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 50 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:
ChargeAutomation shines in customer support , with exclusive features like GlobalPayments (Credit Card Processing).
CheKin shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 50 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $200/mo | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 44 | 6 |
After analyzing 50 verified reviews, ChargeAutomation users most value its payment processing, contactless check-in, customer support, while CheKin users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Payment Processing
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Contactless Check-in
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Customer Support
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Upselling Features
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Customization Limitations
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PMS Integration
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Customer Reviews
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How each product ranks among Contactless Check-in 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) ▾ | #6 13 reviews | #9 3 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #5 16 reviews | #22 0 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #6 5 reviews | #18 1 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #13 1 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #6 9 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #10 6 reviews | #21 1 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | #9 4 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #3 18 reviews | #18 0 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #4 19 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #6 20 reviews | #9 6 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | #5 2 reviews | — |
Choosing between ChargeAutomation’s Online Check-in and Chekin hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both platforms aim to streamline contactless check-in, but they diverge in features, scale, and user feedback. While ChargeAutomation boasts a clearer edge in recent reviews and overall ratings, Chekin offers a broader regional presence and a highly positive user base. Your decision should align with your property type, operational priorities, and available budget.
ChargeAutomation and Chekin both serve the core purpose of contactless check-in, automating guest verification, payments, and documentation. ChargeAutomation’s platform integrates seamlessly with property management systems, automating upselling and security deposits, and receives more recent, positive feedback. Chekin, meanwhile, emphasizes its broad compatibility with numerous PMS and its customizable guest app, primarily serving European markets, with fewer recent reviews. Given the latest data, ChargeAutomation’s higher review count and stronger current ratings give it a decisive edge. Will your hotel prioritize recent reviews or regional features?
If your hotel needs an automation tool with extensive contactless check-in capabilities, integrated payment options, and upselling features, go with ChargeAutomation. Its 42 reviews in the last six months with an NPS of 9.81/10 reflect consistent satisfaction among users, especially in North America and other regions. Conversely, if your hotel operates primarily in Europe or requires a highly customizable guest app and broad PMS integration, Chekin’s 6 reviews and solid support might appeal more. But overall, ChargeAutomation’s recent performance makes it the more reliable choice for most hoteliers.
Both platforms are highly rated for their user interfaces, with ChargeAutomation at 4.71/5 and Chekin at 4.67/5. ChargeAutomation’s onboarding process is rated 4.61/5, slightly ahead of Chekin’s 4.33/5, with users praising their straightforward setup and intuitive dashboards. ChargeAutomation’s support staff is often highlighted for their responsiveness, which helps new users adopt the system quickly. Given the more recent feedback and higher rating, Edge: ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation offers 9 features exclusive to its platform, including PCI compliance, multi-processor gateways, and various credit card processing integrations—all critical for secure, scalable payments. Chekin provides a robust guest registration, remote access, and a branded guest app but lacks the extensive payment processing features ChargeAutomation offers. Both platforms share 21 features, but ChargeAutomation’s added payment security and upselling capabilities stand out. Edge: ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation’s support is rated 4.9/5, with reviews emphasizing quick, friendly responses and proactive assistance. Users frequently mention how support staff listen to small customization requests and fix issues promptly, enhancing overall satisfaction. Chekin’s support, rated 4.5/5, is praised but less frequently highlighted for speed and depth. Considering the higher ratings and recent review volume, Edge: ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation integrates with 18 verified partners, including Stripe, HotelSync, and Sirvoy, offering extensive payment and PMS options. Chekin connects with 20 verified partners—some overlapping with ChargeAutomation, such as RoomRaccoon and Beds24, but also supporting additional PMS and channel managers like Lodgify and Cloudbeds. While both offer strong integration options, ChargeAutomation’s larger partner count and specific integrations for secure payments give it a slight advantage. Edge: Chekin.
