Explara vs. Matrix SMS:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

You're evaluating two hotel sales software options—Explara by Explara and Matrix SMS by M1 Intel—to improve your team’s efficiency and drive revenue. Both aim to streamline different aspects of hotel operations: Explara focuses on event and membership management, while Matrix centers on sales pipeline management for hotels. The key question is which platform aligns best with your hotel’s specific needs and growth plans.

Explara offers a comprehensive event-focused platform with strong engagement tools, but it lacks recent reviews and an active user base in the hotel industry. Conversely, Matrix SMS boasts high user satisfaction, recent positive reviews, and features tailored to hotel sales teams. So, which one is truly better suited for your hotel’s sales and marketing goals?

Is Explara or Matrix SMS Better for Hotels?

Explara and Matrix serve different core functions—event management versus sales pipeline management—yet both aim to increase your hotel’s operational efficiency. Explara provides a unified, cloud-based platform designed for event organizers, offering tools like ticketing, registration, and post-event surveys that can benefit hotels hosting conferences or large gatherings. However, it has not garnered recent reviews or active hotel industry adoption, raising questions about its current relevance for hotel sales.

Matrix SMS, on the other hand, is explicitly built for hotel sales teams, featuring modern tools such as deep search, pipeline tracking, and real-time reporting. Its recent reviews highlight high satisfaction levels, especially among hotel segments like branded and limited-service hotels, making it a more reliable choice if your team’s focus is on sales performance. Given the recent reviews and high ratings, Matrix appears to be the more trusted option for hotel sales teams today.

Matrix SMS vs Explara: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a dedicated sales management system that offers quick lead tracking, deal management, and data visibility, Matrix SMS is the clear choice. It has a 4.94/5 ease of use rating, 4.89/5 customer support rating, and 18 recent reviews, demonstrating strong user confidence. Its features—workflow automations, contact management, pipeline CRM, and lead scoring—are tailored to drive sales growth efficiently.

Explara might be suitable if your hotel regularly hosts events or conferences and needs a platform to manage registrations, memberships, and event logistics. Still, with zero recent reviews and a focus on event management rather than sales, it’s less compelling for your core hotel sales activities. For sales-focused hotels seeking measurable results, Matrix’s recent positive reviews and feature set make it the smarter pick.

Is Explara or Matrix SMS Easier to Use?

Matrix SMS shines with a 4.94/5 ease of use rating based on recent user reviews, highlighting its intuitive interface, straightforward navigation, and minimal learning curve. Users praise its simplicity, especially for managing leads and tracking deals efficiently, with onboarding rated a perfect 5/5 and staff adoption reportedly smooth.

Explara, by contrast, has no available usability ratings or recent reviews to support its ease of use claim. Its platform, tailored to event management, appears more complex for hotel sales teams and less tested in hotel sales workflows. Based on current data, Edge: Matrix SMS.

Which Has Better Features: Explara or Matrix SMS?

Explara offers an all-in-one event and membership management platform, but it has no unique features documented in the current data. It provides pre-event, event-day, and post-event tools, but these are less relevant to direct hotel sales activities.

Matrix SMS provides nine features, including workflow automations, pipeline CRM, lead scoring, contact management, and data migration services—specifically designed for hotel sales teams. These features directly support lead management, deal tracking, and sales analytics, making it more practical for your team’s growth. Edge: Matrix SMS.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Explara or Matrix SMS?

There are no recent reviews or ratings for Explara’s customer support, so its quality remains uncertain. Its lack of recent feedback raises concerns about ongoing support and responsiveness, especially critical when implementing new software.

Matrix SMS, with a 4.89/5 support rating from 18 recent reviews, demonstrates strong customer service. Users describe the team as responsive and open to feedback, which is crucial for ongoing success and troubleshooting. Edge: Matrix SMS.

Which Has More Integrations: Explara or Matrix SMS?

Neither platform currently offers verified integrations or a partner ecosystem, limiting potential connectivity with other hotel systems. Without integrations, your hotel might need manual data transfer or custom development, which could hamper workflows.

Given the lack of integration options, both platforms are on equal footing here. However, Matrix’s focus on sales features suggests that future integrations could enhance its utility, giving it slightly more potential for growth.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Explara or Matrix SMS?

Since Explara has no recent reviews or ratings in the hotel industry, it cannot be considered highly rated by hoteliers at this time. In contrast, Matrix SMS has garnered 18 recent reviews, with users praising its ease of use, support, and sales impact.

Hotels in segments like branded and limited-service properties consistently rate Matrix higher, appreciating its streamlined interface and real-time reporting. With recent reviews indicating high satisfaction, Edge: Matrix SMS.

How Much Do Explara and Matrix SMS Cost?

Explara does not publicly disclose pricing or offer a free trial, which may complicate budget planning. Its platform is positioned as an event management solution, often tailored to larger organizations with custom quotes.

Matrix SMS is priced at $400 per month with no free trial or tiered options available. Its transparent pricing and focus on hotel sales make it easier for your team to evaluate ROI and budget accordingly. Given the lack of detailed pricing from Explara, Edge: Matrix SMS.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Explara?

• Hotels that host frequent conferences, meetings, or large events and need integrated event management tools.
• Hotels with active associations or group bookings that benefit from membership and survey functionalities.
• Teams aiming to streamline event logistics, check-in, and attendee engagement with a unified platform.
• Hotels that prioritize post-event engagement and community building through surveys and memberships.

Not ideal if your primary goal is direct sales pipeline management, lead tracking, or real-time sales analytics.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Matrix SMS?

• Hotels seeking to improve their sales team’s efficiency with tools like lead scoring, pipeline tracking, and automated workflows.
• Teams that want clear visibility into sales performance across multiple properties or segments.
• Hotels looking for a modern, intuitive platform with ongoing support and recent positive reviews.
• Hotels that need a scalable solution to manage high volumes of leads and deals with minimal complexity.

Not ideal if your hotel’s focus is primarily on event planning, memberships, or non-sales functions.

Matrix SMS vs Explara: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference lies in their primary focus: Explara is a comprehensive event and membership platform, while Matrix SMS is a dedicated sales management tool tailored for hotel teams. Explara excels in managing large-scale events, from registration to post-event surveys, but lacks recent hotel industry validation. Matrix SMS offers a streamlined sales pipeline with a proven track record, especially given its recent reviews and high satisfaction ratings.

Choose Explara if your hotel hosts many events and needs an all-in-one management platform, but be aware of its limited hotel-specific feedback. Opt for Matrix SMS if your priority is boosting sales efficiency, gaining real-time insights, and working with a platform that hoteliers currently rate highly. For most hotel sales teams aiming for measurable results, Matrix SMS provides a clearer, more confident path forward.