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 67 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:
Crave Interactive shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Payments and Guest Messaging.
I am MAX shines , with exclusive features like Mobile Checkin.
Side-by-side ratings based on 67 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $400/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 67 | 0 |
After analyzing 67 verified reviews, Crave Interactive users most value its customer service, user interface, customization, while I am MAX users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Customer service
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User interface
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Customization
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Guest communication
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Hardware issues
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Seamless system integration
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How each product ranks among Hotel Guest Apps 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) ▾ | #6 13 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #9 26 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #4 14 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #5 7 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #6 26 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #5 31 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #4 27 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay | #10 2 reviews | — |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #4 26 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #8 31 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific | #8 2 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #8 1 reviews | — |
Choosing the right hotel guest app can significantly impact your guest experience and operational efficiency. Crave Mobile Platform by Crave Interactive and I am MAX by I am MAX both aim to connect guests with your hotel’s services, but they differ greatly in scope, features, and market presence. Crave’s platform offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities backed by extensive reviews and a well-established presence, while I am MAX leans heavily on AI-driven insights but lacks recent user feedback.
Given the critical role of user reviews and recent performance data, Crave Interactive’s platform stands out as the more reliable choice for most hotels. But what are the key differences that will influence your decision?
Crave Interactive’s platform is designed for hotels wanting a full-featured, customizable mobile engagement solution, with a focus on food & beverage, messaging, and guest communication. It boasts 25 exclusive features, from digital menus to contactless ordering and POS integrations, which enhance guest convenience and operational flow.
In contrast, I am MAX centers on AI-driven guest interaction, providing personalized activity suggestions and real-time feedback. However, it offers only a single unique feature—Mobile Checkin—and has no recent reviews or high user ratings, raising questions about its market performance and reliability.
Crave’s platform also has a broader market reach, operating in 14 countries across multiple regions, while I am MAX’s presence remains limited. Do these differences mean Crave is the safer, more complete choice for your hotel?
If your hotel needs a robust, feature-rich app capable of handling multiple guest requests, digital menus, payments, and multi-lingual support, Crave Interactive is the clear choice. It is ideal for hotels seeking a customizable, scalable solution with proven deployment success in luxury and branded hotels.
If your hotel prioritizes AI-driven guest insights, personalized activity suggestions, and real-time feedback, and you’re comfortable with a less established platform, I am MAX could suit your needs. However, it’s important to note that I am MAX lacks the extensive feature set and recent user validation that Crave offers.
For most hotels aiming to improve guest engagement with a proven platform, Crave’s extensive feature set and positive reviews make it the smarter investment. But if AI-based recommendations and guest interaction are your top priorities, and you’re willing to accept limited features, I am MAX may be worth exploring.
Crave Interactive scores a 4.61 out of 5 for ease of use, with most reviews praising its intuitive interface and straightforward guest access via QR codes. Implementation is generally smooth, with an onboarding rating of 4.57, and support is highly rated at 4.79.
In contrast, I am MAX has no available data on user experience or onboarding, which makes assessing its ease of use difficult. The absence of recent reviews or detailed user feedback suggests it may not be as well-tested or user-friendly.
Edge: Crave Interactive.
Crave offers 25 exclusive features, including web-based (appless) access, hotel directory, multi-lingual support, payments, room service, guest messaging, digital menus, contactless ordering, NFC, and POS integration—covering nearly all guest service touchpoints.
I am MAX provides only one unique feature: mobile check-in. While its AI capabilities for personalized recommendations and real-time feedback are valuable, the limited feature set makes it less versatile for hotels needing comprehensive guest engagement tools.
Edge: Crave Interactive.
Crave’s support scores a stellar 4.79 out of 5, with reviews highlighting quick responses, proactive service, and helpful staff. Customers frequently mention that Crave’s team swiftly addresses issues, often within minutes, which is critical during implementation and ongoing operations.
I am MAX offers no recent support ratings or reviews, leaving its support quality unverified. Given the lack of recent feedback, Crave’s support reputation is clearly superior for hotels prioritizing reliable assistance.
Edge: Crave Interactive.
