Chicostay vs. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Chicostay by Chico and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) hinges on what your hotel needs most. Chico offers a property management system tailored to vacation rentals and small hospitality operations, while LIKE MAGIC specializes in contactless check-in and guest journey management for a variety of hotel types. Both aim to streamline operations, but each excels in different areas.

Chico's platform is virtually unreviewed and lacks recent data, whereas LIKE MAGIC boasts a 74.02 HTR Score, 29 reviews, and recent positive feedback. Which solution will truly meet your hotel’s operational and guest experience goals?

Is Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC Better for Hotels?

Chicostay and LIKE MAGIC both target contactless check-in, but they serve different hotel types and operational needs. Chicostay is primarily a property management system (PMS) for vacation rentals and small-scale hospitality, offering automation, booking management, and analytics. LIKE MAGIC, on the other hand, focuses on contactless check-in, guest journey, and operational automation, with more extensive features tailored for hotels seeking direct guest engagement.

Chicostay remains largely unreviewed and inactive in recent months, making its effectiveness uncertain. Conversely, LIKE MAGIC has recent reviews and a high NPS score, indicating better user satisfaction. Do your hotel’s needs lean more toward comprehensive property management or guest-centric, contactless experiences?

Chicostay vs LIKE MAGIC: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a property management system that centralizes booking, automation, and analytics—especially for vacation rentals or small hotel operations—Chicostay might seem appropriate, but its lack of recent reviews and limited data make it less reliable. If your focus is on elevating guest experiences through contactless check-in, digital keys, and automating guest interactions, LIKE MAGIC offers more features, better ratings, and measurable recent success.

For hotels seeking operational automation and property oversight, Chicostay could work if it matures further. For those prioritizing guest engagement, real-time updates, and revenue opportunities, LIKE MAGIC is the more proven choice based on recent data. Given the current review landscape, which aligns better with your hotel’s strategic priorities?

Is Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC Easier to Use?

Chicostay’s usability details are scarce, and it has no recent reviews or user ratings for ease of use. Its onboarding process is similarly undocumented, making it difficult to assess if staff adoption would be smooth. LIKE MAGIC, with a 4.9 out of 5 ease-of-use rating from 29 reviews, is clearly favored for its intuitive interface, quick onboarding, and minimal staff training needs.

Guests and staff alike find LIKE MAGIC’s platform straightforward, with users noting no significant learning curve. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.

Which Has Better Features: Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC?

Chicostay offers no verified features or integrations, limiting its appeal as a contactless check-in solution. LIKE MAGIC provides 17 unique features including hotel website check-in portals, device-agnostic solutions, self-service check-in and checkout, document scanning, ID verification, multi-lingual support, door lock integration, and pre-arrival upselling.

This extensive feature set makes LIKE MAGIC more versatile in delivering a modern, contactless guest experience. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC?

Chicostay’s support ratings are nonexistent, leaving you uncertain about post-implementation assistance. LIKE MAGIC, with a 4.83 out of 5 customer support rating from 29 recent reviews, is highly regarded for responsive support and effective onboarding, with some users stating it “made the entire process smooth and easy.”

Recent reviews praise LIKE MAGIC’s proactive support and quick problem resolution. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.

Which Has More Integrations: Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC?

Chicostay has no verified integrations, limiting its ability to connect with other hotel systems. LIKE MAGIC, with 10 verified partners, integrates with key systems such as 4SUITES, apaleo, Oracle Hospitality, Mews, SALTO Systems, Adyen, Triptease, TrustYou, and d3x.

These integrations expand operational capabilities and allow for a more connected hotel tech ecosystem. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Chicostay or LIKE MAGIC?

Chicostay has no recent reviews or ratings, so its user satisfaction remains unknown. LIKE MAGIC, with a 9.86/5 NPS score and 99% likelihood to recommend, is highly rated by users across diverse hotel segments, especially in urban and boutique properties.

Recent reviews emphasize its efficiency, ease, and guest satisfaction improvements. Given the data, LIKE MAGIC clearly holds the higher hotel-rated position. Edge: LIKE MAGIC.

How Much Do Chicostay and LIKE MAGIC Cost?

Chicostay’s pricing details are unavailable, suggesting either custom quotes or a lack of transparent pricing. LIKE MAGIC charges $700 per month with no free tier or trial, which can be a worthwhile investment for its feature set and proven efficacy.

Budget considerations should include evaluating whether LIKE MAGIC’s costs align with expected ROI, especially given its recent positive reviews and measurable benefits.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Chicostay?

• Hotels that primarily manage vacation rentals or small-scale properties.
• Teams seeking a unified property management system with automation, booking, and analytics.
• Hotels with existing systems that can integrate with or expand upon Chicostay’s capabilities.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel requires a robust, contactless check-in platform.
• You prioritize real-time guest engagement and digital interaction.
• You need extensive integrations or a highly customizable interface.

What Type of Hotel Should Use LIKE MAGIC?

• Hotels of all sizes seeking contactless check-in and guest journey management.
• Properties focused on enhancing guest experiences through digital keys, automated messaging, and upselling.
• Hotels looking for quick, easy onboarding and support with proven recent reviews.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates primarily on a traditional, front-desk model without digital transformation goals.
• You require extensive customization of user interface design.
• You prefer a lower-cost, simple solution without many features.

LIKE MAGIC vs Chicostay: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference lies in scope: Chicostay functions as a property management system, while LIKE MAGIC centers on guest contactless interactions and operational automation. Given the current data, LIKE MAGIC’s 29 recent reviews, high satisfaction ratings, and extensive feature set make it the stronger choice for hotels prioritizing guest experience and operational efficiency.

Choose Chicostay if your hotel needs a solid, integrated property management platform and can wait for further development. For hotels aiming to modernize check-in, increase revenue through digital upselling, and provide seamless guest journeys, LIKE MAGIC is the recommended solution.

In summary, LIKE MAGIC is the clear leader today for contactless check-in solutions, especially given its recent active reviews and broad feature set. Chicostay remains unproven in recent performance and support, making it a less reliable choice unless your hotel specifically needs a PMS tailored for vacation rentals.

This analysis is based on current reviews, feature data, and market presence. Your specific needs and budget should guide the final decision.