Smoobu vs iGMS (2025): Find the Best Vacation Rental Software
When comparing Smoobu and iGMS, property owners and managers often seek clarity on which vacation rental software offers superior performance, intuitive features, and excellent customer service.
This comparison highlights the key differences between Smoobu and iGMS in various areas, including Channel Management, Website Builder, Booking Engine, dynamic pricing, mobile app experience, Guest Communication, customer support, pricing plans, and overall value. Ultimately, we will answer the critical question: Which is better, Smoobu or iGMS?
1. Which Channel Manager is the best?
Smoobu: Real-Time Sync That Powers Multi-Channel Distribution
Smoobu’s Channel Manager synchronizes calendars, availability, and rates instantly across the major OTAs, including Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia. Smoobu's Channel Manager centralizes booking management, syncing availability across all your connected platforms, including your own website, to prevent double bookings.
It provides seamless calendar updates, rate management, and messaging, enhancing guest communication. By automating the processes of scheduling and messaging, Smoobu reduces human error and saves time, allowing hosts to focus on improving the guest experience.
Overall, Smoobu simplifies vacation rental management and boosts operational efficiency.
iGMS: Delayed Sync and Complex Configuration
While iGMS does offer a Channel Manager, details about whether it supports OTA connections and features full automation are scarce. Hosts seeking to identify the key features and main benefits of the tool may struggle to obtain comprehensive information. They must therefore rely on trial and error to determine if it meets their needs.
Learn how Smoobu can help prevent double bookings.
2. Who offers a better Website Builder?
Smoobu: Website Builder with Built-In Booking Engine
Smoobu offers an intuitive no-code platform designed to help property owners create professional direct booking websites that can easily be optimized for search engine visibility. Users can easily showcase their properties with essential details and build a distinctive brand to grow direct bookings.
The platform includes tools for effortlessly applying promo codes and allows users to set up custom domains that align with their brand identity. Additionally, secure online payment options, including Stripe and PayPal integrations, provide a safe and efficient transaction process for guests.
Furthermore, Smoobu’s website integrates seamlessly with its broader ecosystem, enabling features such as automated messaging and channel synchronization, and is included in all Smoobu plans. This integration simplifies property management by consolidating all necessary tools in one location, enhancing the overall hosting experience.
iGMS: Not Available in All Plans
While iGMS does indeed offer a website builder, it is only available to those who sign up for their most expensive plan, the Pro plan. This means that those looking to combine features such as a direct booking website with a Channel Manager or integrations must opt for the most expensive plan available.
Synchronizing a website to iGMS also requires users to sign up for their Pro plan, which is their most extensive plan and might not suit everyone’s budget or requirements. Smoobu, on the other hand, offers both of these features in all of its plans.
Why not create your own website in minutes?
3. Who has better guest communication?
Smoobu: A Detailed Guest Guide & Unified Inbox
Smoobu's Guest Communications system enhances the guest journey from booking to departure by automating personalized messages such as confirmations and check-in instructions based on triggers like booking dates. This automation streamlines communication, reducing manual effort and errors.
Additionally, Smoobu’s centralized inbox consolidates messages from platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, enabling hosts to manage all interactions from a single interface. With features like a customizable Guest Guide that provides essential information and local tips, Smoobu enhances both the guest experience and operational efficiency for hosts.
iGMS: No on par features
iGMS offers a unified inbox for managing messages from multiple platforms; however, it lacks customizable guest guides and features such as local recommendations or personalized welcome messages. This limits hosts' ability to create a tailored guest experience, which could impact satisfaction, impact reviews, and increase manual effort.
An excellent Guest Guide can help improve your reviews.
4. Who has better Dynamic Pricing?
Smoobu: Automated Revenue Optimization for Vacation Rentals
Smoobu has developed its own Dynamic Pricing tool that automatically adjusts rates based on seasonality, occupancy, and custom rules, such as prices that won’t be overridden. This enables hosts to maintain competitive pricing without requiring manual updates. It also offers data-driven insights and daily analytics to compare your rates with market averages, helping maximize revenue and minimize underpricing risks.
Smoobu also integrates with tools like PriceLabs, Beyond, and Wheelhouse, offering flexible and dynamic pricing options tailored to various strategies. This means hosts have a variety of options when it comes to developing a pricing strategy, thereby vastly reducing manual effort while increasing revenue.
iGMS: Manual Pricing, Limited Rate Intelligence
iGMS integrates with dynamic pricing solutions like PriceLabs and Beyond, but lacks a built-in dynamic pricing tool, requiring users to pay for third-party services. This added cost must be factored into the property management budget.
In contrast, Smoobu offers a 30-day free trial of its dynamic pricing tool for active users, priced at just €12.99 per month per property, providing a cost-effective solution directly within the platform.
Discover why dynamic pricing is so vital for hosts.
5. Which mobile app supports on-the-go hosting?
Smoobu: Mobile Access for Every Hosting Task
The Smoobu mobile app helps vacation rental hosts manage their properties easily. It features booking management across different platforms, a single inbox for guest messages, automated replies, and real-time performance tracking.
