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 348 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 in support team responsiveness and partnership — especially for extended-stay properties (5.0/5), with exclusive features like Automated reporting and Referral Reporting.
RateGain stands out with exclusive features like A/B testing & optimization and Conversion rate reports.
Side-by-side ratings based on 348 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | From $200/mo | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 325 | 23 |
After analyzing 348 verified reviews, Exely users most value its support team responsiveness and partnership, booking engine ease of use and guest experience, direct bookings and revenue growth, while RateGain users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Support team responsiveness and partnership
▾
|
|
|
+
Booking engine ease of use and guest experience
▾
|
|
|
+
Direct bookings and revenue growth
▾
|
|
|
+
Rate, inventory, and promotion management
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Reporting and analytics depth
▾
|
|
|
−
Customization and branding flexibility
▾
|
|
|
−
Payment, invoice, and cancellation flow issues
▾
|
|
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
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #7 110 reviews | #35 2 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #7 125 reviews | #18 16 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #2 68 reviews | #16 4 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #5 14 reviews | #17 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #8 94 reviews | #24 9 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #10 60 reviews | #20 9 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #10 48 reviews | #20 7 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #14 12 reviews | #26 2 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America | #21 3 reviews | #27 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #16 24 reviews | #49 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #4 219 reviews | #8 15 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #1 73 reviews | #5 6 reviews |
Exely Booking Engine and RateGain Hotel Booking Engine both target hotels looking to increase direct bookings through their own websites but diverge significantly in execution and market focus. Exely excels at embedding a fully branded booking experience directly on hotel sites, focusing on conversion optimization and tight integration with a growing ecosystem of tools. RateGain emphasizes a feature-rich platform with broad channel management and rate intelligence tools, serving a more established, global hotel clientele.
Both solve the core problem of reducing OTA dependence by enabling guests to book directly with the hotel, improving profit margins and guest data control. However, Exely’s platform is optimized for properties prioritizing direct website revenue growth with simplicity and support, while RateGain suits hotels needing extensive integrations and advanced rate management across multiple channels.
If you operate a boutique or city center hotel in Europe, North America, or Asia Pacific, Exely’s 4.9 overall rating from 325 reviews—including 165 recent reviews—demonstrates strong operator satisfaction with direct booking growth and ease of use. Exely’s embedded booking widget and centralized rate/inventory management cater well to properties focused on improving direct sales without complex third-party dependencies.
Conversely, if you run a large branded or luxury hotel primarily in Asia Pacific or the Middle East, RateGain’s broader integration network and tools for rate intelligence may better support your revenue management needs. However, RateGain’s 4.6 overall rating from only 23 reviews—with no recent reviews—means its current product may not reflect recent updates or challenges, limiting confidence for smaller, independent hotels.
Data is thin for vacation rentals and extended stay segments for RateGain, whereas Exely’s reviews cover a wider range of hotel types with consistently high ratings. Therefore, independent or smaller properties looking for hands-on support and straightforward implementation should lean toward Exely, while large chains seeking integration depth may consider RateGain but should verify current product performance.
Exely and RateGain score similarly on ease of use and onboarding, with Exely rated 4.9/5 ease of use and 4.9/5 onboarding across 325 reviews, while RateGain has 4.7/5 ease of use and 4.7/5 onboarding from 23 reviews. Reviewers of Exely praise its intuitive interface that guests find simple for completing bookings in just a few clicks, and hotel staff report smooth adoption and daily operations improvements. RateGain users highlight user-friendly navigation and quick responses during setup.
However, Exely’s much larger review volume with 165 recent reviews provides stronger evidence that its ease of use reflects the current product, whereas RateGain lacks recent feedback to confirm ongoing usability. RateGain reviewers note occasional delays in inventory updates and some rate disparities, which can affect front desk workflows.
Edge: Even.
Exely offers nine unique features that impact hotel operations directly: booking abandonment recapture helps recover lost reservations by retargeting visitors who do not complete booking flows; tariffs and pooled inventory management centralize rate and availability control; customizable exit intent modals engage potential guests before leaving the site; automated reporting and referral reporting provide actionable insights for marketing and revenue teams; integrated payment gateways like PayU and Stripe simplify transactions on the hotel’s own website.
