HostBuddy is a per-property AI guest-messaging tool connected to your property management system. Trellis is an AI operating layer: agents answer guests and then coordinate cleaners, maintenance, owners, and the rest of your stack. Managers consolidating their tools replace HostBuddy with the Trellis AI Inbox and Voice AI, which answers phone calls as well as messages.
Starts with a demo · billing begins at 70% autopilot accuracy
HostBuddy$7–12 / property / mo
TrellisAutopilot · WhatsAppChoose HostBuddy when
HostBuddy fits hosts and smaller operators who want an affordable AI to answer guest questions on their booking channels and notify a person when something needs attention.
Choose Trellis when
Sourced claims only. Each HostBuddy cell links to the page it was read from; reviewed 22 Aug 2026.
| Dimension | HostBuddy | Trellis |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | AI guest messaging connected to your property management system, with action-item notificationsYes, but the follow-up work stays with your team | Agents create and assign cleaning, maintenance, and owner work from the conversation, then close the loop with the guest |
| Channels | Limited on ProChannels inside your property management system on every plan; other channels and outside connections from the Elite plan | AllAirbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, WhatsApp, SMS, email, and calls in one inbox |
| Field team | Not reviewedNot part of the product pages reviewed | IncludedThe cleaner app, with photos, checklists, and the guest note, for cleaners and maintenance |
| Human control | Scheduled coverage hours, restricted knowledge by reservation status | Drafts for your approval by default; autopilot earned per channel and per property |
| Works with | Guesty, Hostaway, Hostfully, Hostify, Hospitable, Lodgify, Smoobu, Hostex, Beds24, OwnerRez, Zeevou, BookingSync, Resly, Tokeet | Hostaway certified partner; Guesty, Hostfully, Hospitable, Lodgify, OwnerRez, Kross, and every system connected through Calry |
| Price | $7, $10, or $12 per property per month; two-week free trial | From $749.99/mo, one plan that scales with property count. Separate one-time onboarding fee. Billing starts once autopilot reaches 70% accuracy. |
HostBuddy cells summarize the sourced claims below. Trellis cells describe the current product. · HostBuddy pricing (verified 2026-08-22) · HostBuddy FAQs (verified 2026-08-22)
HostBuddy publishes three per-property plans: Pro at $7, Elite at $10, and Ultimate at $12 per property per month on monthly billing, each with a two-week free trial. Trellis is one plan from $749.99 per month that scales with property count, plus a separate one-time onboarding fee. Billing starts once autopilot reaches 70% accuracy. Verify current terms with each vendor.
The same guest message at 11pm, followed through both products. HostBuddy steps come from its published pages; where a page does not say, the step is marked as handled by your team.
Credit where it is due. These are the reasons to pick it, read from its own pages.
Low per-property pricing with a two-week free trial and self-serve signup
HostBuddy pricing · verified 2026-08-22
Knowledge base built from your listing data, uploaded files, and a guided property form
HostBuddy FAQs · verified 2026-08-22
Scheduling controls so the AI covers only the hours you choose, plus action-item notifications by email, SMS, and Slack
HostBuddy FAQs · verified 2026-08-22
Known limits on both sides, so the demo call starts from the real picture.
HostBuddy
Channels outside your property management system and outside connections are not included on the Pro plan.
hostbuddy.ai/pricingConversation history is capped at 30 days on Pro and 60 days on Elite.
hostbuddy.ai/pricingAction items are notifications for a person to handle. The FAQs describe HostBuddy as guest-messaging software, not a task or field tool.
hostbuddy.ai/faqsTrellis
It starts with a demo. There is no self-serve signup or free trial; onboarding begins with a call.
One plan from $749.99 a month, priced for management companies. Below about 20 units the math rarely works.
A separate one-time onboarding fee, quoted on the call.
Autopilot is earned per channel. Expect to run on suggestions first while the agent learns your properties.
Three steps, done with you during onboarding.
Reservations, properties, and guest threads sync on connection. Nothing in your system changes.
House rules, property notes, and the answers HostBuddy already gives move into the Trellis knowledge base during onboarding.
Agents draft first. You switch a channel to autopilot once the drafts are right, one channel at a time.
Starts with a demo · billing begins at 70% autopilot accuracy
“I haven't had to use the inbox in weeks.”
“Agents are going to increase hospitality output.”
Per listing, yes. HostBuddy publishes $7 to $12 per property per month. Trellis starts at $749.99 per month for the whole operation and is priced for management companies, not individual hosts. The comparison that matters is against the coordinator hours the rest of the work takes.
After the reply, Trellis agents create and assign the cleaning or maintenance work, message the vendor, update the owner, and report back to the guest, across the property management system and tools you already run.
Connect your property management system, move your house rules and property notes into the Trellis knowledge base during onboarding, and run agents on suggestions until each channel earns autopilot. HostBuddy can stay connected while you compare drafts.
Yes. Agents draft replies and hand anything unsure to a person by default. You turn on autopilot one channel at a time, and you can keep specific properties on suggestions only.
Not a self-serve one. Trellis starts with a demo call, and billing does not start until AI autopilot reaches 70% accuracy on your account. Onboarding is a separate one-time fee quoted on the call.
A 30-minute walkthrough on your properties, your channels, your team.
