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 87 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:
ChargeAutomation shines when it comes to payment processing , with exclusive features like GlobalPayments (Credit Card Processing) and Payment & Authorizations.
MyStay shines when it comes to contactless check-in , with exclusive features like Guest Segmentation & Targeting and Multi-Channel Delivery (Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Chat).
Side-by-side ratings based on 87 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | From $200/mo | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 44 | 43 |
After analyzing 87 verified reviews, ChargeAutomation users most value its payment processing, contactless check-in, customer support, while MyStay users highlight contactless check-in, guest experience, guest communication. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Payment Processing
▾
|
+
Contactless Check-In
▾
|
|
+
Contactless Check-in
▾
|
+
Guest Experience
▾
|
|
+
Customer Support
▾
|
+
Guest Communication
▾
|
|
+
Upselling Features
▾
|
+
Support and Continuous Improvement
▾
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Customization Limitations
▾
|
−
Customization Options
▾
|
|
−
PMS Integration
▾
|
−
Integration with PMS
▾
|
|
−
Customer Reviews
▾
|
−
System Speed and Performance
▾
|
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 |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #6 13 reviews | #5 15 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #5 16 reviews | #6 10 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #6 5 reviews | #4 7 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #13 1 reviews | #8 3 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #6 9 reviews | #5 12 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #10 6 reviews | #4 11 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #9 4 reviews | #5 12 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #3 18 reviews | #6 9 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #4 19 reviews | #7 3 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #6 20 reviews | #4 32 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | #5 2 reviews | #6 2 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #4 2 reviews |
Choosing between ChargeAutomation’s Online Check-in and MyStay Check-in hinges on your hotel’s specific needs for contactless guest onboarding. ChargeAutomation offers a robust, feature-rich platform with extensive integrations and automation capabilities, while MyStay provides a streamlined, easy-to-use solution emphasizing guest experience and operational efficiency. Both aim to reduce front desk workload and improve guest satisfaction, but they differ in complexity, features, and pricing.
ChargeAutomation's comprehensive automation tools and extensive partner network make it ideal for larger properties or those seeking advanced customization. MyStay, on the other hand, is better suited for hotels prioritizing simplicity and guest engagement. How do you prioritize these factors for your property?
ChargeAutomation, with its 42 reviews and a 0/5 overall rating, is the more established platform, especially among vacation rentals and serviced apartments. Its extensive feature set—over 25 exclusive features—and broader integration network demonstrate its depth and versatility, though it comes at a higher price point ($200/month). MyStay’s 40 reviews and a perfect 5/5 overall rating indicate a highly satisfied user base, especially among boutique and serviced apartment properties, at a slightly higher base price of $400/month.
Given the more recent reviews and higher overall ratings, MyStay’s platform appears more reliable and easier to adopt. For rapid deployment and high satisfaction, MyStay edges out ChargeAutomation. But if your needs include advanced automation, extensive integrations, and customization, ChargeAutomation may be worth the investment.
ChargeAutomation is a comprehensive contactless check-in system designed for hotels and vacation rentals that need deep automation, security, and upselling features. It automates ID verification, payment collection, and guest portal services, making it ideal for properties with high transaction volumes or complex guest verification needs. In contrast, MyStay emphasizes simplicity, speed, and guest communication, making it suitable for hotels aiming to reduce front desk staffing and enhance guest engagement.
ChargeAutomation’s 25 unique features—such as PCI compliance, multi-lingual support, and customizable questions—provide granular control over guest onboarding, ideal for multi-property chains or properties with complex operational needs. Meanwhile, MyStay’s 9 exclusive features, like guest segmentation and multi-channel messaging, focus on elevating guest experience and operational ease. Do you prefer a feature-rich, highly customizable tool or a straightforward, user-friendly platform?
If your hotel needs a deeply automated, security-focused check-in system with extensive integrations and upselling capabilities, ChargeAutomation is the better choice. It’s especially suitable for vacation rentals, serviced apartments, or properties with complex compliance requirements. On the other hand, if your hotel prioritizes easy onboarding, automated communication, and boosting guest satisfaction without extensive customization, MyStay is preferable.
