Lately, Airbnb’s performance has been slipping.

On Trustpilot, Airbnb’s ratings have fallen drastically to a mere 1.5 out of 5 stars. On Better Business Bureau, about 25% of user complaints have gone unresolved, netting them 1.1 out of 5 stars.

In addition, both the apps on the Apple Store and Google Play Store (while still retaining high ratings of 4.5+ stars) have received their fair share of negative reviews.

Now, whether this is merely a case of “bad reviews being more noticeable than good ones” is something beyond my purview — the point is, many people are unhappy with Airbnb.

What happened to Airbnb?

So what happened to Airbnb? Why has their performance slipped so much in recent months?

Well, really, who knows? We can only theorize.

But with any company that grows past a certain point, it becomes difficult to be 100% consistent with quality assurance and customer service.

When that happens, people get mad, and they stop using the service altogether.

For quite a while in the vacation rental industry, Airbnb was the company to beat. They were growing at a rapid rate and it seemed as though their brand was unstoppable.

Then the pandemic came.

Further aggravating the demands of a rapidly growing platform were loss of business and major threats of bankruptcy.

To cut costs, Airbnb laid off a quarter of its workforce (about 1.9 thousand people). The sector that most felt the brunt of these layoffs was customer service — and, boy, did it show.

Ever since the pandemic, Airbnb has shown a steep decline in user reviews. Left and right, there are complaints of bad experiences with customer service and a glitchy user interface. It’s questionable if the company will ever recover.

But that story isn’t why you’re here.

You already know about Airbnb’s slipping performance — how they’re not the company they once were.

Now, you’re looking for hotel booking alternatives.

Top 6 Airbnb Alternatives

In this post, I compiled 6 of the best, most interesting Airbnb alternatives out there with better customer service.

Some of them are just like Airbnb (but without the drama) and some are fresh takes on the “Airbnb template”.

Here’s a sneak peek of the companies I’ll be telling you about:

Without further ado, let’s dive into the first one.

1. VRBO

Want to get away from it all? Find a whole vacation home for your whole family. Maybe you had to cancel your trip. Or maybe you and the crew are itching for ...

Vrbo and Airbnb are like the Pepsi and Coke of the vacation rental industry — heck, even the colors are similar.

And for the longest time, the two giants have been fighting hard for their piece of the vacation rental pie.

So if you’re unsatisfied with Airbnb, Vrbo’s probably the most obvious alternative.

However, it’s worth noting that the two services are different in their own right, and there are very specific reasons why you should choose one platform over the other.

Let’s go over a few of those reasons.

Vrbo lets you keep your privacy.

Vrbo lets you keep your personal space when you’re out on vacation.

Probably the biggest difference between Vrbo and Airbnb is that Vrbo doesn’t allow shared spaces — which means you can’t just rent a room in a house that’s currently occupied.

It’s definitely an odd rule, but that’s what makes Vrbo unique.

They’re committed to a “whole home experience for travelers”, which is fantastic if you’re looking specifically for private time and a good place to unwind.

On Vrbo, you won’t have to sift through hundreds of nearby shared space rentals — because there won’t be any.

You’ll have an entire home all to yourself — completely safe and private.

So why is that important? You can find private spaces on Airbnb, too, right? Why is the lack of shared spaces a good thing for Vrbo?

Well, even though it may seem insignificant, the exclusion of shared spaces on Vrbo means it’s better suited for longer stays, which can be a week to several months long.

If you’re the adventurous type, you’re probably rushing from one place to the next, so it’s in your best interest to stay somewhere cheap and convenient, like a hostel — which you just won’t find on Vrbo.

But if you’re looking for a more stable experience, like a 1-month stay at a cozy beach house, or a 5-month temporary home for an important business trip, then definitely go Vrbo.

Save more money on a longer stay.

Vrbo’s fees get lower with higher-priced homes.

Compared to Airbnb’s service fee (which ranges from 5% to 20%) Vrbo only charges 6% to 12%.

The actual percentage varies depending on the reservation total. But generally, cheaper rentals have higher service fees and costlier rentals have lower service fees.

This means Vrbo is technically cheaper than Airbnb — right?

Well, the thing is, the actual properties that get listed on Vrbo tend to be more expensive, especially since they’re all private.

