freetobook vs. hotsoft by planet: Which Is Right for You?

Updated May 16, 2026  ·  137 verified reviews analyzed

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.

planet / Hoist shines .

See the full breakdown below ↓

How Does freetobook Compare to hotsoft by planet?

Side-by-side ratings based on 137 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.

HTScore
87
0
Likelihood to Recommend
99%
0%
Ease of Use
4.9/5
0.0/5
Customer Support
4.9/5
0.0/5
Value for Money
4.9/5
0.0/5
Starting Price From $200/mo Contact sales
Verified Reviews 137 0

What Are the Pros and Cons of freetobook vs hotsoft by planet?

After analyzing 137 verified reviews, freetobook users most value its ease of use, pricing/value for money, guest experience enhancements, while planet / Hoist users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.

freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
Pros
+ Ease of Use
+ Pricing/Value for Money
+ Guest Experience Enhancements
+ Channel Management
Cons
Customization
Self-Catering Focus
Handling of Single vs. Double Occupancy Rates

freetobook vs planet / Hoist: Rankings by Hotel Segment

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

Segment freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
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

Segment freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
Boutique #23 24 reviews
Luxury #26 20 reviews
Branded / Chain #31 6 reviews
Extended Stay #26 5 reviews

By Region

Segment freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
North America #28 6 reviews
Europe #8 94 reviews
Asia Pacific #22 2 reviews
Middle East #14 2 reviews

The Decision

Your hotel needs a property management system that simplifies operations, enhances guest experiences, and supports growth. Both freetobook and Hoist aim to serve this purpose, but their approaches and maturity differ significantly. While freetobook offers a comprehensive, user-friendly platform backed by recent reviews and a growing feature set, Hoist's product remains less developed with limited review data. So, which product is better suited for your hotel's needs?

Is freetobook or Hoist Better for Hotels?

Freetobook is a proven solution with over 129 reviews, predominantly positive, and recent feedback from 27 users in the last six months. Its high ratings—87.22 HTR Score, 4.91/5 ease of use, and 4.91/5 customer support—highlight its reputation among independent hotels and B&Bs. Conversely, Hoist's product has zero reviews and no ratings available, making it impossible to assess its current performance or user satisfaction.

Both systems aim to streamline property operations, but freetobook's extensive feature set and recent positive user experiences make it the more reliable and tested choice. Hoist, however, remains a less proven candidate at this time, and your decision should favor the platform with demonstrated success. Are you willing to choose an unreviewed system, or do you prefer a product with proven results?

freetobook vs Hoist: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel is a small to medium-sized independent property, especially a B&B or inn, freetobook is the clear choice. It offers a full suite of features—channel management, booking engine, guest messaging, payments, and revenue reports—that cater specifically to smaller operators needing simplicity and reliability. If you’re a larger hotel chain or require extensive customization and a broad regional presence, Hoist’s offering remains unclear due to lack of data and reviews.

For hoteliers focused on ease of use, value for money, and tried-and-true operational tools, freetobook’s high customer satisfaction and recent activity make it the recommended option. Hoist, with no publicly available reviews or verified features, cannot be confidently recommended at this stage.

Is freetobook or Hoist Easier to Use?

Freetobook’s ease of use is highly rated at 4.91/5, with reviews praising its user-friendly interface and straightforward onboarding process. Customers note that new staff can quickly learn the system, reducing training time. On the contrary, Hoist offers no publicly available user ratings or reviews, leaving its usability uncertain. The lack of recent user feedback makes it difficult to evaluate how intuitive or accessible Hoist’s platform truly is.

Given current data, you can confidently say freetobook provides a smoother initial experience. Edge: freetobook.

Which Has Better Features: freetobook or Hoist?

Freetobook's platform boasts 38 unique features, including a channel manager, booking engine, guest messaging, integrated payment processing, revenue management, automated reminders, online check-in, and shift planning. These tools support operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. In contrast, Hoist offers no detailed feature list or a comparable set of capabilities, making it impossible to determine its feature breadth or depth.

Freetobook's extensive, integrated feature set—backed by recent reviews—positions it as the more capable system. Edge: freetobook.

Which Has Better Customer Support: freetobook or Hoist?

Freetobook’s support ratings are outstanding at 4.91/5, with reviewers commending their quick responses, knowledgeable staff, and personalized assistance. Customers say, “Customer support is great with one-to-one help,” reflecting high satisfaction. Hoist provides no support ratings or customer testimonials, leaving its support quality unverified and potentially unreliable.

When support quality influences your operations, relying on a platform with proven, positive feedback is crucial. Edge: freetobook.

Which Has More Integrations: freetobook or Hoist?

