Counter vs. Stayntouch:
Which Is Right for You?

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

Counter by Counter and Stayntouch by Stayntouch serve distinct hotel segments with some overlap. Counter is tailored specifically for hostels, making up 83% of its user base and earning a strong 4.7/5 rating from 50 hostel reviews. Stayntouch, by contrast, caters primarily to boutique hotels (23%), branded hotels (12%), and luxury properties (9%), with a much broader footprint across segments and 419 reviews averaging 4.7/5. Both systems address core property management needs: reservations, front desk, housekeeping, and billing. However, Counter emphasizes simplicity and mobile access for hostels, while Stayntouch offers a flexible, cloud-native platform for diverse hotel types seeking advanced features and integrations.

Both products solve the fundamental problem of reducing manual work through automation and providing intuitive systems for front desk and operations teams. Counter simplifies hostel workflows with an easy interface and POS integration, while Stayntouch’s open API ecosystem and extensive integrations support complex, multi-property environments. The choice hinges on your property type and operational complexity.

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

If your hotel is a hostel focused on straightforward, mobile-friendly management with automated payment processing and POS integration, Counter is the data-backed choice. It scores 4.7/5 from 50 hostel reviewers, emphasizing ease of use and quick training for staff, with a small team providing responsive support. However, it currently has no reviews in the last six months, so recent stability and feature updates are less documented.

If you run a boutique, branded, luxury, or multi-property hotel, Stayntouch’s 419 reviews averaging 4.7/5, including 47 recent reviews at 4.8/5, demonstrate current user satisfaction across these segments. Its cloud-native platform supports advanced features like guest self-service, revenue management, and extensive integrations, which are vital for larger or tech-forward properties. Stayntouch’s flexible workflows and broad partner ecosystem suit hotels needing customization and scalability.

For limited service or budget hotels, review data is thinner but both systems score well. Counter’s 35 reviews average 4.6/5, Stayntouch’s 66 reviews average 4.6/5, indicating both are viable but with fewer segment-specific insights. Data is insufficient for definitive recommendations outside hostels for Counter or outside upper-midscale and luxury segments for Stayntouch.

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

Counter rates Ease of Use at 4.6/5 with Onboarding at 4.7/5 from 57 reviews, while Stayntouch scores slightly higher at 4.7/5 and 4.6/5 respectively from 419 reviews, including 47 recent ones at 4.8/5. Both products receive praise for intuitive interfaces and quick staff adoption. Counter users highlight minimal training needs and a clean interface suitable for hostels, with reviewers noting ease for owners and staff alike. Stayntouch users emphasize rapid onboarding, often under a day, which is critical for high-turnover teams, and a streamlined front desk experience that facilitates faster check-ins.

Reviewers for both systems report positive training experiences, though Stayntouch’s larger user base and more recent reviews provide stronger evidence of ongoing ease of use. Counter’s lack of recent reviews limits visibility into current usability improvements or issues.

Edge: Even.

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

Stayntouch offers 31 unique hotel-relevant features not found in Counter, including a revenue management module, integrated ID and passport scanning, tablet and lobby kiosks for check-in, guest apps, real-time housekeeping mobile apps, automated space optimization, and comprehensive guest messaging tools. These features transform front desk and guest service workflows, enabling contactless check-in/out, improved housekeeping coordination, and upsell opportunities during digital arrivals.

Counter includes only one unique feature: a Guest CRM, which aids in managing guest profiles and communication. While useful, it is narrowly focused compared to Stayntouch’s broader operational enhancements.

Both share 18 core PMS features, covering reservations, billing, room assignments, and reporting, but Stayntouch’s additional functionality supports more complex hotel operations and guest engagement strategies.

Edge: Stayntouch by Stayntouch.

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

Counter scores 4.9/5 for customer support and 4.7/5 for onboarding based on 57 reviews, often mentioning fast, professional responses from team members like Evelyn and Max. Reviewers appreciate the personal attention and flexibility, with some noting responsiveness to feedback and updates. However, a minority criticize persistent bugs and delays in fixing certain issues, especially in some time zones.

Stayntouch has slightly lower support and onboarding ratings at 4.7/5 from 419 reviews. Its larger user base praises smooth implementations and responsive trainers who reduce transition stress. Some note the smaller team size but frame it positively due to personalized service. Multiple case studies highlight strong post-launch support and rapid issue resolution.

Given the similar ratings and user experiences, both vendors provide strong customer support with minor differences.

Edge: Even.

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

Stayntouch has a vast integration ecosystem with 200 verified partners, including channel managers, revenue management tools, POS systems, and guest experience platforms. Key partners such as FLYR Hospitality, SiteMinder, and Goki are shared with Counter, but Stayntouch’s unique integrations include RevControl, Fairmas, Zaplox, Unifocus, and others that serve complex operational needs and portfolio scalability.

