Clock HMS vs. Optima HMS: Which Is Right for You?

Updated May 16, 2026  ·  81 verified reviews analyzed

TLDR

We analyzed 81 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:

Clock shines in ROI — especially for independent properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Centralized Messaging and Guest Messaging.

Priority Software shines in onboarding , with exclusive features like Mobile App and Guest Communication (SMS Messaging).

See the full breakdown below ↓

How Does Clock HMS Compare to Optima HMS?

Side-by-side ratings based on 81 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.

HTScore
79
0
Likelihood to Recommend
96%
90%
Ease of Use
4.8/5
5.0/5
Customer Support
4.8/5
5.0/5
Value for Money
4.7/5
5.0/5
Starting Price From $600/mo Contact sales
Verified Reviews 79 2

What Are the Pros and Cons of Clock HMS vs Optima HMS?

After analyzing 81 verified reviews, Clock users most value its ease of use and accessibility, reservation and booking management, customer service and support, while Priority Software users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.

Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
Pros
+ Ease of Use and Accessibility
+ Reservation and Booking Management
+ Customer Service and Support
+ Integration and Connectivity
Cons
Reporting and Analytics
Customization and Flexibility
Mobile and User Interface

Clock vs Priority Software: Rankings by Hotel Segment

How each product ranks among Hotel Management Software vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.

By Hotel Size

Segment Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
Small (10-24 rooms) #21 19 reviews
Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) #14 28 reviews #35 1 reviews
Large (75-199 rooms) #17 2 reviews
X-Large (200+ rooms) #5 5 reviews

By Property Type

Segment Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
Boutique #18 30 reviews #48 0 reviews
Luxury #18 14 reviews
Branded / Chain #15 15 reviews #37 1 reviews
Extended Stay #16 8 reviews

By Region

Segment Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
North America #17 11 reviews
Europe #9 38 reviews #35 1 reviews
Asia Pacific #12 4 reviews
Middle East #18 2 reviews #14 0 reviews

The Decision

Choosing between Clock HMS by Clock and Optima HMS by Priority Software comes down to your hotel’s specific needs and operational priorities. Both products aim to streamline hotel management but differ significantly in features, customer support, and market focus. Clock’s recent reviews and higher review count make it the more current and reliable choice for hoteliers seeking a robust, all-in-one PMS.

Clock offers a more extensive feature set, broader regional presence, and stronger user feedback, especially in North America and boutique sectors. Conversely, Priority Software’s solution is tailored to larger chains and resorts, emphasizing global connectivity and automation, but with fewer recent reviews and a narrower regional footprint.

Quick Verdict: Clock HMS or Priority HMS — Which Is the Better Choice for Hotels?

Clock HMS is a comprehensive hotel management system that provides reservations, rates, invoicing, guest messaging, and restaurant POS—everything in one platform. If your hotel prioritizes ease of use, integration options, and a broad feature set with recent positive reviews, Clock is the better pick.

Priority Software’s Optima is geared more toward larger, global hotel chains and resorts, emphasizing connectivity to multiple booking channels and automation. If your focus is on international distribution, revenue management, and scalability, and your hotel is a bigger operation, then Priority may suit you—though its recent review count and ratings are less compelling.

Is Clock HMS or Priority HMS Easier to Use?

Clock’s UI has a 4.73/5 ease of use rating based on 63 reviews, with users praising its straightforward navigation and quick onboarding. Many reviewers mention that the platform is intuitive and well-suited for daily hotel operations, even if the initial setup can be complex.

Priority’s solution boasts a perfect 5/5 rating from its fewer reviews, with users highlighting its user-friendly interface and simple onboarding process. However, with only two reviews, the data is less recent and less representative.

Edge: Clock HMS.

Which Has Better Features: Clock HMS or Priority HMS?

Clock offers 45 shared features plus four unique functionalities: Pricing Intelligence, Centralized Messaging, Guest Messaging, and Ancillary Revenue Tracking. These features enhance revenue strategies, guest communication, and operational oversight.

Priority provides eight features exclusive to its platform, including Mobile App, Automated Night Audit, Guest CRM, and Revenue Management Module—crucial for larger, automated operations. However, Clock’s broader feature set and recent updates give it a clear advantage for hotels seeking an all-in-one management system.

