Counter vs. RMS:
Which Is Right for You?

Is Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS Better for Hotels?

Counter by Counter and RMS by RMS serve distinct hotel segments and operational scales, despite both being property management systems (PMS). Counter is tailored exclusively for hostels, focusing on simplicity, mobile access, and automation to reduce front-desk workload. RMS is a broad-spectrum, highly configurable PMS designed for hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, and multi-property groups, delivering a rich feature set for complex operations.

Both products solve the core problem of managing reservations, guest check-ins/outs, and basic property operations. Counter streamlines hostel workflows with an intuitive interface and mobile browser access, while RMS addresses the needs of larger or more complex properties with extensive integrations, embedded channel management, and advanced revenue management. The choice depends on property type, operational complexity, and desired feature depth.

Counter by Counter vs RMS by RMS: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If you operate a small to mid-size hostel prioritizing ease of use, rapid onboarding, and mobile management, Counter is the better choice, supported by its 83% hostel user base and a 4.7/5 rating from 50 hostel reviews. Its automation reduces manual tasks, enabling staff to focus on guest experience. However, if your property is a multi-unit hotel, resort, motel, or campground requiring advanced features such as integrated channel management, revenue management, guest CRM, or support for multi-currency and multi-language, RMS fits better, evidenced by its 326 reviews across diverse segments and 4.2/5 overall rating.

Limited data exist for RMS in hostels (5 reviews, 4.4/5), insufficient to recommend it confidently for that segment. Conversely, Counter lacks advanced features critical to hotels and resorts, making it unsuitable for those properties. The review volume and product maturity indicate RMS is the robust choice for hotels needing comprehensive operational control, while Counter excels in simplicity for hostels.

Is Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS Easier to Use?

Counter scores 4.6/5 for ease of use and 4.7/5 for onboarding across 57 reviews, reflecting consistently positive feedback on its intuitive interface and fast adoption. Reviewers highlight the absence of training needs for front desk staff and the ability to manage properties remotely via mobile browsers. RMS rates lower at 4.3/5 ease of use and 4.1/5 onboarding from 326 reviews, with users noting the learning curve due to its extensive feature set and configuration options.

Front desk staff at hostels benefit from Counter’s simplicity, enabling quick task completion without complex workflows. RMS users appreciate its scalability but acknowledge that new staff require more training, especially with reservations, reporting, and revenue modules. The onboarding process for RMS can be longer and more resource-intensive, while Counter’s smaller feature set translates into faster staff adoption.

Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS?

RMS offers 74 features in total, including 55 unique hotel-relevant functions absent in Counter. These include a fully integrated channel management system, revenue management module, guest CRM, multi-currency and multi-lingual support, group booking engine, housekeeping module with mobile app, integrated payment terminals, digital registration with ID scanning, and spa/wellness modules. These features enable RMS to automate complex workflows, optimize pricing, manage guest profiles, and provide real-time housekeeping status updates, benefiting hotels and resorts with diverse operational needs.

Counter’s feature set is minimal, focusing on core PMS functionalities tailored for hostels such as POS integration and automatic payment processing with no unique features beyond shared basics. This limited scope means Counter cannot support advanced hotel requirements like detailed revenue management, multi-property coordination, or comprehensive guest communication tools.

The absence of any unique features in Counter compared to RMS and RMS’s extensive hotel-specific capabilities decisively favors RMS for properties needing operational depth.

Edge: RMS.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS?

Counter leads in customer support ratings with 4.9/5 from 57 reviews versus RMS’s 4.5/5 from 326 reviews, supported by a 4.7/5 onboarding score versus RMS’s 4.1/5. Reviewers consistently praise Counter’s support team—Evelyn, Max, and José receive specific commendations for responsiveness and problem resolution. Counter users emphasize prompt replies and flexibility in implementing feature requests.

RMS customers acknowledge knowledgeable and professional support staff like Sonya and Makiko, noting prompt assistance with complex issues, especially trust accounting and integrations. However, some RMS reviews cite slower responses from account managers and desire more updated help resources. RMS’s scale and complexity predict more variable support experiences.

Edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS?

RMS offers 118 verified integrations, vastly exceeding Counter’s 7, with only 4 partners shared (e.g., FLYR Hospitality, SiteMinder, Goki, Stripe). RMS’s integrations include critical hotel technologies such as Booking.com, STR, Sage accounting, Fairmas revenue management, OpenKey mobile keys, and HiJiffy guest messaging, enabling hotels to centralize operations and maximize distribution reach.

