Awning is a legitimate full-service competitor and probably the most honest comparison point for HostStarter — both companies publish their fees, both emphasize no hidden charges, and both target serious property owners rather than casual hosts. The differences are real, but they’re narrower than the Vacasa comparison. Here’s where they actually diverge.
Fee comparison
Awning publishes a starting fee of 15% of gross revenue. HostStarter charges 12.5% flat. On a $4,000/month property, that’s $600/month with Awning vs $500/month with HostStarter — $1,200/year difference. Not dramatic, but real money that compounds across a property portfolio.
| Factor | HostStarter | Awning |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fee | 12.5% flat | 15% starting |
| Setup / Onboarding Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Photography | Included | Included |
| Contract Length | 30-day notice, month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Geographic Coverage | 33 specific markets | Nationwide (all 50 states) |
| Platforms | Airbnb + VRBO | Airbnb + VRBO + 50+ channels |
| Average Rating | 5.0 stars | 4.8 stars |
Where Awning has the edge
Awning’s channel distribution is genuinely broader — they list on 50+ platforms including Booking.com, Google Vacation Rentals, Expedia, and their own direct booking site, alongside Airbnb and VRBO. More channels means more booking exposure, especially for properties in markets where Booking.com drives meaningful traffic.
Awning also operates nationwide. If your property is outside HostStarter’s 33-city coverage, Awning can likely serve you. HostStarter is deliberately focused on markets where we can deliver 5-star results — we don’t take on properties we can’t support well.
Where HostStarter has the edge
- Lower fee — 12.5% vs 15%. Small gap per month, real money per year.
- 5.0 star average — every property we manage, across every market. Awning averages 4.8, which is good but not the same.
- Market depth — in our 33 cities, we have local vendor networks, local expertise, and local relationships that a nationwide platform generalizes around.
- Founder-led — HostStarter was built by David Donley after his own bad experience with overpriced managers. The company is still run by people who care about whether individual properties perform well, not just portfolio metrics.
How to decide
If your property is in one of our 33 markets, get a quote from both and compare performance projections. The fee difference is $1,200–$3,000/year depending on your revenue — enough to matter. If you’re outside our coverage area, Awning is a solid choice and a fair deal compared to most alternatives.
Either way, skip Vacasa. The math doesn’t work at 25–35%, and the listing ownership issue is a deal-breaker for most serious investors.
Want to see HostStarter’s numbers on your specific property? 30-minute free call, no pressure, exact figures.