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 640 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:
Duve shines when it comes to guest messaging and continuous communication — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile Friendly and SMS text messaging.
LIKE MAGIC shines when it comes to guest journey app .
Side-by-side ratings based on 640 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $900/mo | From $700/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 611 | 29 |
After analyzing 640 verified reviews, Duve users most value its guest messaging and continuous communication, contactless check-in and pre-arrival registration, operational efficiency and staff time savings, while LIKE MAGIC users highlight guest journey app, automation & integration, contactless check-in. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest messaging and continuous communication
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Guest Journey App
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Contactless check-in and pre-arrival registration
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Automation & Integration
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Operational efficiency and staff time savings
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Contactless Check-in
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Customization, workflow flexibility, and language handling
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Design Flexibility
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PMS synchronization and integration issues
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Revenue Opportunities
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Message delivery and platform reliability
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Analytics & Reporting
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Guest data capture and follow-up reuse
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Push Notification Delays
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How each product ranks among Contactless Check-in 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) ▾ | #1 132 reviews | #7 12 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #2 204 reviews | #7 11 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #2 164 reviews | #11 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #2 48 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #2 231 reviews | #9 8 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #2 262 reviews | #15 2 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #2 188 reviews | #16 2 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #2 92 reviews | #5 12 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #3 54 reviews | #18 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #1 240 reviews | #5 27 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #2 24 reviews | — |
| Middle East ▾ | #1 237 reviews | — |
Choosing between Duve's Online Check-in and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) hinges on your hotel’s specific operational needs and guest expectations. Both products aim to streamline check-in, reduce staff workload, and enhance guest experiences, but they approach these goals differently. Duve offers a broader suite of features with a more established global presence, while LIKE MAGIC emphasizes ease of use and automation in a smaller, more recent platform.
Are you prioritizing a comprehensive, proven solution with extensive integrations, or a simplified, highly automated system that emphasizes guest self-service? Let’s explore how these two solutions stack up across key factors.
Duve and LIKE MAGIC both target contactless check-in with features designed to improve operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. However, Duve's platform supports a wider range of functionalities, including profile enrichment, document scanning, and room upgrades, driven by a robust integration ecosystem with over 65 partners. LIKE MAGIC, on the other hand, offers a streamlined, easy-to-implement guest journey app with AI-powered responses, digital keys, and automation, but with fewer integrations and features.
Duve’s recent reviews—468 total, with 25 in the last six months—prove its ongoing relevance and user satisfaction, reflected by a 4.83/5 overall rating. LIKE MAGIC’s 29 reviews, primarily from small hotels and hostels, show a high satisfaction rate (99% likelihood to recommend) with fewer but newer reviews, indicating a fresh but less mature platform.
Does your hotel need a full guest management suite or a straightforward, automated check-in system? The choice depends on your operational complexity and growth plans.
If your hotel requires a highly customizable platform with extensive integrations—especially with PMS, door lock systems, and revenue tools—Duve is the clear winner. Its features like PMS integration, messaging, analytics, and multi-channel delivery suit mid-to-large hotels aiming for a comprehensive guest experience.
Conversely, if your hotel is seeking a quick-to-deploy, contactless check-in solution with AI-driven automation and minimal setup, LIKE MAGIC is ideal. It’s especially suitable for small properties or those prioritizing guest self-service, with its focus on digital communication and effortless onboarding.
For large hotels looking to automate and personalize, Duve’s broad feature set and proven industry track record make it the stronger choice. Smaller hotels or hostels focusing on ease and speed should lean toward LIKE MAGIC.
Duve’s platform has a high ease-of-use rating (4.74/5), but some reviews mention a learning curve due to its extensive features and complex setup process. New users might find onboarding slightly challenging but benefit from detailed support and documentation.
LIKE MAGIC scores even higher in ease of use (4.9/5), with reviews emphasizing its straightforward interface and simple guest onboarding. Its minimal setup and intuitive design make staff training quick, often completed in just 1.5 days.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
Duve offers 31 features exclusive to its platform, including PMS integration, document scanning, guest profiles, automated translations, and dynamic upselling. Its open API and analytics dashboard add depth for operational insights.
LIKE MAGIC lacks the breadth of features but provides core functionalities needed for contactless check-in, digital keys, automated messaging, and guest self-service, with a focus on automation and simplicity.
Edge: Duve, with 31 unique features and extensive integrations, leads in feature richness.
Duve’s support rating (4.65/5) is strong, with reviews highlighting responsive service and dedicated onboarding assistance. However, some users note slow responses and bugs that temporarily impacted operations, though these are generally resolved efficiently.
LIKE MAGIC’s customer support (4.83/5) is slightly higher, with recent reviews praising its quick responsiveness and dedicated onboarding, especially for small hotels and hostels. Its smaller size may enable more personalized support.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
Duve boasts over 65 verified partners, including PMS providers, door lock systems, and revenue management tools, making it highly adaptable to existing hotel infrastructure. Shared integrations include major brands like Mews, Oracle Hospitality, and SALTO Systems.
LIKE MAGIC has 10 verified partners, mostly focused on digital locks and PMS systems like SaltoKS and PMS providers, but with fewer options overall.
Edge: Duve, with over six times more integrations, offers broader compatibility.
Duve’s reviews, totaling 468 with recent activity, praise its comprehensive features, automation, and support, despite some UX challenges. It consistently earns a 4.83/5 rating, with a strong industry reputation.
LIKE MAGIC, with only 29 reviews, garners a 73.66/100 HTR score, with praise for its simplicity and automation. Its newer presence means less long-term data but high recent satisfaction.
