I’ve been pretty much living out of Airbnbs for the last couple of years as I’ve traveled around, and while it was great at first, lately it feels like the platform has just become waaaay too expensive. The fees are crazy, and I’ve noticed that a lot of the places aren’t as nice as they used to be, especially for longer stays. I’m planning to stay in one place for a few months soon in Europe, and I’m really looking for something that’s better suited for long-term rentals. I’ve heard there are some good alternatives out there, but I haven’t tried any yet. Any Airbnb alternatives you guys recommend that have worked well for you?
Hello community,
I’m working on a research project for my university program where I am trying to figure out current status of accommodation options for Digital Nomads. The idea is to identify if our needs are, more or less satisfied, or if there is still room for improvement.
I have created this brief survey to better understand this. It would be extremely helpful if you would take 5 mins to fill it out 
Thanks a lot for your help in advance!
@lavaplanet If you’re looking for a way to avoid those crazy accommodation costs, I’d definitely recommend trying home swapping. It’s a great alternative to Airbnb, especially for longer stays. It cuts out accommodation costs since you’re just swapping homes with someone else. I might be a little biased here (full disclosure: I’m the founder of Swaphouse), but our platform is specifically designed for people like you. It’s free to use (no required memberships or fees), and once you list your home, you can match with others who’d love to stay in your place. It’s ideal if you’re planning to settle in one spot for a while, and it gives you the comfort of staying in a real home instead of just a rental.
There are also great (but paid) other home exchange platforms, and Freaking Nomads wrote a great guide about it recently: Best Home Exchange Sites & Home Swap Platforms for 2025.
That said, home swapping does require you to have a home to exchange. If you don’t have a home to swap, I’d recommend looking into pet sitting through platforms like TrustedHousesitters. It’s another great way to stay for free while also taking care of someone’s pets, which can be a fun and rewarding experience. It’s perfect for longer stays, and you can usually find beautiful places to live while saving on accommodation costs.
Hope this helps!
Try & check out Flatio.com … It’s a platform specifically designed for mid- to long-term rentals, making it ideal for digital nomads, remote workers, or anyone looking for a home-away-from-home.
Flatio focuses on monthly stays without the hefty service fees, and you’ll often find competitive prices.