Crave supports integrations with 17 verified partners, including Interel, Book4Time, Quore, Oracle Hospitality, and Mews, offering extensive connectivity with PMS, POS, and other hotel systems. This level of integration facilitates smoother operations and data flow.
I am MAX has only one verified partner: Mews, which limits its integration options. For hotels with existing systems that require seamless connectivity, Crave’s broader partner ecosystem is a significant advantage.
Edge: Crave Interactive.
Crave’s platform has received 48 reviews in the last six months, with an overall rating of 4.75/5 and a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 9.15/10. Hoteliers particularly praise its user-friendly interface, extensive features, and support, especially in luxury and branded segments.
I am MAX has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to gauge current user sentiment. Given the recent and positive feedback for Crave, it remains the preferred choice.
Edge: Crave Interactive.
Crave’s pricing starts at $400 for the base platform, with no mention of ongoing monthly fees, implementation costs, or trials. This straightforward pricing makes budgeting predictable.
I am MAX does not disclose pricing details, leaving potential buyers uncertain about costs. The lack of transparent pricing favors Crave for transparency and ease of budgeting.
Not ideal if your hotel has a very small property or minimal guest service needs, or if you are solely interested in AI-driven personalized recommendations.
Not ideal if you require extensive feature sets, robust integration, or proven customer support.
Crave Interactive offers a full-featured, reliable mobile guest platform with extensive integrations, positive recent reviews, and a proven track record. Its broad feature set and high customer satisfaction make it suitable for hotels seeking a comprehensive engagement solution.
I am MAX’s AI-driven approach provides unique guest interaction tools but is hampered by the lack of recent reviews, limited features, and minimal integration options. It may suit innovative hotels with specific AI interests but does not yet match Crave’s maturity or market presence.
In conclusion, for most hotels, Crave Interactive is the safer, more proven choice, delivering a richer feature set and consistent support. If your hotel prioritizes AI and personalized guest experiences above all, and you’re comfortable with a less established platform, I am MAX could be worth a closer look—though caution is advised given limited recent feedback.
Hotel Guest Apps pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
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| Starting Price | From $400/mo | — |
According to HTR's product database, Crave Mobile Platform and I am MAX share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automatic Translations (Multi-Lingual) | ||
| Hotel Directory | ||
| Mobile Checkin | ||
| Payments | ||
| Request Management | ||
| Room Service Ordering | ||
| Web Based (Appless) |
Showing top differences. 14 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Crave Interactive provides exceptional customer service with quick response times and helpful support staff. Hoteliers appreciate the efficient and pr... Crave Interactive provides exceptional customer service with quick response times and helpful support staff. Hoteliers appreciate the efficient and proactive support, which helps in resolving issues promptly.
While the user interface is appreciated for being user-friendly and intuitive for guests, some feedback suggests it could be more modern and customiza... While the user interface is appreciated for being user-friendly and intuitive for guests, some feedback suggests it could be more modern and customizable to better fit individual hotel needs.
Customization options, especially for menu updates and guest interfaces, are limited and often require support from Crave Interactive's team. Users ex... Customization options, especially for menu updates and guest interfaces, are limited and often require support from Crave Interactive's team. Users express a desire for more control over customizations.
Where hoteliers push back
Several reviews mentioned concerns with the hardware, specifically tablet durability and charging difficulties. These issues can affect overall effici... Several reviews mentioned concerns with the hardware, specifically tablet durability and charging difficulties. These issues can affect overall efficiency and guest satisfaction when using the system.
The system's integration with other hotel management systems, such as Simphony and PMS, is highlighted for making operations smoother and reducing man... The system's integration with other hotel management systems, such as Simphony and PMS, is highlighted for making operations smoother and reducing manual entry. This has been particularly beneficial during large events and for managing room services efficiently.
Unique capabilities
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Crave Mobile Platform and I am MAX share many core Hotel Guest Apps features, but each has unique capabilities. Crave Mobile Platform offers 17 verified integration partners, while I am MAX offers 1. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Crave Mobile Platform 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.
Crave Mobile Platform: No. I am MAX: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Guest Apps 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. Crave Interactive has an HT Score of 75 and I am MAX 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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