OPENSTAYS COMPARISONS
Compare ways to take bookings
Listing sites, other booking software, or doing it yourself by hand. Each has a real cost, just not always the one you notice first.
Illustrative example: ₹20 lakh in annual room revenue at 20% OTA commission equals ₹4,00,000. Fees vary. Software, usage charges, payment-provider fees and taxes are separate.
SAME GUEST MESSAGE AT 11 PM
Four ways to handle it
OpenStays
0%commission
Replies in seconds.
OTAs
20% examplecommission
Guest is already on their app.
Other software
Variescommission
Check its messaging tools.
Doing it yourself
0%commission
Your time is the real cost.
WHY BOTHER COMPARING
Compare all four options for your property
Most properties drift into whichever option they started with, usually an OTA, because it required nothing to begin and never revisit the decision once the property is busy. The cost of that drift is what this page is about: not which option is “best” in the abstract, but what each one actually costs a specific property in money, time and control, so switching (or not switching) becomes a decision instead of a default.
FIRST, THE BASICS
What these four options actually mean
OTAs help guests discover and book properties through a marketplace. Other booking software can provide booking engines, calendars, payments or messaging tools; features and charges vary. Doing it yourself means your team handles enquiries, quotes, payments and reservation records with the tools you choose.
OpenStays connects your website booking engine, configured WhatsApp replies and reservation records. Guests can also use your listing page on OpenStays.in. Your own marketing and referrals remain important for bringing guests to your direct channel.
THE COMPARISON
OpenStays vs OTAs vs other software vs doing it yourself
| What to compare | OpenStays | OTAs | Other software | Do it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking commission | 0% OpenStays booking commission | Under your OTA agreement | Varies by product | No platform commission on direct bookings |
| Annual cost on ₹20 lakh room revenue | See current plans; usage and payment-provider fees are separate | ₹4,00,000 at an illustrative 20% commission, before taxes and other fees | Compare the subscription, modules and transaction charges in your quote | Website, payment tools and staff time |
| Booking automation | Configured quotes, payment links and guest messages | Reservations through the platform’s booking flow | Depends on the product and setup | Handled by your team unless you add tools |
| Payment route | Direct UPI or a supported gateway, under your payment settings | Under the platform’s payment and settlement terms | Under your provider’s terms | Your chosen payment method |
| Guest ID records | Store documents against the reservation and export registers | Check the records available under your agreement | Check included features | Collect and organise records yourself |
| WhatsApp AI | Available; outgoing messages use credits | Check the platform’s messaging tools | Depends on the product | Manual replies or separate tools |
| Guest discovery | Your website, shared booking links and OpenStays.in | Marketplace search and recommendations | Depends on the product’s distribution tools | Your own marketing and referrals |
| Guest follow-up | Use your guest records subject to consent and messaging rules | Subject to platform access and messaging rules | Depends on the product and your data access | Your team’s records and process |
| As your property grows | Plan limits, room count and usage affect costs | Commission follows booking value under your agreement | Room, user or module charges may apply | Workload and tool costs can increase |
| If you switch tools | Export your booking and guest records | Check export access and platform terms | Check export formats and access | Keep control of the records you maintain |
Current OpenStays pricing is always on the pricing page. Have a question about how any of these figures were worked out? See the FAQ below, or message us on WhatsApp.
WHAT ACTUALLY DIFFERS
Every option here is legitimate. They just ask different things of you
Compare the booking tools, distribution reach, payment terms and work each option leaves to your team. OTAs can help with discovery. Booking software can automate parts of your direct channel. A manual process gives your team control but also takes time. Check the actual features and terms rather than assuming every provider works the same way.
A ROUGH GUIDE
Which one actually fits your situation
None of these four is wrong. Each is the right call for a specific property at a specific stage. A rough guide, honestly stated:
- New property, no reputation yet: lean on OTAs for discovery. You need the marketplace more than you need to save on commission, for now.
- Established property, steady repeat and referral guests: compare the cost of a direct channel with the commission on bookings you can realistically move.
- Comfortable spending your own time instead of money: include your time, payment tools and marketing costs when comparing a manual process.
- Already paying for booking software that isn’t OTA-linked: check what it’s actually saving you against the manual effort it still asks for, the comparison table above is built for exactly this check.
Most properties end up running two of these at once rather than picking one for life and that’s fine. The goal isn’t loyalty to a method. It’s knowing what each one is quietly costing you, in money or in time, so the mix you run is a decision and not a habit.
GO DEEPER
Pick the comparison that matches your situation
Direct booking vs OTAs
Where the commission really goes and what T+X settlement costs you that the invoice doesn’t show.
Metasearch vs OTAs
One is a shop window, the other is a shop. Who gets the booking when both show your room.
Free booking links vs hotel ads
One is earned and one is bought. When paying for Google clicks is worth it and when it is not.
Instant book vs request to book
Which one to use on ordinary dates and which on your busiest weekend.
iCal sync vs a channel manager
Which one your property actually needs and how to tell without waiting for a sales call.
CRS vs PMS
One runs your property, the other sells it. Find out which gap you have before you buy.
Dynamic vs manual pricing
The choice is really three ways and the middle one suits most small properties.
HOW TO EVALUATE ANY BOOKING SETUP
Six questions worth asking any vendor, OpenStays included
- Who actually holds the guest’s payment and for how long?
- What happens to your guest data if you stop paying?
- Is the commission or fee structure written down anywhere, or only spoken?
- Can you export your guest ID register in the format authorities ask for, today, without a support ticket?
- What does the vendor do automatically and what still needs you at 11pm?
- What’s the real cost of switching away, if it doesn’t work out?
COMPARISON HELP
Questions about your options
Is OpenStays really 0% commission?
Yes, the subscription and usage charges are how we make money, not a cut of your bookings. We never touch your money; payments go directly to your bank.
Can I compare OpenStays to a specific OTA or software I already use?
This page compares categories rather than naming specific platforms, so the numbers hold regardless of which OTA or tool you’re currently using. Message us on WhatsApp with your current setup and we’ll walk through the specific comparison.
Do I have to give up my OTA listings to use OpenStays?
No, most hosts run OpenStays alongside their existing OTA listings and use it for direct bookings, not as a replacement.
How is the ₹20 lakh comparison calculated?
₹20,00,000 in annual room revenue multiplied by an illustrative 20% OTA commission equals ₹4,00,000. This is a comparison example, not a savings guarantee. OTA fees vary. Software subscriptions, usage charges, payment-provider fees and taxes are separate. Use your own booking mix and agreement to calculate actual costs.
Is doing it myself really more expensive than it feels?
The direct cash costs of doing it yourself are lower, but the comparison above prices your own time at a modest rate to make it comparable to what OTAs and software cost. See “What actually differs” above for the reasoning.
Will my OTA account be affected if I also use OpenStays?
No. OpenStays runs alongside your existing listings, not through them, so your account standing and reviews on those platforms are untouched.
Do I need technical skill to set any of this up?
No. Most of what is compared here needs a WhatsApp number and a booking link at most. Each deep-dive page below covers its own setup steps.
I’m not sure which comparison to read first. Where do I start?
Start with OpenStays vs OTAs if commission is your biggest cost, or Instant Book vs Request to Book if your own time is the bigger strain. Both link back here once you’re done.
See what changes for your property
Choose the tools that fit your property’s booking mix, team and guest enquiries. Explore OpenStays features and compare the work they can handle with the work your team still needs to do.