The real question isn't which PMS has more features—it's how the AI actually works.
The 2026 AI Divide in Property Management
AI adoption in short-term rentals has reached 60.7%, with nearly 80% of operators managing 51+ properties now using AI tools. Guest communication is the top use case (65%), and operators increasingly define "efficiency" as automation, not just cost reduction.
"STR takes real estate from more hands off and makes it much more time consuming.”
— Real estate investor, r/realestateinvesting
But here's what most comparison guides miss: not all AI is created equal.
"Chatbots that claim to be 'smart' still miss guest intent, and most AI SEO tools make listings sound robotic. For me, the best approach is using AI to support structured systems, not replace them.”
— Property manager, r/RealEstateTechnology
Some platforms offer AI that drafts responses for you to approve. Others have built systems that reason, decide, and act on your behalf—while you sleep, travel, or focus on growth.
This is the fundamental divide reshaping property management software in 2026.
Quick Answer: What's the Core Difference?
| Aspect | Hostaway | Jurny |
|---|---|---|
| AI Type | Approval-First (Assistive) | Agentic (Autonomous) |
| How It Works | AI drafts, you approve every message | AI executes with guardrails, you review exceptions |
| Guest Response Time | Hours (waiting for host) | Seconds (immediate) |
| Human Actions Required | 4–5 actions per issue | 0–1 (review only) |
| Philosophy | “AI helps you work faster” | “AI works while you sleep” |
Hostaway: The Approval-First Approach
Hostaway operates on what the industry calls an approval-first AI model. Here's how their own documentation describes it:
"All suggested replies require human approval before sending."
What this means in practice:
• AI drafts responses and suggests actions
• You review every suggestion and click approve
• You remain in the loop for every guest interaction
• AI helps you work faster, but doesn't work for you
"The VRBO integration does not pull over the guest's email address, so my automated messages do not work. And today we received a booking via VRBO on the same day that an Airbnb guest is leaving, despite all my settings set to leave an open day between stays.”
— STR host, r/airbnb_hosts
Best for: Property managers who prefer reviewing every message before it sends and have time to stay actively engaged.
Jurny: The Agentic AI Approach
Jurny built NIA (Network of Intelligent Agents)—a system of 5+ specialized AI agents that work in coordination to handle operations autonomously.
What this means in practice:
• AI reasons, decides, and executes actions with guardrails
• You set policies and review exceptions
• Up to 90% of guest communications handled autonomously
• AI works while you sleep
The NIA Agent Network includes:
• AI Review Manager — Automated, personalized review responses
• AI Concierge & Upsell Agent — Context-aware revenue optimization
• AI Data Scientist — Conversational analytics ("Ask anything, get insights")
• AI Copilot — Voice/text assistant for hands-free management
• Guest Screening AI — Intelligent risk assessment
Best for: Property managers who want to scale without adding staff and prefer managing by exception rather than approving every action.
Real Scenario: 2 AM Lock Emergency
A guest reports a broken lock at 2 AM. Here's how each platform handles it:
Hostaway Workflow:
1. AI suggests a reply
2. Host wakes up, reviews message
3. Host clicks "approve" to send
4. Host creates maintenance task manually
5. Host tracks resolution
Result: 4-5 human actions, interrupted sleep, guest waits hours.
Jurny NIA Workflow:
1. NIA sends contextualized response immediately
2. NIA creates maintenance ticket
3. NIA attempts smart lock reset
4. NIA updates guest automatically
5. Host reviews summary in morning
Result: 0 required actions overnight, guest helped in seconds.
The "Autonomy Tax": Why Integration Sprawl Matters
"Imagine teaching a self-driving car to navigate, but its GPS, brakes, and steering wheel are made by different companies that don't talk to each other. That's the autonomy tax."
Hostaway's approach: Markets "100+ app integrations" via marketplace—connecting to separate pricing tools, cleaning tools, and messaging tools.
The problem: Each integration is a potential break point for autonomous AI.
Jurny's approach: Unified operational context—SOPs, guest history, and task state in one system.
The advantage: AI can execute end-to-end workflows safely because everything lives in one place.
Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Jurny | Hostaway | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Capabilities | Network of 5+ autonomous agents | Suggestions require human approval | Jurny |
| Guest Messaging | 90% autonomous execution | Manual approval required | Jurny |
| Review Management | Automated personalized responses | Manual or semi-automated | Jurny |
| Smart Devices | Built-in hub (locks, thermostats, IoT) | Limited integrations | Jurny |
| Upsells | AI context-aware recommendations | Manual upsells | Jurny |
| Channel Management | Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, 10+ OTAs | Premier OTA partnerships | Tie |
| Dynamic Pricing | Built-in AI revenue management | PriceLabs integration | Tie |
| 24/7 Phone Support | Standard support | Award-winning phone support | Hostaway |
| Open API | Well-documented | Industry-leading + Zapier | Hostaway |
Who Should Choose Hostaway?
• You prefer reviewing every guest message before it sends
• You want extensive third-party app integrations
• 24/7 phone support is a priority
• You're comfortable with AI as an assistant, not an operator
Who Should Choose Jurny?
• You want AI that handles routine operations autonomously
• You're scaling beyond 10+ properties and can't review every message
• You prefer managing by exception rather than approving every action
• You value a unified system over marketplace integrations
The Bottom Line
Hostaway built a solid PMS and added AI assistance on top. Jurny built an AI system and wrapped property management around it.
That architectural difference matters more every year as the industry moves toward autonomous operations.
If you're happy with the approval-first model—reviewing every suggestion, being the bottleneck—Hostaway (or Guesty, or similar platforms) will serve you well.
If you're ready for a PMS that thinks like your best general manager—one that handles the routine so you can focus on growth—it might be time to see what agentic AI can actually do.
Curious what NIA can do for your portfolio? See Jurny's AI agents in action and discover how much of your workload could run itself. Book a Demo Today!
