Vello is a short-term rental management company that started in New Orleans in 2014 and has expanded to DFW, Scottsdale, and a handful of other markets. They publish their 20% fee — which we respect. But 20% is still significantly more than HostStarter's 12.5%, and Vello's limited market footprint means they can't grow with you the way HostStarter can.
| Feature | Vello | HostStarter ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fee | 20% | 12.5% |
| Contract Required | Flexible | Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| Service Level | Full-service, select markets (NOLA, DFW, Scottsdale, others) | Full-service, 30+ markets nationwide |
| 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 | Fee is 7.5% higher than HostStarter; limited to a handful of markets; newer expansion markets have less track record | Zero complaints |
On a $4,000/month New Orleans rental, Vello takes $800 and HostStarter takes $500. That's $300 more every single month going to your management company. Over 12 months that's $3,600. Over three years: $10,800. Both companies are transparent about their fees — but transparent doesn't mean equal.
Vello has expanded from New Orleans to Dallas, Scottsdale, and a few other cities. HostStarter operates in 30+ markets. If your portfolio grows beyond Vello's footprint, you'll need a different manager for the new markets. HostStarter gives you one fee, one team, and one relationship across all of them.
Vello built deep expertise in New Orleans and has been expanding relatively recently. HostStarter has market-specific teams and performance data across 30+ cities. Depth of local knowledge — not just market presence — is what drives results for property owners.
Both Vello and HostStarter are full-service and month-to-month. When two companies offer comparable service levels, the lower fee always wins. HostStarter charges 7.5 percentage points less than Vello. At scale, that difference doesn't just add up — it compounds.
Three reasons owners switch from Vello to HostStarter — and don't look back.
At 12.5% flat with zero add-on fees, HostStarter is almost certainly cheaper than Vello 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.
