OwnerRez vs Lodgify: Which Direct Booking Platform Is Better for Vacation Rentals?

OwnerRez and Lodgify both help vacation rental owners capture direct bookings and reduce reliance on Airbnb and VRBO. But they serve different owner profiles — OwnerRez is built for technically sophisticated self-managers who want maximum control and flexibility; Lodgify is designed for owners who want an accessible all-in-one platform with a faster setup. For owners who'd rather hand off operations entirely, see Awning's full-service vacation rental management.

OwnerRez: Maximum Control for Power Users

OwnerRez is a comprehensive STR management platform known for its depth of features and the degree of control it gives operators. It handles channel management, direct booking site, guest communication, contracts and damage deposits, financial reporting, and accounting integrations. It's the platform of choice for hosts who've tried other tools and found them limiting.

OwnerRez Strengths:

•        Deepest feature set of any direct booking platform — legal contracts, damage deposits, payment splitting

•        Strong channel management with Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and more

•        Comprehensive financial reporting and QuickBooks integration

•        Active user community and excellent documentation

•        Pricing: very competitive — starts at ~$40/month for 1 property

OwnerRez Limitations:

•        Steep learning curve — not beginner-friendly

•        Interface is functional but less polished than Lodgify

•        Direct booking website is basic compared to Lodgify's builder

Lodgify: Accessible All-in-One With Great Website Builder

Lodgify is designed to be accessible. Their direct booking website builder is the best in the category — professional templates, SEO-friendly structure, integrated payment processing, and a booking engine that works on mobile. For hosts who want to launch a direct booking presence quickly without a developer, Lodgify is the fastest path.

Lodgify Strengths:

•        Best direct booking website builder in the STR category

•        Fast setup — most hosts are live in under a week

•        Good channel management for Airbnb, VRBO, and major OTAs

•        Mobile app for guest communication and booking management

Lodgify Limitations:

•        Less feature depth than OwnerRez for complex operations

•        Financial reporting and accounting integrations weaker than OwnerRez

•        Damage deposit and contract features less robust

Direct Comparison

If you're serious about building a direct booking business long-term and can tolerate a learning curve, OwnerRez delivers more control. If you want a polished website up quickly without complexity, Lodgify is the better starting point.

Whichever platform you choose, validate your market revenue potential with Awning's Airbnb market data and the income estimator before investing in a self-management software stack.

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📎  Related Resources

→ Airbnb Market Data

→ Airbnb Income Estimator

→ Airbnb Marketing & Distribution Service

→ Awning Full-Service Management

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