Freetobook integrates with four verified partners, including major OTAs, Stripe, and Google Ads, providing broad distribution and payment options. Hoist has only two verified partners and no mention of integrations with OTAs or marketing tools, which could limit its connectivity and automation potential.

Freetobook’s richer integration ecosystem supports smoother operations and increased reach. Edge: freetobook.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: freetobook or Hoist?

Freetobook’s recent reviews indicate a 99% likelihood to recommend, with a high satisfaction score reflected in the 87.22 HTR Score. Its primary users are small hotels, B&Bs, and inns, with ratings consistently high across these segments. Hoist lacks any reviews or ratings, so it's impossible to gauge user sentiment or hotel segment preferences.

Given the volume and recency of positive reviews, freetobook is clearly favored. Edge: freetobook.

How Much Do freetobook and Hoist Cost?

Freetobook charges a flat fee of $200, with no freemium or monthly per-room charges. Pricing details for Hoist are unavailable, which raises questions about its affordability and value proposition.

Since freetobook provides transparent pricing and strong value, it becomes the more attractive option for small to mid-sized hotels. Without clear pricing data, Hoist’s value remains uncertain.

What Type of Hotel Should Use freetobook?

  • Hotels that prioritize ease of use and quick onboarding.
  • Small independent hotels, B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
  • Properties looking for integrated booking, channel management, and guest messaging.
  • Teams seeking a cost-effective system with strong customer support.
  • Hotels that want to increase direct bookings and streamline operations.

Not ideal if your hotel requires highly specialized features for large, complex properties or extensive customization needs not covered by freetobook.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Hoist?

  • Larger hotel groups or chains seeking a scalable property management solution.
  • Hotels that require extensive customization and integrations beyond basic OTA connectivity.
  • Properties operating in regions where Hoist has a strong presence or regional support.
  • Hospitality businesses looking for a platform with a broad suite of features and advanced automation.

Not ideal if your hotel is a small to medium independent property, especially given the lack of reviews and detailed feature information for Hoist.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Freetobook delivers a comprehensive, well-reviewed property management system tailored for small to medium-sized independent hotels, B&Bs, and inns. Its extensive feature set, ease of use, and high customer satisfaction make it a reliable choice for hoteliers seeking operational efficiency and growth. In contrast, Hoist’s product remains unproven with no reviews or transparent features, making it a risky option at present.

If you want a tried-and-true platform with proven success, freetobook is the clear winner. It supports your operational needs, enhances guest experiences, and offers excellent support—making it the best fit for most independent hotels.

Choose freetobook if you prioritize reliability, ease of use, and proven results. Consider Hoist only if you have specific, advanced needs that the current product can demonstrate to meet, and you are willing to accept the risk of unverified performance.

How Much Do freetobook and hotsoft by planet Cost?

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.

freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
Starting Price From $200/mo

Which Features Does freetobook Have That hotsoft by planet Doesn't (and Vice Versa)?

According to HTR's product database, freetobook and hotsoft by planet share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.

Feature freetobook freetobook planet / Hoist planet / Hoist
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.

freetobook vs planet / Hoist: The Bottom Line

freetobook
freetobook
5.0/5 from 137 reviews

What hoteliers love

Ease of Use 94% positive

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.

Pricing/Value for Money 100% positive

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.

Guest Experience Enhancements 100% positive

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

Customization 43% negative

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.

Self-Catering Focus 50% negative

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

Channel Manager Booking Engine Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) Payment Requests Centralized Messaging
4.9/5 ease of use 4.9/5 support 4 integrations
Visit Profile
planet / Hoist
planet / Hoist
0.0/5 from 0 reviews
0.0/5 ease of use 0.0/5 support 2 integrations
Visit Profile

Where the ratings diverge most

Ease of Use freetobook 4.9 vs 0.0 (+4.9)
Customer Support freetobook 4.9 vs 0.0 (+4.9)
Value for Money freetobook 4.9 vs 0.0 (+4.9)
Onboarding freetobook 4.9 vs 0.0 (+4.9)

Frequently Asked Questions About freetobook vs hotsoft by planet

Can freetobook replace hotsoft by planet?

It depends on your requirements. freetobook and hotsoft by planet share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. freetobook offers 4 verified integration partners, while hotsoft by planet offers 2. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.

Which is better for small or independent hotels?

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.

Do freetobook or hotsoft by planet offer a free plan?

freetobook: No. hotsoft by planet: 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.

How Does HTR Evaluate and Rank freetobook and hotsoft by planet?

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 planet / Hoist has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.

Criteria Group Weight What It Measures
Customer Ratings & Reviews

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

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

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

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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