Boom's AI automation sounds more advanced than Hostaway's rule-based engine — is it worth switching?

Boom's BAM goes further than Hostaway's automation by handling review responses and auto-creating tasks from guest feedback — capabilities Hostaway doesn't offer natively. But Boom launched around September 2024, has ~1k mobile app downloads with no star rating, and two of ten Trustpilot reviews cite bugs and unfinished features. Hostaway's automation requires more manual configuration but runs on a mature, battle-tested platform with preferred-partner API access on all three major OTAs. If your primary pain is repetitive guest communication at 50+ listings, Boom's AI depth is genuinely compelling. If your primary need is reliable multi-channel sync and operational stability, Hostaway is the lower-risk choice.

Both require sales calls for pricing — which is likely cheaper?

Hostaway's pricing is opaque but estimable: industry sources report ~$40/listing/mo with a 1.8% direct booking fee and $100–$500 setup fees. Boom discloses nothing — the /pricing URL returns a 404. One Boom user reported saving ~$30k/year by consolidating tools, but that figure is unverifiable without knowing their prior stack. Get written quotes from both at your actual listing count. Make sure Boom's quote specifies any direct booking fees through their ICND integration and whether dynamic pricing is included or an add-on.

Boom offers white-glove onboarding in as little as one week — Hostaway takes weeks. Does that matter?

A faster onboarding is appealing but not necessarily better. Boom's case study cites a 250-property migration in one week with 24/7 support — impressive speed. Hostaway's longer timeline reflects deeper configuration: mapping 8 direct OTA channels with preferred-partner API access, setting up owner portal reporting, configuring 300+ integrations, and building automation rules. Fast migration doesn't guarantee production-stable channel sync and financial reporting from day one, especially on an 18-month-old platform. Weigh speed of setup against the risk of post-migration issues on a less proven system.

Comparison

Hostaway vs Boom

Pricing, pros and cons, and buyer-fit side-by-side. Pick the one that matches your operation — or see why neither should.

Property Management

Hostaway

All-in-one vacation rental software for professional hosts

Best for Scale

The automation layer for operators scaling past 10 listings

Contact sales • No free trial

Full review →Is it worth it?

Property Management

Boom

AI-first property management system for mid-to-large operators

Best for Automation

Ambitious AI-first PMS with real automation chops — but young, unpriced, and unproven at scale

Contact sales • No free trial

Full review →Is it worth it?

Visit Hostaway →Visit Boom →

✓Editorial verdict

Which should you pick: Hostaway or Boom?

Pick Hostaway if you need proven multi-channel reliability with preferred-partner status on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, a native mobile app, an owner portal, and 300+ documented integrations. Pick Boom if you manage 50+ listings and want deeper AI automation across guest messaging, review responses, and task generation baked into the PMS — and you're comfortable betting on a platform that launched in late 2024 with no public pricing. Hostaway is the safer, more complete platform today; Boom is the higher-risk play on AI-first operations.

Editorial perspective from the Hostaway side; factual claims about Boom are drawn from its review.

Pricing side-by-side

Hostaway

Full pricing →

Contact sales • No free trial

Standard (quote)

Quote only — ~$40/listing/mo reported

10+ listings typical

Booking fee: Percentage on direct bookings (rate depends on negotiated quote)

Channel manager for 26+ OTAs
Unified guest inbox
Automation engine
Direct booking site
Owner portal
Open API + marketplace access

Enterprise (quote)

Custom

50+ listings, management companies

Booking fee: Negotiated

Everything in Standard
Dedicated account manager
Priority support
Custom integrations

Boom

Full pricing →

Contact sales • No free trial

Detailed pricing tiers available on the Boom pricing page.

What each tool does well — and where it falls short

What Hostaway does well

Best-in-class multi-channel reliability — eliminates double bookings
Real-time API sync across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and dozens more. Operators consistently report it as the most reliable sync in the market, which directly prevents costly double-booking incidents.
Preferred-partner status with Airbnb, Vrbo, AND Booking.com — the 'triple crown'
Hostaway is the only property management platform with preferred/premier partner status across all three major OTAs. Priority API access and faster feature rollouts mean fewer sync errors and access to channel-exclusive tools before competitors.
Owner portal with professional reporting — real value for co-host and management companies
Owners get their own login to view revenue, occupancy, and payout statements in real time, with customizable visibility controls. For co-hosting businesses, this transparency tool is a genuine client-retention feature.

What Boom does well

Deep AI automation across guest comms and operations
Boom's BAM handles guest messaging 24/7, writes review responses, and auto-creates tasks from guest feedback. One operator said their front office team is 'now available to deal with making our guests happy, rather than dealing with repetitive stuff.'
White-glove onboarding and responsive support
Case studies and reviews consistently highlight hands-on migration support. One operator (250 properties) reported full PMS migration completed in one week with 24/7 support, including weekends.
Consolidates multiple tools, potentially cutting software spend
One reviewer reported saving ~$30k/year in add-on software costs after switching to Boom from a previous PMS stack, managing everything in one place.

