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# Best tour booking software: compare pricing, features and fit

Bibim BanezSeptember 24, 202612 min read

Compare eleven tour booking platforms: a full-cost checklist, published pricing, an example month, a shortlist by booking mix and six demo tests.

[Ask ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/?q=Tell%20me%20about%3A%20Best%20tour%20booking%20software%3A%20compare%20pricing%2C%20features%20and%20fit) [Ask Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/search?q=Tell%20me%20about%3A%20Best%20tour%20booking%20software%3A%20compare%20pricing%2C%20features%20and%20fit) [Ask Claude](https://claude.ai/new?q=Tell%20me%20about%3A%20Best%20tour%20booking%20software%3A%20compare%20pricing%2C%20features%20and%20fit) [Ask Gemini](https://gemini.google.com/app?q=Tell%20me%20about%3A%20Best%20tour%20booking%20software%3A%20compare%20pricing%2C%20features%20and%20fit) [Ask Grok](https://x.com/i/grok?text=Tell%20me%20about%3A%20Best%20tour%20booking%20software%3A%20compare%20pricing%2C%20features%20and%20fit)

The best tour booking software depends on how you sell. A flat monthly subscription can suit steady direct bookings. A percentage-based fee can suit seasonal demand. If marketplaces and resellers drive your sales, connection fees and channel support matter just as much.

This guide compares eleven platforms and gives you practical tests to run before choosing. Start with your booking mix, calculate a full year of costs, then ask each vendor to demonstrate your hardest everyday tasks.

**Disclosure:** We make TicketingHub, one of the platforms in this guide. We’ve included alternatives that may cost less for your business.

## Compare the full cost—not just the headline fee

Tour booking software generally combines some of these charges:

- A monthly or annual subscription.
- A percentage of each booking.
- Payment processing.
- Setup, migration or optional services.
- Marketplace or reseller connection fees.
- Fees added to your guests’ checkout.

A marketplace connection fee is separate from the commission charged by a marketplace such as Viator or GetYourGuide.

Also distinguish **what your business pays** from **what your guest pays**. Passing a fee to guests reduces your direct software expense, but increases their checkout price.

### What a percentage fee looks like

For 100 direct bookings at $80 each, your base booking revenue is $8,000.

| Booking fee | Fee on $8,000 | Added to an $80 ticket if passed to guests |
| - | - | - |
| 3% | $240 | $2.40 |
| 6% | $480 | $4.80 |

These examples exclude payment processing, taxes, subscriptions and other charges. They illustrate the fee percentages, rather than the complete cost of a particular platform.

Compare costs over a full year, including quiet months. A subscription continues when bookings slow; a percentage fee grows as sales increase.

## Published pricing compared

**Pricing checked in October 2026.** The figures below come from vendor pricing pages where published. FareHarbor and Peek Pro don’t publish a rate card; their **6% customer-paid booking fee** is the rate operators typically see, so confirm it in your quote. Dollar and euro symbols follow the vendors’ pages.

| Platform | Subscription and setup | Booking fees and other charges |
| - | - | - |
| Bókun | Paid booking plans: $49 / $149 / $499 a month | 1.5% / 1.25% / 1% on applicable bookings. No Bókun booking fee on Viator or offline bookings under these plans. |
| Bookeo | Standard plan: US$39.95 a month, up to 1,000 bookings a month | No commission on payments. Payment-gateway charges apply separately. Digital waivers and SMS cost extra. |
| CaptainBook | Starter / Extended / Ultra: €49 / €199 / €349 a month | 0% direct booking fees. Selected marketplace connections list €14.99 per product per month; other marketplace channels cost 3.5% / 3% / 2.5% by plan. |
| Checkfront | $99 a month (as widely listed) | 3% online booking fee. Listings differ since Checkfront joined the Rezdy group, so confirm current plans and fees. |
| FareHarbor | Confirm subscription, setup and other charges in your quote | Typically 6%, paid by the end customer; not published, so confirm it in your quote. |
| Peek Pro | Confirm subscription, setup and other charges in your quote | Typically 6%, paid by the end customer; not published, so confirm it in your quote. |
| Rezdy | Foundation / Accelerate / Expansion: $49 / $99 / $249 a month | 3% per online booking. Offline or agent bookings cost $1 / $0.85 / $0.70 by plan. |
| TicketingHub | No monthly or setup fee | 3% per successful online, OTA or card-paid in-person booking. Cash sales are free. Operators can absorb the booking fee or pass it to guests. Payment processing is separate. |
| TrekkSoft | Starter / Accelerate / Ultimate: €49 / €149 / €249 a month, billed annually, plus a €799 one-off setup fee | 3% / 2.5% / 2% on direct online bookings. Offline bookings cost €1.50 / €1 / €0.50 each. Payment processing is 2.5% + €0.25 for European operators. |
| TripWorks | Platform plan: $0 a month; Enterprise pricing is custom | 6% booking fee, plus credit card transaction fees. Operators can absorb the fee or pass it to guests. |
| Xola | No subscription | Advertises US card rates of 2.39% + $0.30, plus a customer-paid partner fee. Request the partner-fee amount and terms. |

