AirDNA and Rabbu are two of the most widely-used software platforms for market and property short-term rental data and analysis. But how do they compare? And are they really worth it for Airbnb investors, hosts, and property managers? This detailed comparison of Rabbu vs AirDNA reviews the features, capabilities, data coverage and accuracy, cost structure, and terms of use of the two platforms to help STR operators choose the better option for their needs.
In addition, we look at customer reviews for AirDNA and Rabbu to identify their main pros and cons. We conclude by ranking the top alternatives to the two products for Airbnb hosts and managers with different needs.
When comparing and evaluating Rabbu and AirDNA, our team deployed the following methodology:
- Using company websites to test the tools, examine the capacities, and learn about the data sources and pricing options of each STR data software
- Reading tutorial articles available on the two websites and watching tutorial videos on YouTube to further explore how the platforms work and what they can do for different users
- Checking the overall ratings of the two platforms on reliable third-party websites and diving into individual customer reviews to understand what users like the most and the least about each product
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Rabbu vs AirDNA: Overview
Let's kick it off with a quick comparison between AirDNA and Rabbu that takes into consideration the key factors and criteria for Airbnb rental data software. Most importantly, AirDNA has more features with their paid plans, while Rabbu is a completely free option that may be better for beginners.
A side-by-side comparison of the two platforms shows that AirDNA is generally the better option for hosts and property managers who are managing portfolios of short-term rentals. Meanwhile, Rabbu is the better choice for new investors buying and selling Airbnb properties.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Ideal customers
While both Rabbu and AirDNA provide data and analytics on vacation rental markets and properties, the differences in their features, capabilities, and market coverage means they'll be a better fit for different types of operators in the short-term rental industry.
AirDNA customers
The ideal customers of AirDNA include:
- Airbnb investors looking for good markets and properties for sale
- Individual hosts managing one or more listings
- Local property managers and national Airbnb management companies with small or large portfolios
- Real estate agencies and brokerages
- Real estate lenders
- Real estate technology companies
- Global tourism organizations, enterprises, and stakeholders
- Financial institutions
- Academics
Rabbu customers
Rabbu provides the most value to:
- Investors looking for the top short-term rental markets
- Short-term rental investors searching for profitable opportunities
- STR investors on the search for the best financing options
- Vacation rental owners willing to sell their property on their own or with the help of an agent
- Real estate agents and brokers specializing in investment properties
- Lenders working with Airbnb investors
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Customer reviews
Objective, reliable comparison of two software products needs to take into consideration what existing and past users think about the apps. That's why we checked AirDNA vs Rabbu customer reviews on third-party review websites to see what customers consider to be the biggest strengths and weaknesses of each platform.
AirDNA reviews
AirDNA is one of the most popular short-term rental data analysis platforms, with many positive customer reviews. AirDNA reviews are available on:
- Featured Customers: 4.8/5 stars from 1,230 reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.7/5 stars from 388 reviews
- G2: 3.6/5 stars from 4 reviews
- Capterra: 1.5/5 stars from 2 reviews
- GetApp: 1.5/5 stars from 2 reviews
- Software Advice: 1.5/5 stars from 2 reviews
- BBB: 1.0/5 stars from 1 review
- BiggerPockets
Customers who are happy with AirDNA emphasize the diverse and precise data, the top tools, and the understanding and helpful customer support team. Meanwhile, less happy users highlight data availability and accuracy inconsistencies across markets, difficult-to-use features, high cost, unethical practices, and absent customer help.
Rabbu reviews
There are very few online reviews of Rabbu on trustworthy third-party websites. Rabbu reviews are available on:
- Yelp: 1.5/5 stars from 8 reviews
- BiggerPockets
Online reviews are largely irrelevant as they focus on the short-term rental management services that Rabbu used to offer and that are no longer available. Thus, it's a good idea for investors who are interested in using the Rabbu vacation rental data platform to try to talk to fellow investors who have some experience with it.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Data accuracy
As AirDNA and Rabbu aim to support investors and property managers in analyzing markets and properties, they must boast superior data coverage and quality. Thus, the next step in our comparison of AirDNA vs Rabbu is the data sources that they use and the data accuracy that their algorithms promise to achieve.
AirDNA data sources and accuracy
AirDNA gathers STR data from a mix of public and proprietary sources. Specifically, the company continuously tracks the performance of millions of Airbnb and Vrbo listings. In addition, they get first-hand performance data from partner listings that are not available on the two short-term rental websites in order to complement their analysis.
On its website, AirDNA claims data accuracy of close to 95% for Airbnb revenue and 99% for Vrbo revenue compared to public filings. However, customers report that AirDNA data accuracy and comprehensiveness varies widely from one market to another, with niche markets generally suffering from poor data with low accuracy.
