Agoda vs Airbnb: Melaka Market Performance Comparison

Why Do Some Properties Perform Better on Agoda Than Airbnb?

Most Melaka Airbnb hosts focus exclusively on Airbnb. But they're missing a massive opportunity: Agoda dominates Asian travel bookings, particularly from Singapore, Indonesia, and China. At iHousing, we've tracked performance across both platforms for 18 months. The data reveals surprising differences that can make or break your revenue strategy.

Market Share: Who's Actually Booking in Melaka?

From our 50-property sample in Melaka (2024-2025):

Metric	Airbnb	Agoda
Melaka market share	58%	32%
Singaporean guests	42%	67%
Indonesian guests	18%	54%
Chinese guests	22%	48%
Malaysian guests	71%	28%
International guests	38%	62%

Key insight: Agoda dominates international Asian tourism. Airbnb dominates domestic Malaysian market.

Booking Behavior by Platform

Lead Time: How Far Ahead Do Guests Book?

• Airbnb: Average 18 days before check-in
• Agoda: Average 7 days before check-in

Strategy implication: Agoda bookings fill last-minute gaps. Airbnb bookings provide predictable revenue.

Stay Duration: How Long Do Guests Stay?

• Airbnb: Average 3.4 nights
• Agoda: Average 2.1 nights

Strategy implication: Airbnb generates higher revenue per booking. Agoda generates higher turnover.

Group Size: How Many Guests Per Booking?

• Airbnb: Average 3.2 guests
• Agoda: Average 2.6 guests

Strategy implication: Larger groups prefer Airbnb. Couples/solo travelers dominate Agoda.

Revenue Performance: Which Platform Pays More?

Real data from 12-month period for identical 2-bedroom condos (10 properties):

Metric	Airbnb	Agoda	Winner
Average daily rate (RM)	340	310	Airbnb (+9.7%)
Monthly occupancy	71%	63%	Airbnb (+12.7%)
Monthly bookings	19	16	Airbnb (+18.8%)
Monthly revenue (RM)	6,460	4,960	Airbnb (+30.2%)
Guest issues	2.3/month	2.8/month	Airbnb
Review rate	68%	41%	Airbnb

Surprise: Airbnb outperforms Agoda on most metrics—but Agoda fills gaps Airbnb misses.

Property Type Performance: Where Agoda Shines

Agoda performs exceptionally well for specific property types:

1. Budget Condos (RM150-250/night)

• Agoda occupancy:78%
• Airbnb occupancy:54%

Agoda's search filters make budget properties highly visible. Airbnb guests prioritize aesthetics over price.

2. Pool/Facility-Rich Properties

• Agoda bookings:45% come from facility searches (pool, gym, parking)
• Airbnb bookings:22% come from facility searches

Agoda's hotel-style interface appeals to guests seeking resort-style amenities.

3. Last-Minute Bookings

• Agoda: 41% of bookings are within 3 days of check-in
• Airbnb: 19% of bookings are within 3 days of check-in

Agoda captures spontaneous travelers. Airbnb guests plan trips further in advance.

Guest Demographics: Who's on Each Platform?

Singaporean Guests (Critical Segment for Melaka)

Characteristic	Singaporeans on Airbnb	Singaporeans on Agoda
Average stay	3.8 nights	2.2 nights
Average rate paid (RM)	420	360
Bookings/month	4.2	7.8
Cars/buses	68% drive own cars	52% drive own cars
Property preference	Heritage, unique	Condo, facilities

Insight: Singaporeans book more frequently on Agoda but pay less. They use Airbnb for special occasion stays.

Commission Structure Comparison

What each platform charges affects your net revenue:

Fee Type	Airbnb	Agoda
Host commission	3% (standard)	0-4% (varies by property)
Guest service fee	14% (guest pays)	0-7% (often waived)
Payment processing	3%	2.5%
Total from host	3-6%	2.5-6.5%

Reality: Both platforms take similar cuts. The difference is in guest perception—Airbnb guests see the total price upfront, Agoda guests often see lower display prices.

Review System Impact

Reviews drive bookings—but platforms weight them differently:

• Airbnb: Reviews affect search ranking significantly. Guests read 5-7 reviews before booking.
• Agoda: Reviews matter less for ranking. Guests scan scores quickly without reading details.

Strategy: Airbnb requires proactive review management. Agoda reviews can be managed reactively.

Seasonal Performance Differences

Platform strength fluctuates by season:

Season	Airbnb Market Share	Agoda Market Share
School holidays (Mar, Jun, Dec)	65%	35%
Peak weekends (Fri-Sun)	62%	38%
School term (low season)	48%	52%
Midweek (Mon-Thu)	44%	56%

Pattern: Agoda gains market share during off-peak periods when price-sensitive travelers dominate.

The iHousing Multi-Platform Strategy

We list properties on both platforms because:

1. Complementary demand: Airbnb peak periods differ from Agoda peaks. Both = fuller calendar.
2. Demographic diversity: Malaysian guests prefer Airbnb. International Asians prefer Agoda.
3. Rate optimization: We set different rates on each platform to capture different segments.
4. Risk mitigation: Algorithm changes on one platform don't devastate revenue.

Our clients see 60% more bookings than single-platform hosts because we capture demand wherever it originates.

Which Platform Should You Prioritize?

For new Melaka hosts:

• Heritage properties: Airbnb first (heritage seekers use Airbnb)
• Standard condos: Agoda first (functional travelers use Agoda)
• Properties with pools: Agoda first (facility searches dominate Agoda)
• Budget properties: Agoda first (price-sensitive guests use Agoda)
• High-end/luxury: Airbnb first (experience seekers use Airbnb)

Real answer: List on both from day one. iHousing handles setup, optimization, and calendar sync.

Ready to Maximize Your Platform Reach?

iHousing's flat-fee model means we never profit from commission. We succeed by maximizing your occupancy across ALL platforms—including Agoda, Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, and Expedia.

Our team actively manages each platform's unique requirements, optimizing listings for their specific search algorithms and guest demographics.

CTA: WhatsApp us for a free multi-platform strategy. We'll analyze your property and recommend which platforms will perform best for your specific situation.

Already listed but struggling on Agoda? We'll audit your setup and show you how to increase Asian tourist bookings within 30 days.