Sources: [Bókun](https://www.bokun.io/pricing), [Bookeo](https://www.bookeo.com/tours/pricing/), [CaptainBook](https://www.captainbook.io/pricing), [Checkfront](https://www.checkfront.com/pricing/), [Rezdy](https://rezdy.com/pricing/), [TicketingHub](https://www.ticketinghub.com/en-US/pricing), [TrekkSoft](https://www.trekksoft.com/en/pricing), [TripWorks](https://www.tripworks.com/pricing) and [Xola](https://www.xola.com/pricing/).

### What an example month could cost

Using the same 100 direct bookings at $80 ($8,000), here is what each platform’s stated fees add up to. The figures exclude payment processing, taxes, marketplace commissions and optional services. Dollar subscription calculations assume USD terms apply; euro amounts stay in euros without conversion.

| Platform and plan | Illustrated charge | Calculation and fee payer |
| - | - | - |
| Bookeo Standard | US$39.95 | Monthly subscription, within the 1,000-booking allowance. |
| CaptainBook Starter | €49 | Subscription only for this direct-booking example; no marketplace connections included. |
| Bókun Start | $169 | $49 subscription + $120 booking fees. |
| TicketingHub | $240 | 3% of $8,000, absorbed by the operator or passed to guests. |
| TrekkSoft Starter | €49 + $240 | Subscription + 3% of $8,000, plus the €799 setup fee in the first year. |
| Rezdy Foundation | $289 | $49 subscription + $240 booking fees. |
| Checkfront | $339 | $99 subscription + $240 booking fees, at the widely listed plan. |
| TripWorks | $480 | 6% of $8,000, absorbed by the operator or passed to guests. Card fees are extra. |
| FareHarbor | $480 booking fee | 6% of $8,000 at the typical rate, paid by customers. Other charges remain unconfirmed. |
| Peek Pro | $480 booking fee | 6% of $8,000 at the typical rate, paid by customers. Other charges remain unconfirmed. |

Xola is excluded because its partner fee isn’t published.

The ranking moves with your volume. A 3% fee equals Bookeo’s Standard subscription at about **$1,330 a month** in direct sales, and equals Bókun’s Start plan at about **$3,270 a month**. Below those figures the percentage costs less; above them the subscription does, as long as your sales mix and the plan’s limits stay the same.

## Eleven tour booking platforms to consider

Pricing and contract terms can vary by region, plan and sales channel. Confirm current rates, currency, taxes and who pays each fee in your written quote.

### 1. Bókun

**Worth considering if:** Viator generates a substantial share of your bookings. Bókun’s paid booking plans exempt Viator reservations from Bókun booking fees.

**Check before choosing:** The free plan cannot take online bookings. Include the paid subscription and fees on your other channels when calculating the total.

[View Bókun pricing](https://www.bokun.io/pricing), read [Bókun pricing explained](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/bokun-pricing) or see the [Bókun alternative](https://www.ticketinghub.com/alternatives/bokun).

### 2. Bookeo

**Worth considering if:** Most bookings come through your own website and you prefer a fixed monthly subscription without a percentage booking commission.

**Check before choosing:** Review booking limits, staff allowances and add-on charges. Bookeo has no built-in Viator or GetYourGuide channel manager, so establish how those bookings would reach your calendar.

[View Bookeo pricing](https://www.bookeo.com/tours/pricing/) or see the [Bookeo alternative](https://www.ticketinghub.com/alternatives/bookeo).

### 3. CaptainBook

**Worth considering if:** You prefer a subscription without direct booking commission. CaptainBook markets its software to businesses including food tours, boat tours and cooking classes.

**Check before choosing:** Marketplace connections can add monthly charges per product, while other channels may carry percentage fees. Include those costs and your quiet-season subscription payments.

[View CaptainBook pricing](https://www.captainbook.io/pricing).

### 4. Checkfront

**Worth considering if:** You manage tours alongside rentals or accommodation and want to evaluate a subscription-plus-booking-fee model.

**Check before choosing:** Confirm the plan and applicable online booking fee in your quote. Calculate the subscription and booking charges together at your expected volume.

