The vacation rental niche is thought to have too many businesses in it. But even a huge businesses like Airbnb only controls 10–15% of the vacation rental market right now. So, other startups can develop an app like Airbnb for the remaining 40% to 50% of the market. Actually, this makes a huge opening for another unicorn to change the travel business.

This is what Grand View Research says will happen: the US vacation rental market will grow at a CAGR of 8.49% from 2022 to 2026. This figure shows the demand for hotel booking apps in the coming years. So, if you are planning to build an application like Airbnb for your hotel booking startup, then read this blog till the end.

In this blog, we are discussing the steps of Airbnb app development, key features, monetization model, costs, and other essential aspects.

So, let’s begin!

 

What is an Airbnb App?

Airbnb is a vacation rental app that pairs people who want to rent out their home with people who need a place to stay, usually for a short time. With Airbnb, hosts can make some money from their home in a pretty simple way.

Lots of people think that Airbnb rentals are better and cheaper than hotels. This is a great name for vacation rentals and home rentals. Users do not just have to book their homes; they can also book a room for the days they want to spend in that place.

So, if you are impressed with the idea to develop an application like Airbnb, then you should first consult with a business app development company about your app idea.

 

Market Potential of Airbnb Mobile App

 

 

Source: Statista

• With around 59 million downloads, the Airbnb app came in second place in the list of the most downloaded apps.
• Since February 2024, more than three million people in China used Airbnb every month, making it the most popular hotel booking app there.
• There are more than 4 million hosts and 6 million listings on Airbnb around the world.
• In more than 100,000 cities around the world, you can find Airbnb listings.
• It has more than 150 million users around the world who have booked more than 1 billion stays.
• Almost every second, six people check into an Airbnb.
• In North America, an Airbnb costs about $163 per night on average.
• People who use the Airbnb app take an average of 11 minutes and 31 seconds to book a stay.
• The typical host makes $13,800 a year. And Airbnb’s current valuation is around $113 billion.

How Does Airbnb Work?

It is a dynamic online hospitality marketplace that offers excellent options to the customers and the property owners. So, if you want to build apps like Airbnb. Then check out the working mechanism that includes the client’s point of view and the host’s point of view.

 

 

On this App, the user can register themselves as a tenant or host.

 

1. How Does Airbnb Work For a Host?

The host panel facilitates the hosts to manage their tasks, so the following are key details regarding it.

• The host can register either by phone or via social media id, or by email. On the top right corner, you will find an option: Become a host; after clicking on that, a page will appear to take you to the registration window. There you can sign up.
• Once the host signed up, they navigate to register the property detail. They have to provide the details such as an address, area specifications, profile picture, type of apartment, and how many guests they can accommodate.
• As a next step, the host has to upload real images of the property with the help of an Airbnb professional photographer.
• The next option is price setting.
• After filling in all the details and setting up the profile, they can directly deal with the travelers via App and web.
• The host can approve or reject the request as per the availability.
• After check-in of the guest, the host will get payment after 24hrs.
• The host can also check the overall status of their panel.

 

 

2. How Does Airbnb Work For Travelers?

Here is some key information about the working of the traveler’s panel and how a guest can use it for accommodation booking.

• The travelers can register themselves via website or App through phone number or social media id or email. The link for registration is given at the top right corner of the website.
• Then as the next step, they have to set up their profile such as name, profile image, address, id number, and more.
• After registration, they are allowed to book the accommodation.
• Once the booking is made, the user will get the confirmation message via SMS and push notifications.
• There are multiple payment gateways available like Google Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, etc.

How to Build an App Like Airbnb?

Want to know-how to develop an app like Airbnb? A successful business that is built step by step is travel app development. Here are the most important steps of Airbnb app development.

 

 

Step 1. Set an Idea

If you do not have a plan, you can just float around. So, if you want to develop an app like Airbnb from scratch, you should first have a vision. Just write down a rough business plan for your booking service.

