A booking on a platform costs a commission, but how it is calculated, and who pays it, makes all the difference. Here is the state of play from the cloudbnb listings.

The big three

• Airbnb: 15.5% per booking for hosts connected to property management software, paid by the host or split with the guest. Payout 24 hours after check-in, AirCover protection up to $3M.
• Booking.com: 10 to 25% per booking, paid by the host. Monthly, weekly or daily payout; no damage protection, but a security deposit is possible.
• Vrbo: 12% per booking (up to 15%) for the host, plus guest fees. Payout one business day after check-in.

Complementary platforms

• Holidu: 6% excl. VAT per booking (down to 3% depending on the plan), on top of the original channel’s commission. Payout on arrival day, protection up to €50,000.
• HomeToGo: 15% per booking, or a subscription from €249 per year.
• Plum Guide: 3% or 16.5% depending on the model, for selected (high-end) homes only.
• Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy: commission not published, around 15% according to third parties, from 10 professionally managed homes.

Key takeaways

1. The headline commission is not the only line: check who pays (host only or split), the payout delay and damage protection.
2. Diversifying costs little if your software distributes automatically to several channels. Check the channel list in the software comparison.
3. Compare platforms with each other: Airbnb vs Booking, Airbnb vs Vrbo, or the whole Distribution family.