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 252 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:
Exely shines when it comes to support and responsiveness — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Facebook conversion tracking and Tripadvisor Bookings.
HotelSync shines when it comes to automation and efficiency , with exclusive features like Urgency messaging.
Side-by-side ratings based on 252 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $200/mo | From $600/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 172 | 80 |
After analyzing 252 verified reviews, Exely users most value its support and responsiveness, booking engine effectiveness, direct booking enhancement, while HotelSync users highlight automation and efficiency, user-friendly navigation, integration capability. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Support and Responsiveness
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Automation and Efficiency
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Booking Engine Effectiveness
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User-Friendly Navigation
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Direct Booking Enhancement
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Integration Capability
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Channel Manager Synchronization
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Mobile Compatibility
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Customization and Flexibility
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Booking Calendar Functionality
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Integration and Advanced Features
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Inventory Tracking Improvements
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Guest Experience Concerns
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Payment Tracking Enhancements
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How each product ranks among Booking Engine 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) ▾ | #15 34 reviews | #13 38 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #11 64 reviews | #19 27 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #22 5 reviews | #38 1 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #8 6 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #15 35 reviews | #20 26 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #15 28 reviews | #18 22 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #16 17 reviews | #21 12 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #16 9 reviews | #12 15 reviews |
By Region
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| North America | #24 2 reviews | #25 2 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #25 11 reviews | #9 75 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #4 79 reviews | #27 1 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #2 17 reviews | — |
Choosing the right booking engine is crucial for your hotel's online booking success. Both Exely Booking Engine and HotelSync Booking Engine aim to boost direct bookings, simplify management, and enhance guest experience. However, their approaches and strengths differ—Exely provides a feature-rich platform with a higher user rating, while HotelSync emphasizes simplicity and broad integration. How do you determine which product aligns best with your hotel’s needs?
Both platforms focus on streamlining reservations and increasing direct bookings, but Exely’s extensive feature set and higher recent review count give it an edge in overall reliability. Exely’s 144 reviews, with 63 in the last six months and an overall rating of 0/5 but a high NPS score and 98% likelihood to recommend, indicate strong recent customer satisfaction, even if the star rating appears inconsistent. HotelSync, with 73 reviews—14 recent—and a perfect 5/5 overall rating, emphasizes ease of use and broad integrations.
Exely’s core strengths are marketing tools for boosting conversions and its comprehensive suite, which is ideal if your hotel values advanced features and marketing automation. HotelSync, on the other hand, offers a straightforward booking process with a high user rating and excellent support, making it suitable if your team prefers simplicity and reliability. Do you prioritize advanced marketing features or ease of operation?
If your hotel needs a flexible, feature-rich booking engine that enables advanced customization, marketing, and multi-channel management, Exely is the better choice. Its 26 shared features plus three exclusive to Exely—including Facebook conversion tracking, Tripadvisor bookings, and PayU—support a wide range of promotion and payment options, ideal for hotels seeking to drive direct bookings and improve visibility.
If your hotel values a straightforward, easy-to-learn system with robust integrations and excellent customer support, HotelSync fits better. Its 14 exclusive features, such as social media booking, gift vouchers, loyalty programs, and Google Analytics tracking, make it ideal for hotels that want a seamless, guest-centric experience without the complexity of too many options.
Exely’s UI scores 4.91/5, and onboarding is rated 4.84/5, supported by reviews praising its friendly, responsive support and straightforward management interface. Users note that managing rates and reservations is smooth, but some seek improved reporting and automation options, indicating room for growth.
HotelSync outperforms slightly with a 4.99/5 ease of use rating and 4.96/5 onboarding score. Reviewers emphasize its simplicity, noting that even non-tech-savvy staff find it intuitive and easy to adopt. Its clean, minimal design reduces training time and accelerates staff buy-in.
Edge: HotelSync.
Exely offers three features exclusive to its platform: Facebook conversion tracking, Tripadvisor Bookings, and PayU, allowing for targeted marketing and diverse payment options. It also supports 26 shared features like channel management and reservation management, but its exclusives give it an edge for marketing and international payments.
HotelSync provides 14 features not in Exely, including social media integration/bookings, gift vouchers, loyalty program integration, and Google Analytics tracking—features that enhance guest engagement and data-driven decisions. Its focus on guest-centric tools makes it appealing for hotels prioritizing marketing automation.
Edge: HotelSync.
Both platforms excel in support, with Exely rated 4.96/5 and HotelSync at 4.97/5. Exely’s reviews highlight prompt, friendly responses and proactive solutions, with comments like “the seller answers all questions promptly and conducts friendly negotiations.” Similarly, HotelSync’s users praise its outstanding support, citing that they have “nothing to ask from them,” and the system meets all their needs.
Given the near-identical high ratings and positive reviews, support quality appears equally strong. However, HotelSync’s slightly more recent reviews and unanimous 5/5 ratings tip the scale.
Edge: HotelSync.
Exely integrates with 8 verified partners, such as Hotellab, Oracle Hospitality, and Mews, covering essential hotel management and booking channels. HotelSync, with 11 verified integrations—including WuBook, GuestJoy, and Stripe—offers broader compatibility with PMS, channel managers, and analytics tools.
If your hotel relies on a specific PMS or channel manager, consider whether the required integration exists. HotelSync’s larger set suggests a slight advantage for hotels with complex or multi-system setups.
Edge: HotelSync.
Exely’s reviews are more recent, with 63 in the past six months, showcasing ongoing customer engagement despite a confusing overall rating of 0/5. Its strong NPS score (9.73/5) and 98% likelihood to recommend demonstrate satisfaction among actively reviewing hoteliers, especially in luxury and boutique segments.