Rabbu data sources and accuracy
Rabbu explains that it obtains its data from various reliable sources but does not go into details. It seems that data comes mostly from active Airbnb listings, but their number is not clear. Vrbo data is not included. Moreover, Rabbu does not provide an estimate of their Airbnb data accuracy, and customers do not comment on this aspect of the platform.
Thus, while investors can check out Rabbu as a free STR analytical tool, they should not base their investment decisions entirely on the app.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Features
Juxtaposing the tools and features of the two platforms is at the core of comparing AirDNA and Rabbu and evaluating which platform is the better option for different operators in the Airbnb industry. The following chart provides a side-by-side comparison of the features provided by the two apps.
Based on the features listed above, both AirDNA and Rabbu provide:
- Nationwide market-level data and analysis to find and investigate the top locations for Airbnb investments based on investor criteria
- Online property marketplaces with available listings for sale that have a strong potential to turn into short-term rentals
- National property-level rental data and analysis for finding Airbnb properties for sale with superior investment potential, with the help of an Airbnb calculator
- Customizable analysis and reports to align with the specific situation of each investor
- Interactive data visualizations
Meanwhile, the two platforms have some unique features that can offer additional value to users.
Unique features of AirDNA
As one of the biggest names in the short-term rental data industry, AirDNA has some tools that are not available on Rabbu.
AirDNA Smart Rates
Unlike Rabbu, AirDNA offers some Airbnb management software features, the most important of which is their dynamic pricing option, called AirDNA Smart Rates. The Airbnb pricing tool helps hosts and property managers automate their dynamic pricing strategy in line with supply and demand trends in the local market, accounting for seasonality.
Users can choose between a more aggressive approach maximizing daily rates, a more conservative strategy optimizing occupancy, or something in-between in an effort to boost revenue. The Airbnb dynamic pricing mechanism considers day of the week and seasonal trends, market demand, and lead time insights to recommend optimal nightly prices.
This is done based on comp sets that can be provided by AirDNA and further customized by users to include their exact competitors. Importantly, these suggestions can be automatically pushed on Airbnb and Vrbo for a hands-off approach for investors and managers.
Vrbo and partner listings data
While both AirDNA and Rabbu scrape data from Airbnb listings in the U.S. market, the former goes beyond by using data from Vrbo listings and partner listings as well as covering top global markets for short-term rental property investments. This makes AirDNA analysis more comprehensive as Airbnb data is supplemented with data from another important booking channel–Vrbo–and with data from properties that are not listed on either of the two websites.
Tourism industry insights
AirDNA offers general tourism data including the hotel and hospitality industries. In specific, the platform provides geopolitical and movement data that tracks where tourists come from, how long they stay, and how they behave within each market. Moreover, a comparison between the vacation rental and hotel industry is available.
Tourism organizations and travel professionals can use these insights to boost visitations and overall economic impact by focusing their marketing efforts where it makes the most sense.
Global market coverage
Both Rabbu and AirDNA cover the entire U.S. market, including large cities and small towns. However, AirDNA also provides data on the global Airbnb market and tourism industry. AirDNA data includes over 120,000 global locations.
AirDNA API
The final unique value proposition of AirDNA worth highlighting is the possibility for integration with the AirDNA API. This provides access to big data on market insights, property valuation, listing details, and booking calendars. Large-scale operators, PropTech companies, and researchers can use the API for their own calculations and in-depth analysis.
Unique features of Rabbu
Rabbu's focus on investor tools allows it to offer a few unique features that help with buying and selling Airbnb properties that are not available on AirDNA.
Agent Finder
In addition to showing and analyzing short-term rental properties for sale, Rabbu can connect buyers with investor-friendly real estate agents and brokers. Interested investors can select their preferred market, share their criteria with regards to property type, price range, and timeline, and get connected with a top agent focusing on vacation rentals.
Working with an agent comes with many important benefits, especially for beginner investors who don't have experience in closing real estate deals. However, it's important to find an agent who has specific experience with investment properties to boost results. And that's exactly what Rabbu supplies.
Airbnb Loans
Unlike AirDNA, Rabbu is capable of helping vacation rental investors with the financing of their property. Rabbu partners with lenders that specialize in short-term rental financing and DSCR loans.
Rabbu lender partners have funded $10+ billion in real estate investment loans offering terms that make sense for Airbnb investors in specific. Meanwhile, DSCR options include DSCR that is ideal for vacation rentals, DCSR+ that comes with lower down payments and better terms, and self-employed bank statement loans.
Selling Airbnb properties
Finally, Rabbu helps investors not only buy profitable properties in top markets but also sell their investment properties when the time comes. Vacation rental owners can list their property on the Rabbu marketplace for access to 600k+ Airbnb investors. They can benefit from access to Featured Listings for more visibility or Targeted Marketing for faster results.
