Essentials is Hospitable’s free plan, designed to give hosts the core tools needed to manage day-to-day short-term rental operations. You can think about it like this: Essentials runs the business. Paid plans optimize and scale it.
This article explains what’s included, what’s not included, how pricing works, and the recommended next steps to get set up.
What’s Included on the Essentials Plan
Essentials provides the core functionality needed to run your listings efficiently.
Guest communication
Unified inbox across Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com
Scheduled messages (check-in, checkout, new reservation, and more)
AI-suggested replies (10 uses per week, combined with Improve with AI)
Listings and calendar
Calendar sync across channels to prevent double bookings
Multi-property calendar view
Property protection (security deposits, guest verification)
Knowledge Hub (AI assistant)
Operations
Automated task management for turnovers
Task notifications and reminders
Cleaner coordination and payments
Guest experience
Guest portal (check-in tasks, reservation details)
Upsells (e.g. early check-in, late checkout)
Support and learning
Access to Hospitable's community
Onboarding checklists
AI chat support
What’s Not Included on the Essentials Plan
Some features are only available on paid plans:
Smart device integrations (locks and thermostats)
Advanced automation (e.g. AI auto-replies)
Unlimited Suggest with AI
Cash payouts from Trip Insurance upsell
Issue alerts in your inbox
Automated answers to common guest questions
Live chat support
How to Upgrade to a Paid Plan
If you'd like to gain access to Hospitable's paid plan features, you can review plan options here.
You can upgrade at any time:
Go to Settings → Plans & billing
Select a paid plan
Subscribe
How Pricing Works on Essentials
The Essentials plan subscription is free. You only pay if you enable optional add-ons.
Paid add-ons
Examples of paid add-ons include:
Dynamic Pricing
Hospitable offers an integrated Dynamic Pricing tool. You can learn more about the cost here.
Free for 30 days or your first 3 bookings (whichever comes first)
After the trial: $15 per property per month for properties with Dynamic Pricing enabled
Learn how to set up Dynamic Pricing here.
Connecting Hospitable to booking platforms
When you connect Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo to Hospitable, you are connecting your listings to a property management system (PMS).
This allows Hospitable to:
Sync calendar and availability
Send and receive guest messages
Manage tasks and operations in one place
Your listings remain fully under your control.
Complete Account Set Up with Essentials
These are the most impactful steps to complete after setting up Essentials.
✅ 1. Review your calendar
Check your calendar for the next 30–60 days:
Are prices consistent with what you'd expect?
Is availability accurate?
Are the minimum night stays correct?
✅ 2. Preview Dynamic Pricing
Open your single-property calendar
Click Preview Dynamic Pricing
Review suggested prices
You can activate it or adjust settings to fit your strategy.
✅ 3. Set up automated messaging
New reservation message (required)
Go to Guest Experience → Messaging.
Visit the Getting Started page in Hospitable to follow your onboarding checklist.
Optional: Guided onboarding (Rapid Rollout)
🚀 Want help getting set up quickly?
If you prefer a hands-on setup, Rapid Rollout is our guided onboarding program. It includes:
1:1 implementation support
Typically completed over 3 guided sessions (3–5 hours total)
We help configure messaging, pricing, operations, and more
Price: ~$500 (may vary depending on setup)
It’s the fastest way to go live with a fully optimized setup.
FAQs
Is Essentials actually free?
Yes. There is no subscription fee unless you enable paid add-ons or upgrade your plan.
Will connecting to Hospitable change my Airbnb settings?
No. Your pricing and listing settings remain unchanged unless you enable features like Dynamic Pricing or automations. However, it's important to note:
Can I try Dynamic Pricing before enabling it?
Yes. You can preview recommended prices directly from your calendar before activating it.
What happens after the Dynamic Pricing trial ends?
After 30 days or 3 bookings, Dynamic Pricing becomes a paid add-on, unless it's enabled before the end of the trial.
Can I use Essentials long-term?
Yes. Essentials is designed to be used as long as you want. You can upgrade at any time if you need additional features.
Can I manage multiple properties on Essentials?
Yes. You can connect and manage multiple properties on the Essentials plan. There is no property limit.