TL;DR:
- SquadTrip — Best for self-hosted retreat bookings. Booking pages, payment plans, BNPL, group chat, free tier. You keep ~97% of revenue.
- BookRetreats — Retreat marketplace. Good for discovery but charges ~14% commission. You do not control the checkout.
- Retreat Guru — Marketplace + software. 15% commission on marketplace, $49-149/month for standalone software. Two models, choose one or both.
- Bookinglayer — Retreat/camp booking software. $69-299/month. Strong scheduling but no BNPL, no group chat, higher cost.
- Eventbrite — Event ticketing platform. No payment plans, no retreat-specific features. Works for single-session workshops, not multi-day retreats.
The Two Models: Marketplace vs Platform
Before comparing features, understand the fundamental choice:
Marketplace model (BookRetreats, Retreat Guru): You list your retreat on their site. They bring traffic. Travelers find you through their search and browse experience. You pay commission (14-15%) on every booking.
Platform model (SquadTrip, Bookinglayer): You create your own booking page. You drive traffic through your website, social media, and email list. You pay processing fees only (2.9-5%).
The marketplace gives you discovery. The platform gives you control. The best approach is often both: use a platform for your primary booking page and list on marketplaces for additional reach.
Own your retreat bookings. SquadTrip gives you booking pages, payment plans, and BNPL — free to start. Keep ~97% of revenue.
1. SquadTrip — Best Self-Hosted Retreat Booking Platform
SquadTrip is built for group travel organizers, including retreat hosts. It provides everything you need to create a booking page, collect payments, and manage guests without giving up revenue to a marketplace.
Key features for retreat hosts:
- Branded booking page with itinerary, packages, and add-ons
- Automated payment plans with scheduled installments and reminders
- BNPL checkout (Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay) — travelers finance, you get paid upfront
- Registration forms and e-signatures at checkout
- Guest dashboard with payment status and trip details
- Group chat with file sharing and digest emails
- Room type and package selection
- Add-on activities and upgrades
Pricing: Free tier with standard Stripe processing (~2.9% + $0.30). No commission, no monthly fee to start.
Best for: Retreat hosts who have their own audience (email list, social following, past attendees) and want maximum revenue and control.
2. BookRetreats — Best Marketplace for Retreat Discovery
BookRetreats is one of the largest retreat marketplaces, connecting travelers searching for retreats with hosts worldwide. If you do not have an established audience, BookRetreats gives you visibility.
Key features:
- Large audience of retreat seekers browsing by destination, type, and date
- Listing pages with photos, descriptions, and reviews
- Booking management dashboard
- Payment collection through the platform
Limitations:
- ~14% commission on every booking
- Limited control over checkout experience
- No payment plan automation (limited installment support)
- No BNPL options
- No group chat or communication tools
- No custom branding — listings look like BookRetreats, not your brand
- Cannot export your guest list or email your attendees directly
Pricing: Free to list. ~14% commission on bookings.
Best for: New retreat hosts who need marketplace exposure and do not yet have their own audience.
3. Retreat Guru — Marketplace + Software Combo
Retreat Guru offers two products: a retreat marketplace (similar to BookRetreats) and standalone booking software for retreat centers.
Marketplace features:
- Large directory of retreats searchable by type, location, and date
- Traveler reviews and ratings
- Lead generation for retreat hosts
Software features ($49-149/month):
- Booking and reservation management
- Calendar and availability tracking
- Basic payment collection
- Designed primarily for retreat centers (permanent venues)
Limitations:
- 15% commission on marketplace bookings
- Software is designed for retreat centers with fixed locations, not traveling organizers
- No BNPL integration
- No group chat
- Limited payment plan flexibility
Pricing: Marketplace is free to list with 15% commission. Software starts at $49/month.
Best for: Retreat centers (permanent venues like yoga studios or wellness resorts) that want both marketplace visibility and on-site booking management.
4. Bookinglayer — Retreat and Camp Booking Software
Bookinglayer is a booking management platform popular with surf camps, yoga retreats, and wellness centers. It focuses on accommodation and activity scheduling.
