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 1,470 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:
Cloudbeds shines when it comes to intuitiveness and ease of use — especially for brand properties (4.5/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile optimized/responsive and Revenue management module.
Exely shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Native Email Marketing and Native Email Marketing.
Side-by-side ratings based on 1,470 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | From $500/mo | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 1,414 | 56 |
After analyzing 1,470 verified reviews, Cloudbeds users most value its intuitiveness and ease of use, automation and efficiency, reservations and channel management, while Exely users highlight user interface, customer support, hotel operation efficiency. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Intuitiveness and Ease of Use
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User Interface
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Automation and Efficiency
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Customer Support
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Reservations and Channel Management
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Hotel Operation Efficiency
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Reporting and Analytics
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Channel Management
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Reservation Flexibility and Editing
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Customization and Reporting Features
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Currency Conversion and Financial Operations
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System Performance and Speed
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Mobile Functionality
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Mobile Application
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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 |
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #2 675 reviews | #23 16 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #1 235 reviews | #17 15 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #1 51 reviews | #16 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #4 5 reviews | #11 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #1 546 reviews | #22 13 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #3 245 reviews | #20 11 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #2 145 reviews | #25 2 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #2 96 reviews | #21 3 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #2 532 reviews | #22 2 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #4 166 reviews | #24 2 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #3 201 reviews | #6 28 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #3 13 reviews | #7 5 reviews |
Choosing between Cloudbeds HMS and Exely hinges on your hotel’s specific needs, operational complexity, and growth ambitions. Both tools aim to streamline management and boost revenue, but Cloudbeds offers a more extensive, integrated platform with a significant review base and recent user feedback. Exely, while simpler and praised for its ease of use, has a smaller user base and fewer recent reviews, which impacts the confidence in its current capabilities. Which platform aligns best with your growth plans?
Cloudbeds and Exely both address core hotel management challenges—reservation handling, channel management, and guest communication. While Cloudbeds provides a broad suite of features, including revenue management, analytics, and multi-lingual support, Exely mainly focuses on operational efficiency through its PMS and booking engine. The key divergence is in their scope: Cloudbeds is a full-stack system with over 50 exclusive features, whereas Exely offers a leaner, streamlined platform.
Cloudbeds’ extensive integrations—190 verified partners—support complex multi-channel operations, ideal for larger or expanding properties. Exely’s 8 verified partners suffice for smaller hotels prioritizing simplicity and quick setup. Do you need an all-in-one powerhouse or a straightforward workflow?
If your hotel needs a comprehensive, scalable platform with extensive integrations, Cloudbeds is the clear choice. Its user-friendly interface (rated 4.58/5) and large, recent review count (1,219 reviews with 76 in the last 6 months) indicate strong ongoing support and a trusted reputation.
If your team values simplicity, quick onboarding, and cost-effective operations, Exely is suitable. Its ease of use (rated 4.88/5) and high customer satisfaction scores (support rating 4.9/5) make it appealing, especially for smaller properties or those new to PMS software. However, with only 48 reviews and fewer features, it’s less suited for complex operations or rapid growth.
Cloudbeds scores 4.58/5 for ease of use, with many users praising its intuitive dashboard and quick onboarding processes. Recent reviews note that staff find it straightforward to navigate, reducing training time and minimizing errors.
Exely outperforms slightly with a 4.88/5 rating, with users highlighting its simple interface and helpful support. Customers appreciate the straightforward setup and ability to manage daily operations efficiently, even under peak workloads.
Edge: Exely.
Cloudbeds boasts 56 features exclusive to its platform, including PMS connectivity, analytics dashboards, revenue management, integrated CRS, and multi-channel management—features that provide comprehensive control over hotel operations.
Exely offers only 4 unique features, such as gift vouchers, native email marketing, and POS, focusing on operational tasks rather than strategic management. This makes Cloudbeds the superior choice for properties seeking advanced automation and data-driven tools.
Edge: Cloudbeds.
Cloudbeds maintains a support rating of 4.38/5 with positive reviews citing quick, attentive service, and responsive support teams. Users mention that Cloudbeds’ support is generally reliable, though some note response times during busy periods could improve.
Exely excels with a 4.9/5 rating, with many reviews emphasizing its responsive and sociable support staff. Customers often highlight their appreciation for ongoing improvements and attentive service, making Exely’s support arguably more personalized.
Edge: Exely.
Cloudbeds offers 190 verified integrations with a wide array of partners including OTAs, POS systems, revenue management, and payment processors. Its extensive partner network supports diverse property types and operational needs.
Exely has only 8 verified partners, mainly focused on core hotel functions like booking engines and POS. While this simplicity suits smaller operations, it limits scalability for properties with complex multi-channel requirements.
Edge: Cloudbeds.
Cloudbeds’ overall score of 4.62/5 is backed by over 1,200 reviews, with recent feedback emphasizing its reliability, ease of use, and strong support. Its user base covers a variety of hotel segments, including boutique hotels, hostels, and resorts, which rate it highly across the board.
Exely, with a 81.7 score based on only 48 reviews, has a smaller, more niche user base. Recent reviews favor its simplicity and support but lack the breadth and depth of Cloudbeds’ ratings.
Edge: Cloudbeds.
