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 68 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 , with exclusive features like On premise and Guest Communication (SMS Messaging).
RoomKey PMS shines when it comes to customer support , with exclusive features like Integrated ID & Passport Scanner.
Side-by-side ratings based on 68 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $1,000/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 16 | 52 |
After analyzing 68 verified reviews, NewBook users most value its , while RoomKey PMS users highlight customer support, ease of use, training & documentation. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Complexity of Certain Tasks
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How each product ranks among Property Management Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #43 8 reviews | #34 15 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #42 7 reviews | #21 27 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #47 1 reviews | #23 4 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #33 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #47 7 reviews | #24 28 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #53 2 reviews | #32 8 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #44 4 reviews | #27 11 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #44 2 reviews | #24 7 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #39 2 reviews | #13 51 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #30 0 reviews |
Choosing between NewBook and RoomKey PMS boils down to your hotel's specific needs and priorities. Both systems aim to streamline operations, boost revenue, and improve guest experiences, but they approach these goals differently. NewBook offers a more recent, highly-rated platform with a broader feature set and a larger, more recent review base, making it the more reliable choice today. RoomKey PMS, with its extensive partner network and long-standing industry presence, remains a solid option for certain hotel types. Which system aligns better with your operational goals?
NewBook’s 16 reviews over recent months with a 4.75/5 rating and a 96% likelihood to recommend make it the more trusted and proven choice currently. Its ease of use, customer support, and feature set surpass RoomKey PMS’s offerings. While RoomKey has more reviews (50) and a slightly higher partner count, the recency and strength of NewBook’s reviews give it the edge for hoteliers seeking current solutions.
Both NewBook and RoomKey PMS serve the core purpose of managing hotel operations efficiently, but they diverge in focus and strengths. NewBook, with its award-winning reputation, emphasizes a simple, integrated platform with robust features like guest communication, gift vouchers, and a spa module. It’s designed to serve a wide range of accommodations, from motels to resorts, with a focus on boosting revenue and simplifying management.
RoomKey PMS, established in 2000, is a trusted choice for independent hotels, especially those valuing extensive integrations and proven revenue management tools. Its interface is more traditional, with a focus on ease of daily operations and strong customer support. While its visual design needs modernization, it excels in integration capabilities and long-standing industry trust.
Both systems address operational tasks, but NewBook’s more recent, higher-rated reviews and broader feature additions suggest it’s better suited for hoteliers wanting a modern, comprehensive PMS. Do your priorities lie more in modern features or proven stability?
If your hotel needs a modern, easy-to-use platform with a strong focus on increasing bookings, guest communication, and additional modules like spa & wellness or gift vouchers, NewBook is the clear choice. Its 16 recent reviews averaging 4.75/5 and a 96% recommendation rate underscore its current relevance and user satisfaction.
Conversely, if your hotel values a system with a long industry history, extensive integrations, and robust revenue management tools—especially if you’re already integrated with partners like Revinate or SiteMinder—RoomKey PMS remains a solid, reliable option. Its user-friendly design and dedicated support have earned high praise, especially in North America and Europe.
For most hotels, especially those prioritizing current reviews and ongoing feature development, NewBook’s recent performance and high customer ratings make it the recommended pick. Which set of features and support aligns better with your hotel's strategic needs?
NewBook scores a 4.69/5 for ease of use, with recent reviews highlighting its intuitive interface, customizable dashboards, and straightforward booking management. Users praise its minimal learning curve and how staff can adapt quickly, with onboarding rated at 4.77/5.
RoomKey PMS has a solid ease-of-use score of 4.44/5, with reviews indicating it’s easy to learn and navigate. However, some users note that certain tasks require multiple steps, and the platform could benefit from a visual refresh and more intuitive design.
Edge: NewBook
NewBook offers 5 features exclusive to its platform, including a Spa & Wellness Module, Gift Vouchers, Guest Communication via SMS, an integrated Payment Terminal & Card Reader, and on-premise management capabilities. These features enrich the guest experience and streamline operations, especially for resorts and wellness-focused properties.
RoomKey PMS provides 1 unique feature: an integrated ID & Passport Scanner, useful for quick guest verification but less comprehensive overall. Both share 25 core features, but NewBook’s additional modules demonstrate a broader feature set for diverse property types.
Edge: NewBook
NewBook’s customer support scores a perfect 5/5, with reviews praising prompt, knowledgeable, and dedicated support staff. One reviewer stated, “The support desk is so dedicated and creative, truly helping us maximize the system,” which echoes the overall satisfaction.
