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 208 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:
eviivo shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for Vacation Rentals & Villas properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Revenue management module and Payment processing.
Merlin shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 208 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $700/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 208 | 0 |
After analyzing 208 verified reviews, eviivo users most value its responsive customer support, onboarding expertise, technical efficiency, while Merlin users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Merlin |
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Responsive Customer Support
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Onboarding Expertise
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Technical Efficiency
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Booking and Reservation Efficiency
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Improvement Suggestions
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Customization and Feature Development
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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
| Segment |
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Merlin |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #15 54 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #23 23 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #20 8 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #18 2 reviews | — |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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Merlin |
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| Boutique ▾ | #19 41 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #16 38 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #19 21 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #10 18 reviews | — |
By Region
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Merlin |
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| North America ▾ | #15 39 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #6 142 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific | #33 2 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #29 1 reviews | — |
Choosing between eviivo Suite™ PMS and Merlin Software for HOA Resorts hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. eviivo is an all-in-one, globally recognized PMS with extensive features, while Merlin targets HOA resort management with a focus on operational efficiency. Your decision should be based on your property type, scale, and operational priorities.
eviivo boasts a large, recent review base and high satisfaction ratings, making it a more reliable choice. Merlin, with no recent reviews and a limited user base, offers less proven value.
eviivo and Merlin aim to streamline property management, but their core audiences and features differ significantly. eviivo is designed for a broad range of accommodation types, including independent hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, and resorts, offering over 51 distinctive features like a booking engine, channel management, and guest CRM.
Merlin, on the other hand, is tailored for HOA resorts and their unique management challenges, such as owner accounts, maintenance, and billing. While Merlin integrates seamlessly with existing HOA operations, it lacks the extensive hospitality-focused features found in eviivo, which are vital for hoteliers managing multiple property types.
eviivo’s strengths lie in its ability to synchronize with major OTAs and provide comprehensive guest communication tools, whereas Merlin’s advantage is simplifying HOA-specific tasks with automation and real-time data analytics. Which system aligns better with your property’s operational scope?
Are you seeking an all-encompassing PMS that manages bookings, guest relationships, and distribution channels? Or do you need a tailored system focused on HOA-specific operations like maintenance and owner billing? The answer will guide your choice.
If your hotel needs a robust, feature-rich PMS capable of handling a diverse portfolio—including independent hotels, vacation rentals, and boutique properties—eviivo is the clear choice. Its suite of 51 features supports multi-channel distribution, guest engagement, and revenue management, making it suitable for properties looking to scale and diversify.
If your property primarily functions as an HOA resort with a focus on managing owner accounts, maintenance, and community facilities, Merlin’s centralized tools may suffice. However, given Merlin's lack of recent reviews and limited features, eviivo's proven platform and extensive functionality make it the safer investment for most hotels seeking operational efficiency and growth.
For properties prioritizing guest experience, online booking, and channel management, eviivo’s broader scope stands out. Conversely, if your main concern is HOA-specific management, Merlin might offer a simplified, dedicated solution—but with less proven market presence.
eviivo scores an impressive 4.43/5 for ease of use, backed by 191 reviews, with recent feedback emphasizing its intuitive interface and user-friendly onboarding. Users frequently cite its mobile app and efficient management tools as significant benefits, describing the system as straightforward once familiarized.
Merlin’s interface and ease of use are unverified; no recent reviews or ratings are available to assess its user-friendliness. With only 20 employees and no publicly shared user feedback, Merlin’s usability remains uncertain.
Given eviivo’s strong, current review base and clear praise for its ease of use, it offers a more reliable and accessible experience. Edge: eviivo.
eviivo provides a comprehensive suite of 51 features tailored to the hospitality industry, including a channel manager, revenue management, booking engine, integrated CRM, automated messaging, online check-in/out, and mobile app support. Its features support properties of all sizes, offering tools for guest engagement, staffing, and financial reporting.
Merlin offers basic operational tools specific to HOA resort management but lacks the extensive feature set eviivo provides. Its limited feature count and focus on HOA operations mean it does not cover key hospitality functions like channel management or revenue optimization.
If your hotel needs advanced booking, guest communication, and multi-channel distribution features, eviivo’s broader toolkit is the clear winner. Edge: eviivo.
eviivo’s customer support scores an impressive 4.42/5 based on recent reviews, with users praising its responsiveness and helpful onboarding guidance. Support staff are described as attentive and knowledgeable, especially during the crucial initial setup, ensuring smooth adoption.
Merlin, with no recent reviews or publicly available support ratings, cannot be confidently evaluated. Its smaller team and lack of testimonials suggest limited support resources and uncertain responsiveness.
Considering eviivo’s proven track record of excellent support and recent positive feedback, it outperforms Merlin in this critical area. Edge: eviivo.
eviivo boasts 32 verified partner integrations, including major OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, and Google Hotel Ads, plus industry-specific tools like TripAdvisor and D-Edge. These integrations facilitate real-time updates and streamline distribution, crucial for maximizing occupancy and revenue.
