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 58 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:
Counter shines when it comes to user interface and usability , with exclusive features like Payment processing and Guest CRM.
Erbon Software shines in ease of use and onboarding , with exclusive features like Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) and Tablet/Kiosk Check-in.
Side-by-side ratings based on 58 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 57 | 1 |
After analyzing 58 verified reviews, Counter users most value its user interface and usability, customer support, automated features, while Erbon Software users highlight . 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
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #26 28 reviews | #71 0 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) | #46 4 reviews | #57 1 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #32 2 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #31 1 reviews | #43 0 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #31 16 reviews | #73 0 reviews |
| Luxury | #44 4 reviews | #63 0 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | #43 4 reviews | #63 0 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #32 5 reviews | — |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #25 8 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #20 25 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific | #16 4 reviews | #40 0 reviews |
| Middle East | #11 2 reviews | — |
Choosing between Counter by Counter and Erbon PMS by Erbon Software hinges on your hotel’s operational needs and growth plans. Both systems aim to streamline hotel management, but they diverge sharply in focus, features, and regional presence. Counter is tailored specifically for hostels and small properties, while Erbon caters to a broader range of hotel types, especially vacation rentals. Your decision should align with your property type, size, and operational complexity.
Counter’s prominence in reviews, recent feedback, and high ratings make it the more proven choice for most hoteliers. Erbon, despite its extensive features, has fewer recent reviews and a narrower market presence. Which platform aligns best with your current and future needs?
Counter by Counter stands out with its strong reputation among hostel and small hotel operators, offering an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface that simplifies daily operations. Its core strengths are ease of use and quick onboarding, which make it ideal for properties looking for straightforward management solutions.
Erbon PMS is a comprehensive system that manages multiple facets of hotel operations, including finance, housekeeping, and event sales, all integrated into one platform. While it offers a broader suite of features, it’s primarily used by vacation rentals and larger hotels, and its recent review count is minimal—limiting confidence in current performance.
Counter’s reviews emphasize its user-friendliness and rapid customer support, whereas Erbon’s focus is on operational depth. The choice reflects whether your hotel prioritizes simplicity or extensive functionality. Are you seeking a platform that prioritizes ease of use, or one that covers a wider operational scope?
If your hotel needs a straightforward, easy-to-implement PMS for a small or hostel environment, go with Counter. Its 54 reviews, mostly recent, give it a high 4.73 out of 5 overall rating, with a 91% likelihood to recommend. It's praised for its intuitive interface, automation, and strong customer support, especially from users in Europe and North America.
If your hotel requires a multi-function system that handles reservations, housekeeping, finance, POS, and inventory, and you operate across multiple regions, Erbon might be appealing. However, with only one review and a 0/5 overall rating, confidence is limited. It’s better suited for larger, complex operations familiar with multi-module platforms.
For small properties or hostels seeking reliability and ease, Counter is the safer bet. For larger hotels or chains with complex needs, Erbon’s extensive feature set could eventually prove advantageous, but current evidence suggests caution.
Counter’s UI scores 4.6/5 from users, who highlight its straightforward, mobile-accessible design that makes daily management tasks simple. Onboarding is rated 4.7/5, and users consistently mention that staff can learn the system quickly, reducing training time.
Erbon’s interface scores a perfect 5/5, with users describing it as modern and intuitive, despite fewer recent reviews. Its comprehensive features are designed for users comfortable with complex systems, but the limited recent user feedback raises questions about ongoing usability and support.
Edge: Counter.
Counter offers 13 shared features plus 6 unique features, including a channel manager, payment processing, booking engine, and guest CRM—focus areas for small properties seeking operational efficiency. Its unique features support core PMS functions, making it a well-rounded choice for hostels.
Erbon boasts 19 exclusive features not present in Counter, such as task management, automated reminders, guest app, online checkout, shift planning, real-time reporting, and PCI compliance. These support advanced operational control, ideal for larger hotels or properties requiring detailed management tools.
While Erbon’s larger feature set is attractive, Counter’s core functionalities are sufficient for many small-scale hotels. If your focus is on ease and speed, Counter’s features suffice; for complex operations, Erbon’s broader suite might be necessary. Edge: Erbon Software.
Counter receives very high support ratings—4.96/5—with reviewers praising its responsiveness and helpful staff, notably mentioning team members Evelyn and Max. Hoteliers describe support as quick and efficient, especially in Europe and North America.
Erbon also scores a perfect 5/5 in support, with users appreciating the modern, accessible support channels and prompt assistance. However, with only one recent review, it’s difficult to gauge consistent support quality across regions.
Given the volume and recency of reviews, edge goes to Counter for more reliable, well-documented support.
Counter connects with 7 verified partners, including industry favorites like SiteMinder, Stripe, and Goki. Its integrations cover channel management, payments, and access control—essential for small properties wanting streamlined operations.
Erbon also has 7 verified partners, sharing SiteMinder but offering different add-ons like Omnibees, Profitroom, and TrustYou. Its integrations span reservation systems, revenue analytics, and guest feedback, suitable for larger properties.
Both systems have comparable integration counts, but Counter’s focus on popular hospitality tools makes it slightly more accessible for small properties. Edge: Counter.
Counter’s overall rating of 4.73/5 and 54 recent reviews, with a 91% likelihood to recommend, demonstrate a strong, consistent user base—especially among hostels and small hotels. Hoteliers praise its simplicity, customer support, and automation.
Erbon’s sole review scores it 5/5, but the lack of recent feedback limits confidence. Its niche appeal to vacation rentals means few hotel ratings exist, making it less reliable as a broad metric.
Counter’s reviews provide a clearer, more recent picture of satisfaction. Edge: Counter.
Both Counter and Erbon don’t publicly disclose specific pricing, but neither offers a free trial or freemium model. Pricing is typically customized based on property size and requirements, necessitating direct contact for quotes.
Given the lack of transparent pricing, your best approach is to request a demo and discuss tailored packages with each vendor. As both are paid solutions, consider your budget and expected ROI when engaging.
Not ideal if you:
Counter is ideal for small-scale, guest-centric properties that value ease above all.
Not ideal if you:
Erbon is best suited for larger operations with multi-department needs and a focus on operational integration.
Counter by Counter is a highly-rated, easy-to-use PMS with a robust feature set tailored for hostels and small hotels. Its recent reviews and high satisfaction scores make it a reliable choice for properties prioritizing simplicity, excellent support, and quick onboarding.
Erbon PMS offers a broader suite of features designed for larger, more complex properties, combining operations like finance, housekeeping, and event management into one platform. However, its limited recent review footprint makes it a less certain choice today.
If your hotel is small or a hostel, Counter is the clear recommendation for reliable, straightforward management. Larger hotels or chains needing extensive operational modules might consider Erbon, but should proceed cautiously given current review data.
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, Counter and Erbon PMS share 13 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Ancillary revenue tracking | ||
| Automated Space Optimization | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Booking Engine | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Cloud based | ||
| Guest CRM | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Tablet/Kiosk Check-in | ||
| Task Management | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) |
Showing top differences. 13 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.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Counter and Erbon PMS share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Counter offers 7 verified integration partners, while Erbon PMS offers 7. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Erbon PMS leads in ease of use at 5.0/5 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.
Counter: No. Erbon PMS: 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. Counter has an HT Score of 17 and Erbon Software 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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