Aioby vs Urban Company: Direct, Commission-Free Local Services
Urban Company is a managed, on-demand booking platform for home services — salon, cleaning, repairs and more — where the platform assigns a professional and handles pricing and payment. Aioby is a free local marketplace where an existing service business gets its own page and deals with the customer directly, keeping the full relationship and the full price.
Last updated: 23 September 2026.
At a Glance
| Urban Company | Aioby | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A vetted professional, booked and managed in-app, with no research needed | An existing local service business building a free, direct, repeat presence |
| Who provides the service | A professional assigned by the platform | The business you choose and contact yourself |
| Booking model | In-app booking, platform-managed scheduling and payment | Direct contact — WhatsApp, call or message — you agree the time and price together |
| Commission on a job | Yes — the platform takes a fee from the professional | None — Aioby does not currently charge a commission |
| Relationship with the customer | Owned largely by the platform | Direct — the customer can follow, message and rebook you next time |
| Free to list | Not applicable — professionals join the platform, they don’t "list" | Yes, unlimited listings |
Where Each Is Stronger
Urban Company — a real, managed marketplace: trained and vetted professionals, standardised pricing, in-app booking and a service guarantee. For a customer who wants a hassle-free booking with zero research, that is a genuine strength. The trade-off for the professional or business is that the platform controls pricing and job assignment, and takes a fee from every completed job.
Aioby — a service business that already has its own reputation gets a free page, keeps everything it charges, and builds a direct, repeat relationship — the same customer can follow the business and come back next time without going through a platform again. The honest trade-off is that Aioby does not vet professionals or manage bookings the way Urban Company does; you are dealing with the business directly, the same as calling a shop you already trust.
Who Should Use What
| If you are… | Start with | Then add |
|---|---|---|
| An independent service business with existing customers or reviews | Aioby — free page, direct relationship, no commission | Urban Company too, if you want its managed bookings as an extra channel |
| A customer who wants a vetted professional with no research | Urban Company | — |
| A customer who already trusts a specific local business | Aioby — message or call them directly | — |
What Aioby Costs
A service listing is free, with no commission on the job. Optional extras: Growth at ₹29 a month (₹249 a year), Growth Plus at ₹79 a month (₹599 a year), Featured Boosts from ₹5, and ad campaigns from ₹9 — all launch prices, and nothing is pre-ticked or required. See Aioby pricing for the current numbers.
Urban Company’s professionals typically pay the platform a fee on completed jobs, and pricing is standardised by the platform rather than set by the business — policies vary and change over time, so check Urban Company’s own current terms before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Aioby manage bookings the way Urban Company does?
No — you contact the business directly and agree the time and price yourselves. Aioby does not assign professionals or manage the job.
Does Aioby take a commission on a service job?
No. Aioby does not currently charge a commission — you keep what you charge.
Can a service business use both Aioby and Urban Company?
Yes — they are not exclusive. Some businesses use Urban Company for extra managed bookings and Aioby for their own free, direct presence.
How is pricing decided?
On Urban Company, pricing is standardised by the platform. On Aioby, you set and agree your own price directly with the customer, and can list a price range on your listing.
What kind of services can I list on Aioby?
Salon, cleaning, repairs, tutoring and any other local service — free, with no limit on listings.
Which is better for a first-time customer with no known provider?
Whichever gives more comfort — Urban Company’s vetting and guarantee, or an Aioby business with real reviews and a following you can check yourself.
Explore more: browse services on Aioby, offering services on Aioby with zero commission, or create your free business page now.