The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 35 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Ariane Systems shines , with exclusive features like PMS Integration and PCI Compliant.
LIKE MAGIC shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Registration Card E-signature.
Side-by-side ratings based on 35 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | From $500/mo | From $700/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 6 | 29 |
After analyzing 35 verified reviews, Ariane Systems users most value its , while LIKE MAGIC users highlight guest journey app, automation & integration, contactless check-in. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Guest Journey App
▾
|
|
|
+
Automation & Integration
▾
|
|
|
+
Contactless Check-in
▾
|
|
|
+
Design Flexibility
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Revenue Opportunities
▾
|
|
|
−
Analytics & Reporting
▾
|
|
|
−
Push Notification Delays
▾
|
|
How each product ranks among Contactless Check-in vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #12 2 reviews | #7 12 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #17 1 reviews | #7 10 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #11 2 reviews | #8 3 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #16 3 reviews | #11 6 reviews |
| Luxury | #14 2 reviews | #15 2 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | #22 1 reviews | #15 2 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #13 1 reviews | #5 12 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America | #10 2 reviews | #17 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #13 4 reviews | #5 27 reviews |
Choosing between Ariane Systems and LIKE MAGIC hinges on your hotel's specific needs for contactless check-in and operational automation. Ariane Systems is well-established with over 3,000 deployments across multiple continents, focusing on automating guest check-in processes through web, mobile, and kiosk solutions. LIKE MAGIC, on the other hand, is a newer entrant with a strong focus on enhancing the guest journey via comprehensive digital interactions, boasting higher recent review scores and a rapidly growing user base. Which platform aligns better with your operational goals?
Both products aim to streamline check-in and improve guest experiences, but Ariane Systems emphasizes automation and integration, while LIKE MAGIC prioritizes a holistic guest journey. Ariane’s extensive integration ecosystem (27 verified partners) and global presence contrast with LIKE MAGIC’s focus on guest engagement tools and recent rapid growth in Europe and Asia Pacific. Can one platform deliver both the operational efficiency and guest delight your hotel needs?
If your hotel needs a proven, comprehensive self-check-in platform with a broad regional reach and extensive integration options, Ariane Systems is the ideal choice. Its deployment in over 29 countries and 27 verified partners demonstrate its capability to fit diverse hotel types, from budget to luxury. Conversely, if your hotel prioritizes elevating the guest experience with a seamless, all-in-one digital journey—especially in extended stay, boutique, or branded properties—LIKE MAGIC offers a more modern, guest-centric approach.
Ariane’s strengths include automation, multi-channel check-in, and strong compatibility with property management systems, making it suitable for hotels seeking operational cost savings. LIKE MAGIC excels in creating engaging, personalized guest interactions and reducing staffing needs through its digital guest journey app, making it a strong fit for hotels aiming to maximize guest satisfaction and revenue. Which approach aligns with your strategic priorities?
Ariane Systems has a user rating of 3.83/5 for ease of use, with reviews highlighting its automation features but noting that onboarding can be improved. Some users mention that the platform’s interface, while comprehensive, requires a learning curve and that support needs to be more accessible, especially during weekends. LIKE MAGIC, with a 4.9/5 rating, is praised for its intuitive interface and straightforward guest experience, which reduces staff training time.
LIKE MAGIC’s onboarding process is rated at 4.78/5, with reviews emphasizing how easy it is for staff to adopt and for guests to navigate, even without prior technical knowledge. Its simple, app-based interface minimizes friction for both staff and guests. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
Ariane Systems offers 16 shared features with LIKE MAGIC, plus three exclusive features: PMS integration, PCI compliance, and easy room selection. These capabilities are critical for hotels seeking robust automation, secure payment processing, and flexible room management. LIKE MAGIC provides a unique registration card e-signature feature, but overall, it has fewer capabilities (10 verified integrations) and lacks features like PMS integration.
Ariane’s broader feature set makes it more adaptable for complex or larger properties requiring extensive operational tools. LIKE MAGIC, while limited in standalone features, excels at delivering a comprehensive guest journey with personalized communication. Edge: Ariane Systems.
Customer support ratings are a clear differentiator. Ariane Systems scores 2.8/5, with reviews indicating support is inconsistent, especially outside regular hours, and issues with kiosk maintenance and software linking. Customers mention, “Support is slow during weekends,” and “We wish there was 24/7 support.” Conversely, LIKE MAGIC boasts a 4.83/5 score, with reviews praising prompt, knowledgeable support and smooth onboarding.
