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 249 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 channel manager integration and synchronization — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Multi-Currency Support.
HotelRunner shines when it comes to multi-channel management , with exclusive features like Email Marketing and Data Analysis & Reporting.
Side-by-side ratings based on 249 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $100/mo | From $100/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 134 | 115 |
After analyzing 249 verified reviews, Exely users most value its channel manager integration and synchronization, user interface and usability, support and responsiveness, while HotelRunner users highlight multi-channel management, support and reliability, ease of use. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Channel Manager Integration and Synchronization
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Multi-channel Management
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User Interface and Usability
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Support and Reliability
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Support and Responsiveness
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Ease of Use
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Direct Booking Enhancement
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Real-time Updates
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Analytics and Reporting
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Interface Improvements
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Customization and Control
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System Speed
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Integration Flexibility
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How each product ranks among Channel Managers 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 26 reviews | #12 40 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #9 51 reviews | #13 22 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #14 5 reviews | #10 9 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #7 5 reviews | #15 2 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #15 29 reviews | #7 51 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #13 27 reviews | #10 31 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #15 14 reviews | #14 17 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #14 6 reviews | #12 6 reviews |
By Region
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| North America | #18 2 reviews | #19 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #19 10 reviews | #14 16 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #5 67 reviews | #13 8 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #7 13 reviews | #2 63 reviews |
Choosing the right channel management software can significantly impact your hotel's revenue and operational efficiency. Both Exely Channel Manager and HotelRunner Channel Manager aim to streamline your distribution channels, reduce errors, and maximize bookings. However, they diverge in their approach, features, and market presence, making it essential to compare their capabilities thoroughly.
Exely excels in providing a user-friendly, highly-rated platform with recent positive reviews and a strong customer support reputation. HotelRunner offers a broader feature set, more integrations, and a larger global reach but has slightly fewer recent reviews. Which product aligns better with your hotel’s needs?
Both products aim to optimize your online distribution, but they differ in their core focus and customer feedback. Exely is praised for its intuitive interface, stability, and real-time synchronization, with recent reviews highlighting its ease of use and reliable performance. HotelRunner emphasizes multi-channel management, offering extensive integrations and additional features like web design and email marketing.
While Exely’s reviews are more numerous and recent, indicating higher confidence in its current performance, HotelRunner shows a broader set of functionalities that cater to hotels seeking a comprehensive management solution. Are you prioritizing ease of use and recent support quality, or do you need a wide feature set with extensive integrations?
If your hotel needs a streamlined channel manager focusing on stable, real-time synchronization with minimal manual effort, go with Exely. Its high ratings—85.1 HTR Score, 4.78/5 overall, over 100 reviews with recent feedback—demonstrate strong satisfaction among users, especially in operational efficiency.
If your hotel requires a more feature-rich platform with marketing tools, PMS connectivity, and a larger network of integrations, HotelRunner is the better fit. With a slightly lower recent review count but a higher total, it suits hotels aiming for growth and broader digital presence. For hotels prioritizing simplicity and stability, Exely is the safer choice; for those seeking expansion tools, HotelRunner may be preferable.
Exely enjoys a near-perfect ease of use rating at 4.95/5, supported by its intuitive interface and straightforward onboarding process, as reflected in recent reviews praising its simplicity and minimal learning curve. Users mention that Exely’s platform feels very stable and user-friendly, with quick setup and efficient daily operations.
HotelRunner also scores highly at 4.7/5, with reviews highlighting its ease of controlling rates and inventory, especially during busy periods. However, some users note that interface speed could improve, and initial setup can be challenging for less tech-savvy staff.
Edge: Exely.
Exely offers 12 shared features with other channel managers but stands out with its unique Multi-Currency Support. Users appreciate its stability and synchronization speed, which directly impact operational efficiency.
HotelRunner boasts a broader feature set—adding 12 unique functionalities like email marketing, web design, PMS connectivity, and social media management—making it a more versatile platform. It also provides unlimited channels without extra costs, a critical advantage for hotels with diverse distribution needs.
Edge: HotelRunner.
Both products are praised for strong support, but Exely’s recent reviews and high NPS score (9.8/10) reflect a slightly better reputation. Users mention responsive, helpful support that resolves issues quickly, with some noting Exely’s proactive updates and partnership attitude.
HotelRunner also receives positive feedback, especially for quick responses and dedicated support. However, reviews indicate occasional frustrations with support responsiveness during system failures, suggesting room for improvement in consistency.
Edge: Exely.
HotelRunner significantly surpasses Exely in integrations, with 17 verified partners versus Exely’s 8. Both share Oracle Hospitality and IDeaS but HotelRunner’s list includes major industry players like Airbnb, Expedia, and Stripe, along with specialized PMS and channel partners.