Merlin has only 1 verified partner, Revinate, which limits its integration capabilities significantly. This constrains your ability to connect with broader distribution channels or revenue tools.
For hotel operations requiring extensive OTA and third-party system connectivity, eviivo’s integrations are unmatched. Edge: eviivo.
eviivo’s recent reviews reflect a high 95% likelihood to recommend, supported by a 4.43/5 ease of use score and a 4.42/5 customer support rating from 191 reviews, most within the last six months. Properties of various sizes and types praise its intuitive interface and operational benefits, with comments like “eviivo has been the perfect solution for our independent hotel.”
Merlin lacks recent reviews; thus, no current hotel ratings or recommendations are available. Its user satisfaction and property-specific feedback are unavailable, making eviivo the more trusted option based on current data.
Edge: eviivo.
eviivo’s pricing starts at a base fee of $700 per month, with no free tier or trial. Its pricing model does not specify per-room charges or implementation fees, indicating a straightforward monthly flat rate.
Merlin does not publicly disclose pricing details, which suggests it may be customized or variable based on property size or scope, but without transparency, comparison is limited.
Given eviivo’s clear pricing structure, your hotel can anticipate predictable costs. Merlin’s pricing remains uncertain, making eviivo the more transparent and reliable investment.
Not ideal if your property is a HOA resort or community-managed complex focused solely on maintenance, owner billing, or HOA-specific tasks, as eviivo targets broader hospitality needs.
Not ideal if your hotel is an independent or boutique property needing multi-channel booking, revenue management, or guest CRM functionalities, as Merlin's tools are tailored for HOA operations.
eviivo is a comprehensive, well-reviewed property management platform with a proven track record of supporting diverse accommodation types worldwide. Its extensive feature set, integrations, and high user satisfaction make it suitable for hotels seeking growth and operational control.
Merlin offers a narrow, HOA-centric management system lacking recent reviews or broad industry adoption. Its limited features and unknown support quality suggest it’s not the best choice for hotels needing a versatile PMS.
If your goal is a reliable, feature-rich solution capable of scaling with your property, eviivo is the clear winner. Merlin might serve very niche HOA needs but falls short in delivering the full scope of hotel management requirements.
This detailed comparison should help your team make an informed decision. Given the volume of recent reviews and the broad capabilities demonstrated, eviivo Suite™ PMS is the recommended choice for most hotels seeking a powerful, well-supported property management tool.
According to HTR's product database, eviivo Suite™ PMS and Merlin Software for HOA Resorts share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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Merlin |
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| Ancillary revenue tracking | ||
| Booking Engine | ||
| Calendar view | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Revenue management module |
Showing top differences. 39 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 8 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Because of the automation from the eviivo Suite, it saves me a huge amount of time. This time I can use on growing the business; working on the business instead of in the business...."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Auf eviivo könnte ich heut gar nicht mehr drauf verzichten. Das Hotel ohne dieses Programm zu führen, scheint mir fast unmöglich, weil die Zeit, die ich jetzt erspart habe, die ich..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Aujourd’hui on a la possibilité de gérer l’ensemble de notre parc, que ce soit la tarification, le calendrier, la communication en un seul clic pour gérer plus de 50 appartements,..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
Eviivo's customer support is frequently lauded for its responsiveness and efficiency. Support staff, such as Mr. Guetif, Joseph, and Xavier, provide e... Eviivo's customer support is frequently lauded for its responsiveness and efficiency. Support staff, such as Mr. Guetif, Joseph, and Xavier, provide exemplary assistance, which is crucial during the onboarding phase and when issues arise, enhancing overall user experience.
The platform offers expertise during the onboarding process, helping hotels integrate the system seamlessly. This guidance ensures consistent integrat... The platform offers expertise during the onboarding process, helping hotels integrate the system seamlessly. This guidance ensures consistent integration of information and optimal use of the PMS features, enhancing property management efficiency.
Eviivo is recognized for its technical efficiency, enabling users to complete tasks faster and with fewer errors. This reduces downtime and improves o... Eviivo is recognized for its technical efficiency, enabling users to complete tasks faster and with fewer errors. This reduces downtime and improves operational workflow, ensuring a smooth experience for hotel management.
Where hoteliers push back
Some users suggest improvements, particularly in expanding features such as mobile app development and more concrete daily usage tips to further optim... Some users suggest improvements, particularly in expanding features such as mobile app development and more concrete daily usage tips to further optimize business operations and leverage the platform’s capabilities.
While users are generally satisfied, there are requests for more customization options, including web and mobile app enhancements, which would further... While users are generally satisfied, there are requests for more customization options, including web and mobile app enhancements, which would further suit specific operational needs and provide additional value.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. eviivo Suite™ PMS and Merlin Software for HOA Resorts share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. eviivo Suite™ PMS offers 32 verified integration partners, while Merlin Software for HOA Resorts offers 1. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. eviivo Suite™ PMS leads in ease of use at 4.5/5 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.
eviivo Suite™ PMS: No. Merlin Software for HOA Resorts: 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. eviivo has an HT Score of 87 and Merlin 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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