SHR Booking Engine (BE) vs. Planet Booking Engine:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine is critical to maximizing your direct bookings, revenue, and guest experience. Both SHR Booking Engine by SHR Group and Planet Booking Engine aim to streamline this process, but their approaches and track records differ significantly. Your decision hinges on your hotel’s size, complexity, support needs, and the features that matter most.

While Planet's small number of reviews and limited recent feedback offer less confidence, SHR Group's extensive, recent, and positive review profile provides a clearer picture of performance. Which platform will really meet your hotel’s needs?

Is SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine Better for Hotels?

Both SHR and Planet address the core issue of converting website visitors into bookings with online reservation solutions. SHR’s platform emphasizes customization, robust features, and integration, while Planet focuses on providing a straightforward, easy-to-use booking process.

However, SHR’s platform scores a 4.86/5 overall rating based on 339 reviews, with recent feedback in the last six months. Planet, on the other hand, has only 3 reviews—one from August 2023—and a 0/5 overall rating, which diminishes confidence in its current reliability and support quality.

The key divergence lies in customer support and feature depth. SHR’s customers praise its proactive, knowledgeable support and feature-rich environment, while Planet's limited recent reviews and poor ratings suggest unresolved issues and a lack of ongoing development.

If your hotel needs a proven, well-supported booking engine with extensive features, SHR is the safer choice. Are you willing to risk less stability and support with Planet?

SHR Booking Engine vs Planet Booking Engine: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel is a mid-to-large property requiring advanced features, multiple integrations, and dedicated support, SHR is the better fit. Its feature set includes mobile responsiveness, A/B testing, special offers, loyalty integrations, and multi-lingual/multi-currency support—features only available in SHR’s platform.

For small hotels or independent operators with minimal needs, Planet offers a simple, no-frills booking experience. However, with only three reviews and a recent rating of 1/5, Planet’s platform has shown signs of instability and limited support, making SHR the more reliable choice for long-term growth.

Hotels seeking scalability, customization, and proven performance should lean toward SHR. Those with basic, budget-conscious needs might consider Planet, but the limited evidence casts doubt on its current viability.

Is SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine Easier to Use?

SHR’s platform boasts a 4.67/5 ease of use rating from 339 reviews, with users describing it as intuitive and straightforward once familiar with the system. Support and onboarding are rated at 4.63/5, and many hotels highlight the helpful onboarding process and user-friendly interface, even praising its ability to accommodate complex rate plans.

Planet’s ease of use, however, is rated only 1.67/5 by the scant reviews, with one user criticizing its interface as “clunky” and “not intuitive,” especially for multi-language and international use. The lack of recent positive feedback further suggests ongoing usability challenges.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine

Which Has Better Features: SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine?

SHR offers 46 exclusive features not found in Planet, including mobile optimization, A/B testing, urgency messaging, pooled inventory, pre- and post-stay emails, gift vouchers, multi-room bookings, loyalty program integration, and social media booking support. These features cater to a range of marketing, revenue, and operational needs.

Planet’s platform appears to have no unique features beyond basic booking functions, focusing on simplicity rather than flexibility. The absence of advanced tools means SHR is clearly the feature leader, especially for hotels needing sophisticated control and marketing tools.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine

Which Has Better Customer Support: SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine?

Customer support and onboarding ratings heavily favor SHR, with a 4.86/5 rating from 339 reviews, and praise for proactive, knowledgeable service. Hoteliers report quick responses, helpful account managers, and effective resolution of issues, making support a standout strength.

Planet’s customer support score is only 1/5 based on 3 reviews, with complaints about unresponsiveness, ongoing issues, and a lack of support during critical moments. This significant gap suggests that if support quality is a priority, SHR exceeds expectations.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine

Which Has More Integrations: SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine?

SHR boasts 81 verified partners, with integrations spanning critical hotel systems like PMS, channel managers, and payment providers. Shared integrations include Cendyn, GuestRevu, and others, with additional partners like Criton and WebRezPro exclusive to SHR.

Planet offers 195 verified partners, but a closer look reveals many are unrelated to core hotel operations and have limited integration depth. Shared partners include major PMS and channel tools, but the overall ecosystem appears less mature and tested.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: SHR Booking Engine or Planet Booking Engine?

SHR’s reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.86/5 rating from 339 recent reviews, and a 96% likelihood to recommend. Hotels across various segments, especially boutique, city center, and resort properties, praise its reliability, features, and support.

Planet’s minimal reviews and a 0/5 score, combined with recent criticism, provide no confidence in its current performance or hotel satisfaction levels. Users are clearly more satisfied with SHR’s platform, especially in recent feedback.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine

How Much Do SHR Booking Engine and Planet Booking Engine Cost?

Pricing details for both platforms are not publicly disclosed, which is common in enterprise hotel systems. Typically, pricing depends on hotel size, features, and support needs, making direct comparison challenging.

However, SHR’s robust features and support suggest a higher, value-driven investment, whereas Planet’s basic approach might appeal to hotels seeking minimal upfront costs—though its performance issues could offset initial savings.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SHR Booking Engine?

• Hotels that require extensive customization of their booking experience.
• Properties with complex rate plans, multiple room types, and special offers.
• Hotels seeking integration with PMS, CRM, and marketing tools.
• Businesses that value proactive support and ongoing platform updates.
• Hotels targeting international guests with multi-language and multi-currency options.

Not ideal if you:

• Operate a very small property with minimal online booking needs.
• Have limited technical staff or resources for setup.
• Need a simple, no-frills booking process without extensive features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Planet Booking Engine?

• Small hotels or bed & breakfasts with straightforward booking needs.
• Hotels on a tight budget seeking a basic, easy-to-deploy booking system.
• Properties with limited online complexity, such as single room types or simple rate structures.
• Operators prioritizing quick setup over advanced customization.

Not ideal if you:

• Require multi-property management or complex revenue strategies.
• Need detailed analytics, marketing tools, or integrations.
• Seek ongoing support and updates—recent reviews suggest these are lacking.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

In summary, SHR Booking Engine is the stronger choice for hotels looking for a feature-rich, well-supported, and proven platform. Its extensive review base, recent positive feedback, and comprehensive capabilities make it the clear leader.

Planet’s minimal and outdated reviews, combined with its poor recent ratings, suggest it’s not a reliable option for hotels aiming for growth or operational efficiency.

Choose SHR if your hotel values stability, advanced features, and proactive support.
Consider Planet only if your needs are basic, your budget is tight, and you’re willing to accept potential reliability issues.

Ultimately, SHR represents a safer, more scalable solution with a track record of success. For your hotel’s revenue and guest experience, it’s the platform you can trust to deliver consistent results.