Host fees side by side (from October 29, 2026)
| Airbnb | Vrbo | Booking.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host fee | 15.5% for most hosts (14%–16% for others, 16% in Brazil and Mexico)[1] | Flat 12%, "all-in"[3][4] | Set by your contract; Skift puts it at around 15%[5][4] |
| Guest service fee | None under the single fee[2] | Expected to drop from 11–14%, but a smaller, flexible fee stays in most cases[4] | None, per Skift[4] |
| Fee charged on cleaning and other fees? | Yes: cleaning, pet, extra guest[2] | Yes: cleaning, pet, boat and similar fees[3] | Yes: cleaning and other fees you charge[5] |
| Fee charged on taxes? | Not part of the subtotal the fee is charged on[1] | Commission isn't charged on taxes or refundable deposits[3] | Not on local taxes such as city tax; often on VAT/GST, depending on the country[5] |
| Before the change | 3% split fee for most hosts until Sep 15, 2026 (Oct 13 in the EEA and Switzerland)[2][1] | 5% (software-connected) or 8% (everyone else) until Oct 29, 2026[4] | Unchanged |
Same $700 stay, four payouts
$200 a night for 3 nights plus a $100 cleaning fee, with every fee charged on the full $700:
| Channel | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Vrbo | 12% | $616.00 |
| Booking.com | 15% (example; check your contract) | $595.00 |
| Airbnb | 15.5% | $591.50 |
| Direct, paid by card | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe's standard US card rate)[6] | $679.40, before website costs |
Cheaper for hosts isn't the same as cheaper for guests
At the same listing price, Vrbo pays you $24.50 more than Airbnb on this stay. But Airbnb and Booking.com guests see your price with no service fee added, while Vrbo guests will still pay some fee in most cases.[4][2] Skift's analysis notes that Vrbo hasn't said how big that fee will be, which leaves hosts unsure what their guests will actually pay.[4] Until Vrbo publishes it, compare the total a guest sees on each site for the same dates.
Can you charge different prices on each platform?
Many hosts set a per-channel markup so their payout is the same everywhere. Watch the new Vrbo terms, though: Skift reports a rate-parity clause that requires your Vrbo rates to be at least as low as on any other channel, including your own website.[4] That rules out pricing Vrbo above your other channels.
Which should you list on?
Fees are one input. Demand in your market, cancellation policies and how much each channel books for you matter more. Most multi-channel hosts compare the payout per booking (above) against bookings per month on each channel. The channel comparison calculator does the payout side with your own numbers.