Tripadvisor
tripadvisor.com
What it is
Tripadvisor is a travel planning service that collects member reviews and opinions about destinations, accommodations, restaurants, and activities. Travelers can search hotels, things to do, restaurants, and cruises, as well as review and explore without a stated consumer subscription price. Tripadvisor says its recommendations draw on more than a billion traveler reviews and opinions. The service is available on the web and through Android and iOS apps. Hotels can subscribe to Business Advantage, a paid advertising option with profile controls, special offers, and a website link for direct bookings. Hotels can feature a favorite review, display a photo and video carousel, and add up to four contact points such as a phone number, email, or website. Business Advantage analytics cover market comparisons, page traffic, referral clicks, and engagement with listing features. Its minimum listed subscription price is $99 a year for a 12-month term, with actual pricing varying by hotel location, size, and profile. Cancellation within 30 days of signup or renewal receives a prorated refund; later cancellation takes effect at the term end.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Tripadvisor helps travelers discover, compare, plan and book accommodations, restaurants, attractions and experiences using traveler-generated guidance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Trial
- The FAQ refers to eligible customers signing up for a Business Advantage free trial but does not state its duration or general eligibility.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- API
- The developer notice says the legacy Content API was scheduled to sunset on August 31, 2026, and Enterprise Partner API and Data Feeds on October 30, 2026.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Support
- Tripadvisor directs customers to its Help Center and property owners to Owner Support.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ir.tripadvisor.com
- Headquarters
- Tripadvisor's principal executive offices are at 400 1st Avenue, Needham, Massachusetts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ir.tripadvisor.com
- Founded
- Tripadvisor says the original business was founded in February 2000.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ir.tripadvisor.com
- AI trip builder
- The app generates recommendations from a user's saved hotels, restaurants and experiences through an AI trip builder.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Analytics
- A G2 reviewer says Tripadvisor for Business analytics attribute views, website clicks, menu clicks and phone calls to Tripadvisor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- API attribution
- Applications using the Locations API must display Tripadvisor attribution and supplied logo or bubble-rating assets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- API content
- The Content API exposes location details, reviews, photos, rankings and other Tripadvisor data for websites and applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- API documentation
- The developer documentation includes guides, API reference material, changelog entries and release notes for the Terra platform.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.terra.tripadvisor.com
- API integration
- Tripadvisor describes the Content API as integrating with partner websites and apps and supplying an API key after signup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- API licence terms
- The API terms grant a limited, revocable, non-transferable licence and reserve Tripadvisor's intellectual-property rights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor-content-api.readme.io
- API migration
- Tripadvisor says its legacy Content API is deprecated and directs developers to migrate to Terra.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor-content-api.readme.io
- API rate limits
- The legacy API documentation specifies a 10,000-call daily search limit and a 50-query-per-second limit.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor-content-api.readme.io
- API restrictions
- The API terms prohibit scraping Tripadvisor sites, sharing API access, modifying supplied content and combining it with third-party user-generated content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor-content-api.readme.io
- API sunset
- Tripadvisor announced that the legacy Content API will be sunset on August 31, 2026, with enterprise Partner API and data feeds scheduled for October 30, 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Apps
- Tripadvisor links to iPhone and Android apps from its website.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Booking inventory
- The app says users can book more than 400,000 experiences and 600,000 hotels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Business Advantage
- Business Advantage is a paid advertising solution for hotels that provides profile controls, special offers, and a website link for direct bookings.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Business listing tools
- Tripadvisor for Business lets hospitality companies manage listings, photos, reviews, customer responses and performance information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Cancellation
- Business Advantage cancellation more than 30 days after signup or renewal takes effect at the term end, while cancellation within 30 days receives a prorated refund.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Company legal name
- The public company identifies itself as Tripadvisor, Inc., a Nevada corporation traded under ticker TRIP.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sec.gov
- Company size
- The 2025 annual report says Tripadvisor had approximately 2,590 employees at December 31, 2025.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sec.gov
- Consumer app features
- The app supports itineraries, saved places, collaborative trip planning, maps, nearby recommendations, review writing, AI summaries and bookings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Consumer service
