Airbnb vs Vrbo Fees for Hosts: 2026 Comparison
Airbnb charges most hosts 15.5% and Vrbo moves to a flat 12% on October 29, 2026. Here's a side-by-side comparison, with real dollar examples and how direct bookings compare.
Updated 5 min read
Platform fees changed a lot in 2026. Airbnb finished moving hosts to a single host-only service fee, and Vrbo announced a flat commission that takes effect on October 29, 2026. If you list on both, here is what each one actually costs you.
The short answer
| Platform | Host fee | What it's charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | 15.5% for most hosts | Booking subtotal (nightly rate plus cleaning and other fees) |
| Vrbo (from Oct 29, 2026) | 12% | Each booking, as a single flat commission |
| Vrbo (before Oct 29, 2026) | About 8% | 5% commission plus 3% payment processing |
| Your own website | No commission | Only your website cost and card processing |
Some Airbnb hosts pay between 14% and 16% depending on location and settings, and your Vrbo terms can depend on your account. Always check your own dashboard for the exact rate.
Airbnb's fee
Airbnb used to split its fee: hosts paid about 3% and guests paid a separate service fee at checkout. Under the newer host-only model, guests see one all-in price and the host pays the whole fee, which is 15.5% for most hosts. Because the fee comes out of your payout, it's easy to underestimate how much it adds up to over a year.
Vrbo's fee
Vrbo's pay-per-booking hosts have paid about 8% (a 5% commission plus a 3% payment processing fee). Starting October 29, 2026, Vrbo replaces that with a flat 12% commission, while lowering the fees guests pay. We cover the details in Vrbo's new 12% commission explained.
What it costs on a $2,000 booking
| Where the guest books | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb (15.5%) | $310 | $1,690 |
| Vrbo (12%) | $240 | $1,760 |
| Your own website (about 3% card processing) | About $60 | About $1,940 |
Over 15 bookings a year, the gap between Airbnb and a direct booking is roughly $3,750. Run your own numbers in our fee calculator.
Which platform is cheaper for hosts?
On fees alone, Vrbo at 12% is now cheaper than Airbnb at 15.5%, but the gap is much smaller than it used to be. In practice, the right platform depends on where your guests come from: many owners find Vrbo stronger for families and longer stays, and Airbnb stronger for short trips. Most owners list on both.
The cheapest booking is a direct one
Neither platform is cheap anymore, so the biggest savings come from moving repeat guests and referrals to your own website. Keep the platforms for discovery, and give the guests who already know you a place to book that doesn't take a cut. Here's how to get more direct bookings.