How to Build Apps Like Airbnb and How Much Does it Cost?

Travellers often crave home-like accommodation. They want a place where they can feel like home.

Airbnb understood this long ago and emerged as the world's best rental booking platform, as it offers flexibility, affordability and of course, a home-like experience.

It has over 7.7 million property listings displayed by 4 million hosts in its application.

Over the years, the Vacation Rentals market generated revenue of around US$107.87 billion worldwide in 2025. This is expected to increase to US$149.19 billion by 2030.

Although Airbnb is the leading platform in the industry, it still owns only 20% of the vacation rental market. It shows that this industry has huge potential for growth.

Business owners interested in the travel industry can make space for themselves - all they need is apps like Airbnb.

In case you want to enter this industry and are trying to figure out how to create an Airbnb-like app, then this guide is for you.

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb is an online platform that allows landowners to rent out their accommodations to lodging seekers for short-term rental purposes (a few days duration). 

To put it simply, it’s an international web-based platform that connects home seekers (guests) with property owners (hosts) who want to rent out their space. 

Since 2008, this rental platform has transformed the way people used to search for short-term stays. 

It provides hosts a platform to list their properties (a small room or a full apartment), add prices, and select the duration for which the property is available for listing. 

For guests, they can choose the relevant property based on location and pricing. Booking a rental through Airbnb is cheaper than booking a traditional hotel. 

If you want to ease users in searching, booking, and managing their stays, then developing a similar app to Airbnb can be a game changer for your business.   

Do You Know How Exactly Airbnb Works?

Warren Buffet once said – Cost is the thing you pay for, and value is the thing you get in return. Airbnb works on these 2 things – cost and value. 

The business model of Airbnb works in such a way that hosts can rent out their unused or vacant space to someone looking for a short-term stay in return for money. While guests are looking for a perfect home-like stay experience. 

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How Does Airbnb Work for Guests to Book a Stay?

Here are the simple steps for guests to book a stay on Airbnb:

Step 1: The first step for users is to visit the website or download the mobile application.

Step 2: The next step is to log in as a guest and set up a profile by sharing necessary information, such as profile picture, ID number, and more.

Step 3: The guests can search for an ideal place for their stay using Airbnb's various filters, i.e., price, space type, location, and more.

Step 4: Once the guest is satisfied with the place, he requests a stay, makes the payment, and receives confirmation.

Step 5: The final step for the guests is to travel and enjoy the stay!

How Does Airbnb Work for Hosts?

Here are the simple steps for hosts to follow while listing their accommodation for stay:

Step 1: The property owner should register or log in as a host and confirm that the user's age is above 18.

Step 2: The next step for the host is to register a property on Airbnb and add important information such as location, number of guests, type of apartment, and more.

Step 3: The property owners also need to upload real images of the apartment and set the price. The property owners can also hire professional photographers for high-quality images.

Step 4: Thereafter, whenever a guest requests a stay, the host has to begin a conversation and discuss details, like quiet hours, parking, transportation, etc.

Step 5: Based on the conversation, the host has the option to approve or reject the stay.

Step 6: The host receives the payment in around 24 hours once the guest checks in. The renter has to confirm that the listing is as good as expected.

What does their revenue model look like?

Airbnb employs a commission-based revenue model. It has a good marketing strategy for earning revenue. 

It charges 6-12% of the total booking fee from the guest and 3% of the total booking fee from the host. Thus, it’s a win-win for Airbnb as it earns a good amount of revenue from both parties.  

To develop an apps like Airbnb, you should perform your market research and think from the perspective of target users – property owners and travelers.  

Airbnb has grown significantly over the last few years. It has become a billion-dollar company. As per reports, Airbnb revenue for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, was $2.272B, which is a 6.07% increase year-over-year.

What Are The MUST-HAVE Features of Building a Similar App Like Airbnb?

To design an Airbnb-like app for guests, here are a few features you should add during your development process

Let’s discuss some of the essential features (hosts) you should include while designing a similar application like Airbnb – 

How To Build an Application Like Airbnb in 6 Simple Steps?

