Counter vs. Zavia ERP:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) is crucial for your hotel’s operations and growth. Counter by Counter, designed specifically for hostels, offers a highly rated, user-friendly platform with a strong support team, while Zavia ERP targets small to medium hotels across Latin America but lacks recent reviews and a measurable user satisfaction score. Both aim to streamline your daily tasks, but their core strengths and suitability differ significantly.

Counter excels with its ease of use, proven support, and extensive review history, making it a dependable choice for hostel operators. Zavia ERP, despite its comprehensive feature set, struggles with limited recent feedback, raising questions about its current performance and user satisfaction. Should you prioritize proven reliability or a broader feature set without recent validation?

Is Counter or Zavia ERP Better for Hotels?

Counter by Counter primarily serves hostels and small boutique properties, focusing on simplicity and quick onboarding, making it ideal for budget-conscious and operations-focused hostel managers. Zavia ERP, however, is tailored for small to medium hotels seeking control over reservations, online sales, and rate management, especially in Latin America, but lacks recent user reviews to confirm its current effectiveness.

While Counter provides a straightforward, mobile-friendly interface that simplifies check-ins and reservations, Zavia offers a deeper suite of features like real-time rate synchronization and website management. Your decision hinges on whether your hotel needs a simple, tried-and-true system or a feature-rich platform with a broader regional reach but unverified recent performance. Are you looking for reliability or comprehensive functionality?

Is Counter or Zavia ERP Easier to Use?

Counter by Counter boasts a 4.6/5 ease of use rating from 54 reviews, with many users praising its intuitive interface, mobile compatibility, and quick staff onboarding. Support is rated at 4.96/5, with reviewers highlighting quick, helpful responses from the support team, especially Evelyn and Max, though some mention occasional bugs impacting operations.

In contrast, Zavia ERP’s usability rating is not available, and no recent reviews have been posted, raising concerns about how current the feedback is. Its broad feature set suggests a steeper learning curve, which might be overwhelming without dedicated onboarding. Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Counter or Zavia ERP?

Counter offers 18 shared features, with a standout guest CRM, email marketing, and POS integration—features designed to optimize hostel operations and guest engagement. Zavia ERP, however, provides 33 features, including real-time rate management, website creation, automated tasks, and revenue management modules, making it more suitable for hotels needing extensive operational control.

While Zavia’s features are more comprehensive, the lack of recent reviews means we cannot verify their current reliability or usability. Counter’s simpler, targeted features directly address hostel needs and have proven value, whereas Zavia’s broader feature set may be too complex or untested at present. Edge: Zavia ERP.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter or Zavia ERP?

Counter’s customer support is rated at 4.96/5, with reviews emphasizing responsiveness and professionalism, especially during onboarding and troubleshooting. Users appreciate the quick replies and dedicated assistance, although some note support delays during off-hours.

Zavia ERP’s support ratings are unavailable, and no recent reviews exist to gauge current responsiveness. Given the absence of recent feedback, Counter’s support stands out as more reliable and well-regarded. Edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter or Zavia ERP?

Counter integrates with 7 verified partners, including major platforms like Stripe, GOKI, and Channel Manager WuBook, ensuring smooth connections with payment processors and OTAs. Zavia ERP connects with 5 verified partners, including Stripe, Profitroom, and AskSuite, but offers fewer integrations overall, especially in diverse regional markets.

Counter’s broader integration ecosystem allows more flexibility for a variety of services, essential for streamlining operations across platforms. Zavia ERP’s integrations are focused on specific functions, which may limit expansion opportunities. Edge: Counter.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter or Zavia ERP?

Counter, with 54 reviews, holds a 4.73/5 overall rating, with a 91% likelihood to recommend, and strong scores from hostel operators praising its simplicity, support, and automation. Recent reviews emphasize its ease of use and quick support, reinforcing its reliability.

Zavia ERP has no recent reviews or ratings available, making it impossible to judge current user satisfaction. Given the clear feedback for Counter, hoteliers should lean toward its proven reputation and high satisfaction scores. Edge: Counter.

How Much Do Counter and Zavia ERP Cost?

Counter does not specify a price, but it is free to use, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious hostel operators. Zavia ERP charges a flat monthly fee of $300, which can be substantial for small properties with limited budgets.

The free nature of Counter offers significant value, especially when considering the absence of hidden costs or commissions. Zavia ERP’s pricing may be justified by its extensive feature set, but without recent user feedback, assessing whether it’s worth the investment is challenging. Edge: Counter.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hotels that operate hostels, budget accommodations, or small inns seeking a simple, no-cost PMS.
• Teams that prefer an easy-to-learn, mobile-friendly system with fast onboarding.
• Properties that prioritize quick setup and straightforward daily management.
• Hotels with limited IT resources needing a system with responsive support.
• Not ideal if your operation requires advanced revenue management, extensive integrations, or complex group booking features.

Counter is best for hostels and small properties that want to focus on operational simplicity without incurring software costs.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Zavia ERP?

• Hotels with fewer than 200 rooms that need a centralized platform for reservations, rate management, and website control.
• Teams seeking real-time synchronization across multiple OTAs and direct booking channels.
• Hotels aiming for a mobile-first booking engine that enhances direct sales.
• Properties looking for a quick setup with support in Spanish and no commissions.
• Not ideal if your hotel needs proven usability, recent user reviews, or extensive third-party integrations not listed.

Zavia ERP is suitable for small to medium hotels in Latin America that want control and growth potential, but current satisfaction levels are unverified.

The Bottom Line for Hotels: Counter vs Zavia ERP

Counter by Counter offers a simple, well-reviewed PMS tailored for hostels, with high ratings for ease of use, support, and overall satisfaction. Its free price point and proven reliability make it an excellent choice for budget-conscious hostel operators seeking a straightforward management tool.

Zavia ERP, despite its extensive feature list and regional focus, lacks recent user feedback, casting doubt on its current performance. It’s more suited for hotels that want a broad suite of operational tools and are willing to accept some uncertainty regarding usability and customer support.

If your priority is a dependable, easy-to-use PMS with recent positive reviews, Counter is the clear choice. For hotels with specific needs for advanced features and a regional focus in Latin America, Zavia could still be worth exploring, assuming you verify its current performance firsthand.