Key features:
- Accommodation booking with room/bed management
- Activity and session scheduling
- Payment plans and invoicing
- Online booking widgets for your website
- Multi-language and multi-currency support
Limitations:
- $69-299/month depending on plan
- No BNPL integration
- No group chat or communication tools
- No built-in booking page — requires embedding on your existing website
- Designed for venue-based retreats, less suited for traveling organizers
- No guest-facing dashboard for payment tracking
Pricing: $69/month (Starter), $149/month (Professional), $299/month (Enterprise).
Best for: Established retreat centers and camps with fixed locations that need room/bed management and activity scheduling.
5. Eventbrite — Event Ticketing (Not Retreat-Specific)
Some retreat hosts use Eventbrite because it is familiar and easy to set up. However, Eventbrite is designed for events (conferences, workshops, concerts), not multi-day retreat experiences.
Key features:
- Simple event page creation
- Ticketing and registration
- Promotional tools and email marketing
- Large platform with built-in discovery
Limitations:
- No payment plans — full payment required at booking
- No BNPL integration
- No group communication or guest management
- No itinerary or trip detail pages
- No room/package selection
- Ticketing fee: $1.59+ per ticket plus processing
- Not designed for multi-day, multi-payment experiences
Pricing: Free tier for free events. Paid events: $1.59+ per ticket plus 3.7% + $1.79 processing.
Best for: Single-session workshops, day retreats, or one-time events where full upfront payment is standard. Not suitable for multi-day retreats with payment plans.
For more alternatives, see our guide to Eventbrite alternatives for retreats and group trips.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | SquadTrip | BookRetreats | Retreat Guru | Bookinglayer | Eventbrite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free | Free | Free / $49+ | $69-299 | Free* |
| Commission | None | ~14% | 15% (mkt) | None | $1.59+/ticket |
| Booking pages | ✓ Branded | ✓ Marketplace | ✓ Marketplace | ⚠ Embed widget | ✓ Event page |
| Payment plans | ✓ Automated | ⚠ Limited | ✗ (marketplace) | ✓ | ✗ |
| BNPL | ✓ Klarna/Affirm/Afterpay | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Group chat | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Registration forms | ✓ | ⚠ Basic | ⚠ Basic | ✓ | ⚠ Basic |
| Room/package management | ✓ | ⚠ | ⚠ | ✓ Strong | ✗ |
| Marketplace discovery | ✗ (self-hosted) | ✓ Strong | ✓ Strong | ✗ | ✓ Some |
| Revenue to organizer | ~97% | ~86% | ~85% (mkt) | ~97% | Varies |
How to Choose
Choose SquadTrip if:
- You have your own audience and want to keep maximum revenue
- You need payment plans and BNPL checkout
- You want group communication built into your booking platform
- You are a traveling organizer (not a fixed venue)
Choose BookRetreats or Retreat Guru if:
- You need marketplace exposure because you do not have your own audience yet
- You are willing to pay 14-15% commission for discovery
- You want traveler reviews to build credibility
Choose Bookinglayer if:
- You run a retreat center with fixed rooms, beds, and activities
- You need accommodation and session-level scheduling
- You have the budget for $69-299/month
Choose Eventbrite if:
- You are hosting a single-session workshop or day event
- Full payment at booking is fine (no installments needed)
- You want Eventbrite's built-in promotional reach
The Best of Both Worlds
The smartest retreat hosts use two tools:
- SquadTrip as the primary booking platform — full control, maximum revenue, BNPL, group chat
- BookRetreats or Retreat Guru as a discovery channel — list your retreat for visibility, but link interested travelers back to your SquadTrip booking page
This way you benefit from marketplace traffic without giving up 14-15% on bookings from your own audience. Pay commission only on bookings that the marketplace directly generated.
Final Thoughts
The retreat booking platform you choose directly impacts your revenue, your guest experience, and how much time you spend on admin work. Marketplace platforms bring discovery but take a significant cut. Self-hosted platforms keep your revenue but require you to drive your own traffic.
For most retreat hosts in 2026, the best approach is a self-hosted platform for primary bookings with marketplace listings for supplemental discovery. SquadTrip gives you the self-hosted side with booking pages, payment plans, BNPL, and group management — free to start, no commission, no contracts.
Own your retreat bookings and keep your revenue. Start free on SquadTrip — booking pages, payment plans, Klarna, Affirm, and group chat included.
