If you’re like me, you probably use vacation rentals all the time—especially when traveling with family or with a bigger group. They typically offer more space and can sometimes put you in cooler locations and have more unique features than a hotel. For example, check out the view from this awesome rental I stayed at near Zion National Park recently (pictured above).
For years, I defaulted to Airbnb without really questioning it. It was just the go-to platform. But lately, I’ve switched to Vrbo, and honestly? I’m not looking back.
Here’s why.
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Table of Contents
1. Vrbo Actually Rewards You for Booking (Unlike Airbnb)
One of the biggest game-changers for me is the OneKey™ Rewards program. If you’ve ever booked a hotel through Expedia or Hotels.com, you might already be familiar with it.
OneKey™ is a travel rewards program that lets you earn points across multiple platforms—Vrbo, Expedia, and Hotels.com.
How It Works:
- Every dollar spent earns you OneKeyCash™ (essentially travel credits). The amount is typically 2% of the rental cost.
- You can use these rewards for future bookings—not just on Vrbo, but also on Expedia and Hotels.com.
- The more you book, the more perks you unlock (think: VIP benefits and discounts). The screenshot below shows the perks in each tier. For example, booking 5 nights unlocks Silver status (increased reward from 2% to 3%).
Compare that to Airbnb, which offers zero rewards for loyal users. You could book dozens of stays a year, and Airbnb won’t give you a single benefit for your loyalty.
Meanwhile, with Vrbo, every trip gets me closer to a free night or a heavily discounted stay. I don’t know about you, but I am always going to choose free money over familiarity.
To join OneKey™ Rewards for free, simply sign up for free at the link below.
2. Vrbo Lets You Stack Even More Savings with Rakuten
If you’re not using Rakuten, you’re literally leaving free money on the table. It’s a cashback site that gives you a percentage of your purchase back when you book through their links.
And here’s where Vrbo wins again—Vrbo partners with Rakuten, while Airbnb does not.
For a limited time, you can click the link below to join Rakuten for free, and earn $30 for simply signing up!
How Much Can You Save?
- Vrbo’s Rakuten cashback rate fluctuates (sometimes 1-4%, other times even higher during promos).
- If you book a $1,000 vacation rental, that could be $40 back in your pocket for doing absolutely nothing.
- Stack this with OneKey™ Rewards and you’re double-dipping on savings.
With Airbnb, you’re stuck paying full price every time. No cashback. No rewards. Nada.
3. Vrbo’s Pricing is More Transparent
Let’s be real—Airbnb’s pricing is a mess.
You think you’ve found a great deal, only to click through and see that a $150/night rental turns into $300/night after service fees, cleaning fees, and a other charges.
Don’t get me wrong—Vrbo isn’t perfect, but in my experience, they’re more upfront about total costs from the beginning. I have found the following advantages:
- Total cost breakdown is clearer before checkout ✅
- Less surprise fees that inflate the price last-minute ✅
With Airbnb, I constantly feel like I’m being tricked into clicking on listings that look cheap but aren’t. Vrbo feels a lot more transparent. It’s way easier for me to search through because of this.
I find that most Airbnb rentals are listed on Vrbo, and vice-versa. The final price is almost always the same too.
Another benefit is Vrbo rentals actually have discounts sometimes. I’ve written an entire article about how to get a Vrbo discount here.
4. Vrbo Specializes in Whole-Home Rentals (No Awkward Shared Spaces)
One of the things that really turned me off Airbnb is the sheer number of shared spaces being listed. If I’m booking a vacation rental, I want the whole place to myself—not a room in someone’s house where I have to make awkward small talk with the owner. I don’t think I’m alone in that opinion.
Vrbo has always been focused on entire home rentals (long before Airbnb existed), so there’s no confusion. When I book a place, I know I’m getting the entire property to myself. No “I live in the basement, but you can use the kitchen” situations.
Potential Drawbacks
Vrbo is not perfect. If you do want a shared-space, then Airbnb is your best bet.
Airbnb is praised for having a prettier interface than Vrbo, but far less filtering features.
In addition, Airbnb is far more popular than Vrbo. Because of this, there are many more listings on Airbnb. If you can’t find what you are looking for on Vrbo, it may be listed solely on Airbnb. I think this is the biggest drawback to Vrbo.
In most other categories (i.e. safety), Vrbo and Airbnb are an even tie.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main difference between Vrbo and Airbnb?
Vrbo focuses on entire home rentals, while Airbnb offers both private spaces and shared rooms. Vrbo also allows you to earn rewards and cashback, unlike Airbnb. Other than that, they are very similar platforms that both offer rentals. Most hosts post their rentals on both platforms.
2. How does Vrbo’s OneKey™ Rewards program work?
OneKey™ Rewards lets you earn travel credits (OneKeyCash™) when you book through Vrbo, Expedia, or Hotels.com. You can then redeem these rewards for future stays across all three platforms.
3. Can I really get cashback when booking Vrbo through Rakuten?
Yes! Vrbo partners with Rakuten, so you can earn 1-4% cashback (or more during promos) on every booking. Airbnb does not offer any cashback through Rakuten.
4. Are Vrbo’s fees lower than Airbnb’s?
Vrbo’s pricing is often more transparent, with fewer surprise fees at checkout. While both platforms charge cleaning and service fees, Vrbo tends to bundle more costs upfront, avoiding Airbnb’s last-minute price jumps. Howver, the final price between the two platforms is usually the same.
Vrbo vs Airbnb Final Thoughts: Why I’m Team Vrbo Now
I used to be an Airbnb loyalist, but the lack of rewards and pricing transparency finally pushed me away. To sum it up, I recommend Vrbo over Airbnb because it:
- Rewards you for booking (OneKey™ Rewards = free travel money).
- Works with Rakuten, so you get cashback on every trip.
- Has more transparent pricing (final price is most often the same as Airbnb, but the fees are not as hidden).
- Specializes in full-home rentals, whereas Airbnb has a lot of shared spaces.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying Vrbo is perfect, or that I’m some sort of Vrbo superfan—it definitely has its flaws. But I am saying Vrbo just makes more sense financially for whole-home rentals, especially when you’re booking multiple trips a year.
If you’re still using Airbnb out of habit, it might be time to make the switch. Something to consider.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended to be for informational purposes only and may contain affiliate links. Refer to the full disclaimer for more information.
About the Author: The author, Jonny, is a seasoned traveler and expert in maximizing travel rewards. He’s booked countless vacation rentals and now chooses Vrbo over Airbnb for its OneKey™ Rewards, Rakuten cashback, and transparent pricing—helping travelers save money on every trip.
