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Travel · head to head

BCD TripSource vs Bokun

BCD TripSource logo

BCD TripSource

Travel

Traveller-facing itinerary and trip management app bundled with a BCD Travel programme

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bokun logo

Bokun

Travel

Tour and activity booking platform tied to Viator distribution, from free to $499 a month

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bokun has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BCD TripSource it cannot be bought or used without a BCD Travel TMC contract, so it is not a genuine alternative to an independent app like TripIt for a company using a different agency.; Bokun viator bookings are exempt from the booking fee while your own direct bookings are not, so the pricing structure rewards selling through the parent marketplace rather than through your own site.
  • They diverge on capability: BCD TripSource covers Trip timeline, Bokun covers Channel manager.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BCD TripSource and Bokun actually diverge.

Attributes where BCD TripSource and Bokun differ
AttributeBCD TripSourceBokun
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotePer month plus a booking fee
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Travel).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BCD TripSource

  • Trip timeline
  • Real-time alerts
  • Entry requirement guidance
  • Itinerary sharing
  • Driving directions
  • Policy and booking links

Only in Bokun

  • Channel manager
  • Booking widgets
  • Marketplace
  • Product and availability setup
  • Offline bookings
  • Vouchers and redemption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BCD TripSource

  • A company already contracted to BCD Travel wanting a single itinerary view for travellersnot Bokun
  • A travel manager needing entry requirement and flight alert information pushed automaticallynot Bokun
  • An assistant or arranger who needs to share a travelling executive's itinerary quicklynot Bokun
  • A duty of care programme that wants trip data visible without travellers logging into a separate portalnot Bokun

Bokun

  • An operator already doing significant Viator volume who wants that channel to cost nothing in software feesnot BCD TripSource
  • A city tour company reselling partner products and taking commission through the Bokun marketplacenot BCD TripSource
  • An operator wanting a fixed monthly subscription rather than a percentage of every booking as FareHarbor chargesnot BCD TripSource
  • A business taking most bookings by phone, which incur no Bokun booking fee at allnot BCD TripSource

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BCD TripSource

  • It cannot be bought or used without a BCD Travel TMC contract, so it is not a genuine alternative to an independent app like TripIt for a company using a different agency.
  • Feature depth trails purpose-built consumer itinerary apps, and companies sometimes end up recommending a personal TripIt subscription alongside it for travellers who want more.
  • Because it is bundled, there is no separate pricing to negotiate down, and the cost is buried inside the overall BCD Travel service fee.
  • Manually forwarded bookings made outside BCD Travel channels are not always captured cleanly, leaving gaps in the trip timeline for off-channel purchases.
  • Switching TMC away from BCD Travel means losing the app entirely, adding a hidden switching cost beyond renegotiating the agency contract itself.

Bokun

  • Viator bookings are exempt from the booking fee while your own direct bookings are not, so the pricing structure rewards selling through the parent marketplace rather than through your own site.
  • The booking fee sits on top of the monthly subscription, so an operator on Start pays $49 plus 1.5% of direct online revenue and the plan price alone understates the cost.
  • The free plan is limited to a single user and constrained features, so any business with staff has to move to a paid tier almost immediately.
  • Adopting it deepens commercial dependence on Tripadvisor and Viator, which is uncomfortable if your strategy is reducing OTA commission exposure.
  • Reporting and back-office depth are lighter than dedicated operator platforms, so businesses with complex resource scheduling or multi-site operations often need workarounds.

Pricing, plan by plan

BCD TripSource

On request
  • BCD Travel programme (TripSource included)$undefined/year
    • Bundled into a BCD Travel managed travel contract
    • No standalone licence available
    • Traveller download is free once a company is a BCD Travel client

Bokun

Free
  • FreeFree
    • One user
    • No monthly fee
    • No Bokun booking fee
  • Start$49/month
    • Up to 5 users
    • 1.5% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No booking fee on Viator bookings
  • Plus$149/month
    • Up to 10 users
    • 1.25% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No Bokun fee on Viator bookings
  • Premium$499/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 1% booking fee on direct online bookings
    • No Bokun fee on Viator bookings

Which should you pick?

Choose BCD TripSource if

  • You need trip timeline.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want real-time alerts.
BCD TripSource review

Choose Bokun if

  • You need channel manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want booking widgets.
Bokun review

Questions people ask

Is BCD TripSource or Bokun better?
Neither clearly leads. BCD TripSource starts at On request and Bokun at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BCD TripSource or Bokun?
Bokun has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for BCD TripSource and Free for Bokun.
Does BCD TripSource or Bokun run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bokun for free?
Yes. Bokun has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BCD TripSource starts at On request.
What is BCD TripSource best used for?
BCD TripSource is most often used for a company already contracted to bcd travel wanting a single itinerary view for travellers, a travel manager needing entry requirement and flight alert information pushed automatically, an assistant or arranger who needs to share a travelling executive's itinerary quickly, a duty of care programme that wants trip data visible without travellers logging into a separate portal. Of those, a company already contracted to bcd travel wanting a single itinerary view for travellers and a travel manager needing entry requirement and flight alert information pushed automatically are not what Bokun is typically brought in for.
What can BCD TripSource do that Bokun cannot?
BCD TripSource covers Trip timeline, Real-time alerts, Entry requirement guidance, Itinerary sharing. Bokun covers Channel manager, Booking widgets, Marketplace, Product and availability setup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BCD TripSource: Can we buy TripSource without using BCD Travel as our agency?

No. It is bundled with a BCD Travel managed travel contract and is not sold separately.

Bokun: Are Viator bookings really free of Bokun fees?

Yes on the paid plans. Direct online bookings through your own widget carry 1% to 1.5% depending on tier.

BCD TripSource: Is the app free for travellers?

Yes, once the employer is a BCD Travel client, travellers download it at no separate charge.

Bokun: Can I pass the booking fee to customers?

Yes, on the paid plans the fee can be added to the customer price rather than absorbed.

BCD TripSource: Does it replace an online booking tool?

No, it is an itinerary and alert hub; booking happens through BCD Travel's separate online booking tool or agents.

Bokun: Who owns Bokun?

Viator, which is part of Tripadvisor.

Bokun: Is the free plan usable in a real business?

Only for a solo operator. It is one user with limited features.

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