Bookassist vs. Planet Booking Engine:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine for your hotel can dramatically impact your direct booking revenue and guest experience. Bookassist and Planet aim to solve this core challenge, but they approach it differently. Bookassist excels in delivering a feature-rich, customizable platform with high user satisfaction, while Planet offers a straightforward, less feature-intensive solution. Given your goals, which platform aligns more closely with your hotel's needs?

Is Bookassist or Planet Better for Hotels?

Both products focus on increasing direct bookings, but they differ significantly in scope and maturity. Bookassist, founded in 1999 and with over 324 recent reviews, offers extensive features, a proven track record, and high user ratings—4.89/5 and 94% likelihood to recommend. Planet, by contrast, has only 3 reviews, a 0 rating, and a support score of 1/5, with just one review from the last six months, making its data less reliable for decision-making. Does your hotel prioritize proven performance or a simple, low-cost solution?

While Bookassist provides an advanced booking platform optimized for diverse markets, Planet caters mainly to small, straightforward properties with simple rate structures. Bookassist's strength lies in its comprehensive features, including multi-lingual support, dynamic rates, and integrated marketing tools, whereas Planet's core offering is a basic reservation interface with limited integrations. Do you need a robust, customizable platform or a basic booking widget?

Bookassist vs Planet: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a mature, feature-rich booking engine capable of supporting complex rate plans, multi-channel marketing, and detailed analytics, go with Bookassist. Its large user base and recent reviews confirm its effectiveness for independent hotels and small chains looking to boost direct bookings and increase revenue.

If your hotel is a small property with minimal online complexity, seeking a simple, low-cost booking solution with quick deployment, Planet may suffice—though its limited recent reviews and support score suggest caution. For properties with more than a handful of rooms or plans to grow, Bookassist's broader capabilities and proven track record make it the safer, more scalable choice.

Is Bookassist or Planet Easier to Use?

Bookassist’s user interface scores 4.63/5, with high marks for onboarding and customer support, backed by detailed reviews praising its intuitive design and helpful staff. The platform’s Extranet allows easy management across multiple properties, with many users noting its straightforward navigation and comprehensive support.

Planet’s interface scores only 1.67/5, and reviews describe its support as nearly non-existent. Its simplicity may appeal to very small hotels or single-property owners, but the limited recent positive feedback and support ratings suggest that staff adoption and ongoing usability could be challenging.

Edge: Bookassist.

Which Has Better Features: Bookassist or Planet?

Bookassist offers 40 unique features, including mobile optimization, gift vouchers, multi-lingual support, automated reporting, pre-stay and post-stay emails, flexible rate plans, social media integration, and conversion analytics. These tools empower your team to craft tailored marketing campaigns, manage complex rate structures, and analyze performance comprehensively.

Planet, in contrast, provides no additional features beyond basic online booking, lacking integrations with marketing, analytics, or rate management tools. Its minimal functionality makes it less suitable for properties seeking to actively optimize their online presence or revenue.

Edge: Bookassist.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bookassist or Planet?

Reviewers consistently rate Bookassist support at 4.85/5, highlighting quick, knowledgeable, and proactive assistance. Comments praise the team for their professionalism and ability to resolve issues efficiently, which is critical when managing online booking platforms.

Planet’s support scores 1/5, with reviews describing it as nearly non-existent and frustratingly unresponsive. For hotels that rely on timely help to ensure smooth operations, Bookassist’s support reputation is clearly superior.

Edge: Bookassist.

Which Has More Integrations: Bookassist or Planet?

Bookassist boasts 74 verified partner integrations, including popular channels like Google Hotel Ads, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and several metasearch platforms—allowing your hotel to amplify its online presence effortlessly. Its extensive partner network simplifies connecting your PMS, channel managers, and marketing tools.

Planet has 195 verified partners, but most are focused on smaller or less critical integrations, and its support for external systems appears limited. While it covers some standard channels, the depth and reliability of integrations are less established, making Bookassist more suitable for hotels seeking a unified, integrated approach.

Edge: Bookassist.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bookassist or Planet?

Hoteliers who reviewed Bookassist frequently praise its effectiveness, ease of use, and support, with 94% likelihood to recommend and an average rating of 4.89/5. Its main user segments—city center, boutique, and independent hotels—rate it highly, with many noting significant increases in direct bookings and revenue.

Planet’s reviews are scarce, with only three reviews and no recent positive feedback. The lack of current, high-quality reviews indicates that most hoteliers have not experienced or endorsed the platform’s performance.

Edge: Bookassist.

How Much Do Bookassist and Planet Cost?

Both platforms do not publicly disclose specific pricing models. However, Bookassist’s offering involves no implementation fees or monthly flat rates, implying a straightforward, value-based pricing structure. Planet also states no fixed prices or trials are available, suggesting a custom quote process.

Given the strong reviews and comprehensive features, expect Bookassist to be a premium-priced solution aligned with its scale, whereas Planet’s minimal features suggest a lower-cost or potentially underfunded product. Confirming exact costs requires direct vendor contact, but overall, Bookassist appears better justified for your investment in features and support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bookassist?

• Hotels that need a proven, flexible booking system capable of supporting complex rate plans and marketing strategies.
• Teams that want to actively manage their online visibility, including social media and metasearch campaigns.
• Properties aiming to increase direct bookings and revenue with detailed analytics and reporting.
• Hotels seeking multi-language and multi-currency support for international guests.

Not ideal if your hotel is very small, with minimal online complexity, or if you prefer a low-cost, barebones booking solution.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Planet?

• Small, simple properties with straightforward booking needs and limited budgets.
• Hotels that prefer a quick, basic online reservation widget without extensive customization.
• Single-property owners who do not require integrations or advanced marketing tools.
• Hotels with minimal or no plans to scale or implement complex revenue strategies.

Not ideal if your property has more than a handful of rooms, requires multi-channel management, or aims to grow its online presence significantly.

Bookassist vs Planet: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Bookassist is a mature, feature-rich platform trusted by hundreds of hotels worldwide, especially in Europe and North America. Its deep integrations, advanced tools, and high customer ratings make it well-suited for hotels committed to expanding their direct booking efforts and revenue.

Planet offers a basic, cost-effective alternative best suited for small properties with simple needs and limited budgets. Its limited features, support concerns, and lack of recent reviews suggest it’s not optimal for hotels with growth ambitions or complex operational requirements.

For hoteliers focused on increasing direct bookings, optimizing revenue, and relying on trusted support, Bookassist stands out as the clear choice. If your property is very small and looking for an entry-level solution, Planet might be enough—though caution is advised given the limited feedback.