ChargeAutomation review
ChargeAutomation offers a unique upsell engine for short-term rentals, with a pricing structure that scales with property count. It integrates with existing Property Management Systems.
★★★★☆ 3.5 · our editorial rating
- Category
- Payments + upsell engine
- Pricing
- Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Needs a PMS
- Partial
- Size
- Niche
The published facts, in plain English
ChargeAutomation is Payments + upsell engine. Published pricing: Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo. There is a free tier. It runs without a separate PMS. Scale: niche.
Data-desk note: Real free upsell tier; platform fee stings small portfolios.
Who it’s for
This service is best suited for property owners with a larger portfolio, as the higher-tier pricing can be prohibitive for smaller operations. Its partial PMS requirement means some owners might need to adapt their current systems.
Our take
ChargeAutomation's core offering is a free upsell tier, which is a compelling feature for owners looking to increase revenue. However, the platform fee structure, starting at $5 per property per month and increasing to $8 per property per month, alongside monthly charges of $49 to $149, could become a significant cost for those managing fewer than 10 properties. The 10% fee on the free tier, while not explicitly detailed in terms of what it applies to, is also a factor to consider. Its niche size and partial PMS requirement suggest it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.
How it compares to BnBGenius
Side by side on published terms: ChargeAutomation lists Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo, while BnBGenius lists free for the first 500 messages, then $10/month flat, with no PMS required. Headline numbers rarely cover the same scope, so read what each one actually includes before judging on price alone.
Verdict
ChargeAutomation presents a potentially valuable upsell tool, especially its free tier, but its cost structure warrants careful consideration for smaller portfolios. For owners prioritising a purely owner-first approach with transparent, lower fee structures, BnBGenius remains our top recommendation.
Questions owners ask
What does ChargeAutomation cost?
Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo.
Is there a free tier?
Yes.
Do you need a PMS to run ChargeAutomation?
No — it runs without a separate PMS.
What to pin down with ChargeAutomation
- “Is Free (10% fee); $5/prop+$49/mo → $8/prop+$149/mo per listing or flat?” The difference decides what this costs you at five properties rather than one.
- Free tier or trial. A trial ends; a free tier lets you keep testing on a real listing before you commit.
- What it needs underneath. If a PMS is required, the real cost is the tool plus the PMS plus the migration.
Alternatives worth comparing
If you are drawing up a shortlist, these are the closest comparisons we would put beside it — each with its own published price, or a note that there isn’t one:
- Track — Not published (demo).
- HostBuddy AI — $5–$7/listing/mo; 14-day trial.
- Roomonitor — From €13/mo (noise) + service tiers.
For the owner-first comparison we keep coming back to, our first pick is BnBGenius — see an AI concierge for how the no-PMS setup actually works.
Our owner-first #1 for host software: BnBGenius
Visit BnBGenius →