Counter vs. Hotello PMS (Acquired by Mews):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Counter by Counter and Hotello PMS hinges on your specific needs and the maturity of each product. Both aim to simplify hotel management but approach it differently; Counter is a dedicated, feature-rich, hostel-focused PMS, while Hotello offers a broader hotel industry platform with a strong emphasis on reliability and user experience. Their core differences are their target user base, feature depth, and support ecosystem.

Counter, with its 54 reviews and recent feedback, scores significantly higher across key metrics, making it a more proven choice for hostels and budget accommodations. Hotello, despite being a larger, established vendor, has no recent reviews or user feedback, raising questions about current performance and support. Is your hotel ready to prioritize a well-supported, actively reviewed product?

Quick Verdict: Counter vs Hotello PMS — Which Is the Clear Winner?

Counter stands out due to its high overall ratings, extensive feature set tailored for hostels, and active user reviews. Hotello’s lack of recent feedback and zero ratings make it difficult to evaluate its current capabilities or support quality. If your hostel or small property needs an intuitive, proven PMS with strong support, Counter is the obvious choice.

However, if your hotel requires a scalable, enterprise-grade PMS with a broader feature set and a focus on reliability, you may want to explore Hotello further once it garners more recent user feedback. For now, Counter’s active user base and recent reviews give it a clear edge.

Is Counter or Hotello Easier to Use?

Counter boasts a 4.6/5 ease of use rating from over 50 reviews, with users praising its intuitive, clean interface that simplifies staff training and daily management. Reviewers highlight its mobile-friendly design, allowing your team to manage operations remotely, which is especially useful for hostels on the go.

Conversely, Hotello has no recent user reviews or ratings to assess its ease of use, making it impossible to compare current usability. Given Counter's proven track record, edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Counter or Hotello?

Counter offers 19 unique features, including a channel manager, booking engine, automated night audit, guest CRM, multi-currency support, and ancillary revenue tracking, all tailored for hostel operations. Hotello, with no feature count listed, appears to focus on core PMS functions but lacks explicit details about advanced or niche features.

Counter’s feature set is clearly designed for hostel-specific needs, giving it an advantage for small and mid-sized properties. Hotello’s broader hotel focus might provide more scalability, but without recent feature updates or reviews, Counter’s feature depth makes it the more actionable choice. Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter or Hotello?

Counter scores an impressive 4.96/5 in customer support from 54 recent reviews, with users frequently praising quick, helpful responses and professional staff like Evelyn and Max. Many reviews mention how support addresses bugs and operational issues efficiently, though some note slower responses in certain time zones.

Hotello provides no recent support ratings or reviews, making it impossible to judge its responsiveness or quality. Given Counter’s recent, positive feedback, edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter or Hotello?

Counter has 7 verified integrations, including Stripe, Goki, and SiteMinder, focusing on payment processing and channel management for hostels. Hotello boasts 16 verified partners, including large names like Sage, STR, and TrustYou, suggesting a broader integration ecosystem.

However, the number alone isn’t decisive; quality and relevance matter. Counter’s integrations are well-suited for hostel environments, while Hotello’s wider network may appeal to larger or more complex hotel operations. Still, with recent reviews favoring Counter’s usability, edge: Counter.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter or Hotello?

Counter’s 54 recent reviews with a 4.73/5 rating reflect strong satisfaction, especially among hostel and small property segments. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity, automation, and excellent support, with a 91% likelihood to recommend.

Hotello, lacking recent reviews and ratings, offers no current data on user sentiment. The absence of recent feedback suggests less confidence in its current performance. Therefore, edge: Counter.

How Much Do Counter and Hotello Cost?

Both products do not publicly list pricing, which is typical for enterprise or niche PMS providers. Counter offers a freemium model, but specific fees are undisclosed, while Hotello’s pricing details are also unavailable. You'll need to contact vendors directly for quotes.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hotels that operate hostels, backpacker lodges, or budget accommodations, especially those focusing on simplicity and automation.
• Teams prioritizing ease of use, rapid onboarding, and responsive support.
• Properties needing integrated payment processing and channel management.
• Small to mid-sized properties with limited IT resources.
• Hotels seeking mobile management capabilities.

Not ideal if your hotel requires complex revenue management systems, extensive customization, or large-scale enterprise features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Hotello?

• Larger hotels or hotel groups looking for a reliable, scalable PMS capable of managing multiple properties.
• Hotels that prioritize system stability and a robust, industry-grade platform.
• Properties interested in extensive third-party integrations and automation.
• Hotels seeking a modern, cloud-based system with a focus on guest experience.
• Hotels with a dedicated IT or management team capable of onboarding and maintaining a more sophisticated system.

Not ideal if your property is small, or if you need a system with current, user-reviewed support and features.

The Bottom Line for Hotels: Counter vs Hotello PMS

Counter’s core advantage lies in its proven performance, active user reviews, and tailored features for hostels. Its intuitive design and high support ratings make it the safer choice for small and mid-sized properties aiming for operational simplicity.

Hotello, while promising in design and scalability, currently lacks recent feedback, making it a less certain pick. If your hotel values stability, active support, and a feature-rich environment for small to medium properties, Counter is the clear winner.

For properties like hostels or small inns that want an easy-to-use, well-supported management system, Counter’s recent reviews and extensive feature set make it the ideal choice. Larger hotels or groups seeking a broader platform might need to wait for more recent validation from Hotello.