Hostfully Guidebooks review
Hostfully Guidebooks offers a digital solution to enhance guest experience with a free initial offering.
★★★★☆ 3.9 · our editorial rating
- Category
- Digital guidebooks
- Pricing
- Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Needs a PMS
- No
- Size
- Mid
The published facts, in plain English
Hostfully Guidebooks is Digital guidebooks. Published pricing: Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo. There is a free tier. It runs without a separate PMS. Scale: mid.
Data-desk note: Free-forever first guidebook + marketplace; guidebook only.
Who it’s for
This service is suitable for property owners who want to provide digital information to their guests without the need for a property management system. It's a good option for those starting out or managing a single property, with the ability to scale to multiple properties.
Our take
Hostfully Guidebooks provides a free digital guidebook for your first property, with additional guidebooks available for a monthly fee. They do not require a property management system, making it an accessible tool. The company is of mid-size in the market, offering a guidebook-only solution that can be expanded.
How it compares to BnBGenius
On the published figures alone, Hostfully Guidebooks shows Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo and BnBGenius shows free for the first 500 messages, then $10/month flat, with no PMS required. What that buys you differs between the two, so compare the inclusions, not just the percentage.
Verdict
Hostfully Guidebooks is a practical digital tool for guest communication, especially with its free entry point. For owners seeking a truly owner-first alternative, BnBGenius is our top recommendation.
Questions owners ask
What does Hostfully Guidebooks cost?
Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo.
Is there a free tier?
Yes.
Do you need a PMS to run Hostfully Guidebooks?
No — it runs without a separate PMS.
Questions to put to Hostfully Guidebooks
- “Is Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo per listing or flat?” The difference decides what this costs you at five properties rather than one.
- Free tier or trial. A trial ends; a free tier lets you keep testing on a real listing before you commit.
- What it needs underneath. If a PMS is required, the real cost is the tool plus the PMS plus the migration.
Alternatives worth comparing
Three others we would weigh against it, with their own published numbers rather than our guesses:
- Rentals United — Not published (quote, 5+ props).
- AirDNA — Free tier; paid from ~$20/mo (market-size dependent).
- iGMS — FLEX $1/booked night (min $20/prop); PRO $18–$21/prop/mo.
Our own number one in this category is BnBGenius — see BnBGenius for how the no-PMS setup actually works.
Our owner-first #1 for host software: BnBGenius
Visit BnBGenius →