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 Ancillary revenue tracking.
ibelsa GmbH shines in ease of use and onboarding , with exclusive features like Integrated CRS and Digital Registration.
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 ibelsa GmbH 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 | #65 1 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) | #46 4 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #32 2 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #31 1 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #31 16 reviews | #69 1 reviews |
| Luxury | #44 4 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain | #43 4 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #32 5 reviews | — |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #25 8 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #20 25 reviews | #47 1 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | #16 4 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #11 2 reviews | — |
Choosing between Counter by Counter and ibelsa.rooms by ibelsa GmbH hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and operational scale. Both systems aim to streamline property management, but they approach this from different angles: Counter is a lightweight, hostelry-focused solution, while ibelsa.rooms offers a more comprehensive, customizable platform suited for complex operations. Your decision should consider your hotel’s size, technical sophistication, and growth plans.
Counter simplifies your daily tasks with an easy-to-navigate interface and a strong focus on hostels and small hotels. ibelsa.rooms, on the other hand, provides a modular, scalable solution designed to handle the increasing complexity of hotel management. Are you seeking straightforward functionality or a platform that can grow with your property?
Counter is tailored to hostels and small properties, with a focus on ease of use, quick onboarding, and essential features that support daily operations without overwhelming your team. It has a high user satisfaction score, driven by its simple interface and responsive support, but its feature set is limited compared to ibelsa.rooms.
ibelsa.rooms caters to hotels facing more complex management challenges, offering extensive customization, automation, and integration options. It has a strong focus on automating processes and connecting with third-party systems, making it suitable for mid-sized hotels or properties planning future expansion. Which of these profiles aligns better with your current needs: simplicity or scalability?
Counter’s review count (54 reviews) and recent feedback give a clearer picture of its current performance, whereas ibelsa GmbH’s single recent review limits direct comparison. Counter’s reviews highlight user-friendly design and effective support, yet some bugs and reporting limitations persist. ibelsa.rooms, with a minimal recent review, emphasizes flexibility and continuous development, but lacks recent customer feedback to validate its current usability.
If your hotel needs a straightforward, easy-to-implement PMS with quick onboarding and minimal training, go with Counter. Its clear interface and mobile friendliness make it ideal for hostels or small hotels with limited administrative staff.
If your property requires a highly customizable system capable of handling complex operations, multi-property management, or future growth, ibelsa.rooms is the better choice. Its modular structure and continuous updates are designed for hotels aiming for automation and extensive third-party integrations.
For owners of hostels, boutique hotels, or properties with limited technical resources, Counter’s simplicity and affordability are compelling. Conversely, if you operate a city center hotel or a property with diverse management needs, ibelsa.rooms offers the flexibility to adapt to your evolving requirements.
Counter scores a 4.6/5 for ease of use, with many reviews emphasizing its intuitive interface, straightforward navigation, and quick staff training. Onboarding is rated 4.7/5, and users often remark on how seamlessly the system loads on mobile browsers, aiding on-the-go management.
ibelsa.rooms boasts a perfect 5/5 rating for ease of use, supported by its modular design that allows users to tailor workflows and interfaces to their hotel’s unique needs. Its support and onboarding are also rated 5/5, with users praising its user-friendly setup and consistent updates.
Edge: ibelsa.rooms.
Counter offers 14 shared features, including essential PMS functions, but has five exclusive features such as payment processing, online 24/7 support, automated night audit, multi-currency management, and ancillary revenue tracking. These specialized features make it well-suited for hostels needing quick financial and operational automation.
ibelsa.rooms provides only two unique features—integrated CRS and digital registration—but includes a broad suite of modules allowing extensive customization. Its focus on automation and connection to third-party systems enhances operational efficiency, especially for hotels with complex management needs.
In terms of feature depth and customization, ibelsa.rooms offers more potential for tailored solutions, but Counter’s specific features are more directly targeted for hostel and small hotel operations.
Edge: ibelsa.rooms.
Counter’s support is highly rated at 4.96/5, with multiple reviews praising its quick response and helpful staff, particularly mentioning team members like Evelyn and Max. Users appreciate the ongoing improvements and flexibility, though some report support delays in certain time zones.
ibelsa GmbH’s customer support is rated 5/5, with all reviews highlighting its availability via phone and helpfulness. Its dedicated support team is praised for prompt assistance, though the limited recent reviews make it harder to gauge current responsiveness.
Edge: ibelsa.rooms.
Counter has 7 verified partners, including popular platforms like SiteMinder, Stripe, and Cloudbeds, along with niche integrations like WuBook and Goki. Its integration scope covers essential payment, channel management, and revenue systems but remains limited compared to larger PMS providers.
ibelsa.rooms boasts 30 verified integrations, including notable partners like Profitroom, Customer Alliance, and Hotellistat. Its open API and flexible design facilitate extensive third-party connections, making it suitable for hotels requiring diverse system integrations.
Edge: ibelsa.rooms.
Counter’s overall rating is a strong 4.73/5 based on 54 reviews, with recent feedback indicating high satisfaction among hostels and small hotels. Reviewers highlight its simple interface, support responsiveness, and automation features, despite some bugs.
ibelsa GmbH’s single recent review scores a perfect 5/5, praising its flexibility and support. However, the lack of multiple reviews makes it difficult to gauge overall hotel sentiment, especially across different property types.
Given the more extensive review base and recent data, Counter is the clear leader in hoteliers’ ratings.
Edge: Counter.
Counter does not publish specific pricing, but it is described as free, making it attractive for budget-conscious hostels and small properties. Additional costs may apply for integrations or premium features.
ibelsa.rooms also does not publicly disclose pricing, but its emphasis on automation and customization suggests a tailored quote approach, likely reflecting property size and complexity. Both products lack free trials, so direct inquiry is necessary to determine exact costs.
Counter is a simple, effective PMS with a focus on hostels and small hotels, offering essential features and high user satisfaction. Its lightweight design and responsive support make it ideal for properties seeking quick setup and operational ease.
ibelsa.rooms provides a more flexible, customizable platform suited for hotels with complex management needs, especially those prioritizing automation and third-party integrations. Its modular structure and ongoing development make it a good fit for properties that anticipate growth or operational complexity.
If your hotel is a hostel or small property needing an intuitive, cost-effective solution, Counter is the clear choice. For larger, more complex hotels aiming for extensive automation and integration, ibelsa.rooms offers the scalability you need.
In summary, choose Counter if simplicity, speed, and support are your priorities. Opt for ibelsa.rooms if you need a customizable, future-proof platform that can evolve with your hotel’s needs.
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 ibelsa.rooms share 14 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Ancillary revenue tracking | ||
| Automated night audit | ||
| Digital Registration | ||
| Integrated CRS | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Online 24/7 support | ||
| Payment processing |
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
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Counter and ibelsa.rooms share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Counter offers 7 verified integration partners, while ibelsa.rooms offers 32. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. ibelsa.rooms 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. ibelsa.rooms: 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 ibelsa GmbH 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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