Comparison

Ask PHill vs Host Tools

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ask PHill

Report city issues like potholes or graffiti directly to the relevant department with photo attachments. Receive instant notifications when your requests are resolved. Stay updated on city news, events, and meetings.

Highlights
  • Submit service requests
  • Attach photos to requests
  • Receive resolution notifications
  • View city news and events
  • Access meetings calendar
  • Download meeting agendas
Features
Read full description

Ask PHill enables service requests (potholes, tripping hazards, graffiti etc.) to be submitted directly to the appropriate City Department. You can even attach a photo. Your requests will be handled quickly and efficiently, and you’ll be notified the instant they are resolved! You can also check out the latest news and events, meetings calendar and download agendas.

About

Host Tools

Automate your short-term rental business with this comprehensive tool. Streamline messaging, manage cleaners, sync calendars across platforms, and automate reviews to enhance guest experience and efficiency.

Highlights
  • Automated messaging
  • Calendar syncing
  • Cleaner management
  • Automated reviews
  • Dynamic pricing
  • Unified inbox
Features
Read full description

Save countless hours automating your short-term rental across platforms. Automate messaging, reviews, availability syncing, cleaner management, smart locks, and more. Host Tools helps give your guests a 5-star experience which helps you receive more 5-star reviews. With Host Tool's intuitive and easy-to-use interface, you won't spend weeks trying to learn a new tool. Simply connect your account, set up a few automation rules using built-in templates, and sit back while Host Tools takes over much of the day-to-day management of your short-term rentals. Host Tools will: - Manage all of your listings and reservations across all channels from one single calendar. - Sync your calendars between Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, etc. in real-time so you never get a double booking. - Send automated customized messages via the channel's messaging system. Your guests will never know your messages are automated. - Automate cleaner communication by sending an e-mail or text to remind your cleaner of cleaning or anytime you get a new booking, if a reservation is canceled, or changed. - Create a unique URL your cleaners or maintenance people can view at any time to see all cleanings on one calendar. - Manage all conversations from a single inbox, receive notifications via the app or in your browser so you can stay on top of communication. - Accept Booking inquiries and requests automatically. - Automate guest reviews and remind guests to leave a review if they haven't right before the review period ends. - Automatically adjust your price, minimum night requirements, and availability based on rules you set up. - Allow you to set pricing rules to automatically raise or lower your prices set on the criteria that you decide. - Save you time by automating most of what you do as a short-term rental host, while also being the easiest to use PMS available. - Integrate seamlessly with all of the leading vacation rental tools such as August Locks, Pricelabs, TurnoverBnb, etc. *Not all of Host Tools' features are accessible through the app* For any feedback or questions feel free to contact me, Tom, the developer of Host Tools at support@hosttools.com

Screenshots

Ask PHill3 screens
Host Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Host Tools at 4.8 against Ask PHill's 3.0. Host Tools also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Ask PHill's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs freemium) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Host Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Host Tools has 206 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Ask PHill's written reviews are positive against 54% of Host Tools's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ask PHill ships an update every 3 months, Host Tools fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Ask PHill versus Host Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAsk PHillHost Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.8 (206 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews53.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2206 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCity of Pleasant HillSee What Sticks Apps

Customer experience

Ask PHill

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Host Tools

All ratings206 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral15.4%
Negative30.8%

In-app purchases

None

Ask PHill

No in-app purchases

None

Host Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ask PHill free?
Ask PHill is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Host Tools free?
Host Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ask PHill or Host Tools?
Host Tools is rated higher. Ask PHill averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Host Tools averages 4.8 from 206 ratings.
Do Ask PHill or Host Tools have ads?
Ask PHill shows ads; Host Tools does not.
Which is updated more often, Ask PHill or Host Tools?
Ask PHill ships an update every 3 months, and Host Tools fortnightly. Most recently, Ask PHill was updated on October 20, 2026 and Host Tools on October 11, 2026.

Other comparisons