Only private suites or homes can be listed on Vrbo, as opposed to Airbnb, where you can find anything from hostels to spare rooms.

Since you’re renting private (and presumably long-term) you get to enjoy much lower service fees and save more money in the process.

Searching is easier on Vrbo.

Spend less time searching with Vrbo’s superior search filters.

Another thing that sets Vrbo apart is its superior search filters.

In the image below, there is a very clear difference. Vrbo’s search filters not only have more options but are also more specific.

Vrbo has more and clearer search filters.

And this doesn’t apply to just the Property Type category. Even in other search filter categories — like House Rules or Amenities — Vrbo beats Airbnb in quantity and specificity almost every time.

There is also an option to filter properties according to their ratings — a feature that Airbnb lacks for some reason.

This feature is incredibly helpful in ensuring that you only see the highest rated property listings.

But I wouldn’t recommend relying on the Property Reviews feature too much.

Higher rated listings tend to be more expensive. If you completely filter out lower-rated properties, you might miss out on some good deals.

If you’re really detailed with your search filters, it’s easy to narrow down your options to just a few relevant candidates. This saves a LOT of time and ensures you’re spending more time relaxing and less time searching.

This isn’t to say Airbnb’s search filters are bad or inadequate. Vrbo’s is just better.

Why choose Vrbo over Airbnb?

Longer-term stays, like week-long vacations, make more sense on Vrbo.

The main reason you would want to choose Vrbo over Airbnb is if you’re looking for a longer-term stay.

The thing is, Airbnb is just much better for shorter stays.

If you’re looking to cut costs during a trip or you just need a place to stay overnight, you can book a hostel or dorm — that’s just not possible on Vrbo.

If, however, you’re looking to stay weeks to months in a single place, Vrbo is definitely the better choice.

Lower service fees means more savings. And since you’ll be staying for longer, the superior search feature will ensure that you’re getting a room that fits your exact needs.

Choose Airbnb for spontaneous adventures and Vrbo for relaxing vacations.

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2. Agoda

Explore the sights in your home country and save up to 25% more when you make your hotel booking with Agoda. Get out and #GoLocal! To book GoLocal properties...

Agoda is another great alternative to Airbnb.

Unlike most of the websites listed here, which are predominantly American-founded, Agoda was founded in Thailand in 2003.

Their current headquarters is located in Singapore, too, so they’re as Asian as it gets.

However, thanks to their rapid expansion over the last 2 decades, they now offer more than 2 million properties for rent. They currently operate in more than 30 countries, and their app is now available in 38 languages worldwide.

Less hassle, more travel.

Agoda is the best vacation rental service in Asia.

On Trustpilot, Agoda currently has an 88% approval rating across 30,000 reviews, which is much better than Airbnb’s 17%.

That says a lot about their customer service.

In places like Southeast Asia, Agoda is undeniably the best vacation rental service out there, especially since that’s where they’re headquartered.

Reservations are quick and easy, customer service is prompt and helpful, and they have much cheaper prices.

Plus, if you find that you’re always on the move, Agoda is a great choice for short-term rentals.

You can book last-minute and still get good service, whereas Airbnb is just better suited for long-term rentals.

Affordable, not cheap.

Compare prices with other booking sites to find the best deal. Agoda often has low prices, so take advantage!

Compared to other booking services, Agoda’s prices are super low, even when comparing the same listings on other websites.

Compared to Airbnb’s 5% to 20% service fee, Agoda only charges 10% of the reservation total.

Because of these lower fees, booking on Agoda tends to be more affordable than other websites, especially Airbnb.

And, though it may seem so, they don’t offer lower prices because the properties are lower-quality. They just have lower prices.

If you look hard enough, you will often find the same properties on Agoda listed on Airbnb as well — just lower-priced.

Why choose Agoda over Airbnb?

Agoda and Airbnb are alike in many ways. It’s just a matter of which one you prefer.

Airbnb and Agoda are incredibly similar. They both offer short- and long-term stays for a variety of property types. Their websites are easy-to-use, and, as far as mode of payment goes, they’re both very flexible.

But if you consistently find yourself frustrated with Airbnb’s customer service, I highly recommend giving Agoda a try, especially if you’re in Asia.