Edge: Duve, with more reviews and higher overall ratings, is the more trusted choice among hoteliers.
Duve’s pricing starts at $900 monthly, with no free tier or trial, reflecting its enterprise-level scope. LIKE MAGIC’s base price is $700 monthly, also without trial options, making it slightly more affordable but less feature-rich.
Neither product offers a free plan, emphasizing their professional-grade capabilities and tailored onboarding.
Not ideal if your hotel is small, with limited IT resources, or needs only basic check-in automation.
Not ideal if your property needs advanced PMS integration or sophisticated guest profiling.
At its core, Duve offers a complete, adaptable platform designed for hotels that want to deeply customize their guest experience and integrate with existing systems. Its extensive feature set drives operational efficiency and revenue, making it suitable for medium to large hotels with complex needs.
LIKE MAGIC excels in delivering a straightforward, automated guest journey, especially for small and boutique hotels. Its simplicity, ease of use, and focus on contactless check-in make it ideal for properties prioritizing quick implementation and minimal IT overhead.
Choose Duve if your hotel values a comprehensive, scalable platform with broad integrations and detailed analytics. Opt for LIKE MAGIC if you need an easy-to-deploy, automated solution that enhances guest self-service and reduces staff workload with minimal fuss.
In conclusion, if your hotel seeks a proven, feature-rich platform with a global footprint and robust support, Duve is the superior choice. For properties that prioritize speed, simplicity, and automation, LIKE MAGIC offers a compelling, less complex alternative.
Contactless Check-in 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 $900/mo | From $700/mo |
These are the features each vendor has configured, organized by feature group — the same data shown in the vendor dashboard. Expand a group to compare features side by side.
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Pre-Arrival & Check-in
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| Hotel Website Check-in Portal | ||
| Lobby Kiosk | ||
| Self Service Checkout | ||
| Self Service Checkin | ||
| Device Agnostic | ||
| Easy Room Selection | ||
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Information Collection
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| Custom Questions | ||
| Terms & Conditions Signing | ||
| Marketing Communications Opt-in | ||
| Pre-regisration info collection | ||
| Document & Passport Scanning | ||
| ID Verification | ||
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Translations
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| Automatic Translations | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
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Payments & Authorization
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| Registration Card E-signature | ||
| Collect Deposits | ||
| Payment & Authorizations | ||
| ID Verification | ||
| PCI Compliant | ||
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Mobile Key
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| Door Lock Integration | ||
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Upgrades & Upselling
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| Pre-arrival Upselling & Upgrades | ||
| Easy Room Selection | ||
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Other
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We analyzed 12 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Duve was a game changer for our customer service. I knew the platform would help us connect with guests but I was amazed at how cleverly simple it all is, even guests who are not v..."
"Like Magic allowed us to operate with just six staff members, without compromising guest experience. The platform is easy to use, fun to work with, and has revolutionized how we ru..."
"While scaling up and growing in terms of more hotel rooms and more hotels in different countries we found it difficult to communicate with our guests in a very personal way. Duve f..."
"LIKE MAGIC isn't just a tool for us, it's the backbone of our overall guest experience. If I ever worked somewhere else, I'd bring it with me."
What hoteliers love
Users consistently describe Duve as a strong messaging hub for staying in contact before, during, and after the stay. They like being able to centrali... Users consistently describe Duve as a strong messaging hub for staying in contact before, during, and after the stay. They like being able to centralize guest communication in one place and reduce missed requests or reliance on WhatsApp and other external channels.
Reviewers frequently say Duve shortens arrival time by letting guests complete registration before they reach the hotel, reducing front-desk congestio... Reviewers frequently say Duve shortens arrival time by letting guests complete registration before they reach the hotel, reducing front-desk congestion and manual data entry. Hotels value it most during peak arrivals because it makes check-in faster, smoother, and less labor intensive for staff and guests.
Reviewers often note that Duve saves reception and operations teams time by reducing repetitive questions, manual verification, and front-desk workloa... Reviewers often note that Duve saves reception and operations teams time by reducing repetitive questions, manual verification, and front-desk workload. This efficiency is especially important for busy properties that want staff to spend less time on admin and more time on higher-value guest service.
Where hoteliers push back
A recurring concern is that Duve does not always sync cleanly with PMS or other hotel systems, forcing manual review or duplicate work. Reviewers want... A recurring concern is that Duve does not always sync cleanly with PMS or other hotel systems, forcing manual review or duplicate work. Reviewers want tighter, more reliable integrations so pre-check-in data, guest profiles, and operational information flow without delays or errors.
Several users report occasional faults such as messages not sending, delayed updates, browser refresh needs, or inconsistent behavior across devices.... Several users report occasional faults such as messages not sending, delayed updates, browser refresh needs, or inconsistent behavior across devices. While the product is generally valued, these reliability issues are seen as operational risks because they can interrupt guest communication and create extra manual follow-up.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its i... The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its intuitive design significantly reduces staffing needs while enhancing guest experience.
Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as... Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as housekeeping and payment processing, frees up hotel staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences.
LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via... LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via mobile, offering a quick and hygienic process, particularly appreciated by international visitors.
Where hoteliers push back
LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating addi... LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating additional services, such as late checkouts or in-room dining, provide valuable opportunities for increasing revenue.
The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest... The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest engagement and provide key performance metrics, potentially leading to better decision-making and service improvements.
Ranks higher for
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Duve - Online Check-in and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. Duve - Online Check-in offers 72 verified integration partners, while LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) offers 11. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 4.7/5. 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.
Duve - Online Check-in: No. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in): No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Contactless Check-in 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. Duve has an HT Score of 95 and LIKE MAGIC has 71. 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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