- The home page offers travelers ways to search, review, and explore without stating a consumer subscription price.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Direct contact
- Business Advantage subscribers can add up to four contact points, such as a phone number, email address, or hotel website.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Hotel pricing API
- Developers can request access to a Hotel Pricing API that returns bookable hotel pricing for their applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Limit: booking failures
- Trustpilot reviewers report cancelled excursions, tour guides not appearing and voucher problems that left them seeking refunds or replacement arrangements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Limit: cancellation policy
- A Google Play reviewer describes losing more than $700 after cancelling excursions because refunds were unavailable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: dashboard and verification
- G2 reviewers describe dashboard navigation as clunky and report identity-verification bugs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: pricing value
- A G2 reviewer says subscription fees can be high and that return on advertising spend is difficult to establish.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: review control
- G2 reviewers report difficulty removing mistaken or dishonest reviews and say businesses have limited control over posted ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Listing features
- Business Advantage lets hotels feature a favorite review and create a photo and video carousel on an enhanced listing.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Praise: breadth and planning
- G2 reviewers praise Tripadvisor for international reach, alternate lodging suggestions, trip planning and the Things to Do search.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Praise: business visibility
- G2 reviewers say listings and analytics help attract customers, promote tourism businesses and measure engagement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Privacy control
- Google Play says users can request deletion of data collected by the Android app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.8 out of 5 from 481,000 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.2 out of 5 from 14 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 4.5 out of 5 from 1.47 million reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 1.8 out of 5 from 3,922 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Review corpus
- Tripadvisor says its platform contains more than 1.35 billion reviews and contributions and lists more than 10 million travel-related businesses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Reviews
- The site says its travel recommendations are backed by more than a billion reviews and opinions from travelers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Security: transport
- Google Play reports that the Android app encrypts data in transit.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Sponsored placements
- Tripadvisor offers sponsored placements that promote businesses in search results and on competitor pages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- System requirements
- The Apple listing supports iPhone, iPad and Apple TV and reports an app size of 369.8 MB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Travel categories
- The site lets travelers search hotels, things to do, restaurants, and cruises.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
- Trust and safety
- Tripadvisor says its Trust & Safety team promotes a safe environment through community policies and standards.Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
Plans and prices
Tripadvisor Free No price or usage limits stated on the opened page Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
Tripadvisor consumer app Free iPhone, iPad, Apple TV · contains ads on Android Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Business Advantage $99 a year Minimum price for a 12-month subscription; pricing varies by hotel location, size, and profile. For hotel properties · up to three simultaneous special offers · up to four contact links Read 30 Sep 2026 · tripadvisor.com
Tripadvisor Content API Priced on request monthly, pay as you grow 5,000 API calls free monthly · daily budget required · search APIs up to 10,000 calls/day Read 15 Oct 2026 · tripadvisor.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Searches cover hotels, activities, restaurants, and cruises.
- Available on web, Android, and iOS.
- Hotel analytics include traffic and referral clicks.
- Free consumer access is listed.
Limits
- Business Advantage starts at $99 a year.
- Hotel pricing varies by location, size, and profile.
- Later cancellations take effect at the term end.
Who it suits
It suits travelers comparing places to stay, eat, and visit, and hotels seeking profile advertising tools. Hotel owners can use Business Advantage features to present offers, contact details, and listing analytics.
Tripadvisor in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
Tripadvisor is a travel-planning service built around traveler opinions and broad search across hotels, activities, restaurants, and cruises. It suits travelers who want community feedback alongside trip discovery, and hotels seeking a paid way to promote and measure their listings. For travelers, the core service is free; hotels should weigh Business Advantage’s listing tools against its annual commitment and cancellation terms.
Key features
Travel search and reviews
Travelers can search hotels, things to do, restaurants, and cruises, and use member reviews and opinions about destinations and businesses to inform plans. Tripadvisor says its recommendations draw on more than a billion reviews and opinions. That breadth makes it a natural starting point for comparing travel options, though the service’s defining input is community opinion rather than a stated consumer subscription offering.
