Reviews smoobu : Is this the best channel manager for your vacation rental?
Complete guide - Ratings, prices and alternatives :
If you’ve invested in a property for seasonal rental, or you want to be visible on the web with a single software application to increase your bookings, find out what we think of Smoobu, the channel manager from Germany…
Smoobu: what is it?
Smoobu is a channel manager that synchronizes vacation rental ads with the best-known booking platforms such as Booking, Airbnb and Expedia.
No more worries about double bookings!
Of course, that’s not all. Here are a few other features:
- Automatic message sending ;
- Connection with modules such as Stripe, Pricelabs ;
- Dashboard to manage your business ;
- Online site with booking engine ;
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Introducing and using of Smoobu
Founded in 2014 in Germany by Fabian Beckers and Philipp Reuter, it was designed by tourism professionals with the same difficulties as their users.
Partner of the biggest platforms (Booking, Agoda, Airbnb). It has over 100 partners and manages more than 200,000 active listings.
Well-honed technology…
Why we think Smoobu is the best choice for the occasional renter?
Each function has been designed to improve your daily life and allow you to :
- Increase your income;
- Reduce your working hours;
- Automate non-value-added tasks;
Our opinion on Smoobu benefits
- Sending predefined messages
- Fast price synchronization ;
- Online reservation system (PMS) ;
- Exportable dashboard
Sending predefined messages :
One of the most time-consuming but indispensable tasks is communicating with travelers .
That’s why automating a sequence of messages is essential to take your mind off things without altering the travel experience. For example :
- A message when booking;
- The day of their arrival for the key box, etc..
Fast price synchronization :
You can adjust your rates directly on the calendar. They will be modified instantly on all your channels.
Coefficients can be applied to “neutralize” commissions for each of the different channels.
Just a few clicks and you’re all set!
Online reservation system (PMS) :
It allows you to manage the tasks that are essential for your holiday rental:
- A channel manager
- a service accessible via computer or smartphone;
- centralized communication ;
- a booking engine etc..
EXPORTABLE DASHBOARD :
Measuring your activity is essential to help you find statistics such as :
It will show you :
- Net sales and cash flows from real estate ;
- The RevPar ;
- Tourist tax ;
- Among other things, the occupancy rate..
However, we feel that it lacks some of the key figures found among its competitors, such as REVPAR, average sales, average length of stay , etc…
DISADVANTAGE OF SMOOBU SOFTWARE :
At first glance, using Smoobu is essential, and we recommend that you subscribe to this type of tool. However, depending on your business and development strategy, there may be a few shortcomings.
Basic calendar :
We find it a little basic, and the design is less suited to a renter with a lot of properties. This is a notable drawback for us, when compared with other, much more ergonomicprograms such as Superhote (see below).
It will be unsuitable for a concierge service.
Website :
The online site is functional, but the design remains simple. If your strategy is to limit OTA commissions and develop your own brand , opt for Lodgify, which offers turnkey sites with top-quality designs. We think it’s important to offer the best possible showcase for your accommodation, to convert as many visitors as possible.
What are Smoobu's features of Smoobu?
- Reservation system (PMS) ;
- Channel manager ;
- Centralized communication with travelers ;
- Detailed statistics and report ;
- Website ;
- Centralized calendar
Smoobu PMS reservation system:
A PMS (Property Management System) allows you to manage your property by linking all your software:
- Reports and statistics ;
- Integration with your distribution channels;
- Direct or automatic communication with your travellers
- Online access for easy access;
- And of course the channel manager...
With it, you’ll be able to manage all your reservations and keep track of your business. It will make your day-to-day tasks easier, and the time saved will enable you to concentrate on your customers.
Finally, automating your Airbnb rental will soon become indispensable. It will be important for you to keep up with your competitors, especially when it comes to pricing. A tool like Pricelabs will provide you with dynamic, automatic pricing in real time. To find out more about this software and stay one step ahead of your competitors, read our article to discover the Pricelabs Review by Channel-Manager-Experts.
SMOOBU APPLICATION
It allows you to consult from your smartphone :
- Timetable;
- Reservation list ;
- Exchanges with your customers ;
- Your apartment statistics ;
- And much more!
Smoobu’s channel manager:
The channel manager synchronizes all the platforms you use. The software eliminates double bookings and saves you time on a daily basis.
No more double bookings:
Airbnb and Smoobu are connected, Expedia and Vrbo will also be updated automatically and instantly, and your website will also be synchronized via the booking engine, without commission of course.
Increased productivity :
Using Smoobu can save you several hours a week, allowing you to devote more time to your customers.
STATISTICS AND DETAILED REPORTS
Like most software programs, it offers a single page summarizing the performance of your vacation rentals. You’ll find :
- Monthly and total sales ;
- The occupancy rate of your property;
- Average price per booking ;
- The occupancy rate from the various OTAs but also from your website;
- The number of cancellations to be monitored etc...
So you’ll find a portal that’s both comprehensive and clear, as you can see below.
What’s more, all this data can be exported in CSV, Pdf and, of course, Excel.
Last but not least, this data can be shared in full, or in a personalized way. Handy for giving your cleaning staff access to reservation dates.
