TrueCap vs Lodgify: underwrite the STR, then run it
Lodgify is short-term rental software for hosts and property managers — direct-booking website, channel manager across Airbnb / Vrbo / Booking, and reservation tools. TrueCap is a pre-purchase underwriting calculator that helps investors screen an STR acquisition. Different stages, potentially 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 operate STRs and need a website + channel manager.
- You want to add a direct-booking channel.
- You have compared its current plan, payment, and channel costs.
- Its hosting workflow fits your team and listing count.
Feature-by-feature
Side-by-side on every dimension that matters for a comparison-shopping investor.
| Feature | TrueCap | Lodgify |
|---|---|---|
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 |
Starting values (rent/rate/tax) | Editable HUD rent and FRED rate benchmarks; manual local 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 — core cap rate, CoC, DSCR, and cash flow | No permanent free tier; time-limited trial — confirm current terms |
Pricing (entry tier) | Free core; paid Pro — see live pricing | Paid Basic, Starter, Professional, and Ultimate plans — see live pricing |
Lodgify plan and trial details can change. See Lodgify's official pricing page for current terms.
How solo STR hosts use both
- Find an STR-friendly property. MLS, off-market, or existing STR for sale.
- Build an STR revenue range. Use current market evidence or a third-party STR data source, then verify the assumptions.
- Underwrite in TrueCap. Plug AirDNA's monthly revenue into the rent field. Run cap rate, DSCR, cash flow.
- Continue due diligence. Verify local STR rules, insurance, financing, taxes, expenses, and revenue evidence before deciding.
- Set up Lodgify. Build your direct-booking site, connect Airbnb / Vrbo / Booking, configure your calendar.
Want the underwriting half on its own? The free vacancy rate calculator turns vacant nights and turnover cost into the occupancy haircut an STR pro forma actually needs, and our short-term rental underwriting playbook walks through the rest of the assumptions. Then hand the address to the full TrueCap analyzer for cap rate, DSCR and cash flow in one pass.
Common questions about TrueCap vs Lodgify
Quick answers to the questions investors comparison-shopping these tools actually ask.
Is TrueCap a Lodgify alternative?
Lodgify vs Hostaway — which one?
Does Lodgify have a free tier?
Can TrueCap model STR revenue?
Should I get a Lodgify direct-booking site?
Sources & methodology: Feature and pricing rows reflect Lodgify's publicly listed information, last reviewed June 2026. Vendors change features and prices often — verify current details on Lodgify's own site. Where TrueCap claims “sourced defaults,” that refers specifically to an editable HUD area-rent benchmark and the FRED owner-occupied 30-year mortgage-rate benchmark. Property tax is a manual local input with a disclosed generic fallback, not a state-data auto-fill.
On price, plainly
Tools in this space run from free to well above TrueCap — check Lodgify's live pricing for their current number. What TrueCap's price buys is the decision layer, not more calculation: an Offer Ceiling under your selected targets, rule-fit results for your Buy Box with reasons, the downside stress test, and assumptions that are source-labeled instead of silently defaulted. Whether that workflow justifies the price depends on your volume, verification process, and existing tools.
Ready to run a real deal and compare the screening results yourself?
Free 60-second analysis with labeled starting assumptions and no signup. Pro calculates the highest modeled Offer Ceiling that still meets your selected targets under the assumptions shown.
Underwrite the next deal — free.
TrueCap free covers cap rate, CoC, DSCR, NCF, and monthly cash flow. Pro adds 10-year cash-flow and equity projections, sensitivity, Offer Ceiling, co-branded share links, and PDF reports with Pro; see live pricing for current terms. No card to start.