Autohost vs Chekin (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Chekin grades higher than Autohost: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Chekin grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Autohost
Guest ID verification and fraud screening for rentals and hotels
Chekin
Online guest check-in, ID checks and legal reporting for rentals
Which one is for you
Pick Autohost if
- Fits if you want guest ID and fraud checks tied to your bookings
- Works for software partners who add checks through the API
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the pricing page is written for partners, and platform plans are sold through sales
- Pricey if you screen many guests, as checks bill per use
- Watch out: a US criminal check is $5 and credit history $20 on the self-serve route
- Skip it if you want a full property system, as it covers screening only
- Not for you if you want a free plan, as only $5 of credit is listed
Pick Chekin if
- Fits if you must report guests to local authorities
- Works for managers who want ID checks and digital keys together
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: prices are in euros and the page does not say if they are monthly or annual
- Watch out: minimums of 3 units apply to some tiers and 20 to others
- Pricey if you take deposits, as they cost 1.5% + 0.30 euros and damage protection from $2.50 a booking
- Watch out: legal reporting covers only the listed countries
- Watch out: call, WhatsApp and SMS carry channel fees
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAAutohostFair | 2.4GPAChekinFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPer-use prices run $0.12 to $1.25 for ID steps and $2.15 to $7.25 for criminal checks by volume, with no monthly rate to compare against the category. | BFrom 3.95 euros a property, under 60% of the category's $10 cheaper quarter, but the page does not say if that is monthly or annual and some tiers carry minimums. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe self-serve route starts with $5 of free credit, then pay as you go. There is no free plan. | CA free trial is offered, but its length is not stated and there is no free plan. |
| Features | CID verification, fraud screening, watchlist and background checks, touchless verification and an API. It does that one job fully, but it is a narrower job than a property system. | COnline check-in, legal reporting, ID verification, digital keys, payments and a guidebook. Legal reporting covers only the countries listed. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and the SDK or partner setup needs connecting. | CNo store rating on record, and properties and local legal rules must be set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb with an API, SDKs and a hosted portal, and links to Enso Connect, Breezeway and OwnerRez. | BWeb only on record, with Airbnb, Beds24, Hostfully, Smoobu, Lodgify, Hospitable, Nuki and Guesty. |
| Best for | screening guests before they arrive | legal guest check-in in Europe |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Autohost and Chekin. How we grade
Where they differ
- Autohost also covers forms.
- Chekin also covers shared inbox and invoicing.
At a glance
| Autohost | Chekin | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | €3.95 per property / month, from |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | $5 in free credit on the self-serve option, then pay as you go | Free trial offered; its length is not stated on the pricing page. |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Autohost | Chekin |
| Price read from | autohost.ai | chekin.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Autohost
- Per-verification prices vary by volume: $0.12 to $0.65 for touchless or ID collection, $0.35 to $1.25 for ID verification, $2.15 to $7.25 for criminal screening.
- The pricing page is written for partners and applies to SDK implementation; platform plans are sold through sales.
- Self-serve checks, from its Checktiv product, are listed at $0.75 for ID, $1 for watchlist, $5 for a US criminal check and $20 for credit history.
- Checks bill per use, so costs track the number of guests screened.
Chekin
- Prices are in euros; the page does not make clear whether the figures shown are monthly or annual rates.
- A minimum subscription of 3 units applies to some tiers and 20 units to others, per the page.
- Transaction fees apply: deposits 1.5% + €0.30, and damage protection from $2.50 per booking.
- Legal reporting covers only the countries the page lists; call, WhatsApp and SMS carry channel fees.
Key features
Autohost
- ID verification
- Guests photograph a government ID, with options for selfie matching, liveness detection and forensic document checks.
- Fraud detection and Screening AI
- Device fingerprinting, email and phone validation and an AI screening agent assess the risk of each booking.
- Background and watchlist checks
- Higher tiers add sex offender registry, criminal background, eviction history, global watchlist and adverse media checks, with optional credit history.
- Touchless verification
- A lighter option that collects data from the booking source in the background, without asking the guest to do anything.
- API, SDKs and hosted portal
- Verification can be embedded with web and mobile SDKs, an iFrame guest portal or the API, and the docs list an MCP server.
- Network effect data
- Checks are weighed against Autohost's reputation and watchlist databases, and data feeds are offered as an extra.
Chekin
- Online check-in
- Guests fill in their details and documents before arrival, with OCR scanning of IDs and custom communications.
- Legal compliance
- Guest data is sent to authorities where integrations exist; the page lists Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, with France, Germany and UAE coming.
- Identity verification
- Biometric ID matching is a premium feature, included in full on the Enterprise plan.
- Self check-in and digital keys
- Remote property access through keyless integrations, offered as a premium feature and shown on the integrations page.
- Payments and damage protection
- Deposits, tourist taxes, upsells and damage protection plans are handled in one place, with transaction fees listed on the page.
- Unified inbox and guidebooks
- A guest inbox with AI replies, plus digital guidebooks and a white-label guest app on the premium tiers.
Plans
Autohost
Self-serve & SDK$0
Free to start with $5 in credit, then pay as you go per check. No contract or minimums; this is the Checktiv self-serve product.
LaunchCustom
For platforms starting with verification. Usage-based pricing plus a platform fee, sold through sales.
GrowthCustom
For growing platforms. Usage-based pricing plus a platform fee, adds fraud detection pro, data verification and Screening AI.
Scale (Enterprise)Custom
For large platforms with high volume and custom needs. Volume discounts, a dedicated customer success manager, and custom or waived implementation fees.
Chekin
Basic€3.95
per property / month, from; monthly or annual basis unclear
Online check-in, legal compliance, iCals, deposits and damage protection, tourist taxes, payments, upsells and unified inbox.
Premium€5.95
per property / month, from; monthly or annual basis unclear
Basic plus one premium feature of your choice: identity verification, self check-in, branded app, guidebooks or e-invoicing.
Enterprise€7.95
per property / month, from; monthly or annual basis unclear
Basic plus all premium features; the pricing page also offers custom plans.
Ways to pay less
Autohost
No public discounts listed.
Chekin
- Other savings
Annual billing saves up to 20%
The pricing page offers an Annual option that it says saves up to 20% compared with monthly billing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Autohost or Chekin?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Autohost publishes no starting price, and Chekin starts at €3.95 per property / month, from.
Which has a free plan, Autohost or Chekin?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Autohost nor Chekin has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.