms like VRBO means also making this choice: subscription model or pay-per-booking? Here, we’ll discuss these two options and which one gives you better exposure for what you’re trying to do with your hosting.

The Fee Structure of VRBO: What You Need to Know

Read: What Is The Percentage of Fees On VRBO? Hosts who use VRBO's pay-per-booking model are charged a commission of 8% to 10% per booking. Guests also pay a service fee that is based on the cost of the booking, varying from 6 percent to 15 percent. This fee is used to cover VRBO’s various operations, such as marketing, customer support, and secured payment processing.

Hosts pay a $499 annual fee in the subscription model, but are spared commission fees on the individual bookings. For high-volume hosts that see many bookings throughout the year, it can be more cost-effective. Customers who pay upfront avoid the variable expenses associated with subscriptions.

Converting to a Subscription on VRBO

How do I convert from a subscription to pay per booking on VRBO? To switch to a subscription:

Visit your property listing dashboard.

Click on the “Subscriptions” tab.

Select the yearly plan and make the payment.

This transition is simple, and is intended for hosts who wish to concentrate on making more bookings, chargeable per-transaction fees be damned. For hosts that are already enjoying a steady stream of bookings, switching to a subscription can long-term savings on fees.

VRBO Payment and Fees

What is VRBO payment? VRBO payments go through the platform’s secure payment system. After a guest arrives, VRBO and the property host are invoiced and funds are released to the host’s VRBO account. Payments will be made by direct deposit and usually take from 5 to 7 business days to land in your account.

This provides to both parties safety against fraud and disputes. » On the other hand, VRBO provides assistance with refund processing or any payment issues, which is peace of mind for new hosts.

What is the booking fee? 3. The booking fee → This is the amount that will be charged to your guests to complete their reservation. That will usually be 6% to 15% of the total booking cost. This offsets VRBO operational costs, including platform upkeep, marketing, and 24/7 customer service assistance.

Comparing VRBO and Airbnb

How much does Airbnb charge hosts? Airbnb takes a 3% host service fee from most bookings. However, in certain areas or for particular types of rentals, Airbnb's simplified pricing model applies, where in some cases the host pays the full fee, around 15%, with no guest service fee. This can make pricing easier, but may hinder how attractive your rates are to potential guests.

Does Airbnb take 20%? And no, Airbnb does not charge 20% for standard listings. But the fees may be higher for luxury or specialized properties — those in Airbnb Luxe, for example — depending on the services provided.

Can you change price after booking Airbnb? YES the host can change the price for new bookings on flexible prices policy. Changes need to be clearly communicated upfront, and agreements are to be reached so that both parties have an equally enjoyable experience.

VRBO’s cancellation and account policies

Is it hard to cancel on VRBO? VRBO: Canceling on the VRBO platform can be easy, but hosts may incur charges for certain cancellation events, depending on how close to the booking date cancellation takes place and the nature of the cancellation. When the host cancels even they are automatically notified and cancellation fees may apply.

Too many cancellations can affect the search ranking of your property, which will make it difficult for prospective guests to find your listing. Your calendar should be up to date, and you need to block off times when you’re unavailable to prevent accidental cancellations.

Is there a cancellation fee on VRBO? Yes, a host will be charged a cancellation fee if they cancel a booking on VRBO. The specific fee will vary depending on the platform’s terms and conditions, which hosts are encouraged to consult so they do not incur needless expenses. In Addition, these excessive cancellations may also incur penalties beyond money (e.g. reduced visibility).

What are the cancellation policies VRBO listings? Correct, VRBO do punish their hosts for too many cancellations, which may harm your search ranking and can even lead to account suspension for too frequent violations on the same issue. This policy helps ensure both trust and reliability for travelers booking on our platform.

What if I delete my VRBO account? When you delete your VRBO account, all your property listings and access to the platform will be removed. Bookings made won’t be honored; penalties may apply. To avoid disputes, make sure all pending reservations are fulfilled before deleting your account.

How do I get rid of VRBO? If you want your listing taken off VRBO, go to your dashboard’s “Settings” section and deactivate or unpublish your property. By doing this, you are not deleting your account forever but temporarily you hide your property from display in search results.

Payments Management and Platform Integration

How do I modify payment method on VRBO? To update your payment method:

Go to your account settings.

Click on “Payments and Payouts.”

Your bank account or card details.

To prevent payouts from being delayed, it’s important to have your payment details fully up to date.

How to combine VRBO and Airbnb? Channel management software such as Lodgify and Guesty allows hosts to sync their calendars, pricing, and bookings across the two sites (and many more). These tools avoid double bookings and promote uniform management of multiple listings, saving time and mitigating errors.

Booking Charges and Exposure

How much is the booking fee? Booking is applied on the total listing cost, including taxes and cleaning fees, and supports your listing on VRBO, access to our customer support, and secure payment processing. This fee helps the platform to promote properties on a global scale and bring more bookings to your listing.

How much does booking charge? Booking platforms such VRBO and Airbnb can charge between 6% to 15% fees for guests and 3% to 15% for hosts, depending on the plan and location. These fees provide vital protections, like fraud protection and 24/7 support.

Guest Reviews and Host Guidelines

Can you see how Airbnb hosts leave you ratings? Yes, Airbnb profiles do allow guests to read reviews hosts leave about them. Such transparency fosters trust in the community and promotes healthy interactions between hosts and patrons.

What to do if a VRBO owner cancels When a VRBO owner cancels, the guest is refunded and the host’s listing could be penalized with less visibility in search results. Repeated cancellations can also incur penalties and damage the host’s reputation.

How was I supposed to know this would happen when I refused a booking on VRBO? Declining a booking request will not incur penalties to your account, but may affect your booking conversion rate. Low conversion rates can reduce visibility on the platform, as VRBO rewards well-performing properties with higher placement in search results.

Conclusion

The VRBO subscription model and pay-per-booking both have advantages and disadvantages. If you’re a high-volume host looking to save on fees and increase your exposure, the subscription model is probably the better choice. But if you’re new to hosting or have only one property, pay-per-booking is a flexible strategy with no upfront costs.

So what model you choose really depends on your hosting strategy, your budget and your property’s performance. Whichever you choose, utilizing VRBO’s tools and keeping a highly optimized listing can really help increase your visibility and your chances of booking up.

For more hosting insights, check out RestReserve. Learn how to list your rental on these platforms for maximum effectiveness!