Overview
Uplisting is a premium Property Management System (PMS) and channel manager built for professional short-term rental managers and scaling hosts. If you have moved past the "hobbyist" phase and find yourself drowning in spreadsheets or panicking about double bookings, this is the software you look at next.
Its main selling point is stability. Uplisting holds the "Airbnb Preferred Plus Software Partner" status, a designation that actually matters in this industry because it grants deeper API access and faster sync speeds than standard tools. The core philosophy here is "set-and-forget" automation. It centralizes your operations from Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct channels into a single dashboard, handling everything from cleaning schedules to payment collection without constant babysitting.
This isn't the cheapest tool on the market, but it is built for operators who prioritize sleep over saving a few dollars a month.
Key Features
1. Rock-Solid Channel Synchronization
The biggest fear for any property manager is a double booking. Uplisting uses official API connections rather than screen scraping to sync calendars in real-time. Because of their Preferred Plus status, updates happen almost instantly. If a guest books on Airbnb, those dates are blocked on Vrbo and Booking.com immediately. It effectively eliminates the risk of conflicting reservations.
2. Automated Guest Vetting and Security
Most PMS platforms require you to integrate third-party tools like Superhog or Autohost for security, which adds cost and complexity. Uplisting has a native workflow for this. You can require guests to sign an eSignature rental agreement, upload a photo ID, and even provide a "selfie" for identity verification before they receive check-in instructions. It also handles security deposits automatically via Stripe, holding the funds and releasing them post-stay if no claims are made.
3. The "30-Minute" Direct Booking Site
If you want to reduce reliance on OTA (Online Travel Agency) commissions, you need a direct booking website. Uplisting offers a no-code builder that imports your existing Airbnb listings (photos, descriptions, amenities, reviews) and generates a mobile-responsive booking site in minutes. It is surprisingly functional and allows you to process payments directly via Stripe without the 15% service fees Airbnb charges your guests.
4. Unified Inbox
Instead of logging into three different apps to answer messages, Uplisting pulls everything into one feed. It supports automated message triggers (check-in guides, review requests) but also allows for manual intervention. The interface is clean and prevents the lag often found in legacy software when pulling message threads from the API.
Pricing
Uplisting operates on a "per property" model with a minimum monthly spend. It is transparent, but the minimums can be a hurdle for smaller hosts.
- The Pro Plan: Costs $20 per active listing, per month.
- The Minimum: There is a standard monthly minimum of $100. This means if you have 1 to 5 properties, you are paying $100 flat.
- Small Business Discount: This is critical to know. If you manage 1 to 4 properties, they offer a 50% discount, bringing the minimum down to $50/month. You usually have to ask or select this specific tier during setup.
- Transaction Fees: While they advertise 0% commission, there is typically a 1% platform fee on bookings processed through their system. This is separate from standard credit card processing fees (Stripe).
- Trial: They offer a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reliability: Users consistently report zero issues with calendar syncing. The system does what it says it will do without crashing.
- Superior Support: Customer service is often handled by product experts or developers rather than outsourced tier-1 agents. The onboarding is hands-on.
- Modern UI: Unlike competitors such as OwnerRez (which is powerful but looks dated), Uplisting has a modern, intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
- Speed: You can import your portfolio from Airbnb and be live in under 30 minutes.
Cons
- Weak Mobile App: This is the platform's Achilles' heel. The mobile app is frequently criticized for logging users out and lacking the full functionality of the desktop version. You will need your laptop for heavy lifting.
- High Entry Price: Even with the discount, starting at $50 to $100 a month is steep for a single-property host compared to cheaper alternatives like Hospitable.
- Basic Owner Portal: If you manage properties for others, the portal you give homeowners to view their calendar is functional but visually basic. It lacks the polish of enterprise-level reporting tools.
- Vrbo Setup: While the Airbnb connection is one-click, connecting Vrbo can be a manual, friction-heavy process due to Vrbo's own technical limitations.
Verdict
Uplisting is arguably the best "middle-ground" PMS available right now. It sits perfectly between the simple, cheaper tools like Hospitable and the complex, enterprise-heavy giants like Guesty or OwnerRez.
Buy this if: You manage 5 to 50 units and want a reliable, modern system that handles direct bookings and security deposits natively. It is also excellent for serviced apartment operators who need rigid scheduling.
Skip this if: You are a single-unit host looking for the absolute cheapest option, or if you need to run your entire business strictly from a mobile phone. The mobile app experience simply isn't there yet to support a "mobile-only" management style.