RateGain's seven exclusive features include A/B testing and optimization tools, allowing revenue managers to experiment with booking page variations to improve conversion rates; conversion rate reports and Facebook conversion tracking provide detailed marketing effectiveness data; flexible dates functionality helps guests find alternative stays more easily; alternative accommodation recommendations reduce lost sales by offering nearby options when rooms are unavailable; Google Pay integration supports faster mobile payments; and availability block lets hotels restrict inventory for specific sales channels.
Exely’s booking abandonment recapture and referral reporting offer operational advantages by directly increasing direct bookings and marketing attribution accuracy, which RateGain lacks. RateGain’s A/B testing and conversion analytics support data-driven marketing but may require more revenue management expertise.
Edge: Exely.
Both products have excellent customer support ratings—Exely scores 5.0/5 on support and 4.9/5 on onboarding, while RateGain rates 4.8/5 on support and 4.7/5 on onboarding. Exely reviewers frequently describe the support team as responsive, solution-oriented, and effectively partnering to solve issues quickly and enable hotels to maximize platform benefits. RateGain users appreciate the helpfulness and thoroughness of the support staff, especially during initial implementation.
Given the volume and recency of Exely reviews, these positive experiences reflect current support quality, whereas RateGain’s older review set makes support dependability less certain for new users. Neither product has significant negative support trends.
Edge: Even.
RateGain offers 96 verified integrations, vastly outnumbering Exely’s 10 verified partners. Both share six common partners including Oracle Hospitality, Clock, and IDeaS, which cover essential PMS and revenue management systems. RateGain’s unique integrations include RoomRaccoon, Profitroom, Mirai, and apaleo GmbH, broadening options for properties with diverse technology stacks or operating in markets where those partners dominate.
Exely integrates with Booking.com, Hotellab, HyperGuest, and its own ecosystem, supporting streamlined direct booking and payment solutions but with fewer PMS connections. This makes Exely better suited for independent hotels or smaller chains prioritizing direct channel control, while RateGain serves hotels requiring extensive third-party system connectivity.
Edge: RateGain.
Exely achieves a 4.9/5 overall rating from 325 reviews, including 165 in the last six months, showing sustained high satisfaction. RateGain holds a 4.6/5 rating from 23 reviews but has no recent reviews, indicating the rating may not reflect its current platform quality.
Segment ratings reinforce Exely’s strength with independent hotels and boutique properties: boutique hotels rate Exely 4.9/5 across 96 reviews compared to RateGain’s 4.3/5 from 9 reviews. City center hotels, airport/conference hotels, resorts, and bed & breakfasts consistently rate Exely near 4.9/5, reflecting broad appeal. RateGain scores best in luxury and branded hotels (4.5 to 4.8/5), but these come from under 20 reviews per segment, limiting statistical confidence.
Edge: Exely.
Exely’s base price is $200 with no implementation fees, monthly flat fees, or per-room charges disclosed. RateGain’s base price is $400 under similar terms. Neither offers freemium or free trial options. Exely’s lower base price and simpler pricing model may appeal more to small and medium hotels seeking predictable costs.
RateGain’s higher starting price likely reflects its broader functionality and integration scope but may require higher budget commitment, especially for independent hotels or smaller properties.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
Exely and RateGain both enable hotels to increase direct bookings and reduce OTA dependency but differ sharply in target users and operational focus. Exely delivers a highly rated, embedded booking engine optimized for straightforward direct sales growth with responsive support. RateGain offers a feature-rich platform with extensive integrations suited to larger, complex hotel operations emphasizing revenue management sophistication.
Choose Exely if you want a user-friendly, cost-effective booking engine with strong recent reviews from boutiques, city center hotels, and resorts, backed by features like booking abandonment recapture and pooled inventory that drive direct booking conversions. Its 4.9 overall rating across 325 reviews and 98% recommendation likelihood confirm its current market acceptance.
