Jul 30, 2025
Top Shopify booking apps to streamline hotel reservations and boost revenue
Why Hotels Need Shopify Booking Apps
Hotels, resorts, hostels, and boutique stays are all leveraging e-commerce platforms like Shopify to centralize bookings, manage customer data, and sell additional services. A dedicated booking app brings everything under one roof — from reservations to add-ons and even upsells like late checkouts or spa packages.
Benefits include:
Real-time room availability
Multi-room and multi-location support
Integration with POS for walk-ins
Calendar sync with Google or iCal
Custom check-in/check-out times
Upselling of services and products
Automatic confirmations and reminders
Payment integration with deposits and refunds
Must-Have Features in a Hotel Booking App
When choosing the right app for your hospitality business, look for the following core features:
Room-Based Inventory
Support for managing different room types, capacities, and rates is essential. You should be able to adjust pricing based on occupancy, day of the week, or season.
Multi-Day Bookings
Your booking tool should allow guests to select a check-in and check-out date, ensuring accurate overnight reservations without overlapping.
Multi-Location Management
If you operate hotels in different cities, look for an app that supports managing availability and pricing per location.
Staff and Housekeeping Coordination
Some apps allow you to assign rooms to cleaning teams or notify staff of bookings automatically, reducing miscommunication.
Mobile-Friendly Self-Booking
Most guests will book via mobile. Your booking flow should be smooth, fast, and user-friendly on smartphones.
Payment Flexibility
Allow deposits, full pre-payment, or pay-on-arrival options. Also, consider apps that allow you to set no-show fees.
POS and Walk-In Integration
If you receive walk-in bookings, Shopify POS integration is key for instantly syncing room availability and processing payments
Top Booking Apps for Hotels on Shopify
Here are the most popular and reliable booking apps suitable for hospitality businesses on Shopify:
1. Cowlendar
Pros:
Supports overnight and multi-day bookings
Google Calendar + Zoom integration
Built-in deposits, upsells, and no-show fees
Shopify POS compatibility
Fully mobile optimized
Clean, fast Shopify-native UI
Cons:
Full features require a Pro plan
🔗 Install Cowlendar on Shopify
2. BookThatApp
Pros:
Handles appointments, classes, and rentals
Allows for complex booking scenarios like tours and events
Good for multi-day and multi-location bookings
Cons:
Steeper learning curve
UI is less modern
Requires more configuration for hotel-style stays
🔗 Install BookThatApp on Shopify
3. Easy Appointment Booking
Pros:
Beginner-friendly
Allows basic booking for services
Supports deposits and simple calendar views
Cons:
Not ideal for hotel rooms or overnight stays
Limited customizability for room-based bookings
Real-World Use Cases
Boutique Hotels
Small luxury hotels love Cowlendar’s ability to define unique service durations (e.g., check-in 3 PM / check-out 11 AM), upsell breakfast packages, and coordinate with cleaning staff.
Hostels and BnBs
BookThatApp can support complex booking logic like bunk vs. private rooms or weekend group events.
Eco-Resorts and Retreat Centers
Cowlendar’s clean UI and multi-location support are perfect for businesses with villas or bungalows in different parts of a region.
Pop-Up Glamping and Seasonal Lodges
Short-term rental businesses enjoy the flexibility to add or remove availability in Cowlendar depending on weather or season.
Pricing Comparison
Feature | Cowlendar | BookThatApp | Easy Appointment Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
Multi-day bookings | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Room-based inventory | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
POS Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Google Calendar sync | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Manual setup | ✅ Basic |
Mobile-optimized booking flow | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ Yes |
Deposit support | ✅ Native | ✅ Via setup | ✅ Yes |
Staff assignments | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Final Thoughts
If your Shopify store supports hospitality services — from high-end hotels to quirky off-grid stays — a proper booking app is essential.
Cowlendar stands out for its modern design, deep Shopify integration, mobile responsiveness, and wide feature set tailored to real hotel operations.
BookThatApp still serves larger operations that need flexibility and are comfortable navigating a steeper learning curve.
For simple setups or single-service businesses, Easy Appointment Booking may suffice, though it lacks full hotel-style features.
Try the Best Booking App for Hotels
🛎️ Want to modernize your hotel’s online bookings? Try Cowlendar today for a streamlined, guest-friendly experience.
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