Methodology

How a Downtown Host score is made.

What we measure, how much each part counts, and why.

We would rather under-rate a tool than trust its brochure. The test is months of real use, not a walkthrough of the sales deck. Only the results of that testing decide where a tool lands.

Each tool runs on an active portfolio — real guests, real turnovers — for a full season before it earns a rating.

The four things we score

  • Guest experience — 40%. The check-in, messaging and stay quality guests actually feel.
  • Setup — 25%. How painless it is to connect your listings and get started.
  • Reliability — 20%. Does it hold up on a busy weekend without a human babysitting it?
  • Fit — 15%. Whether it plays nicely with Airbnb, Vrbo and the tools you already use.
Scores come from use, not press releases. Nobody can pay to change where they land.