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 137 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:
freetobook shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) and Payment Requests.
HOIST GROUP shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 137 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | From $200/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 137 | 0 |
After analyzing 137 verified reviews, freetobook users most value its ease of use, pricing/value for money, guest experience enhancements, while HOIST GROUP users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Ease of Use
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Pricing/Value for Money
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Guest Experience Enhancements
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Channel Management
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Customization
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Self-Catering Focus
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Handling of Single vs. Double Occupancy Rates
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How each product ranks among Property Management Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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HOIST GROUP |
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #28 26 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) | #53 2 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #25 1 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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HOIST GROUP |
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| Boutique ▾ | #23 24 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #26 20 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #31 6 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #26 5 reviews | — |
By Region
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HOIST GROUP |
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| North America ▾ | #28 6 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #8 94 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific | #22 2 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #14 2 reviews | — |
When selecting a property management system, you need a solution that simplifies operations, enhances guest experiences, and maximizes your revenue. Both freetobook and HotSoft aim to serve this purpose, but their offerings diverge significantly in terms of user reviews, features, and market presence. Your choice should depend on your hotel’s size, operational needs, and what you prioritize most in a PMS.
freetobook is a well-established platform with a strong user base, recent reviews, and a robust set of features tailored for small to medium-sized independent hotels and B&Bs. HotSoft, by comparison, has limited publicly available review data and appears to cater to larger or more integrated hotel operations. Do you want a proven, widely reviewed system or a less-reviewed, potentially more tailored solution?
freetobook and HotSoft are both designed to manage reservations, automate tasks, and streamline hotel operations, but freetobook has more data backing its performance, especially in recent months. With 129 reviews and a recent review count of 27, freetobook’s recent user feedback is extensive and current, giving you a clearer picture of its ongoing performance. HotSoft, with no publicly available reviews, offers little insight into its real-world use.
freetobook’s high ratings for ease of use, support, and value for money suggest a user-friendly experience, while HotSoft’s lack of recent review data raises questions about its current market standing. Are you comfortable choosing a system with extensive recent feedback, or are you willing to gamble on less-publicized solutions?
If your hotel operates primarily as a small to medium-sized independent property, particularly in B&Bs, guesthouses, or boutique hotels, freetobook is the better choice. Its user-friendly interface, extensive feature set, and positive recent reviews make it a practical solution. Conversely, if your hotel is part of a larger chain or requires an enterprise-level system with deep integrations, HotSoft might be more aligned, but the lack of review data makes this uncertain.
freetobook’s broad regional presence and active user community provide reassurance, especially given the recent reviews highlighting its ease of use, support, and value. HotSoft’s lack of market presence and reviews suggests it may not be as adaptable or proven for smaller operators.
freetobook’s ease of use is highly rated at 4.91/5, with users praising its intuitive interface, quick onboarding, and minimal learning curve. Reviewers also commend its customer support, describing it as “great” and “knowledgeable,” which helps staff adopt the system quickly. In contrast, HotSoft offers no publicly available ratings or reviews on ease of use, making it difficult to assess its user experience.
Given the recent feedback and high user ratings, edge: freetobook.
freetobook boasts 38 unique features, including a channel manager, booking engine, guest messaging, digital registration, integrated payment processing, automated reminders, and revenue management modules—features that are absent in HotSoft’s public profile. It also offers specific tools for dynamic pricing, ancillary revenue, and real-time reporting, making it a well-rounded system.
HotSoft’s feature set appears more limited or less publicly detailed, with no comparable list of features. Considering the comprehensive toolset of freetobook, edge: freetobook.
freetobook’s customer support is rated 4.91/5, with reviews emphasizing “fantastic” support and “quick response times.” Users appreciate the personalized assistance, which is a critical factor for small hotels needing reliable help. HotSoft offers no publicly shared support ratings or recent reviews, so its support quality remains unclear.
