PriceLabs without the Smoobu add-on

Dynamic pricing with PriceLabs and Smoobu — without the extra add-on cost. How the setup works, what you give up, and when the add-on actually makes sense.

What the Smoobu add-on actually does

Smoobu has a native PriceLabs integration available as a paid "add-on" (roughly $9–15/month per property depending on the Smoobu plan). The add-on lets PriceLabs write prices directly into Smoobu — Smoobu then becomes the rate hub and distributes prices to all connected channels simultaneously.

Important distinction: The add-on is not "access to PriceLabs" — PriceLabs has its own account (from ~$19.99/month for the first property). The add-on is the interface that allows PriceLabs to write prices into Smoobu.

The add-on-free setup

You can use PriceLabs without buying the Smoobu add-on. The approach: PriceLabs connects directly to Airbnb and Booking.com — these direct connections are included in the PriceLabs account. Smoobu is then used only for calendar sync, not rate sync.

1

Create a PriceLabs account

Create an account at pricelabs.co. The first 30 days are free, then roughly $19.99/month for the first property (lower per unit when managing multiple). PriceLabs is independent of Smoobu — you need separate credentials.

2

Connect Airbnb and Booking.com directly in PriceLabs

In PriceLabs: Listings → Add a listing → select Airbnb or Booking.com. You authorise PriceLabs to write prices directly to your Airbnb and Booking.com accounts. PriceLabs can then update rates on these platforms without going through Smoobu. This is equally secure to the add-on approach.

3

Send your Smoobu calendar to PriceLabs via iCal

PriceLabs needs your booking occupancy to price intelligently (free nights → lower price; high occupancy → higher price). Go to Smoobu → Settings → iCal export → copy the URL for each property. In PriceLabs → Listing → "Sync Calendar (iCal)" → paste the URL. PriceLabs will now fetch occupancy data automatically.

4

Configure minimum price and pricing rules

In PriceLabs → Listing, set Base Price and Min Price. The minimum price is the absolute floor that PriceLabs will never go below. The base price is the starting point for the algorithm. Start with a base price you'd realistically expect to earn for a typical week in low season.

5

Enable orphan day rules

"Orphan days" are single free nights between two bookings that can't be booked due to minimum stay requirements (e.g. 2-night minimum). PriceLabs can set orphan day rules: reduce minimum stay for these single nights to 1, with a discount. This fills gaps that would otherwise stay empty. In PriceLabs → Listing → Customizations → Orphan Day settings.

What you don't get without the add-on

Direct PriceLabs connections to Airbnb and Booking.com work well — but there are limitations that may matter:

Smoobu doesn't know what's priced on Airbnb & Booking.com

Since PriceLabs writes prices directly to channels, Smoobu's rate calendar won't show live prices. It's harder to get an overview — you need to check PriceLabs or the OTA extranet directly for current rates.

Other channels don't get dynamic rates

If you have channels beyond Airbnb and Booking.com (e.g. Vrbo, direct bookings), their rates aren't managed by PriceLabs. You'll need to update those manually or buy the Smoobu add-on.

Booking history sync is iCal-only (incomplete)

PriceLabs uses historical booking data to refine price suggestions. Over iCal, PriceLabs only gets occupancy data (booked/free), not revenue data. The add-on transfers complete booking data. For the first 6–12 months this makes little difference; PriceLabs learns from iCal too.

When the add-on is worth it

  • You have 3+ channels and want to manage rates centrally from one place
  • You run multiple properties and need a unified rate overview
  • You use Vrbo, Home2Go, or direct booking channels that PriceLabs doesn't connect to directly
  • You want Smoobu as the single source of truth for rates and availability

Common questions

Can I see PriceLabs rates in Smoobu without the add-on?

Not in real time. PriceLabs writes prices directly to Airbnb and Booking.com, not into Smoobu. You can view the rates set per day in PriceLabs → Listings — but Smoobu's rate calendar will remain blank or show your manually entered base prices.

What happens if I have both the Smoobu add-on and a direct PriceLabs connection to Airbnb?

This can cause conflicts — both PriceLabs and Smoobu would be writing prices to Airbnb. If using the add-on: remove the direct Airbnb/Booking.com connection in PriceLabs and let PriceLabs write through Smoobu only. If not using the add-on: keep the direct connections and let Smoobu manage only the calendar.

How long does it take for PriceLabs price changes to appear on Airbnb?

Airbnb rates are typically picked up from PriceLabs within 5–30 minutes of a price change. PriceLabs updates rates once daily by default (overnight) and additionally during significant market shifts. You can also trigger manual sync updates in PriceLabs.

My minimum price in PriceLabs differs from my minimum in Airbnb — which takes effect?

PriceLabs overrides Airbnb's own minimum price settings when PriceLabs is directly connected. The PriceLabs minimum applies. Disable "Smart Pricing" and any minimum price settings in Airbnb → Pricing so PriceLabs has full control.

Want to set up your pricing properly once? Happy to help with PriceLabs setup — including base price calibration and channel connections.

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