Canary Upsells vs. Plusgrade:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When considering upselling software, Canary Upsells and Plusgrade are two notable options designed to boost revenue and improve guest experiences. Both platforms aim to automate ancillary sales, but their focus and execution differ significantly. Canary emphasizes comprehensive guest management, contactless check-in, and automation, while Plusgrade centers on maximizing revenue through upgrades and tailored offers. Which solution aligns better with your property’s goals?

Your team needs to decide if a broad guest engagement platform with varied features or a specialized revenue booster fits your strategy. Do you want a flexible system that handles multiple aspects of guest management, or a dedicated upselling engine optimized for incremental income? Let’s compare these tools in detail.

Is Canary Upsells or Plusgrade Better for Hotels?

Canary Upsells and Plusgrade both target revenue growth by offering pre-arrival and in-stay upgrades, but they serve different hotel types and operational priorities. Canary is integrated with a broader guest management system, including contactless check-in, messaging, and fraud prevention. Plusgrade focuses solely on revenue enhancement through automated upselling, with a strong emphasis on room upgrades and ancillary sales.

Canary’s platform is more comprehensive, supporting digital check-in, payment capture, gift vouchers, and ancillary merchandising, making it suitable for hotels seeking operational streamlining. Conversely, Plusgrade is tailored for properties that want to maximize revenue from unsold inventory with a straightforward upsell approach. Do you need a full guest experience platform or a targeted revenue tool?

Canary Upsells vs Plusgrade: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel requires a unified platform that enhances guest communication, contactless check-in, and operational automation, Canary is the better fit. Its extensive feature set, including digital acceptance, gift vouchers, and automated fulfillment, supports hotels aiming for a seamless guest journey.

On the other hand, if your priority is increasing revenue specifically through automated room upgrades and ancillary sales with minimal operational complexity, Plusgrade is ideal. Its focus on upselling, proven success in boosting RevPAR, and straightforward setup make it suitable for properties looking to maximize income with ease. Which goals match your property’s needs?

Is Canary Upsells or Plusgrade Easier to Use?

Canary scores highly on ease of use, with a user rating of 4.85/5 and over 790 reviews, many emphasizing its intuitive interface and quick onboarding. Its platform’s design has garnered praise for simplicity, reducing staff training time and facilitating rapid adoption.

Plusgrade, rated at 4.75/5 with fewer reviews, is also user-friendly but with a narrower scope. Hotels appreciate its straightforward approach for revenue-focused upselling, though some mention the setup can be less flexible. Edge: Canary.

Which Has Better Features: Canary Upsells or Plusgrade?

Canary offers 14 unique features, including digital acceptance & payment capture, gift vouchers, ancillary product merchandising, and automated task routing—capabilities that support broader guest management. Plusgrade, with a core focus on upselling, provides a streamlined platform for room upgrades and ancillary offers without additional features.

Canary’s diverse feature set allows for more customization and operational automation, while Plusgrade’s strength lies in its proven upsell algorithms and simplicity. For comprehensive guest engagement, Canary is ahead. Edge: Canary.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Canary Upsells or Plusgrade?

Canary’s support ratings are slightly below Plusgrade’s, at 4.71/5 versus 4.79/5, but both platforms consistently receive positive feedback. Canary users highlight fast response times and effective onboarding, while Plusgrade’s customers praise their proactive service and effective training.

Both companies are responsive, but Plusgrade’s slightly higher rating and fewer recent complaints suggest marginally better support. When support quality matters, Edge: Plusgrade.

Which Has More Integrations: Canary Upsells or Plusgrade?

Canary boasts 54 verified integration partners, including PMS, RMS, and online travel agencies, offering broad system compatibility. Plusgrade has 16 verified partners, with shared integrations including Winhotel, SiteMinder, and RMS, but fewer total options.

The extensive integration network of Canary makes it more adaptable for hotels with complex tech stacks or specific PMS requirements. Edge: Canary.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Canary Upsells or Plusgrade?

Canary’s review ratings are 4.8/5 with 794 reviews, making it the more heavily reviewed and contemporary solution. Plusgrade, with a perfect 5/5 rating from fewer reviews, indicates strong satisfaction but less recent data.

Hotels across segments, especially at luxury and boutique properties, rate Canary higher for its versatility and support. Given the volume and recency of reviews, Edge: Canary.

How Much Do Canary Upsells and Plusgrade Cost?

Canary’s pricing starts at $300 per month without a free tier or trial, with no implementation fee. Plusgrade charges $400 per month, also without free trials or setup costs. Exact total costs depend on the number of rooms and specific modules.

Both platforms’ pricing models are similar, but Canary’s lower base price offers a slightly better value. However, consider features and support quality over price alone.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Canary Upsells?

• Hotels seeking a comprehensive guest management system that integrates check-in, messaging, and upselling.
• Properties aiming to streamline operations and reduce manual errors.
• Hotels prioritizing contactless check-in and secure payment capture.
• Venues looking for customization in guest interactions and branding.
• Hotels with diverse revenue streams beyond room upgrades, such as gift vouchers and ancillary merchandising.

Not ideal if your hotel solely needs a simple upsell platform without broader guest management features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Plusgrade?

• Hotels focused on maximizing revenue from unsold inventory and upgrades.
• Properties that want a straightforward, highly automated upselling solution.
• Hotels with a smaller tech ecosystem or less need for extensive integrations.
• Venues aiming to rapidly increase RevPAR through proven algorithms.
• Properties seeking a specialized tool to drive ancillary revenue without operational complexity.

Not ideal if you require a full guest experience platform with extensive operational features.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Canary Upsells excels as a versatile, feature-rich guest management platform that includes upselling as part of its suite. Its broad integration network and extensive feature set make it suitable for hotels seeking operational automation alongside revenue growth.

Plusgrade is a focused, easy-to-implement solution that drives revenue primarily through automated room upgrades and ancillary sales. It’s ideal for properties that want a simple, proven upselling engine to quickly boost RevPAR.

Choose Canary if your hotel benefits from a comprehensive guest management system with upselling. Opt for Plusgrade if your main goal is to rapidly increase revenue with minimal operational complexity.

In conclusion, Canary’s larger review base, recent positive feedback, and extensive features make it the stronger choice for most hotels looking for a broad, integrated approach. However, if your goal is a straightforward revenue boost, Plusgrade remains a reliable, specialized option.