BetterStay vs Alertstays
Both tools watch Airbnb for you and email you when a matching stay opens up — new listings, cancellations and price drops. They differ in how you start a watch, what happens after you've already booked, and how you get notified.
The short answer
Pick Alertstays if you want native phone push notifications and the lowest entry price for a single search. Pick BetterStay if your dates are already sold out, if you've already booked and want something better before check-in, or if you'd rather start from a forwarded Airbnb email or a screenshot instead of rebuilding your search.
What a BetterStay alert looks like
Not a one-line text. A full email with the photo, the verified price and a direct booking link.
Sunny loft in Trastevere, Rome
Oct 14 – 19 · 2 guests · ★ 4.92 (138)
$930 total for 5 nights · verified on Airbnb
Book on Airbnb ↗✓ We check the listing page before emailing you, filtering out most stale results and ghost listings. Homes can still get booked fast — Airbnb always has the final word. See a live sample watch →
Example alert for illustration.
Side by side
Swipe sideways to see both tools →
| Feature | BetterStay | Alertstays |
|---|---|---|
| New-listing & cancellation alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price-drop alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paste your exact Airbnb search link (area, dates, filters) | ✓ | Set up the search in their app |
| Watch one specific home | ✓ | Announced, not yet released |
| Watches a stay you already booked for a cheaper / better-rated one | ✓ | — |
| Start from a forwarded Airbnb email or a screenshot | ✓ | — |
| Tight area around a pinned home (~1.5 km) | ✓ | Map area you zoom to |
| Native iOS / Android app with push | — | ✓ |
| Alert channel | Email with photo, price & direct link | Email + push |
| Pricing | Free: 1 watch. Traveler $9/mo (5 watches). Nomad $29/mo (30 watches) | Basic $4.99/mo (1 search, daily digest). Premium $14.99/mo (10 searches, instant) |
| Free to start | Free watch, no credit card | 7-day trial |
Alertstays details taken from their public site (October 2026). Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Pick BetterStay if…
- ✓ Your dates already show 0 results and you need the first cancellation.
- ✓ You booked a refundable place and want to switch if something better appears.
- ✓ You want to start in seconds — paste the Airbnb link, forward the email, or upload a screenshot.
Pick Alertstays if…
- • You want push notifications from a native phone app.
- • You run many long-term searches and want 10 on one plan.
FAQ
Is BetterStay better than Alertstays?
It depends on the job. BetterStay is built for sold-out dates and for upgrading a stay you already booked, and it's free to start without a card. Alertstays has native mobile apps with push notifications and a $4.99 entry plan.
Does Alertstays have a free plan?
Alertstays advertises a 7-day free trial of its Basic plan; after that it's a paid subscription. BetterStay has a permanent free plan with one active watch and no credit card.
Can either tool watch a booking I already made?
BetterStay can: forward your Airbnb confirmation email or upload a screenshot and it keeps scanning your area and dates for a cheaper or better-rated home. Alertstays focuses on new searches.
Do I need to give either tool my Airbnb password?
No. Neither needs your Airbnb login. You get a link and book on Airbnb as usual.
Your dates look sold out? Start watching now.
Paste the Airbnb link — we'll email you the moment a matching home opens up.
More: all Airbnb alert tools · BetterStay vs PageCrawl · sold-out event guides