Vrbo vs. Airbnb: Which Platform is Best for Oklahoma Hosts?

When it comes to vacation rental platforms, most hosts automatically think Airbnb. And for good reason—Airbnb is a household name. But if you’re managing short-term rentals in Oklahoma, it’s worth asking: should you also (or instead) be listing your property on Vrbo?

At Upventures, we’ve worked with dozens of owners navigating this same question. Here’s our honest breakdown of Airbnb vs. Vrbo—from pricing structures and guest expectations to who wins in small cities like Tulsa, Norman, and Oklahoma City.

The Basics: What’s the Difference?

Airbnb was designed for experiences and flexibility. It's a platform where you can list everything from shared rooms to treehouses and full homes. It's ideal for both short stays and unique properties.

Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner), on the other hand, focuses exclusively on entire-home rentals—no shared spaces allowed. Their audience tends to be families or larger groups looking for longer, more private stays.

Fees & Profit: Who Takes the Bigger Cut?

Airbnb charges hosts a 3% service fee (plus a guest fee on top), while Vrbo offers two pricing models:

• A 3% payment processing + 5% service fee per booking, or

• An annual subscription fee (around $499/year) for unlimited bookings.

  
  

If your Oklahoma vacation rental gets heavy volume year-round, Vrbo’s flat fee can save you money. But for most casual hosts or co-hosted properties, Airbnb’s pay-as-you-go fee is more manageable.

Guest Expectations & Behavior

Airbnb guests often expect quirky, curated, and Instagram-worthy experiences. Think: cute welcome signs, guidebooks, and thoughtful amenities.

Vrbo guests, in our experience, tend to expect traditional hospitality—similar to what you’d get at a hotel or resort. Cleanliness, functionality, and space for families is key.

If your listing is an adorable downtown loft or a themed cabin, Airbnb’s your crowd. But if you’re renting a spacious home near Lake Thunderbird or a family-style ranch in rural Oklahoma, Vrbo might bring more aligned guests.

Market Performance in Oklahoma

Oklahoma isn’t just flyover country anymore—it’s a low-cost, high-opportunity vacation rental market, especially for out-of-state investors.

We’ve found that in urban areas like Oklahoma City, Airbnb dominates in volume, visibility, and app-based searches.

In suburban and rural areas, Vrbo guests are often searching for multi-night family vacations or wedding weekend stays. These are higher-ticket bookings with longer stays.

List on both platforms if you can—but optimize your Airbnb listing for short-term guests and use Vrbo for extended family travel and high-value reservations.

Hosting Tools, Support & Flexibility

• Airbnb gives you better calendar sync, messaging tools, and co-hosting features (which we love).

• Vrbo offers less flexibility for co-hosts and doesn’t provide as robust app features.

Airbnb wins here. If you’re a busy property owner (or using Upventures as your co-host), the tools on Airbnb make managing multiple listings a breeze.

Final Thoughts: Why Not Both?

You don’t have to choose. Many successful Oklahoma hosts list on both Airbnb and Vrbo—maximizing visibility and tailoring their listings to different audiences. Just make sure to sync your calendars to avoid double bookings (yes, we handle that for our clients).

If you’re ready to optimize your listings across platforms or finally delegate the hosting stress, let’s talk. At Upventures, we manage everything from marketing and guest messaging to cleanings and turnovers—so your property makes money without becoming your full-time job.