CouchSurfing

• Connect directly with owner
• Inexpensive bookings
• Guest reviews for each host's profile

CouchSurfing has hosts across the United States and throughout the world in more than 120,000 cities. Travelers can send a message to hosts through the CouchSurfing website. There is also a "Send CouchRequest" button on each host's profile, so guests can request specific dates and converse with the host. There are currently over 5 million hosts listed on CouchSurfing. Reservations are made with each individual host. Guests can choose to send a message to their desired host to get to know them better before booking, or they can push the "Send CouchRequest" button to reserve a host's home during specific dates. Other benefits of CouchSurfing include:

• Locals - CouchSurfing is a great way to get in touch with locals when traveling. Travelers can get a unique view of the culture, language, and environment by staying with people who live there.
• Low Cost - Travelers can find places to stay in unfamiliar countries for free. There is a $25 fee to become a member of CouchSurfing, but that cost is minimal compared to the price associated with other vacation rental services.
• Community - CouchSurfing allows members to be a part of a local and international community. There are usually weekly events for local members. Members are also given the opportunity to meet with international travelers as a host or a guest.

Guest reviews are available on each host's profile. Both positive and negative reviews are welcome, giving members an honest picture of hosts and their homes. Hosts also have the ability to respond to reviews, so they can explain issues that may have been raised in negative reviews or simply thank guests for their positive reviews. CouchSurfing has a mobile app available for iPhone and Android. The host profiles are very easy to browse and it also comes with a chat feature so users can talk with members of their community no matter where they are. They also have a mobile website very similar to their desktop site that can be easily viewed on all mobile devices.

• Additional fees
• Lacking features
• No refund or cancellation policy

There is a $25 fee to be a CouchSurfing member. While this price is not outrageous, it is inconvenient for those who would like to see their travel options before making a monetary commitment. Beside the initial membership cost, staying at host's homes is free. Other disadvantages include:

• Search Listings - There is no search feature on the homepage of the site. CouchSurfing does not allow travelers to search listings before creating an account.
• Safety - As with any social network, there is the potential to meet good and bad people. CouchSurfing holds a little bit more risk as the person is either staying in your home or you're staying in their home. It's important to communicate with your host or guest before starting an offline relationship. CouchSurfing has additional tips on their site to keep both hosts and guests safe while engaging in relationships through CouchSurfing.
• Photos - It is not required for hosts to upload photos of their home, so travelers have to trust that the descriptions and hosts are truthful about their accommodations. 
• Navigation - CouchSurfing's site is difficult to navigate and the user interface is not very intuitive.

Additionally, there is no refund or cancellation policy. Since there is just a membership fee and guests are not charged to stay in host's homes, travelers have no need for refunds.