10 Apps Like Airbnb to Travel the World Effortlessly in 2023
Introduction:
We understand that your mind has a thousand questions on how to go about building an app like Airbnb. You can talk to the best travel app development company in the USA to clear all your doubts about app developmentThis blog sheds light on some of the prominent topics related to vacation rental app development. Topics such as what is Airbnb, how Airbnb works, its business model, and essential features. So, read on!
What Is Airbnb?
Airbnb connects people who want to rent out their property and people who need it. The app like Airbnb managed to transform the ‘vacation rental model’ for the better.
Airbnb has become an evident example of how connecting the desired product with an honest customer experience can define a brand’s purpose. This vision of the future has inspired many individuals to seek different yet bankable ways that cater to service innovation.
Airbnb has generated high revenue for the gig economy. The gig economy is prevalent to laborers that work with short-term contracts and freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.
Millennials are especially attracted to this sector and are willing to share their homes with travelers and Airbnb happens to be the most favored rental service that exhibits this tendency. There are many Airbnb alternatives with feature-rich websites and apps doing a great job like Airbnb.
Why There Is a Need for Airbnb Alternatives?
Airbnb launched in 2008 and since then it is a useful place to rent houses, cottages, and others. Many travel lovers have this app on their mobile phones as it makes traveling effortless.
But here is a catch, Airbnb prices have raised since its launch. Many people can’t afford its services. Moreover, new apps like Airbnb have advanced features and more services to offer their users.
Many stakeholders took the rising prices of Airbnb as an opportunity to create a cheaper app and take over the market. Travelers don’t only use Airbnb, they also use Airbnb alternatives for cost-effective services. They also look for reviews and feedback before using apps. An app like Yelp is a platform where you can check reviews.
Top 10 Airbnb Alternatives to Use in 2023
Here is the list of top apps like Airbnb. Check out which apps are the competition for your future app.
- Vrbo
- HomeAway
- Booking.com
- FlipKey
- HomeStay
- OYO Rooms
- Outdoorsy
- Onefinestay
- Plum Guide
- Agoda Homes
How Does Airbnb Work?
Airbnb offers services in multitudes ranging from lodging accommodations to a variety of other travel experiences. If you wish to create a platform similar to this you should understand how it works best from a consumer’s perspective.
If you manage to fill all the loopholes that can act as a hindrance to the users then you would be pretty close to having created a potentially successful business model.
What is the most important thing one looks for while choosing a hotel for a vacation? We always have underlying insecurity of whether we’re safe where we are or not.
Here the situation is even more delicate – how can one feel safe with a stranger staying across the hall? Or how would you feel if you were a stranger that had to rely on an owner you’ve never met before?
Airbnb has managed to find solutions to almost all of these core issues. The platform allows many different types of individuals to provide their service on the Airbnb app:
- Millennials, homeowners, and empty nesters are always looking for opportunities to earn a few bucks to help pay their college fees, mortgage, and rent.
- The other type is people who are fond of meeting new people from around the world. People often make new friends either with their guests or with their hosts.
- The most prevalent though are explorers. These individuals make the most of a service like Airbnb.
If you’re keen on experiencing how the locals live in the place you travel to who’d provide you with a better experience than a local residing there?
The working model of Airbnb has two major participants:
- Guests
- Hosts
How Does Airbnb Work for the Guests?
- To start using the app the user has to try the web version or download the iOS or Android apps from their respective play stores.
- The user then has to register for the first time or can log in using their credentials.
- This is followed by the completion of the guest profile by updating other id proofs, pictures, id numbers, and much more.
- After the user completes the preceding prerequisites they can start looking for lodging accommodations that are termed as “stay’ by the app. Users are provided with various filters such as location, type of space, and price, to help them find the exact place fitting their budget.
- A user can then apply for a stay and will later receive a confirmation mail if the request is approved.
- The last step is visiting the place and enjoying life with the locals.
How Does Airbnb Work for Hosts?
- The user has to follow similar steps as we learned above. They visit the respective Play Stores or web version of the app and get over the initial registration or login process.
- During the login process, the user registering as a host also has to provide confirmed proof that they’re over the age of 18.
- It is required that the hosts take real photos of their stay and set a price. Airbnb also provides an option to hire professional photographers to upload decent pictures.
- As a guest requests a stay the host can initiate a conversation and discuss all the important details such as hygiene and cleanliness standards, quiet hours, and much more.
- If the host is comfortable they can approve the stay. But it’s the host’s right to cancel the stay for some time.
- The host receives their payment within 24 hours after the guest checks in. The guest then has the option to review the host and the place.
Business Model: How Does Airbnb Make Money?
Having a sturdy business model is the basis of every business. Airbnb offers a business model that appeals to the mass market by helping them connect uniquely. It helps connect travelers, experience providers, and hosts in the most digitally proficient way possible. It uses a rating system to do the preceding task.
Here are some facts about Airbnb
- The app has over 6.6 million active listings worldwide
- 100K cities and towns with Airbnb listings
- 220+ countries and regions with Airbnb listings
- 1.4 billion guest arrivals all time
- 4 million hosts
- 14000 dollars earned by the typical host in the USA in 2022
Travelers can rent spaces all over the world and rent private homes.
