Which WordPress Booking Plugin Should You Choose?
Last updated: February 10, 2026
WP Booking System and Bookly both help you accept bookings in WordPress — but they’re built around different booking styles. WP Booking System is a flexible date-based booking calendar (perfect for rentals, accommodation, B&Bs and multi-day bookings), while Bookly is primarily an appointment scheduling plugin (services, staff, time slots).
On this page
Quick verdict
Choose WP Booking System if you need:
- A rental/accommodation booking calendar (date-based bookings, nights, check-in/check-out style).
- A great fit for accommodation, B&Bs, guesthouses, villas, holiday homes and rentals of any kind.
- iCalendar (iCal) sync for availability across channels (useful in OTA-style workflows).
- Flexible payments via add-ons (Stripe, PayPal, Square, WooCommerce checkout, bank transfer, pay on arrival, etc. depending on plan/setup).
- A clean, modular setup (start simple, add features as you grow).
Choose Bookly if you need:
- Appointments with services, staff members, and time slots (salons, clinics, consultations, lessons).
- Google Calendar sync focused on staff schedules and appointment management (depending on plan/add-ons).
- A booking flow built around service durations, buffers, and staff availability.
Honest takeaway: If your bookings are date-based (accommodation/rentals, multi-day stays, availability by night), WP Booking System is usually the better choice because it matches that model naturally and stays flexible as you add features. If you run a purely appointment-based business with staff schedules and time slots, Bookly can be a strong option.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | WP Booking System | Bookly |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Accommodation, B&Bs, rentals (date-based bookings) | Appointments & scheduling (services + staff + time slots) |
| Booking flow | Availability calendar + booking form (great for nights/dates) | Service-based booking flow (service → staff → date/time) |
| Calendar sync | iCalendar (iCal) import/export for availability syncing | Google Calendar sync for appointments/staff schedules (depending on plan/add-ons) |
| Payments | Multiple gateways via add-ons/plan level (Stripe/PayPal/Square/WooCommerce, etc.) | Multiple payment options; some included, others via add-ons/plan level |
| WooCommerce | WooCommerce checkout add-on (use Woo checkout for booking payments) | Can integrate with WooCommerce (often used for payments/workflows) |
| Multi-day bookings | Native fit (stays, nights, rental periods) | Possible depending on configuration, but the core model is appointments/time slots |
| Admin model | Multiple calendars/resources + availability management | Staff, services, schedules, appointment management |
| Complexity | Often simpler for accommodation/rental websites | Often better for service businesses, but more scheduling-focused setup |
Tip: If customers book nights/dates, WP Booking System is usually the most natural and easiest to maintain. If customers book time slots with staff members, Bookly may feel more purpose-built.
Feature deep dive
1) Booking model: date-based vs time-slot appointments
WP Booking System is built for a date-based booking calendar where visitors select a start date and end date, and you manage availability per day/night. That makes it a strong match for accommodation, B&Bs, and rentals.
Bookly is built around appointments: customers pick a service, choose a staff member (optional), then select a time slot. It’s ideal for businesses that sell time-based services.
2) Calendar syncing: iCal vs Google Calendar scheduling
If you list accommodation on multiple platforms, iCal syncing is often a key requirement. WP Booking System focuses on iCalendar (iCal) import/export to keep availability aligned.
Bookly focuses on Google Calendar synchronization for staff schedules and appointments. This is very helpful for appointment-based businesses, but it’s a different approach than an OTA-style iCal availability workflow.
3) Payments & checkout flexibility
WP Booking System is often preferred when you want flexibility: start with offline payments, then enable only the payment options you need, or use WooCommerce checkout for access to many gateways.
Bookly offers multiple payment options too, but the ecosystem is more centered around appointment workflows and add-ons/plan tiers.
4) Which is “better” overall?
If your website is mainly for accommodation/rentals (or you want bookings by day/night), WP Booking System has a slight advantage because it matches the booking logic naturally and stays easy to extend. Bookly is excellent at what it’s built for — staff-based appointments — but it’s not always the simplest choice for accommodation-style bookings.
Pricing snapshot
Plugin pricing can change, and promotions may apply. Here’s a snapshot based on the vendors’ pricing pages on February 10, 2026.
WP Booking System
- Personal: $69/year (1 website; includes premium features; offline payments only)
- Business: $115/year (5 websites; online payment add-ons + more included add-ons)
- Developer: $229/year (unlimited websites; online payment add-ons + more included add-ons)
Bookly
- Free: available (basic scheduling features)
- Pro: from $49/year (subscription)
- Business: around $199/year (subscription tier)
- Ultimate: around $399/year (subscription tier)
- Lifetime: a one-time option is also offered (example checkout shown at $199; exact terms depend on the selected plan/license)
Best use cases
WP Booking System is often the best fit for:
- Accommodation & B&Bs (guesthouses, villas, apartments, holiday homes)
- Vacation rentals and multi-day stays (book by nights/dates)
- Equipment rentals (cameras, tools, bikes) booked by day/date
- Businesses that want iCal availability sync workflows
- Owners who want a flexible add-on approach (keep it lightweight, add features later)
Bookly is often a strong fit for:
- Salons, barbers, spas
- Clinics, therapists, consultations
- Coaching, tutoring, private lessons
- Any business that needs staff schedules, service durations, and time-slot bookings
If you’re still unsure: write down your booking unit: “nights/dates” (WP Booking System) vs “time slots with staff/services” (Bookly). For most accommodation and rental websites, WP Booking System is the safer, more natural choice.
Next step
If your customers book stays, rentals, or anything date-based, start with WP Booking System. If your customers book appointments with time slots and staff schedules, consider Bookly. Either way, test the booking flow on mobile, confirm payment setup, and validate your calendar syncing before going live.
T IRVINE