Hotel listing promotion
Business Advantage gives hotels profile controls, special offers, and a website link intended to support direct bookings. Hotels can feature a favorite review, build a photo and video carousel, publish up to three simultaneous special offers, and add up to four contact points, such as a phone number, email address, or hotel website. These tools are aimed at properties that want to shape their listing and give travelers several ways to reach them.
Analytics, trust, and support
Business Advantage analytics cover market comparisons, page traffic, referral clicks, and engagement with listing features, which can help hotels assess how their enhanced profile is performing. Tripadvisor says its Trust & Safety team promotes a safe community through policies and standards. Travelers can turn to the Help Center, while property owners have a separate Owner Support channel.
Pricing
Tripadvisor
The consumer plan costs nothing. Tripadvisor supports search, reviewing, and exploring without stating a consumer subscription price; no usage caps are stated for the free plan. A free trial is also offered, but no duration or general eligibility is given, so it is not a basis for estimating a paid consumer tier.
Business Advantage
Business Advantage starts at $99 a year, billed as a minimum price for a 12-month subscription. Pricing varies with hotel location, size, and profile. The hotel plan includes profile controls, up to three simultaneous special offers, and up to four contact links, alongside enhanced listing features and analytics. Eligible customers may sign up for a free trial, but the trial’s duration and eligibility are not defined. Cancellation within 30 days of signup or renewal earns a prorated refund; after that, cancellation takes effect at the end of the term. The 12-month minimum makes this a poor fit for a hotel seeking a short promotional commitment.
Platforms
Tripadvisor is available on the web and through Android and iOS apps, with links to its iPhone and Android apps from the website. Hotels can submit a listing for free and claim a listing; profiles can include reviews, and the audience focus is local.
Who it's for
Tripadvisor is best suited to travelers who want to compare destinations and travel businesses using member opinions alongside category-based search. It is also relevant to hotels that want to promote listing content, provide direct contact routes, and track traffic and engagement. It is less suitable for a hotel that cannot justify an annual commitment or whose location and size make the variable subscription cost unattractive.
Pros and cons
Pro: Search spans hotels, activities, restaurants, and cruises, giving travelers a broad trip-planning starting point.
Pro: Member reviews and opinions provide traveler perspectives across destinations and businesses.
Pro: Business Advantage combines listing presentation tools, contact options, offers, and performance analytics for hotels.
Con: Business Advantage requires at least a 12-month subscription, limiting flexibility for seasonal or short-term campaigns.
Con: Its starting price varies by hotel location, size, and profile, so the minimum price may not predict a property’s actual cost.
Alternatives
Houzz is a better fit for users seeking home-design tools such as a 3D Floor Planner, estimates, and invoicing, rather than travel search and reviews. Vitals is a free alternative for users looking for a healthcare-focused platform. Europages suits businesses seeking a free company listing or paid service packages with custom pricing. Healthgrades is a free-to-use, advertiser-supported option for healthcare consumers, with a paid Elevated Profile for providers. Sulekha is an option for businesses pursuing leads through a verified profile, where lead availability varies by category and paid-partner priority. Wheree offers a free app and basic business listing. For more directory options, browse Business Directories. Yellow Pages Canada and The Real Yellow Pages are other business-directory options.
Verdict
Choose Tripadvisor if traveler reviews are central to planning a trip, or if you run a hotel that can make use of enhanced listing controls and analytics over a full year. Travelers get the core discovery service without a subscription price; hotels should look elsewhere if the minimum term or location-dependent cost outweighs the value of promotion and direct-contact features.
Verdict
Tripadvisor combines travel search with member reviews and opinions, while Business Advantage adds paid hotel listing and advertising features. The hotel subscription has a 12-month minimum term and location-dependent pricing.
Where Specifiction places it
- Best Travel Planning Apps#2 of 248.7
- Business Directories#5 of 308.7