eviivo Alternative for B&Bs and Guesthouses
eviivo Suite starts from $50 per month, with per-room add-ons, and claims 28,000+ properties. FrontDesko is the alternative with a free PMS and unlimited rooms, and a flat $35-54/month channel manager.
By the FrontDesko team · Last updated 2026-11-09 · eviivo prices read from its public pricing page on 2026-11-09
How does eviivo compare with FrontDesko at a glance?
| FrontDesko | eviivo | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free forever (unlimited rooms) | Single Property from $50; Multi-Property from $125 (also shown in GBP, EUR, CHF, CAD; excludes tax) |
| How extras are priced | Flat tiers by room band: Mint $35, Basil $42, Saffron $54 per month for channel manager and AI assistant | Per-room add-ons: Payment Manager +$1, Guest Manager +$3, Promo Manager +$3, Performance Manager +$2, Owner Manager +$3 |
| Booking fees | No commission on direct bookings | No commission; $0.50 per confirmed booking for optional messaging and payment services |
| Channels | 75+ two-way OTA connections plus Google Hotels | Two-way sync with major OTAs including Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, Google; 200+ partner integrations claimed |
| Booking engine and website | Free tier booking engine, commission-free | Website Manager: booking engine and website builder |
| Users | Custom roles per user; emailed sign-in code for elevated roles | Unlimited users included |
| Smart locks | Not offered | Device Manager for smart lock access codes |
| Guest app, POS | Included in the free tier | Free eviivo Mobile app; POS not listed on the page we read |
| Free period | Free tier has no clock; no card | Pricing cards say 14 or 30 days free; its FAQ says it does not offer free trials, so ask |
Both products cover the same B&B and guesthouse needs: calendar, booking engine, channel manager and payments. eviivo adds more modules, priced per room; FrontDesko includes the front desk in a free tier and charges one tier for the channel manager.
Where does eviivo win?
- Scale and track record. eviivo claims more than 28,000 accommodations in 70 countries, and lists B&Bs, inns, hosts and campgrounds among its customers (vendor claims).
- A longer module list. Guest, Promo, Performance and Owner managers, dynamic AI pricing and smart-lock access codes are all separate eviivo modules. FrontDesko does not have a smart lock manager.
- Support hours. eviivo lists support in seven languages, seven days a week.
- Integrations. It claims free open APIs and 200+ partner integrations.
Where does FrontDesko win?
FrontDesko's PMS, commission-free direct booking engine, guest app and POS are free forever with unlimited rooms. The channel manager and Ask FrontDesko AI assistant are the paid part: Mint $35/month (0-10 rooms), Basil $42/month (11-30 rooms) or Saffron $54/month (31-50 rooms).
With eviivo the bill grows with each module and each room. With FrontDesko the front desk, booking engine, guest app and POS are free, and the one paid tier depends on your room band, not on how many modules you switch on. Property managers who want to compare a UK-focused option can also read hotel management software in the UK and B&B management software.
Recently shipped features:
- Unified guest inbox: email plus Booking.com, Airbnb and Expedia chat land in one Messages tab, with a Needs reply filter.
- Card guarantee: OTA bookings through the channel connection, and direct bookings through the hotel's own Stripe account; a card is saved, not charged, until you decide.
- Booking email and iCal import: for a booking source that is not on your channel manager, forward its confirmation emails to a private address or sync an iCal calendar.
- Custom staff roles and sign-in codes: a permission set per person, and an emailed six-digit code for administrators, managers and finance managers.
- Packages and long-stay discounts in the free booking engine, with a Book this room link per room type for your website.
What would a 10-room B&B pay on each?
eviivo: the Suite base is "from $50" per month, and its Payment, Guest, Promo, Performance and Owner managers are priced per room on top. eviivo's pricing page gives two different volume thresholds (above 10 rooms and above 25 rooms), so ask which applies. We do not total a bill here because the base may or may not scale with rooms and extras are optional.
