DigitalGuest vs. Plusgrade:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right upselling software for your hotel can significantly impact revenue, guest experience, and operational efficiency. DigitalGuest by DigitalGuest and Plusgrade by Plusgrade are two leading options that aim to enhance your ancillary sales, but they serve slightly different needs and hotel profiles.

DigitalGuest offers a comprehensive guest engagement platform from pre-stay to post-stay, focusing on communication, upselling, and guest insights. Plusgrade specializes in maximizing revenue through automated upgrade offerings and ancillary sales, primarily targeting higher-end hotels seeking to optimize occupancy and RevPAR. Which one aligns best with your hotel’s strategic priorities?

Is DigitalGuest or Plusgrade Better for Hotels?

Both products aim to boost revenue through upselling and guest communication, but they approach this goal differently. DigitalGuest emphasizes delivering a personalized, branded experience with a broad suite of features that span guest engagement, feedback collection, and ancillary merchandising, making it suitable for hotels seeking a full guest experience platform. Plusgrade, on the other hand, centers on automated upgrade offers and revenue management, excelling in dynamic pricing and targeted up-sell transactions.

DigitalGuest has a higher overall rating (4.94/5 vs. 5/5 for Plusgrade) but fewer recent reviews (0 vs. none for Plusgrade), implying its customer base is more established, yet less current. Plusgrade's rating is consistent, with recent reviews praising its impact on RevPAR and operational automation, making it a compelling choice if your hotel prioritizes revenue lift through upgrades.

Ultimately, if your hotel seeks a wide-ranging guest engagement solution with upselling as one component, DigitalGuest could work well. If your focus is purely on automated upgrade sales and maximizing revenue from inventory, Plusgrade might be more suitable. Are you looking for a full guest experience platform or a targeted revenue generator?

DigitalGuest vs Plusgrade: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a versatile platform that enhances the entire guest journey—from pre-arrival communication to feedback collection—DigitalGuest is the better fit. It’s especially suitable for resorts, boutique hotels, and those prioritizing guest satisfaction alongside revenue, given its ease of use and high support ratings.

Conversely, if your hotel primarily aims to boost RevPAR through automated upgrade offers, especially during low occupancy periods, Plusgrade is the preferable choice. Its proprietary Bid-For-Upgrade system and focus on ancillary sales make it ideal for upscale and branded hotels that want to increase revenue with minimal manual effort.

For hotels wanting a broad operational tool that can also upsell ancillary products, DigitalGuest is the way to go. For those focused on revenue management and upgrade automation, Plusgrade delivers targeted results. Which core goal aligns best with your hotel’s current strategy?

Is DigitalGuest or Plusgrade Easier to Use?

DigitalGuest scores slightly higher on ease of use (4.85/5 vs. 4.75/5), with users praising its user-friendly interface, quick setup, and flexible communication tools. Reviews emphasize that staff can navigate the platform easily, reducing onboarding time and improving adoption rates.

Plusgrade also has a strong user rating (4.75/5), with praise for its automation and straightforward upgrade offerings. However, some users mention that its configuration options could be more intuitive, and the learning curve may be steeper for some staff.

Edge: DigitalGuest. Its higher ease of use rating and more recent positive feedback suggest your team will onboard faster and start seeing results more promptly.

Which Has Better Features: DigitalGuest or Plusgrade?

DigitalGuest offers 5 shared features with Plusgrade, but it has 3 features unique to its platform, including Gift Vouchers & Prepaid Experiences, Digital Acceptance & Payment Capture, and Ancillary Product Merchandising. These add flexibility in delivering diverse upsell options and integrating payments.

Plusgrade provides 5 unique features absent in DigitalGuest, like Dynamic Upgrade Pricing, Offer Templates Library, Multi-Property Dashboard, Type 2 SOC 2 Certification, and Offer Experimentation & A/B Testing. These features empower revenue strategists to optimize pricing and test offers efficiently.

Edge: It's a close call, but DigitalGuest’s additional merchandising and payment features give it a slight edge for hotels wanting more diverse upselling capabilities without complex experimentation tools.

Which Has Better Customer Support: DigitalGuest or Plusgrade?

