HolidayFox vs Freetobook

If you're running a B&B, guesthouse, inn, pub-with-rooms or small hotel in the UK, Freetobook is probably the first booking system you came across. They've been the go-to entry-level option for over a decade, partly because the diary and booking engine start free.

I run HolidayFox, so this isn't a neutral page. But I'll try to be honest about it. Freetobook is a solid product, and for some owners they're the right answer. The question that matters most isn't "who is cheaper on paper" — it's where do your guests check out: on your site, or on Freetobook's?

What Freetobook is, and what they do well

Freetobook is a UK-based online booking system founded in 2008, headquartered in Glasgow. They serve B&Bs, guesthouses, inns, small hotels and self-catering, primarily in the UK and Ireland.

Their pitch, and the reason they're so well-known, is the free starting tier. You get a booking calendar, an embeddable widget, and basic guest management without a monthly software fee. Useful extras (channel manager, card payments, messaging, Google Bookings, reputation tools, and newer add-ons like GuestAppy) sit on paid Plus+ plans — some prices are published, others only show up once you're in the product.

Things Freetobook genuinely does well:

• •The free tier is real. Not a trial. You can take direct bookings through their widget with no monthly fee, funded by optional paid add-ons instead.
• •UK-focused and battle-tested. They know the UK B&B market well: VAT, deposits, the operational rhythm of small accommodation.
• •Easy entry. If you've never used booking software before, Freetobook is one of the simplest things to get started with.
• •UK phone support. Their support team is based in the UK and answers the phone.

If your priority is "I run a 2-room B&B, I've never used booking software, and I want the cheapest way to accept a deposit through my website," Freetobook is a perfectly reasonable answer.

What HolidayFox is, and where we're different

HolidayFox is a WordPress-native booking widget plus a booking management back-office. We're UK-focused. We live inside the WordPress site you already have, or the one you build yourself.

Compared to Freetobook, three things are different in practice:

• •Where the booking engine lives. Freetobook hosts the booking page on their platform; you embed a widget on your site that points to it. HolidayFox is a proper WordPress plugin: the booking flow runs on your own domain, your own design, your own SEO. Looks and feels native.
• •Onboarding. Freetobook is largely self-guided: you set yourself up by following their guides, with their UK phone support on hand. HolidayFox has our customer success team handling the setup in 5 working days, including unit/pitch structure, pricing rules, Stripe configuration, and any migration from your existing system.
• •Strategic positioning. Freetobook is designed as cheap, dependable booking software that co-exists comfortably with Booking.com etc. HolidayFox's pitch is take direct bookings on your own site, reduce Booking.com commission. Same software category, different worldview.

We're more expensive than Freetobook's free tier (obviously). The question is whether the WordPress-native flow, the white-glove setup, and the strategic direction are worth the difference for your business.

Pricing

Freetobook's diary and direct booking engine start free. Card payments, messaging, channel manager, Google Bookings and other Plus+ modules are paid — check their current pricing page for published rates. Some newer products (for example GuestAppy) are trial-then-paid without a public list price.

HolidayFox is a monthly subscription (widget-only or Website in a Box) plus 5% + VAT on direct bookings. Stripe card fees are separate on both sides. For a lean FreeToBook engine-only property, FreeToBook is usually cheaper on software. We don't pretend otherwise. The reason to switch is owning the checkout on your WordPress site, white-glove setup, and a modern guest journey — not undercutting a free diary.

We'll quote you on a 15-minute call. If the maths doesn't work for you, Hannah will say so.

Who each one is right for

• •• You run a small B&B (1-4 rooms), modest booking volume, and cost is the dominant factor.
• •• You don't have or want a WordPress site, and an embedded widget pointing to a hosted booking page is fine.
• •• You're new to booking software and want the simplest entry point.
• •• A free entry tier matters more to you than a flat, predictable monthly fee.
• •You want guests to check out on your own WordPress site — your domain, design and SEO — not on a hosted FreeToBook booking page.
• •You run a B&B, inn, guesthouse, small hotel or self-catering property and you're actively trying to grow direct bookings (and cut Booking.com / Expedia commission).
• •You'd value white-glove setup over self-service.
• •You're already stacking FreeToBook Plus+ modules (payments, messaging, channel manager) and want one clearer stack on your own site.

Talk to us

15 minutes with Hannah. She'll ask three or four questions and give you a straight answer, including whether Freetobook might be a better fit for where you are right now.