The great thing about hospitality is that it’s often free. Just think about all the times friends and family have invited you over and offered food, encouragement, and advice free of charge.
It provides easy to use hotel billing software, hotel reservation system software, and online hotel booking software. The hotel industry has been booming for years. With the entry of new entrepreneurs in the business, the market is adapting to the environment of competition, and the one who survives is the sage!
While the hospitality industry is a little less selfless, it operates on a similar concept: excellent service, something that should always accompany a hotel stay, no matter the room cost.
Free and open source hotel software gives even the smallest of operators the option to find a tool that works for them and their business.
There are a lot of software offerings out there, so we’ve collected the top five free and open source hotel management software solutions (presented in alphabetical order) to get you started.
We break down the pros and cons of each so you can decide which solution is right for you and get back to focusing on your customers. Let’s dive in.
1. Abacre Cloud Hotel Management System
Screenshot of Abacre’s website
This free cloud-based solution for hotels and motels is designed for Windows and browser-based interfaces. It works for properties of all sizes, from small, family run hotels up through larger chains.
Pros
- Customizable user interface
- Encrypted database and varying access privileges
- Collects data and generates reports
Cons
- Intended for Windows; Mac users must use the web-based interface option
- Relies on / requires a stable internet connection
Have you used Abacre? Leave a review!
2. HotelDruid
HotelDruid’s scheduling dashboard
HotelDruid is an open source hotel management program developed by DigitalDruid.Net. While it’s free to download and install, if you’d like someone else to handle hosting and implementation DigitalDruid.Net offers paid hosting plans. Cost varies based on number of rooms, and caps at 250 units.
Pros
- Configure room number and details
- Group bookings
- System backup
- Operates in multiple languages
Cons
- Number of options can be overwhelming
- Clunky user interface
Have you used HotelDruid? National plumbing code of canada. Leave a review!
3. KWHotel Free
KWHotel’s scheduling dashboard
This free hotel management solution focuses on medium-sized and smaller hotel properties. For beachside destinations, it can accommodate yacht and surfboard rentals. KW Hotel offers upgrade options to two paid versions that include additional functionality.
Pros
- Reservation schedule with color codes and scaling
- Guest management
- Free automatic software updates
- Support via Skype, phone, email, and TeamViewer
Cons
- Advanced features such as group reservations, meal management, multi-computer usage, and a customizable calendar are only available in paid version
Have you used KWHotel? Leave a review!
4. NOBEDS
NOBEDS’ dashboard
NOBEDS is a free hotel and property management system compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS. It’s based in the cloud, letting you manage your hotel from anywhere. You can also opt for a no-install version if you just want to use it on the web. NOBEDS let you synchronize with a TV station, phone stations, or a point-of-sale system, allowing full integration with the services offered by your hotel.
Pros
- Automatic booking confirmation
- Automatic invoicing
- Statistical data analysis tools
- Create a free accommodation website
- Free developer support
Cons
- No 24/7 customer support
Have you used NOBEDS? Leave a review!
5. OTA Hotel Management
OTA Hotel Management’s dashboard
Released in June 2011, e-Novates’s OTA Hotel Management solution has been downloaded more than 33,700 times. The company also offers paid options that come with additional features. OTA Hotel Management is designed for small to medium-sized hotels.
Pros
- Real-time online booking engine
- Manage package rates
- Supports English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese
Cons
- No secured login page
- No password encryption
Have you used OTA Hotel Management? Leave a review!
Anything we missed?
What’s your favorite free and open source hotel management software solution, and why? Let us know in the comments!
If you want more information on some of these features, check out our list defining seven essential hotel software features.
Looking for Hospitality Property Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Hospitality Property Management software solutions.