Smoobu Reviews

best management software around for vacation rentals

Comments: made my life easier, and automatized many processes that were manual before. and it's still cheap!

Pros:

The simplicity of setup and use, great performances, money for value, made life easier Exceptional Italian customer support!

Cons:

some minor features, compared to other software, were still missing, but they are minor and I know the Dev team keep working to improve

Highly recommend Smoobu - even if you are a small operator

Comments: Smoobu Customer Service is Fantastic! I always get a quick response, and they never make me feel 'dumb' - because sometimes I ask some off-the-wall questions! I highly recommend Smoobu to all vacation rental owners. We only have 2 units, and we couldn't do it without them!

Pros:

What we like most about the software: ease of use, communication templates/scheduling of messages, ability to update rates and they immediately update across all connected OTAs, ability to set % increases on OTAs over our direct book rates, Digital Guest Guidebook (& how easy it is to customize regarding what guests see before, during & after their stays), & the ability to nest units. There's more to like out the software, but these are the top items on our list.

Cons:

Always looking for more features, but what they already have far exceeds previous channel managers I've used.

Don't use if you use Expedia/VRBO

Pros:

Simple when it works, but unfortunately that doesn't last long

Cons:

Regularly disconnects channel management price sync with Expedia/VRBO. Support on the latest disconnect May 2023 has gone weeks with no solution or update. I'm researching alternative platforms and warning others.

Smoobu its the TOP 1 Channel Management.

Comments: 2 Years looking for the Best Middle Cost Management System and found it - Smoobu

Pros:

The platform is very easy to use, very good explained videos to use in any step your in. I'm very satisfied about what they offer and the improvement they have made and expanded many offers is a high-quality product.

Cons:

They have to improve the Statistic and metrics of the properties and bookings. They could add so much more info here they are not. Invoices do not generate correctly. The Payment details on reservations do not include the COMISION imported of the channel, so it's very different from what the payment show in smoobu and in the other Channels like booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia. They Have to take the same information on those channels and adjust them to make it clear and have no difference between the channels. ALSO need to do a MAX Update to the Website Builder.

Alternatives Considered: Tokeet and Hospitable.com

Reasons for Choosing Smoobu: I had an incredible struggle to find channel management that is easy, interactive, responsive, engine booking, and friendly to use and I went to 3-4 PMS and the first time I could say it's the one I need for a 7-10 Property Management.

Switched From: Tokeet, Hospitable.com and Lodgify

Reasons for Switching to Smoobu: Pricing, and it's the best Channel Management to start with 4-10 Properties.

Best viable solution for small property owners with great CUSTOMER SUPPORT, CLEAN FEATURES & PRICING

Pros:

Firstly, for someone who has hardly used a channel manager, the learning curve is always going to be a thing no matter which service you decide to use. This was the case for me, after reading countless reviews I decided to trial Smoobu and am now a paid user. And when the learning curve is unavoidable, Smoobu truly shines with their CUSTOMER SUPPORT - it is definitely one of their best features. Their chat team works in German-time (and they are not available 24/7), but it was definitely handy when you're based overseas. Their e-mail support team I find are VERY experienced, fast, helpful, patient, understanding and respectful - I seriously only have praise for them! They truly helped a novice channel manager user like myself troubleshoot, configure, and set up the optimal solution that works best for my particular business size and workflow. Regarding the SOFTWARE FEATURES, I think we always tend to want more, and more of the available features offered more seamlessly and automated, so I don't think it's even fair to expect EVERYTHING, and the simplicity of Smoobu's software - both in UI and UX, once you get a grip on it, is a HUGE asset that eliminates and minimises all the headaches we go through as owners and managers. And finally - PRICING. Based on my own research I think their overall quality offering is astounding vis a vis the cost. I am thoroughly impressed with the service and am grateful that I found something I am happy to pay for and proud to continue using!

Cons:

EMAIL SUPPORT > CHAT SUPPORT: Though chat support is easier to access, for an actual conundrum or a multilayered question you're facing I would definitely go through their e-mail support since they can constructively engage with your problems (maybe also because they have more time to respond?), and you really feel that they are there to help you! But the chat team is great too for small questions you might have (but sometimes they disconnect in the middle of a question - but don't be discouraged and take that to e-mail or maybe call though I haven't tried that personally!) GOOD DESIGN BUT NOT YET MIND-BLOWING: It is minimal, clean and ticks all the right boxes in terms of UI / UX and it is not at all problem for internal admin use, but for someone who comes from a creative industry background (e.g. used to the intuitive approach of Apple products and have done consumer-facing communication work) I do think their consumer-facing features (like their new GUEST APP and WEB EMBEDDABLE BOOKING TOOL) can be further reimagined based to align themselves with consumers who are spoiled by Apple, Google et al. providing great design to the mainstream. So in sum, based on a philosophy that good design → looks great and ALSO heightens practicality. TWO-WAY SYNCS VS iCAL SYNC: Not a con but a note - with Airbnb when you sync via their two-way sync it makes it impossible to view or edit your calendar on Airbnb. It's great but I found it easier to iCal sync like the rest of the platforms!

