Do you also list your property on Abritel (Vrbo)? The platform is simplifying its fees: a flat 12% commission for hosts, and no more subscription for new partners. After Airbnb and its single 15.5% commission, this is another fee change to build into your calculations. Here is what the official Abritel pages say, what remains to be confirmed, and what it changes in your numbers.
This article draws on the official pages read for the occasion: the Abritel help pages "À propos de la formule à la commission" (About the commission plan) and "Passer à la formule à la commission" (Switching to the commission plan), both quoted in our own translation, as well as, for Airbnb, the help page "Airbnb service fees" and the resource centre article "Simplifying service fees on Airbnb". The date of 29 October 2026 and the end of the old plans come from specialist sites, not from Abritel pages: we present it as such.
Last verification of sources: 30 October 2026. This is not personalised accounting or legal advice: check it in your Espace Propriétaire (owner dashboard) and against your own situation.
What does the Abritel help page say about the commission?
Abritel charges a flat, one-time commission of 12%, calculated on the rental and on all extra fees you charge the guest. The help page "À propos de la formule à la commission" explains that, with this plan, you only pay for the bookings you receive, with no annual fee (own translation). The booking fee includes a flat, one-time commission of 12%. It is charged on the rental amount and on all extra fees you charge the guest, for example cleaning, a boat transfer or pets. It does not apply to the damage protection guarantee or to trip cancellation protection.
The page adds that bookings coming from Abritel's partner network may carry higher fees.
And the annual subscription: does it still exist?
Not for new partners, according to the Abritel help page. The page "Passer à la formule à la commission" states that new partners can no longer opt for the subscription plan, and that the article is aimed at existing partners who still have a subscription listing and want to switch to the commission plan (own translation). You switch to the commission plan from your Espace Propriétaire, on the plan line, by choosing "Passer à la formule à la commission", or in bulk in the property manager dashboard.
Specialist sites, such as the Gîte et Bien guide, state that from 29 October 2026 the annual subscription plan at 349 € incl. VAT and the commission plan of about 8% excl. VAT disappear in favour of a single 12% excl. VAT commission, and that the new terms and conditions apply automatically. These sites say they rely on an email sent to owners at the end of September. We found neither this date nor these amounts on the Abritel pages we read: if you received that email, it, together with your Espace Propriétaire, is what counts.
What happens with VAT, taxes and property management software?
VAT is added to the commission where it applies. According to the help page, when VAT applies it is charged on top of the 12% commission. In France, with a 20% rate and for a host not subject to VAT, that makes 14.4% in total (Majordia calculation: 12% × 1.20), provided VAT applies to your case.
Taxes and security deposits are subject to a 3% processing fee, but not to the 12% commission. If you manage your listings with property management software, the page indicates a 12% fee for bookings made through Abritel's family of sites, with fees of 12 to 15% in some regions, including Europe: the rate that applies to your listings is shown in your Espace Propriétaire. A booking made on Abritel's sites without going through the payment process is charged 10%. See also our channel manager guide for small portfolios.
How much does it cost, compared with Airbnb?
On a stay with 1,000 € of rental and 100 € of cleaning, Abritel's host-side commission is 132 €, against 170.50 € for Airbnb, before VAT. This is a Majordia calculation based on the rates in the official pages (12% for Abritel, 15.5% for most Airbnb hosts, which also applies to optional fees such as cleaning), on a fictional example:
| Fictional example: 1,000 € rental + 100 € cleaning | Abritel (12%) | Airbnb (15.5%, most hosts) |
|---|---|---|
| Commission base | 1,100 € | 1,100 € |
| Commission before VAT | 132.00 € | 170.50 € |
| With 20% VAT if it applies | 158.40 € | 204.60 € |
This table compares only what the host pays. It says nothing about the fees the guest pays on each platform (we did not read Abritel's), nor about the volume of bookings each one brings you: it is that volume that decides the result. For Booking, we could not read the official commission pages, so we give no figure. To compare the three platforms, see our Airbnb, Booking and Abritel comparison, which carries an update note on this change.
What should you do in your Espace Propriétaire?
Check your plan, your rate and your prices before the next booking. Six steps:
- Open your plan page: subscription, commission, or property management software with a rate of 12 to 15%.
- Read the email or the terms you received from Abritel: that is the source that binds you.
- Turn off automatic renewal of a subscription if you switch to the commission plan (see the help page for cancellation deadlines).
- Redo your price calculation: your net per night is no longer the same; the method is the same as for Airbnb (desired net divided by one minus the commission rate, here 0.88 at 12%, Majordia calculation).
- Review your rates on the other channels: a gap that is too visible can get in the way of guests comparing. See our article on pricing for a small portfolio.
- Look at direct booking for the share of loyal guests: see our article on direct bookings.
The calculation to aim for a net of 100 € per night is simple: 100 € divided by 0.88 gives 113.64 € to display before VAT (Majordia calculation).
Key takeaways
Information
- Commission: flat, one-time fee of 12% on the rental and extra fees (cleaning, pets), excluding the damage guarantee and cancellation protection (Abritel help page).
- VAT: added where it applies; 14.4% in total at 20% VAT for a host not subject to VAT (Majordia calculation).
- Subscription: new partners can no longer choose it (Abritel help page); the date of 29 October 2026 and the disappearance of the old 8% plan come from specialist sites, not confirmed on the pages we read.
- Property management software: 12% to 15% in Europe, rate shown in the Espace Propriétaire.
- Versus Airbnb: 132 € against 170.50 € of host-side commission on the 1,100 € example, before VAT; guest fees and volume not compared.
- Not read: Abritel's email to owners, Abritel's guest fees, Booking's commissions: check according to your situation.
FAQ
What is Abritel's commission for a host?
According to the help page, a flat, one-time commission of 12%, calculated on the rental and on the extra fees charged to the guest, with VAT on top where it applies.
Does Abritel's annual subscription still exist?
Not for new partners, according to the help page. For existing partners, specialist sites mention a general rollout of the commission on 29 October 2026, not confirmed by the pages we read: check your Espace Propriétaire.
Does the commission apply to cleaning?
Yes: the help page states that it also covers the extra fees you charge the guest, such as cleaning or pets.
What if I use property management software?
The page indicates a 12% fee for bookings made through Abritel's family of sites, and up to 12 to 15% in some regions including Europe. Your rate is shown in your Espace Propriétaire.
Is Abritel cheaper than Airbnb for the host?
On the commission alone, 12% against 15.5% for most Airbnb hosts, so yes on the example above. But the result depends on guest fees, volume and visibility, which we did not compare.
Do I need to change my prices on Abritel?
Check your net per night under your new plan: if your rate has changed, your price must be recalculated to keep the same net.
Compare each platform with your own net
The right indicator is not the displayed rate but what is left to you after commission, VAT and cleaning, per booked night. Do this calculation for each platform you are on, then compare. To welcome your guests, whichever site they book on, the welcome book generator of the Essential offer (free, add-ons à la carte) creates a welcome book and its QR code without signing up.
Image credits. Cover: photo "A white percentage sign logo surrounded by green leaves" by Declan Sun, Unsplash, Unsplash licence. Photos in the text: "Elegant house with balconies nestled on a verdant hillside" by KAUDIA ESTATE, Unsplash, and "White wall with a large percent sign logo" by Kevin Zhong, Unsplash, Unsplash licence.