Choose RateGain if your property is a branded or luxury hotel needing deep integration with numerous third-party platforms and advanced marketing analytics like A/B testing and conversion tracking. RateGain’s 96 integrations and specialized features support these needs, although its 4.6 rating from 23 older reviews and higher price point suggest buyers should validate current product fit carefully.
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.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
▾
Merchandising & Packages
|
|
|
| Room substitutions | ||
| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Flat, floating and discounted rates | ||
| Pooled inventory | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Customizable add-ons | ||
| Meal plans | ||
| Website Integration | ||
| Social Media Integration/Bookings | ||
|
▾
Upselling & Cross Selling
|
|
|
| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Room substitutions | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Customizable add-ons | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Meal plans | ||
| Alternative accommodation recommendations (when no availability) | ||
| Loyalty program integration | ||
|
▾
Conversion
|
|
|
| Mobile optimized/responsive | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Urgency messaging | ||
| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Room substitutions | ||
| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| Price comparison widget | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Conversion rate reports | ||
| Facebook conversion tracking | ||
| Customizable exit intent modals | ||
| Form autofill | ||
| Flexible dates | ||
| Rate plan comparisons | ||
| Google Hotel Ads Bookings | ||
| Tripadvisor Bookings | ||
|
▾
Payments
|
|
|
| Multi-currency | ||
| Apple Pay | ||
| Google Pay | ||
| Paypal | ||
| PCI Compliance | ||
| PayU | ||
| Stripe | ||
|
▾
Transactional Emails
|
|
|
| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Post-stay emails | ||
| Pre-stay emails | ||
| Confirmation emails | ||
|
▾
Group Bookings
|
|
|
| Wedding & corporate booking modules | ||
| Availability block | ||
|
▾
Reporting & Analytics
|
|
|
| Automated reporting | ||
| Conversion rate reports | ||
| Referral Reporting | ||
| Google Analytics tracking | ||
|
▾
Tax & Compliance
|
|
|
| PCI Compliance | ||
| ADA Compliant | ||
| Tariffs | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| GDPR compliant |
We analyzed 3 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..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
A very large share of reviews praise Exely’s support and customer success teams for quick responses, hands-on setup help, and solution-oriented guidan... A very large share of reviews praise Exely’s support and customer success teams for quick responses, hands-on setup help, and solution-oriented guidance. Hotels often describe the relationship as a true partnership that helps them launch faster, solve issues quickly, and use the platform more effectively.
The Booking Engine is repeatedly described as intuitive, fast, and easy for guests to complete reservations with minimal friction. Reviewers say the c... The Booking Engine is repeatedly described as intuitive, fast, and easy for guests to complete reservations with minimal friction. Reviewers say the clean flow, mobile-friendly behavior, and simple navigation improve the guest journey and help increase completed bookings.
Reviewers most often say Exely helps shift sales from OTAs to the hotel website, improving direct booking conversion and overall revenue. Many note th... Reviewers most often say Exely helps shift sales from OTAs to the hotel website, improving direct booking conversion and overall revenue. Many note that the Booking Engine drives more profitable direct sales, reduces commission costs, and helps hotels better control guest relationships.
Where hoteliers push back
Many reviewers want more advanced reporting, deeper filtering, and more customizable dashboards to better track bookings, revenue, channels, and conve... Many reviewers want more advanced reporting, deeper filtering, and more customizable dashboards to better track bookings, revenue, channels, and conversion performance. While basic reports are useful, buyers clearly see analytics as an area where Exely could become a stronger decision-making tool for revenue teams.
Hotels frequently ask for more control over the booking widget, website design, colors, invoices, emails, and confirmation pages so the experience bet... Hotels frequently ask for more control over the booking widget, website design, colors, invoices, emails, and confirmation pages so the experience better matches their brand. This matters because many reviewers want Exely to feel less templated and more differentiated for each property.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Exely Booking Engine and RateGain Hotel Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely Booking Engine offers 10 verified integration partners, while RateGain Hotel Booking Engine offers 96. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Exely Booking Engine 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.
Exely Booking Engine: No. RateGain Hotel 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 96 and RateGain has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 →
Custom recommendations tailored to your property