Booking.com vs Hostelworld: Where are hostels cheaper? Both sites show dorm beds as well as private rooms, and the price for the same night can differ by date and house. What you can compare are the extra costs and the cancellation rules. We name Booking.com first: its help page says it charges no reservation fee, while the Hostelworld terms mention a booking fee of its own. Status October 2026.
Hostels on both sites
Booking.com lists hostels as a category of their own next to hotels, apartments and guest houses, sorted by country, region and city. Hostelworld concentrates on hostels and names almost 15,000 properties in more than 3,000 cities on its home page, with hotels and bed and breakfasts alongside. If you look for a particular house, you will usually find it on both. Check both offers for the same nights if needed. Both show guest ratings for the houses, at Booking.com as a score out of 10 with the number of reviews. Beyond the score read a few comments, since location, noise and dorm size decide more about a hostel stay than about a hotel stay.
Fees and deposit
In its terms Hostelworld explains that a flat booking fee may apply when you book with a travel services provider. Where it is charged, Hostelworld does not refund it in any case. It is separate from the deposit. The deposit is part of the price that Hostelworld collects on behalf of the property. You pay the rest on arrival, together with any service charges and taxes of the property.
Booking.com writes in its help that no fees at all are charged for the reservation. Some properties ask for a deposit in advance, which can also be the whole amount. You pay the rest, if there is one, at the property.
Cancellation and flexibility
At Hostelworld a lot depends on the option you choose. Per the terms the deposit is not refundable unless the property allows otherwise or you pick Flexible Booking. That costs a small fee, and if you cancel with the required notice you get the deposit as a voucher in euro on your Hostelworld account, valid for six months. With the Free Cancellation option the deposit goes back to your payment method if you cancel within the displayed period. For a no-show the property may charge up to one night.
At Booking.com the fee depends on the property: inside the free period you pay nothing, afterwards or on non-refundable rates something can apply. The exact rule is in your confirmation.
Payment
Hostelworld requires a credit or debit card to guarantee a booking. For non-refundable rates the full amount is charged after confirmation. Booking.com accepts credit cards as the most common method, in many countries also PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Which methods are offered depends on country, currency and device.
Guarantee and loyalty
Hostelworld advertises a booking guarantee: if the hostel cannot find your booking at check-in, Hostelworld credits the deposit to your account and adds a bonus for future bookings. Booking.com offers the free Genius programme with levels based on bookings in two years and benefits at participating properties. Whether a given hostel takes part, the property page shows.
Side by side
| Point | Booking.com | Hostelworld |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | hotels, apartments and hostels | hostels, plus hotels and guest houses |
| Reservation fee | none per help page | flat booking fee possible, not refundable |
| Deposit | per property, rest on site | part online, rest on arrival |
| Cancellation | property sets the fee | per option, voucher with Flexible Booking |
| Payment | cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay | credit or debit card as guarantee |
| No-show | per rule of the property | up to one night chargeable |
| Loyalty and guarantee | Genius, free | booking guarantee with credit |
Who suits whom
Booking.com is a natural choice if you mix hostel and hotel on one trip, want to get by with one account and prefer not to pay a booking fee. If you book often, you collect Genius levels. This is our recommendation for mixed trips and groups, without saying that Booking.com is always cheaper.
Hostelworld suits you if you look only for hostels and want the choice by bed, dorm and travel style in front. There, check the booking fee and the chosen cancellation option before you compare the amount with other sites.
For both: set the total including fee and deposit side by side, not just the price per bed.
Check prices yourself
On the provider page for Booking.com TripPrice keeps the current details. If you are weighing hotels rather than dorms, the comparison Booking.com against Agoda fits.
Cashback at Booking.com
Booking.com sits at daily cashback with its own shop page. On the page for Booking.com you find the current rate and the way to the provider. Reserve your bed in the same visit without switching in between. A discount code can cost you the cashback.