Digital guidebook apps for Airbnb hosts, compared
Prices, free plans and who each option suits, side by side. We make Guestate, so we are not neutral. Everything below was checked against each vendor's own website on 19 October 2026. Where a vendor doesn't publish a figure, we say so. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Last updated
| Tool | Price, one property | Free plan | How guests open it | Earn from it | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb house manual & guidebooks | Free | Free | In the Airbnb app; the house manual once a booking is confirmed | Not offered | Hosts who only take Airbnb bookings |
| PDF, Canva or printed binder | Free, or a few euros for a template | — | Paper in the property, or a file you send | Only as printed links | One property where little changes |
| Guestate | Free for 1 property. Host €19/month (up to 3); Portfolio €49/month (unlimited) | Yes: 1 property, every tool, 1 local recommendation and 1 shop item, “Powered by Guestate” line | QR code or link, in any browser | Yes: your own affiliate links on recommendations and shop items | Hosts who want a free guide that can earn, on any booking platform |
| Hostfully Guidebooks | Free for 1 guidebook. Pro: price not published. Enterprise: quote | Yes: 1 guidebook, with sponsored recommendations | Web link | Upsell marketplace (1% Stripe fee); “revenue-generating capabilities” on Pro | Hosts on Hostfully's property management system |
| Touch Stay | $99/year or $12.50/month (€89/year or €11.30/month) | No; free trial | Link or QR code | Add-ons sold in the guidebook (tours, welcome packs) | Hosts who want PMS sync, an AI chatbot and their own branding |
| YourWelcome | $449.99 / £299.99 / €349.99 per year, 1-year contract | No | 8-inch tablet in the property, included | Upsells, and advertising sold to local businesses | Premium homes that want an in-room device |
How we compared
Prices are for one short-term rental, as each vendor lists them. Sources:
- Touch Stay: pricing calculator (Short Term Rental, 1 property) and features page
- Hostfully: Digital Guidebooks pricing
- YourWelcome: pricing page
- Airbnb: Help Center and Resource Center
Guestate
A guest portal behind one QR code: Wi-Fi, house manual, local recommendations, Shop the Stay, emergency contacts and a review hand-off. Guests open it in their browser, with no app and no account.
What sets it apart is earning. The links on your recommendations and shop items are your own, so if they carry your affiliate code, the commission is paid to you. The free Starter plan has no sponsored recommendations of ours mixed in.
Tap through an example to see it as a guest would.
Touch Stay
A dedicated guidebook app that is paid only, with a free trial. Its features page lists syncing with property management systems, an AI chatbot that answers guest questions, add-ons you can sell inside the guidebook, and your own logo, fonts and colours. Guidebooks are shared by link or QR code. A strong choice if you want automation and full branding and don't need a free tier.
Hostfully Guidebooks
Free for one guidebook, which includes sponsored recommendations. Pro (price not published) covers up to 199 guidebooks and adds custom branding, “revenue-generating capabilities” and translation into 16+ languages; an upsell marketplace charges a 1% Stripe fee. It syncs with Hostfully's own property management system, which makes it the natural pick if you already use it.
YourWelcome
A different model: an 8-inch tablet that stays in the property, included in the price along with breakage and theft replacement. It adds guest check-in, chat, upsells and advertising sold to local businesses, on a one-year contract. Worth it for premium homes; more than most hosts need.
Airbnb's house manual and guidebooks
Free and already in your listing editor. Guests read the house manual in the app once their reservation is confirmed, and your guidebook of local places appears on your listing and profile. The limit is reach: guests who booked on another platform or directly never see it, and Airbnb guests have to find it in the app rather than scanning a code in the room.
A PDF or printed binder
Free or nearly free, and fine for one property where little changes. The cost shows up later: every new Wi-Fi password, appliance or closed restaurant means editing and reprinting or re-sending it, and printed links can't be tapped.
Which one should you pick?
- Only on Airbnb, just starting: Airbnb's house manual and guidebooks.
- Several booking platforms, want it free, want to earn: Guestate.
- Already on Hostfully's PMS: Hostfully Guidebooks.
- Want PMS sync, an AI chatbot and full branding: Touch Stay.
- Premium home, want a device in the room: YourWelcome.
Where Guestate falls short
So you can rule us out quickly if these matter to you:
- No integration with property management systems, and no automated guest messages.
- No translation into other languages.
- No paid add-ons like early check-in sold inside the guide.
- No AI chatbot.
- The free plan allows 1 local recommendation and 1 shop item; more needs the Host plan.
Spotted something out of date? Email guestatesupport@gmail.com and we'll fix it.
Questions hosts ask
What is the best free digital guidebook for Airbnb?
There are three free options. Airbnb's own house manual and guidebooks are free but only reach Airbnb guests, inside the Airbnb app. Hostfully's free plan covers one guidebook and includes sponsored recommendations. Guestate's free Starter plan covers one property with every tool, no sponsored recommendations, and a small "Powered by Guestate" line.
Which guidebook apps let hosts earn money?
Guestate lets you add your own affiliate links to local recommendations and to the things in your property, so commissions are paid to you. Touch Stay and Hostfully let you sell add-ons inside the guidebook, and YourWelcome lets you sell upsells and local advertising.
How up to date is this comparison?
Every price was checked against the vendor's own website on the date at the top of this page. If something has changed, tell us at guestatesupport@gmail.com and we'll correct it.