HolidayFox vs Freetobook
- HolidayFox
- HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays: calendar, bookings, payments, guest messaging, self check-in, a daily agenda, a booking widget or hosted website, after-hours live chat, and Google Hotels.
- Freetobook
- UK B&B / small-hotel booking engine (Glasgow, 2008)
- Freetobook pricing
- Direct engine free forever. Channel manager £1.50/booking, min £9 (0–6) max £99 (66+), £49 one-off per channel. Card payments £139/year (£99 single unit). Messaging £89/year (£59 single unit). Prices held for 2026. (en.freetobook.com/pricing, checked 2026-09-13)(checked 2026-09-13)
- HolidayFox pricing
- free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website + 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox
- Pitchup UK+IE homepages with Freetobook
- 25 operator sites — not market share.(checked 2026-09-13)
If you run a UK B&B, guesthouse or small hotel, Freetobook is often the first diary you hear about. They have been around since 2008. The headline is a free starting engine.
I run HolidayFox, so this is not a neutral page. Both can take a direct booking. The useful question is whether a free B&B diary is enough, or you want a PMS that answers at 9pm on your own domain.
What Freetobook is, and what they do well
UK booking calendar, direct-booking links for your website, occupancy pricing. Channel manager, card payments, messaging and reputation tools sit on paid Plus modules. Glasgow phone support. They published that 2026 prices stay where they were.
Things they genuinely do well:
- The free direct engine is real — not a trial. No monthly fee, no annual fee, no commission on those bookings. Source: en.freetobook.com/pricing, checked 2026-09-13.
- UK B&B fit. VAT, deposits, phone support in Glasgow. Easy first diary if you have never used booking software.
- Published Channel Manager: £1.50 per booking, minimum £9 a month (0–6 bookings), cap £99 (66+). Direct bookings stay free. £49 one-off per channel. Same page.
- Card payments and messaging are optional yearly add-ons (£139 / £89, cheaper on a single unit). Reputation Suite is £7.50*/month, price on application.
If your priority is “a 2-room B&B, I just want a free diary and a booking link,” Freetobook is a credible answer. We will not pretend 5% is cheaper than free on software cost.
What HolidayFox is, and where we are different
HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays: calendar, bookings, payments, guest messaging, self check-in, a daily agenda, a booking widget or hosted website, after-hours live chat, and Google Hotels.
Widget checkout is live on your domain (Stripe). Paying inside the chat thread is still rolling out. You do not need Freetobook for the diary. If you already have it, iCal can sync — you do not have to.
Side by side
| Capability | Freetobook | HolidayFox |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | UK B&B / small-hotel booking engine | Full PMS for independent stays |
| The diary | Yes — free forever | Yes — that is the product |
| Website bookings | Direct booking links / widget | On-page widget, Stripe |
| Live chat that sees stock | Not the headline product | Yes — part of the book |
| Channel manager | £1.50/booking, min £9 / max £99 | iCal to Pitchup, Airbnb, Booking.com |
| Google Hotels | Not the headline | Feed included |
| Pricing model | Free direct; paid Plus modules | free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website + 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox |
Freetobook figures from en.freetobook.com/pricing, checked 2026-09-13. HolidayFox figures from holidayfox.com/en/partners, reviewed 2026-09-13. Fennec Pitchup UK+Ireland homepage re-probe (3,493 rows, 13 Sep 2026) found Freetobook on 25 operator sites. That is not market share.
Talk to us
15 minutes with Hannah. She will show you the book. If you already run Freetobook you can keep it. You do not need it for the diary.
Frequently asked questions
Is HolidayFox a Freetobook alternative?
Yes, for the diary. HolidayFox is a full PMS for independent stays. Freetobook’s extra is a free-forever B&B engine and a long UK small-hotel install. If a free diary is enough, stay. If you want after-hours live chat and Google Hotels on your domain, that is HolidayFox.
How much does Freetobook cost?
Direct booking engine: free forever, no commission. Channel manager: £1.50 per booking, minimum £9 a month, maximum £99, plus £49 per channel. Card payments £139/year (£99 single unit). Messaging £89/year (£59 single unit). Source: en.freetobook.com/pricing, checked 2026-09-13. They said 2026 prices stay put. HolidayFox: free for the widget, or from £12.99/month for a full website plus 5% commission on bookings taken through HolidayFox.
Can I keep Freetobook and use HolidayFox?
You can sync via iCal if you already have it. You do not need to. HolidayFox is the diary.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-13