Mobile appBooking & travelOriginal by Airbnb, Inc.
By letting individuals rent out their homes or rooms, Airbnb created a marketplace for accommodation beyond hotels. Guests find a local, personal experience, while hosts earn income from unused space. What makes it possible for strangers to open their homes to each other is identity verification, two-way reviews, secure payments and the support and protection processes that step in when something goes wrong.
Building something similar requires an app with guest and host roles, a website and an admin panel. Listing creation, calendar and pricing management, map-based search, messaging, escrow payments (releasing payment to the host after check-in) and a two-way review system form the core. Short-term rental rules and tax obligations also need to be reflected in the product.
How Airbnb works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Guest app
Guests search listings, book, message hosts and leave reviews.
Host mode
The section where hosts create listings, manage calendars and prices, approve requests and track earnings.
Admin and trust panel
The panel for managing listing approvals, identity verification, disputes, refunds and fraud detection.
Critical features of a product like Airbnb
Escrow payments and payouts
Holds the guest's payment until after check-in and releases it to the host minus commission.
Calendar and dynamic pricing
Pricing with weekend, seasonal and minimum-stay rules, plus iCal sync with external calendars.
Map-based search
Lists properties within the map bounds, with price tags and location filters.
Two-way reviews
Guests and hosts review each other; reviews are published once both sides have written theirs.
Secure messaging
Detects phone numbers and email addresses shared before booking to prevent off-platform payments.
Identity and listing verification
ID document checks, listing photo reviews and suspension of suspicious listings.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Guest and host sign-up with identity verification
- Creating listings, uploading photos and calendars
- Search with map and filters, booking requests
- Escrow payments and in-app messaging
- Reviews and an admin panel
Later releases
- Instant booking and smart pricing suggestions
- Experience and activity listings
- Long-term stays and monthly discounts
- Multi-listing and team management for hosts
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 36 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 220 person-days for the full scope and 144 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Booking / reservations | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Maps, location, routing | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Marketplace integration (Amazon, etc.) | Later release |
| Real-time messaging | First version |
| Ratings and reviews | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €750 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Trust and fraud
Fake listings, requests for off-platform payment and damage disputes call for rules, evidence collection and fast support.
Payout distribution
Paying out to many individual hosts should be built on the marketplace infrastructure of licensed payment providers such as Stripe Connect or Adyen.
Short-term rental regulation
Many cities require permits or registration for holiday rentals; collecting registration numbers in listings may be necessary.
Business model
The revenue model relies on a two-sided service fee: a small commission from the host and a service fee added to the booking total for the guest. Alternatively, the entire fee can be charged to the host. Experience and activity sales, featured listing options and services for hosts such as cleaning, insurance or property management bring in extra revenue.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Airbnb
Most people searching “build an app like airbnb” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Airbnb name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Airbnb?
A first version focused on a specific city or region can go live in a few months. Escrow payments and trust processes are the parts that need the most design and testing.
How many separate applications are needed?
Guests and hosts can share one app with different modes, plus a website and an admin panel. This approach reduces both cost and the maintenance burden.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The home-sharing and short-term rental model is free to use. The Airbnb name, logo, design and content may not be copied; this information is not legal advice.
What should I look for in a company that builds an app like Airbnb?
Look for experience with marketplace payment flows, map-based search, calendar synchronisation and moderation panels. GDPR compliance and source code handover should also be part of the contract.
