Hostshare Versus Home Exchange

First off, what is home swapping?

James Chen explains it well in this article from Investopdia - “A house swap, or home swap, is a temporary exchange of homes. It allows two people or families to enjoy a change of scenery with all the amenities of a home and without the costs and fees of a hotel.

House swaps are most commonly sought for vacation stays but these short-term arrangements may be a practical solution for many people who need accommodations away from home.”

Hostshare, created for Airbnb/VRBO hosts offers more flexibility when traveling. We like to call it home SHARING :) Instead of a direct swap, simply add your listing to the platform in less than a few minutes. Once approved, you are instantly credited with 21 free travel nights to use at any other hosts home on the platform.

What sets Hostshare apart from the home swapping platform, Home Exchange?

🧳 Nights available to travel -

Hostshare: 10x available average annual nights per listing.

Home Exchange: Less than 2 weeks per year available only in a single booking.

Key Difference: Hostshare stands out with its generous offering, boasting an average of 21 travel nights per year, per listing. This abundance of options caters to the diverse scheduling needs of hosts, offering ample opportunity for travel without the constraint of tight booking windows. On the flip side, Home Exchange presents a more limited offering, with availability capped at less than two weeks per year. This stark contrast in availability highlights the different approaches of the two platforms, with Hostshare prioritizing ease and abundance of travel opportunities, while Home Exchange provides a more traditional, albeit restricted, exchange experience.

💰 Fee’s -

Hostshare: $0 platform nightly rates. Just pay for cleaning. Annual membership fee of $395.

Home Exchange: $220 Membership fee, also nightly fee’s and cleaning fee’s.

Key Difference: Hostshare has a higher annual membership fee but does not charge platform nightly rates, while Home Exchange has a lower membership fee but includes nightly fees and cleaning costs.

🏡 Listing Type -

Hostshare: All listings are commercial, 4.5 star+ rated short term rentals.

Home Exchange: Primary residences and second homes - not typically set up as a vacation rental home.

Key Difference: Hostshare focuses on commercial short-term rentals with high ratings, while Home Exchange primarily offers primary residences and second homes for home swapping experiences.

⏰ Lead Time To Travel -

Hostshare: Hostshare allows travelers to book accommodations instantly. Once a listing is approved, it becomes instantly available for booking, and they are credited with 21 travel nights, providing quick and convenient access to accommodations for spontaneous trips or planned getaways.

Home Exchange: In contrast, Home Exchange users often host guests before utilizing the platform themselves. This means that many users offer their homes for exchange after experiencing hosting guests from other platforms or through personal connections, resulting in a community of hosts with prior hosting experience.

Key Difference: Hostshare offers immediate access to approved listings once their listing is approved and live, while Home Exchange users typically have prior hosting experience before engaging in home exchanges through the platform.

🔒 Verification Process-

Hostshare: Hostshare maintains a strict verification process where every traveler is also a verified host/owner or a professional in the short-term rental industry. This ensures a level of trust and security within the platform, as all users have been vetted for authenticity and expertise in hosting or property management.

Home Exchange: Unlike Hostshare, Home Exchange is open to the general public, allowing anyone to join and book accommodations. There is no specific verification process tailored to hosts or travelers, making the platform accessible to a wide range of users without stringent requirements.

Key Difference: Hostshare requires users to undergo verification as hosts or short-term rental professionals, promoting trust and reliability within the community, while Home Exchange is open to the general public, offering accessibility to a broader user base without specific verification criteria.

So.. Why Hostshare?

When you travel with Hostshare, not only do you save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on stays, but you are staying at a home that is managed and maintained by a short term rental operator. Check out this breakdown of a recent Hostshare stay:

Are you ready to explore and stay for free? Sign up now!