Uplisting Review: transparent pricing, powerful pre‑arrival automation, and fewer moving parts
Considering a short‑term rental PMS and channel manager that is genuinely easy to run daily? This deep‑dive covers what Uplisting is, who’s behind it, why it exists, real features you’ll use, pricing, pros & cons, and how it stacks up against Guesty, Hostaway, Lodgify, and OwnerRez.
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What is Uplisting?
Uplisting is an all‑in‑one short‑term rental property management system (PMS) and channel manager built for hosts and professional managers. It offers a multi‑calendar, unified inbox (OTA messaging, email & SMS), automated workflows, a direct booking website with Stripe payments, and first‑class pre‑arrival tools (security deposits, e‑signature rental agreements, and ID verification) — all designed to reduce manual work and minimize guest “surprises” at check‑in.
Who founded Uplisting & the story
Uplisting was founded by Vincent (Vinny) Breslin with early co‑founders, and grew as a bootstrapped product focused on reliability and host‑first workflows. In January 2024, Uplisting was acquired by AirDNA, combining a mature PMS/channel manager with AirDNA’s STR data and pricing capabilities. That pairing aims to give hosts a single toolkit for operations plus data‑driven growth.
Why Uplisting exists (product philosophy)
Uplisting’s big bet is simple: automate the “must‑do” pre‑arrival tasks and day‑to‑day ops so owners don’t have to duct‑tape external tools or chase guests manually. The result is fewer support tickets, fewer payment issues, and fewer check‑in escalations.
- Clarity over complexity: real‑world defaults, opinionated UI, and fewer toggles you’ll never use.
- Reduce risk: deposits, e‑signatures and ID verification are built into the flow so sensitive info only goes out when requirements are met.
- Own more demand over time: a direct booking engine and Google Vacation Rentals distribution reduce reliance on a single OTA.
Key features (hands‑on)
Multi‑calendar & channel management
Update prices, restrictions and availability once; changes sync to Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and your direct site. Onboarding guides/partners make API connections straightforward, and Uplisting is an approved connectivity partner for Google Vacation Rentals.
Unified Inbox (OTA + Email + SMS)
Keep all guest comms in one place. Campaigns and message filters let you hold back sensitive content (like door codes) until a guest has verified ID, signed the rental agreement, and paid/authorized the deposit. WhatsApp isn’t supported yet, but SMS + OTA + email cover most cases.
Direct booking website & Stripe payments
Launch an instant direct‑booking site and accept secure payments via Stripe. Offer flexible payment plans (e.g., 10% at booking, balance pre‑arrival) to reduce friction. Promo codes and campaign tracking help quantify direct‑channel ROI.
Pre‑arrival automation: deposits, eSign & ID
- Automated security deposits (Protect add‑on): pre‑authorize/charge deposits for Booking.com, Vrbo and direct reservations; refunds are handled through Stripe.
- e‑Signature rental agreements: send, sign and store agreements automatically.
- Guest ID verification: verify documents from 100+ countries; charges are per verification.
- Messaging filters: hold back check‑in instructions until deposit paid, ID verified, and agreement signed.
Revenue & pricing
Connect dynamic pricing partners like PriceLabs and Wheelhouse to sync rates and stay competitive. You can also use AirDNA data/insights alongside Uplisting after the acquisition for better pricing context.
Operations: cleaners & smart locks
Use the cleaning scheduler and partner integrations (e.g., ResortCleaning) to automate tasking. The Smart Locks dashboard supports popular brands and lets you manage access without leaving Uplisting.
Pricing & plans (transparent)
Uplisting’s pricing is straightforward: a base platform fee plus a per‑property fee, with optional add‑ons. As of 2025:
- Pro plan: $100/month + $20/month per property. 14‑day free trial. Annual billing can save you up to ~10% on the base subscription.
- Protect (automated deposits) add‑on: flat per‑listing fee (commonly shown as $6 per property/month) — pay only for listings where you enable deposits.
- Guest ID verification: billed per verification.
