Pricing
Free trial
Setup
Run it from your phone / chat
Commission
Activity & lesson scheduling
Guest bot (24/7 auto-replies)
Volunteer / work-exchange tools
Best for
| Hosttello | Bookinglayer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $29–99/mo flat | €260–445/mo (Essential→Pro) |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no card | No — demo required first |
| Setup | ~5 min, self-serve | Onboarding with a specialist |
| Run it from your phone / chat | Yes — run it from Telegram on your phone | No — desktop back-office |
| Commission | 0% — keeps 100% of direct bookings | Optional plan adds 2% (min €100/mo) |
| Activity & lesson scheduling | Yes — lessons, instructors & recurring timetables | Yes (its core strength) |
| Guest bot (24/7 auto-replies) | Yes — Telegram now, WhatsApp soon | No |
| Volunteer / work-exchange tools | Yes (Worldpackers / Workaway) | No |
| Best for | Small & independent hostels and surf/kite camps | Mid-market retreats & camps |
About Bookinglayer: Bookinglayer is an established (since 2013) all-in-one booking system for retreats, surf camps and activity operators. It is powerful and activity-centric, but priced and sold for the mid-market — demo-led, €260–445/mo.
Why hostels & camps pick Hosttello
~10× cheaper
Flat $29–99/mo vs €260–445/mo — built for the long tail Bookinglayer prices out.
Live in 5 minutes, no demo
Self-serve signup and a 14-day free trial — start today instead of waiting on a sales call.
Run it from Telegram
Take bookings, check guests in and answer questions from your phone. Bookinglayer is desktop-only.
Commission-free + growth tools
Keep 100% of direct bookings, plus a built-in growth toolkit (reel ideas, content plans) Bookinglayer doesn’t have.
When Bookinglayer might be the better fit
If you’re a larger, well-funded retreat centre that wants white-glove onboarding, the deepest 35+ channel manager and don’t mind €260+/mo, Bookinglayer is a mature, proven choice. For most independent hostels and small/mid surf & kite camps, Hosttello delivers the lesson scheduling, OTA sync and bookings you actually need at a tenth of the price.
Frequently asked
Is there a cheaper alternative to Bookinglayer?
Yes — Hosttello starts at $29/mo flat (vs Bookinglayer’s €260–445/mo) with a 14-day free trial and no demo required. It covers beds, OTA sync, activity & lesson scheduling, instructors and a Telegram guest bot, aimed at independent hostels and surf/kite camps.
Does Hosttello do activity & lesson scheduling like Bookinglayer?
Yes. Hosttello schedules time-slotted sessions with per-class capacity, instructor assignment, recurring weekly timetables and online/chat booking — the same core workflow Bookinglayer is known for.
See it on your own hostel
Free for 14 days. No credit card. Live in 5 minutes — no demo required.
Start free