Based on public supplier documentation and editorial analysis, not hands-on testing. Confirm current plan features and commercial terms before buying.
Ask operators why they shortlisted Bókun and you often hear the same thing: they could see what it cost. Ask why they shortlisted FareHarbor and you hear something else: someone offered to do the setup for them.
Those are two different promises, and they appeal to two different kinds of business. One rewards the operator who likes to read the terms and configure things personally. The other rewards the operator who has a season starting in three weeks and no time to build anything. This comparison looks at what each promise is actually worth on paper, what it leaves unsaid, and the single test both should pass before you sign.
Bókun's promise: here is the price
Bókun lays out a full plan ladder. START displays $49/month plus 1.5% on applicable bookings for up to five users. PLUS displays $149 plus 1.25% for up to ten users, with custom agent booking areas, Zapier and extra onboarding support. At the top sits PREMIUM: $499 plus 1%, unlimited users, and the ability to manage several companies.[2]
There is one gap even in a published price: the page we reviewed does not establish which currency sits behind that dollar sign for your account. Confirm it before you put the numbers in a budget.[2]
The Viator detail that matters
Reservations from Viator carry no Bókun booking fee on any of START, PLUS or PREMIUM. The separately sold Channel Manager is another matter: it lists a 0.5%-1.5% Bókun fee on Viator reservations, and Viator's own commission and other charges apply in every case.[2]
That boundary matters if you were planning to keep your current reservation platform and simply connect it through Bókun. The paid booking-system exemption does not apply to a Channel Manager quote. Treat direct online sales, offline sales and marketplace sales as three separate fee bases when you compare.
FareHarbor's promise: we will set it up
FareHarbor says plainly that it builds your dashboard and transfers your future reservations, and it advertises phone and email support around the clock. If your setup capacity is thin, that is a concrete reason to put it on the list. It is not, however, a promise that historical transactions, vouchers or stored payment details will all come across.[1]
The number you will not find
FareHarbor's homepage and payments page describe its platform and payment options but do not set out a universal numeric booking rate. When we checked its /pricing/ address, it returned an application shell rather than a usable public tariff. We have therefore not borrowed a competitor's claimed FareHarbor percentage, and we do not call FareHarbor more expensive. The only fair comparison is a written offer matched to your own sales.[1][4]
Meanwhile, Bókun offers a trial
Bókun runs a 14-day trial with no card required, and PLUS specifically adds extra onboarding support. A team comfortable configuring its own products can start with START. A team that wants hands-on help should price the support that comes with the right tier, rather than assuming every Bókun plan comes with the same onboarding.[2]
Under the bonnet, both do real operational work
It would be a mistake to see Bókun as a Viator connector and FareHarbor as a booking tool. Bókun START lists resource management, gift cards, payment links and POS. FareHarbor's boat page lists mobile manifests, visibility of add-ons and offline check-in, and its homepage describes private events covering contracts, payments and resources. These are documented capabilities, not performance we have tested side by side.[1][2][3]
So test them on your own operation. If you run a public trip and a private charter on the same vessel, put both systems through the same clash and the same weather change. Check that moving a booking also corrects availability, the guest's messages and the amount due. Test FareHarbor's offline check-in on the devices your crew actually use, and remember that offline check-in does not mean every action works offline.
Which one should make your final two?
If Viator brings you most of your guests and you are replacing your booking system, Bókun START is a justified first trial, unless agent areas, the five-user limit or support needs push you to a higher tier. If your biggest worry is configuring the business and getting front-line staff ready, FareHarbor's published onboarding and operational scope justify a full demo.[1][2]
Whichever you lean towards, close the gaps each promise leaves. Before choosing FareHarbor, get the fee bases and refund treatment in writing. Before choosing Bókun, confirm the tier and that a payment provider is supported in your country. With either, ask for a sample export and agree exactly how outstanding deposits and future reservations will survive the move. Public documentation cannot tell you whose support team will fix your particular problem faster; only a trial and a contract can. The migration checklist covers what to get in writing.
Supplier features and commercial terms
Supplier-documented scope, not a scored ranking. Compare this evidence with the requirements above.
| Product | Documented scope | What to demonstrate |
|---|---|---|
| Bókun | Booking system with resource management, payment links and gift cards in START; PLUS adds custom agent areas and Zapier. A separate Channel Manager connects other reservation systems.[5] | Demonstrate product mapping and shared-resource rules across your actual sales channels. |
| FareHarbor | Tours, rentals and attractions; published onboarding includes dashboard setup and transfer of future reservations. Boat documentation describes mobile manifests and offline check-in.[1] | Test shared-vessel blocking and confirm which reservations, financial references and records the onboarding team will transfer. |
Pricing and trial conditions
Bókun
START displays $49/month + 1.5%, PLUS $149 + 1.25%, PREMIUM $499 + 1% on applicable bookings. Currency and tax require account confirmation. No Bókun Viator booking fee on START, PLUS or PREMIUM; separate Channel Manager: 0.5%-1.5% on Viator reservations. Viator commission remains separate.[2]
14-day trial, no credit card required; check the intended paid tier.[2]
FareHarbor
A universal numeric rate was not established from the reviewed official homepage and payments page. Obtain a written fee schedule and country-specific payment terms; this is not a claim that the service lacks public commercial information.[4]
A demonstration is advertised. Unrestricted trial access was not confirmed.[1]
Sources
Official documentation supporting this guide. Prices and availability may change; an access date is not a supplier publication date.
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