ChargeAutomation’s review count (42) far exceeds Chekin’s (6), with recent feedback rating both platforms highly but ChargeAutomation slightly better at 4.74/5 for value and 4.9/5 for support. Hoteliers in vacation rentals and extended stays particularly favor ChargeAutomation, citing its automation and upselling. Chekin’s users, mainly in Europe, appreciate its easy interface and PMS compatibility but lack recent, detailed reviews to support a higher rating. Overall, ChargeAutomation’s larger, more recent review base solidifies its higher rating. Edge: ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation charges a flat $200 monthly fee, with no implementation or trial costs reported. Chekin’s pricing is higher at $400 per month, also without a trial or setup fee. Neither platform offers a freemium model, so your choice depends on budget and required features. Given the pricing disparity and the more recent reviews backing ChargeAutomation’s value, it typically provides a better ROI for most hotels.
ChargeAutomation stands out as the more recent, highly-rated platform for automating contactless check-in, with 42 reviews in the past six months and an NPS of 9.81/10. Its core strengths include seamless PMS integration, extensive automation, and customer support, making it well-suited for hotels and vacation rentals seeking efficiency and increased revenue.
Chekin offers strong PMS compatibility, especially in European markets, and a customizable guest app that appeals to properties emphasizing branding. However, with fewer recent reviews and a smaller customer base, its overall momentum is less compelling.
If your hotel seeks a reliable, well-supported contactless check-in system with automation and upselling, ChargeAutomation is the clear choice. For properties in Europe requiring customization and broad PMS integration, Chekin may still be relevant—but only if regional features outweigh the need for recent validation.
This comprehensive comparison aims to help your team make an informed decision based on current reviews, features, and regional suitability. Consider your hotel’s unique needs and operational priorities before choosing the platform that aligns best with your strategy.
Contactless Check-in 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 $200/mo | From $400/mo |
According to HTR's product database, ChargeAutomation Online Check-in and Chekin share 21 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Chase (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| First Data (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| Heartland (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| Multi-Processor Gateway | ||
| PCI Compliance | ||
| Vantiv (Credit Card Processing) |
What hoteliers love
The software's automated payment processing feature is praised for handling payments, security deposits, and chargebacks. Users appreciate how it mini... The software's automated payment processing feature is praised for handling payments, security deposits, and chargebacks. Users appreciate how it minimizes fraud and error, saving time and reducing labor costs. Payment automation facilitates smoother operations and enhances financial security for both hotels and guests.
ChargeAutomation simplifies the check-in process with its robust contactless solution. Reviews frequently highlight how the system allows guests to co... ChargeAutomation simplifies the check-in process with its robust contactless solution. Reviews frequently highlight how the system allows guests to complete check-in remotely, reducing front desk traffic and wait times. This feature is especially beneficial in minimizing manual work, improving operational efficiency, and creating a better guest experience.
While support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, a few reviews noted the need for improvements in response time and additional sup... While support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, a few reviews noted the need for improvements in response time and additional support personnel. Good support is crucial for resolving issues quickly, thereby affecting the overall experience.
Where hoteliers push back
A critical point raised by some users is the need for more customization options. Reviews mention limitations in the ability to customize the guest po... A critical point raised by some users is the need for more customization options. Reviews mention limitations in the ability to customize the guest portal, email formats, and other interfaces. This lack of flexibility can impact how well the software meets specific needs of different properties.
Although several reviews highlight how ChargeAutomation seamlessly integrates with Property Management Systems (PMS), there are also some criticisms a... Although several reviews highlight how ChargeAutomation seamlessly integrates with Property Management Systems (PMS), there are also some criticisms about its PMS connectivity. Users report issues like synchrony problems and the need for more flexible information transfer capabilities.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Ranks higher for
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. ChargeAutomation Online Check-in and Chekin share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. ChargeAutomation Online Check-in offers 18 verified integration partners, while Chekin offers 20. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. ChargeAutomation Online Check-in leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.7/5. 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.
ChargeAutomation Online Check-in: No. Chekin: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Contactless Check-in 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. ChargeAutomation has an HT Score of 24 and CheKin has 0. 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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