Where Hostaway falls short

1.8% booking engine fee on all direct bookings, introduced November 2024
Hostaway added a 1.8% guest service fee to every reservation through operators' own direct-booking websites. This undercuts one of the main advantages of direct bookings (avoiding OTA commissions) and was rolled out via a terms update that many users missed.
Steep learning curve and significant setup investment — not plug-and-play
Setup requires mapping channels, configuring automation rules, setting up owner statements, and training staff. Reviewers consistently note it takes weeks to become fully operational — a real barrier for small operators or teams without technical staff.
Opaque pricing and contract lock-in reported by users — cancellation is difficult
Hostaway requires a sales call to see numbers. Multiple HotelMinder reviews describe being signed into annual contracts they thought were monthly, and difficulty canceling mid-term. Read the contract carefully.

Where Boom falls short

No public pricing — must contact sales
Boom discloses no pricing on its website and the /pricing URL returns a 404. This makes comparison shopping impossible and suggests custom enterprise-style quoting.
Young product with reported stability issues
Launched around September 2024, two of ten Trustpilot reviews (1-star each) cite bugs and unfinished features. One reviewer warned: 'go for a grown up PMS who have a product that works.'
No built-in direct booking website builder
Unlike Lodgify, Hostaway, and Hospitable, Boom has no native website builder or booking widget. Direct booking sites require a third-party partner integration with ICND.

Which should you pick

Pick Hostaway if

Multi-property managers running 10-100+ listings across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com who need reliable multi-channel sync, team task management, and owner reporting in one platform.

Skip Hostaway if

You have fewer than 5 listings, you're budget-sensitive, or you rely heavily on direct booking revenue and can't absorb a 1.8% booking engine fee on every guest transaction.

Pick Boom if

Mid-to-large STR operators (50–360+ listings) who want an AI-first, all-in-one PMS with automated guest comms, dynamic pricing, and white-glove onboarding support.

Skip Boom if

You're a solo host or small operator who needs transparent pricing, a built-in direct booking website builder, or a mature mobile app — Boom has none of these.

Where Hostaway and Boom actually differ

Hostaway holds preferred-partner status on Airbnb, Vrbo, AND Booking.com — the only PMS with all three. Boom claims 40+ channel connections but holds no published OTA partner designations and documents no channel API depth or sync frequency.
Hostaway has 300+ integrations with an open API and Zapier on all plans. Boom's integration ecosystem is undocumented — it positions itself as an all-in-one replacement rather than a platform that connects to third-party tools.
Boom's BAM provides 24/7 AI guest messaging, automated review responses, and auto-generated tasks from guest feedback as a native agentic system. Hostaway's automation engine is a configurable rule builder for check-in messages, review requests, and task assignments — powerful but not AI-driven or autonomous.
Hostaway includes a white-label direct booking website builder with a 1.8% booking engine fee. Boom has no built-in direct booking website — operators must use a third-party ICND integration with undocumented fees.
Hostaway includes an owner portal with revenue reporting and payout statements. Boom has no documented owner portal — a gap for co-hosting and property management businesses that need transparent owner-facing reporting.

Common objections

Boom's AI automation sounds more advanced than Hostaway's rule-based engine — is it worth switching?: Boom's BAM goes further than Hostaway's automation by handling review responses and auto-creating tasks from guest feedback — capabilities Hostaway doesn't offer natively. But Boom launched around September 2024, has ~1k mobile app downloads with no star rating, and two of ten Trustpilot reviews cite bugs and unfinished features. Hostaway's automation requires more manual configuration but runs on a mature, battle-tested platform with preferred-partner API access on all three major OTAs. If your primary pain is repetitive guest communication at 50+ listings, Boom's AI depth is genuinely compelling. If your primary need is reliable multi-channel sync and operational stability, Hostaway is the lower-risk choice.
Both require sales calls for pricing — which is likely cheaper?: Hostaway's pricing is opaque but estimable: industry sources report ~$40/listing/mo with a 1.8% direct booking fee and $100–$500 setup fees. Boom discloses nothing — the /pricing URL returns a 404. One Boom user reported saving ~$30k/year by consolidating tools, but that figure is unverifiable without knowing their prior stack. Get written quotes from both at your actual listing count. Make sure Boom's quote specifies any direct booking fees through their ICND integration and whether dynamic pricing is included or an add-on.
Boom offers white-glove onboarding in as little as one week — Hostaway takes weeks. Does that matter?: A faster onboarding is appealing but not necessarily better. Boom's case study cites a 250-property migration in one week with 24/7 support — impressive speed. Hostaway's longer timeline reflects deeper configuration: mapping 8 direct OTA channels with preferred-partner API access, setting up owner portal reporting, configuring 300+ integrations, and building automation rules. Fast migration doesn't guarantee production-stable channel sync and financial reporting from day one, especially on an 18-month-old platform. Weigh speed of setup against the risk of post-migration issues on a less proven system.

Keep digging

Hostaway

The automation layer for operators scaling past 10 listings

Full Hostaway review →Is it worth it?

Boom

Ambitious AI-first PMS with real automation chops — but young, unpriced, and unproven at scale

Full Boom review →Is it worth it?