As you know, there are hundreds of home rental and travel apps in different niches available in the many app stores. However, only a few of them really stand out and take over the Airbnb booking business model canvas. So, make clear goals that help you target the people who will be using your application.

 

Step 2. Choose a Platform

It is not true that a cross-platform product can get a lot of users. For sure, picking one of the two platforms at the start—Android or iOS—is the safest way to create an application like Airbnb. If you choose one platform for your app at the start, it will work better on more devices.

After you look at how your app does in the market and with your target audience, you can build a hotel booking mobile app for other mobile app platforms too. It depends on how the users like it.

 

Step 3. Build UI Design

When you have a good idea and the right platform for your goals, you can start designing with the help of app designers and hire mobile app developers. This step are:

• Sketch,
• Wireframes,
• Mockups,
• Prototypes, etc.

You might be wondering why you should design the app’s user interface before you start writing code. One of the main reasons is that it helps you reach your goal for the graphics app and visuals.

For the different visual features to be useful, the backend development team’s mobile app developers only need to write codes that follow the visual guide. You can also get help from a top UI/UX mobile app design company to design your Airbnb app. This will save you time and money on development.

 

Step 4. Integrate MVP Features

These days, a simple Airbnb feature list is often the first step to make an app like Airbnb. The features that you are going to add are explained in the next section.

You can get in touch with a top mobile app development company that has experience to develop a hotel booking app like Booking.com to get these kinds of features built in. Additionally, if you only want to test your app in the market, you can have an MVP made by skilled app developers.

 

Step 5. Test and Launch

When the testing team finishes making the travel app, it is time to move on to the next phase. The quality assurance analyst team checks to see if the Airbnb-like solution you built works well. If any bugs are found, they need to be fixed and tested again to make sure users have a great time and the app works.

As soon as the debugging run is over, the mobile app is ready for users. If you want to stay in business for a long time, the mobile app maintenance services provider might want to keep the app clone up to date.

 

What Smart Features any Travel App Should Have

Key Features To Include in Apps Like Airbnb

Airbnb offers several great features, and recently they have launched 100+ upgrades as Airbnb 2021. The list of upgrades starts with showcasing flexibility up-gradation. For example, flexible destination, flexible matching, and flexible dates.

 

 

In this segment, we will discuss the complete range of required features suggested by a mobile app development company to develop apps like Airbnb. So, let’s kick start the reading about features segment-wise.

 

1. Travelers App

The key features of the travelers App are the following:-

 

 

• Sign-up/Log-in:

Any user can sign-up on the web portal or App via the phone number or email id, or social media id; after verification of user details and device. The user can log in any time and book the accommodation as per their choice. It is the first crucial feature for apps like Airbnb, where a secure mechanism must be applied for the safety of users and correct verification.

 

• Profile Management:

This feature allows the user to manage and maintain their profile. Where they can edit or update their essential details such as email id, alternate phone number, date of birth, permanent address, etc. One of the crucial benefits of this feature is updating the profile password to make the account secure. It is a much-required thing for apps similar to Airbnb.

 

• In-App Chat:

It is one of the best features and needed for the best customer support & engagement. For any query, the customer can chat with executives at any time.

 

• Push Notifications:

It keeps updating the users or other associates regarding informational purposes. Suppose a guest has booked the room at a particular locale, then she/he will be notified via push notification.

 

• Search Filter:

The powerful search option allows the user to search for destinations and available accommodation. Recently Airbnb upgraded its system to allow users to search for destinations, intently matching listings and dates with flexibility.

 

• Interaction With Host:

The guest can interact with the host via chat and messages even before booking. They also have the right to approve or reject the requests, and also, they can create an instant new request.

 

• Payment Modes:

Multiple payment options, including currency, are available where a guest can choose as per convenience. After payment, they will receive the receipt, including payment details. Most Airbnb similar apps have this option, and for the new apps, it is a must to survive in the market.

 

• Wishlist:

If any traveler has missed the accommodation due to the high rental, then they can save it in Wishlist so when the desired rates are displayed, they get a notification about it.

