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 57 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:
Ciaobooking shines .
Counter shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Payment processing and Housekeeping module.
Side-by-side ratings based on 57 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 57 |
After analyzing 57 verified reviews, Ciaobooking users most value its , while Counter users highlight user interface and usability, customer support, automated features. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User interface and usability
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Customer support
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Automated features
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Platform integration
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Bug issues
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Reporting and revenue management
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Pricing
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How each product ranks among Property Management Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment | Ciaobooking |
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|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #26 28 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) | — | #46 4 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #32 2 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #31 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment | Ciaobooking |
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #31 16 reviews |
| Luxury | — | #44 4 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | — | #43 4 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #32 5 reviews |
By Region
| Segment | Ciaobooking |
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| North America ▾ | — | #25 8 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #20 25 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #16 4 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #11 2 reviews |
Choosing between Ciaobooking and Counter hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both aim to streamline operations, but they serve very different segments and offer contrasting features and support levels. Your decision should reflect your property type, operational complexity, and growth plans.
Ciaobooking is a lesser-known platform with no recent reviews, while Counter has a strong presence with 54 recent reviews and a high 4.73/5 rating. Given the recent and numerous reviews, Counter’s data provides a more reliable gauge of current performance and user satisfaction.
Are you seeking a highly rated, actively supported PMS with broad functionalities, or a more niche, potentially simpler solution? Let’s compare these two options to find which suits your hotel best.
Ciaobooking offers a basic property management system, primarily targeting small operations or niche markets, with no recent reviews or confirmed active support. Its zero reviews in the last six months mean there’s limited recent feedback to gauge its current effectiveness or user satisfaction.
Counter, contrastingly, is well-rated with 54 recent reviews, a 4.73/5 overall score, and high ratings for ease of use and support (4.6/5 and 4.96/5 respectively). It’s an established PMS with verified integrations, robust features, and active customer feedback, indicating ongoing development and support.
If your hotel needs a broad, modern PMS with strong support and features, Counter is the safer choice. Is your property looking for a simpler, possibly more affordable option, or is your priority on proven, recent user satisfaction?
Edge: Counter
For properties like hostels or small boutique hotels that need an easy-to-adopt system, Counter’s extensive feature set and recent positive reviews make it an ideal fit. Its functionalities such as channel management, automated night audits, and guest CRM are tailored for high-volume, fast-paced environments.
If your hotel requires a more niche, lightweight platform with minimal features, or if you are exploring options without a significant need for advanced integrations, Ciaobooking might seem appealing. However, the lack of recent reviews and support data makes Counter the more reliable choice for most operational needs.
Hotels that prioritize active support, regular updates, and comprehensive features should select Counter. Conversely, hotels with very simple operations or in early stages of digitalization might consider Ciaobooking, but be cautious about the lack of recent user feedback.
Edge: Counter
Ciaobooking’s user interface and onboarding process are undocumented in recent reviews, suggesting limited recent feedback on usability. Its zero review count indicates either very low adoption or limited user engagement, making it difficult to assess ease of use today.
Counter, on the other hand, boasts a high 4.6/5 rating for ease of use and a 4.7/5 onboarding rating from numerous recent reviews. Users highlight its clean, intuitive interface, straightforward calendar management, and quick staff training. Support from the Counter team is consistently praised for responsiveness.
Edge: Counter
Counter offers a comprehensive suite of 19 features exclusive to its platform, including channel management, payment processing, booking engine, housekeeper modules, group functionality, multi-currency support, and guest CRM. These features are tailored for mid-sized and large properties, especially hostels and small hotels needing robust operational tools.
Ciaobooking provides no documented features or unique functionalities, which suggests a minimal or outdated feature set. Its lack of integrations and limited automation options make it less suitable for hotels seeking a full-featured system.
If your hotel needs advanced, integrated features to manage multiple channels, revenue, and guest data, Counter is clearly superior. Ciaobooking’s absence of documented features means it’s unlikely to meet more complex operational requirements.
Edge: Counter
Counter’s support rating is 4.96/5, with reviewers citing fast, helpful, and professional service from team members like Evelyn and Max. Hoteliers appreciate its responsiveness, especially for troubleshooting and onboarding, even amid bugs.
Ciaobooking’s support details are absent, with no recent reviews to gauge responsiveness or quality. The lack of recent feedback suggests it may not offer the same level of support or active engagement as Counter.
For hotel teams that rely heavily on dependable support and quick issue resolution, Counter’s support is a decisive advantage. Ciaobooking’s support quality remains unverified in recent data.
