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 49 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:
Gastfreund | Hotelcore shines .
Runtriz shines in ease of use and ROI , with exclusive features like Guest Profiles.
Side-by-side ratings based on 49 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $400/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 11 | 38 |
After analyzing 49 verified reviews, Gastfreund | Hotelcore users most value its , while Runtriz users highlight guest communication, user experience, check-in process. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest Communication
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User Experience
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Check-in Process
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Revenue Generation
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Customizability
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Guest Misunderstanding
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Notification and Alerts
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How each product ranks among Hotel Guest Apps 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) | #25 1 reviews | #13 1 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #20 5 reviews | #3 33 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #24 1 reviews | #12 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #24 0 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #23 3 reviews | #9 11 reviews |
| Luxury | #30 1 reviews | #15 3 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #18 3 reviews | #2 34 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #15 1 reviews | #2 24 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | — | #1 37 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #14 9 reviews | #34 0 reviews |
Both Gastfreund | Hotelcore and Runtriz aim to enhance the guest experience through digital guest apps, but they serve different hotel profiles and priorities. Gastfreund is more focused on providing a modular, broad suite of tools for various property types, while Runtriz emphasizes seamless communication and operational efficiency with scalable features. The choice boils down to your hotel’s specific needs: depth of features, ease of integration, and guest engagement style.
Gastfreund is newer to the market with fewer reviews but has a strong reputation among resorts, villas, and boutique hotels. Conversely, Runtriz, with a higher review volume and recent feedback, is favored by a broader range of hotel types, especially branded and limited-service hotels. How do these differences align with your hotel’s strategic goals?
Gastfreund | Hotelcore offers a comprehensive digital guest experience platform designed to streamline communication, provide information, and boost ancillary revenue. It is particularly suited for resorts, villas, and boutique hotels looking for customizable modules like digital guest directories, hotel newspapers, and information channels. Runtriz, on the other hand, offers an extensive set of operational tools such as contactless check-in, mobile keys, and messaging that focus on reducing check-in times and increasing revenue through upselling.
While Gastfreund boasts a broader regional presence across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, its small review count (11 reviews, 2 in the last 6 months) means less recent data. Runtriz’s 37 reviews, all recent, reflect active use and satisfaction, especially among branded and limited-service hotels. If your hotel prioritizes communication and guest information, Gastfreund’s personalized tools may appeal. For operational efficiency, Runtriz’s scalable features are more compelling.
Would you prefer a modular platform emphasizing guest engagement or an integrated operational suite?
If your hotel needs a flexible, modular digital guest experience with a focus on guest information, upselling, and multilingual content, go with Gastfreund. Its strengths lie in delivering relevant content directly to guests, automating guest communication, and reducing front desk inquiries, especially for resorts and villas.
If you require a platform that streamlines pre-arrival to post-stay communication, offers contactless check-in, mobile key, and facilitates revenue through targeted upselling, Runtriz is the better fit. It’s ideal for hotels that want an easy-to-use app with proven quick deployment and a focus on operational efficiency.
Your choice hinges on whether your priorities are guest engagement and content delivery or operational automation and revenue enhancement.
Gastfreund scores 4.27/5 for ease of use, supported by an onboarding rating of 4.44/5. Recent reviews highlight its intuitive structure and friendly staff, with users emphasizing how quickly their teams adapted. However, some users note the platform's ongoing development, especially in its core guest directory, which could improve over time.
Runtriz’s ease of use is slightly higher at 4.66/5, with onboarding rated at 4.23/5. Reviewers praise its simple, straightforward interface, mentioning that staff and guests find it easy to navigate. Some feedback points to room for aesthetic improvements and better communication regarding pre-check-in processes.
Edge: Runtriz.
Runtriz offers 11 shared features plus one exclusive—guest profiles—covering contactless check-in, mobile pay, messaging, and more, totaling 12. Features like guest profiles enable detailed personalization. Gastfreund, however, does not list any unique features beyond its modular suite of tools, focusing on content delivery and automation rather than specialized capabilities.
Runtriz’s extensive features for operational automation, guest communication, and upselling make it more comprehensive. Gastfreund’s focus on digital guest directories and content management is valuable but less feature-rich in automation tools.
Edge: Runtriz.
Gastfreund’s support scores 4.27/5, with praise for quick, friendly responses and flexible customization. Reviewers note that support has been consistently responsive, though some wish for continued innovation in core features.