To build a successful Airbnb-like app, you need to follow a few steps as given below-  

1. Do Overall Market Research

When building an application like Airbnb, do some thorough market research to validate your business idea.  

In the case of Airbnb, they identified their target customers clearly. Ask yourself whether you want to cater to people looking for budget-friendly stays or luxury accommodations.  

Hop on interviews and focus group sessions with your target customers to find out pain points, challenges, and preferences. This way, you can collect unique insights about them. 

Analyze the existing competitor apps and study their strengths and weaknesses, evaluate their marketing strategies and what services they offer. Taking inspiration from successful players is always a GOOD MOVE. 

2. Deciding the Features of an App

To build an Airbnb-like app, think about what features and functionalities you would add to make your app stand out. 

Start with an MVP version and add minimal yet necessary features (managing bookings, user profiles) in developing a similar app. 

Once your app gains traction and you collect user feedback, you can update the final version accordingly. Then, you can expand your app with more advanced features such as integration of AI and ML features. 

3. Creating an Engaging UI/UX Design  

The designers convert the design idea into prototypes, mockups, and wireframes.  

The interface of the app /website design should be intuitive and seamless so that users won’t abandon the app. 

A UI/UX that’s visually appealing and easy to use increases user engagement. As a UI/UX design agency, we create a design system by choosing colors, defining the typography, and selecting icons. The Figma plugins accelerate the design process. 

4. Developing an App  

The development process of the Airbnb-like app involved deciding the front-end and back-end elements of the app. Front-end developers are responsible for creating engaging user interfaces.   

While backend developers will write the code based on design specifications. If you plan to develop an Airbnb-like marketplace, you need a technology stack and infrastructure for front-end development, backend frameworks, programming languages, and databases. 

React.js, Vue.js, and Angular.js are considered good choices for front-end development.  

While server-side logic can be implemented using frameworks including Node.js, Python, and Ruby. 

But, if you don’t have technical knowledge, you can outsource software developers or hire a software developer. 

Investing in in-house developers is quite an expensive option for pre-funding startups or the ones who don’t have a Fortune 500 budget. Outsourcing software development is cost cost-effective option for you, plus you can control your development process. 

5. Testing and Quality Assurance  

After developing the Airbnb-like app, the testing team performs manual and automated testing to detect bugs and see whether the application's performance is affected.  

Once the app is optimized for performance, developers can make the app live on the App Store or Play Store. 

6. Support and Maintenance 

The last stage involved in building an application like Airbnb requires continuous support and maintenance. 

As the app gains huge prominence in the market, the number of users also increases, and if you don’t update your app to the latest version or add new features, it will not function effectively.   

With the help of analytics tools and data, you can analyse the user’s feedback and tweak the app’s performance accordingly. 

Technologies & Team Required To Create a Similar App to Airbnb 

Here are a few technologies that are used in developing application like Airbnb, and you should be aware of such a tech stack- 

What is The Cost of Developing Apps Like Airbnb?

The cost of building a basic Airbnb-like application costs around $35,000 and $55,000. If you want to develop an application that requires scalable infrastructure and rich features, the development cost might increase to as high as $250,000. 

Even though the minimum development cost can lie somewhere between $50,000 -$250,000 but be ready to bear additional costs as it depends on several factors such as features, infrastructure requirements, or long-time servicing support. 

This is just an estimated figure, as the cost of developing a mobile app depends on various factors, which are given below: 

• App complexity 
• Features and functionalities (basic/advanced) 
• Expertise of developers 
• Location of the development team 
• Third-party integrations 
• Technology stack 
• UI/UX design 
• Infrastructure and scalability 
• Security 
• Maintenance and updates 

1. Type of Features  

The cost of creating an app like Airbnb varies with the type of features you add. If you want to add basic features such as sign-up, user registration, property listings, basic search and filter options, and inbox messaging support, then development costs would be lower. 

However, if you plan to integrate advanced features like ratings and reviews, dynamic pricing, personalized recommendations, AR/VR integration, or promotional notifications, the development cost would be higher. 

