Airbnb vs VRBO vs Booking.com: Which Platform Generates the Most Revenue for STR Owners?

Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com are the three largest short-term rental booking platforms — and each serves a meaningfully different traveler segment. The question of which generates the most revenue for your property doesn't have a universal answer. It depends on your property type, location, and target traveler. The better question is how to optimize your presence across all three. For how Awning manages multi-platform distribution, see Awning's vacation rental management overview.

Airbnb: The Broadest Audience

Airbnb is the largest vacation rental marketplace by listing count and traveler volume. Their traveler base skews younger, more urban, more international, and more experience-oriented. Airbnb performs best for: city apartments, unique or design-forward properties, properties near attractions, and hosts who are active in building their Superhost status.

Airbnb Revenue Drivers:

•        Largest buyer pool — highest potential booking volume

•        Superhost ranking bonus — significant visibility improvement

•        'Experiences' integration — additional revenue potential

•        Strong in urban, unique, and international markets

Airbnb's Trade-offs:

•        Most competitive — more listings competing for the same searches

•        Guest fee adds 8–12% to total booking cost — can deter cost-sensitive travelers

•        Algorithm changes frequently — requires active listing optimization

VRBO: Families, Groups, and Longer Stays

VRBO's traveler base skews older, domestic, family-oriented, and looking for longer stays in whole-home properties. They require whole-home listings — no shared spaces. VRBO performs best for: beach houses, mountain cabins, lake homes, and properties targeting family or group travel segments.

VRBO Revenue Drivers:

•        Higher average booking value — longer stays, more guests per booking

•        Less competitive — fewer listings than Airbnb in most markets

•        Strong in leisure destination markets (beach, mountain, lake)

•        Cross-promotion through Expedia Group network

VRBO's Trade-offs:

•        Whole-home only — room rentals don't qualify

•        Smaller traveler base than Airbnb globally

•        Less strong in urban markets compared to Airbnb

Booking.com: International Travelers and Extended Stays

Booking.com is the world's largest travel platform by gross booking volume, but their vacation rental vertical is smaller than Airbnb's. They're strongest for: properties in international destinations, properties targeting European travelers, and listings in markets where Booking.com has strong hotel traffic that spills into vacation rentals.

Booking.com Revenue Drivers:

•        Strong international traveler reach — especially European markets

•        Large hotel traveler base that sometimes chooses vacation rentals

•        Strong in major tourist destinations with international appeal

Booking.com's Trade-offs:

•        More setup complexity than Airbnb or VRBO

•        Less dominant in US domestic leisure markets

•        Commission model can be less favorable than Airbnb's host fee structure

Revenue Comparison by Property Type

Properties listed on all three platforms consistently outperform single-platform listings by 25–40% in total bookings. Platform diversification is one of the highest-ROI decisions an STR owner can make — before worrying about which platform is 'best.'

The Multi-Channel Imperative

The real answer to 'which platform is best' is: use all of them, plus Google Vacation Rentals, Expedia, and a direct booking site. Awning distributes properties across 50+ booking channels as standard. See Awning's vacation rental management and the Airbnb marketing and distribution service for how multi-channel distribution works in practice.

Validating Platform Performance in Your Market

Platform performance varies significantly by market and property type. Awning's Airbnb market data shows channel-level demand signals for your area. AirDNA and Rabbu provide additional channel-level analysis. Use Awning's income estimator to project revenue under a full multi-channel strategy.

STR Regulations Across Platforms

A final consideration: regulatory compliance varies by platform. All three require hosts to comply with local STR regulations, but enforcement mechanisms differ. Before listing on any platform, verify local permit requirements. Awning's Airbnb market data includes regulatory context for major markets.

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📎  Related Resources

→ Airbnb Marketing & Multi-Channel Distribution

→ Airbnb Market Data by City

→ Airbnb Income Estimator

→ AirDNA Review

→ Rabbu / Data Rabbu Review

→ Best Insurance for Airbnb Hosts

→ Awning Full-Service Management

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