Bookinglayer vs. Counter:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Your hotel is evaluating two property management systems (PMS): Bookinglayer and Counter. Both aim to streamline operations, improve guest experience, and maximize revenue, but they cater to different market segments and have distinct strengths. Bookinglayer offers a more comprehensive feature set tailored for businesses combining activities and accommodation, while Counter focuses on ease of use for hostels with strong automation and support. Given their different focuses, which is the better fit for your property?

Is Bookinglayer or Counter Better for Hotels?

Bookinglayer and Counter address core hotel management needs but diverge in their target audiences and feature depth. Bookinglayer handles reservations, packages, and activity bookings, making it ideal for adventure travel, wellness retreats, or businesses offering combined services. Conversely, Counter emphasizes simple, mobile-friendly operation specifically for hostels, prioritizing ease of use and automation. Do you need a versatile platform for complex bookings or a straightforward system for guest management?

Bookinglayer's strength lies in its extensive feature list, including gift vouchers, digital registration, rate management, and online check-in, catering to hotels offering more diverse services. Counter, on the other hand, excels in its intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and automation features that reduce manual work for hostel staff. Their review scores reflect this: Counter has a higher overall rating (4.73/5) and more recent, positive feedback, while Bookinglayer’s reviews are sparse and outdated. Is your hotel looking for a broad, customizable system or a simple, reliable platform?

Bookinglayer vs Counter: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a feature-rich platform supporting activities, packages, and complex rate management, go with Bookinglayer. It is suited for mid-sized or larger properties that want to sell fixed-date trips, add-ons, or manage multiple revenue streams in one system. Conversely, if your hostel or small property prioritizes ease of use, automation, and mobile management, Counter is the better choice, especially given its extensive positive reviews from hostel operators.

Bookinglayer's $600 base price might be justified if you require features like GDPR compliance, transactional emails, or online check-in. Counter's free pricing model and high user ratings make it appealing for hostels seeking affordability and simplicity. When considering your property type and operational complexity, which system aligns best with your needs?

Is Bookinglayer or Counter Easier to Use?

Counter scores a 4.6/5 for ease of use, with many reviews praising its clean, intuitive interface, and quick onboarding process. Users highlight its mobile-friendly design, which allows staff to manage bookings on the go, and appreciate the straightforward calendar view. Bookinglayer's reviews are nonexistent or outdated, so direct comparison is limited, but its feature-rich platform suggests a steeper learning curve.

Counter's user feedback underscores how quickly staff adapt to its simple layout, with onboarding rated at 4.7/5. Its interface minimizes training time, making it ideal for hostel staff or small teams without dedicated IT support. Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Bookinglayer or Counter?

Bookinglayer offers 12 unique features not found in Counter, including gift vouchers, digital registration, rate management, online check-in, transactional emails, payment requests, and GDPR compliance. These features make it suitable for hotels that need comprehensive booking options and administrative automation.

Counter provides 11 features exclusive to its platform, such as a calendar view, RevPAR & ADR reports, direct billing, group functionality, automated night audit, POS integration, mobile app, guest CRM, guest profiles, and ancillary revenue tracking. Its automation and POS features are especially valuable for hostel management.

Both systems share 8 features, like basic reservation management and integrations, but Bookinglayer's added capabilities cater to more complex operations. Which set of unique features aligns better with your property’s operational needs?

Edge: Bookinglayer.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bookinglayer or Counter?

Counter's support scores are nearly perfect at 4.96/5, with reviews consistently praising the responsiveness and professionalism of support staff like Evelyn and Max. Users mention quick responses to issues and ongoing improvements, although some note support can be slower across different time zones.

Bookinglayer's support ratings are unavailable, and with no recent reviews, it's hard to gauge current support quality. The lack of recent customer feedback suggests less confidence in ongoing support compared to Counter. Given the importance of reliable support, Edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Bookinglayer or Counter?

Counter boasts seven verified integrations, including popular platforms like Stripe, Goki, SiteMinder, and Channex, providing flexibility for revenue streams and access control. Bookinglayer has only one verified partner, limiting its connectivity options.

Counter's broader integration ecosystem allows seamless connection with channel managers, payment providers, and access systems, streamlining overall operations. If your property relies on multiple platforms, Counter’s extensive integrations give it a decisive advantage. Edge: Counter.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bookinglayer or Counter?

With a 4.73/5 overall rating based on 54 reviews, Counter has more recent and positive feedback, especially from hostel operators. Hoteliers appreciate its ease of use, automation, and support, often citing it as a significant upgrade over previous systems.

Bookinglayer’s ratings are unavailable in recent data, and its reviews are scarce or outdated, making it difficult to assess current hotel sentiment. Since recent reviews typically indicate the current quality of the product, Counter’s higher rating and active user feedback make it the safer choice. Edge: Counter.

How Much Do Bookinglayer and Counter Cost?

Bookinglayer charges a $600 monthly flat fee with no free tier, no trial, and no implementation fee. Pricing for Counter is not publicly specified, but it is described as a free system, suggesting a lower barrier for small properties or hostels.

Counter's free model, combined with automation features and extensive integrations, offers a compelling value for hostels and small properties. Bookinglayer's upfront cost might be justified for properties needing its advanced features, but for affordability and simpler operations, Counter is more accessible.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bookinglayer?

• Hotels offering combined activities and accommodation, such as adventure travel providers, surf camps, or wellness retreats.
• Properties that sell fixed-date trips, customizable packages, or add-ons.
• Businesses needing detailed rate management and online check-in.
• Teams that want to reduce admin time through automation features like digital registration and guest communication.
• Not ideal if your property operates with straightforward check-in/out, small scale, or limited staff resources.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hostels or small properties prioritizing ease of management and automation.
• Teams looking for a mobile-friendly PMS that simplifies check-ins, check-outs, and reservations.
• Properties aiming to reduce manual tasks through features like POS integration and automatic payments.
• Hostels wanting a low-cost yet feature-rich system with strong support.
• Not ideal if your property requires complex package management, multi-revenue streams, or detailed revenue analytics.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Bookinglayer and Counter address different needs within the property management landscape. Bookinglayer’s broad feature set suits hotels with complex booking requirements, while Counter’s simplicity and automation make it ideal for hostels and small properties.

If your hotel requires a versatile, activity-inclusive platform with detailed administrative tools, Bookinglayer offers valuable capabilities, especially if your team is prepared for a learning curve and higher cost. For small, budget-conscious properties that value ease of use, automation, and fast support, Counter stands out as the better choice.

In conclusion, choose Bookinglayer if your hotel needs a comprehensive, customizable system supporting diverse services. Opt for Counter if you prioritize intuitive operation, automation, and excellent support to streamline hostel management. Either way, understanding your specific operational needs will ensure the best fit for your property’s future.