Shelter Rank 3 of 3 in United States Best for homes

Airbnb

The global market for short-term rentals of homes, apartments and villas from local hosts.

United States airbnb.com Last updated
Visit site Compare with 2 others
SeeMetric score -3 vs the category average (82)

In two sentences

Airbnb took global the model Jabama runs in Iran: renting a home instead of a hotel room. It is excellent for family trips and long stays, but fees and cleaning charges push the final price up, and quality varies from host to host.

Founded
2008
Based in
San Francisco, United States
Business model
Short-term home rentals and experiences
Available in
Most countries, except Iran

Score by criterion, against the category

The tick on each bar is the category average; the signed number is the distance from it.

Listings and coverage92-2
Price and fees70-9
Trust and listing accuracy78-4
Smart viewing and matching86+1
Booking, contracts and support70-1

Good fit for

  • Family or group trips that need a kitchen and more space
  • Stays of several weeks with monthly discounts
  • Anyone who wants a neighbourhood stay rather than a hotel

Less suited when

  • People in Iran; Airbnb is not available there
  • A one-night stay, where fees and cleaning make it expensive

Strengths

  • Homes, apartments and villas in nearly every destination
  • Total price with all fees shown before booking
  • Two-way reviews between hosts and guests
  • AirCover for serious booking problems

Opportunities for improvement

  • Room for improvement in: Cleaning and service fees make short stays expensive
  • Room for improvement in: Quality and listing accuracy depend on the host
  • Room for improvement in: Resolving disputes through support can be slow
Verdict

The best choice for multi-night family or long stays; for one or two nights, a hotel on Booking.com is usually better value.

What Airbnb actually is

Airbnb started in San Francisco in 2008 and took short-term home rental global. It is what Jabama does in Iran with villas and suites.

What you pay and what you get

The host sets the nightly price; cleaning and platform fees are added. Airbnb can show the total price right in search results.

Where it is strong

Its range of places, especially for groups and long stays, is unmatched. The app is very smooth for map search, messaging hosts and keyless check-in.

How it can improve, and what we could not verify

The experience depends on the host, and disputes can be slow. Short-term rental rules have limited supply in some cities. Airbnb does not operate in Iran.

Questions about Airbnb

Does Airbnb work in Iran?

No; in the Iran view, Jabama covers this space.

Is Airbnb cheaper than a hotel?

For several nights and groups usually Airbnb; for one night usually a hotel.

What if the place does not match the listing?

AirCover covers rebooking or a refund, provided you report the problem quickly.

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Where it stands (United States)

The option one place up, one place down, and the whole table.

One place up Zillow #2 This page Airbnb #3

Full standings of Shelter

  1. 1

    Booking.com

    Netherlands

    The world's largest hotel and stay booking site, from hotels to apartments and villas.

  2. 2

    Zillow

    United States

    The largest US site for buying, selling and renting homes, with home value estimates.

  3. 3

    Airbnb

    United States

    The global market for short-term rentals of homes, apartments and villas from local hosts.

Criterion by criterion

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