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 155 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:
NewBook shines in customer support and ROI .
Visual Matrix PMS shines when it comes to technical support challenges , with exclusive features like Housekeeping module and Revenue Management Module.
Side-by-side ratings based on 155 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $500/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 3 | 152 |
After analyzing 155 verified reviews, NewBook users most value its , while Visual Matrix PMS users highlight technical support challenges, user-friendly interface, comprehensive reporting tools. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Technical support challenges
▾
|
|
|
+
User-friendly interface
▾
|
|
|
+
Comprehensive reporting tools
▾
|
|
|
+
Streamlined operations
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Technical support challenges
▾
|
|
|
−
Booking and reservation management
▾
|
|
|
−
System speed and feature availability
▾
|
|
How each product ranks among Hotel Management Software 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) ▾ | #39 3 reviews | #18 23 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #44 0 reviews | #2 117 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | — | #11 5 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #16 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #43 0 reviews | #12 38 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #16 17 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #42 0 reviews | #1 124 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #4 44 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #26 1 reviews | #7 141 reviews |
| Europe | — | #32 1 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #18 2 reviews |
Choosing the right hotel management software is crucial for streamlining your operations, increasing bookings, and enhancing guest experiences. With NewBook All-in-1 HMS and Visual Matrix PMS both targeting similar functions, your decision hinges on a few key factors: scale, features, support, and regional presence. While both platforms aim to simplify hotel management, their approach and strengths vary significantly.
NewBook offers a cloud-based solution with a reputation built on ease of use and customer support, primarily serving motels and RV parks. Visual Matrix, meanwhile, boasts a broader feature set and more recent reviews, with a global presence and a focus on understaffed hotels. Is one notably better suited for your specific needs?
Both products aim to centralize hotel management, but they diverge in their core strengths. NewBook emphasizes simplicity, ease of onboarding, and customer support, making it ideal for smaller properties or operators new to PMS software. Visual Matrix, on the other hand, offers extensive features like a booking engine, revenue management, and integrations, which cater more to larger or more complex hotel operations.
NewBook’s recent reviews focus almost exclusively on its ease of use and support, with a perfect customer support rating of 5/5. Visual Matrix's reviews highlight operational efficiency and integration capabilities, with a score of 4.34/5 for support, but some users mention system slowdowns and feature bloat. Do you prioritize a straightforward, supportive platform, or a feature-rich system with a steeper learning curve?
If your hotel operates primarily as a motel or RV park and values straightforward management, NewBook is the better fit. Its simple interface, quick onboarding, and Australian-origin understanding of rural needs make it ideal for small to medium properties seeking reliability and support.
Conversely, if your property is a branded hotel, resort, or understaffed operation needing extensive features like a booking engine, revenue management, or multi-lingual support, Visual Matrix is the superior choice. Its vast feature set (55 exclusive features) and global coverage cater to diverse hotel types with more complex operational needs.
NewBook’s ease of use scores 4.67/5, with reviews emphasizing its intuitive design and quick learning curve. Users highlight its cloud platform and friendly onboarding, with comments like, "AMAZING EASY SYSTEM," and praise for training and support that help staff adopt it rapidly.
Visual Matrix also scores highly at 4.43/5, with users appreciating its user-friendly interface and mobile app. However, some mention system slowdowns and feature overload, which can hinder efficiency during busy times. Edge: NewBook.
Visual Matrix’s feature count is significantly higher, with 55 exclusive functions including a booking engine, channel manager, revenue management, guest messaging, and integrated POS. It also offers modules like digital registration, automated night audits, and real-time reporting.
NewBook, by comparison, does not list many standalone features, focusing instead on core PMS functions like reservations, online check-in, and integrated payments. It offers an all-in-one platform without the extensive modularity seen in Visual Matrix. Edge: Visual Matrix PMS.
NewBook’s perfect 5/5 customer support rating reflects consistent praise for its support team’s responsiveness and helpfulness. Users describe support as "dedicated," "timely," and "solution-driven," emphasizing ongoing training and support during onboarding and beyond.
Visual Matrix scores 4.34/5, with positive comments about knowledgeable staff and support availability. Some users, however, report difficulty reaching tech support quickly during critical moments. Edge: NewBook.