HotelSync’s 14 recent reviews, all 5/5, reflect consistent high ratings, notably appreciated by large hotel groups and mid-sized properties. Its simplicity and support are frequently praised, with reviews emphasizing ease of use and reliability.
Edge: HotelSync.
Exely’s pricing starts at $200/month, with no mention of a free tier or implementation fees. HotelSync’s base price is $600/month, also without a trial, making it a more significant investment.
Your choice may depend on budget and required features; Exely’s lower price point and feature set may appeal to smaller hotels or those with tighter budgets, while larger properties might prefer HotelSync’s broader integrations and support.
Not ideal if you prefer a simple, plug-and-play solution or operate a small property with minimal online marketing needs.
Not ideal if your hotel needs highly customizable marketing automation or advanced reporting features found in Exely.
Exely and HotelSync serve different hotel priorities. Exely’s comprehensive feature set makes it suitable for hotels focused on aggressive marketing, customization, and increasing direct bookings. HotelSync’s simplicity, support, and broad integrations appeal to properties that prefer an easy, dependable booking engine with guest-centric tools.
If your hotel needs a versatile, feature-rich system with a higher recent review count, go with Exely. Its ability to drive direct bookings and support complex marketing strategies makes it the stronger choice.
However, if ease of use, support, and broad integration are your top priorities, HotelSync is a more reliable option, especially given its recent perfect review ratings. Its straightforward interface and guest engagement features make it ideal for hotels seeking a dependable, guest-focused booking platform.
In summary, choose Exely if you want a customizable, marketing-driven platform that can scale with your hotel’s growth. Opt for HotelSync if you prefer simplicity, strong support, and seamless integrations—especially for multi-property management.
According to HTR's product database, Exely Booking Engine and HotelSync Booking Engine share 26 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Alternative accommodation recommendations (when no availability) | ||
| Facebook conversion tracking | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Google Analytics tracking | ||
| Loyalty program integration | ||
| PayU | ||
| Pooled inventory | ||
| Social Media Integration/Bookings | ||
| Tripadvisor Bookings |
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.
"We took a proactive approach and collaborated with Exely, implementing various strategies, such as a loyalty program. The outcome has been outstanding — not only have we been able..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Once we switched to Exely, we immediately noticed a significant increase in reservations from online travel agencies. We discovered that our previous system had blocked some availa..."
"This system is easy to implement, a lot of our team has previously used Opera on premise, but with OTA Sync we get more functionalities and system is way more user friendly for sma..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"The app has saved us a lot of time, it's very easy to monitor and use, providing comprehensive control and access to all reports in just a few clicks. Additionally, our staff quick..."
What hoteliers love
Exely's support is lauded for its rapid response times and solution-oriented approach, contributing to an improved user experience. This is seen as a... Exely's support is lauded for its rapid response times and solution-oriented approach, contributing to an improved user experience. This is seen as a considerable strength of the product.
Exely's booking engine is frequently praised for its user-friendliness, fast operation, and ability to enhance direct bookings significantly, thus con... Exely's booking engine is frequently praised for its user-friendliness, fast operation, and ability to enhance direct bookings significantly, thus contributing to revenue growth. It is deemed to have a powerful positive impact on the guest experience and conversion rates.
The software is commended for increasing direct bookings and lowering reliance on OTAs. This positively impacts hotel revenue by lowering third-party... The software is commended for increasing direct bookings and lowering reliance on OTAs. This positively impacts hotel revenue by lowering third-party fees and providing a return on investment through efficient booking management.
Where hoteliers push back
A recurring critical point among users is the limited customization options available, particularly in reporting and website design. Users seek more f... A recurring critical point among users is the limited customization options available, particularly in reporting and website design. Users seek more flexibility to adapt templates and reports to their needs.
Users would like to see improvements in integration capabilities with other hotel management systems. Current integration limitations are seen as a do... Users would like to see improvements in integration capabilities with other hotel management systems. Current integration limitations are seen as a downside restricting the platform's full potential.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
OTA Sync's automation capabilities reduce manual intervention, saving hotel staff valuable time. Users mentioned that features like the PMS streamline... OTA Sync's automation capabilities reduce manual intervention, saving hotel staff valuable time. Users mentioned that features like the PMS streamline operations, such as front desk management and housekeeping coordination.
The software is recognized for its ease of use, which adds value to the hotel management process. It allows easy management of reservations and effici... The software is recognized for its ease of use, which adds value to the hotel management process. It allows easy management of reservations and efficient guest communication, leading to a smooth operation and enhanced guest satisfaction.
OTA Sync users appreciate how the software seamlessly integrates with channel managers and additional systems, increasing hotel efficiency and improvi... OTA Sync users appreciate how the software seamlessly integrates with channel managers and additional systems, increasing hotel efficiency and improving the booking process. This helps in synchronizing reservations and managing room inventories effectively.
Where hoteliers push back
Some users suggest improvements in the booking calendar tool, particularly in maintaining group booking visibility. This would aid hoteliers in managi... Some users suggest improvements in the booking calendar tool, particularly in maintaining group booking visibility. This would aid hoteliers in managing reservations and recognizing group structures easily.
Despite the software's overall efficiency, some reviews highlighted the need for better inventory tracking options, particularly concerning additional... Despite the software's overall efficiency, some reviews highlighted the need for better inventory tracking options, particularly concerning additional services, which could enhance the overall functionalities of the software.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Exely Booking Engine and HotelSync Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely Booking Engine offers 8 verified integration partners, while HotelSync Booking Engine offers 11. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. HotelSync Booking Engine leads in ease of use at 5.0/5 vs 4.9/5. 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.
Exely Booking Engine: No. HotelSync Booking Engine: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Booking Engine 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. Exely has an HT Score of 93 and HotelSync has 83. 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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