2. Choice of Platform  

The cost depends on whether you want to develop a native app or a cross-platform app. Creating a native iOS or Android application is the most expensive task as it requires more development time and effort. Though creating a native mobile app isn’t affordable, it’s a feasible choice when it comes to delivering app performance. 

Developing a cross-platform app is more affordable as it uses a single codebase to create an app that works across multiple platforms. You can opt for cross-platform if you can compromise on application performance. 

3. Location of Developers  

Development prices vary depending on the geographic location of developers. Developers in regions such as North America and Western Europe charge more compared to those in Eastern Europe or Asian countries. 

Software developers in Asian countries can provide good quality work, comparable to North American developers, but at a fraction of the price due to lower costs of living. 

4. Maintenance Updates  

Your app development cost will increase if you opt for ongoing support and maintenance. Mobile app development companies that provide post-launch app support charge more for adding new updates or fixing bugs, if any.  

5. Third-Party Integrations  

Integration of third-party services (payment gateways, APIs, social media integration, location services, language assistance) enhances user experience but adds to the overall app development cost. 

For instance, integration with Google Maps is beneficial when you want to display property locations to guests. Adding such functionality raises the price of your application. 

6. Compliance and Security Standards  

When building an Airbnb-like app, ensure that it complies with security and compliance standards such as PCI compliance for payments. 

Adding extra layers of security, such as encryption, identity verification, and data protection protocols, increases your app development cost. 

7. Expertise and Size of Development Team  

Your overall app development cost is influenced by your team’s experience.  

Hiring a dedicated development team consisting of multiple members, such as backend developers, frontend developers, project managers, and UI/UX designers, increases costs, especially when they’re highly skilled and reside in high-cost locations. 

What Are Some of the Best Airbnb Alternatives?

Here is the list of the best alternatives to Airbnb to get a home-like experience:

1) Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner)

In case you want an Airbnb-like experience, then Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) can be the best alternative for you.

This application can be an ideal platform for someone looking for full-home rentals, especially for families and groups who prefer privacy.

It offers a perfect collection of vacation homes, cabins, and beachfront properties across the world.

Key Features:

1. It provides tools to optimize listing descriptions and marketing.
2. New listings are boosted to the first page for performance evaluation.
3. Over 2 million properties are listed on Vrbo.
4. Both free and paid listing options are available (paid listings get more visibility).

Pricing & Integration:

1. Two pricing options for hosts/managers: 1.1) $499/year fixed subscription. 1.2) 5% per booking + 3% credit card processing fee.
2. Credit card processing fees apply regardless of pricing model.
3. Integrates with most Property Management Platforms (PMPs) like Hostfully.
4. Strong connectivity with Channel Managers, depending on your provider.

2) Booking.com

Booking.com started as a hotel booking platform. Over the years, it has expanded its services to vacation rental space, offering apartments, homes, and unique stays.

The best thing about Booking.com is its features, like cancellation policies and payment options.

The user-friendly interface and vast accommodation choices make it a perfect contender in the short-term rental market.

Key Features

1. Access to performance metrics and tools to optimize listings.
2. Flexible cancellation policy and no booking fees attract more guests.
3. Genius Program boosts visibility by helping listings appear on the first page.
4. Paid ads offer strong ROI for hosts and managers.
5. Feature-rich and user-friendly host portal.

Pricing & Integration

1. Free to list properties; 15% commission charged on completed bookings.
2. Credit card processing fees vary by provider.
3. Widely supported by top-tier Property Management Platforms (PMPs) with preferred partner status.
4. Strong integration available through most Channel Managers.

3) Plum Guide

If you are someone who loves to have a luxurious travel experience, Plum Guide is for you.

It offers high-quality homes, and strictly focuses on listing that meets hospitality and design standards, making it the best choice for users who prioritize comfort and elegance.