 

• Booking:

The user can look into the historical booking details and also check the current booking.

 

• Coupons:

By inputting the coupon details user can get a discount. By referring to the others, they get the coupon.

 

• Geolocation Feature:

Airbnb apps are well equipped with geolocation features empowered by Google Maps, where users can find the listing with ease regarding desired location(s).

 

• Help:

The FAQ sections empower the users to search about the specific query. It is present in that it is okay, but if not, then they can also contact the support via chat.

In Airbnb, there is an option named login for personalized support where users can connect with them the executives. In a web portal, you can also choose the FAQ category such as booking and traveling, hosting stays, hosting experiences, and managing company travel.

 

• Rate & Review:

Users can submit their reviews, ratings, and feedback without any hesitation.

 

• Sharing:

Users can share the link for download with other users or their friends. That is beneficial for existing users also as they will receive the perks of it. On the other hand, the App will also experience more downloads.

 

 2. Host App

The key features of the host app are the following:-

 

• Host Sign Up:

The hosts are also required to sign up for listing their vacant property. The initial mechanism is the same as the guest’s App. Here hosts have to provide their phone number or email id, or social media id.

 

• Host’s Profile:

Once the sign-up is done, hosts can set up their profile by providing the details. For example, name, address, phone number, alternate phone number, and email id. They can also set the password. Airbnb application must have powerful profile management features, and the developers have to take care of guest and host profile management features.

 

• Listing:

This feature allows hosts to update the details like photos of mentioned properties, amenities, rate setting, basic identifications, address, property-related documents, and bank details.

 

• Approval:

The host can approve or reject the request in case of any issue or due to unavailability of rooms or property.

 

• Messaging:

It allows to communicate with guests. They can send a notification about the confirmation of booking. This feature sounds common but very powerful, especially when it comes to on-demand app development. If messaging option is designed perfectly, it enhances the user experience.

 

• Rate the Guests:

The property owner rates the guests and provides feedback about their behavior during the stay.

 

• Account Details:

With the help of this option, removal or addition of information takes place.

 

• Help:

The host can check out the FAQ section if any confusion or query regarding their property.

 

• Sharing:

Like the guest panel, hosts can also invite their friends via App or social media.

 

• Booking History:

This option allows you to view the previous and current bookings and the payment history, including generated revenue

 

App Maintenance Services For Travel Industry

3. Admin Panel

It is the most important segment of apps similar to Airbnb that empowers admins to manage and control them.

 

 

• Dashboard:

If we specifically talk about Airbnb, then their admin panel is managed by the officials. But here we are discussing the features that we should consider while developing the vacation rental app. So, the straightforward point is that it would be best if it offers a powerful approach to managing the tasks.

 

• Info Update:

Uploaded new listings are being scrutinized by the admin, who can remove or update the information as per need.

 

• Booking History:

Admin can view the complete history of previous, current, and ongoing bookings. They can also remove, edit or update the request by host and guest.

 

• Feedback:

All feedback submitted by hosts and guests is displayed here so the admin can decide if any complaint has been placed by any associate.

 

• Insights:

It is also one of the most powerful features required to include in a vacation rental on-demand app development. It allows managers or admin to collect the data and report generation to plan future growth.

 

Best Hotel Booking Apps Like Airbnb

Check out these other options that are already facing tough competition from Airbnb. Don’t you want to accompany them too? Let’s have a look at the best vacation rental apps given by a mobile application development company.

 

Top Hotel Booking Apps Like Airbnb	Available Platform	Downloads	Ratings
Agoda	Android | iOS	50M+	4.6
Trivago	Android | iOS	100M+	4.0
KAYAK	Android | iOS	10M+	4.7
Vrbo	Android | iOS	10M+	4.7
Tripadvisor	Android | iOS	100M+	4.6

The Business Model of Apps Like Airbnb

The IT company that wants to develop apps like Airbnb should closely look into the following. It gives a great insight into the Airbnb business model.

