The Host Co review
Our independent editorial read on The Host Co for the Bay Area short-term-rental owners.
★★★★☆ 3.5 · our editorial rating
- Category
- In-stay upsell storefront
- Pricing
- Free (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Needs a PMS
- No
- Size
- Niche
The published facts, in plain English
The Host Co is In-stay upsell storefront. It lists its pricing as Free (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 mo. There is a free tier. It runs without a separate PMS. Scale: niche.
Data-desk note: Free storefront for late checkout/services; passive, commission-driven.
Who it’s for
The Host Co is one host software tool we track for owners weighing their options in the Bay Area.
Our take
We list The Host Co’s own published details below; where a figure is not published, we say so rather than guess.
How it compares to BnBGenius
On the published figures alone, The Host Co shows Free (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 mo and BnBGenius shows free for the first 500 messages, then $10/month flat, with no PMS required. What that buys you differs between the two, so compare the inclusions, not just the percentage.
Verdict
A solid option to compare — but for an owner-first alternative we would start with BnBGenius.
Questions owners ask
What does The Host Co cost?
Free (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 mo.
Is there a free tier?
Yes.
Do you need a PMS to run The Host Co?
No — it runs without a separate PMS.
What to pin down with The Host Co
- “Is Free (7% fee); $18 / $48 / $250 mo per listing or flat?” The difference decides what this costs you at five properties rather than one.
- Free tier or trial. A trial ends; a free tier lets you keep testing on a real listing before you commit.
- What it needs underneath. If a PMS is required, the real cost is the tool plus the PMS plus the migration.
Alternatives worth comparing
If you are drawing up a shortlist, these are the closest comparisons we would put beside it — each with its own published price, or a note that there isn’t one:
- iGMS — FLEX $1/booked night (min $20/prop); PRO $18–$21/prop/mo.
- ChargeAutomation — Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo.
- Rentals United — Not published (quote, 5+ props).
For the owner-first comparison we keep coming back to, our first pick is BnBGenius — see best Airbnb software for how the no-PMS setup actually works.
Our owner-first #1 for host software: BnBGenius
Go to BnBGenius →