CaptainBook.io
Xola
VS.
Xola markets itself as a no-subscription booking platform with 'industry-low' credit card rates. On the surface, 2.39% + $0.30 per transaction sounds cheap. But once you factor in the undisclosed partner fee passed to your customers and the lack of transparent pricing, the picture changes.
Here's how CaptainBook and Xola actually compare for tour and activity operators in 2026.
Quick Comparison: CaptainBook vs Xola (2026)
CaptainBook.io
Xola
Starting price
$49/mo, 0% on direct bookings
No subscription, 2.39% + $0.30 per transaction
Booking fees on direct sales
0% across all plans
2.39% + $0.30 + undisclosed partner fee (customer-facing)
Pricing transparency
Published on website, all plans visible
Credit card rate shown; partner fee requires sales call
Cancel anytime
Cancel from dashboard, anytime
Contact support
Why Operators Switch to CaptainBook from Xola
Zero direct booking fees - the price you set is the price your customer pays. No surcharges, no hidden markups. On all plans.
Predictable costs - flat monthly subscription means your costs don't scale with revenue. The more you grow, the better the deal.
Real resource management - assign guides, boats, equipment to specific time slots. Prevent overbooking at the resource level, not just the calendar level.
Stronger OTA connectivity - native integrations with GetYourGuide, Viator, and Google Things to Do, with real-time availability sync.
Multi-language from day one - communicate with guests in their language without workarounds or third-party tools.
1
The 'No Subscription' Trap
Xola advertises 2.39% + $0.30 per transaction as their pricing. But that's just the credit card processing rate. On top of that, Xola charges a 'small partner fee' to your customers on every purchase.
How much is that fee? They don't say on their website. You need a sales call to find out.
This is the same model FareHarbor and Peek Pro use: no monthly fee, but a customer-facing surcharge on every booking.
The problem? Your customers see a higher price at checkout than what you advertised. And you don't fully control how much that markup is.
Multiple reviewers on GetApp and Capterra report concerns about recent price increases and fees that turned out higher than expected. One reviewer noted that Xola "can be expensive for smaller businesses" despite the no-subscription pitch.
2
Your Customers See a Higher Price
Xola passes their partner fee directly to the customer at checkout.
That means the price your customer sees is higher than what you set. This is the same approach FareHarbor uses, and operators consistently report it hurts conversions.
When a customer compares your €50 boat tour on your website (with Xola's added fee) to a competitor's €50 tour on a platform without customer-facing fees, yours looks more expensive.
You didn't raise your price. Xola did.
CaptainBook charges 0% on direct bookings across all plans. The price you set is the price your customer pays. No surprises at checkout.
"With CaptainBook.io our daily booking operations are easier than ever. Our customers are thrilled when they call us for an experience and we send them the link to make the reservation. We save precious time and our customers are much more happy."
Dreamland
Travel Agency in Corfu, Greece
3
What Xola Is Missing
No real resource management - CaptainBook lets you assign specific guides, boats, vehicles, and equipment to time slots
. Xola offers basic equipment management but doesn't match the depth operators need for complex scheduling.
Pricing not published - you can't compare Xola's real cost without a sales conversation. CaptainBook's pricing is on the website, all plans visible.
Limited multi-language support - for operators in tourism hotspots serving international guests, this is a real gap. CaptainBook supports multi-language communications natively.
Customer-facing fees - the partner fee model means your customers pay more than the price you set. That's a conversion killer.
"The CaptainBook Team are always super fast to respond and to resolve each little issue I have encountered during use. Their responsiveness and high level of customer service is something I noticed since day 1 and they’ve never failed me ever since."
Philema Food Tours
Travel Operator in Naxos Island, Greece
Any further questions?
If you have any further questions or need any more information on CaptainBook.io, contact us! We're a click away