 

1. Associates

There are three major stakeholders of Airbnb, which are following-

• Host– The property owners who have registered their property. On each booking, the commission is calculated and submitted to Airbnb.
• Guests– The travelers who are traveling for vacation or workcation can book a room or apartment or any listed individual property at an affordable price where Airbnb takes its commission.
• Freelance Photographers– Every listed property is displayed on a portal or App with an image gallery. Airbnb has a network of freelance photographers who captures images on behalf of the brand and get paid from the portal.

 

2. Target Audience

Airbnb is the best option for travelers for accommodation and hosts for earning, so here the target audience is –

• Travelers who want to spend quality time.
• Travelers who want to explore the destination with a comfortable stay.
• Business Travelers
• Property owners looking for additional earnings.

 

3. Channels

Following are the channels of distribution-

• Web Portal
• Mobile App for Android and iOS platforms.
• Digital Promotion & Marketing
• Tv Ads
• Social Media

Note: If you are looking for Airbnb app clone development, you can target both platforms’ users cost-effectively as a cross-platform App.

4. Expenditures

• Maintenance Cost of mobile app and web portal.
• Teams of Employees.
• Managing digital payment options.

 

Tips to reduce Mobile App development Cost

 

Technology Stack Required To Build An App Like Airbnb

The technology stack is crucial because it is one of the factors required for the success of an app. There are several app like Airbnb in the market, and these are competing with each other. So, if a cross platform development company wants to introduce vacation rental industry solutions, then it is a must to consider the following:

• Programming Languages: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Swift, Kotlin, Ruby.
• Front End Frameworks: Ruby on Rails, Angular, React.js, Express.js
• Back End Frameworks: Django, Node.js, Meteor.js
• Server-Side Technology: Amazon S3, EBS, Amazon EC2, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Digital Ocean
• Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, Azure DocumentDB, Cassandra
• Communication: Twilio
• Voice & Phone Verification: Nexmo
• Payment: Braintree, App like paypal

 

Cost To Develop an App Like Airbnb

Depending on your specific needs, the cost to develop an application like Airbnb can be anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 or even more. Well, this is just a basic range of costs that you can use to build an application like Airbnb. The exact costs of on demand app development solutions will depend on the complexity of your app.

 

App Complexity	Features	Cost
Basic Airbnb-like App	● Search ● Booking Management ● User management ● Basic communication	$8,000 – $15,000
Midium Airbnb-like App	● Advanced search filters ● Wish Lists ● Basic in-app communication ● Payment gateway integration	$15,000 – $20,000
Complex Airbnb-like App	● Itinerary creation ● Advanced in-app messaging ● User verification ● Robust analytics ● AI/ML-powered recommendation engine	$25,000+

 

If you do not want to get caught in hidden cost to develop an application like Airbnb, you should also think about other things that can change costs. These include:

 

Cost Affecting Factor	What’s Included	Cost
Design	Mobile + Web versions ● Guest panel ● Host panel ● Admin Panel	$4,000 to $6,000+
API Integrations	● Payment gateways ● Map APIs ● Communication tools ● Reservation/Booking APIs	$2,000 to $4,000+
App Security	● User data security ● Payment/Financial transactional security	$3,000 to $4500

 

Please note that these ballpark figures may vary depending on your specific app development needs and the travel website development team you’re planning to hire.

Hence, if you’d like to reduce the cost of your app development, you should consider starting with MVP development and gradually adding features as per user reviews and demands.

 

Why Is It Important To Fix a Budget For Hotel Booking App Developemt?

Creating a budget helps you understand how everything fits together and helps you take the right steps to create a mobile app for hotel industry. So, before you start doing anything to grow your business, make sure you remember these things:

 

● You Need the MVP

The minimum viable product is what will get you to the investor meetings. To figure out how much and how long an MVP will take, you need to have a budget.

 

● Helps Identify the Actual Needs

The budget you set for travel application development helps you think about what the end users want, so you can give them what they need right now. So, it will be easy for you to understand what features your app needs and make smart choices.