Edge: Clock HMS.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Clock HMS or Priority HMS?

Clock’s customer support has a 4.78/5 rating from 63 reviews, with many users appreciating its responsiveness and support team’s quick query resolution. Some mention that support becomes more complex with advanced issues, but overall, Clock’s recent reviews show high satisfaction.

Priority’s support also scores a perfect 5/5, but this rating comes from only two reviews, both praising timely assistance. The limited recent feedback makes it difficult to assess ongoing support quality at scale.

Edge: Clock HMS.

Which Has More Integrations: Clock HMS or Priority HMS?

Clock boasts 111 verified partners, including major OTAs, CRM, and revenue management systems, with 21 shared integrations with Priority. Notable exclusive integrations include Hotel Investor Apps, Flexipass, and Profitroom.

Priority has 40 verified partners, including Oracle Hospitality, Infor, and SnapShot, but fewer overall. Its focus on global distribution is strong, but Clock’s extensive partner network offers more versatility, especially for hotels needing broad connectivity.

Edge: Clock HMS.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Clock HMS or Priority HMS?

Clock’s user ratings reflect a 4.88/5 overall and a 95% likelihood to recommend, based on 63 reviews, with recent feedback emphasizing positive experiences from boutique and independent hotels. Hotels praise its ease of use, support, and revenue-enhancing features.

Priority’s rating is a perfect 5/5 from only two reviews, with a 90% likelihood to recommend, mostly from users with large, chain-like operations. However, the limited review volume and recency favor Clock as the more trusted product.

Edge: Clock HMS.

How Much Do Clock HMS and Priority HMS Cost?

Clock’s base price is $600 monthly, with no added implementation or hidden fees. Its transparent pricing and no-cost API connections make it a predictable investment.

Priority’s pricing is not publicly available, with no trial or detailed cost structure disclosed. Given the lack of clear pricing, Clock’s offering provides better clarity and value for comparison.

Edge: Clock HMS.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Clock HMS?

  • Hotels that want a comprehensive, all-in-one PMS with integrated reservations, POS, and guest messaging.
  • Boutique hotels seeking an intuitive platform with recent positive reviews.
  • Hotels prioritizing dynamic pricing and ancillary revenue tracking.
  • Hotels with a need for broad integration and cloud-based access.
  • Teams that value ease of use and support during onboarding.

Not ideal if your hotel is a small boutique with simple needs or if you prefer a solution with extensive automation for large chains.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Priority HMS?

  • Large hotel chains and resorts needing global distribution and multi-channel booking.
  • Hotels looking for automation features like night audits and revenue management.
  • Hotels aiming for extensive international connectivity.
  • Teams prioritizing open architecture and marketplace flexibility.
  • Properties that want to list rooms on multiple global sites easily.

Not ideal if your hotel operates primarily locally or if recent reviews and direct support are critical to your decision.

Clock vs. Priority: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Clock HMS stands out as the more reviewed, more recent, and more feature-rich product, especially suited for boutique and independent hotels. Its broad integration network, positive user feedback, and clear pricing make it ideal for hoteliers seeking operational simplicity combined with revenue growth.

Priority HMS excels in serving larger, global hotel brands with automation and distribution needs, but its limited recent reviews and unclear pricing make it less compelling for smaller or mid-sized hotels. It’s a good fit if your hotel relies heavily on international channels and complex automation.

For most hoteliers evaluating current market options, Clock HMS delivers more tangible benefits at present. Its recent reviews and extensive feature set make it the safer, more reliable choice for your hotel’s management needs.

How Much Do Clock HMS and Optima HMS Cost?

Hotel Management Software 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.

Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
Starting Price From $600/mo

Which Features Does Clock HMS Have That Optima HMS Doesn't (and Vice Versa)?

According to HTR's product database, Clock HMS and Optima HMS share 45 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.

Feature Clock Clock Priority Software Priority Software
Ancillary revenue tracking
Automated night audit
Centralized Messaging
Guest CRM
Guest Communication (SMS Messaging)
Guest Messaging
Mobile App
Native Email Marketing
Pricing Intelligence
Website Development

Real-World Results: Clock vs Priority Software by Business Goal

We analyzed 2 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.