Overall, Agoda has everything you need from an Airbnb alternative. It’s a bit lesser known than Airbnb, but it’s a trustworthy company with 2 decades of service in the vacation rental industry.

And even if you aren’t totally switching to Agoda, it’s a great idea to have it as an option.

If you ever find a good listing on any of the other Airbnb alternatives, check if Agoda has the listing as well — you just might land a better deal. Click here to check out Agoda listings.

Try out the Agoda widget!

Just enter in your trip details and click Search to see relevant listings on the Agoda website.

3. Plum Guide

The Plum Guide is a collection of London's most creative and inspiring spaces that are available to rent from fantastic and professional hosts. If you think ...

The best thing about sites like Airbnb is the convenience. They make almost every part of the rental process so much easier.

Except one thing — searching.

Yes, they all come with high-tech search filters and detailed listings — but even then, it’s hard not to throw away 3 precious hours of your life looking for listings that might only be “slightly better” than the one you found on page 2.

Truth is, the scrolling never ends. You either go with the first one you see that fits your needs — or you just settle with an okay listing just to get some sleep.

Enter Plum Guide, the vacation rental website that’s already done the searching for you.

The end of endless scrolling.

Plum Guide shows you only the best of the best listings.

Searching for a good listing has to be one of the worst parts of booking a vacation rental.

A lot of listings are marketed either too well (that they’re impossible to believe) or too poorly (that you just scroll right on by) — plus, there’s SO many to choose from!

In 2016, Plum Guide decided they would put an end to the endless scrolling.

Plum Guide is a website like Airbnb where you can look for, book, and pay for property listings — except on Plum Guide there aren’t 10,000 listings in 1 area all fighting for your attention.

Plum Guide does the dirty work of looking for only the very best of homes.

In fact, it says on their website that they list only the top 3% of homes per price bracket in each destination — which means, not only will these homes be top quality, they’ll also fit whatever budget you set.

So if there are 10,000 listings in NYC that fit your budget, you’ll only get to see 300 (or 3%) of that 10,000, which cuts down your search time by a LOT.

Quality homes for quality folks.

Each home on Plum Guide is vetted for maximum comfort, aesthetics, atmosphere, and convenience.

You must be wondering — how does Plum Guide determine which homes get into the top 3%?

It’s simple, really — they come over.

When a homeowner applies to list their home on Plum Guide, a crew comes over to check the place out.

The inspection process is incredibly thorough. They don’t just come in with a pair of glasses and a clipboard and hastily check off boxes — no; they do their homework.

The inspection (which they call The Plum Test) tests the home and the homeowner against 150 different criteria and 500 data points — including details about the neighborhood, the owner’s presence on other websites, their profile, and comments from guests. They also consider the home’s overall design.

Usually, homes fail the Plum Test because of:

An unpleasant smell
A mattress of poor quality
Dirty timber windows
A noisy street you can hear from the bedroom
An unresponsive or unreliable host

After the inspection, the crew takes a few photos of the listing — ahem — very pretty photos. Not even kidding. I challenge you to look for a listing on Plum Guide with photos that are anything short of pretty.

Spoiler alert — you won’t find one.

Plum Guide hires professional photographers to capture premium-quality photos to best showcase the look and feel of each home.

This way, you aren’t expending any energy squinting your eyes dry and tilting your head stiff trying to get a good look at the place.

Airbnb started doing these inspections as well for Airbnb Plus, but it seems that Plum Guide is just better and more consistent when it comes to quality assurance.

Travel perfected by humans, not algorithms.

Don’t worry. Not all of Plum Guide’s people have lamps for heads.

Aside from the Home Critics who vet each home before it’s listed, Plum Guide also has people called MatchMakers who will talk to you personally to help you find the perfect stay.

These MatchMakers provide a personalized, high-touch booking service that helps more than 80% of their clients find their perfect holiday home.

Algorithms have many practical applications in the real world, but they can only be so helpful. MatchMakers make sure that you’re booking a stay that’s right for you.

Coming to you very soon.

Plum Guide is expanding fast. See if they come to a city near you.

Plum Guide is currently only available in select cities — including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Rome, and Barcelona — with 6,000 homes around the world.

