For most digital nomads, housing is the biggest part of their cost of living abroad. Remote workers also have different needs than ordinary tourists, including a stable internet connection and workspaces, which makes finding a place to live extra difficult.
This guide compares the best short-term rental sites that cater to digital nomads. We include familiar names such as Airbnb, but also up-and-coming platforms that have gained a solid reputation in the digital nomad community. Our analysis covers the most essential factors for nomads, including cost, booking fees, availability, and user reviews. Finally, our buying guide goes into further detail about tips and tricks that you can use to find the ideal short-term rental and score a great deal.
How We Chose Them
We researched over 20 travel accommodation platforms, ultimately narrowing down the list to six best picks. Each company has its strengths and weaknesses, and we note both the pros and the cons in every review. Our analysis covers important elements for remote workers, including cost, availability, long-term stays, customer service, and ease of use. We also considered the uniqueness of each platform, and how they differentiate themselves for different kinds of travelers.
Compare Our Best Picks
| | | | Cost | Avg. booking fee | Available countries | Trustpilot score | No deposit | Mobile app | Instant Booking |
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Flatio | free | 7.5% | 100+ | 4.6/5 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
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Trusted Housesitters | Starts at $129/year | none | 140+ | 4.5/5 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
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Landing | free or $1,495/mo. | none | USA | 4.3/5 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
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Coliving.com | free | none | 60+ | 4.1/5 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
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Furnished Finder | free | none | USA | 3.2/5 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
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Airbnb | free | 14% | 220+ | 1.3/5 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Flatio
Excellent for Europe apartments, customer service
Cost
free.
Availability
100+ countries
Features
long-term stays, no deposit, verified listings, satisfaction guarantee.
Editor’s Take
Flatio focuses on mid-term apartment bookings of one week or more. Although the platform is present in over 100 countries, listings are mainly concentrated in Europe (and Spain/Portugal in particular). One major advantage of Flatio is its emphasis on customer satisfaction. The company guarantees bookings for amenities and quality; if the apartment isn’t what you expected, Flatio will provide alternative accommodations at no extra cost. Perhaps this is one reason why Flatio scores an impressive 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot – the highest of any short-term rental platform.
Although Flatio has a less intuitive user interface and fewer search filters than Airbnb, it does allow you to search for verified listings. These are apartments that have been reviewed in person by certified Flatio personnel, so you can feel confident that listings are accurate.
Pros & Cons
✅Highest Trustpilot score among short-term rental platforms.
✅No deposit required.
✅Listings verified for nomad amenities.
❌ No mobile app.
❌ Limited listings outside Europe.
❌ Fewer search filters than some competitors.
TrustedHousesitters
Excellent for women, customer service, budget
Cost
starts at $129 per year.
Availability
140+ countries
Features
no deposit, mobile app, free accommodations.
Editor’s Take
TrustedHousesitters is a membership-based platform designed to connect homeowners to housesitters. The site is especially popular among pet owners seeking care for their animals while they are away from home. In exchange for free accommodation, sitters take care of pets and gardens – a great deal for animal lovers who are also budget-minded.
Prospective sitters must undergo a full background check, and applications to book a home may include a video interview with the homeowner. (Some sitters have reported difficulty in obtaining homestays when they first join the platform with no prior reviews.) TrustedHousesitters operates on a subscription model where sitters pay $129 for the first year. After that, a $169/year paid plan includes free video calls as well as liability insurance. A $259/year premium plan also offers compensation for last-minute sit cancellations, two global airport lounge passes for you and a friend, and a premium badge for your profile.
Note that many homeowners prefer women or couples as housesitters. While this makes TrustedHousesitters a great option for these groups, men may have less luck on the platform.
Pros & Cons
✅High score on Trustpilot.
✅No deposit required.
✅Free accommodations for housesitters.
❌ Many homeowners prefer women or couples only.
❌ Sitters are required to apply in advance for each homestay, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
❌ You may not be compensated for travel costs if a homeowner cancels last-minute.
💰Discount: Get 25% off TrustedHousesitters annual Memberships with code ND25
Landing
Excellent for flexible travelers, customer service
Cost
free or $1,495 per month.
Availability
U.S. only
Features
long-term stays, concierge, no deposit, mobile app.
Editor’s Take
For those living the nomad life in America, Landing offers a unique value proposition. Like other apartment rental platforms, Landing provides short-term, per-night bookings for over 20,000 properties, but what’s really interesting is its membership model. Paying members of the Standby program can live in any of Landing’s unoccupied listings. As long as nobody else books the apartment, you are free to stay as long as you want (though you may be kicked out on short notice).
