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 95 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 ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Native Email Marketing and Native Email Marketing.
ZUZU Hospitality Solutions shines when it comes to user-friendly interface , with exclusive features like Reporting Dashboard and Housekeeping Mobile App.
Side-by-side ratings based on 95 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Ease of Use |
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | From $400/mo | From $500/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 56 | 39 |
After analyzing 95 verified reviews, Exely users most value its user interface, customer support, hotel operation efficiency, while ZUZU Hospitality Solutions users highlight user-friendly interface, reporting and analytics, dynamic pricing and revenue optimization. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User Interface
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User-Friendly Interface
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Customer Support
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Reporting and Analytics
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Hotel Operation Efficiency
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Dynamic Pricing and Revenue Optimization
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Channel Management
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Channel Management and OTA Optimization
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| Cons | |
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Customization and Reporting Features
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Mobile App Functionality
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System Performance and Speed
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Localization and Translation
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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 | #17 25 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #17 15 reviews | #16 17 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #16 3 reviews | #19 1 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #11 1 reviews | #28 0 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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| Boutique ▾ | #22 13 reviews | #19 15 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #20 11 reviews | #22 6 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #25 2 reviews | #20 5 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #21 3 reviews | #17 5 reviews |
By Region
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| North America | #22 2 reviews | — |
| Europe | #24 2 reviews | #40 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #6 28 reviews | #5 49 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #7 5 reviews | — |
When choosing hotel management software, your main goal is to streamline operations while boosting revenue. Exely HMS by Exely and ZUZU Hospitality by ZUZU Solutions both aim to solve these issues but diverge significantly in review volume, recent feedback, and feature sets. Exely boasts a higher overall rating, more reviews, and more recent feedback, making it the more reliable choice based on current user experiences.
Are you looking for a solution with a proven track record and more recent customer validation? Or are you prioritizing specific features and integrations? Let’s compare both to help you decide.
Both Exely and ZUZU target independent hotels and aim to improve daily operations and revenue. Exely’s platform emphasizes direct bookings, online reputation, and automated processes, while ZUZU focuses heavily on revenue management, dynamic pricing, and distribution.
Exely’s reviews highlight its ease of use, stable performance, and responsive support, with 48 reviews and a recent surge of 18 reviews in the last six months. ZUZU, with 28 reviews and only 2 recent ones, suffers from slower reviews and more emotional feedback about support and implementation issues.
Given the review volume and recency, Exely’s customers seem more engaged and satisfied currently. Would your hotel benefit more from a platform with a strong service reputation, or do you prefer a solution with a broader feature set focused on revenue optimization?
If your hotel needs a comprehensive management system that integrates PMS, booking engine, and reputation management, Exely is the clear choice. It’s well-suited for boutique and city-center hotels that prioritize direct bookings and operational stability.
On the other hand, if your hotel requires advanced revenue management or has multiple properties needing detailed channel distribution and dynamic pricing, ZUZU’s platform might appeal. It’s especially suitable for independent hotels seeking to optimize occupancy and revenue through sophisticated pricing tools.
However, considering the current review count and recent feedback, Exely’s higher satisfaction ratings make it the more dependable choice for property-wide management and client support.
Exely’s UI garners a 4.88/5 ease of use rating, with reviews praising its intuitive design and straightforward workflows. Customers mention that staff adoption is smooth, and onboarding scores a 4.82/5, indicating a gentle learning curve. Support via WhatsApp and fast technical assistance further ease operational transitions.
ZUZU, rated at 4.57/5 for ease of use, offers a user-friendly interface but faces criticism about limited support responsiveness and support channels. Reviewers note that onboarding can be slow due to inconsistent support availability, especially outside Asia.
Edge: Exely. Its higher ease-of-use rating and more recent positive feedback suggest your team will adopt and operate it more effortlessly.
Exely boasts 11 features exclusive to it, including gift vouchers, native email marketing, online checkout, GDPR compliance, and POS integration. These are designed to boost guest engagement and streamline booking and billing processes.
ZUZU offers 21 unique features like dynamic pricing, real-time reporting, mobile check-in, integrated ID scanners, and content management—supporting revenue growth and operational efficiency. Many of these features directly support distribution and yield management.
Given the feature counts, ZUZU’s platform covers more operational aspects, particularly in revenue management and distribution. However, Exely’s specialized features focus on direct bookings and guest engagement, which might be more relevant for boutique and city hotels.
