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 41 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:
Barboon shines .
HotelRunner shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Mobile optimized/responsive and Automated reporting.
Side-by-side ratings based on 41 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $100/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 41 |
After analyzing 41 verified reviews, Barboon users most value its , while HotelRunner users highlight customer support, ease of use, channel management. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Customer Support
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Ease of Use
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Channel Management
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Integration with OTAs
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Booking Engine
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Reporting Features
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How each product ranks among Booking Engine vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #19 16 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #29 9 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #31 0 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #25 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #18 22 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #28 9 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | — | #31 3 reviews |
| Extended Stay | — | #33 1 reviews |
By Region
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| North America | — | #26 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #22 12 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #20 3 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | — | #1 16 reviews |
Choosing a booking engine for your hotel involves balancing functionality, ease of use, support, and cost. Both Barboon Internet Booking Engine and HotelRunner aim to help you secure direct bookings and reduce dependence on OTAs, but they approach this goal differently. Barboon is a newly launched product with no reviews or ratings, while HotelRunner has established itself with a strong, recent review base. As of now, HotelRunner's more comprehensive feedback makes it the clearer choice for hoteliers seeking proven results.
Are you prioritizing a product with a solid track record backed by recent reviews? If so, HotelRunner’s current review count and high ratings outweigh the undefined status of Barboon.
Barboon is a newer, minimalistic solution focused on enabling hotels of all sizes to accept bookings directly through their website. It offers basic functions aimed at increasing direct reservations, but with no customer reviews or detailed feature set, its reliability and user experience remain unproven. Meanwhile, HotelRunner provides a well-rounded platform with 40+ features, extensive integrations, and over 40 recent reviews, all pointing to a mature, reliable product.
Given the absence of reviews for Barboon, you cannot confidently assess its performance or support quality. HotelRunner’s recent reviews highlight high satisfaction with support (4.8/5), ease of use (4.73/5), and a high likelihood to recommend (96%), making it the more trustworthy choice. Do you want a solution with proven user satisfaction and ongoing platform improvements?
If your hotel needs a booking engine that integrates with multiple OTAs, manages rates effectively, and offers extensive customization options, HotelRunner is the clear pick. Its robust feature set, including multi-currency, multi-lingual functionality, and various payment integrations, suits hotels looking for a comprehensive online booking solution.
Conversely, if your primary goal is a straightforward, low-cost tool for accepting direct bookings with minimal setup, Barboon might seem appealing—though its untested status means you could face unforeseen issues. For hotels aiming for reliability and scalable growth, HotelRunner’s proven platform is the safer bet.
HotelRunner’s user interface boasts a 4.73/5 ease-of-use rating, with reviewers praising its intuitive design and quick onboarding process. Hoteliers report that setup takes just a few days, and staff adoption is straightforward, thanks to ongoing training and support.
Barboon, lacking any user feedback or ratings, leaves its usability unknown. Its minimalistic approach might appeal to tech-savvy teams comfortable with new platforms, but without reviews, it’s impossible to gauge how easily your team could adopt it. Edge: HotelRunner.
HotelRunner offers over 40 features, including mobile responsiveness, multi-currency and multi-lingual support, automated reporting, pre- and post-stay emails, rate plan management, and integrations with major OTAs like Expedia and Agoda. It also provides tools such as gift vouchers, room substitutions, and booking abandon recapture, covering most operational needs.
Barboon has no listed features beyond basic online booking functionality. Without detailed feature documentation or reviews, it’s unclear whether it supports advanced tools like payment integrations, channel management, or automated marketing.
Edge: HotelRunner.
HotelRunner’s customer support scores 4.8/5, with recent reviews emphasizing quick, responsive assistance via multiple channels, including WhatsApp. Users appreciate ongoing support, training, and the platform’s reliability, which reduces disruptions.
Barboon has no reviews or support ratings, making it impossible to evaluate assistance quality. For hoteliers valuing proven support and ongoing customer service, HotelRunner’s high scores and recent positive feedback are decisive.
Edge: HotelRunner.
