SHR Booking Engine (BE) vs. Simple Booking (Reservations System):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When it comes to choosing a booking engine, your hotel needs a solution that maximizes direct bookings, integrates smoothly with your existing systems, and offers a user experience your guests will appreciate. SHR Booking Engine by SHR Group and Simple Booking both aim to serve these needs but differ significantly in their market presence, reviews, and feature sets. Will your team benefit more from the extensive support and proven track record of SHR Group or the flexible, highly integrated approach of Simple Booking?

Your decision hinges on what your hotel prioritizes—more reviews and recent feedback point clearly toward one platform, but understanding each product’s strengths and weaknesses will ensure you pick the right fit.

Is SHR Booking Engine or Simple Booking Better for Hotels?

Both SHR Booking Engine and Simple Booking aim to simplify the reservation process and boost your direct bookings, yet their approaches diverge. SHR's platform is more entrenched in the hospitality industry with a broad array of features tailored for various hotel types, supported by over 339 reviews and a consistently high rating of 4.86/5. Conversely, Simple Booking's platform, supported by fewer reviews (29), has a niche appeal with a focus on ease of use and integration, reflected in its high 69.7 HTR score but a less robust overall rating.

SHR's platform emphasizes revenue management, customized booking experiences, and detailed reporting, while Simple Booking excels in flexibility and channel management. The core question remains—are you seeking a product with a deep industry footprint or one that offers more nimbleness and integration options?

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

If your hotel needs a mature, well-supported booking engine with comprehensive features like special offers, gift vouchers, and robust analytics, SHR Booking Engine is your best choice. Its extensive integration network and proven performance in luxury and boutique hotels make it ideal for properties aiming to optimize revenue and guest experience.

If your team prioritizes a straightforward, easy-to-manage system with excellent channel management and flexible pricing, Simple Booking offers a streamlined solution at a lower price point ($200/month versus no transparent pricing for SHR). It suits independent hotels or smaller properties seeking quick deployment and broad integration without complex features.

For large, multi-property brands or hotels requiring detailed reporting, advanced customization, and proven industry support, SHR's platform is the safer bet. Conversely, if your hotel values rapid onboarding, ease of use, and robust integration with fewer advanced features, Simple Booking fits better.

Is SHR Booking Engine or Simple Booking Easier to Use?

SHR Booking Engine boasts a user rating of 4.67/5 for ease of use, with reviews praising its straightforward interface but noting some backend navigation challenges. Its onboarding process receives a 4.63/5 rating, with users appreciating the support but occasionally citing complexity in setup.

Simple Booking edges slightly ahead at 4.79/5, with reviews highlighting its speed, simplicity, and intuitive interface, especially appreciated by small hotels and independents. Support is prompt but has experienced some recent quality dips, which can impact overall ease.

Edge: Simple Booking.

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

SHR offers 44 shared features, including unique capabilities like special offers, discounts, gift vouchers, and prepaid experiences, making it a comprehensive solution. Its additional features cater to revenue maximization, customer segmentation, and detailed analytics, which are absent in Simple Booking.

Simple Booking, while offering fewer features overall, excels in core functions such as real-time availability, channel management, and integrations with 55+ PMS systems. Its focus on dynamic pricing, metasearch integration, and automated marketing tools makes it suitable for properties seeking agility.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine.

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

SHR's customer support scores a high 4.86/5, with reviews emphasizing proactive, knowledgeable, and quick assistance. Users frequently mention the value of dedicated account managers and support teams that help optimize the platform.

Simple Booking’s support rating is slightly lower at 4.76/5, with reviews praising responsiveness but also noting occasional difficulties in reaching support recently. For hoteliers valuing assured, consistent support, SHR’s support team appears more reliable.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine.

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

SHR boasts 81 verified partners, including major systems like SiteMinder, RateGain, and RMS, with 21 shared integrations with Simple Booking. Its extensive network ensures compatibility with a wide range of property management, CRM, and marketing tools.

Simple Booking supports 56 verified partners, including major channels and PMS systems, but has fewer integrations overall. Its native integration with popular platforms like Trivago and TripAdvisor is a strong point, yet SHR's larger partner ecosystem offers broader flexibility.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine.

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

Based on current reviews, SHR consistently earns higher ratings—4.86/5 overall, with a near-perfect NPS score of 9.53/10—reflecting strong hotel satisfaction, especially among boutique and city center hotels. Recent reviews praise its revenue-focused features and support but note interface complexity.

Simple Booking, with an overall rating of 69.7 on the HTScore, appeals to independent hotels and smaller properties, often rating above 4/5 for ease of use and support. However, its lower overall ratings suggest less hotel confidence compared to SHR.

Edge: SHR Booking Engine.

How Much Do SHR Booking Engine and Simple Booking Cost?

SHR's pricing is not publicly disclosed, but reviews indicate it operates on a custom or enterprise basis, likely making it more expensive but also more customizable. Simple Booking charges $200/month, with no trial or implementation fee, offering a predictable, affordable pricing model.

If your hotel seeks transparency and a fixed monthly fee, Simple Booking is appealing. For larger properties needing tailored solutions and dedicated support, SHR's pricing, though less transparent, may be justified.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SHR Booking Engine?

• Hotels that require extensive customization, detailed reporting, and automation.
• Properties aiming to maximize direct revenue through personalized marketing and upselling.
• Boutique, city center, or branded hotels with complex revenue management needs.
• Teams that value proven industry support and integrations with a broad partner network.
• Hotels prepared for a potentially higher investment to access a mature, feature-rich platform.

Not ideal if you seek a straightforward, low-cost solution or are just starting out with digital bookings.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Simple Booking?

• Independent hotels or small properties seeking a quick, easy-to-deploy booking engine.
• Hotels that prioritize simple channel management and seamless integration with existing PMS.
• Properties looking for a cost-effective solution with essential booking functionalities.
• Teams that want a user-friendly interface for staff and guests, minimizing training time.
• Hotels needing integrated metasearch and automated marketing tools without complex customization.

Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced revenue management, detailed analytics, or extensive third-party integrations.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

In summary, SHR Booking Engine stands out as the more established, feature-rich option with a strong track record of supporting larger and boutique properties. Its extensive integrations, detailed reporting, and proactive support make it suitable for hotels looking to maximize revenue and streamline operations.

Simple Booking appeals to smaller properties and independents prioritizing ease of use, quick setup, and affordability. Its integration capabilities and automation tools, while robust, are less comprehensive than SHR’s but sufficient for hotels with straightforward needs.

If your hotel seeks a proven platform with ongoing support and comprehensive features, SHR is the more reliable choice. Conversely, if your focus is on simplicity, cost-efficiency, and rapid deployment, Simple Booking is likely the better fit.

Note: Based on review counts and the recency of feedback, SHR Booking Engine clearly holds a stronger position, with a more robust, recent review base and higher overall satisfaction scores.