Counter supports 7 verified partners, including Cloudbeds, Stripe, Channex, and WuBook. These integrations cover essential payment processing and channel management but lack the breadth and depth of Stayntouch’s network.

For hotels requiring advanced connectivity across multiple systems, Stayntouch’s integration advantage is significant, enabling tailored workflows and technology stacks.

Edge: Stayntouch by Stayntouch.

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

Counter’s overall rating is 4.6/5 from 57 reviews, but with no recent reviews in the last six months, which limits confidence in current performance. Stayntouch holds a 4.7/5 rating across 419 reviews, including 47 in the past six months at 4.8/5, indicating consistent recent satisfaction.

Segment ratings show Counter excels in hostels with 4.7/5 from 50 reviews and performs well in limited service hotels (4.6/5). Other segments have fewer than 10 reviews, reducing reliability. Stayntouch scores uniformly above 4.6/5 across boutique, branded, luxury, airport/conference, and city center hotels, with review counts ranging from 66 to over 260, offering robust, current evidence.

Stayntouch also outperforms in boutique hotels (4.8/5, 263 reviews) and branded hotels (4.7/5, 164 reviews), segments where Counter has limited presence. For hostels, Stayntouch maintains a strong 4.8/5 from 73 reviews, though Counter’s focus and rating there is comparable.

Edge: Even.

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

Counter does not publish pricing details and does not offer freemium, monthly flat fees, or per-room pricing. There is no implementation fee or trial information available, and users report that it is free to use, which aligns with its positioning as a free PMS for hostels.

Stayntouch publishes a base price of $800 with no freemium or monthly flat or per-room pricing disclosed. There is no implementation fee or trial information published publicly.

Without comparable published pricing models, direct cost comparisons are not possible. Hotels considering either product should request detailed quotes to evaluate total cost of ownership based on their property size and feature needs.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter by Counter?

• Hotels that primarily operate as hostels, given 83% of Counter’s users are in this segment and a strong 4.7/5 rating from 50 hostel reviews.
• Teams seeking a free or low-cost PMS solution without complex pricing, suitable for smaller or budget-conscious properties.
• Properties that want a simple, mobile-friendly interface accessible on any browser for on-the-go management.
• Hostels that benefit from POS integration and automated payment processing to reduce manual tasks at the front desk.
• Operations that value responsive, personalized customer support from a small, dedicated team.

Not ideal if you need:

• Advanced revenue management and rate optimization tools, as Counter lacks these features.
• Extensive integrations beyond a handful of verified partners, limiting connectivity to broader tech stacks.
• Robust reporting and multi-property scalability, which current reviews suggest are areas for improvement.
• Recent user feedback to confirm resolution of persistent bugs affecting bed availability and overbooking workflows.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Stayntouch by Stayntouch?

• Boutique, branded, luxury, and airport/conference hotels seeking a cloud-native PMS with flexible workflows.
• Properties requiring extensive integrations with more than 200 verified partners to build a custom tech stack.
• Hotels that prioritize guest self-service features like online check-in/out, mobile apps, and lobby kiosks.
• Multi-property groups needing centralized dashboards and scalable solutions adaptable across portfolios.
• Teams valuing rapid onboarding and training, supported by a collaborative vendor with strong implementation services.

Not ideal if you need:

• A free or no-cost PMS option, as Stayntouch’s pricing starts at $800 with no published discounts or freemium tier.
• A PMS focused exclusively on hostel-style operations, given its broader hotel segment focus and complexity.
• Highly specialized features not yet fully developed, such as advanced room diary navigation and some customizable reports, although improvements are ongoing.

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

Counter by Counter and Stayntouch by Stayntouch represent two distinct approaches to property management software. Counter delivers a simplified, mobile-first PMS tailored for hostels, emphasizing ease of use, integration with POS systems, and free access. Stayntouch offers a sophisticated, cloud-native platform with extensive features, broad integrations, and multi-property scalability, suited for boutique, branded, and luxury hotels.

Choose Counter if your property is a hostel looking for a low-cost, intuitive, and mobile-accessible system with responsive support and essential automation like POS integration and automatic payment processing. Its 4.7/5 hostel rating over 50 reviews provides solid evidence for this fit. However, be mindful of reported bugs and limited advanced features.

Choose Stayntouch if you operate a boutique, branded, or luxury hotel or manage multiple properties requiring advanced guest self-service, revenue management modules, task automation, and a vast partner ecosystem. Its 4.7/5 overall rating from 419 reviews, including a recent 4.8/5, confirms its suitability for complex operations needing customization, scalability, and robust integration.

Where Counter streamlines hostel operations with simplicity and cost efficiency, Stayntouch empowers diverse hotel portfolios with operational flexibility and technology depth. The decision should align with your property type, operational complexity, and feature requirements.