Article

Hospitable's New Free Property Management System: List on Multiple OTAs Without Paying a Dime

April 9, 2026

If you're serious about running Airbnbs effectively, you need a property management system (PMS). You need it to sync calendars, automate messages, and basically stop you from going insane. But...it costs money.

And for new hosts, investing in a tool you do not understand feels risky.

But what if you could try out a PMS, not for a 7-day trial, but actually use it and learn it for free? Hospitable just launched Hospitable Essentials, a free plan that lets hosts distribute listings across multiple booking platforms without paying a monthly subscription.

No commission on bookings. No hidden fees. Just free access to the tools you need to start automating your Airbnb. Forever.

What Is Hospitable Essentials?

Hospitable Essentials is a non-recurring subscription plan. It is completely free unless you choose to use certain paid features.

The plan includes:

Multi-channel distribution – Connect your Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com accounts to one dashboard. No monthly fee for the channel manager.
Listing management – Sync calendars, availability, and rates across all platforms.
Unified inbox – Manage guest messages from every channel in one place.
Automated messaging – Send check-in instructions, checkout reminders, and review requests automatically. This feature is included for free.
Guest portal access – Use check-in forms, rental agreement signatures, guest verification, and upsells like early check out or trip insurance.

Hospitable CEO Pierre-Camille Hamana explained the thinking behind the launch on the Airbnb Road Map podcast:

"You shouldn't have to commit before you even get your first booking. Start with the essentials. Run your business. Let automation handle the busywork. Scale into more when it actually drives revenue."

How Is This Different from Other Free Plans?

Many property management software companies offer free plans. But there is usually a catch.

Some charge a commission on your bookings. Others lock essential features like channel management behind a paywall. You might sign up for "free" only to realize you cannot actually connect your Airbnb and Vrbo accounts without upgrading.

With Hospitable Essentials, the channel manager is included. The inbox is included. Automated messaging is included. You can list on multiple platforms and manage everything from one dashboard without paying a cent.

Hamana addressed this directly in a short-term rental podcast:

"We believe we are the only one in the industry making it possible to have a functional channel manager without a recurring fee."

Why Did Hospitable Launch a Free Plan Now?

Does offering a free plan with no commission even make sense for such a powerful tool? It does. Hospitable wants to remove the financial barrier for new hosts. Getting started with short-term rentals is expensive enough. You have to buy a property, furnish it, stock it, and market it. Adding a monthly software fee before you have any revenue can feel like a stretch.

Hospitable Essentials lets new hosts get their business off the ground without upfront software costs. They can experience the power of automation early in their hosting journey. Once they grow and need advanced features like direct booking websites, smart device integrations, or deeper automation, they can upgrade to a paid plan. And they'll be more likely to choose the PMS tool they started with.

Hamana explained the strategy:

"We are confident in this strategy because we don't just tell you that we are going to be some bloatware on top of your booking platform account. We are actually going to help you secure more revenue. We are now in a position where the freemium logic might just work."

What Is Not Included in the Hospitable Essentials Free Plan?

Hospitable Essentials is generous, but it does not include every feature.

Paid features include:

Direct booking website
Smart device integrations (smart locks, noise monitors, etc.)
Advanced AI automations for complex messaging workflows
Full control over custom message triggers

For hosts with larger portfolios or specific needs, Hospitable offers paid plans like Professional and Mogul. These plans include the advanced tools that scaling property managers require.

Final Takeaways

Hospitable Essentials is a game-changer for new hosts who are still trying to do everything manually. It removes the monthly cost barrier and gives you professional tools from day one.

👉 Learn more about Hospitable Essentials