Why everyone chooses OwnerRez over Smoobu
Why pay more for software that doesn’t deliver on the basics? Switch to the #1-rated vacation rental software in the industry, with 20+ direct channel partnerships. Hundreds of customers have already moved from Smoobu to OwnerRez, and it’s easy to see why.
Compare our features, support, and cost to theirs.
See what independent review boards say about OwnerRez versus Smoobu.
What Customers Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it. More and more property managers are leaving Smoobu behind, citing buggy software, unreliable channel syncing, and customer support that’s "non-existent." From blocked Airbnb listings to lost Superhost status and revenue, hosts are calling out serious gaps in the platform. Here’s what real, independent users say about Smoobu and why many are switching to OwnerRez.
"Avoid Smoobu"
"My Airbnb listing was inexplicably blocked for several months due to Smoobu’s software issues. When the problem was finally resolved, Smoobu denied responsibility and claimed the issue lasted only a day, which was inaccurate. Furthermore, synchronization across platforms is not simultaneous, and I have experienced this issue multiple times without receiving any response or resolution."
"Be Careful"
"Be careful before implementing Smoobu. For us, it resulted in complete chaos, angry clients, loss of Airbnb superhost status and of business / revenues. Software is not ready yet and full of gaps, without warning for customers. Deep regrets overall, especially as the software is not cheap. I am currently looking to switch to a competitor."
"Regret Signing Up"
"I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with Smoobu has been absolutely awful. Their customer service is non-existent. You cannot get through to a real person—no phone support, no live chat, and emails are basically ignored. I regret choosing Smoobu and would not recommend them to anyone. If you’re looking for reliable support or a stable platform, look elsewhere."
Feature Comparison
OwnerRez is built for power users, with 20+ direct channel connections, top partner status with Airbnb and VRBO, and advanced accounting features. Smoobu relies on limited integrations, outdated iCal connections, and lacks key tools like VRBO messaging and QuickBooks sync. When it comes to features, OwnerRez is the clear choice for homeowners and professional hosts.
| Feature | OwnerRez | Smoobu |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Manager - Size of Network | 20+, including all the top vacation rental OTAs and an extensive network of regional listing sites. |
10+, a complete list is not provided on their website. Only a handful are API connected. |
| Channel Manager - Connection Style | Direct partnerships, built entirely in-house, lightning fast and deeply invested in | Some direct, some via iCal. VRBO can only be connected with Smoobu via iCal, significantly increasing the chance for double bookings and creating messaging issues. iCal is an outdated method that was developed in the 90s. |
| Channel Manager - Awards and Accolades | Multi-year awards for Elite and Preferred Plus. These are awards given by Airbnb and VRBO to only their top partners. | Preferred Partner with Airbnb but not included on the partner list for VRBO. |
| Channel Manager - Google Vacation Rentals | Yes | No |
| Channel Manager - Internal API for smaller OTAs | Yes, providing direct access to Hopper, Houfy, GetAwayGoGo, Whimstay, FloridaRentals, HomeToGo and many more regional listing sites. | Not listed |
| Direct Booking Website | Yes, transparent pricing | Yes |
| Direct Booking Website - Design | Yes, multiple templates, can 100% customize after selecting | Yes |
| Direct Booking Website - SEO | Highly optimized for SEO, built on years of industry experience | Not listed |
| Direct Booking Website - Responsive (mobile, tablet, desktop sizes) | Yes, looks beautiful at every screen size | Not listed |
| Direct Booking Website - WordPress options | Yes, use our plugin to create your own custom experience | No |
| Direct Booking Website - WordPress designers/builders | Yes, network of recommended experts | Not listed |
| Direct Booking Website - Custom options | Yes, API access for custom website builders | Not listed |
| Direct Booking Website - Custom designers/builders | Yes, network of recommended experts | Not listed |
| Accounting | Rich accounting tools with full invoicing, payments, refunds and balance management | Very limited, relies heavily on 3rd party integrations |
| Accounting - Deposit syncing | Yes, for Airbnb and Stripe, full "to the penny" detail including fees and adjustments | Only through paid 3rd party integrations |
| Accounting - Payment processing | 20+ processors and gateways | A small handful |
| Accounting - Guest forms, custom scenarios | Hosted forms for payments, security deposits, insurance and other things, even if you don't have a website | No |
| Accounting - QuickBooks direct integration | Yes | No |
| Built-In Renter Agreements | Yes, fully hosted and free for all users | No |
| Messaging | Yes, sophisticated triggers, unified inbox | Yes, but VRBO messaging will not show up in the Smoobu inbox and will have to be done separately through VRBO. |
| Other Integrations | 100+ certified partners and integrations (Everyone loves to build apps for OwnerRez! ❤) |
Less than 50 |
| Automation | Powerful automation tools that streamline messaging, tasks, door codes, security deposits, rental agreements, and more. | Yes, but very limited |
| AI | Rezzy AI automatically reads incoming guest messages, suggests intelligent responses, and flags important tasks so you stay one step ahead without lifting a finger. | No |
Support Comparison
Poor support is one of the most consistent complaints from Smoobu users. Real customers report that, "Customer support has significantly deteriorated over the past five years, with little to no effort to engage with customers or address concerns effectively" and "Their customer service is abysmal, you have to send multiple emails just to get support on the simplest issues." At OwnerRez, every member of our Customer Support department is trained in our core principles, like "create happiness" and "one touch solve," so you get fast, thoughtful help from real experts. We've also built thousands of articles and detailed walk-throughs in-house to help you quickly find an answer to your question.
