HostelMate vs BananaDesk for hostels
BananaDesk is built for hostels too, prices by guest capacity and includes a channel manager in every plan. The differences are the price model and the booking engine fee. If a capacity-based price suits you, BananaDesk is a real alternative; if you want one flat price with no fee on direct bookings, HostelMate is.
| What we compared | HostelMate | BananaDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price a month | $19 up to 30 beds, $45 with no bed limit, per property | From $35 for up to 10 guests, up to $155 for 80 or more |
| Fees per booking or channel | None | Booking engine free, or 4% when BananaDesk processes the payment |
| Sells single dorm beds | Yes | Not stated on its site |
| Channel manager | Included in both plans | Included in all plans |
| Price published | Yes, on our pricing page | Yes, on its pricing page |
| Built for | Hostels, from one small hostel to a small group | Hostels happy to pay by guest capacity |
HostelMate prices are from our pricing page. BananaDesk figures are from its own pricing page, read 5 October 2026.
Where BananaDesk is the better choice
BananaDesk is hostel software too, and its channel manager is in every plan. If your hostel fits its lower capacity tiers and you're happy with its payment setup, it's a fair pick.
- You'd rather pay a price that follows your guest capacity.
- You're happy to take payments through BananaDesk's own method.
- You want software from a company that works only with hostels, as we do.
Built by people who ran hostels
HostelMate was sketched on a surf-wax box in Bali by two hostel managers who couldn't find software that treated a bunk as something you sell.
That's still the brief: the bed is the unit, and the price is on the website.
What HostelMate does day to day
- Change dorm prices for a whole season at once, by date range, weekend or event.
- Let prices move with demand through the day, if you switch it on.
- Send pre-arrival messages by email or WhatsApp with directions, check-in times and house rules.
- Give staff their own permissions, so the night shift and the owner see different things.
- Keep Booking.com, Hostelworld, Airbnb and the rest on one calendar, with each bed sold once.
- Let guests check in online before they arrive.
- Open smart lockers by Bluetooth from an app, with a PIN as backup.
- Hold unpaid bookings on a waitlist for your OK, while the bed stays on sale.
- Put a group on one booking, with each guest able to pay their own share.
Where HostelMate is the better choice
If most of what you sell is dorm beds and you want one published price, these are the cases where we fit better.
Mostly dorms
Every bed is its own unit for selling, pricing and assignment, so mixed, female and male dorms stay apart.
You want the price first
Both plans are on the pricing page. No call, no quote and no setup fee.
Hostelworld matters
HostelMate is on Hostelworld's list of connected channel managers, and its bookings land bed by bed.
Direct bookings
The booking engine on your own website takes no commission and shares one calendar with every OTA.
Moving over
Send us your export as it is. It's usually loaded within the day, often within the hour.
Volunteers on the desk
Give each person their own permissions, so a two-week volunteer sees what they need and nothing else.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to Manageyour dream Hostel?
Competitor information comes from public sources, checked on 5 and 6 October 2026. Prices, features and trademarks belong to their owners and may change. HostelMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by BananaDesk.