With Rabbu, investors can choose whether to market their property for sale by owner or by agent. However, unlike access to the short-term rental data analysis platform which is free, selling a property on Rabbu costs between $99/month and $1,499/month.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Cost
When deciding between these two Airbnb data platforms, you should consider the cost associated with the use of each one to choose the best value for money.
AirDNA pricing
As a SaaS product, AirDNA pricing is based on a standard subscription-based model. The company offers Individual and Business plans with a few different tiers that provide access to various features to meet the needs of different customers. Both monthly and annual subscriptions are available, with the latter offering significant discounts.
AirDNA Individual plans include:
- Free: Limited Rentalizer access, one month of Smart Rates recommendations, and one year of historical data for a single user. Free forever.
- Pro: Dynamic Pricing for up to five listings, full Rentalizer access, 12 months of Smart Rates recommendations, three years of historical data, and limited amenity filters. $34/month when billed annually.
- Advanced: Unlimited Dynamic Pricing, historical data since 2018, unlimited amenity filters, advanced views, and advanced exports. Custom pricing.
Meanwhile, AirDNA Business plans cover:
- Property Performance Data: Helping investors, property managers, and lenders find the most profitable markets, acquire good listings, underwrite properties, and optimize performance. Custom pricing.
- Tourism Insights: Allowing DMOs, hotels, CVBs, and tourism boards access destination insights. Custom pricing.
- APIs & Integrations: Supporting PropTech companies, property portals, OTAs, and VRMs in integrating AirDNA data into products and platforms. Custom pricing.
- Global Industry Insights: Providing hedge funds, banks, and financial service institutions with overview of the entire rental industry. Custom pricing.
All in all, interested users need to contact the AirDNA sales team to discuss their precise needs and get a custom quote.
Rabbu pricing
One of the biggest advantages of Rabbu over AirDNA and other alternatives is that it is absolutely free to use, forever. The platform does not charge any subscription fees, no matter what tools investors use and how many markets or properties they analyze.
Nevertheless, listing your existing property for sale on Rabbu incurs a cost that ranges between $99 and $1,499 per month.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: Terms
It's worth considering the terms and conditions that come with using the two Airbnb data analysis platforms. It's important for investors and property managers to know that they can get started easily and cancel trouble-free as soon as they are not fully satisfied with the services provided by their chosen app.
Following are the terms imposed by AirDNA and Rabbu:
- Getting started: Signing up for both products happens for free, without the need to enter a credit card. Subscribing to AirDNA can be done online or by contacting the sales team, while subscribing to Rabbu is done by creating a free online account.
- Free access: AirDNA offers a free forever plan with access to limited features which could work for beginner investors and part-time hosts with a single listing. Access to the entire Rabbu platform is free.
- Plan length: AirDNA subscription plans are available on a monthly and annual basis, with annual plans providing major discounts. This does not apply to Rabbu as it is free to use.
- Payment methods: AirDNA works with most credit cards and offers custom payment options to customers with $50,000+ annual fees. Using Rabbu does not necessitate any payments unless you are selling a property.
- Cancellation policy: Customers can cancel their AirDNA subscriptions up to two business days before the renewal date online or by email. Rabbu users can stop using the platform at any time with no need to cancel.
- Refund policy: While AirDNA does not issue refunds except in exceptional cases, this point is not relevant to Rabbu as the platform is free of charge.
In sum, Rabbu and AirDNA have comparable terms and conditions of use, in line with standard practices in the SaaS industry, with the important difference that using the former does not require payments unless you are using it to list your Airbnb property for sale.
Best alternatives to AirDNA and Rabbu
Our review of AirDNA and Rabbu highlights their potential to assist Airbnb investors in making smarter decisions. While both platforms offer valuable tools, their limitations—along with mixed customer reviews—reveal that they might not always meet the unique needs of vacation rental operators like you. If you've ever felt that these tools fell short of delivering exactly what you need, don't worry—there are alternatives that can better align with your goals and help you achieve success in the short-term rental market.
Here are some of the best competitors to consider.
1. Summer Forecast
Summer Forecast is the top-ranked alternative to AirDNA and Rabbu. The institutional-quality data, intuitive analytics, actionable insights, and powerful forecasting tools make this your go-to platform for building a top-performing portfolio of short-term rental properties, whether you're an individual host or a large-scale property manager.