Alternatives Considered: Tokeet, Cloudbeds, iGMS, Little Hotelier, Guesty and BeeRent

Reasons for Choosing Smoobu: They are great too don't get me wrong! But Lodgify was just too expensive for my specific business size of three properties.

Switched From: Lodgify

Did not work for my Vacation Rentals

Comments: I used this software about every minute of the free software trail, switching both my airbnb and vrbo 5 listings from current software to Smoobu. what a nightmare. I've been using Bookerville which is loaded with features, but doesn't quite have the smooth look of Smoobu. Instead of throwing my efforts into Bookerville, I thought all Softwares were the same.... No they are not. My Smoobu experience had be fall in LOVE with Bookerville and take the effort to expand my use of their numerous fully developed features. Describe my overall experience with Smoobu? Above all it convinced me that I had the best vacation software in Bookerville over all its competition.

Pros:

Very attractive. It has a very clean feel to it and nicely visual

Cons:

There were quite a few issues that I thought they may over time address, but I'd have to say the absolutely most shocking shortcoming of this software was an inability for guest who comes to your website to get an itemized quote. I actually called and arranged a VERY early morning conference call with this European based company.... and this is just one of the crazy, head scratching things about this software. It allows you to imbed a link from them to your own company website for guests to get a quote; but this is a total quote.... No itemized quote. So if you've got a $1000 refundable deposit, guests don't know that, its just this HUGE total, without details on cleaning fee, taxes, options, refundable deposit, etc. From here, the guests can contact you for the itemized quote and book. What the heck? why can't they book on line? why can't they see an itemized quote? This is just one of the things that Smoobu knew hosts would want, but that they didn't bother to do right.... and unfortunately one of so many half way done things .... I guess so they could add it to their feature list, but it is completely useless. Just having an itemized quote and booking the guest later would have been a huge help, but they couldn't be bothered to do this.... and with refundable deposits in one HUGE total ... hosts will have to clutter their websites with explanations.

Great software i would not hessitate to recommend

Comments: It is really easy to use. No complications, no difficult to set up functionalities. The property web facility is a plus. The support team is really friendly, knowledgeable and listens to customers!. I am getting lots of emails from competition but I am not planning to move from Smoobu. I really love Smoobu simplicity.

Pros:

Pros: 1.-It is a very easy to use software. Getting familiar with smoobu is really simple, practically instantaneous. 2.-The migration to Smoobu is really simple and staff is always willing to help. 3.-They have a very useful and very easy to configure web functionality. 4.-I love the functionality of being able to synchronize rates from smoobu with the most important sales channels. 5.-The synchronizations works perfectly. It has never failed so far. No double bookings at all. 6.-The system rarely crashes down and if it does, it is momentarily for maintenance. 7.-You can set up Smoobu in different languages. It is truly multi-lingual. 8.-Perhaps this is one of the strongest points of Smoobu. It is true that communication with the customer service department is easy, fast and always in a friendly and professional tone.

Cons:

Cons: Given that it is a software that it is designed to be easily usable and does not complicate its functionalities, there may be people who miss less avant-garde features but in my case in particular I love that everything Smoobu offers works perfectly and without complications. They are currently developing a solution for the new PSD2 regulations, which is more than welcome.

Full featured, user-friendly and very stable

Comments: When your business depends on a software you really need to be able to talk to a real person in case you hit a wall. The people at Smoobu are always there for you whenever you need help. 5 stars !

Pros:

Smoobu allows to pull in different airbnb and booking accounts into one software environment. As a property management company specialised in short term rental this was the software to manage our business. The setup was quick. The software is very easy to use. Smoobu allows to program automatically sent personalised messages to guests. Airbnb has now added this feature but the Smoobu version works better. When a booking comes in 3 days before the guests arrival but the message is programmed to be sent 6 days in advance than airbnb does not send the message, but Smoobu does ! When handling numerous client accounts it is nearly impossible to handle client communication without a channel manager. Smoobu has worked without any glitches, it is as reliable as a Mercedes-Benz !

Cons:

Nothing really. I have no negative comments.

