
Airbnb payment methods are designed with convenience in mind. Airbnb tries its best to accommodate preferred payment options per country, and will usually give hosts and travelers more than one option to choose from.
If you’re new to Airbnb payments and need to set up your payment method, or are curious about how the payment method works, here is all you need to know.
While Airbnb offers widely-accepted payment options across multiple countries, it also has some niche options that specific countries prefer.
Let’s take a closer look at the most common methods available in most countries and some country-specific options also offered on the Airbnb booking platform.
The following methods are available in most countries:
The following methods are available only in certain countries:
The Airbnb payment process is designed to be as simple and convenient as possible for both hosts and guests.
When making their booking, your guests will need to provide Airbnb with their payment details and select any of the different payment methods available, whether that be via debit card, credit card, PayPal account, or another available option.
You can also open up new cards that don’t require a security deposit (and get one with no annual fee if desired) — low-interest-rate cards that offer rewards points and cash back are another way to pay for rental services.
Then, guests may pay a portion or the full booking amount when their reservation is made, depending on the length of their stay and if they have opted for a payment plan.
Regardless of when guests pay, hosts will only receive their payment 24 hours after guests check-in.
An Airbnb payment plan is a new payment method introduced by the platform as a way for guests to travel now and pay later.
Guests who meet the eligibility criteria are able to pay part of their booking amount once the reservation is confirmed, and the second payment at a later date. Airbnb will automatically charge any final payment from their payment account before check-in.
Because the total amount will still be paid before guests check-in, the payment plan does not significantly impact hosts. Remember, hosts will only receive payment for a booking 24 hours after check-in.
The requirements for guests to be eligible for the payment plan:
If you haven’t yet set up your default payment method for host payouts, or simply need to change the details of your existing payment method, you can do so on your Airbnb account settings by following these steps:
Once your payment is ready to be processed, Airbnb will release it either by bank transfer, to your PayPal account, or another payment method of your choice.
As mentioned briefly above, hosts will receive payment for booking 24 hours after a guest has checked in. This is to ensure that everything goes as planned for both parties before a host is paid.
If you’re looking for an easier way to manage your payment settings and payouts as an Airbnb host, you may want to consider vacation rental software. With software tools like iGMS, you have access to a wide range of payment features to help you manage your payment processing activities efficiently.
iGMS offers:
Unfortunately, Airbnb does not accept cash. In fact, hosts accepting offline and cash payments are a violation of Airbnb’s terms of service and Airbnb encourages guests to report this if hosts request cash and offline payments.
The reason for this strict rule is that an offline or cash payment method is not as safe as those offered on the platform and it makes it difficult for Airbnb to protect your hosts’ and guests’ confidential information. This, in turn, puts you at risk of fraud, scams, and other security breaches.
If Airbnb discovers that you are asking your guests to pay offline or with cash, it could result in your Airbnb account being removed from the site.
Unfortunately, Airbnb does not accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin at the moment. However, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tweeted in January 2022 about how Airbnb consumers are eager for it, and that it is on their radar. So, it might become a possibility very soon.
About the Author
Callan Riddles is the Content and Social Media Specialist at iGMS. Callan has a passion for finding new ways to help vacation rental businesses thrive. In her free time, she loves to travel, read, and experience all the new things that life has to offer.
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