When we started looking for a professional booking system to integrate into our travel platform, we evaluated the leading tour and activity booking providers in the industry.
Our goal was simple: find a booking solution that gives tour operators powerful tools, reliable integrations, and a fair pricing model without excessive monthly fees or high commission structures.
Many booking platforms offer excellent features, but the costs can quickly add up — especially for smaller and growing tour operators. Monthly subscriptions, platform fees, transaction fees, and per-booking commissions can significantly reduce profitability.
After comparing the leading providers, we selected TicketingHub because it offers one of the most competitive pricing models in the industry while still providing the professional booking features operators need.
Below is a comparison of the major booking platforms we reviewed.
Booking Platform Pricing Comparison
Zaui
Pricing: No free plan. Custom pricing based on requirements.
Fees: Historically around 6% booking fees – Negotiable depending on volume
Overview: Zaui is a respected booking platform used by transportation companies and tour operators. While powerful, pricing is typically customized and can become expensive for smaller operators.
TrekSoft
Pricing: Custom pricing based on business requirements.
Fees: Pricing varies depending on integrations, booking volume, and operator needs
Overview: TrekSoft is a recognized booking solution for adventure tourism and outdoor activity operators. It offers strong industry-specific features, but pricing is generally customized rather than published, making cost comparison more difficult.
Origin
Pricing: Standard Plan: $199/month (normally $249/month). Premium Plan: $399/month (normally $479/month). Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Fees: 5% booking fee (setup waived during promotions) 6% booking fee with standard setup
Overview: Origin provides a modern booking platform designed for experience operators. It offers strong functionality but comes with higher monthly costs and booking fees compared to some competitors.
TripWorks
Pricing: Custom pricing based on volume.
Fees: Approximately 6% booking fee – Plus credit card transaction fees
Overview: TripWorks focuses on higher-volume operators and offers enterprise-level tools. However, the commission structure can become costly.
Peek Pro
Pricing: Approximately $100–$1,000/month
Fees: Variable booking fees up to 6% – Higher fees may apply depending on booking type – Payment processing: 2.3% + $0.30 per ticket
Overview: Peek Pro is a powerful platform used by many large operators. However, it is one of the more expensive solutions, especially for operators handling a high volume of online reservations.
Bókun
Pricing: Plans from $49/month to $499/month
Fees: Variable booking fees up to 6–8% – Operators can choose whether to absorb fees or pass them to customers – Payment processing: 2.3% + $0.30 per ticket
Overview: Bókun is a well-known platform backed by Tripadvisor and is widely used by tour operators worldwide. However, the combination of monthly subscriptions and transaction fees can become expensive as booking volume increases.
Rezdy
Pricing: Plans from $49/month to $249/month
Fees: Additional booking fees apply depending on plan and usage
Overview: Rezdy is a popular choice for tour operators and activity providers. It offers good integrations but combines monthly costs with additional booking fees.
Checkfront
Pricing: Approximately $99/month
Alternative: 3% booking fee option
Overview: Checkfront provides flexible options for operators but still includes either monthly subscription costs or transaction-based fees.
FareHarbor
Pricing: No monthly subscription fee
Fees: Platform fee up to 6% per booking – Applies to online and offline bookings – Usually passed to customers – Payment processing: approximately 1.9% + $0.30 per ticket
Overview: FareHarbor is one of the largest booking platforms in the industry and offers excellent tools. However, the percentage-based fees can become significant as sales volume grows.
Xola
Pricing: Free entry plan (Flex)
Fees: Variable booking fees: approximately 3–6% – Payment processing: 1.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Overview: Xola offers an accessible entry point for smaller operators but percentage fees can increase significantly as booking volume grows.
TicketingHub
Why We Chose TicketingHub
Pricing: No monthly subscription fee
Fees: Flat 3% per booking
Overview:
After reviewing the leading booking platforms, TicketingHub stood out because of its simple and transparent pricing model.
Many booking systems charge:
- Monthly subscription fees
- High percentage commissions
- Additional processing fees
- Setup fees
TicketingHub removes many of these barriers with:
- No monthly platform fee
- No expensive subscription tiers
- Simple 3% booking fee
- Professional booking functionality
- Easy website integration
- Scalable solution for growing operators
For tour operators, every percentage point matters. A platform charging 6–8% per booking can significantly reduce margins over time.
With TicketingHub, operators keep more of their revenue while still providing customers with a professional online booking experience.
Our Decision
After comparing the leading tour booking platforms, we selected TicketingHub because it provides the best balance between:
✓ Affordable pricing
✓ No monthly subscription costs
✓ Professional booking tools
✓ Easy website integration
✓ Better profitability for tour operators
Our goal is to help tour operators grow online without being locked into expensive booking systems.
TicketingHub provides the flexibility and affordability needed for modern tour businesses.