Owning a second home is a joy—and a responsibility. Whether it's a cabin in the woods, a beach house with sweeping views, or a family getaway tucked into the mountains, your vacation home is more than just a property. It's personal. And how you share it should feel personal, too.
While platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo offer convenience and visibility, they’re not always the right fit for every homeowner, especially if you’re not trying to turn your space into a full-time short-term rental.
If you’ve ever hesitated before listing your home publicly or wished for a more straightforward way to let family and trusted guests book directly, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why Twimo was built.
In this article, we’ll walk through how Twimo compares to Airbnb and Vrbo—and why private sharing might just be the smarter choice for homeowners who want less stress, fewer fees, and more control.
Control Over Who Stays (And Who Doesn’t)
Let’s start with the most important question: Who is staying in your home?
On Airbnb or Vrbo, your listing is open to the general public. While you can set requirements and review guest profiles, you're often fielding requests from complete strangers. Even with thoughtful screening, you’re still depending on reviews and digital profiles to make a decision about someone staying in your most personal space.
Twimo works differently.
You get full control over who books your home—whether it’s a family member, close friend, neighbor, or trusted contact. You can send private, password-protected booking links directly to people you know. There's no public listing, no random requests, and no pressure to say yes to strangers.
With Twimo, your home stays personal—and your guest list does too.
No Service Fees—for You or Your Guests
Airbnb and Vrbo have changed the travel landscape, but not without cost. Literally.
Airbnb charges hosts a service fee of up to 14.2%, and guests pay additional booking fees. Vrbo charges hosts either an annual subscription or per-booking fees.
These platform fees can significantly cut into your earnings or make it awkward to charge friends and family fair rates.
Twimo is different.
We don’t charge service fees for bookings. Whether you’re renting your home out to a trusted guest, sharing it with extended family, or swapping with another host, you keep 100% of what’s agreed upon. Your guests also avoid extra platform fees.
Private sharing should be simple and transparent, not burdened with hidden charges.
Flexibility That Matches Your Lifestyle
Let’s say you do rent out your property a few times a year on Airbnb or Vrbo.
But what about the times you want to offer your home for free to a family friend? Or swap it with another homeowner across the country? Or make sure your calendar is blocked off for personal use?
With public platforms, that flexibility can be tricky. You may need to manage multiple calendars, avoid double bookings, and even toggle between different guest experiences.
Twimo is built for all the ways you use your vacation home.
Whether you’re:
- Hosting family over a holiday
- Renting to a trusted coworker
- Swapping for a summer in the mountains
- Blocking off time for your own getaway
...Twimo makes it easy to manage it all in one place. You decide who can see your calendar and request a stay—and you approve every single booking.
No rules, no pressure—just full flexibility to use your home the way you want.
Keep It Off the Grid (If You Want To)
Not everyone wants their vacation home splashed across the internet. For many second homeowners, privacy matters. Your home isn’t a commercial listing; it’s a place full of memories, history, and intention.
Airbnb and Vrbo are public marketplaces. Even if you only host occasionally, your home is searchable, reviewable, and visible to thousands of strangers.
Twimo keeps things private. Your home isn’t listed publicly unless you want it to be. You can choose to share it only with a select group or community, keeping the experience more intentional and secure.
Peace of mind starts with privacy.
Share, Swap, or Just Stay Connected
Twimo isn’t just a tool—it’s a whole ecosystem for second home living.
In addition to private bookings, Twimo makes it easy to:
- Swap homes with other Twimo users (no points, no catches—just mutual trust)
- Coordinate with vendors (cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, etc.)
- Collect payment with simple tools (Venmo, Stripe, etc.)
- Share your home with a purpose (offering a stay to a charitable cause, a friend in need, or a nonprofit)
- Sync calendars with your Airbnb listing for best of both worlds
Whether you’re looking to travel, share, or simply make your home easier to manage, Twimo brings it all together—without the complexity of property management software or the costs of a full-service rental company.
Built for homeowners, not hotel managers.
Designed for Real People—Not Rental Pros
Airbnb and Vrbo have shifted toward professionalization. Listings today often look like boutique hotels, complete with check-in instructions, automated pricing tools, and review expectations. That’s great for hosts trying to maximize income, but it’s not what every homeowner wants.
Twimo is built for real people with real homes—people who may only share their space a few times a year, and want that experience to feel easy and natural.
You don’t need to be a rental expert. You just need a place you love, and people you trust.
No five-star host ratings required. Just five-star memories.
Final Thoughts: A More Personal Way to Share What You Love
Choosing how to share your vacation home is a deeply personal decision. If you love hosting all travelers and maximizing occupancy, Airbnb or Vrbo might work for you. But if your priority is simplicity, privacy, and keeping things close to home, Twimo is here to help. And if you want to do both, Twimo.com syncs with your Airbnb calendar.
It’s everything you need to manage your second home—without the noise of the short-term rental industry.
So whether you're looking to swap homes with someone across the country, open your doors to a sibling for the weekend, or make sure your calendar is always in sync, Twimo makes it easy to do it your way.
Ready to Try a New Way to Share?
Join a growing community of second homeowners choosing to share more personally, intentionally, and securely.
