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Choosing tour booking software comes down to three questions: how much of each booking you’re willing to give away, which sales channels you need (your website, Google, OTAs like Viator), and how much setup time you have. Below we compare six popular options for tour guides and tour operators in 2026, with pricing models side by side.
Quick comparison: tour operator booking software
| Software | Pricing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Appointy | Free plan; paid plans from $19.99/mo (billed annually). No per-booking commission. | Independent guides & small operators who want to keep 100% of each booking |
| FareHarbor | No subscription for operators; up to ~6% fee added for customers at checkout | Operators who are fine passing fees to customers |
| Peek Pro | $0/mo + ~6% booking commission + payment processing | Activity businesses that want a done-for-you setup |
| Rezdy | Free tier + 3% booking fee; paid tier from $99/mo + lower fee | Operators selling heavily through OTAs and resellers |
| Checkfront | From $99/mo + booking fee | Rentals + tours combined, built-in waivers |
| TrekkSoft | From €49/mo + booking & payment fees | European operators who want a bundled website |
1. Appointy: best overall for tour guides and small tour operators
Appointy is the tool we recommend for most independent guides and small-to-mid tour companies because it uses flat monthly pricing with no commission on your bookings, and it has a free plan to start. If you take 200 bookings a month at $60, a 6% commission platform costs you about $720/month; Appointy’s plans start at $19.99/month.
Key features for tour operators
- 24/7 online booking page: multilingual, with automatic time-zone detection so international travelers see times in their local zone
- Group bookings to fill tours faster, plus tour packages and add-ons (transport, VIP upgrades)
- Prepayments and deposits through Stripe, PayPal or Square, with automated invoices
- Automated reminders to cut no-shows, and post-tour review requests
- Book Now buttons for your website, Facebook, Instagram and Google, plus Reserve with Google so people can book straight from Search and Maps
- Guide/staff logins, a staff planner with location pins, and multi-location management
- Intake forms (e.g. insurance, medical, visa details) and terms customers must accept at booking
- Coupons, gift cards, reports, iOS & Android apps, and Zoom integration for virtual tours
Appointy pricing
- Free: free forever plan to get started
- Growth: $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly)
- Professional: $49.99/mo billed annually ($59.99 monthly)
- Enterprise: $79.99/mo billed annually ($99.99 monthly)
Pros and cons
- ✅ No per-booking commission, so your margin stays yours
- ✅ Free plan and free setup assistance/data migration
- ✅ Reserve with Google + social booking buttons built in
- ⚠️ Not an OTA channel manager. If most of your sales come via Viator/GetYourGuide resellers, look at Rezdy too
- ⚠️ Built for appointments and tours alike, so some tour-specific terms take a few minutes to configure
2. FareHarbor
Want the details on its fees? See FareHarbor pricing and alternatives.
FareHarbor is widely used by tour and activity companies in the US. Operators pay no subscription. Instead a booking fee (up to around 6%) is shown to customers at checkout. That keeps your costs at zero but raises the price your guests see, which can hurt conversion against competitors.
3. Peek Pro
Peek Pro has no monthly fee but takes a commission on each booking (around 6%) plus payment processing. It suits activity businesses that want a polished, guided setup and don’t mind the per-booking cost.
4. Rezdy
Rezdy’s strength is distribution: connecting to OTAs and reseller marketplaces. A free tier charges a percentage per booking; paid tiers lower the fee. Choose it if a large share of your sales come from third-party channels.
5. Checkfront
Checkfront works well for businesses that combine tours with rentals (bikes, kayaks, gear) and want digital waivers built in. It uses a monthly subscription plus a booking fee.
6. TrekkSoft
TrekkSoft is popular with European operators and bundles a website with booking. Plans start at around €49/month, with booking and payment fees on top.
How to choose the right tour booking system
- Run the commission math. Multiply your monthly bookings by your average ticket price and the platform’s fee. Above a few dozen bookings a month, flat-fee software like Appointy is usually cheaper.
- List your channels. Website + Google + social? A direct-booking tool is enough. Heavy OTA reselling? Prioritize a channel manager.
- Check payments. Make sure deposits/prepayments work with your payment provider (Stripe, PayPal, Square).
- Think about your guides. Do they need their own logins and schedules?
- Start free. Test with real tours before committing to annual billing.
FAQ
What is the best booking software for tour operators?
For independent guides and small operators, Appointy is our top pick because it has a free plan and flat monthly pricing with no booking commission. Operators who rely mostly on OTA resellers may prefer Rezdy.
Is there free tour booking software?
Yes. Appointy has a free-forever plan. FareHarbor and Peek Pro have no monthly fee for operators but charge per-booking fees to you or your customers.
Can customers book my tours from Google?
Yes, with software that supports Reserve with Google, such as Appointy. Customers can book directly from Google Search and Maps.
Do I need a website to take online tour bookings?
No. Most tour booking systems give you a hosted booking page you can share on social media, Google, email and WhatsApp. If you have a website, you can embed a booking widget too.
Start taking tour bookings free with Appointy →