The Quick Numbers
Cowlendar
4.9 stars
2,061+ reviews
22,500+ stores
85+ countries
Built for Shopify: Yes
Free plan: All features included
Starting paid: $13.99/mo
BookThatApp
4.7 stars
~500 reviews
8,000+ stores, claimed
Built for Shopify: No
Free plan: 10 bookings only
Starting paid: $25/mo
Why BookThatApp Keeps Coming Up
BookThatApp is the oldest booking app on the Shopify App Store. It launched in 2010, years before most competitors existed. That head start means it appears in more blog posts, more comparison articles, and more Google results than almost any other booking app. When a merchant searches for best Shopify booking app, BookThatApp is in nearly every list.
That visibility is earned through longevity, not through having the best product in 2026. The Shopify ecosystem has changed dramatically since 2010. Apps that launched later, including Cowlendar, were built for the platform as it exists today: Shopify checkout, Shopify POS, the Built for Shopify certification program, and integrations with tools like Klaviyo and Meta Pixel that did not exist when BookThatApp was first built.
This page compares both apps using verified data from the Shopify App Store as of August 2026.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Feature
Cowlendar
BookThatApp
Shopify App Store Rating
4.9 stars (2,061+ reviews)
4.7 stars (~500 reviews)
Built for Shopify Certified
✓ Yes
X No
Free Plan
✓ All features, 5 bookings
10 bookings, limited features
All Features on All Plans
✓ Yes
X No
Starting Paid Price
$13.99/mo
$25/mo
Deposits Available From
✓ Free plan
Premium ($49.95/mo)
API Access From
Growth ($59.99/mo)
Business ($110/mo)
One-to-One Appointments
✓
✓
Group Booking
✓
✓
Multiday Booking (Airbnb-style)
✓
✓
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Times
✓
Not Specified
Bundle/Package Booking
✓
Not Specified
Subscription Booking
✓
Not Specified
Court Sport Booking
✓
Not Specified
Restaurant Booking
✓
Not Specified
Virtual Booking (Zoom)
✓
✓
Microsoft Teams
✓
Not Specified
Google Meet
✓
Not Specified
Google Calendar 2-Way Sync
✓ All plans
✓ Paid plans
Outlook Sync
✓ All plans
✓ Paid plans
iCal / Airbnb Sync
✓ All plans
✓
Klaviyo Integration
✓
Not Specified
Zapier Integration
✓
Not Specified
Meta Pixel (Server-Side)
✓
Not Specified
Google Tag / GA4 (Server-Side)
✓
Not Specified
Shopify POS
✓
✓
Event Calendar Widget
✓ (month/week/list/grid)
✓
Inline Widget
✓
Not Specified
Custom Email Per Service
✓
Not Specified
Discount Feature
✓
Not Specified
Mass Edit Services
✓
Not Specified
ICS Files in Emails
✓
Not Specified
SMS Reminders
✓ SMS, WhatsApp & Email
✓ SMS & Email
Reserve with Google
✓ Via Google Business Profile
✓ Native
WhatsApp Reminders
✓ Yes
Not Specified
Security Bonds
Only with Equipments
✓
Seasonal Pricing Module
✓ All services
✓ Tours only
Staff Management
✓ All plans
✓ Lite ($25/mo)+
Custom Booking Forms
✓
✓
Multi-Location
✓
✓
Email Reminders
✓
✓
Cancel/Reschedule
✓
✓
Multilanguage
✓
Limited
12 Things Cowlendar Does That BookThatApp Does Not
📊
Server-Side Tracking (Meta Pixel + GA4)
Track your entire booking funnel with Meta Pixel and Google Tag. Server-side tracking bypasses ad-blockers and iOS ATT restrictions so you actually see which ads drive bookings.
📧
Klaviyo Integration
Connect your booking data directly to Klaviyo for automated follow-up emails, booking reminders, and win-back campaigns. BookThatApp has no Klaviyo integration.
🕐
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Times
Let customers choose specific pick-up and drop-off time slots for equipment rentals and multiday bookings. Configure available times and intervals per service.
📅
Event Calendar Widget
Embed a full month/week/list/grid calendar view on any page of your Shopify store. Customers browse all available dates at a glance without opening individual products.
🎾
4 Extra Booking Types
Bundle/package booking, subscription booking, court sport booking, and restaurant booking. BookThatApp handles appointments, rentals, and classes but not these four specialized types.
💰
All Features from $0
Cowlendar free plan includes deposits, Google Calendar sync, Zoom, staff management, and all 8 booking types. BookThatApp free plan caps at 10 bookings with limited features. Deposits require the $49.95/month Premium plan.
💬
WhatsApp Booking Reminders
Send automated booking reminders through WhatsApp in addition to SMS and email. BookThatApp supports SMS and email only. WhatsApp reaches customers who ignore email and prefer messaging.