Hoteliers value LIKE MAGIC for its quick responses and dedicated customer success team, with feedback like “Support has been excellent, always resolving issues quickly.” Given recent reviews, EDGE: LIKE MAGIC.
Ariane Systems has a significant advantage here, with 27 verified partners, including key integrations with SALTO Systems, Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Adyen. Its extensive ecosystem supports a wide range of hardware and software, enabling seamless deployment in diverse hotel environments. LIKE MAGIC offers 10 verified integrations, sharing some with Ariane but fewer in total, which might limit flexibility for certain setups.
For hotels with existing tech stacks or complex systems, Ariane’s broader integration network simplifies connectivity. EDGE: Ariane Systems.
Ariane Systems, with 6 reviews, has a strong overall rating of 4.4/5, primarily from hotels in city center and budget segments. Recent reviews are scarce, but the feedback indicates satisfaction with automation and guest check-in flexibility. LIKE MAGIC, with 29 reviews and a score of 74.02/100 (equivalent to roughly 3.7/5), is rated highly by hotels in extended stay and boutique segments, especially for guest engagement.
More recent reviews (last 2 months) favor LIKE MAGIC’s support and ease of use. Given the higher review count and recent positive feedback, EDGE: LIKE MAGIC.
Ariane’s pricing starts at $500, with no mention of ongoing monthly fees or implementation costs, suggesting a straightforward licensing model. LIKE MAGIC charges $700 upfront, with no additional monthly or implementation fees, but without detailed pricing tiers.
Given the limited pricing transparency, your hotel should request a quote based on room count and deployment scope. The slightly higher initial cost of LIKE MAGIC may be justified by its support and ease of use, but Ariane’s lower entry price could appeal for tighter budgets.
Hotels that will benefit from Ariane’s extensive integrations, automation, and regional presence. Specifically:
Not ideal if your hotel prefers a guest journey focus over operational automation or is primarily in regions outside Ariane’s deployment footprint.
Hotels aiming to enhance guest engagement and streamline operations through digital interactions. Specifically:
Not ideal if your hotel requires extensive integrations with legacy systems or prioritizes automation over guest experience.
Ariane Systems is a mature, widely integrated platform optimized for automating check-in and operational tasks across a variety of hotel types. It’s best suited for hotels that value robust automation, global reach, and extensive hardware compatibility.
LIKE MAGIC, however, offers a more recent, guest-focused platform that excels at creating personalized, contactless guest journeys with high user satisfaction and support ratings. It’s ideal for hotels that aim to elevate guest interactions, reduce staffing, and operate in regions where LIKE MAGIC’s presence is strong.
If your hotel’s priority is proven, scalable automation with broad system compatibility, choose Ariane. If your goal is engaging, digital guest experiences and operational lean-ness, LIKE MAGIC is the better fit.
Contactless Check-in pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $500/mo | From $700/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Ariane Systems and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) share 16 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Easy Room Selection | ||
| PCI Compliant | ||
| PMS Integration | ||
| Registration Card E-signature |
We analyzed 4 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Like Magic allowed us to operate with just six staff members, without compromising guest experience. The platform is easy to use, fun to work with, and has revolutionized how we ru..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"LIKE MAGIC isn't just a tool for us, it's the backbone of our overall guest experience. If I ever worked somewhere else, I'd bring it with me."
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its i... The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its intuitive design significantly reduces staffing needs while enhancing guest experience.
Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as... Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as housekeeping and payment processing, frees up hotel staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences.
LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via... LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via mobile, offering a quick and hygienic process, particularly appreciated by international visitors.
Where hoteliers push back
LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating addi... LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating additional services, such as late checkouts or in-room dining, provide valuable opportunities for increasing revenue.
The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest... The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest engagement and provide key performance metrics, potentially leading to better decision-making and service improvements.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Ariane Systems and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. Ariane Systems offers 27 verified integration partners, while LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) offers 10. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 3.8/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Ariane Systems: No. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in): No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Contactless Check-in vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Ariane Systems has an HT Score of 0 and LIKE MAGIC has 74. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
|
How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
|
How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
|
How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
|
How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
Product recommendations advisor