Of course, this does mean that unless you live in (or plan to visit) any of these busy cities, you can’t just replace Airbnb with Plum Guide.

Luckily, Plum Guide doesn’t plan on slowing down. They plan on expanding in the coming months, which means you should expect them to come to your area very soon.

Why choose Plum Guide over Airbnb?

Plum Guide saves you the hassles of searching.

If it’s not clear to you yet, Plum Guide is a fantastic alternative because it helps you save a TON of time.

With Plum Guide, you can finally quit your endless search for the perfect vacation rental.

All you have to do now is find a listing that’s in a spot you like and fits your budget — because when it comes to quality, Plum Guide has you covered.

Best part?

They don’t charge any more than other sites like Airbnb.

In fact, I think the only thing that’s stopping Plum Guide from completely dominating the market is their limited reach.

But once they start expanding to more and more cities, the vacation rental industry is in for a wild ride.

Learn more about Plum Guide

4. Misterb&b

misterb&b is the world's largest gay travel community with 200,000 hosts in over 135 countries. Today we're proud to present our latest video which explores ...

These days, it can be surprising how hostile some people still are towards the gay community, so much so that just one unfortunate encounter with a homophobic Airbnb host can totally ruin a good vacation.

And that is exactly the reason why Misterb&b was created — to introduce the gay community to travel without fear.

Fear of being judged, threatened, or denied good service.

Misterb&b ensures that all members of the LGBTQ+ community are treated fairly when they travel.

They do this by only doing business with hosts who are progressive and accepting of members of the gay community.

Be out when you go out.

Misterb&b is a travel site by gays for gays.

Misterb&b was created in 2014 when Co-Founder & CEO, Matthieu, rented an apartment in Barcelona with his partner.

When they arrived, it was clear to them how uncomfortable the host was that they would be staying in the same room, let alone sharing the same bed.

He realized that the gay community needed a platform like Airbnb where they could travel without fear of being judged.

That platform was Misterb&b.

Today, Misterb&b is the largest gay hotelier in the world, with over 135,000 hosts in over 135 countries.

Instead of booking on Airbnb, members of the gay community can opt to use Misterb&b as a gay-friendly short-term rental service, so that they can be out when they go out.

Join the largest gay travel community in the world.

Check out their gay travel guides for the best gay destinations out there.

Another benefit of having gay-friendly hosts, besides feeling safe while you travel, is having the best tour guides you could possibly have.

Something like this is a given on most platforms —you ask the hosts about the best places to go, since, well, they’re locals.

But the difference with Misterb&b is that hosts will know the best places for a gay person to go: gay-owned restaurants, gay bars, and all the best gay spots for you to hang out in.

Why choose Misterb&b over Airbnb?

Be out when you go out. No one’s gonna stop you here.

Usually, you can find the hosts that list on Misterb&b on Airbnb as well. So there’s a lot of overlap.

But the edge that Misterb&b has over Airbnb is that you will only ever find gay-friendly hosts. It filters out everyone else. So Misterb&b, while not a total upgrade from Airbnb, is a safe haven for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, it’s always more comforting to do business with and be around gay-friendly hosts.

Of course, it goes without saying that Misterb&b is by no means a replacement for Airbnb, since their reach is obviously smaller. But it’s definitely a great Airbnb alternative for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Sometimes, though, you can get cheaper rooms on Misterb&b than on Airbnb, so I recommend checking both platforms before booking — see if one gives you a better deal.

Overall, the site is easy-to-use, solid, and is backed by fellow members of the gay community.

So if you ever need a place to stay with welcoming folks where you’re absolutely free to be yourself — definitely book on Misterb&b.

Claim your $10 Travel Credit from Misterb&b

5. Ministry of Villas

Ministry of Villa's is one of Asia's leading villa specialists and holiday curators. We are at the forefront of the giant wave of demand from the next billio...

Looking for something more luxurious? Perhaps you’ll like Ministry of Villas.

Ministry of Villas is a travel agency that helps you rent villas in thousands of exclusive destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Unlike Airbnb, which has listings of everything from shared rooms to whole homes, Ministry of Villas specializes in taking you to only the most luxurious, exquisite villas out there.

Exceptional expertise.

There’s a reason Ministry of Villas’ approval rating is 100%.