But not to worry – with Landing’s Nomad pass, you can access both Standby and Frontier Airlines’ GoWild! pass for one monthly fee of $1,495, allowing you to book last-minute seats on Frontier flights at no additional cost.
Landing’s satisfaction guarantee stipulates that if you aren’t satisfied with your apartment within the first seven days, you can contact the company for a replacement unit or a refund. On-site reps are available to help with any issues that arise, contributing to Landing’s respectable 4.3 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.
Pros & Cons
✅Low monthly prices available for Standby members.
✅No deposit required.
✅Satisfaction guarantee.
❌Listings are often more expensive than alternative sites.
❌Members must undergo a background check, and some landlords may require a credit check.
❌CA and NY listings require income and employment verification, and are not eligible for Standby.
💰Discount: Get $250 off your first Landing booking by using our unique signup link.
Coliving.com
Excellent for community, amenities
Cost
free.
Availability
60+ countries.
Features
long-term stays, easy booking, mobile app.
Editor’s Take
Coliving.com is a platform that emphasizes accommodations with a more communal vibe. Properties listed on the site offer rooms or private apartments for rent in buildings with shared amenities, including gyms, coworking spaces, kitchens, patios, and more. Coliving categorizes its listings by community type, including spaces geared toward remote workers, retirees, entrepreneurs, and others.
Although its 1,600 listed properties are fewer than competing platforms, digital nomads have a variety of accommodations to choose from. Listings on Coliving.com range from hostel-like shared rooms to apartments with private bathrooms. Under the site’s satisfaction guarantee, you have 24 hours from time of move-in to request a refund or alternative housing. Coliving.com’s reviews are generally good, and the brand sports a solid 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.
One downside is that Coliving.com requires you to put up a refundable security deposit, and some user complaints have centered around difficulty in getting their deposit back from the landlord. Other users report that some properties lack listed amenities, so be sure to scrutinize reviews carefully before booking.
Pros & Cons
✅Built-in community for social living.
✅No booking fee for use of the platform.
✅Satisfaction guarantee and 24-hour refund policy.
❌Fewer listings available than competing platforms.
❌Security deposit is required.
❌Some properties aren’t truthful about listed amenities.
Furnished Finder
Excellent for budget, mid-term rentals
Cost
free.
Availability
USA only.
Features
long-term stays, verified listings, mobile app.
Editor’s Take
Furnished Finder was originally founded as a site to connect traveling nurses and healthcare professionals to find short and mid-term rentals. In recent years, many remote workers and digital nomads have also flocked to the platform and its 250,000 listings throughout the U.S. Furnished Finder acts as a classified listing site for landlords, making it more akin to Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist than Airbnb. Landlords post ads for monthly furnished rentals, and users arrange for payment off the Furnished Finder platform.
While Furnished Finder’s no-frills website feels dated and the platform doesn’t get involved in disputes between landlords and renters, this low-tech approach results in noticeably lower prices than competitors. Users can expect to go through the normal tenant/landlord process, including signing a lease and paying the property owner directly.
Although Furnished Finder’s Trustpilot score is a rather low 3.2 out of 5, most complaints originate from disgruntled landlords rather than tenants. Still, we would advise nomads using the platform to stick with verified listings.
Pros & Cons
✅Lower prices compared with alternative sites.
✅No booking fee for use of the platform.
✅Direct connection with landlords.
❌Hands-off approach to customer service.
❌Security deposit and signed lease is required.
❌Dated user interface on website.
Airbnb
Excellent for selection, user friendliness
Cost
free.
Availability
220+ countries.
Features
mobile app, no deposit, user reviews.
Editor’s Take
Does Airbnb really need an introduction? We’ll keep this one brief:
Airbnb is the app that digital nomads love (and love to hate). The site originally offered homestays with hosts, but has now grown into the biggest platform for short-term rentals. With 7.7 million listings, Airbnb completely dwarfs the other competitors on our list. Travelers can find accommodations to suit all budgets, from small studio apartments to massive villas and penthouses. The intuitive user interface makes it easy to search for listings on both desktop and mobile devices, and user reviews help nomads discern which apartments are legit.
Airbnb gives hosts a large amount of autonomy to set prices and house rules. On average, nomads can snag a 40% discount for stays of a month or longer. Despite these benefits, many users rate Airbnb poorly for customer service and onerous restrictions set by some hosts. With a mere 1.3 stars on Trustpilot, Airbnb ranks dead last among short-term rental sites.
