Counter vs. Yanolja Property Management System:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) can dramatically influence your hotel's operations, guest experience, and revenue management. Counter by Counter and Yanolja Property Management System are two leading options, each with distinct strengths and target markets. While Counter is a free, host-focused PMS praised for its ease of use, Yanolja offers a robust on-premise platform favored by larger hotels and resorts. How do these differences impact your choice?

Counter’s simplicity and dedicated hostel features contrast sharply with Yanolja’s comprehensive integration and control for larger properties. Both aim to streamline operations, but which aligns better with your hotel’s size, segment, and operational complexity? Let’s find out.

Is Counter or Yanolja Cloud Solution Better for Hotels?

Counter by Counter is designed specifically for hostels and small properties, emphasizing straightforward, user-friendly management. Yanolja Cloud Solution caters to mid-sized and large hotels, offering extensive integration, control, and advanced features.

Counter's free model and mobile-friendly interface make it ideal for hostels prioritizing ease of use and low cost, though it lacks advanced analytics and on-premise control. Yanolja’s system, with over 600 reviews and a 4.25/5 rating, is more suitable for established properties needing robust control, real-time updates, and integration with multiple channels.

Do you prioritize simplicity and affordability, or do you require a scalable, feature-rich platform?

Counter vs Yanolja: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel primarily operates as a hostel or boutique property with a focus on ease of use, Counter is your best fit. Its intuitive interface and features like automated payments, channel management, and guest CRM suit small teams seeking quick onboarding and minimal training.

Conversely, if your hotel is part of a resort, chain, or has complex operations requiring centralized control over reservations, billing, and OTA updates, Yanolja’s on-premise system is the better choice. Its ability to integrate with POS, booking engine, and extensive reporting tools makes it ideal for larger properties that need data security and advanced management.

In short, use Counter for low-cost, straightforward hostel management, and Yanolja for multi-property, high-control environments.

Is Counter or Yanolja Easier to Use?

Counter boasts a user satisfaction rating of 4.6/5, with reviewers praising its clean interface, easy onboarding, and mobile-friendly design. Its simple workflow minimizes staff training, making it highly accessible for small teams or hostel operators.

Yanolja scores slightly higher at 4.77/5, with users highlighting its intuitive design and quick staff adoption. Despite its complexity, its streamlined dashboards and real-time updates contribute to an easier operational experience.

Edge: Yanolja.

Which Has Better Features: Counter or Yanolja?

Counter offers 19 features including channel management, booking engine, automated night audit, and guest CRM—tailored for hostel and small property needs. Its features focus on automation, online support, and revenue tracking, all designed to simplify daily tasks.

Yanolja provides only one unique feature—on-premise control—but its broader suite includes reservation management, billing, POS, OTA integration, and advanced reporting. This extensive feature set supports complex property operations and multi-channel distribution.

Edge: Counter, for its focused feature set tailored to small properties, or Yanolja for its comprehensive, scalable capabilities?

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter or Yanolja?

Counter’s support receives high praise, with a 4.96/5 rating and comments like “fast and always reachable,” especially from its dedicated team. Users appreciate the quick responses and ongoing improvements, though some mention support delays in certain time zones.

Yanolja’s support is similarly rated at 4.79/5, with reviews noting “seamless migration,” “helpful staff,” and “quick onboarding.” Some users wish for faster mobile app performance and more customizable reports, but overall, support is a strong point.

Edge: Counter, due to its exceptional support responsiveness.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter or Yanolja?

Counter integrates with 7 verified partners, including popular channels like Stripe, Goki, and Cloudbeds, but with limited regional channel options. Its integration focus is primarily on payment, channel management, and POS.

Yanolja surpasses with 157 verified partners, including Xero, QuickBooks, and NightBridge, and integrates deeply with reservation, billing, and OTA platforms. Its extensive partner network supports larger hotel chains and resorts with diverse operational needs.

Edge: Yanolja, for its vastly broader integration ecosystem.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter or Yanolja?

Counter, with 54 reviews, is highly rated at 4.73/5, especially among hostel operators, who cite its ease of use and support as key strengths. Its user base is predominantly hostels, inns, and boutique hotels.

Yanolja’s 662 reviews provide a more diverse rating of 4.25/5, with high marks from resorts and larger hotels. Review recency shows consistent satisfaction for both, but Yanolja’s broader segment coverage indicates a wider acceptance.

Edge: Counter, given its higher overall rating and niche focus.

How Much Do Counter and Yanolja Cost?

Counter offers a free, no-cost PMS designed for small properties and hostels, with no mention of additional charges or implementation fees. Its cost advantage makes it appealing for budget-conscious operators.

Yanolja charges $100 per month, with no apparent implementation or setup fees. Its pricing reflects its extensive feature set and targeted enterprise-level customer base.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hotels that operate as hostels, inns, or boutique properties with small teams.
• Teams seeking a simple, mobile-friendly PMS that reduces manual tasks.
• Hotels prioritizing low-cost solutions without sacrificing core management functions.
• Properties that want quick onboarding and easy staff training.
• Hotels in regions where an affordable, cloud-based PMS is critical.

Not ideal if your property needs advanced analytics, multi-property management, or on-premise control.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Yanolja?

• Larger hotels, resorts, or hotel chains needing centralized control.
• Teams that want deep integration with POS, billing, and OTA channels.
• Hotels that require customizable reporting and detailed analytics.
• Properties prioritizing data security and offline operation with on-premise installation.
• Hotels operating across multiple regions with extensive partner networks.

Not ideal if your property is a small hostel or boutique, where simplicity and cost are the main concerns.

Yanolja vs Counter: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Counter stands out as a free, easy-to-use PMS tailored for hostels and small properties, emphasizing quick onboarding, automation, and support. Its limited but focused feature set makes it ideal for budget-conscious, small-team operators.

Yanolja offers a comprehensive, scalable on-premise system suited for mid to large-sized hotels and resorts demanding control, integration, and detailed reporting. Its extensive partner ecosystem and control capabilities serve complex operations best.

If your hotel is a hostel or boutique seeking simplicity and affordability, Counter is your solution. For larger properties requiring robust integrations and control, Yanolja is the clear choice.

In conclusion, choose Counter if your focus is on ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and straightforward operations. Opt for Yanolja if your property needs advanced control, extensive integrations, and scalability to grow.