I stopped using Airbnb when I realized that most of the units I was booking were just hotels and guesthouses, and I could get a huge discount by just booking via their own website. Especially if you are visiting a tourist town or a big city, Airbnb is generally a waste of money.

My experience has been the opposite - renting whole apartments in Copenhagen, Madrid, and London for less that I would otherwise pay.

It likely varies depending upon the market.