Counter’s integrations focus on key hostel needs with Cloudbeds, WuBook, and Channex, suitable for small properties but lacking the breadth necessary for complex operations or multi-channel distribution.

Hotels seeking extensive third-party connectivity and scalable integrations will benefit from RMS’s ecosystem. Counter’s limited integration roster restricts connectivity options.

Edge: RMS.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter by Counter or RMS by RMS?

Counter holds a 4.6/5 overall rating from 57 reviews, with a 91% likelihood to recommend. RMS has a lower overall rating of 4.2/5 from 326 reviews with an 85% recommendation rate. Counter's high ratings come predominantly from hostels (4.7/5, 50 reviews) and limited-service hotels (4.6/5, 35 reviews). RMS’s ratings across multiple segments range mostly between 4.2 and 4.4, including luxury hotels (4.2/5, 60 reviews), motels (4.2/5, 83 reviews), resorts (4.2/5, 104 reviews), and boutique hotels (4.2/5, 106 reviews).

RMS’s recent review volume has dropped sharply to 7 in the last 6 months from an average of 15.3 per 6 months previously (a 54% decline), suggesting its all-time ratings may not fully represent current user sentiment. Counter has no recent reviews in the last 6 months, limiting insight into present-day performance but maintaining a stable historical rating.

Edge: Counter.

How Much Do Counter by Counter and RMS by RMS Cost?

Counter does not publish pricing publicly, with no base price, monthly fee, or trial information available. It is described as free and easy to use for hostels, suggesting a freemium or no-cost model but without formal pricing details.

RMS publishes a base price of $800.00 but does not provide per-room or monthly flat fees publicly. No trial is mentioned. The lack of transparent pricing for both vendors limits direct cost comparison.

Hotels should contact vendors directly for tailored pricing based on property size and feature requirements.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter by Counter?

• Hotels that operate primarily as hostels, as 83% of Counter’s users are hostels with a 4.7/5 rating.
• Teams needing a simple, fast-to-learn PMS with mobile browser access for on-the-go management.
• Properties prioritizing automated payment processing and POS integration to reduce manual tasks.
• Managers who want responsive customer support praised for fast and helpful communication.
• Operators with limited budgets seeking a low-cost or free PMS option without complex features.

Not ideal if:

• Hotels require advanced revenue management, multi-currency, or multi-lingual support.
• Properties need integrated channel management or group booking engines.
• Multi-property operations or resorts with housekeeping and spa/wellness modules.
• Teams depend on rich reporting and analytics beyond basic functions.
• Businesses wanting extensive integrations with third-party travel and accounting platforms.

What Type of Hotel Should Use RMS by RMS?

• Hotels, motels, resorts, and multi-property groups requiring a comprehensive PMS with extensive feature depth.
• Properties needing integrated channel management and booking engine capabilities to maximize OTAs and direct bookings.
• Teams requiring advanced revenue management modules and flexible reporting tools.
• Businesses operating in multiple countries or currencies needing multi-lingual and multi-currency support.
• Properties seeking scalable technology that supports complex workflows, including housekeeping, guest CRM, and POS integration.

Not ideal if:

• Small hostels or properties seeking a lightweight, easy-to-use PMS without complexity.
• Teams desiring rapid onboarding and minimal training.
• Operators with tight budgets unable or unwilling to invest around $800 base pricing.
• Hotels preferring a PMS without some of the complexity and configuration overhead associated with RMS.
• Properties that do not require broad integrations or multi-property management.

Counter by Counter vs RMS by RMS: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Counter by Counter and RMS by RMS target fundamentally different hotel markets. Counter excels as a mobile-friendly, simple, and affordable PMS built specifically for hostels, providing fast onboarding and automation that reduces front desk workload. RMS delivers a full-featured, highly scalable platform suited to hotels, resorts, motels, and multi-property portfolios needing advanced revenue, channel, guest, and housekeeping management.

Choose Counter if your property is a hostel seeking a free or low-cost PMS with an intuitive interface, fast support, and mobile access. Its 4.7/5 hostel rating and positive reviews underscore its fit for these operations. Choose RMS if you manage a hotel or multi-property group requiring integrated channel management, revenue optimization, guest CRM, and extensive third-party integrations—as shown by its 118 verified integrations and features like digital registration and housekeeping mobile apps.

Note that RMS’s review activity has dropped sharply in the last six months (7 reviews versus a 15.3 average), so its high historical ratings may not fully reflect recent user experiences. Counter’s lack of recent reviews also limits insight into current user sentiment. Operational needs, property size, and feature requirements should guide your choice.