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 31 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:
HotelKey shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Guest profiles and Mobile App.
planet / Hoist shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 31 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $800/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 31 | 0 |
After analyzing 31 verified reviews, HotelKey users most value its user-friendliness, mobile integration, pms simplification, while planet / Hoist users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User-Friendliness
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Mobile Integration
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PMS Simplification
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Training and Onboarding
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Configuration and Customizability
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Customer Support Challenges
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Reporting Limitations
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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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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #47 6 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #33 16 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #30 3 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #35 1 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #46 8 reviews | — |
| Luxury | #46 4 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #30 8 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay | #40 2 reviews | — |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #18 28 reviews | — |
| Europe | #54 0 reviews | — |
Choosing a property management system (PMS) for your hotel hinges on your operational needs, size, and growth plans. HotelKey PMS by HotelKey offers a feature-rich, user-friendly platform with a proven track record, while planet / Hoist remains largely undocumented in recent reviews, making HotelKey the more reliable choice based on current data. Both aim to simplify hotel management, but only one has the recent user feedback to confirm its effectiveness.
If your hotel seeks a comprehensive solution with extensive integrations, proven ease of use, and ongoing support, HotelKey is the clear front-runner. Conversely, if you’re a small operation or looking for a less documented alternative, planet / Hoist’s limited available data makes it difficult to assess its suitability.
HotelKey and planet / Hoist both attempt to serve the hotel industry’s property management needs but diverge significantly in market presence and user feedback. HotelKey, founded in 2015, has established itself with over 18,000 hotels under contract and a solid global presence, especially in North America and Europe, supported by 30 recent reviews and a high overall rating of 4.96/5. Its features span reservations, housekeeping, revenue management, and more, with a clear emphasis on ease of use and support.
In contrast, planet / Hoist, founded in 1994, offers limited publicly available information, with no recent reviews or ratings, and a minimal verified partner network. This lack of recent feedback and features suggests it may not be as current or comprehensive as HotelKey. Given the strengths and recent reviews for HotelKey, it’s evident that the product is more reliably tested and trusted by users today.
End question: Which PMS aligns better with your hotel’s operational complexity and growth trajectory?
If your hotel needs a proven, feature-rich PMS with excellent ease of use, go with HotelKey. It suits properties of all sizes—especially motels and boutique hotels—seeking an intuitive platform that simplifies daily tasks and offers extensive integrations.
If your hotel is a small operation with minimal technical needs or you’re testing options with limited data, planet / Hoist might seem appealing, but the lack of recent reviews and feature transparency makes it a riskier choice. HotelKey’s current user satisfaction and robust feature set position it as the more dependable solution for most hotels.
Key takeaway: For proven reliability and features, HotelKey leads. For unverified simplicity, planet / Hoist remains untested.
HotelKey scores an impressive 4.62/5 for ease of use based on 30 recent reviews, with many hoteliers praising its intuitive interface, quick staff onboarding, and mobile app functionality. Users highlight that new staff can be trained within hours, and managers can access real-time data from smartphones or tablets, facilitating better operational control.
planet / Hoist’s ease of use remains undocumented, with no recent reviews or user ratings publicly available. This absence of recent feedback leaves its user interface and onboarding process unverified.
Edge: HotelKey.
HotelKey offers 49 unique features, including guest profiles, multi-currency support, cloud-based operation, automated night audits, integrated CRS, revenue management, channel management, mobile apps, online check-in, digital registration, and more. Its feature set is designed to cover every aspect of hotel management, offering automation and flexibility.
planet / Hoist provides no publicly documented features, making a direct comparison impossible. Most likely, it has a limited feature set, given the minimal verified integration count and lack of recent user feedback.
Edge: HotelKey.
HotelKey maintains a solid customer support rating of 4.38/5, with reviews praising the team’s responsiveness and helpfulness. Hoteliers appreciate the support hotline and the quick resolution of issues, though some mention occasional delays.
Because planet / Hoist offers no recent reviews or support ratings, its support quality cannot be verified. This lack of data makes HotelKey’s support a safer bet for your hotel’s operational stability.
