Jul 21, 2025 in Industry

Why Airbnb Management Software and Management Services Weren't Built for Independent Hosts

Self-managed hosts are stuck between overpriced PMCs, bloated PMSs, and fragmented tools with no platform built for how they operate.

The Harsh Reality for Self-Managed STR Hosts

Most of the systems powering the short-term rental industry were built for property managers. Independent hosts, those who manage one to three Airbnb listings, the ones who built the foundation of this industry, have been left out of the equation.

Self-managed operators opened their homes, refined their craft, and turned hospitality into a profession. Today, they make up more than 65 percent of the global vacation rental market. Yet most are still working around software and services that were never designed with their needs in mind.

If you've ever felt like you're doing too much with too little support, you're not imagining it. The industry still hasn't evolved to serve the people driving it forward.


Hosts Are Still Choosing Between Three Broken Models

This is the quiet tax of the current system.

Self-managed hosts are still forced to choose between software platforms that weren't built for them, management companies that take too much, or fragmented co-hosting setups and tools that only solve a piece of the puzzle.

The failure isn't in how hosts decide, it's in what they are forced to choose from.

At the root of it all is one simple truth: nothing in this ecosystem was designed for independent, self-managed hosts.

It's a truth now being echoed across the ecosystem.


1. PMS Platforms: Built for Scale, Not for Hosts

Property Management Software (PMS) was never designed for independent hosts.

These platforms were designed to help professional managers operate at scale, enabling those who oversee hundreds of vacation rental properties or Airbnb listings to manage large teams effectively. But in chasing scale, they lost touch with the people who built the industry in the first place - small hosts.

If you have ever tried using one as a host, you would have felt it instantly: convoluted menus, bloated workflows, a lack of strategic guidance, and the need to juggle disconnected tools that offer minimal real support.

"Product is buggy, and the lack of support makes it terrible. Hidden fees for not hitting minimums, and you can't reach anyone to resolve issues."— Chagai F., sourceforge.net (Guesty PMS review)
"It feels like all the big problems are already solved: calendar syncing, dynamic pricing, messaging automation—there's no shortage of options. But these solutions are either outrageously expensive or completely overbuilt for someone like me."— Dima162, community.withairbnb.com (Airbnb host)
"Potentially complicated platform for individual hosts… [with a] steep learning curve."— HostAway PMS user, gosummer.com
The PMS Trade-off:

Confusing dashboards designed for portfolios, not hands-on operations

No guidance on pricing, guest messaging, or day-to-day decisions

Essential features locked behind expensive paywalls

A user experience built for scale, not simplicity


2. PMCs: Convenience With Too Much Compromise

Property Management Companies (PMCs) promise peace of mind, but they come at a steep cost.

Most charge between 20% and 40% of your revenue. In exchange, they take control of your listing, your guest messages, and your pricing. Hosts are often locked into rigid systems that strip away autonomy and reduce visibility into what's actually happening.

What starts as a time-saver often ends in frustration as hosts are left in the dark.

"PMC's are simply an intermediate host that takes all the control away from the homeowner with very little benefit in return."— Brian Graff, biggerpockets.com (Airbnb host)
"They tell you they only charge a 25% management fee, but they secretly take 15% as a 'booking fee'... Their actual charged rate is between 35-37% - they take 15% off the top, then take 25% of what's left."— John Loboscio, gosummer.com (Vacasa PMC review)
The PMC trade-off:

You pay high fees, often 20-40%, with unclear breakdowns and added markups

You surrender control and have little say in how your property is run

You get limited visibility into bookings, performance, and payouts

You are locked into rigid contracts that reduce earnings and autonomy


3. Co-Hosts and Scattered Tools: Helpful but Fragmented

Airbnb's Co-Host Network model has perfectly validated what hosts have needed all along: operational support. But while well-intentioned, it offers only a partial solution. It adds cost, reduces control, and introduces new layers of complexity.

The same is true across the broader tool ecosystem. Many products are genuinely helpful, but they solve narrow problems in isolation. Without a unified system, hosts are left to manage fragmented workflows across multiple platforms and teams.

What begins as help often turns into more work. Instead of clarity, hosts are left coordinating chaos.

"I don't see Airbnb's co-host model as a direct threat… co-hosting is more of a stepping stone for hosts who aren't ready to scale or professionalise fully."— Simon Lehmann, skift.com (STR industry expert)
"This is the first time I'll host an Airbnb and I read about Wheelhouse, Hostify, Guesty, OwnerRez, Lodgify and the more I search for software, the more tools I get suggested. It's overwhelming."— juseraphim, airhostsforum.com (AirHosts Forum user)
The co-hosting and tool-stack trade-off:

You juggle disconnected tools with no unified system

Airbnb's Co-Host Network is only available when listing with Airbnb

You spend more time coordinating than getting clarity

You stay busy managing tools instead of focusing on hosting


What Hosts Actually Need

What self-managed hosts actually need isn't more software, it's alignment across the models they're already forced to use

The current options each offer something useful, but none deliver the needed solution. PMS platforms provide structure but lack simplicity; PMCs offer support but require too much; and Airbnb co-hosts and short-term rental automation tools solve microtasks but fail to address the system's issues.

What hosts are still waiting for is alignment across those models: a new layer built specifically for self-managed hosts and how they actually operate.

Here's what that should look like:

Purpose-built software for self-managed hosts

One system that connects everything

Smart automation that simplifies the work

Full control, with no compromises

Expert help, only when you want it

Clean, intuitive design without complexity

No need to juggle extra tools or platforms

Transparent pricing with no feature paywalls


We're Building Toward That Future

We believe self-managed hosts deserve more than workarounds. That's why we're building Consolia, a Host Assistance Platform designed entirely around how independent operators actually work.

Still in development, Consolia brings together intelligent systems, vacation rental automation tools, real support, and host-first design to create a platform that simplifies the work, surfaces what matters, and keeps full control in your hands.

We're building it in collaboration with the people it's for. Every feature is shaped by host feedback, real conversations, and a shared belief that this industry can do better.

If that sounds like something worth building, we'd love to have you involved.


Still Have Questions?

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from hosts, especially those who are curious about what makes Consolia different and whether it's right for them.

They weren't built for them. Most platforms were designed for property managers running large portfolios. For self-managed hosts, that means bloated dashboards, clunky workflows, and little support. The result is more complexity, not more control.
You give up too much. Most PMCs charge 20 to 40 percent of your income, take over your pricing, guest messaging, and listing strategy, and leave you with limited visibility. Hosts are locked out of their own operations and left with lower returns.
It helps, but only partially. Co-hosts and service providers offer narrow solutions and Airbnb dependence, rather than a complete solution. Hosts still juggle scattered tools, inconsistent communication, and overlapping fees. There's no real clarity, just more moving parts.
A platform like Consolia. Purpose-built for independent operators, Consolia combines smart automation, expert support, and intuitive design in one system. It gives hosts everything they need to run their property on their terms, with no compromise.
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