Blog · Pricing
Free direct booking website for short-term rentals: what it really means
Hosts search “free direct booking website” because they want to test without a big PMS bill. Fair. Just know what “free” usually includes, and what it never covers (payment processing, your time, and a live page guests trust).
The three kinds of “free”
- Forever-free DIY: Google Sites, Carrd, Notion public page. Cheap, but no real date-priced checkout unless you bolt on tools yourself.
- Free trial on a builder: You build a real stay page, then subscribe to keep it live. Best match for most hosts.
- “Free” with heavy cut of bookings: Low monthly fee, high take rate on every stay. Read the fine print.
If the product needs guests to pay you online, something funds the servers: subscription, commission, or ads. There is no magic forever-free Stripe hotel.
What you still pay even on a free trial
- Stripe / card fees: normal payment processing, paid from the booking.
- Your photos and copy: the page only converts if it looks ready.
- Calendar discipline: blocking OTA dates so you do not double-book.
What “good enough free start” looks like
For one home, you want:
- One public stay URL
- Nightly rate + cleaning fee calculated for selected dates
- Payouts to your account
- Mobile-ready template (hero, gallery, things to know)
That is a builder with a trial, not a blank website builder and a PayPal button.
Honest limits on welcomein.to
Starter: 3-day free trial, then a low monthly plan · 1 welcome book · 1 direct booking page.
Host: up to 5 of each.
Pro: unlimited.
Live pages need an active trial or subscription. Drafts stay yours either way.
Red flags on “free” tools
- No clear path to get paid (only inquiry forms)
- Your page disappears when the trial ends with no export
- Hidden commission on every booking
- Desktop-only templates guests cannot book on a phone
Free DIY vs trial builder
DIY is fine for a “coming soon” landing page. It is a poor checkout. A trial builder gets you to a real booking faster, same reason digital welcome books beat free Word templates in our template guide.
How to start this week
- Pick a stay template and fill photos + rates
- Connect Stripe
- Publish and share with one past guest
- If you host on Airbnb, keep both channels. See direct booking + Airbnb
Start with a free trial
Build one stay page on Starter, see if guests book, then upgrade only when you need more properties.
View pricing & trial Open Direct booking