Edge: HotelKey.
HotelKey boasts 31 verified partners, including major industry integrations like Revinate, STAAH, and Nonius, along with many niche solutions. These integrations support booking engines, POS, revenue management, and channel management, offering a seamless operational experience.
planet / Hoist, with only 2 verified integrations, provides minimal connectivity options—shared only with RoomPriceGenie—limiting flexibility and scalability.
Edge: HotelKey.
HotelKey has accumulated 30 recent reviews with an overall rating of 4.96/5, reflecting high satisfaction across various hotel segments, especially motels and boutique hotels. HotelKey users frequently praise ease of use, support, and the system’s reliability.
In comparison, planet / Hoist has no recent reviews or ratings available, making it impossible to gauge user satisfaction or property-specific feedback.
Edge: HotelKey.
HotelKey charges a $800 base price, with no mention of ongoing monthly or implementation fees, indicating a straightforward pricing structure. Its robust features justify this initial investment, especially given its support and recent positive reviews.
planet / Hoist’s pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there is no trial or clear fee structure, making it difficult to evaluate its value or compare costs directly.
Note: HotelKey’s transparent pricing and feature set provide better value clarity.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
HotelKey offers an all-around solution with proven performance, a broad feature set, and high user satisfaction. Its recent reviews support its reliability, ease of use, and strong support network, making it suitable for hotels wanting a robust, scalable PMS.
If your hotel values a well-supported, feature-rich system that can grow with your business, HotelKey is the clear choice. It’s especially ideal for motels, boutique hotels, and properties that need a trustworthy, all-in-one platform.
Conversely, planet / Hoist’s limited presence and lack of recent feedback mean it remains an unverified option, suitable only for very small, basic operations or hotels with a tight regional focus.
Final verdict: For most hotels actively seeking a dependable, feature-packed PMS with recent positive reviews, HotelKey is the better investment. If you’re exploring options or have minimal needs, consider carefully whether the unknowns of planet / Hoist align with your strategic goals.
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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| Starting Price | From $800/mo | — |
According to HTR's product database, HotelKey PMS and hotsoft by planet share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Centralized user & role management | ||
| Cloud based | ||
| Guest profiles | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-lingual |
Showing top differences. 37 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Users frequently mention the ease of use of HotelKey, highlighting its intuitive design that allows quick training of staff and seamless navigation. T... Users frequently mention the ease of use of HotelKey, highlighting its intuitive design that allows quick training of staff and seamless navigation. This is especially valued in fast-paced environments where efficiency is critical.
The mobile app integration is well-received, allowing managers and staff to access essential functions and statistics in real-time from their smartpho... The mobile app integration is well-received, allowing managers and staff to access essential functions and statistics in real-time from their smartphones or tablets, facilitating better operational management and customer service.
HotelKey's PMS is cited as simplifying hotel operations by integrating multiple functions, such as reservations, housekeeping, billing, and more withi... HotelKey's PMS is cited as simplifying hotel operations by integrating multiple functions, such as reservations, housekeeping, billing, and more within a single platform. This consolidation helps streamline processes and reduce operational complexity.
Where hoteliers push back
HotelKey is praised for its high configurability, enabling properties to tailor the system to their unique business needs. However, some users feel th... HotelKey is praised for its high configurability, enabling properties to tailor the system to their unique business needs. However, some users feel there is room for improvement regarding customizable reporting and additional features.
While generally praised, some users report inconsistent customer support experiences, including delayed responses and unhelpful interactions. For a PM... While generally praised, some users report inconsistent customer support experiences, including delayed responses and unhelpful interactions. For a PMS, timely and effective support is crucial in maintaining smooth hotel operations.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. HotelKey PMS and hotsoft by planet share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. HotelKey PMS offers 31 verified integration partners, while hotsoft by planet offers 2. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. HotelKey PMS leads in ease of use at 4.5/5 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.
HotelKey PMS: 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.
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. HotelKey has an HT Score of 20 and planet / Hoist 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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