Vacation Rental Software: OwnerRez vs. OwnerWebs.com Guide

A Visual Guide to Vacation Rental Software: The Difference Between OwnerRez and OwnerWebs.com

Choosing the right software for your vacation rental business can be overwhelming. Do you need a management system or a powerful website builder? The answer depends on your goals, and this flowchart makes the choice much clearer by visually breaking down the difference between a traditional Property Management System (PMS) like OwnerRez, Guesty, Hostaway, or Lodgify and a specialized website platform like OwnerWebs.com.

While both platforms are designed to help you generate revenue, they operate from fundamentally different philosophies, as shown in the diagram.

The Core Philosophy: Central Hub vs. Direct Booking Funnel

The flowchart on the left represents a PMS / Channel Manager system like OwnerRez. The central hub, labeled "PMS / Channel Manager," is the primary system for managing all bookings and revenue. It connects directly to major OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia.

The flowchart on the right represents the OwnerWebs Platform. Its primary purpose is to act as a funnel for direct bookings from guests. It also integrates with other channels in some of the same ways as a PMS, but the focus is clearly on driving traffic to your own website.

This core difference determines how each system manages your business.

Flow of Information: Two-Way Street vs. Centralized Sync

A key distinction between the two systems is how they handle data flow and synchronization.

OwnerRez: The Two-Way Street

As the flowchart on the left shows, a PMS like OwnerRez acts as a hub that communicates with OTAs like VRBO and Airbnb.

• Real-Time Sync: The diagram shows direct arrows going both ways between the PMS / Channel Manager and the major OTAs. This represents a two-way API connection that allows the PMS to manage and sync listings, rates, and guest communications originating from these platforms.
• Centralized Control: Because the PMS is the central command center, it pulls all guest listings, guest communications, and reporting analytics into a single dashboard. This gives you a comprehensive view of your entire business in one place.
• Integration: The chart highlights how the PMS also connects to other tools for reporting analytics and guest management, all of which are fed by the data flowing through the central hub.

OwnerWebs.com: The Centralized Sync

The OwnerWebs platform, as shown on the right, uses a different approach centered around calendar syncing.

• Centralized Calendar Syncing: The diagram shows how this is a two-way street. OwnerWebs fetches calendar data from major OTAs to stay up-to-date, while the OTAs also fetch calendar data from OwnerWebs to block off booked dates. This is done using iCal links, which allow the system to receive and send availability updates to other channels. The iCal method is a longstanding standard, first introduced in 1998, and is still widely used by major platforms including Google Calendar and Apple Calendar.
• Focus on Direct Bookings: The chart clearly shows Direct Bookings from Guests as a primary function of the platform. The goal is to bring guests directly to your website.
• External Integration: OwnerWebs integrates with other tools to support the direct booking model, including "automated cleaning schedules," "integrated mapping," and "secure transactions." It also has "Host & Analytics Integration" to help you understand your website traffic. However, its primary connection to external booking channels is through calendar syncing.

Dependency and Independence

This is a crucial point that goes to the heart of each platform's design.

A PMS is dependent upon connecting to OTAs like Airbnb and VRBO. The PMS is not a source of bookings on its own; it manages them from other channels. If you were to kill the connections between the PMS and the OTAs, the PMS's primary function would be lost.

Conversely, with OwnerWebs, its core purpose is to facilitate direct bookings, making it independent of third-party channels. If you were to kill the connections between OwnerWebs and the OTAs, it would not affect its ability to get direct, commission-free bookings from guests.

Who is Each Platform For?

The choice between these two approaches depends on your operational needs and business goals.

• Choose a PMS like OwnerRez if you want to...
• Manage everything from one place. The system acts as your command center, handling listings, rates, and messaging across all channels.
• Scale efficiently. Its reporting and real-time, two-way syncing are designed for managing a high volume of listings by reducing the risk of double bookings.
• Run a comprehensive business. You need a system that can handle not just bookings but also accounting, guest relations, and analytics.
• Choose OwnerWebs.com if you want to...
• Focus on direct bookings. Your main goal is to build a professional website and attract guests who are looking to avoid the fees charged by platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, allowing you to generate revenue without paying large commissions.
• Simplify your setup. The platform provides the essential tools for a streamlined direct booking process, including secure payment processing and automated schedules.
• Supplement your existing listings. You can use it alongside your OTA listings as a way to generate commission-free bookings and build your own brand.

Conclusion

The flowchart clearly illustrates the core difference between these two systems. A PMS / Channel Manager is a central command center for your entire business, built on a powerful two-way connection to all channels. The OwnerWebs Platform is a specialized tool for building a direct booking storefront, relying on a simpler, one-way calendar sync to keep your website's availability current.

The best solution depends on whether you need a comprehensive, all-in-one business hub or a focused, direct booking funnel.