Edge: Counter
Counter’s recent reviews show a high 4.73/5 overall rating, with users in the hostel segment particularly satisfied, rating it 4.75/5. Hoteliers praise its usability, support, and feature set, with many noting ongoing improvements.
Ciaobooking has zero reviews—no recent data or ratings—making it impossible to assess user sentiment or satisfaction levels today.
Given the robust recent review base and high ratings, Counter is clearly favored among hoteliers actively using the system. Its consistent feedback confirms it’s currently delivering value.
Edge: Counter
Ciaobooking does not list any pricing details, nor does it offer a free trial or mention any subscription or implementation costs. Its lack of transparent pricing suggests it may be a niche or less commercially scaled product.
Counter also does not specify a standard pricing model, but its free-to-try model and widespread adoption imply a flexible, potentially scalable pricing structure. Additional features and integrations may come at extra cost, but the platform's broad feature set suggests a paid plan.
Without concrete pricing data, your best bet is to contact both vendors directly to clarify costs. However, Counter’s established market presence often correlates with clearer pricing options.
Given the absence of recent reviews and detailed features, Ciaobooking might suit very small or specialized operations but lacks the scalability for growing or complex hotels.
Edge: Hotels that fit the latter profile should choose Counter.
Counter’s broad feature set and active reviews make it suitable for properties that want a future-proof, scalable property management solution.
Edge: Hotels fitting these criteria should select Counter.
Counter stands out as a full-featured, actively supported PMS with a high user rating and recent positive reviews, making it the best choice for most hotels today. Its extensive functionalities, ease of use, and proven support system provide confidence for property owners seeking growth and efficiency.
Ciaobooking offers a minimal, less documented platform with no recent reviews or feature disclosures. It may be suitable for very small or niche operations with simple needs, but it lacks the active user base and feature depth that modern hotel management demands.
Hotels prioritizing a well-supported, feature-rich system should choose Counter, especially given its high recent ratings and broad industry presence. For very small or specialized properties, Ciaobooking might suffice, but caution is advised due to limited recent data.
In summary, if your hotel aims for operational excellence, scalability, and reliable support, Counter is the clear choice. Ciaobooking might serve niche or early-stage properties but falls short in recent validation and feature set.
Note: For detailed pricing and tailored demos, reach out directly to each platform. Your choice should align with your hotel's current size, operational complexity, and future ambitions.
Property Management Systems 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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According to HTR's product database, Ciaobooking and Counter share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature | Ciaobooking |
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| Booking Engine | ||
| Calendar view | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Custom rates | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| RevPaR & ADR Reports |
Showing top differences. 7 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Hoteliers find Counter's interface clean, intuitive, and user-friendly, making it easy to train new staff quickly. The mobile and desktop interfaces w... Hoteliers find Counter's interface clean, intuitive, and user-friendly, making it easy to train new staff quickly. The mobile and desktop interfaces work well, allowing managers to handle tasks remotely. It is particularly noted for its simplicity in calendar and calendar management.
The support team at Counter is frequently praised for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Staff like Evelyn and Max receive specific mentions for thei... The support team at Counter is frequently praised for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Staff like Evelyn and Max receive specific mentions for their professionalism. However, there are concerns about slower support in certain time zones.
Users appreciate Counter's automated features that include tasks like contactless check-in, automating credit card charges, and managing bookings acro... Users appreciate Counter's automated features that include tasks like contactless check-in, automating credit card charges, and managing bookings across platforms. This automation reduces staff workload and improves operational efficiency.
Where hoteliers push back
Several hoteliers mention persistent bugs in the system, particularly issues with overbookings, bed availability display, and system errors during boo... Several hoteliers mention persistent bugs in the system, particularly issues with overbookings, bed availability display, and system errors during booking cancellations. These bugs have a negative impact on daily operations and guest experience.
Hoteliers appreciate Counter's reporting capabilities but note that the reports can be improved for better insights. Revenue management features are s... Hoteliers appreciate Counter's reporting capabilities but note that the reports can be improved for better insights. Revenue management features are seen as lacking, particularly for businesses operating on multiple rate plans or using dynamic pricing.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Ciaobooking and Counter share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Ciaobooking offers 0 verified integration partners, while Counter offers 7. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Counter leads in ease of use at 4.6/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
Ciaobooking: No. Counter: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Property Management Systems 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. Ciaobooking has an HT Score of 0 and Counter has 17. 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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