Fee Comparison Guide
Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com — they all take a cut. Here is exactly how much each platform charges guests and hosts, and how direct booking eliminates the overhead.
Service fee added at checkout. Varies by listing, location, and booking length.
Deducted from host payout. Some hosts use split-fee (lower guest fee, higher host fee).
Service fee shown at checkout. Generally lower than Airbnb but varies widely.
Commission deducted from host payout per booking.
No separate guest fee — but hosts raise prices to cover the 15% commission.
Commission per booking. Hosts typically increase nightly rates to compensate.
No service fee. The price you see is the price you pay.
Payment processing only. No commission, no platform tax.
See how much you save by booking direct instead of through a platform.
| Booking Value | Airbnb Fee (14%) | Vrbo Fee (6%) | Direct Fee | You Save vs Airbnb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | +$70 | +$30 | $0 | $70 |
| $1,000 | +$140 | +$60 | $0 | $140 |
| $2,000 | +$280 | +$120 | $0 | $280 |
| $5,000 | +$700 | +$300 | $0 | $700 |
Savings based on Airbnb guest service fee of ~14%. Actual fees vary by listing. Direct bookings via lilo have no guest service fee — only 3% payment processing charged to the host.
Airbnb charges guests a service fee of 14-16% of the booking subtotal. On a $1,000 booking, that is $140-$160 added at checkout. The exact percentage depends on the listing, location, trip length, and total cost.
Vrbo charges guests a service fee of 6-12% of the booking subtotal. This is generally lower than Airbnb, though Vrbo hosts pay a higher commission (5%) which can be reflected in nightly rates.
Booking.com does not charge a visible guest fee, but hosts pay a 15% commission. Most hosts increase their nightly rates on Booking.com to compensate, so guests end up paying more indirectly.
lilo charges a 3% payment processing fee — that is it. No guest service fee, no platform commission, no hidden charges. The 3% covers secure payment processing for verified bookings.
Direct bookings eliminate the 14-16% platform service fee. When you book through a platform like Airbnb, both the guest pays a service fee and the host pays a commission — both of which are built into the price you see. Direct booking removes that overhead.
Yes, when you use a verified booking system like lilo. Every property has a verified digital identity, and every booking creates a tamper-proof record. You get transparent cancellation policies and secure payment processing — without the platform markup.
A family that takes 3 vacations per year with an average booking value of $1,500 would save $630-$720 annually by avoiding Airbnb service fees. Over 5 years, that is $3,000-$3,600 in savings.
Every dollar you pay in platform fees is a dollar that could stay in your pocket. Browse verified vacation rentals and book direct.