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 135 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:
Elina PMS shines in customer support and ROI , with exclusive features like Tablet/Kiosk Check-in and Online Check-in.
Planet shines when it comes to functionality and features — especially for brand properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile Device Notes & Tasks (Voice-to-Text) and Guest Communication (SMS Messaging).
Side-by-side ratings based on 135 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $700/mo | From $500/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 27 | 108 |
After analyzing 135 verified reviews, Elina PMS users most value its support team, user feedback and development, ease of use and training, while Planet users highlight functionality and features, ease of use, multi-property management. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Support Team
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Functionality and Features
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User Feedback and Development
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Ease of Use
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Ease of Use and Training
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Multi-property Management
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Integration with Other Systems
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Flexibility and System Complexity
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Support Issues
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Revenue Management
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Customization and Flexibility
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User Interface
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System Performance and Reliability
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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) ▾ | #37 10 reviews | #27 32 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #37 10 reviews | #15 50 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #38 1 reviews | #15 10 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #28 1 reviews | #17 3 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #51 3 reviews | #21 42 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #31 8 reviews | #21 34 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #57 1 reviews | #17 33 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #18 12 reviews | #20 9 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #48 0 reviews | #29 6 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #21 22 reviews | #10 79 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | #24 1 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #22 1 reviews | #15 2 reviews |
Choosing a property management system (PMS) is critical to your hotel’s operational efficiency and guest experience. Both Elina PMS by Elina PMS and protel PMS by Planet aim to modernize your management processes, but they approach this goal differently. While Elina PMS focuses on increasing direct bookings and automation, protel PMS emphasizes extensive integrations and flexible deployment options. How do these differences impact your hotel’s specific needs?
Elina PMS has a significantly higher recent review count and a stronger overall rating, indicating more current support and user satisfaction. Conversely, protel PMS, with its broader ecosystem and more extensive integrations, offers more advanced customization and scalability options. Are you prioritizing user experience and recent support, or extensive integration and flexibility?
Elina PMS and protel PMS both serve the core function of managing reservations, billing, and reporting, but they differ in scope and target user profile. Elina PMS provides a comprehensive cloud-based platform optimized for increasing direct bookings, automating routine tasks, and improving guest personalization, making it ideal for mid-sized hotels and serviced apartments. protel PMS, on the other hand, offers a more versatile environment suited for a range of hotel types, especially larger resorts or multi-property groups, thanks to its extensive integration ecosystem.
Elina PMS, with a 4.17/5 overall rating and 25 reviews, excels in ease of use, customer support, and value, making it a better choice if your team values straightforward setup and ongoing dedicated support. protel PMS, rated 4.11/5 with 105 reviews, is more complex and better suited for hotels that need deep customization, multi-channel integration, and a scalable platform. Are you looking for simplicity and quick ROI, or flexibility and extensive system connectivity?
If your hotel needs a user-friendly, quick-to-implement PMS that boosts direct bookings and automates guest communication, Elina PMS is the better fit. Its high customer support ratings and ease of onboarding make it ideal for hotels seeking reliable, responsive service and straightforward operations.
If your hotel requires a highly customizable, scalable system with a vast array of integrations—particularly if you manage multiple properties or need advanced features like multi-currency support or complex reporting—protel PMS is the more suitable choice. Its extensive ecosystem and flexible deployment options appeal to larger hotels or chains.
For smaller properties or those prioritizing support and ease of use, Elina PMS offers a clear advantage. Conversely, hotels seeking a versatile, integrable platform with future-proof features will find protel PMS more aligned with their growth plans.
Elina PMS scores 4.3/5 for ease of use, with many reviews praising its intuitive interface and straightforward onboarding process. Users consistently mention that new staff can learn the system quickly, and ongoing support is responsive, helping teams adopt best practices seamlessly.
protel PMS has a slightly lower ease-of-use rating at 4.12/5, partly due to its broad functionality, which can introduce complexity for users unfamiliar with extensive system features. Support response times have been criticized post-Planet acquisition, affecting onboarding and daily use.
Edge: Elina PMS.
Elina PMS offers 10 features unique to its platform, including a channel manager, automated night audit, online check-in, and guest messaging—features directly aimed at increasing efficiency and revenue. It integrates with key systems like Stripe and Xero, streamlining financial workflows.
protel PMS boasts 7 exclusive features like advanced customization, a robust booking engine, and extensive integration with over 1,200 systems, including RMS and CRM. Its modular approach and support for both cloud and on-premise solutions make it highly adaptable for complex hotel operations.
Edge: Elina PMS has a slight edge for user-focused automation, while protel’s strength lies in its broad, customizable ecosystem.
Elina PMS's customer support receives a 4.7/5 rating, with reviews highlighting its helpful, responsive team and in-software helpdesk. Many users describe support as proactive and attentive, with quick resolution times for issues.
protel PMS scores a 3.95/5, with reviews pointing out longer response times and frustrations over support availability, especially after Planet’s acquisition. Many users suggest that support improvements are needed to match the robustness of the platform.
Edge: Elina PMS.
protel PMS offers 195 verified integrations across a broad spectrum of systems, including revenue management, CRM, and channel managers, making it ideal for hotels that rely on a connected tech stack. Its ecosystem supports over 1,200 integrations, providing flexibility for future expansion.
Elina PMS has 20 verified partners, including key players like SiteMinder, Lighthouse, and RevControl. While fewer in number, these integrations are well-chosen to support direct booking growth and financial management.
Edge: protel PMS.
