Exely Booking Engine vs. Planet Booking Engine:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine can significantly impact your hotel's direct booking rate, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction. You are evaluating Exely Booking Engine by Exely and Planet Booking Engine by Planet, two products designed to streamline reservations and boost revenue. Both aim to enhance your online presence, but they diverge in features, support, and market presence. What will best serve your hotel’s unique needs and growth ambitions?

Is Exely or Planet Better for Hotels?

Exely and Planet both aim to simplify the booking process, but Exely excels with a dedicated focus on driving direct bookings through an extensive suite of marketing tools. Planet, meanwhile, offers a straightforward reservation platform optimized for international reach and ease of use, especially for properties with simple needs.

Exely’s high ratings—92.67 HTR score, 4.91 ease of use, 4.96 support—show a product favored by users for its reliability and customer service. Planet’s ratings, by contrast, are much lower, with a 1.67 ease of use and 1 support score, indicating limited satisfaction and recent reviews. Exely’s recent, more frequent reviews (63 in the last 6 months) contrast sharply with Planet's single review, making Exely the more trusted choice. Are you willing to prioritize a product with proven performance and recent updates?

Exely vs Planet: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel seeks a booking engine with a rich feature set designed to maximize direct bookings, go with Exely. Its 29 unique features—such as multi-lingual support, conversion reports, flexible rates, and integrations with major platforms—are tailored for independent hotels and hotel chains aiming to increase revenue and guest engagement.

If, however, your hotel has very simple needs, primarily servicing international guests or running a single property with basic reservation requirements, Planet might seem appealing. Its limited features and lower ratings suggest it’s better suited for small, low-complexity operations or budget-conscious properties. Given Exely’s comprehensive feature set and recent positive reviews, it is the clearer choice for most hotels seeking growth. Which profile best matches your hotel’s ambition and complexity?

Is Exely or Planet Easier to Use?

Exely’s ease of use scores an impressive 4.91 out of 5, supported by recent reviews praising its intuitive dashboard, quick onboarding, and friendly interface. Customers mention that staff can learn and adopt it rapidly, even without technical backgrounds.

Planet’s ease of use scores just 1.67, with reviews criticizing its outdated interface, limited functionality, and steep learning curve. Support responsiveness is also described as virtually non-existent, making onboarding and daily use challenging. For a hotel prioritizing staff adoption and minimal fuss, Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Features: Exely or Planet?

Exely offers 29 features exclusive to its platform, including mobile optimization, multi-room bookings, multi-currency support, booking abandonment recapture, and website integration—capabilities that are absent in Planet. Its features are designed to increase conversions and streamline marketing efforts.

Planet provides no additional features beyond basic booking functions, which limits its utility for hotels looking to innovate or customize the guest experience. Exely’s extensive feature set and focus on automation and marketing give it a decisive advantage. Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Exely or Planet?

Exely’s 4.96 support rating, along with recent reviews, highlights a committed team that responds promptly and effectively. Customers commend their proactive approach and willingness to implement improvements, which is rare in this industry.

Planet’s customer support score is only 1, with reviews describing unresponsiveness and delays, leaving users frustrated. Support quality is critical for resolving issues quickly and minimizing downtime. Edge: Exely.

Which Has More Integrations: Exely or Planet?

Exely integrates with 8 verified partners, including notable systems like Clock, Bakuun.com Ltd, and Mews. While fewer than Planet’s 195 partners, these integrations are targeted and relevant for many independent hotels.

Planet boasts a much broader network with 195 integrations, including key industry players like Innspire, Omnibees, and RevControl. However, the sheer volume does not translate into quality or suitability for your hotel, especially given the lack of recent reviews or demonstrated performance.

Exely’s focused, well-supported integrations are more reliable for most hotels. Edge: Exely.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Exely or Planet?

Exely’s recent reviews reflect high satisfaction, with a 98% likelihood to recommend and an average rating that underscores reliability and value. Hoteliers from diverse segments like small hotels, resorts, and city center properties praise its user-friendliness and support.

Planet’s ratings are negligible, with only one review from a single property, giving no clear indication of user satisfaction. The recent review data favors Exely as the more trusted and proven option. Edge: Exely.

How Much Do Exely and Planet Cost?

Exely’s pricing is listed at $200 per month with no implementation, freemium, or trial options. Its transparent flat-rate model simplifies budgeting and planning.

Planet does not provide explicit pricing details, which could suggest a customized or unclear pricing structure. Given the lack of transparent pricing and the low review confidence, Exely presents a more predictable investment.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Exely?

• Hotels that want to increase direct bookings through marketing tools and customizable offers.
• Teams aiming for a user-friendly platform with quick onboarding and strong support.
• Hotels with multiple properties or complex rate structures seeking automation.
• Independent hotels, boutique properties, resort operators, or city hotels focusing on revenue growth.
• Not ideal if your hotel has very basic needs or simply requires a minimal reservation system without marketing features.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates with extremely limited staff and prefers a simple, no-frills system.
• You need a free or very low-cost solution.
• You have no plans for extensive marketing or multi-channel management.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Planet?

• Small hotels or properties with very simple reservation needs.
• Hotels that primarily serve international guests and need multi-language/multi-currency support.
• Budget properties seeking a basic, low-cost online reservation platform.
• Hotels that already have a preferred system and only need minimal integration.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel requires advanced features like automation, detailed reporting, or marketing tools.
• You have multiple properties or complex rate structures.
• You need reliable, ongoing support or rapid updates.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Exely and Planet serve different markets, but the clear leader in terms of recent reviews, features, and support is Exely. Its 144 reviews in the last six months, with a 98% recommendation rate, demonstrate ongoing customer satisfaction and active development.

Exely’s core strength lies in its extensive features tailored for hotels that want to grow their direct bookings and improve operational efficiency. Its standout support, ease of use, and recent positive feedback make it the smart choice for most properties.

Planet’s limited features, poor recent reviews, and support challenges suggest it’s suited only for very simple, budget-conscious hotels with minimal growth aspirations. For hotels serious about increasing revenue and guest experience, Exely is the definitive option.