Visual Matrix leads with 23 verified partners, including key integrations like SiteMinder, Channel Manager, and OTELIER, supporting extensive connectivity with online travel agencies and booking channels.
NewBook offers 16 verified partners, including GuestRevu, Revinate, and Tripadvisor, but fewer overall. Both products support essential integrations, but Visual Matrix's broader ecosystem may better serve complex, multi-channel operations. Edge: Visual Matrix PMS.
NewBook’s reviews, though limited to three, are all highly positive, with 100% likelihood to recommend and a perfect support score. Its recent reviews highlight ease of onboarding and operational efficiency in small properties.
Visual Matrix’s 143 reviews, with a 92% recommendation rate, show strong satisfaction among a broader range of hotel types, especially branded hotels and resorts. Its recent reviews praise operational control but also mention system speed issues. Given the volume and recency, Visual Matrix’s ratings are more representative. Edge: Visual Matrix PMS.
NewBook does not publicly list pricing, but it is known to be a subscription-based service without implementation fees, tailored to property size. Visual Matrix charges a flat fee of $500/month, with no trial or setup fee listed.
Pricing differences may reflect feature scope, with NewBook’s tailored solutions possibly more affordable for small properties, while Visual Matrix's flat rate may suit larger operations with extensive needs. Exact prices depend on your property size and requirements.
Hotels that benefit from NewBook’s strengths:
Not ideal if:
Hotels that will thrive with Visual Matrix:
Not ideal if:
The core difference lies in scope. NewBook offers a straightforward, support-focused platform tailored for smaller properties, especially motels and RV parks, emphasizing ease of use and customer service.
Visual Matrix provides a broad feature set and integrations suitable for larger, branded, or complex hotels, with a focus on operational automation and revenue optimization. If you need a simple PMS, NewBook is the safer choice; for extensive management, Visual Matrix is better.
If your hotel values support, simplicity, and rapid onboarding, go with NewBook. Its recent reviews and support score make it a clear leader for small to medium properties.
If your hotel requires advanced features, integrations, and control, choose Visual Matrix. Its larger installed base, recent reviews, and extensive modules make it the better option for complex or branded hotels.
In conclusion:
Your choice should align with your property’s operational complexity and growth plans.
Hotel Management Software 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 $500/mo |
According to HTR's product database, NewBook All-in-1 HMS and Visual Matrix PMS share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Booking Engine | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Group Booking Engine | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Point of Sale | ||
| Property Management System |
Showing top differences. 43 more features differ between these products.
Ranks higher for
What hoteliers love
While support is generally quick and effective, some users report challenges in reaching tech support during critical situations, suggesting improveme... While support is generally quick and effective, some users report challenges in reaching tech support during critical situations, suggesting improvements in call center operations.
Visual Matrix's intuitive design reduces the learning curve, making it accessible for new hires. However, some users mention initial difficulties tran... Visual Matrix's intuitive design reduces the learning curve, making it accessible for new hires. However, some users mention initial difficulties transitioning from other systems.
Users find Visual Matrix's reporting tools robust and comprehensive, aiding in informed decision-making by allowing access to detailed metrics on occu... Users find Visual Matrix's reporting tools robust and comprehensive, aiding in informed decision-making by allowing access to detailed metrics on occupancy, revenue, and forecasting.
Where hoteliers push back
While support is generally quick and effective, some users report challenges in reaching tech support during critical situations, suggesting improveme... While support is generally quick and effective, some users report challenges in reaching tech support during critical situations, suggesting improvements in call center operations.
The software's seamless integration with booking channels minimizes overbooking and improves reservation accuracy, ultimately maximizing revenue.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. NewBook All-in-1 HMS and Visual Matrix PMS share many core Hotel Management Software features, but each has unique capabilities. NewBook All-in-1 HMS offers 16 verified integration partners, while Visual Matrix PMS offers 23. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. NewBook All-in-1 HMS leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5. 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.
NewBook All-in-1 HMS: No. Visual Matrix PMS: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Management Software 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. NewBook has an HT Score of 0 and Visual Matrix PMS has 80. 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