Centralized communication with travelers :
The developed messaging system centralizes customer communication on a single interface. The available settings will enhance the traveler’s experience.
A single inbox for all your exchanges:
You no longer need to connect to different platforms to communicate with your customers. A single interface lets you send them information or respond to their requests from AirBnb and Booking. All via your computer or smartphone.
Automatic messaging :
It lets you program a sequence of messages to enhance the customer experience. Messages are sent automatically at the programmed date and time.
Smoobu offers templates in several languages. You can also configure your own texts. We tested the message creation process. It’s simple, and the shortcodes come in handy.
Everything is integrated into the AirBnb and Booking messaging systems.
A whole sequence of messages can be integrated into the message:
- A booking message ;
- A message for the key box;
- A reminder for departure time on
The website proposed by Smoobu :
Today, it’s important not to rely solely on OTAs.
Having your own website is essential. It gives you an additional distribution channel, while avoiding commissions.
Integrated, commission-free website:
Of course, no commissions are charged. What’s more, it will be fully integrated. Rates and reservations will be synchronized automatically.
Finally, the tool centralizes all sales generated by your site in your statistics table.
What are the advantages of creating a website for your holiday rental?
- Be more visible on Google by using Google My Business, for example;
- Create the brand you can with flyers;
- Make commission-free sales;
- Build loyalty among professional customers;
- Become independent of OTAs
Our opinion on the Smoobu calendar:
This is the weak point. We find it rather basic and less ergonomic than other competing software.
It can be accessed either via the dashboard or via its icon.
Several lines will show you your different prices by platform, a setting which at first glance seems interesting but which we don’t find necessary to display.
This prevents several properties from being displayed simultaneously. Very annoying, when you want to have a direct view of the fill dates of your 4 apartments, for example.
Another small flaw is that when you’re on a reservation and you return to your calendar, you end up on the 1st apartment and not on the one you consulted.
Smoobu customer reviews
What is the price of Smoobu
Like many channel managers, there are several price plans available.
- Basic: a free version WITHOUT channel manager, an option to be avoided ;
- Professional: the best choice if you're on your own to manage ;
- Teams: for large structures with a dedicated management team ;
We recommend the “Professional” formula, which is sufficient in most cases.
An annual or bi-annual fee will give you a discount of 10 to 20%. It will vary according to the number of properties you own.
Conclusion:
should I subscribe to SMOOBU?
A web presence is vital to the success of a short-term rental business. To facilitate this presence, the channel manager is crucial.
Smoobu is a reasonably pricedvacation rental management application with all the features you need to grow your business.
It has a good number of options and a simple interface. We found the tool to be among the most intuitive we’ve tried.
Finally, Smoobu is a pretty good solution for the occasional renter . If price is your main criterion, its entry-level price will convince you, especially if you only have one or two apartments.
However, if price is not your 1st criterion, we suggest you opt for alternative software. As mentioned above, Superhote or Lodgify will offer you more features, a better user experience and better customer support.
Final score :
SMOOBU
The low-cost channel manager for occasional seasonal renters
BENEFITS
- Easy to use
- Ideal for occasional renters
- 14-day trial period
DISADVANTAGES
- Not suitable for owners who delegate maintenance
- Not suitable for concierge services
- Not suitable for hotels
- No Iphone application
Alternatives to SMOOBU
SMOOBU VS SUPERHOTE
Superhote takes 1st place in our ranking. Its more streamlined style makes it much easier to set up and use. Once again, if your main criterion is not the cost of your software, this is the tool for you. Find a detailed analysis of Superhote for the best French-language channel manager.
Lodgify, the all-in-one solution, is a tool that offers more functions and more interesting site designs. If you value quality over price , Lodgify is a better choice. See our software comparison chart.
If you’re a hotel owner, Amenitiz is a channel manager that’s better suited to your needs, more comprehensive and designed by hoteliers. Its price, however, is higher.
SMOOBU VS BEDS 24
Beds 24 is reputed to be one of the most complete on the market. Solid and full of features, it will delight tuning enthusiasts . The cost per option makes it very competitive, but at the expense of long and tedious set-up. If, however, you want to combine cost and simplicity, Smoobu will be the best compromise.
SMOOBU VS EVIIVO
Eviivo is a comprehensive, easy-to-use channel manager. A good alternative for occasional seasonal renters.
Other rental tools rental tools
A number of software packages have been developed for Airbnb rentals, including other channel managers such as Superhote, Lodgify, Beds24 and Eviivo.
You can also find :
- Revenue management training to maximize your bookings ;
- A concierge service to fully delegate your activity;
- Tools for monitoring electricity and heating consumption..
- List item
FAQ : Questions asked by our users :
No commissions charged for the software. Only Airbnb and other OTA fees will be deducted.
No. As a concierge service, we recommend Superhote , which is better suited to your needs.
No. Superhote offers superior service. Its ergonomics and reliability make it our preferred choice.
After a free 14-day trial period, the cost of the software will vary according to the number of properties. Count on less than 30 euros for a single property.
You’ll find a wealth of information in the “Help” section. A demo and numerous free tutorials are also available.
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