Let’s be direct: Vacasa is a massive company. They’ve managed tens of thousands of properties and have name recognition that HostStarter doesn’t have yet. If you need that kind of brand, go with Vacasa. But if you’re evaluating property managers on what actually matters — fees, performance, and whether you can leave if it’s not working — this comparison will tell you what you need to know.
The fee difference is significant
Vacasa doesn’t publish their management fee. You find out after a sales call, and it varies by market. Based on owner reports, it typically runs 25–35% of gross revenue — and that’s before optional add-ons like hot tub management, linen programs, and interior design services.
HostStarter charges 12.5% flat. No setup fee. No photography fee. No onboarding cost. That’s the number, and it doesn’t change based on your market or your property size.
| Factor | HostStarter | Vacasa (Casago) |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fee | 12.5% flat | 25–35% (varies, not published) |
| Setup Fee | $0 | Varies by market |
| Photography | Included | Included |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month, 30-day notice | Annual contracts common |
| Your Listing Ownership | You keep your reviews if you leave | Vacasa retains listing and reviews |
| Markets | 33 US + Canada cities | 300+ markets |
| Average Rating | 5.0 stars | 3.8–4.2 stars (varies by market) |
The dollar math on a real property
Say your property earns $4,500/month in gross revenue. Here’s what each company takes:
- Vacasa at 30%: $1,350/month to them. You keep $3,150.
- HostStarter at 12.5%: $562/month. You keep $3,938.
That’s $788 more per month in your pocket, or $9,456/year. On a $4,500/month property. The math gets more dramatic on higher-revenue properties.
The listing ownership problem
This is where Vacasa gets tricky in ways hosts don’t realize until they want to leave. When Vacasa manages your property, the listing often exists under their brand name. If you leave — for any reason — you may lose your Airbnb reviews, your Superhost status, and your ranking history. Years of 5-star reviews, gone.
HostStarter operates differently. Your listing stays yours. Your reviews stay yours. If you ever want to self-manage or switch companies, you take everything with you. That’s not a minor detail — it’s the difference between building equity in your property’s reputation versus renting access to it.
Where Vacasa wins
Vacasa (now Casago) operates in 300+ markets. If your property is somewhere HostStarter doesn’t currently serve, Vacasa may be your best full-service option. They also have a larger local staff footprint in some markets, which matters for on-the-ground issues.
If geographic coverage is the deciding factor, check whether HostStarter serves your market first. If we do — and we cover 33 markets across the US and Canada — the fee difference and listing ownership advantage are hard to justify paying Vacasa’s premium for.
Where HostStarter wins
- Lower fee — 12.5% vs 25–35%. The math is significant over a full year.
- Transparent pricing — the fee is published. No sales call required to find out what you’ll pay.
- Month-to-month contracts — if we’re not performing, you’re not stuck.
- Listing ownership — you keep your reviews and history if you ever leave.
- 5.0 star rating — consistent across all managed properties, across all markets.
Bottom line
If your property is in one of our 33 markets and you’re evaluating both companies seriously, get quotes from both and compare the actual dollar amounts on your specific property’s revenue. The fee difference is almost always more than $500/month. Whether that’s worth Vacasa’s larger market footprint is a question only you can answer — but at least now you’re asking the right question.
Want to see what HostStarter would charge on your specific property? Book a free call — we’ll give you exact numbers in 30 minutes.