[View Checkfront pricing](https://www.checkfront.com/pricing/) or see the [Checkfront alternative](https://www.ticketinghub.com/alternatives/checkfront).

### 5. FareHarbor

**Worth considering if:** You want to evaluate its booking tools and are comfortable with guests paying a booking fee.

**Check before choosing:** Request a written breakdown of guest fees, payment processing, marketplace charges and any recurring costs. Review a sample checkout to see the final price your guests would pay.

Read [FareHarbor alternatives](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/fareharbor-alternatives) or the [FareHarbor pricing comparison](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/fareharbor-pricing-comparison).

### 6. Peek Pro

**Worth considering if:** You want to assess booking, resource management and marketing tools together.

**Check before choosing:** Get the guest booking fee, processing rate and other charges in writing. Ask the vendor to demonstrate the features your team would use every day.

Read [Peek Pro vs FareHarbor vs TicketingHub](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/peek-pro-vs-fareharbor-vs-ticketinghub).

### 7. Rezdy

**Worth considering if:** Agents and resellers are important to your sales, or you want reservation software and channel management together.

**Check before choosing:** Confirm which plan supports your required connections and how direct, offline and agent bookings are charged.

**Disclosure:** TicketingHub uses Rezdy’s channel manager to reach some marketplaces.

[View Rezdy pricing](https://rezdy.com/pricing/), read [Rezdy pricing explained](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/rezdy-pricing) or see [Rezdy alternatives](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/rezdy-alternatives).

### 8. TicketingHub

**Worth considering if:** You prefer a percentage-based fee without a fixed monthly subscription, particularly when demand varies through the year.

TicketingHub includes a website booking widget, point of sale, gift vouchers and marketplace connections. Standard published pricing is 3%, with cash sales free. Guests can reschedule through a link, and guides can access departure guest lists in the app or as a CSV. With TicketingHub’s playbooks, an AI assistant such as Claude or ChatGPT can contact guests when a tour is cancelled, flag departures below their minimum and check outstanding deposits. Customers include Secret Food Tours, City Tours Belfast and Sound & Light Egypt.

**Check before choosing:** At high, steady direct booking volume, a subscription may cost less. Compare annual costs using your actual sales mix, and ask us to demonstrate your required marketplace connections, guest rescheduling and a cancelled departure.

[View TicketingHub pricing](https://www.ticketinghub.com/en-US/pricing) or read our [case studies](https://www.ticketinghub.com/case-studies).

### 9. TrekkSoft

**Worth considering if:** You run adventure or multi-day trips in Europe and want to compare subscription plans with different booking fees.

**Check before choosing:** Include annual billing, setup and payment-gateway charges. TrekkSoft’s published pricing includes a one-off €799 setup fee; confirm whether it applies to your quote.

[View TrekkSoft pricing](https://www.trekksoft.com/en/pricing) or see the [TrekkSoft alternative](https://www.ticketinghub.com/alternatives/trekksoft).

### 10. TripWorks

**Worth considering if:** You want a plan without a monthly subscription and are comfortable absorbing a percentage booking fee or passing it to guests.

**Check before choosing:** Compare the published 6% booking fee at your own volume. Card transaction fees are additional, and Enterprise pricing requires a quote.

[View TripWorks pricing](https://www.tripworks.com/pricing).

### 11. Xola

**Worth considering if:** You run adventure or water-sports activities and want to evaluate a subscription-free model.

**Check before choosing:** Separate payment processing from software fees. Xola’s advertised US credit-card rate is not the complete software cost: it also states that customers pay a partner fee. Request that fee in writing and review a sample checkout.

[View Xola pricing](https://www.xola.com/pricing/) or read [TicketingHub vs Xola](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/ticketinghub-vs-xola).

## Build your shortlist around your sales

| Your booking mix | Platforms to include | What to check first |
| - | - | - |
| A substantial share comes from Viator | Bókun | Subscription and fees on other channels |
| Mainly direct sales, steady year-round | Bookeo, CaptainBook | Plan limits and connection charges |
| Seasonal demand or a preference for no monthly subscription | TicketingHub, FareHarbor, Peek Pro, TripWorks, Xola | Annual cost and guest checkout fees |
| Agents and resellers drive sales | Rezdy | Required connections and booking charges |
| Tours alongside rentals or accommodation | Checkfront | Support for your inventory and resources |
| European adventure or multi-day trips | TrekkSoft | Annual commitment, setup and gateway fees |

Use this as a starting point. The right shortlist also depends on how your team manages capacity, changes and guest communication.