Specialists of Ministry of Villas know the villa industry inside and out.

They guarantee that each and every villa has already been personally inspected by their agents before being featured on their website.

Before you’ve even checked out their catalog, their specialists have already seen, been to, and stayed in whichever villa you’re thinking of booking.

They know the most exciting places to visit and the best places to eat. So by booking with them, you’re getting both an experienced liaison as well as an enthusiastic tour guide — in a neat little package.

A company that walks the talk.

Ministry of Villas is currently one of the leading villa specialists in Asia, with a 100% approval rating.

This villa rental agency, founded in 2013, has been providing exceptional service for more than 8 years.

The combined industry experience of 50 years of founders Alastair Loxton and Sara O’Shea have transformed the company from a small-time villa service into an industry leader in the Asia-Pacific region.

Today, there are more than 2,000 villas on the platform, and the website is averaging 20,000 visits per month.

And the ratings are real — on Trustpilot, they’ve maintained an extraordinary 100% approval rating across more than 50 verified user reviews.

These high ratings have earned them their place as one of the leading villa specialists in Asia.

For context, Airbnb’s Trustpilot approval rating only sits at 17%. Big yikes.

User reviews on Trustpilot all rave about this company’s exceptional service. Their specialists are thorough at planning and arranging trips, as well as proactive when it comes to correcting unexpected issues.

Why choose Ministry of Villas over Airbnb?

The villas featured in Ministry of Villas are all vetted for maximum satisfaction.

To be clear, Ministry of Villas is in no way a replacement to Airbnb.

When it comes to affordability, distribution, and flexibility, Airbnb is superior in every way. But if you’re someone who’s willing to pay a premium for the vacation of a lifetime, then Ministry of Villas should definitely be on your list.

If what you want is a trouble-free vacation at a private villa, then Ministry of Villas is the company you’re looking for.

View website

6. Outdoorsy

Lots of folks own RVs. Lots of folks want to rent RVs. Outdoorsy is how they meet. Outdoorsy is world's #1 most trusted marketplace for recreational vehicles...

Here’s something new. If you’re looking for a change in scenery, you might find Outdoorsy interesting.

Outdoorsy, often called the “Airbnb of RVs”, is the largest RV rental marketplace in the world.

A different vacation experience.

If you’re sick of homes, apartments, and villas, try RV renting. Outdoorsy is a great place to start.

Outdoorsy lets you make the most out of your free days.

Instead of spending your nights in one place, you can rent someone’s RV and drive between all the places on your bucket list.

That being said, Outdoorsy wasn’t the first business to introduce RV rentals to the world. That business has been around for a long time.

In fact, if you want a cheaper price and more control over your RV rental, you can skip Outdoorsy altogether. Just find a willing RV owner and rent directly from them.

But Outdoorsy isn’t just about renting RVs — like Airbnb isn’t just about renting rooms.

Instead, what makes Outdoorsy worth the money is how well it streamlines the whole process of renting an RV.

RV renting without the worry.

In addition to fast and secure payments and communication services, Outdoorsy also offers free customer service and roadside assistance.

If you were to rent an RV on your own, you’d have to worry about things like insurance, cancellations, how helpful the RV owner is — and most importantly, how trustworthy they are.

Outdoorsy eliminates ALL those worries. In case anything goes wrong during your booking, they have solid insurance packages and cancellation policies to make sure you’re compensated fairly.

In addition, Outdoorsy shows you exactly who you’re dealing with when you’re renting any RV. There are verified user reviews for each rental, so you can see whether previous renters were satisfied or not.

Before you shell out even a single dime, you’ll know exactly what the RV is like and how accommodating the owner is.

Why choose Outdoorsy over Airbnb?

RV renting is a completely different way to vacation. Make sure to try it at least once!

Airbnb is great if all you need is a place to stay, but sometimes you just want to try something new.

With Outdoorsy, you can do just that.

If you’re starting to get bored with hotel suites and resorts, Outdoorsy might just be the breath of fresh air you need.

Overall, while it’s definitely not a replacement, Outdoorsy is a fantastic alternative experience to Airbnb.

Tell me more about Outdoorsy

6 Best Airbnb Alternatives Worth Trying On Your Next Vacay