Hometime vs. AirKeeper: returns & service

When it comes to choosing a short-term rental (STR) management company, every decision matters. As a homeowner or investor in the Australian STR market, your choice of property manager will directly affect your revenue, peace of mind, and guest experience. When conducting an Airbnb management comparison in Australia, two big names regularly considered are Hometime vs AirKeeper.

Hometime vs AirKeeper — how the two compare 

When comparing Airbnb property managers, it’s easy to assume they all offer similar services, but dig a little deeper, and key differences start to emerge. Hometime is an Australian-founded short-term rental management company that combines national infrastructure with a genuinely local touch. Since 2016, they’ve supported over 3,000 homeowners through a hybrid model: centralised technology and a specialised revenue optimisation team paired with more than 40 on-the-ground local hosts in key cities and regions across Australia. This setup allows for highly personalised service while maintaining efficiency, performance tracking, and multi-platform exposure through Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.

Also founded in 2016, AirKeeper’s local property managers service properties across NSW, VIC, QLD, and the ACT. They’re known for providing optimistic revenue forecasts and offering a slick, sales-oriented onboarding process. That said, they lack the level of personalisation that Hometime provides with a dedicated team of revenue specialists that combines internal and external data for a more in-depth analysis of your potential earnings estimates. Like Hometime, AirKeeper lists properties across multiple booking platforms, including Airbnb, Booking.com and other websites. 

In this side-by-side comparison, we’ll break down how Hometime and AirKeeper stack up across the metrics that matter most, from service quality and technology to revenue results and customer support, so you can choose a partner that aligns with your goals.

Compare short-term rental management services 

Hear from homeowners and guests

Don’t just take our word for it. The best way to understand the impact of professional Airbnb management is to hear from the people who’ve experienced it. On the review platform Trustpilot, Hometime has an average 4.1/5-star rating with 133 reviews.

Here’s what some of Hometime’s homeowners have to say about working with Hometime — from earning more to enjoying stress-free hosting:

• Homeowner James writes, “Very happy with the service provided by Hometime. My host Calyn is amazing to work with, the whole team is really responsive and all super knowledgeable about the market. My property is in safe hands & generating countless 5-star reviews. Absolute GEM of a management company!”
• Homeowner Gary praises Hometime with a 5-star review, saying, “Lina and the Hometime team are great to manage our property. We are informed as soon as the property is rented with a great dashboard to keep us informed that allows us to see costs going out and money expected to come in. Maintenance issues are taken care of quickly at reasonable rates and no major issues with renters so far. Very happy with the service and returns.”

AirKeeper currently sits at a 2.7/5-star review rating with 81 reviews on Trustpilot. While we don’t hear as much from AirKeeper homeowners, guests who booked with AirKeeper highlighted the following:

• Guest Josephina says, “I recently booked a stay with AirKeeper, and it was an amazing experience! Their support team was quick to respond and even available late at night, which made everything so much easier. The property was well-maintained and spotlessly clean, exceeding my expectations. I also appreciated how smooth the self-check-in process was. I received the instructions a day before arrival, making everything hassle-free. Overall, a fantastic stay, and I would definitely book with AirKeeper again!
• Guest Olivia Wilson comments, “Fantastic location, easy to find, and perfect for a peaceful family getaway in Canberra. We attended the drone show and could watch it from the balcony the next day. Thanks to AirKeeper for keeping us informed. My family loved the place and we hope to visit again soon.”

Which is the best Airbnb property manager for you?

Choosing the right Airbnb property manager can make or break your investment returns. Whether you're a first-time host or managing a growing portfolio, it's not just about who promises the highest earnings — it’s about who delivers consistent results, transparent reporting, reliable service, and guest experiences that lead to five-star reviews.

Below, we compare Hometime and AirKeeper across four critical areas: technology and tools, performance, guest experience, and team support. This side-by-side breakdown will help you decide which partner is better suited to meet your goals:

Technology and tools

Hometime offers a Homeowner Portal with real-time access to bookings, revenue, and guest data. This platform gives owners a clear view of earnings potential, blocked dates, and historical performance. It includes:

• a clear breakdown of gross and net income,
• forecast vs actual revenue,
• current and future bookings across all booking platforms, and
• direct messaging with local hosts.

