Comparison

REPStracker 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

REPStracker

This app helps real estate investors and vacation rental owners track hours for tax benefits like Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) and short-term rental (STR) deductions. Log time manually or with a timer, record team members' hours, and upload evidence for audits.

Highlights
  • Track REPS/STR progress in real time
  • Log time entries on the go
  • Manual logging and built-in timer
  • Record spouse/team members' hours
  • Upload supporting evidence
  • Cloud storage for data
  • Downloadable data reports
Features
Read full description

Are you a real estate investor or vacation rental owner bogged down with a huge tax burden? There are two powerful tax benefits you could claim to help build your real estate empire: - Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) - Short term rental (STR) tax benefit REPStracker helps you to streamline the process of claiming REPS and STR tax benefits. The REPStracker app is a quick and easy-to-use time tracking app, simplifying the process of logging your material participation hours. Features include: - Two apps in one: Whether you are a real estate investor for long term rentals or short term rentals, our app helps you qualify for either (or both) tax benefits - Track your REPS/STR progress in real time: No more guesswork or clumsy math. Know where you stand with your material participation hours so you can make decisions accordingly... before the end of the year. - Log time entries as you go, wherever you are: Don't wait until you're home in front of your desktop, relying on foggy memories to document your time entries. Do it as you go...in line at Home Depot or on hold with your mortgage broker. - Log your hours manually or with the built-in timer function Use the timer to improve the accuracy of your time entries, thereby strengthening your case against an IRS audit - Record your spouse or other team members' hours in the same account If your spouse is contributing to your material participation hours, our algorithm will tally these hours appropriately. If you are an STR owner and using time logs to show that your participation is more than anyone else on your team, easily log their hours so you can keep tabs. - Evidence Integration: Upload supporting evidence for each of your time entries, protecting you in the case of future audits. - Store everything on the cloud: Don't lose your data when you lose your phone. All your time entries and supporting evidence is stored securely on the cloud. - Download your data: Need a hard copy backup? Download all your time entries at the touch of a button. Sign up for a free trial subscription to activate your account - no credit card required! By downloading this app, you agree to the Apple developer EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

REPStracker4 screens
Host Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Host Tools at 4.8 against REPStracker's 4.3. Host Tools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 18 months). REPStracker's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 54%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, monetization model 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. REPStracker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $32.00 per month. Host Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Host Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Host Tools has 206 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of REPStracker's written reviews are positive against 54% of Host Tools's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

REPStracker ships an update every 18 months, Host Tools fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
REPStracker versus Host Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterREPStrackerHost Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (25 ratings)4.8 (206 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better53.8% of reviews
Number of ratings25206 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperREPStrackerSee What Sticks Apps

Customer experience

REPStracker

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.7%

Host Tools

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

REPStracker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$32.001 Month
  • Annual Subscription$304.991 Year
None

Host Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is REPStracker free?
REPStracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Host Tools free?
Host Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, REPStracker or Host Tools?
Host Tools is rated higher. REPStracker averages 4.3 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Host Tools averages 4.8 from 206 ratings.
Do REPStracker or Host Tools have ads?
Neither REPStracker nor Host Tools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, REPStracker or Host Tools?
REPStracker ships an update every 18 months, and Host Tools fortnightly. Most recently, REPStracker was updated on September 28, 2026 and Host Tools on October 3, 2026.

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