A Hostfully guidebook alternative that costs less
The Hostfully digital guidebook is free for one guidebook, then priced per guidebook in US dollars. It syncs with Hostfully's own PMS, and their team won't build it for you. HostOwls builds a guidebook for each guest from your reservations, on Resly or any PMS with an open API, and it's free for your first property.
Hostfully facts checked 22 Oct 2026 from their pricing page and checkout.
Hostfully guidebook pricing next to HostOwls
Total per month. HostOwls in AUD. Hostfully in USD, the way they publish it; we don't convert. Hostfully Pro prices come from their checkout, because the public pricing page doesn't show them.
| Properties | HostOwls guidebook (AUD) | HostOwls AI messaging (AUD) | Hostfully Free (USD) | Hostfully Pro (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 property | FreeFirst property is free | A$3.75 to A$6A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | US$01 guidebook | US$12US$12 per guidebook |
| 5 properties | A$7.60 to A$15First property free, then A$1.90 to A$3.75 each | A$18.75 to A$30A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | Covers 1 guidebook only | works out to US$45US$9 per guidebook |
| 20 properties | A$36.10 to A$71.25First property free, then A$1.90 to A$3.75 each | A$75 to A$120A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | Covers 1 guidebook only | works out to US$120US$6 per guidebook |
| 100 properties | A$188.10 to A$371.25First property free, then A$1.90 to A$3.75 each | A$375 to A$600A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included | Covers 1 guidebook only | works out to US$600US$6 per guidebook |
- Pro per-guidebook price by count: 1: US$12, 2: US$11, 3 to 4: US$10, 5 to 6: US$9, 7 to 9: US$8, 10 to 14: US$7, 15 to 19: US$6.50, 20+: US$6. Pro covers up to 199 guidebooks.
- Totals assume the checkout rate applies to every guidebook at that count.
- Annual billing saves 10%. Enterprise (200+ guidebooks) is by quote.
- 1% Stripe fee on marketplace upsells.
- HostOwls: no setup fee, contract or commission.
Checked 22 Oct 2026 from hostfully.com/pricing/digital-guidebooks and their checkout. Prices change; tell us if this is out of date.
Features, side by side
What each company says it does. Where Hostfully's guidebook pages don't say, we say so rather than guess.
| Feature | HostOwls | Hostfully guidebooks |
|---|---|---|
| Setup method | Connect your PMS once. The guidebook builds itself from reservations; house rules and local tips are yours to write. | Syncs with Hostfully PMS and devices only. Their team won’t build the guidebook for you; there is a Quick Start Wizard and weekly office hours. |
| 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 | AI messaging plan, A$3.75 to A$6 per property, guidebook included. Replies come from guidebook data. | AI Itinerary Planner on all plans. AI guest messaging is not described. |
| 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. | Not described on their pricing page. |
| PMS connection, incl. Resly | Resly, plus any PMS with an open API (for example Hostaway, Guesty, Lodgify, Smoobu, OwnerRez). | Hostfully PMS only. Resly is not listed. |
| Free tier | Guidebook free for 1 property. | Free plan: 1 guidebook. |
| Setup fee and contract | No setup fee, contract or commission. | Cancel anytime, no cancellation fees. Setup fee not stated. 1% Stripe fee on marketplace upsells. |
Checked 22 Oct 2026 from hostfully.com/pricing/digital-guidebooks. Prices change; tell us if this is out of date.
Where Hostfully is the better fit
- You already run Hostfully PMS. Hostfully has its own PMS, and the guidebook syncs with it and with your devices.
- You want an itinerary planner for guests. Hostfully's AI Itinerary Planner is on every guidebook plan.
- You sell upsells in the guidebook. Hostfully has a marketplace for them, with a 1% Stripe fee.
- You like guided onboarding. Hostfully offers a Quick Start Wizard and weekly office hours.
Where HostOwls is the better fit
- Your PMS isn't Hostfully. HostOwls connects to Resly, plus any PMS with an open API.
- You don't want to build it. Hostfully's team won't build your guidebook. HostOwls builds one from each reservation.
- You want per-guest details. Each guest's link has their own door code, Wi-Fi and check-in time.
- You're paying for several properties. At 5 properties the HostOwls guidebook is A$7.60 to A$15 a month; Hostfully Pro is US$9 per guidebook. At 20 it's A$36.10 to A$71.25, against US$6 per guidebook.
Switching from Hostfully guidebooks
Hostfully says you can cancel anytime with no cancellation fees, so you can run both until you're sure.
- Connect your PMS.Resly, or any PMS with an open API. If your PMS is Hostfully, ask us in the demo whether we can connect to it.
- Check a real guidebook.Open the link for an upcoming stay. The door code, Wi-Fi and times should already be there.
- Copy across what only you know.House rules, local tips and appliance notes from your Hostfully guidebooks.
- Run both, then cancel.Send HostOwls links for a few stays, then cancel Hostfully Pro.
Related
The guidebook in detail, full pricing and the other guidebook comparison.
Questions hosts ask
How much does a Hostfully guidebook cost?
The Hostfully digital guidebook has a free plan for 1 guidebook. Pro is priced per guidebook per month in USD, from US$12 for one down to US$6 each at 20 or more, and covers up to 199 guidebooks. Pro prices appear at their checkout, not on the public pricing page. Annual billing saves 10%. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
Does the Hostfully digital guidebook work without Hostfully PMS?
Their guidebook pricing page says it syncs with Hostfully PMS and devices only. No other PMS sync is listed there.
How long does setup take?
We don’t have a number we can stand behind for either product, so we won’t quote one. Hostfully says its team won’t build the guidebook for you, and offers a Quick Start Wizard and weekly office hours. With HostOwls, guest details fill in from reservations once your PMS is connected; you write house rules and local tips once.
Does Hostfully have AI guest messaging?
Its guidebook plans include an AI Itinerary Planner. AI guest messaging is not described on the guidebook pricing page. HostOwls AI messaging is a separate plan with the guidebook included.
Why are Hostfully prices shown in US dollars?
That is how Hostfully publishes them. We show each company’s prices in the currency they use and don’t convert, so nothing shifts with the exchange rate.
Get your first guidebook free.
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