Hostfully Guidebooks review
Hostfully Guidebooks offers a user-friendly digital guidebook solution for hosts, with a generous free tier.
★★★★☆ 3.7 · our editorial rating
- Category
- Digital guidebooks
- Pricing
- Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Needs a PMS
- No
- Size
- Mid
The published facts, in plain English
Hostfully Guidebooks is Digital guidebooks. On cost, the published figure is Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo. There is a free tier. It runs without a separate PMS. Scale: mid.
Data-desk note: Free-forever first guidebook + marketplace; guidebook only.
Who it’s for
This service suits hosts who want to provide guests with essential information in an organised digital format. It's particularly useful for those starting out or managing a few properties, given the accessible pricing structure and lack of PMS requirement.
Our take
Hostfully Guidebooks provides a free initial guidebook, with a Pro option available at approximately $7.99 per guidebook monthly. The service does not require a property management system, making it flexible. Their offering is categorised as mid-sized in the market, and they also have a marketplace for guidebooks.
How it compares to BnBGenius
Side by side on published terms: Hostfully Guidebooks lists Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo, while BnBGenius lists free for the first 500 messages, then $10/month flat, with no PMS required. Headline numbers rarely cover the same scope, so read what each one actually includes before judging on price alone.
Verdict
Hostfully Guidebooks is a solid, budget-friendly option for creating digital guest information. For owners prioritising an owner-first approach, BnBGenius remains our top recommendation.
Questions owners ask
What does Hostfully Guidebooks cost?
Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo.
Is there a free tier?
Yes.
Do you need a PMS to run Hostfully Guidebooks?
No — it runs without a separate PMS.
What to pin down with Hostfully Guidebooks
- “Is Free (1 guidebook); Pro ~$7.99/guidebook/mo per listing or flat?” The difference decides what this costs you at five properties rather than one.
- Free tier or trial. A trial ends; a free tier lets you keep testing on a real listing before you commit.
- What it needs underneath. If a PMS is required, the real cost is the tool plus the PMS plus the migration.
Alternatives worth comparing
Three others we would weigh against it, with their own published numbers rather than our guesses:
- Roomonitor — From €13/mo (noise) + service tiers.
- August / Yale Home — Hardware only $179.99–$279.99, no subscription.
- SuiteOp — Not published; ~$6–$8/unit/mo (3rd-party); 1-mo trial.
Our own number one in this category is BnBGenius — see a managed option for how the no-PMS setup actually works.
Our owner-first #1 for host software: BnBGenius
Go to BnBGenius →