Homeaway Revenue Tool (MarketMaker) vs. PriceLabs:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between HomeAway’s MarketMaker and PriceLabs for your hotel’s revenue management boils down to understanding what each platform offers and how they fit your specific needs. While both aim to optimize your nightly rates, they diverge significantly in features, usability, and market coverage. HomeAway’s MarketMaker provides a broad overview of your competitive market’s future nightly rates, whereas PriceLabs offers a detailed, dynamic pricing system with automation and customization. Which aligns better with your strategic goals?

Is HomeAway’s MarketMaker or PriceLabs Better for Hotels?

Both platforms are designed to help you set competitive rates, but their core approaches differ. HomeAway’s MarketMaker centers on providing detailed future market rate insights, helping you make informed rate decisions based on competitive set data. PriceLabs, on the other hand, automates revenue management with dynamic adjustments, real-time market analysis, and advanced customization options.

HomeAway’s platform is built for property managers seeking a straightforward comparison tool, offering a future-focused view of your market’s rates. PriceLabs offers a multi-layered pricing engine that adjusts rates on the fly, suitable for hotels with larger portfolios or those seeking more control. The key question: do you need detailed market data for strategic planning, or a fully automated system to handle pricing day-to-day?

HomeAway vs PriceLabs: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a clear understanding of market trends and future rate comparisons, HomeAway’s MarketMaker is a logical choice. Its primary strength is in helping you make competitive decisions based on detailed market average nightly rates, especially if you operate in a niche or small-to-medium property set.

If, however, your goal is to maximize revenue through automation, customization, and real-time adjustments, PriceLabs is the better pick. It’s ideal for hotels managing large portfolios, seeking to reduce manual effort, and wanting to leverage extensive analytics, including advanced features like 365-day forward pricing and automated room-type pricing.

For small properties with limited resources or market data needs, MarketMaker might suffice. Larger properties or those with complex revenue goals should consider PriceLabs’ comprehensive system.

Is HomeAway or PriceLabs Easier to Use?

HomeAway’s MarketMaker scores a 0/5 in ease of use, with no recent reviews or user ratings, indicating limited usability insights. Its core function is market comparison, so it’s less about onboarding and more about data viewing, which might be straightforward but limited.

PriceLabs shines with a 4.73/5 ease of use rating based on 44 recent reviews. Users praise its intuitive dashboard, straightforward setup, and quick onboarding, although some note initial complexity with advanced features. The platform’s guided workflows and automation options make it accessible for most hoteliers.

Edge: PriceLabs.

Which Has Better Features: HomeAway or PriceLabs?

HomeAway’s MarketMaker offers no exclusive features beyond its market comparison data, focusing solely on future nightly rate insights. PriceLabs, by contrast, provides nine distinct features including fully automated revenue management, multi-property management, 365-day forward pricing, automated room-type pricing, real-time price optimization, guided workflows, and a detailed analytics dashboard.

These features enable comprehensive control and flexibility over your pricing strategy, surpassing HomeAway’s limited scope. The breadth and depth of PriceLabs’ capabilities make it the more feature-rich choice for revenue-focused hoteliers.

Edge: PriceLabs.

Which Has Better Customer Support: HomeAway or PriceLabs?

HomeAway’s support ratings are not available, reflecting minimal recent user feedback or reviews. As a result, we lack data to assess their responsiveness or quality.

PriceLabs, with a 4.95/5 support rating and nearly 45 recent reviews, consistently earns praise for its responsive, knowledgeable customer service. Users highlight the availability of webinars, quick problem resolution, and dedicated account managers. Many report feeling supported throughout their onboarding and ongoing use.

Edge: PriceLabs.

Which Has More Integrations: HomeAway or PriceLabs?

HomeAway’s MarketMaker has zero verified integrations, limiting its connectivity to other systems. This can restrict your ability to sync data and automate processes seamlessly.

PriceLabs boasts 34 verified partners, including major PMS and channel management platforms such as Mews, Guesty, RMS, and others. Its extensive integration network allows smooth data flow and automation, making it easier to incorporate into your existing tech stack.

Edge: PriceLabs.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: HomeAway or PriceLabs?

PriceLabs’ recent reviews, totaling 44 with a 9.89/5 NPS score, indicate a highly satisfied user base. Its users come from diverse property types—vacation rentals, hotels, extended stays—and consistently praise its revenue impact and usability.

HomeAway’s zero reviews mean no recent data on user satisfaction. The absence of customer feedback makes it impossible to determine how hoteliers truly perceive the platform.

Edge: PriceLabs.

How Much Do HomeAway and PriceLabs Cost?

HomeAway does not publicly disclose pricing, and no trial or freemium options are available, making it difficult to evaluate ROI upfront.

PriceLabs charges a flat rate of $500 per month, with no free trial or implementation fees. Its transparent pricing model allows you to assess value clearly, especially considering its robust feature set.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HomeAway?

• Hotels that primarily need future market rate comparisons to inform their pricing strategies.
• Teams seeking a straightforward, data-driven tool without automation.
• Properties in markets with stable, predictable demand where advanced automation isn’t critical.
• Small to medium-sized properties that benefit from competitive set benchmarking.

Not ideal if:

• You want a fully automated pricing engine.
• You require integrations with your PMS or channel managers.
• Your property portfolio is large or complex, demanding real-time adjustments.

What Type of Hotel Should Use PriceLabs?

• Hotels managing multiple properties needing automation and customization.
• Teams seeking to optimize revenue through real-time, dynamic pricing adjustments.
• Properties in highly competitive or over-supplied markets where hyper-local algorithms excel.
• Hotels looking for detailed analytics and flexible workflows to refine their revenue strategy.

Not ideal if:

• You prefer a simple rate comparison without automation.
• Your budget is limited, as PriceLabs requires a monthly fee.
• You are new to revenue management and need extensive initial training or support.

PriceLabs vs HomeAway: The Bottom Line for Hotels

PriceLabs is a comprehensive revenue management platform with extensive features, automation, and a large integration network. Its emphasis on real-time adjustments, advanced customization, and user satisfaction make it a clear leader for most hoteliers seeking to maximize revenue.

HomeAway’s MarketMaker offers valuable future rate insights based on competitive set data, suited for properties where strategic planning outweighs automation. But given the paucity of recent reviews and support data, it’s less appealing for hotels looking for active revenue management tools.

If you want a proven, feature-rich system that actively manages your pricing and provides ongoing support, PriceLabs is the recommended choice. If your needs are limited to market comparison and future rate insights, and automation isn’t a priority, HomeAway could suffice—though its limited recent data makes PriceLabs the more reliable option today.