HotelFriend HMS vs. ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right hotel management software can feel overwhelming, especially when comparing a system like HotelFriend HMS and ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS. Both products aim to streamline operations, improve guest experiences, and boost revenue, but they serve different needs and hotel types. Your decision hinges on your hotel’s size, location, and operational priorities—are you looking for a flexible, feature-rich platform or a user-friendly system with extensive integrations?

HotelFriend offers a comprehensive, all-in-one platform with a focus on automation and regulation compliance, but its limited review count and recent feedback show significant user dissatisfaction. ThinkReservations, on the other hand, boasts a much larger, recent review base and higher ratings across all categories, making it the more reliable choice for most hoteliers today.

Is HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS Better for Hotels?

HotelFriend HMS and ThinkReservations aim to simplify hotel management, but the scope and user feedback differ dramatically. HotelFriend’s platform is ambitious, combining property management, booking, POS, event management, and guest experience tools into one system. However, recent reviews reveal widespread issues: users criticize its cumbersome interface, buggy features, and outdated channel management, with some rating it as non-functional. Its review count of just 9 and a 0/5 overall rating starkly contrast with ThinkReservations’ extensive, positive feedback.

ThinkReservations excels with a solid 4.88/5 rating based on 312 reviews, with most recent feedback from the last six months confirming its reliability and user satisfaction. It consistently receives praise for ease of use, support, and value for money, making it a trusted choice for hoteliers seeking operational efficiency. The core question: are you willing to compromise on functionality for a platform that has yet to prove stability?

Which Should Your Hotel Choose: HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS?

If your hotel needs a flexible, regulation-compliant system with advanced features like integrated CRM, guest feedback management, and native email marketing, HotelFriend might seem appealing. But only if you are prepared to handle its current reliability issues, limited support, and minimal recent positive feedback. It’s mostly suited for larger, tech-savvy hotels in Europe or regions where compliance is a priority.

Conversely, ThinkReservations is ideal if your hotel values a proven, user-friendly platform with high satisfaction scores, extensive integrations, and a broad feature set. It suits small to mid-sized properties, especially B&Bs, inns, and boutique hotels, aiming for seamless online booking, revenue growth, and guest engagement. Its track record of recent, positive reviews makes it the more dependable choice for most hoteliers.

Is HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS Easier to Use?

HotelFriend’s UI scores 4.44/5, but numerous reviews describe a steep learning curve, confusing setup, and buggy operation, indicating a usability struggle. Support ratings are good at 4.56/5, yet reviews highlight inconsistent performance and sluggish bug fixes, complicating staff adoption. Its onboarding process, rated 4.56/5, may not compensate for the ongoing usability frustrations.

ThinkReservations surpasses HotelFriend with a 4.8/5 ease-of-use rating, consistently praised for its intuitive interface and straightforward onboarding. Users find it easy to learn, even for non-tech-savvy staff, and support is quick and helpful, with a 4.79/5 rating. The platform’s clarity and reliability make day-to-day management less stressful.

Edge: ThinkReservations

Which Has Better Features: HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS?

HotelFriend offers 50 features, including guest feedback management, native email marketing, integrated CRS, and online checkout. Its unique tools focus on automating space optimization, integrated ID scanners, and employee messaging—features that are absent in ThinkReservations. However, many users find these features unreliable or overly complex.

ThinkReservations provides 39 shared features and four unique ones, like guest communication via SMS, multi-currency support, ancillary revenue tracking, and PCI compliance. Its features are well-integrated, stable, and proven to support revenue growth through upselling and dynamic pricing. The extensive OTA integrations and automation tools contribute to smoother operations.

Edge: HotelFriend (by a narrow margin, due to more features, but with reliability concerns).

Which Has Better Customer Support: HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS?

HotelFriend’s support scores 4.56/5, but reviews mention slow responses and bugs that persist despite support efforts. Its small review base makes it difficult to gauge true support quality, and recent feedback suggests declining satisfaction.