Alternatives Considered: Tokeet

Reasons for Switching to Smoobu: We were convinced by the responsiveness of the sales team and the ease of use of the software. We had tried Tokeet on a trial basis, not convinced. Many channel manager software companies promise you wonderful returns if you just plug in into as many channels as possible. That is an empty promise.

strongly recommended for professional hosts

Pros:

I've been using Smoobu for over 2 years now, and I've got to say, their customer service is top-notch. Talking to real people instead of bots is a nice touch. They're quick to respond and always helpful.The host solution is a game changer, making it so much easier to manage my property across multiple sites. It saves me from double bookings and lets me adjust rates and availability all at once. Plus, the automated messages and website creation are a big help.I really like the financial stats feature, it gives me a quick look at my earnings across different platforms. The dashboard's cool too.

Cons:

It'd be great if the financial stats could factor in the commissions from the different platforms. I know it's a big ask, given the different commission rates, but it would be a helpful addition. I would also have an ability to block individual apartments leaving the entire property open for bookings by groups.

Avoid....caused me a load of extra work.

Comments: Dreadful, time consuming, very poor online support, who were surprisingly rude.

Pros:

The idea is great but it doesn't work in practice. There are better alternatives.

Cons:

Smoobu was a disaster for me. Using Sboobu cuts you off from using the portals (Airbnb, Agoda, Tripadvisor etc). You are actually blocked from using the portal platforms & must only update listings & bookings on the Smoobu platform. You can't even access the calendars anymore. You can no longer communicate with guests through portals, only through Smoobu. The worst thing is, if you have any blocked dates in the portal calendars they are ignored by Smoobu & then deleted on the portal. Suddenly all your blocked dates become available & you must re-block them all on Smoobu. It's awkward, difficult to use & the support is hopeless. They have no training, they are rude & don't understand the platform. AVOID! The set up is too time consuming.

Very good channel management tool

Pros:

This is an excellent Channel Manager. My guests at Villa Hygge in Ciovo Croatia love the personalised web sites where I can provide in greatest detail all the information required that a guest might be looking for, such as places to to eat, shop, attractions, beaches, activities, etc, etc. Also the integration with the main booking platforms works seamlessly. I can highly recommend Smoobu to anyone looking for trouble-free booking management.

Cons:

It is a bit costly, but the benefits may weigh in favourably.

Awesome product.

Pros:

Best software I have used so far for Vacation Rentals. Very user friendly. Easy to set up. Well thought infrastructure.

Cons:

Everything works perfect, so nothing that we don't like.

Alternatives Considered: Hostify and Guesty For Hosts

Reasons for Switching to Smoobu: Trial period

Best channel manager in this price category

Comments: Covers all my basic needs.
Gets better every year.
Has a reasonable price.
The support is just top.

Pros:

Smoobu is probably the Channel Manager with the best 'Features/Price' ratio. We state that after we have done seriously evaluations for two years. It has all functionality a small - middle accommodations managing service will be needing. The subscription is very reasonable too. They haven't stoped improving since I know them and they have the perfect support :)

Cons:

There are some minor functionality issues with the user interface. This does not affect the functionality, it is just that sometimes one can not but notice that some things could be a bit more 'up to date' in the user interface.

Not what it used to be

Comments: This was a great PMS two years ago, not anymore.

Pros:

When we first started testing different vacation rental software, Smoobu stood out as a great option, seamless and quick. But it has only been downhill from there. Their development team has made the interface clunky, their servers are down often, my team now hates Smoobu.

Cons:

Extremely slow interface in 2021. If you manage more than 10 listings, please do not use this software. We had previously used Hostaway and Lodgify. We have had more double bookings with Smoobu by far than with any other PMS.

Alternatives Considered: MyVR, Guesty and Lodgify

Switched From: Hostaway

Minimal user IT knowledge needed; Regular Improvements and New Feature; Top After-Sales Support

Comments: We have absolute confidence in the Smoobu software after over 2 years of using it. In an increasingly automated world, the Smoobu after sales staff have a human touch and an UNDERSTANDING of our business that is invaluable, which indicates that they are well-trained/experienced. Any problems can be solved swiftly without long tedious (and repeated) explanations. We have found EXACTLY the product and back-up we need, starting from scratch in 2017 and cruising at our optimum turnover in 2020, which would have been impossible with the Smoobu software package.

Pros:

As a single property tourism letting company, we need a one-stop solution for our market visibility, communications, calendar and price management (linked to the WHOLE market) and and a 100% reliable point-of-sale interface with our payment provider platform. The SMOOBU property rental management software package gives us all the above and several other options that we don't use. Very good value for money when one considers its vital role. It's an EXCELLENT tool.