FrontDesko: $0 for the PMS, booking engine, guest app and POS, and $35/month (Mint) if you add the channel manager and AI assistant. More comparisons: best channel managers for small hotels.
What does a day look like after switching from eviivo?
Illustrative scenario, not a customer case study: the property, people and times below are invented to show how the screens behave. No real customer, quote or result is described.
- 07:10 — Hannah, the (invented) owner of an 8-room B&B in York, opens FrontDesko on her laptop. The dashboard shows today's arrivals, departures and rooms to clean.
- 09:15 — A Booking.com guest chats about early check-in and another emails. Both threads are in the Messages tab; she answers each through its own channel.
- 11:30 — A direct guest books from her website's booking widget. The room-type link she pasted behind the "Book this room" button pre-selects the room.
- 14:00 — She creates a weekend package with a stay-length discount; the booking engine shows one total in the price preview.
- 16:20 — A direct booking has a saved guarantee card. The reservation's Card Guarantee panel shows it, and nothing has been charged.
- 19:00 — Her weekend helper signs in with a custom role: check-in and housekeeping, no rates or reports.
- 22:45 — Hannah checks tomorrow's arrivals. A guest has already done self check-in in the guest app and left an arrival time.
How do you switch from eviivo to FrontDesko?
- Export your bookings and guests from eviivo and note your room types, rate plans and add-on services.
- Create the free FrontDesko account, set up rooms and rates, and import the data with the onboarding wizard.
- Subscribe to a channel manager tier, connect your OTAs, and remove each channel from eviivo as you reconnect it.
- Point the booking link on your website to the FrontDesko booking widget.
- Run both in parallel for 7-14 days, then cut over and cancel eviivo on its terms.
eviivo bills in arrears, so check the final invoice date. The longer playbook is on the switching guide and in the hotel PMS migration checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to eviivo?
FrontDesko is a good alternative if you want a free PMS with unlimited rooms and a flat-tier channel manager at $35 to $54 per month. eviivo is stronger on module breadth, smart-lock access codes and a large installed base.
How much does eviivo cost?
eviivo lists Suite pricing from $50 per month for a single property and from $125 for multi-property, excluding tax. Add-ons are charged per room per month, and a $0.50 processing fee applies per confirmed booking for optional payment and messaging services.
Is eviivo or FrontDesko cheaper?
FrontDesko is free for the PMS, booking engine, guest app and POS, and $35 to $54 per month for the channel manager. eviivo starts from $50 before per-room add-ons, so FrontDesko is usually lower for small properties.
Does eviivo charge commission?
eviivo says it takes no revenue share beyond the OTA's own commission. It does charge a flat $0.50 per confirmed booking for optional messaging and payment services. FrontDesko charges no commission on direct bookings.
Does eviivo offer a free trial?
Its pricing cards say 14 or 30 days free, while its FAQ says it does not offer free trials. Ask eviivo to confirm in writing. FrontDesko has a free tier with no clock and no card.
How long does it take to switch from eviivo?
Most small properties move in one to two weeks. Import your reservations, reconnect channels one at a time and run both systems in parallel for 7 to 14 days. Migration is free on every FrontDesko plan.
Does FrontDesko support smart locks like eviivo?
No. eviivo lists a Device Manager for smart lock access codes, and FrontDesko does not offer that. If smart locks are essential, factor that in before you switch.
Where did these eviivo facts come from?
Every eviivo price or claim on this page comes from the pages below, read on 2026-11-09. Vendors change prices, so confirm before you decide. Property counts and integration numbers are eviivo's own marketing claims.
- eviivo pricing (Suite from $50, Multi-Property from $125, per-room add-ons, $0.50 booking fee, free-period wording) — fetched 2026-11-09
- eviivo home page (modules, 28,000+ properties, 200+ integrations, support languages, customer types) — fetched 2026-11-09
More comparisons
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