ChargeAutomation’s strengths lie in its detailed automation, payment processing, and security features, making it ideal for larger or tech-savvy operations. MyStay excels in streamlining the guest journey, reducing manual work, and offering a quick setup. If your goal is operational efficiency with a focus on guest experience, go with MyStay; for complex automation and integrations, choose ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation’s UI scores 4.71/5, but with no recent reviews, some users have reported occasional issues with PMS synchronization and limited customization options, which can complicate onboarding. Its onboarding process is rated 4.61/5, and support is highly praised at 4.9/5, indicating solid assistance but potential for improvement in user flexibility.
MyStay boasts a slightly higher ease of use rating at 4.91/5, with recent reviews emphasizing its intuitive interface and quick setup. Hoteliers appreciate its simplified process for both staff and guests, which minimizes training time and reduces errors. Support support is nearly perfect at 4.93/5, with recent feedback highlighting prompt, helpful assistance.
Edge: MyStay.
ChargeAutomation offers 25 unique features, including PCI compliance, multi-lingual support, ID verification, custom questions, and pre-arrival upselling. It also provides extensive payment options with integrations to multiple credit card processors, automates security deposits, and offers a hotel website check-in portal—features that are absent in MyStay.
MyStay’s 9 exclusive features include guest segmentation, multi-channel messaging, digital acceptance, and A/B testing, focusing on personalized guest engagement and operational flexibility. While ChargeAutomation is feature-heavy, MyStay’s features are tailored toward ease of use and guest satisfaction enhancement.
Edge: ChargeAutomation.
ChargeAutomation maintains a customer support rating of 4.9/5, with reviews praising their quick response times and willingness to implement custom solutions at no extra cost. Users indicate that support staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive, which is crucial when dealing with complex integrations or customizations.
MyStay is rated 4.93/5, with reviewers highlighting their prompt assistance and ongoing updates that improve the platform. The support team’s responsiveness and the platform’s ease of troubleshooting make it highly reliable for daily operations.
Edge: MyStay.
ChargeAutomation integrates with 18 verified partners, including Stripe, Beds24, Guesty, and HotelSync, providing deep connectivity with PMS, channel managers, and payment gateways. It supports dedicated integrations with multiple credit card processors, making it ideal for properties requiring extensive connectivity.
MyStay connects with 30 verified partners, including RoomRaccoon, HotelTime, Oracle Hospitality, and Winhotel. Its broader integration scope covers a wide range of PMS and channel management systems, enhancing its flexibility across different hotel tech stacks.
Edge: MyStay.
ChargeAutomation, despite its lower overall rating of 0/5, has 42 reviews mainly from vacation rentals and serviced apartments, with some negative feedback about limited customization and synchronization issues. Its review count and recent lack of feedback suggest less current user satisfaction.
MyStay’s 40 reviews give it a perfect 5/5 rating, with hoteliers across boutique, serviced apartments, and city-center hotels expressing high satisfaction with ease of use and support. Recent reviews reinforce its reputation for reliable, user-friendly operation and guest engagement.
Edge: MyStay.
ChargeAutomation’s pricing is $200/month, with no free tier or trial, positioning it as a premium, enterprise-focused solution. Additional costs may arise from customizations or integrations, depending on your hotel’s needs.
MyStay charges $400/month, also without a free tier or trial. Its higher price reflects its advanced features like guest segmentation and multi-channel messaging, which are included in the base package. Both platforms are similar in pricing structure but differ significantly in feature scope.
Not ideal if your hotel prefers a simple, quick-to-implement solution or has a limited budget.
Not ideal if your hotel needs deep automation, complex integrations, or extensive customization options.
ChargeAutomation and MyStay serve different hotel segments and operational priorities. ChargeAutomation excels at automating complex check-in workflows, security, and upselling but can be more challenging to customize and implement. It’s suited for larger, tech-savvy properties that need extensive integration and automation.
MyStay offers a straightforward, highly-rated platform that simplifies contactless check-in and improves guest interaction. It’s perfect for hotels seeking a quick-to-deploy, reliable solution that enhances guest satisfaction and reduces staffing needs.
If your hotel values automation, security, and customization, ChargeAutomation is the better choice. For ease of use, guest engagement, and a proven high satisfaction rate, MyStay is the clear winner.
