Short Term Rental Guidebook Comparisons
When travelers book a short-term rental, their experience is shaped not only by the property itself but also by how well they can navigate their stay. That's where digital guidebook systems come in—platforms designed to provide guests with essential information, from check-in instructions and appliance tutorials to local recommendations and house rules. Over the past few years, these systems have evolved from static PDFs to dynamic, interactive tools that aim to reduce host workload while enhancing guest satisfaction.
All of these guidebook platforms are compatible with major short-term rental booking channels such as Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. Many also integrate directly with popular property management systems like Guesty, Lodgify, and Hostaway. In other words, you don't need to worry about compatibility—these tools are built to fit smoothly into the short-term rental ecosystem.
In this review, we'll look at how today's leading short-term rental guidebook systems compare, examining their usability, customization options, integrations, and overall value for both hosts and guests. We've reviewed each of these guidebook systems—some through direct sign-up and testing, others by evaluating the details provided on their websites. Our focus is on two perspectives: the host experience (creating and managing content) and the guest experience (using the guidebook).
If your platform isn't included, or if you've recently updated and our information is out of date, we'd love to hear from you. We're happy to update our comparisons and keep this guide current.
goGuideBook https://goguidebook.com/
- Pricing: $8.99/month for a single guidebook
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide
goGuideBook offers a straightforward and intuitive host interface, making content entry feel smooth and natural. Branding is simple, with the option to choose fonts and colors. Content is organized in an accordion-style editor, similar to many other platforms. The system also includes a robust invitation feature that can automatically email guests, with the option to keep guides open or restrict them to registered users. A searchable help center provides additional support.
On the guest side, the guidebook interface is basic but functional. Navigation uses an older “app-like” menu bar at the bottom of the screen, while guide sections are displayed in large, easy-to-read blocks with deeper sub-navigation available. Places of interest are displayed on a map, giving guests a visual way to explore the area.
Pros
- Clean, easy-to-use host interface
- Straightforward content entry
- Helpful usage stats and support resources
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- No AI features for hosts or guests
- No built-in image tools or image library
- Adding places of interest is slow and text-only
- Guest guidebooks are simple, with limited navigation options
- Places of interest appear only on a map with basic filtering (no list view)
Guidestr https://guidestr.us
- Pricing: $9.99/month for a single guidebook (preliminary pricing)
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide, Smart TV Guide (Roku) and Print
GuideStr is a new entrant to the market, currently in beta and available by invitation only. It offers one of the most modern host interfaces, with sections specifically designed for short-term rentals. AI is integrated throughout the platform—helping with copywriting, automatically adding places of interest from just a name, and powering an AI co-host called Rumi. Unlike other systems, Rumi can be spoken to directly through the smartphone and smart TV apps, functioning almost like a home assistant for short-term rentals. The platform also includes an image library, stock photo search, and built-in editing tools.
On the downside, GuideStr's feature-rich environment can feel complex. Video tutorials and inline help are provided, but new users should expect a learning curve. Customization is currently limited to a single “Minimal” theme, although it's clean and guest-friendly. GuideStr also supports printed guidebooks, offering either a professionally produced magazine-style version or a downloadable PDF for self-printing.
Pros
- Deep AI functionality for copywriting, adding places of interest, and interactive speech/text chat with the AI Co-Host (Rumi)
- AI can reference and understand all information entered into the guidebook
- Modern, fast, and easy-to-use host interface
- Built-in image library with stock photos and editing tools
- Smart TV guidebook support
- Multiple guidebook formats: smartphone, smart TV, and print
Cons
- Smart TV app currently available only on Roku (other platforms planned)
- Limited customization options—only one theme available
- Still in beta, invitation required
GuideScreen https://guidescreen.com/
- Pricing: Must Contact for price
- Included Guide: Tablet Based Home Guide
This platform offers a polished guest-facing guidebook, presented on a large vertical tablet with a clean, modern interface. The points of interest section appears well organized, giving guests a smooth browsing experience. However, the system is hardware-dependent—you can't demo it without either leasing or purchasing the tablet. On the host side, the tools appear basic but easy to use, with limited functionality.
Pros
- Attractive, modern guest interface
- Well-organized points of interest section
Cons
- No AI features for hosts or guests
- Limited host content management tools
- Requires purchase or lease of proprietary hardware
Stay Pilot https://www.stay-pilot.com/
- Pricing: $8.00/month for a single guidebook, $12.00/month with AI
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide
Stay Pilot delivers a modern, guest-facing interface that looks more polished than many other platforms. On the host side, however, the experience is less intuitive. The content editor uses an accordion-style layout with a preview image of the output, but it doesn't dynamically update as content is entered, which can make editing feel cumbersome. AI tools are included, but their functionality appears basic and not fully integrated into the workflow.