Tip: when comparing PMS pricing, calculate total cost of ownership (TCO) — base + per‑unit + add‑ons + any % fees elsewhere — not just the headline monthly price.
Pros & cons (honest but positive)
| What we like | Where to be aware |
|---|---|
| Pre‑arrival built‑in Deposits, eSign and ID verification live in one flow; fewer external tools and fewer “late‑night” escalations. | WhatsApp Not natively supported yet (SMS + email + OTA cover most touchpoints). |
| Direct + GVR Instant direct site with Stripe; publish to Google Vacation Rentals for additional visibility. | Add‑on math If you verify lots of IDs or enable Protect across many units, add‑on costs can add up (still predictable and transparent). |
| Clear pricing Flat platform + per‑unit; 0% commission. | Advanced accounting If you need deep trust accounting or enterprise reporting, a heavier suite like Guesty Pro may suit large portfolios better. |
Who Uplisting is best for
- Growing operators (3–150+ units) who want fewer moving parts, reliable sync, and strong pre‑arrival control.
- Booking‑mix optimizers who want both OTA reach and diversified direct demand (site + Google Vacation Rentals).
- Teams without dedicated IT who prefer an opinionated PMS with sane defaults instead of infinite toggles.
Uplisting vs Guesty, Hostaway, Lodgify & OwnerRez
There’s no one “best PMS” — the right choice depends on your portfolio size, feature depth needs, and your stance on transparent vs quote‑only pricing. Below is an at‑a‑glance summary:
| Platform | Pricing approach | Where it shines | Trade‑offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uplisting | Transparent: base + per‑property; add‑ons (deposits/ID). 14‑day trial. 0% commission. | Pre‑arrival automation (deposits, eSign, ID), direct + Stripe, GVR connectivity, unified inbox. | WhatsApp pending; consider add‑on usage if ID checks are frequent. |
| Guesty | Lite plan lists a small monthly fee plus a % per reservation; Pro/Enterprise by quote. | Deep ecosystem, advanced reporting, trust accounting, extensive marketplace. | Costs can scale with % fees or quotes; more complexity than many need under ~50 units. |
| Hostaway | Quote‑based per listing (ranges by portfolio size; no free trial). | Robust all‑rounder with AI‑assisted ops; popular for larger, fast‑scaling portfolios. | Opaque pricing until you engage sales; setup/contracts vary. |
| Lodgify | Published tiers start low (per‑month) with a short free trial. | Great website builder + booking engine; solid channel manager. | Some plans include per‑booking fees; may rely more on third‑party add‑ons for pre‑arrival. |
| OwnerRez | Granular per‑property pricing; many premium features are add‑ons. | Power‑user flexibility; direct API to major channels; strong docs/community. | More configuration, more à‑la‑carte decisions; learning curve vs Uplisting’s defaults. |
Bottom line: if you value built‑in pre‑arrival controls and clear pricing, Uplisting is hard to beat. If you need enterprise trust accounting or prefer quote‑based suites, explore Guesty Pro or Hostaway. For a highly configurable, à‑la‑carte approach, OwnerRez is excellent; for website‑first simplicity, Lodgify is compelling.
ROI, implementation & migration
- Time saved: templates + filters mean fewer manual messages; deposits/ID/eSign reduce last‑minute back‑and‑forth.
- Fewer calendar issues: multi‑calendar + official API connections = fewer double bookings.
- Direct revenue: Stripe and payment plans reduce abandonment for direct bookings; GVR adds top‑funnel demand.
- Migration path: connect channels in read‑only to preview imports, then switch over — safe and reversible.
Verdict: a modern PMS that removes friction
Uplisting’s strength is reducing operational friction where it matters most: the days and hours before arrival. Instead of bolting on external tools for deposits, signatures, and ID, you get a native flow that keeps guests (and your team) on track — while a clean direct site + Stripe and Google distribution help you diversify demand. Unless you specifically need heavy enterprise modules, this is an easy, confidence‑building choice.