Exely Channel Manager vs. Simple Booking (Channel Manager):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Exely Channel Manager and Simple Booking's Channel Manager hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both products aim to streamline distribution, reduce manual work, and increase bookings, but they approach these goals differently. Exely offers a more established platform backed by a higher review count and recent feedback, while Simple Booking emphasizes integration within its broader hospitality ecosystem. Your decision should reflect your region, hotel size, and feature priorities.

Exely is more prominent in terms of recent reviews and overall user confidence, making it a safer choice for hotels seeking proven performance. Simple Booking, despite its strong UI and integrations, has fewer recent reviews, which diminishes confidence in its current capabilities. Are you ready to prioritize proven reliability or explore a broader ecosystem?

Is Exely or Simple Booking Better for Hotels?

Both products serve the core function of hotel channel management but differ significantly in scope and market presence. Exely emphasizes real-time synchronization, reducing overbooking and manual work, with a focus on revenue optimization. Simple Booking integrates deeply with its parent company's hospitality ecosystem, offering a comprehensive booking and marketing suite.

The key divergence lies in recent user feedback; Exely’s 102 reviews, with 34 in the last six months, provide a more current and trustworthy picture of performance. Simple Booking’s 21 reviews, mostly older, lack fresh insights, making Exely the clearer leader. Do you want a platform with a proven track record or a more integrated, flexible solution?

Exely vs Simple Booking: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel primarily needs a dedicated, reliable channel manager with a vast partner network and recent positive reviews, go with Exely. It suits hotels that value automation, stability, and dedicated support, especially if operating across multiple regions or hotel types.

If, on the other hand, your hotel benefits from a broader all-in-one system that includes reservation, web marketing, and integrated analytics, Simple Booking may appeal. It’s best for hotels that want a scalable platform within a larger ecosystem, particularly if you’re already aligned with Zucchetti’s solutions.

For most hotels seeking current, highly-rated support and proven performance, Exely remains the preferable choice due to its larger, more recent review base and higher confidence score.

Is Exely or Simple Booking Easier to Use?

Both platforms boast impressive ease-of-use ratings: Exely and Simple Booking score 4.95/5, reflecting highly intuitive interfaces and straightforward onboarding. Exely’s reviews praise its user-friendly extranet, with users noting quick setup and minimal training needed. Similarly, Simple Booking’s users highlight its simplicity, especially on the back-office side, and its compatibility with various devices.

However, Exely’s recent reviews emphasize its stability and efficiency in daily operations, indicating a well-maintained and modern UI. Simple Booking’s reviews mention its straightforwardness but also note a desire for more customization. Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Features: Exely or Simple Booking?

Exely offers 12 shared features with Simple Booking, plus one exclusive feature: integrated payment processing. Simple Booking extends this with two unique features—PMS connectivity and yield rules—highlighting its broader ecosystem integration.

Exely’s integrated payment processing enables seamless transactions within its platform, a significant advantage for streamlining operations. Simple Booking’s yield rules provide advanced revenue management tools, appealing to hotels seeking more control over pricing strategies. Ultimately, Exely’s focus on core channel management makes it more specialized, while Simple Booking’s additional features cater to hotels wanting a multi-functional system.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Exely or Simple Booking?

Exely’s support scores 4.95/5, with recent reviews emphasizing quick, professional responses and effective issue resolution. Users describe support as responsive, with many noting that platform updates are based on user feedback, fostering a sense of partnership.

Simple Booking’s support, rated 4.81/5, is also highly regarded but with fewer recent reviews, making it harder to gauge current responsiveness. Some users suggest that support has become more cumbersome, though overall satisfaction remains high. The edge goes to Exely for recent, consistently strong support ratings.

Which Has More Integrations: Exely or Simple Booking?

Exely currently integrates with 8 verified partners, including notable names like Hotellab and IDeaS. In contrast, Simple Booking supports 56 verified partners, including major OTAs and PMS systems such as Oracle Hospitality and Mews, offering broader connectivity.

Shared integrations include Oracle Hospitality and Mews, but Simple Booking’s extensive partner list provides greater flexibility for hotels with diverse systems. If your hotel relies on numerous third-party services, Simple Booking’s broader integration options give it an advantage.

Edge: Simple Booking.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Exely or Simple Booking?

Exely’s review count (102) and recent feedback (34 reviews in last six months) make its ratings more trustworthy, with an overall rating of 4.95/5 for ease and 4.87/5 for value. Hoteliers across various segments—city center, resorts, boutique hotels—rate Exely highly for its reliability and support.

Simple Booking, with only 21 reviews and no recent feedback, is rated similarly high for ease (4.95/5) but lacks the volume and recency to ensure consistent performance. Given the volume and recency, Exely’s ratings are a more reliable indicator of current user satisfaction.

Edge: Exely.

How Much Do Exely and Simple Booking Cost?

Exely’s base price is $100 per month with no freemium or additional fees, making it transparent and predictable. Simple Booking’s base price is $200 per month, with no mention of discounts or tiered pricing, which positions it as a more premium solution.

While Exely offers a more affordable option, Simple Booking’s higher price may reflect its broader ecosystem and features. Your choice depends on whether your priority is cost-effectiveness or a more integrated system.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Exely?

• Hotels that need reliable, real-time channel management and direct booking optimization.
• Hotels seeking a proven, user-friendly interface with ongoing support.
• Properties that operate across multiple regions and require extensive partner networks.
• Hotels aiming to reduce overbooking and manual updates.
• Hotels that value automated reporting and straightforward integration.

Not ideal if your hotel requires extensive PMS integration, yield management, or advanced marketing features—these are limited or absent in Exely.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Simple Booking?

• Hotels that want an all-in-one platform combining reservations, web marketing, and analytics.
• Hotels looking for scalable solutions integrated within the Zucchetti ecosystem.
• Properties prioritizing a sleek, mobile-friendly booking engine for direct reservations.
• Hotels that need quick updates across multiple channels with minimal effort.
• Hotels aiming to leverage social media and metasearch platforms efficiently.

Not ideal if your hotel depends heavily on specialized channel management or complex revenue management features, as Simple Booking’s core strengths lie elsewhere.

Exely vs Simple Booking: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Exely is a specialized channel manager with a strong focus on synchronization, reliability, and recent, positive user feedback. It excels at reducing manual tasks and overbooking risks, making it ideal for hotels seeking a proven, straightforward distribution solution.

Simple Booking offers a broader ecosystem, including reservation management, marketing, and analytics, making it suitable for hotels looking for an integrated, scalable platform. Its extensive integrations and features are more appealing if you want a comprehensive system within the Zucchetti environment.

For hotels prioritizing current reviews, support, and proven performance, Exely remains the clear leader. Conversely, if your hotel needs a multi-function platform and wider integrations, and you’re comfortable with less recent feedback, Simple Booking could fit your needs better.

In conclusion, for most hoteliers seeking reliability and confidence in performance, Exely Channel Manager is the recommended choice.