Based on available data, edge: freetobook.
freetobook integrates with four verified partners, including RoomPriceGenie, Stripe, and guest communication tools like Pitchup.com. These integrations enable seamless booking management, payment processing, and distribution. HotSoft, with zero publicly verified integrations, appears less connected within the industry ecosystem.
For better extensibility and operational flexibility, edge: freetobook.
freetobook’s 129 reviews, with 27 recent ones, average a high satisfaction score. The platform’s overall rating of 87.22 and a 99% likelihood to recommend reflect strong user approval, especially among bed & breakfast and boutique hotel segments. HotSoft has no available reviews or ratings, making it impossible to gauge user sentiment.
Thus, when it comes to hotel ratings, edge: freetobook.
freetobook charges a flat base price of $200, with no mention of ongoing monthly fees or implementation charges. Its pricing model is straightforward and transparent. HotSoft’s pricing details are not publicly available, making direct comparison impossible.
For predictable costs and clear value, edge: freetobook.
freetobook offers a comprehensive, user-friendly platform backed by recent positive reviews, making it ideal for small to medium-sized independent hotels. Its extensive feature set, ease of use, and active support network make it a dependable choice for property owners who want to manage their operations efficiently and increase direct bookings.
HotSoft, with no recent review data or publicly available ratings, appears less tested in the market for smaller operators. It might suit larger hotel groups with specific enterprise needs, but without more data, it’s a less certain choice.
If you prioritize proven performance, recent user feedback, and a feature-rich environment, go with freetobook. If you operate a large chain and need deep customization, you may need to look deeper into HotSoft’s capabilities, but consider the risk of limited recent data.
In summary, for most independent hotels and B&Bs seeking reliable, positive reviews and measurable value, freetobook remains the more confident option.
Property Management Systems 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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HOIST GROUP | |
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| Starting Price | From $200/mo | — |
According to HTR's product database, freetobook and HOIST GROUP - HotSoft share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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HOIST GROUP |
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| Automated Space Optimization | ||
| Booking Engine | ||
| Centralized Messaging | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) |
Showing top differences. 26 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
The software’s user-friendly nature is a major highlight, enabling even less tech-savvy users to manage their properties efficiently. This simplicity... The software’s user-friendly nature is a major highlight, enabling even less tech-savvy users to manage their properties efficiently. This simplicity allows property owners and managers to easily navigate the system, reducing the time required for administrative tasks and thereby increasing focus on improving guest services.
Freetobook is perceived as excellent value for money, offering advanced features at competitive pricing. Users recognize its affordability in comparis... Freetobook is perceived as excellent value for money, offering advanced features at competitive pricing. Users recognize its affordability in comparison to other systems, which is particularly attractive to small accommodation businesses looking to maintain professional operations without significant outlays.
Freetobook enables hotels to enhance the guest experience through features like the GuestAppy system, which provides personalized booking confirmation... Freetobook enables hotels to enhance the guest experience through features like the GuestAppy system, which provides personalized booking confirmations and tailored options. Users note these additions positively impact guest satisfaction and help in delivering a more professional service.
Where hoteliers push back
Although generally praised for its flexibility, some users feel there's room for improvement regarding customization options, particularly for invoice... Although generally praised for its flexibility, some users feel there's room for improvement regarding customization options, particularly for invoices and booking summaries. Enhanced options would allow users to better tailor the system to specific operational needs, improving overall satisfaction.
The system is primarily designed for hotels, and some reviewers have indicated a need for more self-catering features, suggesting potential for expans... The system is primarily designed for hotels, and some reviewers have indicated a need for more self-catering features, suggesting potential for expansion in this area. Addressing this could make Freetobook more attractive to a wider variety of accommodation providers.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. freetobook and HOIST GROUP - HotSoft share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. freetobook offers 4 verified integration partners, while HOIST GROUP - HotSoft offers 0. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. freetobook leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
freetobook: No. HOIST GROUP - HotSoft: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Property Management Systems 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. freetobook has an HT Score of 87 and HOIST GROUP 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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