Edge: ZUZU Hospitality Solutions. It offers a broader suite of tools aligned with revenue optimization and distribution.
Exely’s support receives a 4.9/5 rating, with reviews emphasizing quick, knowledgeable, and responsive assistance. Customers appreciate the proactive approach, saying, “Their support is very helpful and always quick to respond whenever we need help,” and note their continuous improvements.
ZUZU’s support scores 4.46/5, with reviews criticizing slow responses, technical issues, and support unavailability, especially via phone or Telegram. One review even states support has been “down for 4 months,” and they describe their experience as “very bad.”
Edge: Exely. Its higher support rating and recent positive reviews make it more dependable during critical operational issues.
Exely’s review score of 81.7 reflects consistent positive feedback from hotels, especially boutique and city properties. Recent reviews highlight satisfaction with stability, support, and ease of integration, with a 98% likelihood to recommend.
ZUZU’s score of approximately 76, though decent, is marred by emotional feedback and only 2 recent reviews. Its ratings are slightly lower across all segments, especially for support and system reliability.
Edge: Exely. Its higher and more recent review scores indicate a stronger, more positive reputation among hoteliers.
Exely charges a flat base price of $400 per month, with no trial or additional implementation fees. It’s straightforward and predictable in pricing, ideal for hotels wanting clear budgeting.
ZUZU’s base price is $500 per month, also without trial or implementation fees. Its slightly higher cost might reflect its broader feature set but offers no clear premium for those features in reviews.
In terms of value, Exely’s lower cost combined with higher satisfaction scores makes it a compelling option.
Not ideal if your hotel requires extensive revenue management or distribution features, as those are less emphasized.
Not ideal if your hotel operates primarily as a boutique or requires a system with more customization and flexibility in localizations.
Exely’s core strength lies in its stability, support, and reputation management, making it ideal for boutique, city-center, or small chain hotels that value direct bookings and operational ease. Its higher review count and recent positive feedback underline its reliability.
ZUZU offers a broader feature set tailored for revenue management and distribution, suitable for independent hotels with complex multi-property needs. However, its support issues and lower recent review volume suggest it’s less proven for immediate, stable deployment.
For most hotels needing dependable management with strong support, Exely is the recommended choice. If your focus is advanced revenue strategies and multi-property distribution, ZUZU can be considered, but be aware of the support concerns.
This comparison provides a clear view: with more recent reviews and higher satisfaction levels, Exely HMS is the safer, more proven platform for your hotel’s needs.
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 $500/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Exely HMS and ZUZU Hospitality share 27 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
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| Automated night audit | ||
| Centralized Messaging | ||
| Channel management & OTA distribution | ||
| Dynamic Pricing | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Group Booking Engine | ||
| Metasearch connectivity | ||
| Multi-property management | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| RMS connectivity | ||
| Reporting Dashboard |
Showing top differences. 20 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 2 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
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
The system is lauded for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. It simplifies daily operations and reduces the learning curve for new staff, fa... The system is lauded for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. It simplifies daily operations and reduces the learning curve for new staff, facilitating fast adoption and efficient use.
ZUZU offers detailed reporting and analytics, enabling informed decision-making for revenue and operations. However, users seek enhanced report custom... ZUZU offers detailed reporting and analytics, enabling informed decision-making for revenue and operations. However, users seek enhanced report customization for specific business needs.
ZUZU's users appreciate its dynamic pricing, which allows adjustments based on demand to optimize revenue. This feature was instrumental in achieving... ZUZU's users appreciate its dynamic pricing, which allows adjustments based on demand to optimize revenue. This feature was instrumental in achieving record sales. The system also aids in yield management across multiple OTAs.
Where hoteliers push back
While ZUZU's mobile capabilities offer convenience for on-the-go management, users call for features like integrated reservation calendars and improve... While ZUZU's mobile capabilities offer convenience for on-the-go management, users call for features like integrated reservation calendars and improved responsiveness to facilitate mobile operations.
Some users face challenges with the system's localization and translation, which hinders non-English-speaking staff. Improved translation quality coul... Some users face challenges with the system's localization and translation, which hinders non-English-speaking staff. Improved translation quality could enhance usability and system comprehension.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Exely HMS and ZUZU Hospitality share many core Hotel Management Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Exely HMS offers 8 verified integration partners, while ZUZU Hospitality offers 2. 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 4.6/5. 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. ZUZU Hospitality: 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 ZUZU Hospitality Solutions 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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