Pros & Cons
✅Largest selection of apartments across a wide range of prices.
✅Intuitive user interface on both the website and mobile app.
✅No deposit or other upfront costs for the majority of listings.
❌Can be difficult to cancel or get a refund under most circumstances.
❌Long wait time for resolving customer service issues.
❌No loyalty program
Other Rental Sites to Consider
Wander
Wander launched in 2021 as a short-term rental platform geared toward luxury travelers. The site offers vacation rentals in over 60 countries, with a focus on scenic locations such as beaches, woods, mountains, and deserts. Unlike many short-term rental sites, Wander manages all of its own listings and provides a 24/7 concierge service. The platform specifically caters to digital nomads, ensuring access to fast WiFi. Wander charges a 12% booking fee, which is in line with other major platforms on our list.
Nomad Stays
Nomad Stays is a platform offering digital nomad-friendly accommodations in over 80 countries. Useful features include verified WiFi speeds, instant booking, and workspaces (either in-unit or in a nearby coworking facility). Each booking requires a deposit, with the balance paid at check-in. Although the user interface isn’t as friendly as other sites, displayed prices include all taxes and fees, with no additional charge for using the platform.
Homealike
Homealike offers 40,000 furnished apartments for short-term rent in the U.S. and Europe. Although you must go through an application process with the landlord, some properties do allow instant booking, and there is no additional booking fee. The rental process includes a signed lease agreement, and the initial online payment made via the Homealike platform. (Subsequent payments and any security deposits are made directly to the landlord.) The company scores a 3.7 out of 5 for customer service on Trustpilot, which is roughly in the middle of the back among the sites that we reviewed.
Blueground
Blueground offers furnished month-to-month apartments for major cities in 19 countries. Although the platform does a lot of work with large companies seeking housing for employees, anyone can use the site. The booking process is performed online, with instant confirmation and payment. Considering the amenities, we found that many apartments are listed for a reasonable price, with additional discounts available for long-term leases of several months or a year. Blueground charges a 15% booking fee and scores 3.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Sonder
Sonder has carved out a niche as an operator of serviced apartment-hotels. Now available in over 40 cities across ten countries, Sonder offers private apartments in a hotel-like environment. Check-in is performed at a front desk, with details (such as the passcode to your room) sent via email. Sonder units are available for both nightly and long-term stays. On the downside, the brand garners a low 1.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with many reviewers citing both difficulty canceling and sudden cancellations by Sonder itself.
Facebook Marketplace
While not an apartment rental site per se, Facebook Marketplace (and local Facebook Groups) have become a popular place for digital nomads to seek apartments. Oftentimes, prices are more in line with local market rates, and some fantastic bargains can be found. But, as with all great deals, buyer beware. Many digital nomads regularly post about being scammed by Facebook postings, and there is no recourse if you fall victim to a bad actor. Always schedule an in-person tour (or at least a live video walkthrough) before sending any sort of payment.
Learn more about Facebook Marketplace
Short-term Apartment Rental Guide
For most digital nomads, the most consequential decision of their trip is where to stay. There’s a lot to consider if you’re going to be living and working in a place for weeks or months at a time, which is why it pays to do your research.
Here are critical factors to consider when booking an Airbnb or other short-term rental.
1. Be mindful of what ratings really mean
The propensity for guests to leave five-star reviews has massively inflated Airbnb ratings. The average listing now boasts a 4.74 score, rendering the rating system effectively useless. A 4.5 should be a great score – after all, it equates to 90% – but it’s actually below average on the Airbnb platform. Avoid any listing with a rating under 4.7.
To counter rating inflation, go for a listing that is above average. Not all apartments over 4.8 will be amazing, but at least you probably won’t have any serious issues.
2. Read and search the reviews
Although guests may be reluctant to give a bad star rating, problems are often aired in the written reviews. Search for keywords such as “WiFi,” “shower,” “bed,” “dirty,” and “noise” to see if past guests had anything negative to say. You may also consider asking the host or landlord to send results of an internet speed test, if your job depends heavily on a high-speed connection.
Also, don’t forget to click on the host’s profile and read reviews for their other properties (if applicable.) If the listing is new and doesn’t have any reviews, the host’s other units will give you an idea of what to expect. Also, bad hosts sometimes take down poorly-rated listings and start fresh, so you want to make sure that they remain consistent across properties.
Tip: Checkout Reviews is a great free tool that summarizes Airbnb reviews into an easily-digestible report.
