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Fishing charter booking software compared
Compare booking software before you pay another fee.
The short answer: marketplaces like FishingBooker take 10–30% of each trip they book, booking platforms like FareHarbor add a fee to your guest’s checkout, and website subscriptions run $160–$299 a month. RIVERRISE BOOKINGS is $99 a month with no platform or booking fees.
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At a glance
Six ways to take a booking.
How each option charges, who pays, and what you get. Facts checked October 27, 2026.
| Option | How it charges | Who pays | Online payments | Your own website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVERRISE BOOKINGSBooking system for your site | $99 a month | You. No platform or booking fee for anyone | Included | Works on the site you have |
| FishingBookerMarketplace | 10–30% commission on marketplace trips, chosen by the captain | You | Included | Separate “Direct” tool, 2.65% + $0.03 processing |
| Charter ProWebsite + app subscription | $160, $240 or $299 a month | You | From the $240 plan | Builds you a new site |
| FareHarborBooking platform | No subscription; booking fee added at checkout, reported at 6–8% | Your guests | Included | Booking widget on your site |
| TripWorksBooking platform | Monthly plan fee (waived above a volume threshold) plus a guest booking fee | You and your guests | Included | Booking widget on your site |
| GuideslyMarketplace + Guidesly Pro tools | Free to sign up; Pro pricing not published on its guide page | Ask Guidesly | Ask Guidesly | Ask Guidesly |
Sources: FishingBooker commission, FishingBooker Direct cost, Charter Pro pricing, TripWorks platform fee, FareHarbor fees (CaptainBook, Apr 2026), Guidesly for guides. FareHarbor does not publish a fee schedule; the 6–8% figure comes from a third-party review. Card processing applies to every option.
Total-cost calculator
What will your bookings really cost?
Most fee calculators only count commission. This one adds subscription costs over one, three or five seasons.
Card processing applies to every option and is left out. RIVERRISE BOOKINGS setup is $0 through November 30, 2026, then $500 once.
Head-to-head
Side-by-side comparisons.
Detailed pages for the questions captains ask us most.
RIVERRISE vs FishingBooker
Marketplace commission versus your own booking system, and when to keep both.Read the comparisonRIVERRISE vs Charter Pro
Two commission-free options: a new website subscription versus booking on the site you have.Read the comparisonRIVERRISE vs FareHarbor
No subscription for you, but a booking fee on every guest’s checkout.Read the comparisonRIVERRISE vs TripWorks
A guest booking fee plus a monthly platform fee, versus one flat price.Read the comparisonRIVERRISE vs Guidesly
A fishing marketplace versus booking on your own site, and how to use both.Read the comparisonSee RIVERRISE BOOKINGS
Deposits, waivers, automatic balances and a staff phone app, all on your own site.See the featuresHonest fit
When RIVERRISE BOOKINGS isn’t the right fit.
No booking system is right for every charter. Here is when another option may serve you better.
You need new guests most
If nobody finds you yet, a marketplace listing brings anglers you cannot reach on your own. Keep it while you build your own traffic.
You sell through resellers
If most trips come through Viator, GetYourGuide or hotel desks, a platform built for reseller channels may suit you better.
You want a full new site in one bill
If you want a done-for-you website and booking under one subscription, a website platform does that. We build websites too, priced separately.
You run a large multi-activity operation
Big operations selling tours, rentals and lodging together may need an enterprise reservation system.
What is the cheapest fishing charter booking software?
For a charter taking deposits online, RIVERRISE BOOKINGS at $99 a month is among the lowest-cost options with no platform or booking fee. Marketplaces cost nothing up front but take a share of each trip they book, and subscription website platforms run $160 to $299 a month.
Is a marketplace or my own booking system better?
They do different jobs. A marketplace can introduce you to anglers who have never heard of you, at the cost of a commission. Your own booking system lets repeat guests and everyone who finds you directly book without a commission. Many captains use both.
Who pays the booking fee on FareHarbor or TripWorks?
Both add a booking fee to the guest’s checkout. TripWorks also charges operators a monthly plan fee that it waives above a booking-volume threshold. With RIVERRISE BOOKINGS there is no platform or booking fee for you or your guests.
Do I have to build a new website to switch?
No. RIVERRISE BOOKINGS installs on most websites, including WordPress, Squarespace, Wix and custom builds. Your Book buttons open it from the site you already have.
Can you move my bookings from my current system?
Yes. We enter your upcoming trips so nothing gets missed, and your current system finishes the bookings it already holds. Migration is included.
How current are these prices?
We checked each provider’s published pricing on October 27, 2026. Prices change, so confirm current terms with any provider before you switch.
See it with your own trips.
A free 20-minute demo built around your boats, trips and season.