HotelRunner integrates with 17 verified partners, including major OTAs like Expedia, Agoda, Airbnb, and PMS providers like protel and Oracle Hospitality. Its extensive integration ecosystem facilitates seamless connectivity and easier inventory management.
Barboon’s integration count is zero, meaning it likely works as a standalone booking engine without direct channel or PMS integrations. This limits its scalability and flexibility for hotels with complex distribution needs.
Edge: HotelRunner.
Since Barboon has no reviews, it cannot be rated by hoteliers at this time. HotelRunner’s recent reviews reflect an overall 4.5/5 rating, with users particularly praising its ease of use, support, and feature set. Hotels of various sizes, especially boutique hotels and B&Bs, rate it highly, with some noting its role in increasing direct bookings.
The lack of data on Barboon makes it impossible to compare. As of now, HotelRunner’s verified user ratings and recent review volume indicate higher satisfaction.
Edge: HotelRunner.
Barboon’s pricing details are unavailable, implying it might operate on a custom or undisclosed basis. HotelRunner charges a straightforward $100/month fee, with no additional implementation or setup costs indicated in the available data.
The transparent pricing of HotelRunner allows you to evaluate ROI more confidently, whereas Barboon’s unknown costs add uncertainty to your decision.
Not ideal if you need reliable support, extensive features, or integrations, as these are not evidenced in the current data.
Not ideal if your hotel operates solely offline or if you prefer a minimalistic, no-cost booking solution with less feature complexity.
The core difference lies in maturity and proven user satisfaction. HotelRunner, with over 40 recent reviews and high support ratings, has demonstrated its ability to meet hotelier needs, while Barboon remains an untested newcomer.
If your hotel needs a reliable, feature-rich platform, HotelRunner should be your choice. It offers extensive integrations, dedicated support, and positive feedback from hotels similar to yours.
Choose Barboon only if your priority is a simple, low-cost booking engine willing to accept the risks associated with an unreviewed product. Without user feedback or a clear feature set, it cannot compete with HotelRunner’s proven track record.
In conclusion, for most hotels looking for a dependable, comprehensive booking engine, HotelRunner’s current review strength and feature depth make it the smarter investment. Its proven ability to boost direct bookings and streamline operations outweighs the advantages of a lesser-known, unreviewed alternative.
Booking Engine 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.
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| Starting Price | — | From $100/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Barboon Internet Booking Engine and Booking Engine by HotelRunner share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automated reporting | ||
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| Pooled inventory | ||
| Post-stay emails | ||
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| Tariffs |
Showing top differences. 28 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Customer support receives accolades for being responsive and efficient. Users appreciate the prompt assistance via various communication channels, inc... Customer support receives accolades for being responsive and efficient. Users appreciate the prompt assistance via various communication channels, including WhatsApp.
The platform is noted for its user-friendly interface and ease of navigation, making set-up and management straightforward for hoteliers of varied tec... The platform is noted for its user-friendly interface and ease of navigation, making set-up and management straightforward for hoteliers of varied technical expertise.
Users praise Hotelrunner for its strong channel management capabilities, allowing seamless synchronization with numerous OTAs. This eliminates double... Users praise Hotelrunner for its strong channel management capabilities, allowing seamless synchronization with numerous OTAs. This eliminates double bookings and simplifies inventory management.
Where hoteliers push back
The integrated booking engine is highly regarded for driving direct bookings and allowing customization of packages. Many users appreciate the ease of... The integrated booking engine is highly regarded for driving direct bookings and allowing customization of packages. Many users appreciate the ease of creating OTAs listings, contributing to increased occupancy and revenues.
Users highlight the need for more robust and customizable reporting tools to aid in rate strategy decisions, reflecting a critical area for future imp... Users highlight the need for more robust and customizable reporting tools to aid in rate strategy decisions, reflecting a critical area for future improvement.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Barboon Internet Booking Engine and Booking Engine by HotelRunner share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Barboon Internet Booking Engine offers 0 verified integration partners, while Booking Engine by HotelRunner offers 17. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Booking Engine by HotelRunner leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
Barboon Internet Booking Engine: No. Booking Engine by HotelRunner: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Booking Engine 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. Barboon has an HT Score of 0 and HotelRunner has 74. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 →
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