 

● Aids in Market Research

As soon as you think about your budget, you have to go out and do a lot of research on the market to find out what the going rates are.

 

● Need to Save for Marketing

You are crazy to think that your work and costs will end when the app is finished. The process of development has a few steps left. The real problem is getting the app out there, marketing it, and getting it to the right people.

It is possible to figure out the cost to develop an app like Airbnb, but it is the costs that come up after the development is done that really affect how well an app does.

 

How To Monetize Your Booking App Like Airbnb?

You have made a truly beautiful app. Check! Now, what’s next? Once your app is out there and people are steadily downloading it, it is time to start making money. Firstly, let us look at the main ways that apps can make money.

 

 

● Service Fees

It was already said that big apps like Trivago take a cut of each transaction as a service fee from both hosts and visitors. Both types of users are willing to pay these commissions, even though it seems unfair, because the product does not charge a lot of money to help with booking while keeping things simple and effective. Also, all fees for visitors are usually already included in the price of the room.

 

● Advertisements

Advertising in the user interface of your Airbnb-like app can also help it. Most users will be willing to see them if they are not annoying or pointless. This is because the service is cheap and good.

These ads can be simple targeted ads or more complex suggestions of some local businesses, depending on where the user is going. You can hire dedicated developers who can add in-app Ads that can also be linked to listings that show certain apartments more than others.

 

● Premium Services

You can make extra money by offering extra high-quality services to hosts as extras, such as professional photography, listing optimization, or better marketing knowledge. These services that add value can help hosts improve their listings and get more reservations, while also making money for the hotel booking application.

 

● Partnerships

Working with companies that deal with travel, like transportation companies, travel insurance companies, or crowdsourcing booking platforms, can lead to partnerships where both companies share profits. If investors offer unified services through a travel booking app like Airbnb, they can earn commissions or recommendation fees for every successful deal.

 

Ready to Create an Application Like Airbnb!

Airbnb is the world’s most popular way to rent out your home. It was able to do this by focusing on the customer experience and being the first to market.

It has been talked about in this blog how Airbnb has grown, why it does so well, and what new companies that want to develop an app like Airbnb can learn from its UI/UX flaws.

When it comes to giving great customer service, entrepreneurs and startups can try to copy Airbnb’s success. But they should also try to make Airbnb even better.

So, if you are also planning to develop an application like Airbnb, then you need to hire a hotel booking app development company that has expertise in crafting hotel booking apps. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us right away for an amazing vacation rental app development solution!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. How Long Does It Take To Develop An App Like Airbnb?

The time to develop an app like Airbnb depends on multiple factors like app complexity, features, tech stack, and so on. Generally, the development time can take 2–7 months or more.

 

2. How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Airbnb?

The estimated cost to develop a mobile app like Airbnb can range between $10000-$25000. It can vary depending on the project requirement. So, it is best to consult with a mobile app development company about the actual cost.

 

3. What Are the Benefits of Hotel Booking App Development?

The benefits to develop a hotel booking app like Airbnb are mentioned below:

• Reach global audience
• Boost your sales
• Increased user engagement
• Facilities for easy payment

4. How To Build An App Like Airbnb?

To create an app like Airbnb, you need to follow the below steps:

• Conduct market research
• Know your competitor apps
• Create a feature list
• Make a UI/UX design
• Develop the app’s backend
• Test and deploy

5. How To Monetize an App Like Airbnb?

You can make money from a hotel booking app like Airbnb in the following ways:

• In-app purchase
• Service fees
• In-app advertisement
• Premium services
• Partnerships

6. How Much Does App Maintenance Services For Travel Industry Cost?

The app maintenance services for travel industry cost you between 15-20% of the total mobile app development. It can generally be around $1000-$5000 annually.

7. What Are the Best Features To Add In Airbnb App Development?

Now you already know the basic features to build an app like Airbnb, you should also know the advanced features. Let’s have a look:

• Personalized recommendation
• Advanced booking
• Eco-friendly space
• Offer complimentary services