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 406 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 user interface , with exclusive features like Payment Requests and Native Email Marketing.
ThinkReservations shines when it comes to technical support limitations — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Real Time Reporting and Tablet/Kiosk Check-in.
Side-by-side ratings based on 406 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | From $400/mo | From $1,100/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 56 | 350 |
After analyzing 406 verified reviews, Exely users most value its user interface, customer support, hotel operation efficiency, while ThinkReservations users highlight technical support limitations, user-friendly interface, guest communication. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User Interface
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Technical Support Limitations
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Customer Support
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User-Friendly Interface
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Hotel Operation Efficiency
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Guest Communication
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Channel Management
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Customization Options
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Customization and Reporting Features
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Calendar Functionality
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System Performance and Speed
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Mobile Application
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How each product ranks among Hotel Management Software vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment |
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #23 16 reviews | #4 129 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #17 15 reviews | #5 15 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #16 3 reviews | #2 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #11 1 reviews | #1 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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| Boutique ▾ | #22 13 reviews | #4 92 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #20 11 reviews | #5 72 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #25 2 reviews | #4 22 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #21 3 reviews | #9 8 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #22 2 reviews | #1 332 reviews |
| Europe | #24 2 reviews | #36 2 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #6 28 reviews | #24 0 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #7 5 reviews | #20 0 reviews |
Choosing between Exely HMS by Exely and ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and operational priorities. Both aim to streamline property management and increase revenue, but they differ significantly in features, regional presence, and user feedback. Your decision should align with your property size, target market, and desired level of customization.
Exely’s recent reviews and higher overall scores suggest it’s gaining ground, but ThinkReservations’ larger review count and broader OTA integrations make it a formidable contender. Which platform truly fits your hotel’s growth plan?
Both Exely and ThinkReservations target independent hotels, small chains, and boutique properties, aiming to automate operations and boost direct bookings. Exely emphasizes revenue growth through advanced channel management and reputation tools, while ThinkReservations offers a more comprehensive suite with strong upselling and revenue management features.
Where they diverge is in regional presence and feature set: Exely has a wider international footprint and some unique features like native email marketing and online checkout, whereas ThinkReservations provides a broader selection of integrations and a more extensive set of operational tools. Are you prioritizing regional coverage or depth of integrations?
If your hotel needs a platform with a global reach, robust channel management, and a focus on direct booking growth, Exely is the better pick. Its intuitive interface and continuous improvements make it suitable for boutique hotels and properties aiming to elevate their online presence.
Conversely, if your hotel values extensive booking and revenue management features, seamless OTA integration, and a user-friendly interface, ThinkReservations should be your choice. Its strong upselling tools and detailed reporting suit small to medium properties focused on maximizing revenue and operational efficiency.
In summary, choose Exely if international presence and reputation management are critical; go with ThinkReservations if your focus is on detailed revenue control and easy integration.
Both platforms are rated highly for ease of use, with Exely at 4.88/5 and ThinkReservations at 4.8/5. Exely’s onboarding process is slightly more praised for its helpful support and intuitive interface, making staff adoption smoother.
ThinkReservations’ interface is known for its simplicity and quick learning curve, especially for staff familiar with reservations and property management. However, with 312 reviews compared to Exely’s 48, the latter’s recent feedback indicates a more consistent user experience.
Edge: Exely.
Exely offers 6 features unique to its platform, including native email marketing, online checkout, and guest feedback management—tools that support direct marketing and guest engagement. ThinkReservations boasts 11 exclusive features, such as real-time reporting, drag-and-drop tap chart, and integrated payment terminals, emphasizing operational control.
Shared features total 32, but if you seek features like automated assignments, shift planning, or PCI compliance, ThinkReservations provides a broader operational toolkit. For marketing-focused features, Exely’s unique offerings stand out.
Edge: ThinkReservations.
Exely’s customer support scores at 4.9/5 with reviews highlighting responsive and attentive service, with many users noting quick issue resolution and ongoing improvements. Review quotes praise their continuous support and proactive updates.
ThinkReservations, with a 4.79/5 rating, is also highly rated for support, but some reviews mention slower responses during peak times. Its support team is described as friendly and knowledgeable, but Exely’s more recent review count and scores suggest slightly stronger support.
Edge: Exely.
ThinkReservations offers 16 verified integrations, including major OTAs like Airbnb, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, along with advanced tools like TrustYou and INTELITY. Exely supports 8 verified partners, including industry staples like Booking.com and Oracle Hospitality.
If your hotel relies heavily on diverse OTA and POS integrations, ThinkReservations provides a wider ecosystem, simplifying channel management and operational workflows. For specific niche integrations, Exely’s selection may suffice.
Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations has a significantly larger review base with 312 recent reviews and an average rating of 4.88/5, favored especially by small and independent properties. Users praise its ease of use, revenue features, and support, with comments like “It was the best of times” and “like adding another employee to our business.”
