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 131 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) .
Viato shines , with exclusive features like Yield Rules and PMS connectivity.
Side-by-side ratings based on 131 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $100/mo | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 129 | 2 |
After analyzing 131 verified reviews, Exely users most value its channel manager integration and synchronization, user interface and usability, support and responsiveness, while Viato users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Channel Manager Integration and Synchronization
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User Interface and Usability
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Support and Responsiveness
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Direct Booking Enhancement
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Analytics and Reporting
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Customization and Control
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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 | #34 1 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #9 51 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #14 5 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #7 5 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #15 29 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #13 27 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #15 14 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #14 6 reviews | #30 1 reviews |
By Region
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| North America | #18 2 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #19 10 reviews | #31 1 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #5 67 reviews | — |
| Middle East ▾ | #7 13 reviews | — |
Choosing the right channel management solution hinges on your hotel's specific needs, your team's workflow, and your growth ambitions. Both Exely Channel Manager and Viato aim to optimize your online distribution and simplify operations, but they approach this goal differently. Exely, with its extensive regional presence and larger user base, emphasizes ease of use and operational reliability, while Viato offers a more integrated platform, though with a narrower market footprint.
The key question: which product aligns better with your hotel's size, market, and feature priorities? Let’s compare both to help you make an informed choice.
Exely stands out with its high overall ratings, especially in customer support and ease of use, backed by over 102 reviews — and recent feedback remains strong with 34 reviews in the last six months. Its focus on simplifying channel management and reducing manual workload makes it ideal for hotels wanting reliable, straightforward solutions.
Viato, in contrast, has only 2 reviews and no recent feedback, which diminishes confidence in its current performance. While it offers unique features like yield rules and PMS connectivity, the limited review data makes it difficult to gauge its real-world effectiveness.
Given the recent, ample customer feedback, Exely’s reliability is clearer. Are you prepared to risk less proven solutions? Or are you willing to accept limited data in exchange for a broader feature set?
If your hotel primarily needs a robust, easy-to-use channel manager with proven support and a wide regional footprint, go with Exely. It’s especially suitable if operational simplicity, extensive integrations, and strong customer service are top priorities.
On the other hand, if your hotel requires a platform that consolidates reservations, channel management, and a booking engine into one interface—and you’re operating mainly within Europe—Viato could appeal, despite its limited review data. However, the absence of recent reviews makes it less reliable currently.
For hotels seeking proven stability and broad regional coverage, Exely takes the lead. If your operations are localized in Europe and you value an all-in-one platform with specific connectivity features, consider Viato—but proceed with caution.
Exely’s user ratings for ease of use stand at 4.95/5 based on 102 reviews, with a smooth onboarding process rated at 4.86/5. Users consistently praise its intuitive interface, with comments like “The system is stable, and all daily operations are manageable from one dashboard,” and “Very user-friendly, reduces manual work significantly.”
Viato scores a perfect 5/5 for ease of use on just 2 reviews, with users highlighting its structure and simplicity, especially during setup and daily management. However, the small sample size weakens the reliability of this rating.
Edge: Exely. Its larger review base and high ratings confirm it offers a more dependable and user-friendly experience.
Exely provides 13 shared core features, including essential channel management functions. It lacks only additional features like yield rules or PMS connectivity, which are available exclusively in Viato.
Viato, despite having only 2 reviews, offers 2 unique features—yield rules and PMS connectivity—absent from Exely. These can be valuable if you need advanced pricing automation or direct system integration, but their actual performance remains unverified given limited user feedback.
Edge: Exely. Its comprehensive core feature set and proven performance across more users make it the safer choice for most hotels.
Both products excel in support, with Exely receiving a 4.95/5 rating from 102 reviews and Viato a perfect 5/5 from its 2 reviews. Users praise Exely’s quick, helpful responses, noting “Customer support is always responsive and professional,” and “They solve issues rapidly.”
Viato’s support also receives praise for reliability and quick assistance, but the tiny sample size means less confidence. The consistency of Exely’s support ratings and volume makes it the more dependable choice.
Edge: Exely. Its extensive positive reviews and high support ratings make it the safer bet for ongoing assistance.
Exely offers 8 verified partners, including major names like Mews, HotelLab, Oracle Hospitality, and Booking.com. Its broad integration network supports hotel chains and independent properties seeking versatility.
Viato has 7 verified partners, including RateBoard, apaleo, and SIHOT, with some unique integrations but fewer overall.
Shared integrations include Mews, but Exely’s broader partner list gives it slightly more flexibility.
Edge: Exely. Its larger, more diverse integration network supports varied hotel environments.
Exely’s review count (102) with recent feedback places its average rating at 85.10/100, which reflects consistent satisfaction. Hotels of various segments, especially city center, boutique, and resort hotels, rate it highly for efficiency and support.
Viato’s only 2 reviews make meaningful comparison impossible, but both rate it highly for reliability. However, the limited data means we can’t confidently assess user sentiment.
Given the volume and recency of Exely’s reviews, it provides a clearer picture of hotel satisfaction.
Edge: Exely. Its substantial, recent review base ensures a more reliable rating and user perception.
Exely’s pricing is straightforward at $100/month, with no free trial or implementation fees. Its transparent subscription model appeals to hotels seeking predictable costs.
Viato charges $400/month, also without a trial or setup fee, positioning itself as a more premium solution. Its higher price reflects additional features but may be less accessible for smaller operations.
For most hotels, Exely offers a more affordable, predictable investment.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
Exely’s core strength lies in its proven reliability, extensive regional coverage, and high customer satisfaction backed by large review volume. It offers a straightforward, cost-effective solution for hotels seeking to improve operational efficiency and distribution.
Viato, while promising with its integrated platform and unique features, lacks the review volume and recent feedback needed for full confidence. It might appeal to hotels in Europe looking for an all-in-one system but carries more implementation risk.
If your hotel values proven performance, strong support, and broad integrations, Exely is the clear choice. If you’re operating primarily in Europe and need a combined reservation and booking engine with some automation, and are willing to accept less review-backed confidence, Viato could be worth exploring—but proceed carefully.
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
It depends on your requirements. Exely Channel Manager and Viato share many core Channel Managers features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely Channel Manager offers 8 verified integration partners, while Viato offers 7. 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 5.0/5. 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.
Exely Channel Manager: No. Viato: 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 Viato 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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