AirKeeper offers an Owner Dashboard, which allows homeowners to view upcoming bookings, property details, and past performance metrics. This portal appears more limited than Hometime’s platform, which includes real-time revenue data, calendar controls, guest information, messaging, and document access. For owners managing multiple properties or seeking full visibility, this difference may impact ease of oversight. While AirKeeper’s dashboard may be sufficient for small portfolios, owners scaling to two or more listings may find this approach limited.

Performance: revenue and occupancy

AirKeeper’s earning estimates include key metrics like average occupancy, average advertised nightly rate, net revenue, and a weekly revenue breakdown. They avoid rounding figures, making their estimates feel more grounded and trustworthy. 

While AirKeeper often quotes higher potential earnings upfront, Hometime forecasts a conservative and high-potential estimate of your property’s earning potential after 12 months, excluding our management fees. Hometime’s estimate is a combination of external data from AirDNA and PriceLabs, combined with our internal research over several years. This gives owners a more transparent, grounded view from the eyes of a real human. After all, promises of more Airbnb ROI aren’t always the most accurate. Hometime’s specialised revenue management team analyses:

• seasonal booking trends,
• local market competitive sets,
• nightly rates vs occupancy curve, and
• internal performance data on over 3,000 listings.

Hometime also monitors performance through its 90-day incubation window — a period of intensive oversight that makes sure listings launch strong. Adjustments to photos, pricing, and copy are made early to avoid revenue dips.

Guest experience and security measures

A great guest experience doesn’t just lead to glowing reviews; it boosts your property's visibility on booking platforms and encourages repeat bookings. That’s why Hometime takes a proactive, people-first approach to guest management, delivered through trained local hosts who know the area and understand how to create a welcoming, seamless stay.

From the moment a booking is made, guests receive clear, friendly communication including house rules and expectations to avoid any surprises. Before check-in, a short pre-stay questionnaire helps identify potential risks and ensure guests are a good fit for your home.

Hometime also layers in smart security measures to protect your property and peace of mind:

• 3D Secure (3DS) verification: Guests complete an extra authentication step, such as a one-time PIN to their mobile, to verify card ownership.
• Postcode match checks: To flag mismatched or suspicious card details.
• Local response: In the event of noise complaints, lockouts, or other urgent issues, a Local Host is nearby and ready to step in — protecting your property and reassuring neighbours.
• Secure payment and bond collection: All funds are handled through encrypted, compliant systems.

This combination of personalised service and intelligent safeguards results in better guest experiences, fewer incidents, and consistently high ratings, all of which add up to stronger listing performance and increased earnings. AirKeeper listing properties on multiple platforms also provides access to each of those platforms’ security measures when vetting guests. 

Local presence & team support

We’re proud to work with more than 40 hosts throughout Australia who contribute to the vitality of the local economy. Our hosts employ local cleaners and maintenance staff to help take care of your guests and property, and source supplies locally. 

The hands-on approach of local hosts makes sure you and your guests are delighted with the Hometime experience. This is evident by our 4.79-star average rating across our property portfolio. 

On the other hand, AirKeeper assigns a dedicated account manager to each property, who acts as the primary contact for the owner. These managers coordinate guest communications, pricing, maintenance, and reporting. While the model simplifies owner communication through a single point of contact, it differs from Hometime’s localised local host approach, which offers in-person oversight from local hosts based in the same neighbourhood as the listing.

Final thoughts: Which should you choose?

If you’re a property owner who values bold projections, simplicity, and an efficient onboarding experience, AirKeeper may fit your needs.

But if you want:

• stronger guest reviews,
• local support teams who know your market, and
• the expertise of our real revenue management team,

...then Hometime is the clear winner.

This isn’t just a better system — it’s a smarter investment strategy.

Ready to see what your property can earn?

Book a free, no-obligation consultation and receive a personalised earnings estimate built on live local data and research on similar properties in your area. We’ll walk you through how your home could perform under Hometime management. Schedule your consultation and get started today. If you’re still on the fence about Airbnb professional property management, read our blog on the 10 signs you need an Airbnb manager.