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I've been a long-time Booking.com user for all my travel needs. From flights to hotels and even car rentals, it's been my go-to app. But I've noticed Booking has been quietly raising its commission rates over the past couple of years, and the markup is starting to show. On a recent trip to Newport, the hotel I checked into openly told me I would have paid $10 less by just calling reception directly. Needless to say, Booking betrayed me.
Hotel Tonight caught my attention as an alternative, and after testing it head-to-head, it's now my first stop for hotel bookings. It offers cheaper prices and even a discount game to help you save double.
If you aren't already using Hotel Tonight, give it a download and read up on why it's one of the best travel apps in our guide.
Download Hotel Tonight:
What is Hotel Tonight?
Hotel Tonight is a hotel booking app that specializes in last-minute and discounted rates. It was originally built for same-day bookings, which meant hotels could offload unsold inventory at lower prices, rather than letting rooms go empty. It isn't limited to same-day reservations anymore, though, instead offering discount rooms hotels would lose money on.
The app is easy to use, fast, and much more visually engaging than most booking platforms. Browsing hotels on Hotel Tonight feels less like filling out a form and more like scrolling through something you actually want to look at.
The Daily Drop game
Right on the home screen is a feature called the Daily Drop. You slide a bar to reveal your discounted rate for the day, then have 15 minutes to decide whether to book it. It sounds gimmicky, but the savings are real.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The time limit might be a turn-off for some users, but the price difference is motivation enough. If the price is right and you're flexible, the Daily Drop is one of the better ways to score a discounted room. Hotel Tonight also rewards bookings with Airbnb credits—I picked up $21 in credits on a recent booking, which softened the accommodation cost on my next trip.
Hotel Tonight is better than Booking.com
I compared prices for a Las Vegas stay in late May, and Hotel Tonight was cheaper. There was no competition.
I looked at the Fontainebleau on both platforms for the same dates. Hotel Tonight came in at $292/night. Booking.com showed the same room at $312/night. That's a $20 difference for a single night.
The only thing I didn't like about Hotel Tonight is that it doesn't always specify room details like bed type upfront—whereas Booking usually does. I had to dig for confirmation that my Las Vegas room included a king bed.
For anyone who uses Booking.com out of habit, Hotel Tonight is worth comparing before you confirm. A two-minute check on both platforms has saved me money on multiple bookings already. The app is free, there's no subscription, and the savings are consistent enough to make it a permanent part of the trip-planning process.
Save even more on your cell phone bill
If you're traveling without the right plan, data charges can rival your hotel costs. MVNOs like Fizz Mobile give you the same coverage for a fraction of the price.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we put it to the test to evaluate whether it delivers on its promises.
- Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We select tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual to figure out. - Affordability
We lean into quality apps that don't cost a fortune. Extra points if they're free. - Hands-on testing
We tested Hotel Tonight by comparing live hotel prices against Booking for real upcoming trips, including a Las Vegas stay in late May.
Hotel Tonight FAQ
Can you book hotels in advance with Hotel Tonight, or is it same-day only?
You can book same-day and in advance with Hotel Tonight. In fact, you can book up to 100 days in advance.
What is the Hotel Tonight Daily Drop?
The Daily Drop is a daily deals feature on the Hotel Tonight home screen. You slide a bar to reveal a discounted rate for a hotel in your area, then have a 15-minute window to decide whether to book.
Is Hotel Tonight cheaper than Booking?
In my personal experience, Hotel Tonight is cheaper than using Booking.com. For the same Fontainebleau room in Las Vegas, Hotel Tonight came in $20 cheaper per night.
Jessica Santero
Jessica is a Junior Staff Writer for WhistleOut. After six years teaching abroad, she now uses her way with words as a linguist and language enthusiast to help the everyday reader maneuver the complicated world of wireless and tech. When disconnecting from the digital world, Jessica enjoys the great outdoors, preferably on two wheels. Cycling may be her number one hobby, but a close second is open water swimming.