DigitalGuest’s support rating (4.94/5) outperforms Plusgrade (4.79/5), with reviews highlighting quick, responsive support staff. DigitalGuest users report feeling well-supported during onboarding and ongoing use, often praising staff responsiveness and proactive communication.

Plusgrade also receives positive support reviews, but some users note longer response times and a slightly less personalized experience. Both platforms are highly rated, but DigitalGuest’s marginal lead suggests more reliable and prompt assistance.

Edge: DigitalGuest. Its higher customer support rating and positive recent reviews make it the safer choice for hotels prioritizing ongoing support.

Which Has More Integrations: DigitalGuest or Plusgrade?

Both products integrate with 16 verified partners, including common systems like Mews, Oracle Hospitality, and Stayntouch. DigitalGuest has integrations with several PMS systems like RoomRaccoon, Sirvoy, and Hoist Group, while Plusgrade’s integrations include platforms like Winhotel, RMS, and Shiji Group.

Since they share many partners, the decision hinges on your existing system compatibility. However, Plusgrade's broader global presence (12 regions) might offer better local integration options if your hotel operates internationally.

Edge: Tie. Both platforms have strong integration ecosystems, but your choice should depend on your specific PMS and regional requirements.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: DigitalGuest or Plusgrade?

DigitalGuest's reviews are more recent, with a perfect 4.94/5 rating from 17 reviews, mostly from resorts and boutique hotels. Hotel operators praise its ease of use, communication features, and support, especially in high-service segments.

Plusgrade’s 29 reviews consistently rate it a perfect 5/5, with a strong focus on revenue impact, particularly among luxury hotels and chains. Hoteliers appreciate its automation and significant revenue boosts, especially during challenging demand periods.

Both products receive high satisfaction scores, but DigitalGuest’s more recent and diverse reviews make its rating more current.

Edge: DigitalGuest. Its slightly higher and more recent rating reflects strong performance across multiple hotel types.

How Much Do DigitalGuest and Plusgrade Cost?

DigitalGuest does not publicly disclose pricing, which may indicate a customized quote based on hotel size and needs. It appears to operate on a SaaS model without an implementation fee or freemium option.

Plusgrade charges a $400 monthly fee, with no mention of setup costs or revenue share. This straightforward pricing makes budgeting easier but might be costly for smaller hotels.

Your choice depends on your budget and preference for transparent pricing versus custom quotes. Overall, Plusgrade’s explicit fee offers predictability, while DigitalGuest’s tailored approach might provide more flexibility.

What Type of Hotel Should Use DigitalGuest?

Hotels that benefit most from DigitalGuest include:

• Resorts seeking to enhance guest experiences with personalized communication.
• Boutique and city-center hotels desiring a flexible, branded engagement platform.
• Hotels aiming to increase ancillary revenue through gift vouchers and digital payments.
• Properties prioritizing guest feedback and reputation management.
• Hotels needing a customizable platform that integrates with existing PMS systems.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel primarily needs automated revenue management.
• You require extensive upgrade-specific features.
• You prefer a platform focused solely on upselling rather than full guest engagement.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Plusgrade?

Hotels that should consider Plusgrade include:

• Luxury hotels and chains aiming to maximize RevPAR with dynamic upgrade pricing.
• Properties looking for automation and A/B testing capabilities to optimize offers.
• Hotels with multiple properties needing centralized dashboards.
• Operators seeking a platform with proven results in increasing ancillary revenue.
• Hotels wanting to implement programmatic, data-driven upselling.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel is a small boutique with limited focus on upgrades.
• You need a broad guest engagement platform beyond revenue management.
• You prefer a more flexible, customizable system for diverse ancillary sales like spa or meal packages.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

DigitalGuest excels in delivering a full guest experience platform, emphasizing communication, feedback, and ancillary merchandising. It has a higher overall rating, more recent reviews, and stronger support ratings, making it well-suited for hotels seeking broad engagement tools.

Plusgrade is laser-focused on automated upgrade sales and revenue management, with proven results in increasing RevPAR and ancillary revenue for upscale and chain hotels. Its automation and targeted features are ideal if your primary goal is maximizing income with minimal manual effort.

If your hotel values a comprehensive guest engagement platform, DigitalGuest is the clear choice. If your main objective is boosting RevPAR through dynamic upgrade offers and automating revenue strategies, Plusgrade delivers the strongest results.