If you run an Airbnb or short-term rental, these six gadgets can upgrade guest experience, save you time, and quickly pay for themselves through fewer issues and better reviews. Forget the days when hosting meant just providing a bed. Today’s guests expect convenience, and you need tools that work while you’re not on-site.
The right tech does double duty: guests get the modern stay they’re looking for, and you get fewer problems to manage remotely. Most of these gadgets pay back their investment within months through time savings, fewer guest complaints, and stronger reviews.
TL;DR: The 6 must-have gadgets for Airbnb hosts
- Smart locks: Self check-in + security (no key handoffs, time-limited codes)
- Wireless chargers: Universal device charging for international guests
- Digital guides: Fewer repetitive questions, better local recommendations
- In-home entertainment: Streaming access + HDMI for personal devices
- Noise detector: Party prevention, neighbor relations, privacy-compliant monitoring
- Property management tools: Automation + multi-channel ops with Guesty
Smart locks
Safety first. Smart locks make guests feel secure and eliminate the logistics headache of physical keys. No more coordinating key handoffs, worrying about copies floating around, or racing across town for a late check-in.
Best for: Hosts who want self check-in and zero key exchanges
Key benefits:
- No lost or copied keys
- Time-limited codes for guests and cleaners
- Activity logs showing who accessed the property and when
- Remote access management from anywhere
With smart locks, grant guests temporary access that expires at checkout, then generate fresh codes for your cleaning crew. Pair with Guesty Locks Manager to auto-generate and manage codes directly from your reservations—every booking gets its own unique, trackable code without manual work.
Wireless chargers
International guests arrive with different plug types. Domestic guests forget their cables. Either way, you’ll field fewer “where can I charge my phone?” messages if you put wireless chargers where guests actually need them.
Place at least one wireless charger on each bedside table or in the living room. Any Qi-compatible pad or stand works — choose models that handle two or three devices at once for couples or families. Cut out the tangled cables and adapter confusion, and give guests one less thing to think about.
Budget options start around $15; multi-device stations run $30–50. IKEA’s Nordmärke Triple is a solid choice if you want something that blends with modern décor, but any reputable brand will do the job.
Digital guidebooks
You probably already have a welcome pack with brochures about local spots, transportation, and house rules. Make it digital so guests can pull it up on their phones without hunting for a printed binder.
What to include in your digital guidebook:
- Wi-Fi password and access codes
- House rules and check-out instructions
- How-to guides for appliances (coffee maker, thermostat, TV)
- Local recommendations and maps
Going digital cuts printing costs, eliminates outdated information, and means guests can reference everything from bed at 11pm instead of digging through a drawer. Platforms like Yourwelcome let you customize a tablet-based guide, or you can build a simple mobile-friendly page yourself.
Guesty’s Guest App includes built-in guidebook support, so guests access house manuals and local recommendations right from their check-in link—no third-party tools needed.
[See our complete guide to creating a digital guest guidebook.]
In-home entertainment
After a day of exploring, guests want to unwind. Give them options.
The essentials:
- Smart TV or TV + streaming stick (Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku)
- At least one spare HDMI cable for laptops
- Clear instructions for how to use the setup
Account security tip: If you allow logins to your streaming accounts, enable guest profiles or sign out after each stay. Better yet, some hosts create a dedicated Netflix profile labeled “Guest” to avoid awkward watch-history situations.
Got an empty wall? A projector turns movie night into an experience worth mentioning in reviews. Chromecast and similar devices cost under $30 and turn any TV into a streaming hub for Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify.
Noise detector
You want guests to feel at home—but not so at home that the neighbors call with complaints. Noise monitors track decibel levels in real time and alert you before a small gathering becomes a full-scale party.
Important: Choose devices that monitor decibel levels only—no audio recordings. Always disclose noise monitors in your listing description and house rules. Example language: “This home uses a privacy-safe noise sensor to help prevent parties and protect neighbors.”
NoiseAware and similar devices place sensors in common areas and generate alerts only when noise exceeds your threshold. You get early warning to address issues before they escalate, and guests get clear expectations from the start.
Property management tools
Managing listings, calendars, messages, and cleaning schedules across multiple platforms eats hours. Property management software centralizes operations so you’re not switching between Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com tabs all day.
With Guesty, you can:
- Automate messages with scheduled check-in instructions, mid-stay check-ins, and review requests using Guesty’s Automation tools
- Sync calendars across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and more with Channel Manager—one update pushes everywhere
- Assign tasks to cleaners and maintenance based on reservations with Task Management
Run your business from your phone or computer. Let the software handle the repetitive work while you focus on the decisions that actually grow revenue.
How to prioritize your gadget purchases
Not every host needs everything at once. Here’s how to think about the order:
Start with (core operations): Smart locks + property management tools. These solve your biggest time drains and unlock remote management from day one.
Add next (risk + guest experience): Noise detector + digital guidebook. Protect your property and reduce repetitive questions.
Then upgrade (delight factor): Wireless chargers + premium entertainment. These are the touches that land in five-star reviews.
The bottom line
Think of these gadgets as parts of one system: smart locks and noise monitors keep your property secure, digital guides and entertainment keep guests happy, and Guesty connects it all — automating communication, access, and tasks so your tech actually works together.
The investment pays off in fewer headaches, better reviews, and hours back in your week.
Frequently asked questions
The six essential gadgets for Airbnb hosts are: smart locks for self check-in, wireless chargers for guest convenience, digital guidebooks to reduce questions, streaming entertainment (Chromecast or smart TV), noise detectors for party prevention, and property management software to automate operations.
Yes. Smart locks eliminate key handoffs, reduce lockout calls, and let you grant time-limited access to guests and cleaners remotely. Most hosts recover the $150–300 investment within a few months through time savings alone.
Yes. Airbnb requires hosts to disclose any monitoring devices in the listing description and house rules. Use privacy-compliant devices that track decibel levels only—no audio recording—and include clear language like “This home uses a privacy-safe noise sensor.”
Include: Wi-Fi password and door codes, house rules and check-out instructions, how-to guides for appliances, and local recommendations for restaurants, groceries, and transportation. Digital guides reduce guest questions and eliminate printing costs.
Property management software like Guesty automates guest messaging, syncs calendars across booking platforms, and assigns cleaning tasks based on reservations. Hosts save hours per week on manual work and reduce double-booking risk.
Guesty’s talented marketing team is comprised of passionate professionals who share insightful industry knowledge and shape brand narratives. By bringing a diverse blend of expertise to the table, we are the visionary architects behind the Guesty brand and innovative campaigns that help people understand our product.