RoomKey PMS also receives high praise, with a 4.91/5 rating, and users frequently mention Adam and other support staff’s responsiveness. However, the volume and recency of NewBook’s reviews indicate a more consistent and current support experience.
Edge: NewBook
RoomKey PMS has a notable 56 verified integrations, almost double NewBook’s 16, including key partners like SiteMinder, Revinate, and IDeaS. Its extensive partner network supports a wide array of PMS, POS, and revenue management tools, making it suitable for hotels with complex tech stacks.
NewBook’s 16 integrations include prominent partners like GuestRevu, D-Edge, and Tripadvisor, focusing more on guest engagement and online booking enhancements. Its integrations are sufficient for many properties but less extensive.
Edge: RoomKey PMS
NewBook’s reviews, primarily recent, give it a 4.75/5 rating, with hoteliers praising its functionality, support, and ease of use. Its NPS score of 9.63/10 indicates high satisfaction, especially among boutique hotels and resorts.
RoomKey PMS has a solid overall rating of 4.62/5, with many reviews from North American hoteliers highlighting its reliability and customer service. However, its older review base and fewer recent reviews make NewBook’s ratings more relevant for current decision-making.
Edge: NewBook
NewBook’s pricing is straightforward: a base price of $1,000 per month, with no freemium or tiered plans. There are no implementation or hidden fees, providing transparency for hotels planning their budgets.
RoomKey PMS does not publicly list its pricing, which is common for enterprise software. Its cost is often customized based on property size and features, making direct comparison difficult, but it generally targets mid to large independent hotels.
NewBook is a modern, feature-rich PMS with recent, highly-rated reviews supporting its effectiveness. Its focus on simplifying management, boosting bookings, and customer communication makes it ideal for boutique and resort properties looking for a contemporary solution.
RoomKey PMS, with its long industry history, extensive integrations, and dedicated support, remains a dependable choice for hotels that need proven stability and comprehensive partner connectivity, especially in North America.
If you value current reviews, ease of use, and expanding features, NewBook is your best pick. If your hotel relies heavily on integrations and prefers a trusted veteran, RoomKey PMS remains a solid option. Ultimately, for most hoteliers evaluating today’s market, NewBook’s recent performance positions it as the smarter, more adaptable choice.
Property Management Systems 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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| Starting Price | From $1,000/mo | — |
According to HTR's product database, NewBook (PMS) and RoomKey PMS share 25 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) | ||
| Integrated ID & Passport Scanner | ||
| Integrated Payment Terminal & Card Reader | ||
| On premise | ||
| Spa & Wellness Module |
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
RoomKey PMS receives high praise for its customer support, with frequent commendations for Adam's exceptional service. Users appreciate the quick resp... RoomKey PMS receives high praise for its customer support, with frequent commendations for Adam's exceptional service. Users appreciate the quick response times, the detailed assistance provided, and the patience and professionalism of the support team. This excellent support helps hotels resolve issues swiftly, ensuring smooth operational flow.
Users find RoomKey PMS easy to learn and navigate. The system's user-friendly design helps reduce training time and enables staff to perform tasks eff... Users find RoomKey PMS easy to learn and navigate. The system's user-friendly design helps reduce training time and enables staff to perform tasks efficiently. This ease of use is considered a significant advantage over other property management systems.
RoomKey PMS provides comprehensive training and useful online guides, which are highly appreciated by users. This training ensures that hotel staff ca... RoomKey PMS provides comprehensive training and useful online guides, which are highly appreciated by users. This training ensures that hotel staff can effectively use the system, helping hotels to maximize the utility of the PMS and improve operational efficiency.
Where hoteliers push back
Users see potential for various improvements, such as better user role management, enhanced credit card authorization processes, fewer steps for speci... Users see potential for various improvements, such as better user role management, enhanced credit card authorization processes, fewer steps for specific tasks, and more robust mobile applications. Addressing these areas would make the system even more efficient and user-friendly.
Some users mention the complexity involved in completing specific tasks within the system. They note issues with too many steps required for certain f... Some users mention the complexity involved in completing specific tasks within the system. They note issues with too many steps required for certain functions, which can be time-consuming and cumbersome.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
It depends on your requirements. NewBook (PMS) and RoomKey PMS share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. NewBook (PMS) offers 16 verified integration partners, while RoomKey PMS offers 56. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. NewBook (PMS) leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5. 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 (PMS): No. RoomKey PMS: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Property Management Systems 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 RoomKey PMS has 18. 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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