A Conduit alternative without the enterprise price
Conduit, formerly HostAI, sells AI messaging and operations to hotel groups, resorts and short-term rental operators. Plans start at US$18 per unit a month, or US$899 a month flat on Startup. HostOwls AI messaging is A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included, with no setup fee or contract.
Conduit facts checked 22 Oct 2026 from their pricing page.
Conduit pricing next to HostOwls
Total per month. HostOwls in AUD. Conduit in USD, the way they publish it; we don't convert. Conduit's per-unit prices are "starts at", so we show them as "from".
| Properties | HostOwls AI messaging (AUD) | Conduit Messaging (USD) | Conduit Guest (USD) | Conduit Full Suite (USD) | Conduit Startup (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 property | A$3.75 to A$6A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | From US$18From US$18 per unit. 40 credits per unit | From US$30From US$30 per unit. 60 credits per unit | From US$48From US$48 per unit. 100 credits per unit | US$899Flat, 0 to 25 units, 2,000 credits |
| 5 properties | A$18.75 to A$30A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | works out to at least US$90From US$18 per unit | works out to at least US$150From US$30 per unit | works out to at least US$240From US$48 per unit | US$899Flat, 0 to 25 units |
| 20 properties | A$75 to A$120A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | works out to at least US$360From US$18 per unit | works out to at least US$600From US$30 per unit | works out to at least US$960From US$48 per unit | US$899Flat, 0 to 25 units |
| 100 properties | A$375 to A$600A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | works out to at least US$1,800From US$18 per unit | works out to at least US$3,000From US$30 per unit | works out to at least US$4,800From US$48 per unit | Covers 0 to 25 units only |
- Overwatch, a 24/7 human operations team: pricing on request.
- AI inspections add-on from US$10 per unit.
- Startup plan: no implementation fee.
- HostOwls: no setup fee, contract or commission. Conduit's trial and contract terms are not stated on its pricing page.
Checked 22 Oct 2026 from conduit.ai/pricing. Prices change; tell us if this is out of date.
Features, side by side
What each company says it does. Conduit's pricing page says little about setup or integrations, and we don't fill the gaps with guesses.
| Feature | HostOwls | Conduit |
|---|---|---|
| Setup method | Connect your PMS once. The guidebook builds itself from reservations; house rules and local tips are yours to write. | Not described on their pricing page. |
| Per-guest details | Each guest gets their own link with their door code, Wi-Fi and check-in details. | Not described on their pricing page. |
| AI messaging | Replies from the guidebook and the guest’s reservation. Guidebook included. | Yes, on every plan. Usage is metered in credits. |
| Guidebook | Included with AI messaging. Builds itself from your PMS. | Not described on their pricing page. |
| Escalation when unsure | Anything it isn’t sure of goes to a person instead of a guess. Optional Guest Support Staff: our team covers escalations at night or 24/7, with a 15-minute reply guarantee. | Messaging plan lists escalation; agents “transfer conversations when a person should take over”. Overwatch adds a 24/7 human team, price on request. |
| PMS connection, incl. Resly | Resly, plus any PMS with an open API (for example Hostaway, Guesty, Lodgify, Smoobu, OwnerRez). | Specific integrations are not named on their pricing page. |
| Free tier | No free AI messaging tier. The guidebook alone is free for 1 property. | None listed. Trial not stated. |
| Setup fee and contract | No setup fee, contract or commission. | Startup plan has no implementation fee. Contract terms not stated. |
Checked 22 Oct 2026 from conduit.ai/pricing. Prices change; tell us if this is out of date.
Where Conduit is the better fit
- You run hotels, or a mix. Conduit serves hotel groups, independent hotels, resorts, aparthotels and villas as well as short-term rentals.
- You need people on it around the clock. Conduit's Overwatch is a 24/7 human operations team, priced on request.
- You want inspections in the same tool. AI inspections are an add-on from US$10 per unit.
- You want more than messaging. Conduit sells Guest and Full Suite plans beyond its Messaging plan.
Where HostOwls is the better fit
- A small or mid-size portfolio. At 5 properties HostOwls is A$18.75 to A$30 a month. Conduit Messaging works out to at least US$90, or US$899 flat on Startup.
- A price you can predict. One published price per property. No credits to count.
- A guidebook in the same price. It builds itself from your PMS, and the AI answers from it.
- You're on Resly. HostOwls connects to it today. Conduit's pricing page doesn't name its integrations.
Switching from Conduit
Check your Conduit agreement for its notice terms first; they aren't on the pricing page. Then make sure only one AI is answering at a time.
- Connect your PMS.Resly, or any PMS with an open API.
- Check the guidebook.It builds from your reservations. The AI answers from it, so this is what guests will hear.
- Move your saved answers.House rules, local tips and anything you taught Conduit go into the guidebook.
- Turn off Conduit replies, then turn on HostOwls.Watch the handoffs for the first week.
Related
How HostOwls AI messaging works, full pricing and the other AI messaging comparisons.
Questions hosts ask
What happened to HostAI?
HostAI is now Conduit. Their site says so, and conduit.app redirects to conduit.ai.
How much does Conduit cost?
Conduit pricing is in USD per unit per month and “starts at” US$18 for Messaging (40 credits), US$30 for Guest (60 credits) and US$48 for Full Suite (100 credits). The Startup plan is US$899 a month flat for 0 to 25 units with 2,000 credits and no implementation fee. Overwatch, their 24/7 human operations team, is priced on request. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
What are Conduit credits?
Each Conduit plan includes a number of credits per unit. Their pricing page lists the credit counts; ask Conduit what uses a credit before you estimate a monthly bill.
Does Conduit work with Resly?
Conduit’s pricing page doesn’t name specific integrations, so we can’t say. HostOwls connects to Resly, plus any PMS with an open API.
Is HostOwls built for hotels?
No. HostOwls is built for short-term rentals, and we run it on 200 of our own. Conduit says it serves hotel groups, independent hotels, resorts and aparthotels as well as short-term rental operators.
Watch it answer your own guests' questions.
Book a demo and we'll show you the guidebook and replies your guests would get, built around your own listing.
- Guidebook free for your first property
- No setup fee, contract or commission
- Run by people who manage 200 rentals