## Nine features to check

1. **Mobile booking:** A clear, fast checkout on your own website. See [what a booking widget is](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/what-is-a-booking-widget).
2. **Shared availability:** Website, phone, walk-up and marketplace bookings draw from the same capacity.
3. **Marketplace connections:** The exact Viator, GetYourGuide and reseller connections you need. See [how OTA channel managers work](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/ota-channel-manager-for-tour-operators).
4. **Guest self-service:** Rescheduling and cancellation options within your rules.
5. **Automatic communication:** Confirmations and reminders that reduce manual work.
6. **Guide guest lists:** Names, contact details and booking notes for each departure.
7. **International checkout:** Suitable language and currency options for your guests.
8. **Flexible tickets and pricing:** Ticket types, group rates, promo codes and gift vouchers. See [dynamic ticket pricing](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/dynamic-ticket-pricing).
9. **Useful reporting:** Sales by product, channel and date.

Before booking demos, ask your guides, office staff and owner to agree on five must-haves. Each sees a different part of the operation.

## Six tests to run during a demo

Ask vendors to use one of your real tours.

1. **Book on a phone.** Complete checkout, including payment, and note the final price.
2. **Sell the last place.** Book it through a marketplace and check availability everywhere else.
3. **Reschedule as a guest.** Check the confirmation, capacity change and guide’s guest list.
4. **Cancel a departure.** Include direct and marketplace bookings, then follow the notifications, refunds and rebooking process.
5. **Redeem a gift voucher.** Test a booking that costs more than the voucher balance.
6. **Test support.** Ask a practical question during your operating hours and assess the response.

Also ask how existing bookings, unredeemed vouchers and customer records would move from your current system.

## Signs your current software is holding you back

- Staff copy bookings and guest lists between tools.
- Marketplace reservations require manual entry.
- Availability updates arrive too late to prevent overselling.
- Managing several brands means switching between dashboards.
- Confirmation emails lack the branding or information guests need.
- Rising fees consume more of your margin as bookings grow.

Use these problems as demo scenarios. A useful demonstration shows how your team would handle them.

## Booking software guides by type of business

- [Food tours](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-food-tours)
- [Boat tours](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-boat-tours)
- [Walking tours](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-walking-tours)
- [Escape rooms](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-escape-rooms)
- [Cooking classes](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-cooking-classes)
- [Rage rooms](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/best-booking-software-for-rage-rooms)

## Frequently asked questions

### How much should tour booking software cost?

Compare the complete annual cost at your expected volume: subscriptions, setup, booking fees, processing and guest-paid charges. Check for stacked fees and calculate what remains from each booking after all charges.

### Is a subscription cheaper than a percentage fee?

It depends on sales volume, seasonality and plan limits. A percentage model can suit low or uneven demand. A flat subscription can cost less at high, steady direct volume.

### Is any tour booking software free?

Some platforms charge guests instead of billing the operator for the booking software. That still affects the total price guests pay. Check both the operator’s invoice and the guest’s checkout.

### Can I pass booking fees to guests?

Some platforms offer that option. Confirm how it works, then compare the final guest price as well as your own costs.

### Can I use a general appointment scheduler?

Check whether it supports departure capacity, shared resources, marketplace connections and guide guest lists. A tool that handles individual appointments may not support the way your tours operate.

### Can guests reschedule themselves?

Many platforms support guest rescheduling. Test the cut-off rules, availability changes and notifications to staff and marketplaces. TicketingHub lets guests reschedule through a link.

## Choose with your own numbers and booking scenarios

Shortlist platforms around your sales channels, compare a full year of costs and test the tasks that create the most work for your team.

Ready to evaluate TicketingHub? [See our pricing](https://www.ticketinghub.com/en-US/pricing) and bring your trickiest booking scenario to a [demo](https://www.ticketinghub.com/book-a-demo).

## More articles.

### [How to Reply to Google Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide for Activity Operators](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/how-do-you-respond-to-a-google-review-complete-guide)

Discover how to reply to Google reviews and manage negative feedback. Learn clever ways to ask for reviews and improve online reputation.

Bibim Banez Mar 16, 2026

### [Foolproof Tips on How to Screen Customers For Adventure Tour](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/how-to-screen-customers-for-adventure-tour)

Discover essential tips for screening customers for adventure tours to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Geraldine Denzon Mar 16, 2026

### [The Importance of Tour Guide Training in the Tourism Industry](https://www.ticketinghub.com/blog/tour-guide-training-why-essential)

Discover how quality training makes top tour guides. Discover the skills, business strategies, and real-world applications that make them.

Bibim Banez Mar 16, 2026