Firefly Reservations vs. Campspot: Which Is Right for Your Park?

If you're evaluating campground management software, there's a good chance Firefly Reservations and Campspot are both on your shortlist. They're two of the most talked-about platforms in the space, and for good reason - both offer solid reservation management, online booking, and the core features operators need.

But they take different approaches in a few important areas. Here's an honest breakdown to help you decide which one fits your park better.

Pricing: Commission-Based vs Per-Booking Fee

This is the biggest difference and the one that matters most for your bottom line. Firefly charges a $3.50/per unit service fee for each new unit booked in a reservation, and $3.50 per month for ongoing reservations. They do not charge a marketplace fee. Firefly leaves it completely up to the park whether they would like to pass these fees onto the guests. Campspot pricing leans on a 3% commission on all bookings plus a 10% marketplace fee. 

There are several factors to consider here including how many long-term reservations you have, how important the marketplace is, your rates, and your volume of bookings. 

The Marketplace Factor

Campspot's consumer marketplace (thecampspot.com) is a real differentiator. It functions like an OTA (online travel agency) for camping, directing booking traffic to parks on their platform. For parks that need help filling sites, this can be valuable.

The question is whether you need it. If your park already generates strong direct bookings through your own website, Google, and repeat guests, you're essentially paying marketplace fees for traffic you don't need. And like any OTA, there's an inherent tension: the marketplace builds its own brand while you become more dependent on their traffic.

Firefly takes the opposite approach - it focuses on helping you own your booking experience. Your website, your brand, your guest relationship. You keep 100% of the booking revenue and build direct relationships with your guests. That said, Firefly does offer a free marketplace listing on their very popular sister platform ReserveAmerica. 

Ease of Use and Onboarding

Both platforms are modern and reasonably intuitive, but operators consistently report that Firefly has a shorter learning curve. This matters more than it sounds - especially if you're hiring seasonal staff who need to be productive on day one.

Firefly's onboarding process is hands-on: the team helps you set up your site map, configure your rates, and migrate your data. Campspot also offers onboarding support, though some operators have noted that the process can take longer due to the added complexity of marketplace integration and dynamic pricing setup.

Support

Firefly's support team is US and Canada based and known for fast response times. Campspot also offers support, but some operators have shared that response times can be slower during peak periods when everyone needs help at once.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Campspot if: You need marketplace traffic to fill sites, you're okay with commission-based pricing, and dynamic pricing is a top priority for your revenue strategy.

Choose Firefly if: You want predictable software costs, you generate most of your bookings directly, and you value simplicity and responsive support. Firefly is also a strong fit if you're a small municipality or public recreation operation that needs a straightforward system without marketplace complexity.

Want to see the difference firsthand? Book a demo and we'll show you how Firefly works with your specific park setup - site map, rate structure, and all.