As a tour operator running over $1M in annual sales, I’ve personally tested every major booking software in the industry. Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, here’s a deep dive into the five platforms I’ve used — and why I ultimately chose Checkfront (Legacy Plan) as my long-term solution.

1. ✅ Checkfront

Best for: Medium to large tour operators looking for reliability, control, and low fees.

• Pricing: Starts around $100/month (legacy plan)

• Transaction Fees: $0 on legacy — huge plus!

• Main Features:

  • Real-time availability & inventory management

  • Stripe/PayPal integration

  • Mobile-friendly booking interface

  • API access + Zapier + integrations with CRMs

• Pros:

  • Scales beautifully as you grow

  • Powerful reporting tools

  • Clean interface for admin and guests

  • No transaction fees (legacy)

• Cons:

  • Legacy plan no longer available for new users

  • More setup time required than plug-and-play platforms

💬 My Take: This is my top pick — I’ve used it for years. At $100/month with no transaction fees, it’s unbeatable once you cross the $500K-$1M/year mark. Why give away 5-7% of your sales?

2. 💡 Xola

Best for: Tour operators looking for sleek UI and built-in marketing tools.

• Pricing: Custom pricing or 6% per booking

• Transaction Fees: 6% (unless on a custom plan)

• Main Features:

  • Built-in CRM and marketing automation

  • Abandoned cart recovery

  • Website widget & mobile-optimized checkout

• Pros:

  • Easy to set up and use

  • Great for sales funnels and upsells

  • Good customer support

• Cons:

  • 6% per booking can be painful at scale

  • Limited custom backend flexibility

💬 My Take: Xola’s great for startups or those focused on growth automation, but it gets expensive as your bookings grow.

3. 📦 Rezgo

Best for: Tour businesses looking for a free-to-start model and solid reliability.

• Pricing: Free plan + 5% per booking OR $49/month + 1.9%

• Transaction Fees: 5% on free plan

• Main Features:

  • Custom-branded booking engine

  • Mobile app + POS system

  • Payment gateway integration

• Pros:

  • No monthly cost to get started

  • Clean interface & decent reporting

  • API access

• Cons:

  • Transaction fees can cut into margins

  • Less flexibility compared to more advanced platforms

💬 My Take: Rezgo is a solid pick for beginners. Once you’re scaling, those 5% fees become a burden.

4. 🔧 Redzy

Best for: Simplicity and smaller operators who want something quick and clean.

• Pricing: Around 3%-5% per booking (varies)

• Transaction Fees: Yes — percentage-based

• Main Features:

  • Easy-to-use backend

  • Basic but clean customer booking experience

  • Email confirmations and reminders

• Pros:

  • Great for getting started fast

  • No upfront monthly costs

  • Simple learning curve

• Cons:

  • Fewer features

  • Transaction fees not ideal for high-volume operators

  • Limited integrations

💬 My Take: Great “starter pack” for newbies. If you’re doing under $100K/year, this can work. After that? You’ll outgrow it fast.

5. 🧩 Resova

Best for: Operators needing customizable booking flows and clean UX.

• Pricing: From $30 to $90/month

• Transaction Fees: 0%

• Main Features:

  • Multi-location & resource scheduling

  • Google/Outlook calendar sync

  • Customer management dashboard

• Pros:

  • No transaction fees

  • Affordable monthly plans

  • Decent customization

• Cons:

  • Interface is a bit plain

  • Can lack some deeper features larger operators need

  • Limited marketing tools

💬 My Take: Resova is nice if you’re mid-sized and want something clean with no per-booking fees — but it lacks the power of Checkfront.

💬 Final Thoughts: Why I Stick with Checkfront (Legacy)

If you’re doing over $500K/year in sales, transaction fees will eat your margins alive. Paying 5-7% per booking on $1M? That’s $50K to $70K… just gone. Instead, I’ve been paying $100/month, all-in, no surprises, with full control of my booking system.

⚠️ New users might not have access to legacy plans — but it’s worth checking what’s available. Long-term, always go for flat-rate + low fees.

Want help setting up the right software stack for your tour business? I also offer coaching & consulting — reach out below