Cons:

We offer our website in 3 languages BUT Smoobu does not, as yet, permit us to set up a photo-based template into which we can add our images THEN copy that template and insert the different languages. The work-time needed to set up the sites is therefore tripled as each language site needs to be started from a set of blank pages.... The Smoobu team is so pro-active that this option will no doubt come soon.

Vero excellent

Pros:

Work good and very simple to use… mobile versione And excellent integrations with ota and partner software

Cons:

Easy use and good integrations with other apps..

Great platform!

Comments: We are using Smoobu since 3 years and are very happy with the platform and the great and fast support. Thanks for the great work.

Pros:

The calendar function is so useful during busy times and the automatic messages make life super easy once set up.

Cons:

The only thing i would change is being able to view past bookings in the calendar view rather than having to select 'month view' wnen using the app on my phone

Easy to use & Highly recommended

Pros:

This channel manager has really increased our team efficiency while managing ~40 properties in India. It's very easy to use, very fast to get started... We did the trial and realised we could not live without it anymore! Customer service is also very responsive! I HIGHLY recommend this channel manager.

Cons:

For over 40 listings it is difficult to search the availability as we need to scroll up or down. If there is search option for dates it would make it easier.

Alternatives Considered: Guesty

Great product- Lots of potential

Comments: I would recommend this software to any property manager.
The software does what you expect.
Fast.

Pros:

I manage 22 properties in Spain. I choose Smoobu based in these facts: - Price - Calendar management (APIS connection) - Price management - EASY built in website with payment gateway and possibility add your own domain FOR FREE - EASY built in app. - Owner/ team accounts - Messages and automations It is a self training software with a large stock of self explanatory videos to learn how to sep up your account. Videos are also Spanish (many softwares don't provide this choice yet) Support is fast and efficient (Thanks [SENSITIVE CONTENT]) The different accounts can be set up in different languages, very helpful if you have several languages in your team

Cons:

Even though these areas can be improved I still will recommend it: - Efficient way of creating reservations reports - Easier way to know the calendar day when navigating through the calendar - My website should have the option for marking up price (to cover Stripe costs) - The app does not preview efficiently the calendar view.

Very happy with Smoobu

Comments: Highly recommended, it has made my life a lot easier and the value is just great.

Pros:

The integration with other travel agencies was seamless, the platform was very user-friendly, and their customer service department immediately provided feedback if there were any questions.

Cons:

I feel that I'm under-utilizing all of the software's tools for lack of information on all of its features.

I would definitely recommend it

Comments: Although I am still in the trial phase, I have no doubt that I will continue to use Smoobu in the future.

Pros:

The ease of use in different aspects: synchronization with the different portals, setting the different payment methods, creating your own web page. There is no need to have great computer skills, you are guided step by step and if that is not enough, clear and comprehensive video tutorials are offered. The contact with the customer service has been pleasant and friendly. I am also glad for the possibility recently offered to block dates before an arrival and after a departure, due to the ongoing health crisis.

Cons:

I can't get myself to like visually the speedometer of the "use" widget in the desk. In addition, the fact that when I select a property in the calendar menu and reload the page, I lose the previous selection.

I have a new friend, it's called smoobu!

Comments: For me to say Smoobu means the rep. I still wonder how he can answer all the questions for assistance on his own. Always relevant, decisive and friendly.

Pros:

It does a lot of things for me: it synchronizes the bookings on all the portals and updates the prices on some of them, it manages the communication with the customers, it gave me the possibility to create a website in an intuitive way and at sustainable costs and much more .. ..

Cons:

I would say that I like everything, the graphical interface is intuitive and clean and I really appreciate their philosophy of trying to improve, always having a friendly customer relationship.

Quick to set up & easy to use channel manager

Comments: We have found Smoobu to be a great platform for managing bookings across multiple platforms for our serviced accommodation. Currently we have just the one unit but we are adding more and Smoobu will become an increasingly important part of our operation. Support and customer service has been good.

Pros:

Quick to set up Easy to use Good support

Cons:

The website provided with the package is a basic and restricted in terms of page templates and design but it does provide the essential functionality you would need to get up and running. Longer term you will probably need to integrate the Smoobu functionality with a custom built website.

Ecxellent Channel

Comments: I don't need to check or update OTA's when a property is booked.

Pros:

This channel manager is really complete and fits perfectly with the needs of a tourist manager. it's quick to update the data in the various channels. The feature I like most is that I can send an email with all the information to all customers automatically. In addition to the channel with the same price, a booking engine is included.

Cons:

It should be fantastic to change the percentage different between channels for singolar apartment.

Life Saver

Comments: Double bookings solved
Pricing on multiple platforms solved

Pros:

ease of use Functionality Clear Statistics

Cons:

Would like to use it as an app rather than having to log in via a search engine