Airbnb vs Vrbo vs Booking.com: where stays go wrong
Shared report · refreshed weekly · updated Oct 26, 2026
Vrbo is a vacation rental app for booking top-rated homes—beach houses, cabins, condos, cottages, and villas—so your family or group gets the entire place to yourselves.
Travel · Free · out since 2017 · from the App Store descriptionReviewers describe stays cancelled just before check-in and listings far from their stated location when they complain about the service behind Vrbo's app.
OneStar read 2,215 App Store and Google Play reviews of Vrbo posted from Oct 2025 to Oct 2026. Of the 2,215 people who reviewed Vrbo in OneStar's sample, 44% complain and 53% praise it. The top complaints about Vrbo are service behind the app (23% of complaints), customer support (15%) and crashes and bugs (13%). In OneStar's sample of Vrbo reviews, 6% of reviewers say they're quitting. OneStar's report on Vrbo was last updated on Oct 26, 2026.
What goes wrong
I was cancelled 3 days before arriving, rebooked another location at a higher price and it wasn’t ready. Total disaster. Will never use them again
chat and notification useless.
Updated the app today, now it won't open. It shows the logo, then immediately closes.
Paid in full via Expedia, VRBO charged us again Ripoff Expedia company.
That’s a $135 markup once Vrbo’s fees and third-party pricing are factored in.
What goes well
Every home we have stayed has been great. The reviews are accurate and the VRBO team is helpful.
So simple to find exactly what you’re looking for. Excellently priced and extremely easy to book and pay.
Great app! Love it!❤️
I love using Vrbo because whenever I'm going on a vacation they always have such a wide variety of places to rent.
Very useful and good cheap deals found in this App.
Reasons for quitting
The main complaint of the 131 reviewers who say they stopped or are quitting
Their categories
Yes or no questions the person who shared it asked of each review
Paid in full via Expedia, VRBO charged us again Ripoff Expedia company.
I was cancelled 3 days before arriving, rebooked another location at a higher price and it wasn’t ready. Total disaster. Will never use them again
Paid in full via Expedia, VRBO charged us again Ripoff Expedia company.
Paid in full via Expedia, VRBO charged us again Ripoff Expedia company.
I rented this place online and when I got there the place smelled awful, the furniture was filthy and there were bugs in the kitchen and bathroom.
What they use it for
560 of 2,215 reviewers said; shares are of them
When looking for a short stay vacation or long Vrbo has been able to provide the perfect location for our stay. Communicating with the hosts is very easy through vrbo. Hosts are very quick to respond!
This beach home was perfect for our family! It is very kid friendly with games and beach toys. It was great that we had a golf cart for our whole family. We will definitely rent again.
This is a caveat for probably a very few people using VRBO but do not use this platform for business purposes. VRBO does not provide invoices other than “this is how much was paid” receipt.
What they ask for
54 reviews ask for something
Who is saying it
The biggest clear differences between audiences; 6 more with a free account
TenureLong-time user: say they're quitting 3.6x as often as everyone (21% vs 6%).
TenureNew user: say they're quitting 2.6x as often as everyone (15% vs 6%).
Made with OneStar's App Store and Google Play review analyzer. Run one on your own app or a competitor's, free with no card.