Cloudbeds charges a base fee of $500/month without a free trial, positioning itself as a premium, all-in-one platform. Its pricing reflects its extensive feature set and integration capabilities.
Exely costs $400/month, also without a free trial, offering a lower-cost option with core functionalities suited for smaller hotels or properties prioritizing ease of use over advanced features.
Not ideal if you prefer a lightweight, easy-to-learn system without many advanced features or are on a tight budget.
Not ideal if you operate at a large scale or need complex revenue management, detailed reporting, or integration-heavy systems.
Cloudbeds offers a broad, feature-rich platform with deep integrations, making it ideal for hotels seeking to grow and streamline complex operations. Its 1,219 reviews and recent feedback confirm its ongoing relevance and reliability, especially for properties aiming for automation and scalability.
Exely is a user-friendly, cost-effective alternative with high support ratings and a smaller feature set. It suits boutique hotels, hostels, and small properties that want simplicity, quick onboarding, and responsive support without the need for extensive automation or integrations.
If your hotel is looking for a scalable, all-in-one management system with a proven track record, Cloudbeds is your best choice. For smaller operations focused on ease and support, Exely can effectively meet your needs—though it offers fewer advanced tools.
According to HTR's product database, Cloudbeds HMS and Exely HMS share 34 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
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| 2-way real time integrations | ||
| Analytics dashboard | ||
| Centralized user & role management | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Inventory Management | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| PMS connectivity | ||
| Point of Sale |
Showing top differences. 48 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 10 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"I have not worked with a company that has such good customer service as Cloudbeds has. It's miles ahead."
"We took a proactive approach and collaborated with Exely, implementing various strategies, such as a loyalty program. The outcome has been outstanding — not only have we been able..."
"The biggest benefit of Cloudbeds' platform is its flexibility. I can access reporting online from anywhere. Everything is smoother with Cloudbeds."
"Once we switched to Exely, we immediately noticed a significant increase in reservations from online travel agencies. We discovered that our previous system had blocked some availa..."
"Cloudbeds is like if Apple made a property management system. The ease of use is super simple and straightforward for guests and our staff. It’s very intuitive and just makes sense..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
Cloudbeds is consistently praised for its user-friendly interface, which helps quick onboarding and reduces training times. Even users new to hotel ma... Cloudbeds is consistently praised for its user-friendly interface, which helps quick onboarding and reduces training times. Even users new to hotel management software find it intuitive, making operations smoother and more consistent for staff across the board.
The platform's automation tools significantly enhance daily operations, automating repetitive tasks like rate updates and payment processing. This not... The platform's automation tools significantly enhance daily operations, automating repetitive tasks like rate updates and payment processing. This not only saves time but also minimizes human errors, resulting in increased productivity and a focus on improving guest experiences.
Cloudbeds excels in integrating reservations and channel management, centralizing OTA distributions while reducing overbookings and errors. Users appr... Cloudbeds excels in integrating reservations and channel management, centralizing OTA distributions while reducing overbookings and errors. Users appreciate the streamlined handling of bookings and distribution, which boosts operational efficiency and helps in maintaining optimal occupancy rates.
Where hoteliers push back
The ability to edit and restructure reservations is seen as area for improvement, with users desiring more flexibility. Suggestions include splitting... The ability to edit and restructure reservations is seen as area for improvement, with users desiring more flexibility. Suggestions include splitting bookings or rearranging stays, which would better accommodate real-time changes such as guest extensions or cancellations.
Concerns are noted regarding the precision of currency conversion, especially in multi-currency operations. Users have highlighted discrepancies which... Concerns are noted regarding the precision of currency conversion, especially in multi-currency operations. Users have highlighted discrepancies which affect reconciliation processes. Enhanced configurations for currency conversion could simplify financial management.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
The intuitive and straightforward interface of Exely significantly enhances user experience, making it easier for staff to navigate during busy period... The intuitive and straightforward interface of Exely significantly enhances user experience, making it easier for staff to navigate during busy periods and integrating seamlessly into daily operations.
The customer support team receives praise for their quick responses and helpfulness, ensuring any issues are swiftly addressed, though this is a more... The customer support team receives praise for their quick responses and helpfulness, ensuring any issues are swiftly addressed, though this is a more general feature and not unique to Exely.
Exely is praised for streamlining hotel operations, reducing errors and enhancing overall workflow efficiency by automating various processes and task... Exely is praised for streamlining hotel operations, reducing errors and enhancing overall workflow efficiency by automating various processes and tasks.
Where hoteliers push back
Users express a need for more advanced reporting options and customization capabilities to enable deeper performance analysis and personalized user ex... Users express a need for more advanced reporting options and customization capabilities to enable deeper performance analysis and personalized user experience, which are lacking in the current system.
There is critique regarding the system's performance during peak workload periods, with reports of long loading times, occasional errors, and unexpect... There is critique regarding the system's performance during peak workload periods, with reports of long loading times, occasional errors, and unexpected logouts hindering operational flow.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Cloudbeds HMS and Exely HMS share many core Hotel Management Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Cloudbeds HMS offers 189 verified integration partners, while Exely HMS offers 8. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Exely HMS leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 4.6/5. 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.
Cloudbeds HMS: No. Exely 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.
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. Cloudbeds has an HT Score of 100 and Exely has 82. 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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