ThinkReservations, with a 4.79/5 rating, is praised for its responsiveness, knowledgeable staff, and proactive support. Multiple reviews describe it as “easy to work with,” and the platform’s continuous improvements reflect a commitment to customer success. This consistency makes support a key advantage.

Edge: ThinkReservations

Which Has More Integrations: HotelFriend HMS or ThinkReservations?

HotelFriend currently has no verified integrations, limiting its connectivity to other platforms. This can restrict your ability to automate and streamline workflows, especially if your hotel relies on OTAs or third-party tools.

ThinkReservations offers 16 verified integrations, including major OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, and additional tools like Triptease, OpenKey, and TrustYou. These integrations facilitate smoother booking management and marketing, enabling your team to operate more efficiently.

Edge: ThinkReservations

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: HotelFriend or ThinkReservations?

HotelFriend’s reviews are extremely scarce, with mostly negative feedback and no recent positive validation. Its 0/5 score and 9 reviews, mostly from dissatisfied users, suggest it’s not preferred by hoteliers today.

ThinkReservations benefits from 312 reviews, with a 4.88/5 rating and a recent 8 reviews in the last six months. Hotels of all sizes, especially small B&Bs and boutique hotels, rate it highly for ease of use, support, and revenue impact. Its recent positive reviews reinforce its position as the more trusted option.

Edge: ThinkReservations

How Much Do HotelFriend HMS and ThinkReservations All-in-1 HMS Cost?

HotelFriend’s pricing starts at $800 per month, with no mention of a free trial or additional fees. Its upfront cost seems high, especially given the reported issues and limited functionality.

ThinkReservations charges $1,100 per month, with no free trial, but its extensive features, integrations, and proven reliability justify the price. Its value proposition is supported by high customer satisfaction, automation, and revenue improvements, making it a worthwhile investment.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HotelFriend HMS?

• Hotels that require full compliance with German and European regulations, such as fiscalization, e-invoicing, and GDPR adherence.
• Larger hotels or chains looking for integrated event management, POS, and guest experience tools within a single platform.
• Hotels with in-house IT teams capable of troubleshooting and customizing the system.
• Hotels seeking a flexible, modular PMS that can be tailored to specific needs through custom development.

Not ideal if...

• You prioritize reliability and recent positive reviews.
• Your team prefers an intuitive, easy-to-learn system.
• You need a broad network of integrations with OTAs and third-party tools.
• You expect prompt support and bug fixes.

What Type of Hotel Should Use ThinkReservations?

• Small to mid-sized properties like B&Bs, inns, boutique hotels, and resorts aiming for streamlined operations.
• Hotels that prioritize guest experience, upselling, and revenue management features.
• Properties needing robust OTA integrations and automated communication tools.
• Teams seeking an intuitive platform that minimizes training time and supports rapid onboarding.

Not ideal if...

• Your hotel operates in a region with strict compliance requirements not supported by ThinkReservations.
• You need highly customizable modules beyond what the platform offers.
• Your property relies heavily on niche integrations or proprietary management systems.
• Your team prefers a system with minimal ongoing support needs.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

HotelFriend HMS presents itself as a comprehensive, all-in-one platform designed for larger or European hotels with strict regulatory needs. However, its current reputation, based on recent reviews, indicates it suffers from usability issues, bugs, and poor support, which can hinder daily operations.

ThinkReservations stands out as a proven, user-friendly system favored by small and mid-sized properties seeking reliability, extensive integrations, and revenue-focused features. Its high ratings and recent review activity make it the stronger choice for most hoteliers today.

If your priority is stability, ease of use, and proven support, go with ThinkReservations. If you operate a large hotel in Europe needing advanced regulatory compliance and custom modules, HotelFriend could be suitable—but only if you’re prepared to navigate its current technical shortcomings.

In summary, for most hotels, especially those valuing recent positive feedback and a reliable platform, ThinkReservations is the clear winner. HotelFriend’s offer may appeal in niche cases, but its current reputation makes it a risky investment without substantial improvements.

This comparison is based on current reviews, feature sets, and pricing data as of October 2023. Always verify the latest user feedback before making a final decision.