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 57 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 in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Payment processing and Housekeeping module.
PCS GmbH shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 57 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 57 | 0 |
After analyzing 57 verified reviews, Counter users most value its user interface and usability, customer support, automated features, while PCS 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Asia Pacific | #16 4 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #11 2 reviews | — |
Choosing between Counter by Counter and xenus hotelsoftware by PCS GmbH hinges on your property’s specific needs and operational priorities. Both systems aim to streamline hotel management, but Counter’s focus on hostels and its extensive feature set make it a more versatile option for many hoteliers. Conversely, PCS GmbH offers a broad, centralized solution, yet has no recent reviews, raising questions about its current market relevance.
Counter is a property management system with a dedicated hostel focus, backed by a lively user community and recent, positive reviews. PCS GmbH, on the other hand, remains less visible in recent feedback, making Counter the clearer choice for hoteliers seeking proven, user-rated solutions today.
Counter is designed specifically for hostels, with 54 recent reviews—most within the last six months—highlighting its active, engaged user base. It boasts a high overall rating of 4.73/5, a nearly perfect support rating of 4.96/5, and a strong likelihood to recommend of 91%. Its ease of use (4.6/5) and onboarding experience (4.7/5) are also well-regarded, making it accessible for staff at all skill levels.
PCS GmbH has no recent reviews or ratings, and its presence is limited to a few regions without clear user feedback. Its lack of recent data makes it difficult to gauge its suitability, stability, or customer satisfaction. Does your hotel need a system with proven success and recent performance data? If so, Counter is the safer, more reliable option.
If your hotel primarily operates hostels or budget accommodations, Counter’s tailored features—including channel management, online booking, and group functionality—make it the ideal fit. Its mobile-friendly design and automation capabilities streamline daily operations, reducing manual workload and enhancing guest satisfaction.
If, however, your hotel is a traditional property seeking an all-in-one platform with broader enterprise features and you can overlook the absence of recent reviews, PCS GmbH might be worth considering. Still, the lack of recent customer feedback raises concerns about ongoing support and feature updates, which are critical for operational stability.
Counter’s UI has consistently received high marks (4.6/5), praised for its simplicity, responsiveness, and intuitive design. Users report that staff can learn it quickly, with minimal training, and that its mobile app allows management on the go. Support from Counter’s team is highly responsive, with many reviews citing prompt, helpful assistance.
PCS GmbH lacks recent reviews, so its usability and onboarding effectiveness are unclear. Without recent user feedback, it’s impossible to determine whether its interface matches Counter’s ease of use or if staff adoption might face hurdles. Edge: Counter.
Counter offers 19 distinct features, including a built-in channel manager, booking engine, payment processing, automated night audit, guest CRM, multi-currency, and ancillary revenue tracking. These features are tailored specifically for hostel operations and small hotels, streamlining reservations, housekeeping, and guest management.
PCS GmbH’s feature set is unspecified beyond broad functionalities, with no detailed feature count or unique offerings listed. Its lack of recent reviews makes it difficult to assess whether its features are up to date or comprehensive. Based on available data, Counter clearly leads in feature depth and specialization. Edge: Counter.
Counter’s support scores are exceptional at 4.96/5, with recent reviews emphasizing fast, helpful responses from team members like Evelyn and Max. Users appreciate the responsiveness, especially during onboarding and when resolving bugs, despite some complaints about support delays in certain time zones.
Without recent reviews for PCS GmbH, support quality cannot be confidently rated. Historically, smaller providers sometimes struggle with timely assistance, and the absence of recent feedback suggests a lack of ongoing engagement. Based on current data, Counter’s customer support is more reliable. Edge: Counter.
Counter has seven verified integrations, including popular partners like Stripe, Cloudbeds, SiteMinder, and Goki, covering payments, channel management, and access control. Its integrations are tailored for hostels and small hotels, facilitating smooth operations across platforms.
PCS GmbH’s four verified integrations include RateBoard GmbH, Smart Host GmbH, vioma GmbH, and AVISIO, but the limited number constrains connectivity options. The absence of shared or broader partnerships suggests less flexibility for expanding your tech stack. Edge: Counter.
Counter’s user reviews reveal a high satisfaction rate, with an overall rating of 4.73/5 from 54 recent reviews. Hoteliers, especially in hostel segments, praise its ease of use, automation, and support, with some mentioning it as their top choice for hostel management.
PCS GmbH has no recent reviews or ratings, so its user satisfaction remains unverified. The lack of feedback raises doubts about its current performance and user experience. For hoteliers seeking proven satisfaction, Counter’s high ratings make it the clear leader. Edge: Counter.
Counter does not publicly disclose its pricing, but it offers a free version and charges based on features and support, making it potentially more accessible for small properties. Its transparent approach and lack of implementation fees make it appealing for budget-conscious hostels.
PCS GmbH’s pricing details are unavailable, with no indications of costs or trial options, which complicates budget planning. The absence of transparent pricing suggests it may be geared toward larger properties or enterprises willing to negotiate custom terms.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
Counter by Counter emerges as the leading choice for hotels, especially hostels, with its extensive recent reviews, high satisfaction scores, and tailored features. Its proven usability and active support network make it a safer bet for hoteliers seeking reliability today.
If your hotel needs a straightforward, feature-rich PMS with proven customer satisfaction, go with Counter. Its well-rated support, user-friendly interface, and broad integrations support smooth daily operations and guest experiences.
On the other hand, PCS GmbH offers a broad, centralized management platform but lacks recent feedback to confirm ongoing performance. It might suit larger, enterprise properties with specific needs and the capacity to evaluate less proven providers.
For most hoteliers actively seeking a reliable, well-supported, and user-rated PMS today, Counter is the clear, definitive choice.
According to HTR's product database, Counter and xenus hotelsoftware share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Booking Engine | ||
| Calendar view | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Custom rates | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| RevPaR & ADR Reports |
Showing top differences. 7 more features differ between these products.
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.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Counter and xenus hotelsoftware share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Counter offers 7 verified integration partners, while xenus hotelsoftware offers 4. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Counter leads in ease of use at 4.6/5 vs 0.0/5. 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. xenus hotelsoftware: 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 PCS 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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