Key Features

1. Specializes in camping and glamping options (e.g., yurts, Airstreams, basic campsites).
2. Appeals to outdoor enthusiasts seeking unique, budget-friendly stays.
3. Offers quirky and offbeat accommodations not typically found on traditional rental platforms.
4. Listings range from basic and rustic to creatively styled glamping spots.

Pricing & Integration

1. Hosts are charged a 10% service fee per booking.
2. Limited integration with mainstream Property Management Platforms (PMPs); typically managed manually or via niche-specific tools.

4) Sonder

Sonder is considered a very good option for short-term rentals. Sonder manages over 9,000 units in over 40 cities in 10 countries and has served more than 1 million guests so far.

It provides fresh linens, toiletries, and 24/7 customer support. If you are going on a business trip, then you can definitely consider Sonder for a seamless and comfortable stay.

Key Features

1. Offers hotel-style vacation rentals with a consistent and high-quality experience.
2. Sonder manages all 4,500+ properties across 30+ major cities worldwide.
3. Designed for both short-term and long-term stays with a focus on modern, minimal design.
4. Advanced tech allows mobile-based customer support and streamlined service.
5. Properties are typically located in commercial areas of large cities, ensuring central, urban access.

Pricing & Integration

1. Sonder controls the listing process and accepts only select properties that meet its high standards.
2. Listing availability is limited to major cities and is not open to the general host community like Airbnb or Vrbo.
3. Direct integration with Property Management Platforms (PMPs) is not applicable due to Sonder's fully managed model.

5) Hipcamp

Hipcamp is best for adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, allowing travellers to book campsites, glamping accommodations, and RV spots.

This platform connects users with nature in a unique way, giving a unique and fresh experience.

Key Features

1. Hipcamp connects travelers with unique outdoor stays like cabins, tents, and glamping sites.
2. It offers immersive nature experiences in scenic, off-the-grid locations.
3. Ideal for adventurous travelers and those seeking peaceful, remote getaways.
4. Promotes eco-friendly tourism and deeper connections with nature.

Pricing & Integration

1. Hosts are charged a 10% service fee per booking.
2. Limited integration with mainstream Property Management Platforms (PMPs); often requires manual management or niche-specific tools.

6) Homestay

Some travelers love to engage with local people; they want to learn and explore local cultures.

Homestay is a platform that connects travelers with hosts who are willing to offer their accommodation, offering a unique local experience.

If you are a solo traveler, student, or someone building meaningful connections, then a homestay could be a perfect platform for you.

Key Features

1. Exclusively for spare room listings where the host is present.
2. Ideal option for a younger, budget-conscious traveler.
3. Great option for new hosts without full-property ownership.

Pricing & Integration

1. Hosts pay a 3% fee on the deposit for each booking.
2. Typically, it requires a Channel Manager to connect with your Property Management Platform (PMP).

7) FlipKey (by TripAdvisor)

Flipkey is a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, offering a vast selection of vacation rentals worldwide.

It integrates with TripAdvisor reviews, which makes it a perfect option to make an informed decision based on previous guest experiences.

Key Features

1. This platform allows travelers to book the entire trip, including accommodations, flights, and car rental.
2. Listings in the application automatically translate into 26 languages for global reach.
3. Flipkey has advanced filtering options to help target specific guest types (e.g., family-friendly, budget travelers).
4. High trust platform; positive reviews can significantly increase booking conversions.

Pricing & Integration

1. It charges a 10–15% commission per booking, with no upfront listing fees.
2. Some PMPs, like Hostfully, offer direct integration with TripAdvisor.

Wrapping Up 

This million-dollar guide has given you insights on how you can develop apps like Airbnb. Developing such apps takes days and even months, and scaling them to millions of users requires a strategic plan. 

An app becomes successful when it’s easy to navigate, accessible to users, can handle increased traffic, and can fulfil the needs of the target audience, which in this case can be managing listings (property owners) and requesting accommodation (guests). 

But if you don’t know where to start?

Then collaborating with a travel app development company can be a game changer for you. We know how to create a successful vacation rental app like Airbnb with all the advanced functionalities you need to succeed in a competitive landscape. 

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