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Is AirDNA free? What the free tier actually includes

AirDNA has a permanent free tier, but the numbers that matter sit behind Research at $34/month. What free actually gets you, whether there’s a trial, and the genuinely free alternatives.

The short version

Yes and no. AirDNA’s free tier is permanent and useful for a first look — market grades and headline Rentalizer numbers — but comp sets, historical data, and unlimited searches sit behind Research ($34/month billed annually). There is no meaningful free trial of the paid tiers. For a free comp-based revenue estimate on any address, use the VaultSTR calculator.

By the VaultSTR editors · Last updated September 26, 2026

AirDNA has a permanent free tier, but the numbers that matter sit behind Research at $34/month. What free actually gets you, whether there’s a trial, and the genuinely free alternatives.

01

The short answer

AirDNA is free the way a museum lobby is free: you can walk in, get a feel for the place, and see enough to know whether the ticket is worth it. The permanent free tier shows market-level grades and a headline Rentalizer estimate for an address. The moment you need what underwriting actually requires — the comp set behind the number, historical performance, seasonality, unlimited lookups — you are on the Research plan at $34/month billed annually ($125 month-to-month; the billing gap is covered in our AirDNA pricing breakdown).

There is no meaningful time-limited free trial of the paid tiers as of late 2026 — the free tier itself is the trial. Confirm current terms on AirDNA’s site before deciding; vendors change trial policy without notice.

02

What the free tier includes — and withholds

CapabilityFree tierResearch ($34/mo annual)
Market grades and overviewYesYes
Rentalizer headline estimateLimited lookupsFull, unlimited
Comp set behind the estimateNoYes
Historical + seasonality dataNoYes
Exports and saved marketsNoYes
The free tier answers "is this market interesting?" It does not answer "should my client wire money?" — that question needs the comp set, and the comp set is paid.

03

The genuinely free alternatives

If the goal is a defensible first number rather than an AirDNA subscription, three free routes exist. The VaultSTR revenue calculator returns projected revenue, ADR, and occupancy for any U.S. address from comparable-listing performance — no account, no lookup caps. Rabbu’s calculator offers limited free lookups with a lender-flavored output (full comparison: AirDNA vs Rabbu). And a manual comp set — five to ten true comparables pulled by hand — remains the gold standard before an offer, free except for your hour. The full landscape, paid tools included, is in our guide to AirDNA alternatives.

04

When paying for AirDNA is the right call

An agent comparing multiple markets for investor clients, more than a couple of times a year, gets real value from Research — unlimited Rentalizer with comps, market history, and the credibility of showing clients the data behind a recommendation. Our full AirDNA review covers where it earns the subscription and where it breaks down, and the Rentalizer accuracy analysis explains the 60–75% haircut to apply to any instant estimate, free or paid.

05

Bottom line

Free AirDNA is a preview, not a tool. Use it to shortlist markets, use the free VaultSTR calculator for address-level numbers without a paywall, and pay for Research only when your deal volume justifies unlimited comps — on annual billing, never month-to-month.

06

AirDNA free tier FAQ

Does AirDNA have a free trial?
Not a meaningful one as of late 2026 — the permanent free tier serves as the trial, and paid features unlock only with a subscription. Check AirDNA’s current terms before purchase; trial policies change.
Is the Rentalizer free?
Partially: free users get limited lookups with headline numbers only. The comp set, seasonality, and unlimited searches require Research. Our Rentalizer accuracy breakdown covers how far to trust the number either way.
What’s the best free AirDNA alternative?
For address-level revenue estimates, the free VaultSTR Airbnb revenue calculator — comp-based, unlimited, no account. For the broader market, see AirDNA alternatives.
How much is AirDNA if I do pay?
Research is $34/month billed annually ($400/year) or $125 month-to-month — a 3.7x gap that makes annual the only sensible billing for regular use. Full plan-by-plan math in the pricing guide.

The AirDNA files: AirDNA review · AirDNA pricing · Rentalizer accuracy · How to use AirDNA · AirDNA alternatives · AirDNA vs Rabbu · AirDNA vs Mashvisor · AirDNA vs PriceLabs · AirDNA vs AllTheRooms

Related research
AirDNA pricing in 2026: every plan, and which one your clients actually needResearch at $34/month annual is the agent plan. Pay annual — monthly runs 3.7x.The best AirDNA alternatives in 2026 — and when AirDNA is still the right callFour specialists beat AirDNA at one job each. None replaces it for market research.How to use AirDNA without fooling yourselfAirDNA is a shortlisting tool, not an underwriting tool. The workflow that works: grade the market, pull the Rentalizer with its comp set, haircut the estimate to 60–75% for year one, then move the number into a real pro forma. Fifteen minutes, in that order.