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 29 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:
ICG Software shines .
LIKE MAGIC shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Hotel Website Check-in Portal and Lobby Kiosk.
Side-by-side ratings based on 29 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $700/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 29 |
After analyzing 29 verified reviews, ICG Software users most value its , while LIKE MAGIC users highlight guest journey app, automation & integration, contactless check-in. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest Journey App
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Automation & Integration
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Contactless Check-in
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Design Flexibility
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Revenue Opportunities
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Analytics & Reporting
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Push Notification Delays
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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 | ICG Software |
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|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #7 12 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #7 10 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #8 3 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment | ICG Software |
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #11 6 reviews |
| Luxury | — | #15 2 reviews |
| Branded / Chain | — | #15 2 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #5 12 reviews |
By Region
| Segment | ICG Software |
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| North America | — | #17 1 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #5 27 reviews |
Choosing a contactless check-in platform is vital in today's hotel landscape, where guest safety and operational efficiency are paramount. Both ICG Check-in Online and LIKE MAGIC aim to streamline check-in procedures, but their approaches and maturity levels differ significantly. ICG offers a basic, less-reviewed solution, while LIKE MAGIC stands out with a comprehensive feature set, higher user ratings, and recent positive reviews. How do these differences impact your decision?
ICG Check-in Online is designed primarily to provide a straightforward contactless check-in experience. It automates core tasks like ID verification and room assignment, reducing manual workload but lacks many advanced features or integrations. Conversely, LIKE MAGIC offers an extensive suite of functionalities, including digital keys, pre-arrival upselling, and multi-lingual options, aiming to elevate both guest experience and operational management.
While ICG's platform is easier to implement due to its simplicity, its limited feature scope means it may fall short in delivering a fully automated, engaging guest journey. LIKE MAGIC, with 17 unique features, caters to hotels seeking a broader, more integrated guest management solution. Does your property need a basic check-in or a comprehensive guest experience platform?
If your hotel prioritizes a feature-rich, well-reviewed contactless check-in system with recent positive feedback, LIKE MAGIC is the clear choice. It is more suitable for hotels or chains looking for automation, upselling opportunities, and a platform with proven high satisfaction scores — 74 out of 100 for the HT Score, with 29 recent reviews and a 99% likelihood to recommend.
In contrast, if your hotel only requires a simple, no-frills online check-in without the need for extensive features or integrations, ICG's offering might suffice. However, be aware that ICG has not received recent reviews or ratings, which limits confidence in its current functionality. Would your hotel benefit most from a simple check-in or a platform that actively enhances guest engagement?
LIKE MAGIC scores a 4.9 out of 5 in ease of use, with recent reviews highlighting its efficiency and straightforward guest interface. Users report that guests find it very efficient and simple to check in without downloads or technical hurdles, making it ideal for international visitors.
ICG Check-in Online, with a 0/5 rating, offers no recent reviews or user feedback, leaving its usability unverified. Its lack of review data suggests limited current user adoption or engagement, which could pose challenges for staff training and guest onboarding.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
LIKE MAGIC boasts 17 features, including hotel website check-in portals, device-agnostic check-in, document scanning, ID verification, digital keys, pre-arrival upselling, and multi-lingual support. These features enable a rich, customized guest experience and operational automation.
ICG Check-in Online offers no documented features beyond the basic online check-in, ID verification, or room assignment. Without additional functionalities, it cannot match LIKE MAGIC's versatility or capacity for revenue-generating upsells.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
LIKE MAGIC is highly rated with a 4.83/5 support score and recent reviews praising its assistance and onboarding process. Users mention that support was responsive and helpful, making platform adoption smoother.
ICG Check-in Online has no recent reviews or ratings, making it difficult to assess its support quality. The absence of feedback suggests limited current customer engagement or potential support gaps.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
LIKE MAGIC has 10 verified integrations, including property management systems like Mews, Oracle Hospitality, and adyen for payments, as well as digital key providers like SALTO Systems. These integrations facilitate a seamless guest experience and operational flow.