The app is available in major languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, making it accessible to users worldwide. It works on both Android and iOS devices, and regular updates keep it stable and secure, allowing hosts to manage their operations from anywhere, at any time.
iGMS: Limited Mobile Functionality
The iGMS mobile app allows hosts to manage bookings, communicate with guests, and track performance. However, it is only available in English, which may limit accessibility for non-English-speaking users. Additionally, some advanced features are not available on the app, requiring hosts to rely on the desktop version for full functionality.
See the benefits of Smoobu’s iOS or Android mobile app.
6. Who delivers better customer support?
Smoobu: Multilingual Customer Support
Smoobu provides dedicated contact channels for both users and non-users, ensuring that support is accessible to everyone. These channels include live chat, email, a ticketing system, and the option to schedule calls with the sales team. The support team is quick to resolve issues and offers personalized onboarding, including automated contract assistance.
Smoobu’s customer service is consistently praised for its helpfulness and reliability, as noted in user reviews on platforms like Software Advice. Additionally, the company offers educational resources, including webinars, help centers, and live sessions, to assist new users in navigating the platform.
iGMS: Unclear Support Features
iGMS provides customer support through a live chat feature available within the platform and via email. However, the support page does not specify multilingual assistance or highlight specific contact points, such as dedicated teams for sales or onboarding, which are available in Smoobu.
This lack of detailed contact information may make it more challenging for users to find the appropriate support channels for their specific needs.
Get clear and detailed support from Smoobu.
7. Which free trial lets you test everything?
Smoobu: Full-Access Free Trial With No Credit Card
Smoobu’s 14-day free trial offers complete access to its Professional Prepaid plan, allowing hosts to explore all core features without any restrictions. This includes the Channel Manager, Booking Engine, Guest Communication tools, Website Builder, and Guest Guide.
By providing a comprehensive experience, the trial enables hosts to evaluate how Smoobu can streamline their operations and enhance guest experiences. With no credit card required, it's a risk-free opportunity to assess the platform's suitability for your vacation rental needs.
iGMS: Limited Free Trial
iGMS offers a 14-day free trial for hosts to explore the platform's features; however, the specifics—such as which features are included and any limitations—are not clearly stated on their website, leading to potential confusion for users.
See what you can do with two free weeks of Smoobu here.
8. Which platform delivers better value for money?
Smoobu: Transparent Pricing, No Hidden Fees
Smoobu offers transparent pricing plans with no hidden fees, enabling hosts to manage their costs effectively. The platform provides a range of options, including a free plan and a Professional plan starting at €23.20 per month for a single unit.
All plans come with essential features such as a Channel Manager, Booking Engine, customizable Guest Communication tools, and a Website Builder. Additionally, Smoobu provides a 14-day free trial, allowing users to explore the platform before making a commitment.
iGMS: Tiered Plans With Extra Costs
iGMS offers three pricing plans: Host, Flex, and Pro, each with distinct features and levels of support. The Host plan is priced at $18 per property per month and does not include the website builder feature, which is available only in the Pro plan.
The level of support provided varies by plan. The Host plan includes access to the help center, email support, and a knowledge base, while the higher-tier plans offer more comprehensive support options and many necessary features.
Smoobu vs. iGMS Comparison Table
| Feature | Smoobu | iGMS |
| Channel Manager | Integrated directly with Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and more | Supports major OTAs - Requires iCal connection for many |
| Booking Engine | Customizable, no commission fees | Available in higher-tier plans |
| Website Builder | Included in all plans | Not available in the Host plan; requires higher-tier plans |
| Guest Guide | Customizable digital guide for guests | Not offered |
| Dynamic Pricing | Built-in tool for automated pricing adjustments | Requires third-party integration (e.g., PriceLabs, Wheelhouse) |
| Automated Messaging | Fully automated with customizable templates | Available in all plans |
| Unified Inbox | Centralized communication hub | Available in all plans |
| Mobile App | Full-featured on iOS and Android | Available, but some features may be limited |
| Support Channels | Live chat, email, phone, and dedicated teams for different inquiries | Email support; higher-tier plans offer more comprehensive support |
| Pricing Transparency | Clear pricing with no hidden fees | Transparent pricing; some features restricted to higher-tier plans |
Which is better: Smoobu or iGMS?
Smoobu stands out because it offers a comprehensive set of features, including a Website Builder and a Guest Guide, in all plans without any additional costs. These tools are particularly beneficial for hosts seeking to enhance their branding, guest experience, and overall business.
In contrast, while iGMS provides a robust platform, some features, like the website builder, are only available in higher-tier plans, which may limit accessibility for hosts on the Host plan.
Moreover, Smoobu includes a built-in Dynamic Pricing tool that enables hosts to automate pricing adjustments. On the other hand, iGMS requires third-party integrations to provide similar functionality.
Overall, Smoobu offers a more inclusive feature set at a transparent price point, making it a better choice for hosts seeking a comprehensive yet simplified all-in-one solution.
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