This extensive network makes HotelRunner more adaptable for hotels with complex distribution needs or multiple PMS systems. For simpler operations, Exely’s smaller but solid set of integrations may suffice.
Edge: HotelRunner.
Recent reviews show Exely with a higher overall rating (4.78/5) and a stronger recommendation rate (98%) based on over 100 reviews, predominantly from independent and boutique hotels. Larger hotels and resorts seem more satisfied with its stability and simplicity.
HotelRunner’s ratings are slightly lower at 4.7/5, with reviews emphasizing ease of control and support but noting interface speed issues. Its customer base includes a wider variety of hotel types, especially B&Bs and independent properties.
Edge: Exely.
Both products are priced at a base rate of $100 per month, with no freemium, setup fees, or additional costs listed. This straightforward pricing makes comparison easy, though neither provides detailed tier options or discounts, which might be available upon request.
Not ideal if you need extensive marketing tools, web design, or PMS integration beyond core features.
Not ideal if your focus is solely on simple channel management without the need for extra marketing or development tools.
Exely offers a highly-rated, easy-to-use channel management platform that excels in operational stability, synchronization speed, and customer support. Its recent reviews and high satisfaction scores make it ideal for hotels that need reliable, straightforward distribution management.
HotelRunner provides a broader range of features, including extensive integrations, marketing capabilities, and web tools. It’s best suited for hotels looking to grow their online presence and utilize a full suite of management solutions.
If your hotel values simplicity, recent positive feedback, and high support quality, Exely is the better choice. If you need a versatile platform with many added functionalities to support expansion, HotelRunner is the way to go.
Channel Managers 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 $100/mo | From $100/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Exely Channel Manager and HotelRunner Channel Manager share 14 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Conversion Rate Optimization | ||
| Data Analysis & Reporting | ||
| Email Marketing | ||
| Meta search marketing | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | ||
| Web Design | ||
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We analyzed 1 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"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
The robust integration and synchronization abilities of Exely facilitate smooth channel management with minimal errors. Users commend how effectively... The robust integration and synchronization abilities of Exely facilitate smooth channel management with minimal errors. Users commend how effectively it connects with PMS and OTAs, though some desire improvements in certain PMS integrations.
Exely's user-friendly interface is highlighted as a strength, making it easy for hotel staff to manage daily operations. However, some users suggest f... Exely's user-friendly interface is highlighted as a strength, making it easy for hotel staff to manage daily operations. However, some users suggest further customization and modernization to enhance the user experience.
Exely's support team is praised for its responsiveness and willingness to assist, contributing to reliable service. However, some suggest quicker resp... Exely's support team is praised for its responsiveness and willingness to assist, contributing to reliable service. However, some suggest quicker response times during peak hours.
Where hoteliers push back
While Exely provides vital performance insights, users express a need for more detailed and customizable reporting options to better analyze channel e... While Exely provides vital performance insights, users express a need for more detailed and customizable reporting options to better analyze channel effectiveness and drive strategic decisions.
Despite Exely's advanced customization options for booking rules and promotions, some users wish for even more flexible design options for website tem... Despite Exely's advanced customization options for booking rules and promotions, some users wish for even more flexible design options for website templates and report formats.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Users praise HotelRunner for its ability to manage multiple booking channels seamlessly from a single platform. This feature is specifically highlight... Users praise HotelRunner for its ability to manage multiple booking channels seamlessly from a single platform. This feature is specifically highlighted as beneficial during peak seasons, reducing workload and human error while ensuring all channels are up-to-date.
Quick access to support and reliable operation are often underlined in reviews. Users experience prompt responses when assistance is needed, ensuring... Quick access to support and reliable operation are often underlined in reviews. Users experience prompt responses when assistance is needed, ensuring smooth operations without major disruptions.
Customers frequently mention the user-friendly nature of the system, particularly noting the convenience of controlling and sending prices across mult... Customers frequently mention the user-friendly nature of the system, particularly noting the convenience of controlling and sending prices across multiple channels. This ease of use is a significant advantage for hotel staff dealing with daily operations.
Where hoteliers push back
Some reviews suggest minor improvements to the interface could be beneficial. While the system generally meets expectations, enhancing the interface c... Some reviews suggest minor improvements to the interface could be beneficial. While the system generally meets expectations, enhancing the interface could further streamline operations.
A common point of criticism is the speed of the updating process. Even though it is working smoothly, some users feel it could be faster to enhance ef... A common point of criticism is the speed of the updating process. Even though it is working smoothly, some users feel it could be faster to enhance efficiency during operations.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Exely Channel Manager and HotelRunner Channel Manager share many core Channel Managers features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely Channel Manager offers 8 verified integration partners, while HotelRunner Channel Manager offers 17. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Exely Channel Manager leads in ease of use at 5.0/5 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 Channel Manager: No. HotelRunner Channel Manager: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Channel Managers 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 85 and HotelRunner has 76. 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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