ICG Check-in Online has no verified integrations listed, limiting its ability to connect with other hotel systems or automation tools. For hotels seeking an interconnected platform, LIKE MAGIC clearly leads.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
LIKE MAGIC has accumulated 29 recent reviews, with an average score of 74/100, and a 99% likelihood of recommendation across various hotel segments, including city center, boutique, and extended stay hotels. Hoteliers consistently highlight its efficiency, ease, and positive guest feedback.
ICG Check-in Online, with no reviews or recent feedback, cannot be rated or compared, leaving its current user satisfaction unknown. Given the recent reviews for LIKE MAGIC, it offers a more reliable gauge of hotelier satisfaction.
Edge: LIKE MAGIC.
LIKE MAGIC charges a $700 base price with no ongoing monthly fees or implementation costs, offering straightforward pricing. Details about ICG Check-in Online's pricing are unavailable, which may suggest a custom or unclear cost structure.
Without concrete pricing details for ICG, evaluating value for money is challenging. Like MAGIC provides a transparent, predictable fee, making it easier for your team to budget.
Not ideal if your property aims for personalized guest journeys, revenue upselling, or multi-lingual support, as ICG lacks these capabilities.
Not ideal if your hotel requires a free or extremely low-cost platform or has minimal need for integrations and automation.
At its core, LIKE MAGIC is a comprehensive, feature-rich platform designed to elevate guest experience and operational efficiency. Its higher ratings, recent positive reviews, and extensive integrations make it the superior choice for most hotels today.
If your hotel needs a simple, no-frills online check-in, and you’re on a tight budget, ICG's solution could suffice—but expect limited functionality and confidence in current support or updates.
For most properties aiming to grow revenue, streamline operations, and delight guests, LIKE MAGIC offers the better value and proven results. Choose LIKE MAGIC if you want a platform with recent reviews, a broad feature set, and strong hotelier satisfaction.
Note: Given the limited data on ICG Check-in Online, its capabilities and support quality are less certain. However, the clear advantage in recent reviews and feature set favors LIKE MAGIC as the more reliable, scalable option for today’s hotel industry.
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.
| ICG Software |
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| Starting Price | — | From $700/mo |
According to HTR's product database, ICG Check-in Online and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature | ICG Software |
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| Custom Questions | ||
| Device Agnostic | ||
| Hotel Website Check-in Portal | ||
| Lobby Kiosk | ||
| Self Service Checkin | ||
| Self Service Checkout |
Showing top differences. 5 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 4 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Like Magic allowed us to operate with just six staff members, without compromising guest experience. The platform is easy to use, fun to work with, and has revolutionized how we ru..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"LIKE MAGIC isn't just a tool for us, it's the backbone of our overall guest experience. If I ever worked somewhere else, I'd bring it with me."
What hoteliers love
The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its i... The Guest Journey App serves as a centralized hub, integrating multiple communication channels and allowing guests to manage services digitally. Its intuitive design significantly reduces staffing needs while enhancing guest experience.
Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as... Users value LikeMagic for its seamless integration with existing systems like PMS and digital key systems. The automation of repetitive tasks, such as housekeeping and payment processing, frees up hotel staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences.
LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via... LikeMagic's contactless check-in feature is highly praised for enhancing guest convenience and reducing front desk congestion. Guests can check in via mobile, offering a quick and hygienic process, particularly appreciated by international visitors.
Where hoteliers push back
LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating addi... LikeMagic is noted for driving upsell revenue through features like room upgrades and package add-ons. The platform's capabilities in integrating additional services, such as late checkouts or in-room dining, provide valuable opportunities for increasing revenue.
The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest... The need for more comprehensive analytics and reporting features is frequently mentioned. Users express a desire for advanced modules that track guest engagement and provide key performance metrics, potentially leading to better decision-making and service improvements.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. ICG Check-in Online and LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. ICG Check-in Online offers 0 verified integration partners, while LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) offers 10. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in) 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.
ICG Check-in Online: No. LIKE MAGIC (Check-in): 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. ICG Software has an HT Score of 0 and LIKE MAGIC has 74. 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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