Key Takeaways
Commission models eat into your profit as your business grows.
Subscription software offers predictable, scalable costs.
Avantio’s 0% commission model supports long-term ROI and operational control.
Real data: Property managers using Avantio report higher occupancy and reduced admin time.
What is commission-based software?
Commission-based vacation rental software charges a percentage on every booking, usually between 0.9% and 2% of revenue.
This pricing model lowers the initial cost but scales up with your success — the more bookings you generate, the more you pay in software fees.
It’s often used by entry-level platforms like Lodgify (1.9% per booking) or Smoobu (0.9%), and while it suits smaller portfolios, it can quickly become expensive for professional agencies managing 20+ units.
What is subscription-based software?
Subscription-based software uses a flat monthly or per-property fee with no booking commissions. This means your costs stay predictable, no matter how many reservations you process.
Leading examples include Avantio, Hostaway, and Guesty, which provide all-in-one property management systems and channel managers under one transparent fee.
Predictable pricing makes budgeting easier, increases ROI, and helps agencies scale profitably.
| Software/Channel Manager | Monthly Fee (Base) | Commission Rate | Notes/Highlights |
| Smoobu | From €26.10 + VAT | 0.9% per booking (Flex plan); 0% on prepaid | Flex plan charges per booking; prepaid is commission-free |
| Lodgify | From €13 + VAT | 1.9% of sales | Low monthly fee and per-booking commission |
| Avantio | From €140 + VAT | 0% | No commission; suited for larger agencies |
| Hostaway | From €100 + VAT | 0% | Flat fee, no commission |
| Uplisting | From $24/month | 0% | Only base fee, no commission |
| Cloudbeds | Custom | Custom | Pricing model varies per client |
| Tokeet | From $12/month | 0% | No commission, budget-friendly |
| Your.Rentals | $20/listing/month | 0% | Minimum spend per listing |
| Guesty | $9/listing (Lite, annual) | 1% per reservation (Lite plan); custom % or fee on Pro/Enterprise | Lite plan charges 1%. Other plans require quote, may be higher |
Why predictable pricing wins for growing agencies
Scaling a property-management business introduces dozens of moving parts: owner payments, staff schedules, multiple OTAs, and hundreds of guest messages. The last thing you need is fluctuating software costs.
With subscription pricing:
- Budgets stay stable — no surprises at month-end.
- Growth is rewarded, not penalized.
- ROI is measurable: every euro you save in fees becomes direct profit.
Real case studies:
- Cubo’s Holiday Homes grew to 400 properties and improved occupancy by 42 % after centralizing operations with Avantio’s PMS + Channel Manager.
- Location Lac Annecy achieved a 30 % increase in direct bookings using Avantio’s integrated website and booking engine.
- InOutArgentina cut manual admin time by 70 % through automation tools.
The hidden weight of commissions
A 2 % booking fee may sound minimal until you do the math.
If an agency generates €50,000 in monthly bookings, that’s €1,000 in commissions — every month.
At €200,000 in bookings, the fee climbs to €4,000.
Multiply that by twelve months, and you’re funding another employee or losing a marketing budget to platform fees.
Subscription pricing protects your margin as you scale.
How OTAs amplify the difference
Even before software costs, OTAs take their share:
| Platform | Average commission |
| Booking.com | 15 – 25 % |
| Expedia Group | 15 – 30 % |
| Airbnb | 3 – 15 % |
| Vrbo | 5 % + 3 % payment fee |
When you combine OTA commissions with commission-based software, your effective cost per booking can easily exceed 20 %.
That’s why leading agencies pair subscription-based PMS software with selective OTA distribution — maximizing reach, not dependency.
Avantio’s native Channel Manager connects with 50 + portals (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Google Vacation Rentals) while maintaining 0 % extra commission. You keep control of pricing, policies, and profit.
Flexibility and control over your business
A commission model often ties your success to someone else’s terms.
A subscription model — particularly Avantio’s — gives you full ownership of:
- Data and branding: Your guest and owner data remain yours.
- Financial clarity: Monthly or annual payments, adjustable as you grow.
- Feature access: PMS + Channel Manager included; optional add-ons for websites, online check-in, digital marketing, or white-label branding.
- Support: Multilingual 1:1 onboarding and 24/7 email + chat assistance.
You’re not paying for uncertainty — you’re paying for partnership.
Real ROIs: What property managers are achieving in 2025
| Client | Portfolio size | Result with Avantio | Key feature used |
| Cubo’s Holiday Homes | 400 + | +42 % occupancy | PMS + Channel Manager |
| Location Lac Annecy | 100 + | +30 % direct bookings | Custom website |
| InOutArgentina | 50 + | –70 % admin time | Automation tools |
| Island Holiday Company | 100 + | +25 % owner satisfaction | Owner portal |
| Aloha Rentals | 80 + | +15 % revenue | Dynamic Pricing + Orphan Days |
Predictable pricing lets every one of these agencies reinvest savings into marketing, staffing, and guest experience — the levers that actually grow revenue.
Ready to scale without losing control?
Book a demo with our team and get a personalized quote that fits your growth plan.
Schedule a callFAQs
1. Does Avantio charge any commission on bookings?
No. Avantio works on a 0% commission model, meaning you keep 100% of your booking revenue.
This is one of the biggest differences compared to platforms like Lodgify or Smoobu, which charge 0.9–1.9% per booking.
2. How much does Avantio cost per month?
Avantio’s pricing adapts to your portfolio size and region.
All pricing plans include PMS + Channel Manager with no hidden booking or processing fees.
3. What makes a subscription model better than a commission model?
Subscription pricing gives you predictable monthly costs and higher margins as you grow.
Commission models might seem cheaper at first, but fees scale with every booking — reducing profitability as your portfolio expands.
4. How can I get a personalized quote or see Avantio in action?
You can request a demo tailored to your market:
UK & Europe: Book a demo with our European team.
USA: Talk to our US specialists about commission-free growth.
Disclaimer: The data and figures referenced in this blog post are sourced from third-party reports and publicly available information. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, Avantio does not guarantee the reliability of these external sources. The content shared is for informational purposes only and does not represent an endorsement of any specific competitor or product.