Exely’s ratings are lower overall (81.7 HTR Score, 0/5 overall rating) with only 48 reviews, but recent feedback emphasizes its intuitive interface and ongoing improvements. For newer reviews, ThinkReservations remains the more trusted choice.
Edge: ThinkReservations.
Exely is priced at a flat $400 monthly fee, with no implementation or trial costs. ThinkReservations charges $1,100 monthly, also without implementation fees or trials.
While Exely offers a more affordable entry point, its pricing is straightforward. ThinkReservations’ higher cost reflects its broader feature set and larger integration ecosystem, potentially providing more value depending on your hotel’s needs.
Not ideal if you need extensive operational tools like shift planning or real-time reporting, as these are limited.
Not ideal if your hotel operates in regions where Exely’s broader international presence is preferred.
Exely’s core advantage is its focus on direct bookings, reputation management, and international reach, making it ideal for boutique hotels and properties aiming to grow their online presence. Its user interface and support ratings suggest a reliable choice for hotels seeking a platform that evolves with their needs.
ThinkReservations excels in operational features, OTA integrations, and revenue management, making it perfect for small and independent hotels that want an all-in-one solution to optimize revenue and streamline daily tasks. Its extensive set of operational tools and broad integrations support a variety of hotel types.
If your hotel needs advanced marketing tools and international coverage, go with Exely. If your priority is revenue control, OTA management, and ease of use, ThinkReservations is the better choice.
Hotel Management Software 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 $400/mo | From $1,100/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Exely HMS and ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS share 32 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
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| Automated Assignments | ||
| Digital Registration | ||
| Direct billing | ||
| Drag-n-Drop Tapechart | ||
| Guest Feedback Management | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| Online Checkout | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
| Rate Shopping Module | ||
| Real Time Reporting | ||
| Tablet/Kiosk Check-in |
Showing top differences. 5 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 10 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..."
"I became aware of ThinkReservations at a trade show in the US, and I could see right away that it would help Blue Tang Inn streamline our operations, increase our booking and upsel..."
"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..."
"ThinkReservations Digital Registration has streamlined our check in process, making my job so much easier. Being able to ask guests for their ID and credit card ahead of time, agre..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"We try to take care of all the needs of our guests so that they have an experience rather than just a stay"
What hoteliers love
The intuitive and straightforward interface of Exely significantly enhances user experience, making it easier for staff to navigate during busy period... The intuitive and straightforward interface of Exely significantly enhances user experience, making it easier for staff to navigate during busy periods and integrating seamlessly into daily operations.
The customer support team receives praise for their quick responses and helpfulness, ensuring any issues are swiftly addressed, though this is a more... The customer support team receives praise for their quick responses and helpfulness, ensuring any issues are swiftly addressed, though this is a more general feature and not unique to Exely.
Exely is praised for streamlining hotel operations, reducing errors and enhancing overall workflow efficiency by automating various processes and task... Exely is praised for streamlining hotel operations, reducing errors and enhancing overall workflow efficiency by automating various processes and tasks.
Where hoteliers push back
Users express a need for more advanced reporting options and customization capabilities to enable deeper performance analysis and personalized user ex... Users express a need for more advanced reporting options and customization capabilities to enable deeper performance analysis and personalized user experience, which are lacking in the current system.
There is critique regarding the system's performance during peak workload periods, with reports of long loading times, occasional errors, and unexpect... There is critique regarding the system's performance during peak workload periods, with reports of long loading times, occasional errors, and unexpected logouts hindering operational flow.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
A few reviews suggested limitations in technical support, specifically mentioning non-24/7 availability and response delays. Users occasionally felt i... A few reviews suggested limitations in technical support, specifically mentioning non-24/7 availability and response delays. Users occasionally felt improvements could be made in this area for quicker resolutions.
The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate for staff and customers. This transparency ensures a smooth booking process and simplifies management... The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate for staff and customers. This transparency ensures a smooth booking process and simplifies management tasks, benefiting tech and non-tech-savvy users alike.
The platform supports automated messaging, customizable email templates, and guest reviews post-stay, enhancing guest engagement and satisfaction. It... The platform supports automated messaging, customizable email templates, and guest reviews post-stay, enhancing guest engagement and satisfaction. It effectively facilitates pre, during, and post-visit communication.
Where hoteliers push back
The calendar functionality, although strong, was noted to lack continuous scrolling capabilities, sometimes complicating long-term planning and requir... The calendar functionality, although strong, was noted to lack continuous scrolling capabilities, sometimes complicating long-term planning and requiring date input for navigation.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Exely HMS and ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS share many core Hotel Management Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely HMS offers 8 verified integration partners, while ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS offers 16. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Exely HMS leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 4.8/5. 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 HMS: No. ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Management Software 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 82 and ThinkReservations has 87. 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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