Although most payment methods are universal, some Airbnb payment options depend on where you run short-term rentals. While residents of the US and Canada can use Klarna, the German market supports Sofort Überweisung, and Denmark has MobilePay.
Knowing how to gather booking payments and receive your money is essential before launching short-term rentals. You should understand how payouts work and any hidden charges to plan your Airbnb pricing strategy accordingly. The choice of payment options also affects how soon you can withdraw earnings, varying from 30 minutes to 7 days.
This overview clarifies the key Airbnb payment options available to guests and hosts. We also share tips on making payments smoother and monitoring cash flow.
Main Airbnb Payment Options for Guests
Airbnb has global coverage and supports a wide range of payment methods, as different payment systems dominate in various locations. Some options, such as credit and debit cards, are universally accepted, while others are only valid in specific regions. Below, we list the main Airbnb payment options guests can choose from.
Credit and Debit Cards
MasterCard, Visa, American Express (Amex), JCB, and debit cards are the most popular payment methods among Airbnb users. Since they operate globally, they’re reliable options unlikely to cause issues or delays.
Credit and debit cards have payment fraud protection and billing validation. The systems handle everything automatically, notifying users when a payment is missing or something goes wrong. The only concern for hosts is the risk of vacation rental chargebacks. Credit card processors prioritize protecting consumers, making chargebacks relatively easy to file even when property and rental services are perfect.
Klarna for Paying Over Time
Klarna is primarily supported for residents in the US and Canada. It allows guests to pay in installments over weeks or months. Guests can view Klarna payment plans during checkout and choose the one that best meets their needs. Different plans are available in different locations, but overall, users can pay monthly with interest rates or choose 3 or 4 interest-free payments. In some cases, European residents can also use Klarna to pay in 30 days, though it works only in select countries and comes with additional limitations.
When guests pay in installments, hosts receive the full amount as usual. The payment system takes all the risks. Therefore, you don’t feel a substantial difference if guests pay in installments. Moreover, Klarna payments are a popular choice for large group tours and extended stays, which can potentially generate more revenue for hosts.
PayPal and Digital Wallets
PayPal and digital wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay are preferred choices for mobile-first guests. These serve millions of users globally. PayPal has over 400 million accounts.
PayPal and digital wallets may charge additional fees for guests, but hosts still receive the full amount. With PayPal, guests may also need to indicate a backup payment method (e.g., bank account or credit card) to be used if the primary method fails.
Regional Payment Systems
In addition to the listed options, there are regional payment systems. Eftpos in Australia, Payconiq in Belgium, Elo, Hipercard, and Pix in Brazil, and many others. You can check the full list of Airbnb payment options on the official page. Since Airbnb acts as a connector between hosts and guests, you’ll receive a payout in your preferred method even if your guests are coming from a location with a different payment system. Keep in mind that exchange fees may apply.
How Hosts Receive Payouts
When guests pay for bookings, Airbnb holds funds until check-in to protect both parties from fraud. The standard payout timeline: Airbnb releases your payment 24 hours after guest check-in. This applies to most stays under 28 nights. For longer stays (28+ nights), you receive an initial payout the day after check-in, then monthly installments throughout the reservation.
Hosts need to choose how and when to withdraw money. Direct deposit is the most common option as it immediately sends revenue to a connected bank account. No third-party fees or unexpected charges apply. You can also receive payouts in larger transactions by setting a minimum payout threshold. Airbnb will accumulate payments and transfer them only when they reach the specified amount. This may be a nice option if you manage multiple properties and don’t depend on every payment.
Payout Timing
Regular and reliable payments are a huge part of successful Airbnb rentals. As a property manager, you must know when to expect payouts to plan expenses and track revenue. Payout time mainly depends on the payment method:
- Fast Pay: Within 30 minutes
- Payoneer prepaid debit Mastercard: Within 24 hours
- Western Union: 1 business day
- PayPal: 1 business day
- Bank transfer: 3 to 5 business days
- International wire transfer: 3 to 7 business days
The type of stay also affects when Airbnb releases payouts. For most stays lasting 27 days or less, the platform initiates payment by the end of the business day after check-in. With stays of 28 days or more, you get an initial payout the next day and then receive future payouts on a monthly basis. For services and experiences, Airbnb pays out money by the end of the day after the service or experience was used, except for photography services, which take 8 days to receive payment. Another exception is payments for new hosts. If you have an unverified listing, payment for the first two reservations is released by the end of the business day after checkout.
