Bowo - Guest App vs. Criton:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Bowo’s Guest App and Criton involves understanding how each platform addresses your hotel’s guest engagement needs. Both aim to enhance the guest experience and boost revenue, but they diverge significantly in features, reviews, and market presence.

While Bowo boasts more recent reviews and a higher overall rating, Criton’s longer presence in the industry and broader feature set make the comparison more nuanced. Which solution aligns best with your hotel’s priorities?

Is Bowo or Criton Better for Hotels?

Bowo and Criton serve the same core purpose: improving guest engagement through digital apps. Bowo’s platform focuses on personalization, integration, and upselling, aiming to create a tailored experience for each guest, while Criton emphasizes simplicity, branded content, and contactless services.

Bowo has a higher rating (0/5 vs. 4.71/5 for Criton), with significantly more reviews—99 compared to Criton’s 21—making its feedback more recent and representative. Criton’s longer track record and broader feature catalog suggest a mature product, but Bowo’s recent momentum indicates stronger current support and innovation.

Do you prioritize a proven, highly-rated platform with recent reviews, or a longer-established solution with a broader feature set?

Bowo vs Criton: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable, integrated guest app that can upsell services and consolidate hotel offerings, Bowo is the clear choice. Its versatility suits luxury, boutique, or branded hotels aiming to elevate guest experience and operational efficiency.

If your hotel seeks a straightforward, branded app focused on contactless check-in, room keys, and in-room messaging—especially if cost is a concern—Criton’s simpler, user-friendly approach might be preferable. Its ease of updates and digital guest journey enhancements are ideal for hotels prioritizing fast deployment and basic engagement.

For properties that emphasize personalization, integrations, and a robust feature set, Bowo’s detailed reviews and recent support make it the better fit. Conversely, for those prioritizing simplicity and quick setup, Criton’s streamlined approach is compelling.

Is Bowo or Criton Easier to Use?

Bowo’s platform scores 4.87/5 for ease of use, with users highlighting its intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and customizable features. Reviewers mention that staff adoption is straightforward, and the client support team is highly responsive.

Criton also scores well at 4.5/5, with users appreciating its clear layout and user-friendly backend. However, some reviews note that its interface can feel less flexible and more limited in customization compared to Bowo.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has Better Features: Bowo or Criton?

Bowo offers 11 shared features with Criton, but includes 2 exclusive functionalities: a web app and automatic multi-lingual translations, making it more adaptable to diverse guest needs. Its features support upselling, automation, and centralized communication.

Criton provides unique features like app download capabilities and extensive in-app messaging, but with fewer total features (16 vs. 11 shared + 2 unique in Bowo). While Criton’s tools are effective for contactless check-in and basic engagement, Bowo’s broader feature set and integrations give it an edge.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bowo or Criton?

Bowo’s customer support scores 4.85/5, with reviews praising its proactive, personalized, and available support team. Hoteliers frequently mention quick resolutions and attentive account management.

Criton’s support scores 4.62/5, and users commend its responsiveness and ongoing product development. However, some mention that feature rollouts can be slow, and support responsiveness, while good, isn’t quite as highly rated as Bowo’s.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has More Integrations: Bowo or Criton?

Bowo integrates with 31 verified partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Stripe, along with 4 shared partners with Criton. Its extensive partner list indicates strong flexibility for hotel tech ecosystems.

Criton connects with 16 verified partners, sharing key integrations like Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Stripe, but with fewer overall options. Bowo’s larger integration pool makes it more adaptable to complex hotel management setups.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bowo or Criton?

Bowo’s review count (99) and recent ratings drive a high NPS score of 9.69/10, with 97% likelihood to recommend. Hoteliers in luxury, boutique, and branded segments particularly rate Bowo highly, citing ease of use, support, and revenue gains.

Criton’s ratings are slightly lower but still strong at 4.71/5, with a 92% likelihood to recommend. Its users tend to be mid-sized independent and boutique hotels, especially in Europe and North America.

Overall, Bowo’s higher review volume and recent scores make it the more trusted choice among hoteliers.

Edge: Bowo.

How Much Do Bowo and Criton Cost?

Bowo’s pricing starts at a straightforward $600 monthly, with no implementation or trial fees, making its costs predictable. Criton’s pricing is not publicly disclosed, but no trial or flat-rate options are advertised, which may suggest customized quotes.

If your hotel values transparent, predictable pricing, Bowo’s flat fee provides clarity from the start. Criton’s costs may vary based on scope, but lack of public pricing makes direct comparison difficult.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bowo?

• Hotels that want to increase revenue through upselling and cross-selling.
• Properties looking for deep integrations with their existing PMS and hotel management systems.
• Teams that prioritize highly personalized guest experiences.
• Hotels aiming for extensive customization of their guest app.
• Large or luxury hotels with complex operational needs.

Not ideal if your hotel prefers a simple, out-of-the-box solution without extensive customization or integrations.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Criton?

• Hotels seeking a quick-to-deploy contactless check-in and key solution.
• Properties that want an easy-to-manage app for basic guest information.
• Hotels prioritizing minimal training and straightforward content updates.
• Operators focused on providing digital guest information without complex integrations.
• Mid-sized and boutique hotels looking for a branded app experience.

Not ideal if your hotel needs advanced features like multi-language support, extensive integrations, or upselling capabilities.

Bowo vs Criton: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Bowo and Criton cater to different hotel segments and operational needs. Bowo’s platform excels in customization, integrations, and revenue-driving features, backed by more recent reviews and higher ratings, making it ideal for upscale and tech-forward properties.

Criton’s simpler, branded app is suitable for hotels seeking quick implementation, basic engagement, and contactless services, especially in markets where ease of use outweighs extensive features.

For most hotels prioritizing innovation, support, and a flexible feature set, Bowo emerges as the clear choice. If your needs are straightforward and speed to deployment is critical, Criton can meet those criteria adequately.

In conclusion, if your hotel values modern, integrated guest engagement with proven support, Bowo is the recommended option. But if minimal complexity and ease of setup are your top priorities, Criton might suffice—though Bowo’s recent momentum makes it the stronger contender.