Elina PMS, with a 4.17/5 rating from 25 reviews—and recent reviews—has higher user satisfaction, especially among serviced apartments and small hotels. Hotels that value quick implementation and personalized support tend to rate it more favorably.
protel PMS, with more reviews and a 4.11/5 overall rating, receives mixed feedback. Larger hotels and chains appreciate its customization, but smaller properties often report support delays and bugs.
Edge: Elina PMS.
Elina PMS is priced at $700 per month with no additional fees, offering a straightforward subscription model. There are no free tiers or trial options currently, but the pricing reflects its targeted, full-featured platform.
protel PMS costs $500 per month, with additional modules and customizations potentially incurring extra fees. Its broader ecosystem and more complex setup may lead to higher total costs depending on your hotel’s integration needs.
Not ideal if you need extensive multi-property management, complex revenue forecasting, or advanced customization beyond core features.
Not ideal if your hotel prioritizes simplicity, quick deployment, or has limited IT resources for managing complex integrations.
Elina PMS and protel PMS serve different hotel management needs effectively but cater to distinct user profiles. Elina PMS excels in ease of use, support, and direct booking tools, making it ideal for smaller to mid-sized properties seeking simplicity. protel PMS offers a wider ecosystem, greater customization, and scalability, appealing more to larger hotels and chains with complex requirements.
Choose Elina PMS if your hotel prioritizes quick setup, reliable support, and automation for guest engagement. Opt for protel PMS if your hotel needs extensive integrations, flexible deployment, and a platform that grows with complex operations.
In conclusion, if recent reviews and support quality matter most, Elina PMS is the stronger choice. However, for hotels needing a highly adaptable system with an expansive ecosystem, protel PMS remains a solid, future-proof investment.
According to HTR's product database, Elina PMS and protel PMS (by Planet) share 39 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automated night audit | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| EPoS | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) | ||
| Integrated CRS | ||
| Mobile Device Notes & Tasks (Voice-to-Text) | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Online Check-in | ||
| Tablet/Kiosk Check-in |
Showing top differences. 5 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 4 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
No published case study for this goal yet.
"It feels like a partnership, not a product. Our feedback is always heard and acted on. We’re working together for the shared goal of great guest service."
What hoteliers love
Many reviews praise Elina's support team for their responsiveness, knowledge, and helpfulness. Users appreciate that they can quickly get assistance a... Many reviews praise Elina's support team for their responsiveness, knowledge, and helpfulness. Users appreciate that they can quickly get assistance and that the support team goes the extra mile to accommodate their needs. However, there are mentions that phone support could be more consistent.
Elina PMS is continually evolving, and many users appreciate the company’s responsiveness to feedback, implementing new features and improvements base... Elina PMS is continually evolving, and many users appreciate the company’s responsiveness to feedback, implementing new features and improvements based on user suggestions. However, there is a desire for even more frequent updates and improvements, particularly in guest communication tools.
The ease of use of Elina PMS is often mentioned, making it simple for new staff to train on and for daily operations to be conducted smoothly. However... The ease of use of Elina PMS is often mentioned, making it simple for new staff to train on and for daily operations to be conducted smoothly. However, users would like more frequent in-depth training courses and feel the system could be more intuitive.
Where hoteliers push back
Several users highlight the flexibility of Elina PMS in handling various property management needs. This flexibility often comes with a trade-off, as... Several users highlight the flexibility of Elina PMS in handling various property management needs. This flexibility often comes with a trade-off, as some users find the system complex to navigate and setup, often requiring assistance from the support team to fully utilize the features.
Elina PMS is noted for its powerful revenue management tools, including dynamic pricing and occupancy-based configurations. Users report increased com... Elina PMS is noted for its powerful revenue management tools, including dynamic pricing and occupancy-based configurations. Users report increased company turnover and extended booking seasons thanks to these features. However, some users encounter complexity while setting up these configurations.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Users appreciate Protel's extensive features for managing single properties, with comprehensive tools for reporting, room plans, and rate management.... Users appreciate Protel's extensive features for managing single properties, with comprehensive tools for reporting, room plans, and rate management. However, many reviews expressed disappointment that a lot of these functionalities are incomplete, buggy, or missing entirely when dealing with more complex setups or multi-property environments. Custom reports and seamless integration with other tools are also highlighted as beneficial.
The user interface is generally praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Many users found Protel Air particularly user-friendly and noted the... The user interface is generally praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Many users found Protel Air particularly user-friendly and noted the efficiency in managing daily operations. However, certain updates have made certain functions more complex and less intuitive than before.
Protel's performance in catering to multi-property environments received mixed feedback. While some users praised its organizational tools and interfa... Protel's performance in catering to multi-property environments received mixed feedback. While some users praised its organizational tools and interfaces, many found the system frustratingly limited for multi-location setups, highlighting significant bugs and reduced functionalities.
Where hoteliers push back
Customer support is a consistent area of concern. Reviews mentioned long waiting times for support requests, lack of phone availability, and poor resp... Customer support is a consistent area of concern. Reviews mentioned long waiting times for support requests, lack of phone availability, and poor response times after the acquisition by Planet. Users recommend improving the speed and reliability of customer service.
Users are generally happy with the level of customization available in Protel, allowing them to adapt the system to better fit their specific needs. H... Users are generally happy with the level of customization available in Protel, allowing them to adapt the system to better fit their specific needs. However, this flexibility often comes at a high cost, and some required features are only available through paid custom development.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Elina PMS and protel PMS (by Planet) share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. Elina PMS offers 20 verified integration partners, while protel PMS (by Planet) offers 194. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Elina PMS leads in ease of use at 4.3/5 vs 4.1/5. 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.
Elina PMS: No. protel PMS (by Planet): 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. Elina PMS has an HT Score of 76 and Planet has 33. 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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