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Honest comparison

TrueCap vs Lodgify: underwrite the STR, then run it

Lodgify is short-term rental software targeted at solo and small-operator STR hosts (1-10 properties) — direct-booking website, channel manager across Airbnb / Vrbo / Booking, reservation calendar. Cheaper and more accessible than Hostfully or Hostaway. TrueCap is the pre-purchase underwriting calculator that decides whether to buy the property as an STR in the first place. Different stages, complementary tools.

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TL;DR

Use TrueCap when

  • You're evaluating a property as a potential STR.
  • You want cap rate, DSCR, cash flow before buying.
  • You want to compare LTR vs STR scenarios on the same property.
  • You're not yet hosting guests.

Use Lodgify when

  • You own 1-10 STRs and need a website + channel manager.
  • You want direct bookings to avoid Airbnb's fees.
  • You want simpler pricing than Hostfully / Hostaway / Guesty.
  • You're a hands-on solo STR host without a property-management business.

Feature-by-feature

Side-by-side on every dimension that matters for a comparison-shopping investor.

FeatureTrueCapLodgify
Lifecycle stage
Pre-purchase — underwrite the STR deal
Post-purchase — host + manage STRs
Cap rate / CoC / DSCR analysis
Yes — full engine, editable rent input
Not modeled
10-year projection
Pro — rent + expense + appreciation
Not modeled
Tax strategy + STR loophole
Pro — depreciation + interest + after-tax CF
Not modeled
Address auto-fill (rent/rate/tax)
Yes — HUD + FRED + state property tax
Not applicable
Direct-booking website builder
No
Yes — branded site builder
Channel manager (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking)
No
Yes — unified inbox + calendar
Guest messaging
No
Yes — automated messages
Reservation system
No
Yes — built-in calendar + payments
Sweet spot
1-30 doors, solo investor underwriting
1-10 STRs, solo operator
Free tier
Yes — full underwriting math
Trial only; paid from ~$13/mo (as of 2026)
Pricing (entry tier)
Free; Pro $19/mo
~$13/mo Starter + per-booking fees on lower tiers

Lodgify details based on publicly available product info as of 2026. See lodgify.com for their current state.

How solo STR hosts use both

  1. Find an STR-friendly property. MLS, off-market, or existing STR for sale.
  2. Pull an STR revenue projection. AirDNA Rentalizer report ($20-40).
  3. Underwrite in TrueCap.Plug AirDNA's monthly revenue into the rent field. Run cap rate, DSCR, cash flow.
  4. If the deal pencils, close. Take ownership.
  5. Set up Lodgify. Build your direct-booking site, connect Airbnb / Vrbo / Booking, configure your calendar.

Want to see just the underwriting half? Try the cap rate calculator or the full TrueCap analyzer. Our guide on 60-second underwriting walks through the workflow end-to-end.

Common questions about TrueCap vs Lodgify

Quick answers to the questions investors comparison-shopping these tools actually ask.

Is TrueCap a Lodgify alternative?
No — different stages. Lodgify manages STRs you already own. TrueCap underwrites whether to buy the property as an STR in the first place. Solo STR hosts use both.
Lodgify vs Hostaway — which one?
Lodgify is more accessible for solo hosts and 1-10 STR operators — simpler UX, cheaper entry point, strong direct-booking website builder. Hostaway is stronger at scale (3-100 STRs) with deeper channel manager and pricing integrations. Solo hosts often start with Lodgify and graduate to Hostaway when they cross ~10 properties.
Does Lodgify have a free tier?
No — paid only with a trial. Pricing starts around $13/month on the Starter tier with per-booking fees, scaling up to flat-fee plans on higher tiers. For very small operators with 1-3 STRs, the Starter tier with per-booking fees is often the cheapest entry point.
Can TrueCap model STR revenue?
Yes, indirectly — every input is editable. Plug a conservative monthly STR revenue (gross income ÷ 12, discounted for vacancy + cleaning + STR-specific operating costs) into the rent field. TrueCap doesn't pull AirDNA or Mashvisor data automatically — you'd use those alongside.
Should I get a Lodgify direct-booking site?
If you're scaling beyond 1-2 STRs and want to capture repeat guests without paying Airbnb's 15-20% service fees on each booking, yes — a direct-booking site pays for itself fast. For your first STR while you're learning the business, the Airbnb/Vrbo distribution is probably enough.

Underwrite the next deal — free.

TrueCap free covers cap rate, CoC, DSCR, NCF, and monthly cash flow. Pro unlocks projections, sensitivity, tax strategy, exit scenarios, deal score, MAO, PDF exports, and shareable read-only deal links. No card to start.

See Pro pricingRun a deal now