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 1,508 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:
Canary Technologies shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for independent properties (4.9/5) , with exclusive features like Payment & Authorizations and Hotel Website Check-in Portal.
ICG Software shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 1,508 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $300/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 1,508 | 0 |
After analyzing 1,508 verified reviews, Canary Technologies users most value its contactless check-in, guest messaging, upselling features, while ICG Software users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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ICG Software |
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Contactless Check-In
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Guest Messaging
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Upselling Features
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Automatic Notifications
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Credit Card and ID Verification
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Technical Integration
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How each product ranks among Contactless Check-in vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment |
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ICG Software |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #2 98 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #1 1042 reviews | — |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #1 228 reviews | — |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #1 105 reviews | — |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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ICG Software |
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| Boutique ▾ | #1 727 reviews | — |
| Luxury ▾ | #1 573 reviews | — |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #1 680 reviews | — |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #1 116 reviews | — |
By Region
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ICG Software |
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| North America ▾ | #1 1308 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #3 65 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #1 27 reviews | — |
| Middle East ▾ | #2 11 reviews | — |
Choosing a contactless check-in system is critical for modern hotels aiming to boost guest satisfaction while reducing operational costs. Canary Contactless Check-In and ICG Check-in Online both aim to streamline arrivals, but their approaches and maturity levels differ significantly. Canary offers a full-featured platform with extensive reviews and recent updates, while ICG’s solution appears more basic and less reviewed. Which solution aligns best with your hotel’s needs?
Both products address the core problem of reducing front desk congestion and enhancing guest convenience. Canary’s platform excels in providing a comprehensive suite of features backed by more than 1,300 reviews, including recent feedback from the last six months. ICG’s offering, by contrast, appears to lack user reviews and detailed feature information, indicating a less proven solution. Are you prioritizing proven performance or a simpler, less tested option?
If your hotel needs a mature, feature-rich system with proven results, go with Canary. It’s ideal for mid-sized to large properties seeking deep integration, upselling, and security features. If your hotel’s focus is basic contactless check-in without the need for extensive automation or integrations, ICG might be sufficient, but its limited review data makes it a less reliable choice for most hoteliers. Are you looking for a full-featured platform or a simple check-in tool?
Canary boasts a 4.82/5 ease of use rating, with a well-designed interface praised for quick onboarding and staff adoption. Its reviews highlight a straightforward setup process, typically taking around 20 minutes, and high staff acceptance. ICG’s interface and usability details are unavailable, and the lack of recent reviews suggests limited user feedback. Edge: Canary.
Canary offers 26 unique features, including PMS integration, ID verification, document scanning, pre-arrival upselling, self-service check-in, and multi-lingual support. ICG provides a basic online check-in experience but lacks a detailed list of features, suggesting a more limited scope. Given its extensive capabilities, Canary clearly leads in features. Edge: Canary.
Canary’s customer support ratings are 4.69/5, with reviews emphasizing quick responses and ongoing development. Its support team is praised for helping hotels improve guest experiences and streamline operations. There are no available reviews or data on ICG’s support quality, making it impossible to compare. Edge: Canary.
Canary integrates with 54 verified partners, including major PMS providers, door lock systems, and other hotel tech solutions. ICG offers no listed integrations or verified partner connections, limiting its flexibility. For hotels seeking an adaptable platform with broad system compatibility, Canary is the clear winner. Edge: Canary.
Canary’s 1,391 reviews and a 4.68/5 overall score demonstrate consistent satisfaction across hotel segments, especially in luxury and branded hotels. ICG’s lack of reviews and ratings makes it impossible to gauge user sentiment. For proven hotel satisfaction, Canary is the preferred choice. Edge: Canary.
Canary charges a $300 monthly fee, with no freemium options or hidden costs, offering transparent pricing. ICG’s pricing model is not publicly available, which may be a concern if budget transparency is critical. Based on available data, Canary provides clearer value for money. Edge: Canary.
Not ideal if your hotel is very small with simple needs or budget constraints, as Canary’s extensive features might be excessive.
Not ideal if you require comprehensive features, integrations, or proven support, as ICG lacks detailed reviews and a broad feature set.
Canary Contactless Check-In is a mature, extensively reviewed platform with a proven track record of improving guest satisfaction, increasing revenue, and streamlining hotel operations. Its 1,391 reviews and recent six-month activity confirm its relevance and reliability, making it the clear leader for most hotels.
Choose Canary if your hotel values a feature-rich, well-supported, and highly integrated solution that can grow with your property. It’s ideal for mid-sized to large hotels that want to boost upsells, security, and guest engagement.
ICG Check-in Online may suit very small hotels or those just starting to explore contactless options, but its lack of reviews and features suggests it’s less suited for hotels needing reliability and advanced capabilities.
In conclusion, for a hotel seeking a trusted, comprehensive, and proven contactless check-in system, Canary Technologies stands out as the more reliable choice. It offers the tools, support, and integrations necessary to modernize your guest experience effectively.
Contactless Check-in 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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ICG Software | |
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| Starting Price | From $300/mo | — |
According to HTR's product database, Canary Contactless Check-In and ICG Check-in Online share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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ICG Software |
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| Compliance readiness | ||
| Network security | ||
| PCI compliance audit | ||
| PMS Integration | ||
| Penetration testing | ||
| Threat lifecycle management |
Showing top differences. 14 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 8 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"In short, we’ve been able to improve the guest experience, eliminate fraud, and drive incremental revenue from upsells."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Anytime a software works well and makes my life easier, I like it and Canary has done exactly that. I absolutely recommend the platform to all other hotel operators."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
Many users praised Canary's contactless check-in for its efficiency and convenience, allowing guests to avoid long lines and complete check-in faster.... Many users praised Canary's contactless check-in for its efficiency and convenience, allowing guests to avoid long lines and complete check-in faster. This feature integrates well with other tools to provide a seamless arrival experience for guests, although some users noted occasional technical glitches.
The guest messaging feature was frequently highlighted for enhancing communication between guests and staff. It allows real-time interaction before, d... The guest messaging feature was frequently highlighted for enhancing communication between guests and staff. It allows real-time interaction before, during, and after the stay, which helps resolve issues quickly and keeps guests informed. However, some reported that AI responses can occasionally misinterpret guest messages, requiring manual intervention.
Canary's upselling capabilities were noted for increasing hotel revenue by allowing guests to easily choose upgrades and additional services. Users ap... Canary's upselling capabilities were noted for increasing hotel revenue by allowing guests to easily choose upgrades and additional services. Users appreciated the ability to offer tailored recommendations, leading to higher conversion rates. Some suggested further customization of upsell options by guest profile.
Where hoteliers push back
This feature provides security benefits by verifying guest identities before arrival, reducing the risk of fraud. Reviewers stated it enhances operati... This feature provides security benefits by verifying guest identities before arrival, reducing the risk of fraud. Reviewers stated it enhances operational efficiency but raised concerns about occasional data synchronization issues with PMS systems.
While many found Canary's platform user-friendly, several users reported issues with integrating it with their existing Property Management Systems (P... While many found Canary's platform user-friendly, several users reported issues with integrating it with their existing Property Management Systems (PMS) and suggested that enhancements in this area would further smooth operations.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Canary Contactless Check-In and ICG Check-in Online share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. Canary Contactless Check-In offers 54 verified integration partners, while ICG Check-in Online offers 0. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Canary Contactless Check-In leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 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.
Canary Contactless Check-In: No. ICG Check-in Online: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Contactless Check-in 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. Canary Technologies has an HT Score of 100 and ICG Software 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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