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“Free” tour booking software comes in two flavors: free plans (you pay nothing until you upgrade) and $0-subscription platforms that take a cut of every booking. The difference matters once bookings start rolling in.
Free plan vs. “free” with commission
| Software | How it’s free | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Appointy | Free-forever plan | Upgrade (from $19.99/mo annual) for advanced features; no booking commission |
| FareHarbor | No subscription | ~6–8% fee added for your customers |
| Peek Pro | No subscription | ~6% commission per booking |
| Rezdy (Foundation) | No subscription | ~3% booking fee |
Best free tour booking software: Appointy
For solo guides and small tour companies, Appointy’s free plan is the simplest way to stop managing bookings in spreadsheets and DMs. You get an online booking page you can share anywhere, and you can upgrade later for features like advanced payments and more staff.
- Online booking page that works 24/7, in multiple languages and time zones
- Book Now buttons for your website, Instagram, Facebook and Google
- Reserve with Google so travelers can book from Search and Maps
- Group bookings, reminders and post-tour review requests
- Upgrade path: deposits via Stripe, PayPal or Square, guide logins, gift cards and reports
How to start taking tour bookings for free (5 steps)
- Sign up for a free booking account and add your business details and time zone.
- Create each tour as a service with duration, group size, price and meeting point.
- Set your availability and add your guides.
- Add your cancellation policy and any intake questions.
- Share your booking link on Instagram, Google Business Profile, WhatsApp and your website.
FAQ
Is there completely free tour booking software?
Yes. Appointy has a free-forever plan. Other “free” platforms such as FareHarbor and Peek Pro have no subscription but charge per-booking fees to you or your customers.
Which is cheaper, a free commission-based platform or a paid flat plan?
Once you take more than a handful of bookings a month, a flat plan is usually cheaper. A 6% commission on 200 bookings at $60 is about $720 a month, versus a flat plan from $19.99/month.
Can I take payments on a free plan?
Payment options vary by plan. Check the current plan comparison on signup; deposits and prepayments via Stripe, PayPal or Square are available on Appointy.