KANARIX vs similar platforms: the full comparison

To win direct bookings and stop giving away margin, a vacation-rental owner has basically three paths: pay OTA commission, build DIY software yourself, or hire an agency. Each solves part of the problem and leaves another part uncovered. Kanarix was created to combine the best of all three — commission-free direct bookings, a custom branded site and support included — while removing their weak points. Here it is at a glance, with the full table and when each option fits.

The three paths to direct bookings

OTAs (Booking, Airbnb, Vrbo, Holidu) give you instant reach, but in exchange for a 15-18% commission per booking, and they keep the brand and the guest data. DIY software (Lodgify, Amenitiz) removes the direct-booking commission, but turns you into the builder and maintainer of your own tool, with templates and a learning curve. A web agency does custom design, but charges thousands upfront, rarely includes a booking system and leaves maintenance to you. None solves cost, ownership and convenience at the same time.

The comparison in one table

Where each option falls short

• ✓OTAs: commission eats your margin and you never build your own brand or customer base.
• ✓DIY software: the commission saving is paid in time, learning and maintenance, often with a generic result.
• ✓Web agency: a big upfront outlay for a “shopfront” site with no booking engine, with improvements billed by the hour.

When does Kanarix fit?

When you want commission-free direct bookings, a custom branded site and ongoing support — without building it yourself or paying an agency thousands upfront. Keep the OTAs to capture guests, reconvert them to direct, and your cost is fixed and predictable: €49 per month plus €15 per property, no setup fee and a 30-day guarantee.

How to switch without losing bookings

You don’t have to turn off what already works overnight. We build your custom site in parallel (about 2 weeks), connect calendars via iCal with your current channels to avoid double-bookings, switch on direct payments and launch. Afterwards, you gradually reconvert guests who arrived via portals into direct bookings on their next stays.

What Kanarix includes (and you don’t pay extra for)

• ✓Custom design with your brand — not a generic template.
• ✓Ongoing support included in the price, also after launch.
• ✓Calendar (iCal) sync with Booking and Airbnb to prevent double-bookings.
• ✓Secure online payments (card, Bizum, PayPal) straight to your account.
• ✓Multilingual site optimised for local SEO and AI search.

Pricing is transparent: €49 per month plus €15 per property, no setup fee and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your system is live in about 2 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between Kanarix and an OTA like Booking or Airbnb?

An OTA gives you reach in exchange for a 15-18% commission per booking and keeps the brand and guest data. Kanarix is your direct channel: 0% commission, your brand and your data. The ideal setup is to combine both — capture via OTAs and reconvert to direct with Kanarix.

And versus DIY software like Lodgify or Amenitiz?

DIY software charges no commission, but you build and maintain it yourself, with templates and a learning curve. Kanarix builds it for you, custom, with your brand and ongoing support included in the fee.

Why not just hire a web agency?

An agency typically charges thousands upfront for a site with no booking system, and bills maintenance separately. Kanarix includes custom design plus the full booking system and support, with no setup fee.

How much does Kanarix cost?

€49 per month plus €15 per property, with no setup fee and a 30-day money-back guarantee. No commission on direct bookings.

Do I have to leave the OTAs to use Kanarix?

No. Kanarix syncs calendars via iCal with Booking, Airbnb, Vrbo and other portals, so you can keep them as a capture channel with no double-booking risk.