VS.
Choosing the right booking system can significantly impact your bottom line. While Bókun may appear affordable, its hidden booking fees can quickly make it more expensive than expected.
Bokun is 2.6x more expensive than CaptainBook!
Let’s use an example to help break down the cost.
For this example, we have an operator making €100,000 per year, 30% of those bookings come from GetYourGuide.
Cost Component
CaptainBook.io
Bokun
Subscription Fee
€49/month × 12 = €588/year
€44/month × 12 = €528/year
Booking Fee
0% on all direct bookings
1.5% on all bookings (for €100,000 in bookings = €1,500/year)
OTA Fee
Fixed fee of €14.99/month per product (covers GetYourGuide and Viator = €179.88/year)
1.5% on OTA bookings except Viator
Total Annual Cost
€588 + €179.88 = €767.88/year
€528 + €1,500 = €2,028/year
The Savings:
Even though 30% of your bookings come from GetYourGuide in both scenarios, with Bókun you would pay €2,028 per year, while with CaptainBook.io you would pay only €767.88 per year. This translates to a savings of approximately €1,260 per year with CaptainBook.io.
With transparent pricing, no hidden commission fees on all bookings, and a fixed OTA connectivity fee, CaptainBook.io proves to be the more cost-effective choice for your business.
1
Is Bokun cheaper than CaptainBook?
When comparing the pricing structures of Bókun and CaptainBook.io, it's important to consider both subscription fees and booking commissions to determine which platform offers better value for your tour or activity business.
CaptainBook.io offers:
Starter Plan: For €49 per month, with a 0% per booking and a reduced 3,5% commission on OTA bookings.
Extended Plan: At €199 per month, this plan includes 0% commission on online bookings, with a reduced 3% commission for OTA bookings.
Ultra Plan: For €349 per month, this plan offers advanced features and a 0% commission on bookings, with 2.5% on OTA channels.
For €14,99 per month per product, CaptainBook does not charge a booking fee for bookings coming from GetYourGuide and Viator.
Bokun offers:
START Plan: $49 per month with a 1.5% booking fee.
PLUS Plan: $149 per month with a 1.25% booking fee.
PREMIUM Plan: $499 per month with a 1% booking fee.
Customers have reported a major drawback of Bókun: its hidden fees. The platform charges a service fee even on canceled bookings, in addition to standard payment processing fees, which means businesses can lose money even if a customer cancels.
2
Who has the best customer support?
One of the most frequent complaints about Bókun is slow response times from customer support. Many users report long wait times for resolutions and a lack of personalized assistance.
CaptainBook.io takes a different approach by offering fast, personalized, and responsive support, via chat and email, ensuring that tour operators always have access to expert help when they need it.
"With CaptainBook.io our daily booking operations are easier than ever. Our customers are thrilled when they call us for an experience and we send them the link to make the reservation. We save precious time and our customers are much more happy."
Dreamland
Travel Agency in Corfu, Greece
3
Why is CaptainBook.io a Better Choice than Bókun?
When comparing Bókun and CaptainBook.io, it becomes clear that CaptainBook.io offers a more user-friendly, transparent, and supportive booking management experience. Here’s why tour and activity operators prefer CaptainBook.io over Bókun:
1. Transparent Pricing with No Hidden Fees
Bókun charges a 1.5% service fee on bookings, even if they are canceled, plus additional credit card processing fees, making it an expensive option in the long run.
CaptainBook.io offers clear, transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
2. A More Intuitive and Easy-to-Use Platform
Many users report that Bókun’s interface is complex and difficult to navigate, requiring extra time and effort to manage bookings.
CaptainBook.io is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing tour operators to set up quickly and manage bookings effortlessly. The streamlined workflow means less time spent on admin tasks and more time focusing on growing your business.
3. Fully Customizable Booking Widgets
Bókun provides limited customization for booking widgets, making it harder to create a seamless branded experience on your website.
CaptainBook.io offers fully customizable booking widgets that integrate smoothly into any website, ensuring a professional and consistent customer experience.
4. Better Customer Support
One of the most common complaints about Bókun is its slow and inconsistent customer support. Many users report long wait times for responses and unresolved issues.
CaptainBook.io is known for its exceptional customer support. The team is fast, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping businesses succeed, providing direct assistance when needed.
5. Reliable OTA Connectivity
Bókun users often experience availability syncing issues with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Viator and GetYourGuide, leading to overbookings and manual adjustments.
CaptainBook.io provides seamless, real-time OTA synchronization, ensuring that availability and pricing are always accurate across platforms.
6. A Fully Mobile-Friendly Solution
Bókun’s mobile app has limited functionality, making it difficult to manage bookings and check in guests on the go.
CaptainBook.io is fully mobile-friendly, allowing operators to manage bookings, payments, and schedules from any device. Whether in the office or on the water, you have full control.
7. No System Downtime Issues
Users have reported Bókun experiencing outages, preventing them from accessing the platform and managing bookings.
CaptainBook.io is built for reliability, ensuring that operators can always access their system without disruptions.
(Source Capterra)
If you’re looking for a booking platform that is affordable, easy to use, fully customizable, and backed by excellent support, CaptainBook.io is the better choice.
With no hidden fees, real-time OTA connectivity, and a mobile-friendly design, CaptainBook.io helps businesses streamline operations and increase revenue without unnecessary complications.
"The CaptainBook Team are always super fast to respond and to resolve each little issue I have encountered during use. Their responsiveness and high level of customer service is something I noticed since day 1 and they’ve never failed me ever since."
Philema Food Tours
Travel Operator in Naxos Island, Greece
Any further questions?
If you have any further questions or need any more information on CaptainBook.io, contact us! We're a click away