Pros
- Clean, modern guest interface
- Includes basic AI functionality
Cons
- Confusing and unintuitive host interface
- No dedicated host profile, settings, or account management section
- AI features feel limited and add little value
Guest Manual https://www.guestmanual.com/
- Pricing: $9.99/month for a single guidebook
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide
Guest Manual offers a smooth onboarding process for new hosts, making it approachable for those setting up a guidebook for the first time. The platform includes a built-in photo library, and AI tools are well integrated into the smartphone app, enhancing both the host and guest experience. The host interface is easy to navigate, and the guest-facing design is clear and effective.
That said, the system feels incomplete in some areas. Key sections like local places of interest or a structured “how-to” area are missing. While hosts could manually add this information, the lack of dedicated functionality makes it harder to organize.
Pros
- Well-integrated AI interface within the smartphone app
- Clean and straightforward host dashboard
- Easy for new hosts to set up and use
Cons
- Content structure is generic, not tailored to individual guests
- No dedicated section for local places of interest
- Lacks a clear “how-to” section for guest instructions
Touchstay https://touchstay.com/
- Pricing: $12.99/month for a single guidebook
- Included Guide Smartphone Guide
Touchstay is a well-established platform with deep functionality and a wide feature set. It’s clear a lot of work has gone into building it out. The host interface is powerful but somewhat complex, and it lacks the polish of some newer systems. AI chat has recently been introduced and works smoothly, though it may eventually become a paid add-on. Unlike some competitors that focus narrowly on short-term rentals, Touchstay appears to be positioning itself for a broad range of use cases, including events and other industries.
On the guest side, the smartphone guidebook is well designed and thoughtfully organized. Navigation relies on a bottom tab bar, which can feel bulky when combined with browser chrome. Local places of interest are displayed on a map with detailed information for each location, though there is no option to view them in a consolidated list.
Pros
- Broad feature set with more functionality than many competitors
- Attractive and well-organized guest interface
Cons
- AI features are still new and may become an added cost
- Host interface feels cluttered and less intuitive
- Usage stats are present but embedded into the workflow in a way that can be distracting
Welcora https://welcora.com/ (formerly Our Welcome Guide - https://ourwelcomeguide.com/)
- Pricing: $10.00/month for a single guidebook
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide
Welcora (formerly Our Welcome Guide) has refreshed its brand and expanded its features. The smartphone guidebook is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and guest-friendly. On the host side, the interface is modern and intuitive, carrying forward much of the usability from its earlier version. An added perk is optional integration with smart locks, available for an additional fee.
At this stage, AI features are not yet available, though they are listed as “coming soon.” There’s also no Smart TV app or option to produce a printed guidebook, which may limit flexibility compared to other platforms. Overall, Welcora feels polished and accessible, but still catching up in certain areas.
Pros
- Modern, intuitive host dashboard\
- Clean and attractive smartphone guidebook
- Optional smart lock integration (paid add-on)
Cons
- No AI features yet (planned for the future)
- No Smart TV app
- No printed guidebook option
WelcomeScreen https://www.welcomescreen.com/
- Pricing: $14.00/month for a single guidebook
- Included Guide: Smartphone Guide, Smart TV Welcome Screen
This platform is not primarily a guidebook, but rather a welcome screen system—as the name suggests. We've included it here because it does offer a guidebook option, and it's one of the few platforms (alongside GuideStr) that supports a Smart TV interface.
The welcome screen itself is simple but effective, highlighting local businesses, guest details, Wi-Fi information, and a few other essentials. It appears to be geared more toward promoting local offerings, with hosts potentially sharing in profits from experiences booked through the interface.
The smartphone guidebook is clean and easy to navigate, though it lacks the depth and customization found in more feature-rich platforms.
Pros
- Attractive, modern Smart TV interface
- Includes a dedicated Smart TV application
Cons
- Smart TV app functions more as a welcome screen than a full guidebook
- Guidebook features are limited compared to competitors
- No AI support for hosts or guests
- Pricing is the highest among guidebook solutions reviewed
We realize this article is somewhat self-serving, but we're not here to tell you which guidebook system to choose. The truth is, each platform has its strengths, and the best way to decide is to try them out for yourself. What matters most is creating a great guest experience—because when guests enjoy their stay, they're more likely to return to your short-term rental and your community, driving repeat bookings and local revenue.
If we've missed a system, or if we've misunderstood or overlooked a feature, please let us know. We're happy to make updates so this guide stays accurate and useful.