What you should know about the Airbnb API and free alternatives

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APIs are extremely useful features of mobile and web applications. You can use them to integrate services and features with web apps to create new tools. They help you manage large amounts of data, increase revenue, and stay ahead of trends.

APIs keep the tourism industry moving. Data research, price comparisons, or booking listings would be significantly harder without them.

So, naturally, Airbnb’s business model and rapid success generated enormous interest in the creation of an Airbnb API.

Today, you’ll learn more about Airbnb API, including:

• What is Airbnb API,
• If Airbnb has an API,
• How to get Airbnb API and become an Airbnb partner,
• How to use Airbnb API,
• How to get Airbnb data without the API,
• and much more.

What is Airbnb API?

With Airbnb API, you can connect your own booking software directly to Airbnb. That means you can import data from Airbnb to the software and vice versa.

For a better idea, in real life, it would send booking data from Airbnb to your software or mark already booked dates (through a different platform) also booked on Airbnb.

Does Airbnb have an API?

The Airbnb API was launched in 2017, and it has been going strong ever since. But before you get too excited, get ready to dial down your expectations to an acceptable level of disappointment. The chances are, you’ll never get to use it. The reason is that Airbnb is extremely selective about who gets access to it. You can send a request for access, but - as the Airbnb API partner page makes clear - whether they will approve access depends primarily on three things:

1. The profitability of your business or its potential for profit.
2. The technical strength of your business.
3. Your ability to support shared customers.

How to get Airbnb API and become Airbnb partner?

If you want to become an Airbnb partner, here’s a quick guideline:

1. Make an Airbnb Partner account.

Pay a visit to Airbnb partner section and hit the log in button.

2. Sign up

You can do that using Facebok, Google, Apple or simply your email. You’ll need to type in your phone number as well.

3. Insert your data

New window will pop up asking about your name, surname and date of birth. Fill in those and click on Agree and Continue. Be aware that by this, you also agree to Airbnb's Terms of Use. That’s the final stage of signing up-

4. Become a great host to get noticed by Airbnb

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to request an access to Airbnb API. You can only wait to be approached by Airbnb to get offered.

Airbnb also has a Preferred Software Partner Program. To qualify for the program, you must already be integrated with Airbnb and meet specific technical and business requirements.

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How do I use the Airbnb API?

Developers use the Airbnb API to create apps and software tools that help businesses manage multiple Airbnb listings in one place. If you’re one of the lucky people to get access to the Airbnb API, you’ll be able to integrate it with your business. Airbnb API integration helps you get more customers and reservations. If you’re a property owner with Airbnb, you can use the API to:

1. Connect and import listings.
2. Manage pricing and availability.
3. Message guests seamlessly.

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Can I get data from Airbnb without the API?

What if you’re one of the many unfortunates who can’t get access to the Airbnb API? Can you get Airbnb data? Yes, you can! Even if you’re a small fish in a big pond - a tiny operation, a new startup, or a freelance developer - there is an excellent alternative to the Airbnb API ⬇️

Airbnb Scraper: an unofficial Airbnb API

If the chances of Airbnb accepting you as a partner are thin, do not despair. There’s a free alternative, and it’s not at all exclusive. Airbnb Scraper is an unofficial API that gives you the same access to Airbnb’s data for home listings, including reviews, prices, and host/guest details.

Airbnb only gives you the first 300 results when you search. Apify’s unofficial Airbnb API can give you unlimited access to thousands of results.

You can also integrate the data obtained from Airbnb Scraper into your websites or mobile apps by ‘calling the actor’ via API. You can find instructions about how to do that in the actor’s ‘API’ tab ⬇️

Once you’ve used the scraper, you can then use the data you’ve collected for a wide range of purposes. For some ideas, check out our travel, tourism, and logistics industries page.

If you still need a little inspiration, here are some ways you can use the data extracted with Airbnb Scraper for data analysis ⬇️

With so many reasons to extract and analyze data from the Airbnb website, and with the official Airbnb API being so exclusive and restricted, your best bet for collecting that data is Airbnb Scraper. Like all of Apify’s web scraping tools, it’s free to try and easy to use. You can extract the data you’re looking for in a matter of minutes simply by typing in the input field the listings for which you want to collect data.

For some more detailed and solid guidance on how to use this powerful Airbnb scraper, we have a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly what to do. So why not get started on your first Airbnb web scraping task right now? ⬇️

❓FAQ

Is there an API for Airbnb?

Yes, there is an official Airbnb API. However, even if you register to be an official Airbnb partner, you won’t get access to it just like that. Airbnb is very selective about its API users; you’ll only get it if Airbnb chooses you.

How do you connect software to Airbnb?

There are two ways how to connect your software to Airbnb.

The first way is to register as Airbnb partner, get access to Airbnb API via which you can easily connect it. It’s not easy to get access to the Airbnb API, though.

The other way is to use Airbnb Scraper as an unofficial API and connect it to your software thanks to Apify integrations.

How to partner with Airbnb?

To become an Airbnb partner, you need to register here. See the guide on how to do it step-by-step.

How to extract data from Airbnb?

You can extract data from Airbnb using Airbnb Scraper. Find it on Apify Store, fill in the information (e.g., location, prices, reviews, places), and hit the Start button.