Why have your own booking website?
A direct booking site lets you receive reservations with no commission, build your brand, and create direct guest relationships.
Selection criteria
- Price — Free or paid? Commission or subscription?
- Ease of use — How fast to get online?
- SEO — Google optimized?
- Calendar sync — iCal with Airbnb/Booking?
- Mobile — Responsive design?
2025 Comparison
CapDirect — Simplest & Free
Price: Free (Pro plan €9/month optional). Setup: 2 minutes. Strengths: Zero commission, auto SEO, iCal sync, WhatsApp contact, multilingual, guest guidebook included.
Lodgify — Most complete (and expensive)
Price: From €17/month + 1.9% per booking. Complex setup, high cost.
Smoobu — Channel manager
Price: From €29/month. Basic website, limited SEO.
Hostaway — Enterprise
Price: Custom (often €50+/month). Too complex for individual owners.
Our recommendation
For 1-5 properties, CapDirect is the best choice: free, live in 2 minutes, SEO-optimized, no commission.