Runtriz fares slightly better at 4.51/5, with reviews emphasizing its straightforward onboarding and ongoing support. Customers appreciate the platform’s reliability and the responsiveness of its team, often citing positive interactions and problem resolution.
Edge: Runtriz.
Gastfreund lists 13 verified integrations, including PMS and channel management tools like Winhotel and SiteMinder. Runtriz, with 14 integrations, includes shared partners but also offers integrations with systems like Oracle Hospitality and Infor, expanding its reach into larger enterprise hotel chains.
While both platforms boast a comparable number of integrations, Runtriz’s inclusion of more enterprise-focused systems and broader global reach give it a slight edge for hotels with complex system ecosystems.
Edge: Runtriz.
Runtriz’s 37 recent reviews and a 4.77/5 overall rating indicate strong current satisfaction, especially among branded and limited-service hotels. Consumers frequently highlight its ease of use, quick deployment, and effective communication features.
Gastfreund, with just 11 reviews and a 0/5 overall rating, shows limited recent feedback, making its rating less reliable. The few reviews available praise its digital directories and fast support but lack recent validation.
Clearly, Runtriz is the preferred choice based on recent, high-volume feedback.
Edge: Runtriz.
Gastfreund charges a flat monthly fee of $400, with no free tier or trial offered. Pricing for Runtriz is not publicly listed, suggesting it may be tailored or variable based on property size and needs, typical of enterprise solutions.
If budget transparency and simplicity are priorities, Gastfreund’s flat fee offers predictability. Runtriz’s pricing model likely requires direct consultation for an estimate, often reflecting its extensive feature set.
Not ideal if you need extensive automation tools, contactless check-in, or operational functionalities like mobile keys.
Not ideal if your primary focus is content management, guest directories, or detailed guest information without operational automation.
Gastfreund | Hotelcore is best suited for properties that want a flexible, content-driven guest experience system aimed at reducing front desk workload and providing personalized digital information. Its focus on automation and personalization for resorts and boutique hotels makes it a good fit for those seeking to enhance guest messaging and upselling.
Runtriz excels in operational automation, communication, and revenue generation. With its extensive features, proven scalability, and high recent ratings, it’s the go-to for hotels that want to streamline check-in, increase guest engagement during stay, and maximize revenue through targeted services.
Ultimately, if recent reviews and active use are your priorities, Runtriz’s higher user satisfaction scores and feature set make it the clear choice. For hotels emphasizing content delivery and guest engagement, Gastfreund offers a compelling, modular solution—though it currently lacks the recent validation Runtriz enjoys.
Hotel Guest Apps 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 | — |
According to HTR's product database, Gastfreund | Hotelcore and Runtriz share 11 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Guest Profiles |
Ranks higher for
What hoteliers love
Runtriz is praised for its ability to facilitate easy and efficient communication between hotel staff and guests. It supports pre-arrival notification... Runtriz is praised for its ability to facilitate easy and efficient communication between hotel staff and guests. It supports pre-arrival notifications, real-time messaging, and service requests, which improves guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
The platform is generally considered user-friendly and straightforward for both staff and guests. However, some users noted that the interface could b... The platform is generally considered user-friendly and straightforward for both staff and guests. However, some users noted that the interface could be more modern and visually appealing, suggesting potential areas for aesthetic improvements.
The tool streamlines and expedites check-in with features like mobile pre-check-in and real-time notifications, reducing wait times and enhancing the... The tool streamlines and expedites check-in with features like mobile pre-check-in and real-time notifications, reducing wait times and enhancing the guest experience. However, some issues with proper integration and guest understanding of pre-check-in were noted.
Where hoteliers push back
Runtriz allows a high degree of customization in setting templates and automating responses, which users found beneficial for streamlining operations... Runtriz allows a high degree of customization in setting templates and automating responses, which users found beneficial for streamlining operations and enhancing guest interaction. However, improvement in backend support for these features was suggested.
Some guests misunderstand the pre-check-in process, thinking it means they are fully checked in, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. Clearer com... Some guests misunderstand the pre-check-in process, thinking it means they are fully checked in, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. Clearer communication and instructions could mitigate these issues.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Gastfreund | Hotelcore and Runtriz share many core Hotel Guest Apps features, but each has unique capabilities. Gastfreund | Hotelcore offers 13 verified integration partners, while Runtriz offers 14. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Runtriz leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5. 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.
Gastfreund | Hotelcore: No. Runtriz: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Guest Apps 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. Gastfreund | Hotelcore has an HT Score of 0 and Runtriz has 21. 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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