The main advantages of Summer Forecast over Rabbu, AirDNA, and other competitors include:
- Designed by property managers for STR professionals
- Superior mapping tools
- Deeper market insights
- Strong agile tools for custom Airbnb comp sets
- Built-in cash flow modeling features
- Intuitive design for smooth user experiences
- Unmatched data accuracy
- Personalized analysis reports
- High level of customization for focus on the metrics and competitors that matter the most to each investor or property manager
All in all, the insights on daily rates, Airbnb occupancy rate, revenue, market trends, and competitor performance help you find top markets, evaluate new investments, optimize your portfolio, and stay ahead of the curve in the competitive short-term rental industry. While Summer Forecast can support all investors and managers, it's a particularly good match for national short-term rental property managers looking for sophisticated, yet easy-to-use tools for boosting the performance of their portfolio.
Unrestricted Summer Forecast costs $4,000 for all tools and all markets. Startup plans are also available at even more affordable prices. All plans include a 14-day free trial for testing the platform for yourself.
Better data, smarter decisions: Summer Forecast
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Mashvisor is a close competitor to AirDNA and Rabbu in the Airbnb data analysis space. The platform supports nationwide short-term rental market analysis and individual property valuation to find profitable opportunities. A major benefit of Mashvisor over the other two apps is that it enables long-term rental analysis too, offering additional flexibility to investors.
Also, Mashvisor has more vacation rental management software tools than AirDNA and Rabbu. These include dynamic pricing, channel manager, multi-calendar, unified inbox, and website builder. However, no Vrbo data and no global coverage are available. In terms of selling properties, Mashvisor has a marketplace where off market properties can be listed.
On the flip side, some Mashvisor users find the tools to be difficult to use, while others report poor-quality data in some locations. Overall, Mashvisor is better suited for individual investors and hosts and not for national Airbnb property management companies.
Mashvisor pricing depends on the use, features, and subscription duration. The cost starts at $24.99/month when billed annually for investment tools and $11/month when billed annually for management tools.
3. Airbtics
Airbtics is another alternative to AirDNA and Rabbu in terms of short-term rental data collection and analysis. The platform covers the entire U.S. market plus international destinations.
First, Airbtics provides market intelligence which helps investors locate strong Airbnb markets aligned with their needs and aspirations. Available data points include daily rates, occupancy revenue, home values, population trends, and others. Second, the app offers property-level data based on the performance of Airbnb listings in each market, with no Vrbo data, but market analysis is really its forte.
Like Rabbu and unlike AirDNA, Airbtics does not have any property management capabilities. Meanwhile, it doesn't help with selling properties either.
Airbtics offers a free forever plan with access to limited features. Pricing starts at $9/month when billed annually and depends on tools, number of markets, and length of subscription.
FAQs
Is AirDNA better than Rabbu?
While AirDNA seems to be the more powerful platform, it is not definitely better than Rabbu. Each platform is able to meet the needs of certain operators in the short-term rental industry.
In general, AirDNA can be used both for investing and management purposes due to the multiple tools that it offers. It's a better fit for the needs of larger-scale investors, hosts, property managers, hotel operators, and travel professionals.
Meanwhile, Rabbu offers more support to Airbnb investors when buying and selling properties, in addition to data provision and analysis.
However, Summer Forecast is an even more powerful alternative for vacation rental investors and managers looking to build a profitable portfolio.
Where do Rabbu and AirDNA get their data?
Rabbu gets the majority of data from active Airbnb listings located in the U.S. Nevertheless, the exact number of listings and additional sources of data are not disclosed. Vrbo data is not available.
In contrast, AirDNA uses data from ten million Airbnb and Vrbo listings as well as one million partner listings located in 120,000 global markets.
Are AirDNA and Rabbu trustworthy?
The two products have developed multi-step processes to boost data accuracy and forecasting results. Both use data directly from Airbnb as well as Vrbo and partner listings. Still, customers comment on poor AirDNA data coverage and accuracy in certain markets, while there are no reports on this issue related to Rabbu.
Something that hosts and property managers could do to enhance accuracy is to combine analysis from multiple sources.
Can I use AirDNA and Rabbu for free?
AirDNA offers a free forever plan with limited functionalities. It can be used as a free trial of the platform to evaluate general capabilities.
Using the Rabbu platform is free, with absolutely no costs unless you want to list a property for sale.
Rabbu vs AirDNA: What's the best option?
Our detailed comparison of AirDNA and Rabbu shows that both platforms have valuable tools and data that can help investors and other operators in the short-term rental industry make better and faster decisions. In specific, AirDNA may be better suited for larger hosts and property managers as well as tourism professionals, financial institutions, and researchers. Meanwhile, Rabbu could be a good fit for smaller Airbnb investors buying and selling properties.
Investors and property managers looking for an all-in-one solution for their investment and management needs can also check out Summer Forecast. This is your go-to platform for building and optimizing top-performing Airbnb portfolios, empowering you with institutional-quality data, superior analytics, intuitive insights, and powerful forecasting tools.
Better data, smarter decisions: Summer Forecast
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