| Feature | OwnerRez | Smoobu |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding | Free 1-on-1 video setup call with your own Onboarding specialist and dedicated personal setup time. No long-term contracts. | Free onboarding |
| Switching Over | Special ProConnect and ProTransfer programs to move your data from Smoobu (or another PMS) on your behalf | It is unclear how much data is transferable, but there is support available during onboarding. |
| Phone Support | Yes! Dedicated Engagement specialists, on the phone, at a time of your choosing | Yes |
| Helpdesk (tickets/email) | 1-2 day average response time, detailed "one touch solve" answers | Yes, however, when speaking about the quality of their support, one reviewer said, "The support is hopeless. They have no training, they are rude & don't understand the platform." |
| Support Center Articles | Thousands of articles, detailed walk-throughs, built and managed in-house | Yes, but limited |
| Support Center Videos | 75+ walk-through videos | Yes |
| User Feedback / Requests | Active "Feature Request" forum, built and managed in-house, monitored weekly by planning and engineering teams | Customer feedback is collected through customer support, not directly from the users. |
| Community / Forum | Active internal forum built and managed in-house, monitored and responded to daily by Helpdesk team. Also active in other community forums hosted elsewhere. | No |
| In-Person Engagement | We attend many conferences per year and talk to our users directly about what they like and dislike. We also sponsor small user hangouts and other regional events. | Yes |
Cost Comparison
They say you get what you pay for, but that’s not the case with Smoobu. Despite its rising costs, it falls short on reliability, flexibility, and the advanced features homeowners and professional hosts rely on. OwnerRez delivers more features and a lightning-fast connection with all the major channels, all for a better price!
| Feature | OwnerRez | Smoobu |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Commission/Fee | Free! Booking commissions are evil, and we've maintained a hard stance on this for years. | The "Professional Flex" plan offers a cheaper base rate, but charges a 0.9% booking fee. |
| Base Monthly Price for Homeowner (1–5 properties) | $40 – $88 | $56 - $105 (Prices shown for their Teams Pro+ Plan) |
| Base Monthly Price for Small PM (6–20 properties) | $96 – $196 | $118 - $290 (Prices shown for their Teams Pro+ Plan) |
| Base Monthly Price for Medium PM (21–50 properties) | $202 – $374 | $302 - $660 (Prices shown for their Teams Pro+ Plan) |
| Base Monthly Price for Large PM (51–100 properties) | $378 – $573 | $672 - $1,276 (Prices shown for their Teams Pro+ Plan) |
| Base Monthly Price for Very Large PM (101–500 properties) | $576 – $1,472 | $1,288 - $6,204 (Prices shown for their Teams Pro+ Plan) |
The Independent Review Boards Agree
Every independent review board (Gartner Digital, Capterra, SoftwareAdvice) rates OwnerRez higher than Smoobu in every category. Let's take a look at the charts!
The following chart shows vacation rental software products with the highest value-for-money and functionality ratings based on Capterra's vacation rental analysis. Products are arranged in increasing order of their value-for-money rating (bottom to top) and functionality rating (left to right). OwnerRez is at the top. Smoobu is at the bottom.
SoftwareAdvice.com interviews real software users to highlight North America's top-rated vacation rental software products. The following chart shows OwnerRez as a leader in customer satisfaction and right near the top of usability, earning one of the top overall positions in vacation rental software. Smoobu is further down in both categories.
Over at GetApp, OwnerRez received one of the highest ranks among all vacation rental software products. Each score is based on 5 key criteria, worth up to 20 points. The maximum total score is 100. The following chart shows the score OwnerRez received (95 out of 100). Smoobu? Didn't rank high enough to even receive a score.
Stop paying more for less, and switch to OwnerRez today!
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Make the switch nowWhat our customers are saying
OwnerRez is the world's most powerful vacation rental management platform and
the foundation that homeowners and PMs rely on.
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Rated 5.0 out of 5 based on 334 reviews