Ownership
Status
Pricing
Migration
Activity & lesson scheduling
Guest bot (24/7 auto-replies)
Volunteer / work-exchange tools
Best for
| Hosttello | Counter (BananaDesk) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Independent — not owned by any OTA | Owned by Hostelworld (the OTA charging your commission) |
| Status | Actively developed, shipping weekly | Independent website offline; uncertain path |
| Pricing | $29–99/mo flat | Free tier (tied to Hostelworld inventory) |
| Migration | CSV import with safe preview — done in an afternoon | — |
| Activity & lesson scheduling | Yes — lessons, instructors & recurring timetables | No |
| Guest bot (24/7 auto-replies) | Yes | No |
| Volunteer / work-exchange tools | Yes | No |
| Best for | Small & independent hostels and surf/kite camps | Hostelworld-first hostels |
About Counter (BananaDesk): Counter absorbed BananaDesk and is owned by Hostelworld. Its independent web presence has since gone dark, leaving former BananaDesk and Counter users looking for a stable replacement.
Why hostels & camps pick Hosttello
Independent of the OTAs
Your PMS shouldn’t be owned by the marketplace that profits from your commissions.
A stable, active home
Hosttello ships weekly and publishes its pricing — no wondering where the product is headed.
Migrate in an afternoon
CSV import with a safe dry-run preview before anything is written.
More than a front desk
Direct-booking site, Telegram bot, lessons, volunteers and growth tools included.
When Counter (BananaDesk) might be the better fit
If you are happy inside Hostelworld’s ecosystem and Counter covers your needs, staying put is fine. If you want software that is independent of any OTA, actively developed, and priced in the open, Hosttello is built for exactly that.
Frequently asked
What happened to BananaDesk?
BananaDesk was absorbed into Counter, Hostelworld’s free hostel PMS, and its independent product presence has faded. Many former BananaDesk hostels have been migrated or are seeking alternatives — Hosttello offers CSV import with a safe preview to make the move painless.
What is the best Counter or BananaDesk alternative for hostels?
Hosttello — an independent, actively developed hostel OS at a flat $29–99/mo: dorms, OTA sync via iCal, a commission-free booking site, Telegram guest bot, lessons and volunteer management, with a 14-day free trial.
See it on your own hostel
Free for 14 days. No credit card. Live in 5 minutes — no demo required.
Start free