Increase Operational Efficiency
Clock Gambino Hotels Small
+ Result 1: Reduced manual work
+ Manual processes such as payment handling and reporting are now automated, saving time for the team.
+ �Things that used to be done manually are automated today

"Faster processes, faster training, more time for staff to focus on the guests, and tasks that used to be done manually are now automated."

Carsten Werblow
Carsten Werblow
Head of Operations Gambino Hotels
Priority Software Priority Software

No published case study for this goal yet.

Clock vs Priority Software: The Bottom Line

Clock
Clock
4.8/5 from 79 reviews

What hoteliers love

Ease of Use and Accessibility 100% positive

Clock PMS+ is widely praised for its intuitive interface and accessibility across various devices, making it easy for hotel staff to use and manage ta... Clock PMS+ is widely praised for its intuitive interface and accessibility across various devices, making it easy for hotel staff to use and manage tasks efficiently. Several reviews highlighted the ability to access the system from anywhere as a key benefit. The platform's user-friendly design is especially beneficial for new staff training.

Reservation and Booking Management 89% positive

Users appreciate the effectiveness of the reservation and booking management system, noting it as quick and seamless. The interface allows for easy re... Users appreciate the effectiveness of the reservation and booking management system, noting it as quick and seamless. The interface allows for easy reservation management and integrates with channel managers, enabling automatic booking imports, which helps in maintaining real-time availability and reducing manual entry errors.

Customer Service and Support 67% positive

Clock PMS+ offers reliable customer support, noted for fast and responsive assistance. Although generally praised, there is feedback regarding occasio... Clock PMS+ offers reliable customer support, noted for fast and responsive assistance. Although generally praised, there is feedback regarding occasional incorrect guidance and the need for expert advice. Users suggest improvements in experiential guidance and support for complex functionalities.

Where hoteliers push back

Reporting and Analytics 70% negative

Though Clock PMS+ covers core analytics needs, many users indicate a desire for improved, customizable reporting. This includes integrating with Excel... Though Clock PMS+ covers core analytics needs, many users indicate a desire for improved, customizable reporting. This includes integrating with Excel and providing more detailed financial analyses and operational metrics. Some users find the existing reports inadequate and cumbersome to compile comprehensive insights from.

Customization and Flexibility 67% negative

Users have expressed interest in more customization options and flexible settings to meet specific hotel needs. While generally satisfied, some users... Users have expressed interest in more customization options and flexible settings to meet specific hotel needs. While generally satisfied, some users note the desire to modify reports and interface settings to better support dynamic operations and marketing strategies.

Ranks higher for

Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) #14 vs #35
Bed & Breakfast & Inns #20 vs #37
Boutique #18 vs #48
Branded / Chain #15 vs #37

Unique capabilities

Pricing Intelligence Centralized Messaging Guest Messaging Ancillary revenue tracking
4.7/5 ease of use 4.8/5 support 111 integrations
Visit Website
Priority Software
Priority Software
4.5/5 from 2 reviews

Ranks higher for

Middle East #14 vs #18

Unique capabilities

Mobile App Automated night audit Website Development Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) Native Email Marketing
5.0/5 ease of use 5.0/5 support 40 integrations
Visit Profile

Where the ratings diverge most

Value for Money Clock 4.7 vs 2.5 (+2.2)

Frequently Asked Questions About Clock HMS vs Optima HMS

Can Clock HMS replace Optima HMS?

It depends on your requirements. Clock HMS and Optima HMS share many core Hotel Management Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Clock HMS offers 111 verified integration partners, while Optima HMS offers 40. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.

Which is better for small or independent hotels?

Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Optima HMS leads in ease of use at 5.0/5 vs 4.8/5. 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.

Do Clock HMS or Optima HMS offer a free plan?

Clock HMS: No. Optima HMS: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Management Software vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.

How Does HTR Evaluate and Rank Clock HMS and Optima HMS?

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. Clock has an HT Score of 79 and Priority Software has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.

Criteria Group Weight What It Measures
Customer Ratings & Reviews

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

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

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

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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