3. What are your day-to-day needs?
A rooftop pool sounds exciting, but how often are you actually going to use it? Maybe…but maybe not.
It’s important that your Airbnb facilitates your normal daily routine. Make sure you’re close to a supermarket, gym, or coworking space. If you cook a lot, pay attention to the kitchen and ask the host if there are pots and pans available. Have a car? In that case, a parking spot is probably going to be important.
Only you can answer this question, so think about what you actually do on a daily basis, and not what you imagine you’re going to do. You can use Google Maps to check out the surrounding area (and don’t forget to use the “Street View” feature for a detailed look at the neighborhood).
4. Consider the workspace
Hosts usually have a pretty loose definition of “workspace,” which usually means (at best) a kitchen table and dining room chairs. Using a chair without arms and sitting at the wrong height is a recipe for shoulder, neck, and back pain. Also, some tables are barely big enough for a single laptop, let alone a second monitor and other items.
Think carefully about how you work right now, and not a hypothetical scenario that you’ve never tried. Every digital nomad fantasizes about working at a laptop by the beach, but at the end of the day, you’re probably going to end up in an office chair at a desk just like back home.
5. Check the WiFi speed
Stable WiFi is essential for every digital nomad, although exact requirements depend on the nature of your job. San Francisco State University recommends just 20Mbps for Zoom calls, but remote workers that frequently upload/download large files (or play a lot of video games) may require much faster speeds.
You can ask hosts to send the results of a free internet speed test for accurate readings. For those in areas without access to WiFi, look into data packages sold by local mobile carriers or popular eSIM providers.
6. Ask about the overnight guest policy
Some apartment buildings and hosts maintain strict no overnight visitor policies. These rules are designed to keep out unwelcome strangers, which might be a plus for those who value security. But if you’re looking for some, ermm, private adult time after a night on the town, it might be worth clarifying with the host before you bring your date back.
In a similar vein, many buildings require visitors to sign in with a local ID or a passport for foreigners. There is also usually a limit on how many guests you can sign in at any given time. Again, whether or not this affects you depends on your lifestyle.
7. Buy things that you need
Oftentimes you will find an apartment that is perfect, but it lacks one little thing that you need. Maybe it’s an office chair or an iron for your clothes. Sometimes, it makes more financial sense to just buy those household items yourself, even if you need to leave them behind (just think of $60 for an office chair as part of your monthly rent). You can always try selling lightly-used items on Facebook marketplace later on down the line.
8. Negotiate price
Digital nomads love to hate short-term rental sites because of their high prices relative to the local rental market. Oftentimes you’re paying at least 2-3 times what locals pay for the same exact property. But there are ways to cut down on the cost.
In general, it makes more financial sense to stay in a single property for at least a month. Most sites provide sizable discounts for monthly stays. Sometimes these discounts can be up to 50% off the regular nightly price.
You may also try negotiating further discounts with the host directly. During peak tourist months, hosts may be reluctant to extend discounts. But during the off season, they are often flexible on price. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Also keep an eye out for new listings from experienced hosts. Because new listings don’t have any reviews, guests are often more reluctant to book. To incentivize people to try the property, hosts will often provide big discounts to the first few guests. If the host manages other well-reviewed properties, chances are it’s a good bet.
9. Stick with trusted hosts
Airbnb hosts with the “Superhost” badge must adhere to a high standard set by the company, including minimal cancellations and responding to guest inquiries in less than 24 hours. Having a Superhost doesn’t guarantee that the property will be amazing, but at least you know that you’re dealing with someone who cares about hospitality. That could make a big difference to your stress level if something in the apartment suddenly breaks, or you accidentally lock yourself out of the building.
Getting Free Accommodations
Living the digital nomad lifestyle is a dream, but what if you can’t afford to rent an apartment? Here are some ways to secure free or reduced accommodation while traveling.
- Trusted Housesitters: Starting at $129/year, this platform connects housesitters with homeowners, especially pet owners, in 140+ countries. Sitters care for pets in exchange for free stays, though you will need to apply and be accepted by the homeowner.
- Couchsurfing: For just $14.99/year, travelers can stay for free with hosts in 230+ countries. While Couchsurfing offers cultural exchange, hosts expect social interaction.
- HomeExchange: This $220/year service allows you to swap homes with others in 145+ countries. Alternatively, earn “GuestPoints” by hosting to use for future stays.
Other options include Au Pair programs, hostel work exchanges, and platforms like Workaway, where you work in exchange for free accommodation. Learn more in our guide to getting free accommodations as a digital nomad.