Vacasa — now rebranded as Casago after a December 2024 acquisition — was one of the largest vacation rental management companies in North America. Under new ownership or old, the story is the same: high fees, impersonal service, and a reputation built on thousands of owner complaints. HostStarter was built to be the opposite.
| Feature | Vacasa (now Casago) | HostStarter ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fee | 18–30% | 12.5% |
| Contract Required | Annual contract with exit penalties | Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| Service Level | Corporate, impersonal, slow to respond | Hands-on, local, owner-first management |
| Setup / Onboarding Fee | Common | $0 — included in 12.5% |
| Photography Included | Often extra charge | Yes, always included |
| Cleaning Coordination | Varies by market | Yes — fully managed |
| Maintenance Coordination | Limited | Yes — local vendor network |
| Dynamic Pricing | Yes | Yes — daily optimization |
| Listed On | Airbnb + VRBO | Airbnb + VRBO |
| BBB Complaints | 2,000+ BBB complaints carried over from Vacasa; surprise fees, poor communication | Zero complaints |
Even after the Casago rebrand, fees remain 18–30% depending on your market. At 25% on a $4,000/month rental, they take $1,000. HostStarter takes $500 at 12.5% — saving you $500 every single month, or $6,000/year.
Vacasa accumulated over 2,000 Better Business Bureau complaints for hidden fees, poor guest experiences, and difficult contract exits. Casago inherited that operation — and those problems. HostStarter has zero BBB complaints.
With 40,000+ properties under management across North America, Casago can't offer individual attention. HostStarter intentionally keeps our portfolio small so every owner has a real, dedicated point of contact who knows their property.
Leaving Casago/Vacasa early often means legal disputes or financial penalties. HostStarter is month-to-month — we earn your business every month by delivering results, not by trapping you in paperwork.
Three reasons owners switch from Vacasa (now Casago) to HostStarter — and don't look back.
At 12.5% flat with zero add-on fees, HostStarter is almost certainly cheaper than Vacasa (now Casago) for most owners — often saving $400–$1,200/month.
Month-to-month means we prove our value every single month. You can cancel with 30 days notice, zero penalties, no drama. We win your business through performance.
One 12.5% fee covers everything: listing, photography, dynamic pricing, guest communication, cleaning coordination, maintenance, and a local team who treats your property like their own.
"D and his team were very kind, responsive & helpful. They checked in on our group daily and had all the needed essentials ready. All our questions were answered promptly. He and his property are 5 stars in our book!"
"Jonathan & David were great hosts during our stay. We were first-time group Airbnb users, and they were always responsive, understanding and willing to help when needed. I would highly recommend!"
"Very clean and comfortable house. The property was exactly as described and the host was quick to respond whenever we had questions. Would absolutely book again."
We make it easy. One call, we handle the transition. You start earning more from day one.
Book a Free Discovery CallAdvertised starting rates as published by each company in August 2026. Starting rates usually apply to the entry service tier, so check what is included before comparing.
| Company | Advertised fee | Service level | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| HostStarter | 12.5% + $99/mo | Full-service | Month-to-month, no setup fee |
| TIDY | From 3.9% | Software-assisted, not full-service | Month-to-month |
| MasterHost | From 8% (Chicago), 10% elsewhere | Tiered; entry tier excludes most operations | Month-to-month |
| Awning | From 10% | Full-service (claimed) | 90 days notice |
| RedAwning | From 10% | Full-service | Varies |
| Evolve | 10% / 15% / custom | Half-service; owner arranges cleaning | Varies, $250 onboarding |
| Surge | 15% | Full-service, local team | No annual contract |
| Grand Welcome | High teens | Full-service, standardised | Varies |
| AvantStay | Not published | Full-service, luxury tier | Negotiated |
| Vacasa | Approx. 25-35% | Full-service | Annual typical |
Full-service Airbnb management typically runs 15% to 25% of rental revenue. Advertised 8% to 10% tiers are usually half-service, leaving cleaning, restocking and maintenance to the owner. HostStarter charges 12.5% of revenue plus a $99 per month software fee, with no setup fee and no long-term contract.
Often no. A 10% fee that excludes housekeeping coordination, restocking and maintenance is not cheaper than a 15% fee that includes them, because you still pay for that work separately or do it yourself. Compare all-in cost per year, not the headline percentage.
With HostStarter the listing stays in your own account and payouts arrive directly from Airbnb, so your review history and search ranking stay with you if you leave. Some managers move the listing onto their account, which means the reviews you built stay with them.
HostStarter is month-to-month with no cancellation penalty and no setup or onboarding fee. Several national managers require annual agreements with early-termination fees, and at least one charges a separate onboarding fee, so read the exit clause before signing.
Full-service covers listing and pricing plus housekeeping, restocking, maintenance coordination and guest support. Half-service usually covers only the listing, pricing and messaging. The fee gap between the two is mostly explained by which one you are actually buying.
