Airbnb Plus was discontinued in 2021 and is no longer available
Airbnb Plus was a tier of verified, higher-end listings that Airbnb launched in 2018. The company shut down the program in March 2021 without replacing it with an equivalent service. If you were looking for Plus listings or wondering whether your property qualifies, the answer is that the tier no longer exists and Airbnb has not brought it back.
The discontinuation happened quietly during the pandemic, when Airbnb was restructuring its business. The company did not announce a sunset date in advance — hosts and guests straightforward found the Plus designation removed from the platform over the course of a few weeks. Airbnb has not publicly stated plans to revive it.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb Plus ended in March 2021 and has not returned as of now.
- Listings that were Plus properties are still on Airbnb but no longer carry that badge or the verification that came with it.
- Hosts who want to stand out now rely on Airbnb's standard review system, professional photography, and accurate descriptions instead of a formal tier.
- Guests looking for high-quality, vetted properties can filter by review score, host response rate, and amenities, but there is no single "Plus" badge to identify them.
What Airbnb Plus was before it ended
Airbnb Plus listings went through a vetting process that included an in-person inspection by an Airbnb employee or contractor. The company checked the property for cleanliness, working appliances, accurate photos, and compliance with house rules. Hosts paid a higher commission to Airbnb in exchange for the badge and the visibility it brought.
The Plus tier was meant to sit between standard Airbnb listings and Airbnb Luxe, which is still active and caters to ultra-high-end properties. Plus was the middle ground — nicer than average, but not resort-level. It appealed to hosts who wanted to signal quality without the price tag of Luxe.
Guests could filter for Plus listings and knew they were getting a property that had passed a formal inspection. The badge was visible on the listing page and in search results, making it straightforward to spot vetted properties at a glance.
Why Airbnb discontinued Plus
Airbnb has never officially detailed the reasons for shutting down Plus, but the timing and business context offer clues. The company was facing pressure to cut costs during the pandemic, and maintaining a team of inspectors for thousands of properties was expensive. The in-person inspection model also became logistically difficult when travel restrictions were in place.
Additionally, Airbnb's review system had matured. After years of operation, the platform had enough guest reviews and host ratings to identify quality properties without a separate verification layer. A listing with hundreds of five-star reviews and a responsive host often signaled quality just as clearly as a Plus badge did.
The company may have also found that the Plus tier was not driving enough incremental revenue to justify the operational cost. Hosts were not consistently willing to pay the higher commission, and guests were not consistently seeking out the badge if other filters worked.
How to find high-quality listings now
Without Plus, you can still identify well-maintained properties by using Airbnb's built-in filters. Look for listings with a review score of 4.8 or higher, a host response rate above 95 percent, and a host who has been on the platform for several years. These signals often correlate with the quality that Plus listings once promised.
Read recent reviews carefully — they tell you whether guests had the experience the listing description promised. Pay attention to reviews from the last month or two, since they reflect current conditions. If multiple recent guests mention cleanliness, working appliances, or accurate photos, that is a stronger signal than an old badge would be.
Check the host's other listings if they have them. A host who maintains multiple properties to a high standard is likely to maintain this one the same way. Look at the listing photos for consistency and clarity — professional photos often indicate a host who takes the property seriously.
Airbnb Luxe is still available for high-end properties
Airbnb Luxe is the tier that remains active for premium properties. It caters to luxury vacation rentals, typically priced well above standard listings, and includes concierge service and a dedicated support line. If you are looking for the highest level of Airbnb's verified offerings, Luxe is the only branded tier that still exists.
Luxe properties are inspected and curated by Airbnb, similar to how Plus worked, but the bar is much higher. Properties must meet strict standards for design, amenities, and service. The commission Airbnb takes is higher, and hosts typically charge premium nightly rates to offset it.
For most travelers, Luxe is overkill — the price difference does not always justify the extra cost. Standard listings with strong reviews often deliver the same comfort and cleanliness at a fraction of the price.
What happened to hosts who had Plus listings
When Airbnb discontinued Plus, hosts lost the badge but kept their listings. Properties that were Plus-verified did not get deleted or demoted. Instead, they straightforward became standard listings, and the verification status disappeared from their profiles.
Hosts who had been paying the higher Plus commission were no longer charged it. However, they also lost the visibility boost that the badge provided. Some hosts reported a drop in bookings after the Plus tier ended, though this was not universal — hosts with strong review histories and professional photos often maintained their booking rates.
Airbnb did not offer compensation or a transition period. The change was abrupt, and hosts had to adjust their pricing and marketing strategies to compete without the Plus label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still book Airbnb Plus listings?
No. The Plus tier no longer exists, so you cannot filter for or book Plus listings. Properties that were once Plus are now standard listings on Airbnb. You can still find high-quality properties by filtering for review score, response rate, and amenities.
Will Airbnb bring back Plus?
Airbnb has not announced any plans to revive Plus. The company has been operating without it for over three years, and there is no indication it intends to reintroduce the tier. If you need a verified, inspected property, Airbnb Luxe is the only branded tier that offers that level of curation.
Is Airbnb Luxe the same as Plus was?
No. Luxe is a much higher tier aimed at ultra-premium properties. It is more expensive, more selective, and includes concierge service. Plus was the middle tier — nicer than standard but not luxury-level. There is no direct replacement for Plus on Airbnb.
How do I know if an old Plus property is still good quality?
Check the listing's review score, read recent guest reviews, and look at the photos. A property that was Plus-verified in the past may still be well-maintained, but the badge is gone. Recent reviews are your best indicator of current quality.
Do hosts still pay extra for verification?
Not through a Plus program. Hosts pay Airbnb's standard commission, which varies by region. Some hosts hire professional photographers or use other marketing tactics to stand out, but there is no official tier they can pay into for verification the way Plus worked.