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Scheduling · head to head

Airbnb vs Square Appointments

Airbnb logo

Airbnb

Scheduling

Book unique homes and experiences all over the world

From
$3/per-booking
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Square Appointments logo

Square Appointments

Scheduling

Free scheduling for beauty businesses

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Airbnb single-fee model charges 15.5 percent vs 3 percent split model, significantly higher for most listings; Square Appointments the free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airbnb and Square Appointments actually diverge.

Attributes where Airbnb and Square Appointments differ
AttributeAirbnbSquare Appointments
Starting price$3/per-bookingOn request
Pricing modeltransactionusage-based
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Scheduling).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Airbnb

Nothing recorded that Square Appointments does not also cover.

Only in Square Appointments

  • Online booking
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Payment processing
  • Automated reminders
  • Instagram booking
  • Google booking
  • Mobile app

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airbnb

  • Short-term vacation rental hostingnot Square Appointments
  • Property monetizationnot Square Appointments
  • Experience hosting on Airbnb platformnot Square Appointments

Square Appointments

  • Online appointment booking for salons, barbers and personal servicesnot Airbnb
  • Taking card payments and deposits at the time of bookingnot Airbnb
  • Managing staff calendars, waitlists and no-show policiesnot Airbnb

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airbnb

  • Single-fee model charges 15.5 percent vs 3 percent split model, significantly higher for most listings
  • Brazil and Mexico hosts pay 1 percent premium over base rates
  • VAT may apply additional charges depending on jurisdiction
  • Cross-currency bookings may result in guest fees reaching 16.5 percent

Square Appointments

  • The free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • Cancellation policies, no-show fees and waitlists require the Plus plan
  • Resource management, service cost tracking and the future bookings report require the Premium plan
  • Custom processing rates are reserved for Square Pro, which is aimed at businesses processing over $250,000 a year
  • Card processing fees are charged on top of the plan fee on every tier including the free one

Pricing, plan by plan

Airbnb

$3/per-booking
  • Split-Fee Model$3/percent
    • 3 percent service fee on nightly rates (most hosts)
    • 4 percent for Brazil and Mexico hosts
    • Automatic deduction from payout
  • Single-Fee Model$15.5/percent
    • 15.5 percent of total payout (most hosts)
    • 14 to 16 percent range for some hosts
    • 16 percent for Brazil and Mexico hosts

Square Appointments

On request
  • Solo Professional Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • For solo professionals taking payments and managing schedules
    • Top appointments features
  • Plus Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • Free trial available
    • For growing teams needing more advanced tools
  • Premium Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • Free trial available
    • For large salons with complex staff management
  • Square Pro$null/month
    • Custom pricing for businesses processing over $250,000 annually
    • Hardware discounts
    • Onboarding support

Which should you pick?

Choose Airbnb if

Nothing in the data separates Airbnb from Square Appointments on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Airbnb review

Choose Square Appointments if

  • You need online booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client management.
Square Appointments review

Questions people ask

Is Airbnb or Square Appointments better?
Neither clearly leads. Airbnb starts at $3/per-booking and Square Appointments at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airbnb or Square Appointments?
Airbnb starts at $3/per-booking and Square Appointments at On request.
Does Airbnb or Square Appointments run on more platforms?
Airbnb runs on Web. Square Appointments runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Airbnb best used for?
Airbnb is most often used for short-term vacation rental hosting, property monetization, experience hosting on airbnb platform. Of those, short-term vacation rental hosting and property monetization are not what Square Appointments is typically brought in for.
What can Airbnb do that Square Appointments cannot?
Square Appointments covers Online booking, Client management, Point of sale, Payment processing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Airbnb: What percentage does Airbnb charge hosts for accommodations?

Airbnb uses two models. The split-fee model charges 3 percent of nightly rates (4 percent for Brazil and Mexico). The single-fee model charges 15.5 percent of total payout (up to 16 percent in some regions).

Source
Square Appointments: How much do Square Appointments plans cost?

Square Appointments pricing is based on processing fees rather than monthly subscription fees. Specific percentages are not listed online. The Solo Professional, Plus, and Premium plans all charge processing fees on transactions. For businesses processing over $250,000 annually, Square Pro offers custom pricing including hardware discounts, onboarding support, and account management.

Source
Airbnb: When must Airbnb hosts use the single-fee model instead of split-fee?

Property management software users and hotel operators are required to use the single-fee model (15.5 percent of payout) rather than the split-fee option.

Source
Square Appointments: Is there a free trial for Square Appointments?

Yes, the Plus and Premium plans offer free trials for an unspecified number of days. The Solo Professional plan does not appear to offer a trial period.

Source
Airbnb: Do Airbnb host fees differ by country?

Yes. Brazil and Mexico hosts pay 4 percent under split-fee model and 16 percent under single-fee model, both 1 percent higher than rates in other regions.

Source
Square Appointments: What features does the Premium plan add compared to Plus?

The Premium plan includes all Plus features plus Future Bookings Report for tracking upcoming appointments, Service Cost Tracking to monitor service profitability, and Resource Management for scheduling equipment and facilities across multiple staff members.

Source
Airbnb: What percentage do guests pay when booking Airbnb experiences?

Guests pay approximately 20 percent service fee for Airbnb Experiences and 15 percent (minimum 6 USD) for service bookings, separate from host fees.

Source
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