On the other side, it also offers owners to list their spaces and earn rental money.
Though Airbnb offers much more than affordable lodging options, It provides one access to the local culture and distinctive spaces and helps a user experience ‘Home’ anywhere they go.
It earns revenue from both the participants of the process i.e. the guests and the hosts. It charges a booking fee of 6-12% to the guests and a 3% commission to the host on a successful transaction.
Key Features of Apps Like Airbnb
Planning for developing apps like Airbnb? You should know the features of this app. So that you can use them for Airbnb comparison.
Here is the list of features
- Registration
- Log in
- Advanced Search
- Communication Panel
- Secured Payment Options
- Accommodations
The user has to sign up through a dedicated email and password registration to gather authentic information about the user.
- Login/ Sign-in:
A user will then log in using their mail credentials or can also use other social media handles to sign in. Also, there should be a forgotten password and a logout option to make your app more user-friendly.
- Advanced Search:
The advanced search allows you to search homes and lodging accommodations using various filters of price, and geolocation. It also allows them to plan their stay as per the set dates of their trip.
- Communication Panel:
Having an efficient communication channel that promotes communication between the guest and the host is of prime importance. It should allow them to share photos and videos while also offering provisions to share their location. Airbnb is different from Uber. You can compare the Uber app features with Airbnb.
- Secure Payment Options:
This is the most crucial part of creating an app like Airbnb. As users from all over the world are trusting you with their confidential information, you must use secure methods to process their payments.
- Accommodations:
This is an essential feature for the hosts. The hosts need to upload photos and videos to advertise their vacant spaces. There should be integrated tools and options that allow the hosts to do the same.
Improved Search Features of Airbnb in 2023
Airbnb just introduced some intuitive new features in 2023. You can also add such features to your app, and make it a cutting-edge software solution.
1) Home Highlights:
It provides additional relevant information based on your searches. For example, if you are traveling with infants and toddlers, then the app will show you highlights of cribs, high chairs, and changing tables which are crucial amenities for kids.
2) Search by Month:
You can ‘dial in’ the number of months for your stay using the search by month tab. This way, you can see average monthly rates than the night rates. It shows amenities ideal for long stays.
3) Smart Autocomplete:
Now you can see more relevant place suggestions while searching for the palaces because of the smart autocomplete feature. It also provides an improved place naming, and fewer duplicates to reduce your confusion about the place.
4) Points of Interest:
When you search for an address, it shows how far is listing from what you have searched. For example, if you search Eiffel Tower, the search result will indicate the particular listing is a 5 minutes walk from Eiffel Tower.
What Is the Cost of Building an App Like Airbnb?
The cost of app development depends on various factors. So, no two apps have the same cost of development. The size and complexity level of an app need more time from developers and it directly affects your budget.
The cost of developing an app like Airbnb is around $30,000. If you want a custom app with more advanced features the cost can go up to $50,000.
A team of developers and other professionals work on the project of app and website development. So, their salaries determine the final cost of an app. Moreover, the app development platforms also affect your budget.
- An iOS app development cost- $8000-12000
- An Android App Development Cost- $6000 – 9000
Many times stakeholders want specific features and designs so designers have to use more resources to build a unique UX/UI interface for the app. While deciding on the budget make sure you consider all the factors.
How to Build an App Like Airbnb?
Seeing the business model of Airbnb, you may find it a worthful bet to start your business. However, app development is not an easy task if you are from a non-technical background.
You can hire an on-demand app development company to build an app like Airbnb for you.
Consider the below steps before you start.
- Research the market
- Analyze competitors’ apps and websites
- Decide on features and designs
- Discuss with developers
- Compare the cost of a travel app
- Know the policies of app development companies
You can also go through the below video and know how to build apps like Airbnb.
Key Takeaways:
Above we learned how a vacation rental business like Airbnb functions on the ground level. The portal was launched in 2008 and has managed to reach significant heights in the following years. The reason behind the success of this app is the strong business model and its ability to adapt with time.
Airbnb has managed to capture a niche that already faced great problems when they wanted to travel and try the local life for a few days. Hence, knowing your crowd’s problems and the issues they’re currently facing is one of the core research that one should do to build an app like Airbnb.
The whole app development process can be a long and cumbersome one. One can always seek free consultation from a professional app development company like Technource. Our consultation includes gaining complete insight into your app idea and then brainstorming solutions that cater to your needs.
Technource’s team of researchers has found out the wide scope of Airbnb-like apps can suggest you numerous unique features that you can provide your users within your app apart from basic features. Our on-demand app development service includes best-in-class technical expertise to build such apps within the time frame.
Get in touch with our app development expert to get the free app demo and other real info about how you can turn your app idea into reality.
We follow the Agile-Scrum methodology to develop our native and cross-platform web application development services. Serving the professional IT sector for 10+ years we have gained a repute for ourselves and considerable experience to take on any challenge you throw our way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Airbnb less costly than hotels?
Does Airbnb allow you to stay at someone’s home?
What are the cheaper alternatives than Airbnb?
Is Airbnb expensive?