Note: Most payment systems don’t process transactions on holidays or weekends. You’ll need to wait several days to receive money. Fast Pay and Payoneer are the Airbnb payment options that can process and send payouts on holidays or weekends. If that matters to you, consider choosing these options as your main payment method.
Airbnb Payment Options for Hosts
Airbnb payment options for hosts are less diverse compared to what guests can choose from, with fewer regional options supported. The main Airbnb payment options for hosts include:
- Bank account transfers
- International wire transfers
- Payoneer prepaid debit Mastercard
- Fast Pay
- PayPal
- Western Union
Airbnb has enough options to meet the needs of property managers and owners globally. Payout timelines and charges differ, but overall, you can easily withdraw your revenue.
How Airbnb Payment Plans Work for Hosts
Airbnb offers guests flexible payment options that can make your listings more attractive without affecting when you receive money. Here’s how they work.
Pay Part Now, Part Later
This plan lets guests pay approximately 50% when booking and the remaining balance before check-in (typically 14 days prior or at a date specified during checkout). Guests see this option automatically when eligible — you don’t need to enable anything.
Eligibility requirements for guests:
- Total booking value of at least $50 USD (including taxes and fees)
- Check-in at least 14 days away
- Stays under 28 nights
- Payment via credit card, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Airbnb credit
- Not an Airbnb for Work reservation
Reserve Now, Pay Later
Some guests may see options to reserve without immediate payment, with the full amount charged closer to check-in. The specific timing depends on their location and payment method.
How payment plans affect host payouts
The key advantage: You still receive the full payout 24 hours after guest check-in, regardless of how guests split their payments. Airbnb handles all the risk of collecting the second installment. If a guest’s second payment fails, Airbnb cancels the reservation and processes any applicable refunds according to your cancellation policy — you’re never left unpaid.
Payment plans effectively market your listing to budget-conscious travelers without creating additional payment risk or complexity for you. The split payment structure makes higher-priced listings or longer stays more accessible to guests who prefer spreading costs over time.
Tips on Managing Airbnb Payment Options For Stable Cash Flow
Stable cash flow means your income is more predictable, and you won’t have to cover property management expenses out of pocket. You also always have the budget for regular payments to cleaning teams, maintenance staff, and essentials like taxes.
Analyze Multiple Payment Options
If you’re an inexperienced host or property manager, take time to explore different Airbnb payment options. Know the payout timelines and possible charges to choose the best one. Be sure to select it as your default payout method.
Airbnb also enables hosts to check payout status in their earnings dashboards. You can filter earnings by month, year, or listing, see upcoming earnings, and paid transactions. It simplifies analytics and helps see gaps in your revenue management approach.
Have a Payment Schedule
Create a spreadsheet to track past and upcoming payments. It will show when to expect payments and help track monthly revenue. You can also use accounting software or a property management system with accounting functionality to simplify monitoring. Having a payment schedule increases predictability and makes cash flow more stable.
Offer Flexible Payments for More Bookings
Allow guests to pay in installments, especially for extended or expensive stays. It can convince more guests to choose your property over alternatives. Airbnb has “Pay Part Now, Part Later” and “Reserve Now, Pay Later” plans for such cases. It may seem like a riskier option than upfront payments, but flexibility increases your potential audience without harming payouts. Hosts receive earnings after guests check in regardless of payment plan.
Be sure to mention available payment plans in your listing. It makes your property more attractive among similar options and increases your chances of getting booked. After all, stable cash flow depends on high occupancy.
Never Accept Off-Platform Payments
Airbnb requires all payments to flow through the platform — no exceptions. Accepting cash, bank transfers, Venmo, or any payment method outside Airbnb violates terms of service, even if guests suggest it.
Why this matters:
Loss of protection: Airbnb’s Host Guarantee, AirCover, and resolution tools only apply to bookings paid through the platform. Off-platform transactions leave you completely unprotected if guests cause damage, dispute charges, or create other issues.
Account suspension risk: Airbnb monitors for off-platform payment attempts. Patterns like blocked calendar dates with no bookings, messages hinting at direct payment, or guest reports can trigger account reviews, listing suppression, or permanent suspension.
