- Airbnb has more listings than Vrbo.
- Vrbo offers only private rentals.
- Both platforms offer 24/7 customer support.
Vacation rentals come in all layouts and sizes. But if you’re planning to book one, there’s a good chance you’ll do it on Airbnb or Vrbo.
The two platforms are among the most popular options for travelers looking for lodging. Madeline List, a senior research analyst at Phocuswright who has studied the short-term rental industry, said there is “a lot of cross-listing” so users may find the same rental on multiple platforms.
“So there is definitely some overlap between the two platforms,” she told USA TODAY. But while they have similarities, there are some differences that may help prospective guests decide which is right for their trip.
What sets Airbnb apart?
For starters, it has more listings.
“Airbnb is huge in the space, and it’s certainly dominant,” said Madeline List, a senior research analyst at Phocuswright. The company said it had over 7.7 million listings in its 2024 spring update, as compared with more than 2 million on Vrbo.
The platform boasts greater brand awareness, too. Phocuswright’s U.S. Short-Term Rental Report 2021 – its most recent that measured that metric – found that 78% of short-term rental users surveyed were aware of Airbnb as offering that type of accommodation, while 50% named Vrbo. (Phocuswright surveyed adult consumers in the U.S. with internet access who had traveled overnight and stayed in a paid short-term rental…