Where BookThatApp Still Has the Edge
BookThatApp has been on Shopify since 2010, longer than any competitor in this comparison. That 15-year track record means a mature codebase, an established support team, and features refined from over a decade of merchant feedback.
One specific feature BookThatApp offers that Cowlendar does not: security bonds for high-value rentals, where merchants can hold a deposit as a damage guarantee separate from the booking payment.
On three features that BookThatApp is often credited for, Cowlendar has matched or surpassed them: Cowlendar sends reminders via SMS, WhatsApp, and email (BookThatApp does SMS and email only, no WhatsApp). Cowlendar supports seasonal pricing across all service types (BookThatApp limits it to tours). And Cowlendar integrates with Google Business Profile so customers can book directly from Google Search results, the same outcome as BookThatApp’s Reserve with Google feature.
What Each Feature Actually Costs
Both apps have free plans. The difference is what you get for free and what you pay to unlock.
Feature
Deposits
Cowlendar
Free plan ($0/mo)
BookThatApp
Premium plan ($49.95/mo)
Savings with Cowlendar
$49.95/month
Feature
Staff Management
Cowlendar
Free plan ($0/mo)
BookThatApp
Lite plan ($25/mo)
Savings with Cowlendar
$25/month
Feature
API Access
Cowlendar
Growth plan ($59.99/mo)
BookThatApp
Business plan ($110/mo)
Savings with Cowlendar
$50.01/month
A merchant who needs deposits, staff accounts, and API access pays $59.99/month total on Cowlendar. The same feature set on BookThatApp costs $110/month. That is $600/year in savings.
What the Reviews Actually Tell You
Cowlendar
4.9 stars
2,061+ reviews
97% are 5 stars
1% are 1 star
BookThatApp
4.7 stars
~500 reviews
87% are 5 stars
4% are 1 star
Both apps have positive overall ratings. The difference shows in the tails. Cowlendar 1-star rate is 1%. BookThatApp 1-star rate is 4%, the highest of any major booking app on Shopify. Recent 1-star reviews on BookThatApp cite checkout failures for rental products and a setup process that needs an expert. Cowlendar most common criticism is from merchants who want SMS reminders, which is a feature we are working on.
FAQ
Is BookThatApp better than Cowlendar?
BookThatApp is the oldest booking app on Shopify (since 2010) and offers security bonds for high-value rentals that Cowlendar does not. Beyond that, Cowlendar matches or exceeds every BookThatApp feature: SMS, WhatsApp, and email reminders (BookThatApp has no WhatsApp), seasonal pricing for all services (BookThatApp limits this to tours), Google Business Profile booking (same outcome as Reserve with Google), a higher rating (4.9 vs 4.7), more reviews (2,061+ vs ~500), the Built for Shopify certification, and all features included on the free plan.
Does BookThatApp have a free plan?
Yes, but it is limited to 10 bookings per month with basic email notifications only. Features like deposits, staff management, and API access require paid plans starting at $25/month. Cowlendar free plan includes all features (deposits, staff, Google Calendar sync, Zoom, all 8 booking types) with up to 5 bookings per month.
Is BookThatApp Built for Shopify?
No. BookThatApp does not carry the Built for Shopify certification. Cowlendar does. This certification means the app meets Shopify highest standards for performance, security, design, and integration quality.
How much does BookThatApp cost compared to Cowlendar?
BookThatApp paid plans start at $25/month (Lite) and go up to $110/month (Business) with features locked by tier. Cowlendar paid plans start at $13.99/month (Starter) with all features included on every plan. A merchant needing deposits and staff management pays $0 on Cowlendar free plan vs $49.95/month on BookThatApp Premium plan.
Does Cowlendar integrate with Klaviyo?
Yes. Cowlendar connects directly to Klaviyo for automated booking follow-ups, reminder campaigns, and customer segmentation based on booking behavior. BookThatApp does not have a Klaviyo integration.
Can Cowlendar track Meta Pixel and Google Analytics?
Yes. Cowlendar supports server-side tracking for both Meta Pixel and Google Tag/GA4. Server-side tracking bypasses ad-blockers and iOS App Tracking Transparency restrictions, giving you accurate conversion data from your booking funnel. BookThatApp does not offer tracking pixel support.
Can I switch from BookThatApp to Cowlendar?
Yes. Install Cowlendar from the Shopify App Store, recreate your services, and connect your calendar. Your Shopify products stay the same. Existing BookThatApp bookings in your Shopify orders are preserved. Most merchants complete the migration in under an hour.
Which app is better for rental businesses?
Cowlendar includes multiday Airbnb-style booking with pick-up/drop-off time selection, iCal sync with Airbnb/VRBO, and deposits on the free plan. BookThatApp also handles rentals well and has a seasonal pricing module for tour operators. Both are viable for rentals. Cowlendar costs less for the same feature set and includes more booking types. Cowlendar also includes pick-up/drop-off time selection and seasonal pricing for all service types, not just tours. Reminders go out via SMS, WhatsApp, and email to reduce no-shows across all channels.