Fraud exposure: Cash and unofficial payment methods lack the fraud protection built into Airbnb’s system. You have no recourse if payments fail, checks bounce, or transactions turn out to be fraudulent.
Some hosts consider accepting direct payments from repeat guests to avoid fees. Losing your Airbnb account costs far more than the fees you’d save. Keep every transaction on-platform to maintain protection, visibility, and account standing.
Have a Cancellation Policy
Allow guests to cancel bookings more easily by choosing a flexible (24 hours before check-in), moderate (5 days before check-in), or limited (14 days before check-in) cancellation policy. You can give a full or 50% refund. The choice should depend on your occupancy and ability to quickly replace bookings if someone cancels. A flexible cancellation policy reduces guests’ fear of losing money and helps you get more bookings. A too strict or no cancellation policy, conversely, repels people and disrupts your cash flow. You should find the balance between guests’ interests and your own.
Finally, you should have a 1-3 month financial cushion. It will make you better prepared for emergencies when something goes wrong, for example, severe property damage or really low season hits.
Tools to Monitor Cash Flow and Track Payouts
Managing payouts across multiple properties manually creates gaps where payments fall through cracks. The right tools automate tracking, organize income by listing, and flag issues before they affect cash flow.
What to look for in payment tracking software
Effective cash flow management tools:
- Sync automatically with Airbnb to pull payout data in real-time
- Organize by property so you can track which listings generate what income
- Flag pending vs. received payments to eliminate confusion about what’s actually in your account
- Export reports formatted for bookkeeping or tax filing
- Set payout thresholds if you prefer larger, less frequent deposits
Property management systems with built-in financial tracking
Hostfully – Vacation rental PMS offering DIY, integration-based, and full-service accounting options. Tracks rental income, automates owner statements, and integrates with Airbnb for seamless payout monitoring.
Lodgify – PMS with revenue management features including automatic revenue calculations, invoice generation, and owner statements. Simplifies tracking income across multiple properties and channels.
Standalone accounting software
Intuit QuickBooks – Universal accounting platform covering cash flow tracking, time tracking, expense management, and financial reporting. Works for short-term rentals alongside other business activities.
Ximplifi – Vacation rental-specific accounting software handling bookkeeping, tax services, reporting, and bill payments for STRs, hotels, and property management companies.
Sage Accounting – Small business accounting tool with AI features providing complete cash flow visibility and automation for invoicing, expenses, and reporting.
Using Airbnb’s native tools
For single-property hosts or those starting out, Airbnb’s Earnings dashboard provides basic tracking. Filter earnings by month, year, or listing; view upcoming vs. paid transactions; and download transaction history for external bookkeeping. While less powerful than dedicated software, it’s included with your account and requires no additional setup.
How to Avoid Credit Card Fraud and Chargebacks
Most Airbnb payment options allow users to request chargebacks after making online payments. It protects consumers and ensures they get what they’ve paid for. At the same time, chargebacks enable “friendly fraud,” when people want to return money for services they actually received. It’s a big issue for vacation rentals, which can only be solved by careful Airbnb guest screening.
Since Airbnb ID verification does not cover all users, the risk of a fraudster booking your property is quite high. Without checking them against multiple reputable databases, you never know who will enter your place. Truvi’s guest screening and damage protection platform helps fight fraudsters by detecting suspicious accounts right away. The tool runs email and phone verification to identify risky contacts. Every booking is also checked against the list of guests who have already caused damage or had payment issues. As checks happen automatically, guests feel no friction.
Manage Payments, Protect Your Business
Understanding Airbnb payment options ensures reliable payouts and stable cash flow. Use flexible payment plans to attract more bookings, set up automatic payouts to your preferred method, track income with software that syncs with Airbnb, and never accept off-platform payments that void your protections.
But payment tracking alone doesn’t protect against fraud or chargebacks. Problem guests can book with stolen cards, dispute legitimate charges, or create damage that leads to costly disputes with payment processors.
Screen guests, prevent fraud, host with confidence
Guest screening verifies identity and flags risky bookings before check-in. Damage protection covers you up to $1M when incidents occur. Together, they protect your revenue and reduce chargeback risk.
