# Hostfully vs SmartOWL AI

The clearest difference is rating: SmartOWL AI at 5.0 against Hostfully's 3.7. Hostfully's advantage is ratings volume (50 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

SmartOWL AI holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hostfully has 50 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Hostfully ships an update fortnightly, SmartOWL AI monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hostfully | SmartOWL AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hostfully/id1614727748/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartowl-ai/id6757490227/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **50** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 52.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 53 MB | 300 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hostfully, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614727750) | [SmartOWL Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867238701) |

## What reviewers say

### Hostfully

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hostfully/id1614727748)

Manage your vacation rental business on the go with this property management system app. Track reservations, communicate with guests, and oversee operations from any device. Streamline tasks for yourself and service providers.

**Highlights:** Centralized reservation calendar, Guest communication inbox, Mobile operations dashboard, Service provider job assignments, Template responses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Game-changing for STR management
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 AI suggested responses save time
- 🔄 Streamlined messaging and calendar sync
- 💰 Empowers hosts to expand and earn

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App is glitchy and unstable
- 🐌 App is slow and lags
- ❌ Inbox and messaging features stop working
- 📉 Desktop features missing from app
- ⏳ Long wait times for support

**Reported bugs**

- Inbox stopped working
- Messaging feature stopped working
- App is not working
- App keeps lagging
- App logs user off

**Requested features**

- Allow owners access
- Improve notification system
- Fix payment processing issues
- Add desktop features to app
- Improve app loading speed


### SmartOWL AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartowl-ai/id6757490227)

This AI-powered CRM automates lead capture, management, and conversion with real-time engagement. It handles calls, texts, chats, and missed inquiries instantly, using AI agents to engage prospects and schedule appointments. Manage your pipeline, track performance, and streamline sales activities from anywhere.

**Highlights:** AI-powered CRM automation, Instant lead response, 24/7 AI agent engagement, Unified lead management, Sales pipeline tools, Mobile marketing automation, Real-time analytics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hostfully free?

Hostfully is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SmartOWL AI free?

SmartOWL AI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hostfully or SmartOWL AI?

SmartOWL AI is rated higher. Hostfully averages 3.7 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while SmartOWL AI averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Hostfully or SmartOWL AI have ads?

Neither Hostfully nor SmartOWL AI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hostfully or SmartOWL AI?

Hostfully ships an update fortnightly, and SmartOWL AI monthly. Most recently, Hostfully was updated on September 18, 2026 and SmartOWL AI on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*