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.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $200/mo | From $400/mo |
According to HTR's product database, ChargeAutomation Online Check-in and MyStay Check in share 5 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Ancillary Product Merchandising | ||
| Chase (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| First Data (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| Guest Segmentation & Targeting | ||
| Heartland (Credit Card Processing) | ||
| Multi-Channel Delivery (Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Chat) | ||
| Multi-Processor Gateway | ||
| Offer Templates Library | ||
| PCI Compliance | ||
| Room Upgrade Merchandising | ||
| Segmentation | ||
| Vantiv (Credit Card Processing) |
Showing top differences. 22 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
The software's automated payment processing feature is praised for handling payments, security deposits, and chargebacks. Users appreciate how it mini... The software's automated payment processing feature is praised for handling payments, security deposits, and chargebacks. Users appreciate how it minimizes fraud and error, saving time and reducing labor costs. Payment automation facilitates smoother operations and enhances financial security for both hotels and guests.
ChargeAutomation simplifies the check-in process with its robust contactless solution. Reviews frequently highlight how the system allows guests to co... ChargeAutomation simplifies the check-in process with its robust contactless solution. Reviews frequently highlight how the system allows guests to complete check-in remotely, reducing front desk traffic and wait times. This feature is especially beneficial in minimizing manual work, improving operational efficiency, and creating a better guest experience.
While support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, a few reviews noted the need for improvements in response time and additional sup... While support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, a few reviews noted the need for improvements in response time and additional support personnel. Good support is crucial for resolving issues quickly, thereby affecting the overall experience.
Where hoteliers push back
A critical point raised by some users is the need for more customization options. Reviews mention limitations in the ability to customize the guest po... A critical point raised by some users is the need for more customization options. Reviews mention limitations in the ability to customize the guest portal, email formats, and other interfaces. This lack of flexibility can impact how well the software meets specific needs of different properties.
Although several reviews highlight how ChargeAutomation seamlessly integrates with Property Management Systems (PMS), there are also some criticisms a... Although several reviews highlight how ChargeAutomation seamlessly integrates with Property Management Systems (PMS), there are also some criticisms about its PMS connectivity. Users report issues like synchrony problems and the need for more flexible information transfer capabilities.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Reviewers frequently mention MyStay's contactless check-in feature as a crucial tool, especially during the pandemic. It simplifies and accelerates th... Reviewers frequently mention MyStay's contactless check-in feature as a crucial tool, especially during the pandemic. It simplifies and accelerates the check-in process, allowing guests to complete it before arrival, and reducing physical contact. Users appreciate the ease of use and efficiency it brings to their operation.
Reviewers often remarked how MyStay significantly enhances the guest experience. The platform allows for pre-arrival communications and on-arrival con... Reviewers often remarked how MyStay significantly enhances the guest experience. The platform allows for pre-arrival communications and on-arrival convenience, imparting a feeling of personalized and attentive service. Hoteliers noticed higher guest satisfaction as a direct outcome.
Many reviews highlight how MyStay improves guest communication. The platform allows hoteliers to efficiently communicate with guests before, during, a... Many reviews highlight how MyStay improves guest communication. The platform allows hoteliers to efficiently communicate with guests before, during, and after their stay through automated messages. This feature enhances guest satisfaction by providing timely information and resolving queries promptly.
Where hoteliers push back
Users frequently suggested the need for more customization options, particularly in automated messaging and guest communication templates. They desire... Users frequently suggested the need for more customization options, particularly in automated messaging and guest communication templates. They desire more flexibility in adjusting texts, graphics, and automatic messaging formats to better suit their specific needs.
MyStay's integration with property management systems (PMS) is a valuable feature, mentioned positively in several reviews. This seamless integration... MyStay's integration with property management systems (PMS) is a valuable feature, mentioned positively in several reviews. This seamless integration helps hoteliers manage guest data and operations more effectively. However, some users did encounter occasional syncing issues between MyStay and their PMS.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. ChargeAutomation Online Check-in and MyStay Check in share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. ChargeAutomation Online Check-in offers 18 verified integration partners, while MyStay Check in offers 30. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. MyStay Check in leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 4.7/5. 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.
ChargeAutomation Online Check-in: No. MyStay 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. ChargeAutomation has an HT Score of 24 and MyStay has 22. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 →
Product recommendations advisor