Counter vs. Winner PMS (acquired by Mews):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) is vital for your hotel's operational success. Both Counter and Winner PMS aim to streamline bookings, guest management, and daily operations, but they diverge significantly in reputation, features, and user experience. Counter, with over 54 recent reviews and a high overall rating, is clearly the more established and trusted solution. Are you prepared to prioritize recent feedback and proven performance?

Quick Verdict

Counter by Counter is the clear choice for hoteliers who value a well-rated, feature-rich PMS with extensive regional presence, especially in the hostel segment. Winner PMS (acquired by Mews), despite its strong reputation in the industry, lacks recent reviews and a broad regional footprint, making it less reliable for now. For your hotel, prioritizing current performance and user satisfaction points toward Counter.

Is Counter or Winner PMS Better for Hotels?

Counter and Winner PMS serve the same core purpose—simplifying hotel operations—but their market presence and review data differ greatly. Counter, founded in 2019 and based in Germany, has accumulated 54 reviews in the last six months, with a 4.73/5 overall rating and a 91% likelihood to recommend. Conversely, Winner PMS, with no recent reviews, has a less transparent recent performance record, and its global footprint is more limited.

Counter’s reviews highlight its ease of use, excellent support, and a broad feature set tailored for hostels and small hotels. Some users mention bugs, especially with bed availability and overbooking, but ongoing improvements and responsive support mitigate these issues. Winner PMS, on the other hand, has a strong industry reputation but lacks recent user feedback to validate current performance. Are you willing to rely on a product with no recent validation?

Counter vs Winner PMS: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel operates primarily within the hostel segment or needs an intuitive, mobile-friendly PMS, Counter is the better choice. Its high user ratings, comprehensive features—including channel management, online booking, payments, and guest CRM—and active regional presence make it suitable for properties seeking simplicity and reliability.

If your hotel demands a more established system with a potentially broader integration ecosystem and you’re comfortable with less recent feedback, Winner PMS may suit you. However, given the lack of recent reviews and limited regional reach, Counter’s proven track record offers more certainty for your operational needs today.

Is Counter or Winner PMS Easier to Use?

Counter boasts a 4.6/5 ease of use rating, with users praising its intuitive, clean interface and quick onboarding process. Its mobile-friendly design allows staff to manage reservations on the go, and support from Evelyn and Max is frequently highlighted as prompt and helpful.

Winner PMS’s usability is not clearly reflected in recent reviews, but industry reputation suggests an emphasis on user-centered design. However, the absence of recent user feedback makes it difficult to assess current ease of use. Based on available data, Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Counter or Winner PMS?

Counter offers 19 unique features, including a channel manager, booking engine, payment processing, housekeeping module, automated night audit, and guest CRM—all tailored for hostel and small hotel needs. It also supports multi-currency, multi-lingual interfaces, and ancillary revenue tracking, providing a holistic operational toolkit.

Winner PMS’s feature set is not detailed in recent reviews, but industry standing indicates it offers reservation, billing, housekeeping, and other essential functions. Without specific feature comparisons, Counter’s broader, more detailed feature list gives it the edge in versatility and specialization, especially for smaller properties.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter or Winner PMS?

Counter’s support team scores a 4.96/5, with reviews highlighting rapid, helpful responses from team members like Evelyn and Max. Many hoteliers appreciate their professionalism, though some note support may be slower during off-hours.

Winner PMS’s customer support reputation is solid but not recent enough to compare directly. Its industry reputation suggests reliability, but the lack of current reviews limits confidence. Based on recent feedback, Edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter or Winner PMS?

Counter integrates with seven verified partners, including prominent platforms like Cloudbeds, Stripe, and SiteMinder. Its extensive partner network supports multiple channels and payment options, allowing for more flexible integrations.

Winner PMS has only one verified integration—Mews—limiting its connectivity options. For properties seeking a versatile, multi-channel operation environment, Counter’s broader integration landscape gives it a clear advantage. Edge: Counter.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter or Winner PMS?

Counter’s recent reviews (54 in the last six months) are overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.73/5 overall rating and 91% likelihood to recommend. Its primary users—hostels—rate it particularly highly (average 4.75/5), citing ease of use and support.

Winner PMS lacks recent reviews, making it difficult to gauge current hoteliers’ satisfaction. Historically, it has been well-regarded in the industry, but without fresh data, Counter’s recent high ratings and volume of feedback make it the more reliable choice today. Edge: Counter.

How Much Do Counter and Winner PMS Cost?

Both products do not publicly list detailed pricing structures, indicating custom quotes based on hotel size and needs. Counter’s model is not freemium or flat-rate; similarly, Winner PMS offers no transparent pricing.

Budget considerations should involve direct vendor contact for quotes. However, Counter’s active feature set and recent reviews point to a solution that offers good value, especially for small to mid-sized properties.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hotels that mainly operate as hostels, B&Bs, or small boutique hotels.
• Teams prioritizing ease of use, mobile management, and quick onboarding.
• Properties looking for a cost-effective, feature-rich PMS with integrated channel management and payments.
• Hotels that want a system with a strong support team.
• Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced revenue management or complex group booking features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Winner PMS?

• Larger boutique or chain hotels seeking a centralized operational platform.
• Hotels with existing Mews or Winner integrations needing seamless data flow.
• Teams that prefer proven, enterprise-level systems with extensive industry experience.
• Hotels that are comfortable with less recent user feedback and limited regional support.
• Not ideal if you prioritize rapid updates, recent user validation, or regional customization.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Counter offers a feature-rich, user-friendly PMS with high recent satisfaction and extensive integrations, making it ideal for smaller hotels and hostels. Its recent review volume and high ratings provide confidence in its current capabilities.

Winner PMS, despite its industry reputation, suffers from a lack of recent reviews and limited regional coverage. Its focus on larger-scale hotel operations may appeal to properties with complex needs, but the absence of current feedback diminishes its reliability for now.

For your hotel, especially if you prioritize recent user experiences and active regional presence, Counter is the safer, more proven option. It combines a broad feature set with excellent support, making it the recommended choice today.