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 335 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:
Planet shines .
Simplotel shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile optimized/responsive and Urgency messaging.
Side-by-side ratings based on 335 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 | 332 |
After analyzing 335 verified reviews, Planet users most value its , while Simplotel users highlight service and support, user-friendly interface and design, customer experience enhancement. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Service and Support
▾
|
|
|
+
User-friendly interface and design
▾
|
|
|
+
Customer experience enhancement
▾
|
|
|
+
Integration and Optimization
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Customization and Flexibility
▾
|
|
|
−
Analytics and Reporting
▾
|
|
How each product ranks among Booking Engine 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) ▾ | — | #5 127 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #39 1 reviews | #6 163 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #36 1 reviews | #9 20 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #14 3 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #40 1 reviews | #6 139 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #41 1 reviews | #4 187 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #41 1 reviews | #4 101 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #38 0 reviews | #9 15 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #31 1 reviews | #13 11 reviews |
| Europe | #38 1 reviews | #35 2 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | — | #2 307 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #15 3 reviews |
Choosing between Planet Booking Engine by Planet and Simplotel Booking Engine by Simplotel hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and priorities. Both solutions aim to facilitate online reservations but differ significantly in maturity, features, and user experience. While Planet’s offering is less supported by recent reviews and data, Simplotel’s platform boasts a robust reputation backed by hundreds of recent hotel reviews. Your decision should reflect whether you prioritize a feature-rich, highly-rated platform or a more limited, less-supported system.
Planet’s platform primarily addresses simple booking needs for individual or small-scale properties, especially those with basic rate structures. In contrast, Simplotel caters to hotels of all sizes, including resorts, boutique hotels, and branded properties, with a comprehensive set of e-commerce features. Do you need a straightforward booking tool or a full-featured online sales platform?
Planet’s offering is designed to be a straightforward, no-frills booking system, mainly suitable for small hotels and single-property operators with limited online sales needs. Its review count is minimal, with only 3 recent reviews in the last six months, and an overall rating of 0/5, indicating poor performance and support. Its ratings for ease of use, customer support, and value are alarmingly low, suggesting that your team might struggle with implementation and ongoing support.
Simplotel, on the other hand, is relied upon by over 3,000 hotels across 26 countries, with 297 reviews, 14 of which are recent. Its high overall rating of 4.75/5, coupled with an NPS score of 9.24/10, underscores its reliability and the high satisfaction of its hotel clients. Given these figures, it’s clear that Simplotel is the stronger choice for hotels seeking a proven, well-supported booking platform.
Do you want a simple booking engine that might be limited in scope or a comprehensive solution trusted by hundreds of hotels worldwide?
If your hotel needs a basic, easy-to-implement booking engine for a small property with minimal customization—such as a bed and breakfast or a local boutique—Planet might seem appealing. But, considering its sparse recent reviews and very low ratings, the risk of poor functionality and support is high.
Conversely, if you’re a hotel that requires advanced features, seamless integrations, and reliable vendor support, Simplotel is the clear choice. It offers a suite of 37 unique features—like multi-currency, multi-lingual, abandoned cart recovery, and integrations with leading PMS and channel managers—that are absent from Planet. For hotels aiming to boost direct bookings, improve guest experience, and maximize revenue, Simplotel’s platform stands out.
For property managers who value proven performance and ongoing support, Simplotel’s extensive user base and recent positive reviews make it the recommended option. Which type of booking system aligns better with your hotel’s growth ambitions?
Planet’s ease of use is rated just 1.67 out of 5, with reviews emphasizing its outdated interface, poor onboarding experience, and difficulty in navigating functionalities. Its limited support channels and the apparent lack of ongoing development further complicate staff adoption, especially for teams unfamiliar with complex booking systems.
Simplotel’s platform excels with a 4.65/5 rating for ease of use, praised for its intuitive design, quick training, and straightforward navigation. The onboarding process is smooth, with many users remarking on how quickly their staff adapts, thanks to comprehensive training materials and responsive support teams.
Edge: Simplotel.
Planet’s features are minimal, with no unique or advanced capabilities highlighted. Its limited functionalities mean your hotel must operate with basic reservation management, lacking tools like automation, multi-currency support, or marketing integrations.
Simplotel offers 37 unique features, including mobile responsiveness, multi-room bookings, abandoned cart recovery, multi-currency, multi-lingual support, loyalty integrations, and website integration. These advanced functionalities allow your hotel to personalize guest experiences, optimize revenue, and reduce reliance on OTAs.
Edge: Simplotel.
Planet’s customer support is rated a mere 1/5, with reviews citing unresponsiveness and unhelpful support agents. Guests report difficulty in resolving issues or obtaining timely assistance, which can be detrimental if your hotel relies heavily on online bookings.
Simplotel’s support rating is 4.69/5, with reviews highlighting prompt, friendly, and effective customer service. Users appreciate the proactive communication and ongoing training, which ensure that your team can maximize the platform’s potential without frustration.
Edge: Simplotel.
Planet’s integration count is 195 verified partners, including major channel managers and revenue tools. However, its limited recent reviews and lack of specific integration depth suggest that many of these connections might not be optimized.
Simplotel has 22 verified integrations, with 10 shared partners including Stripe, RateGain, and STAAH. While fewer in total, these integrations are well-supported, ensuring smooth operation with popular property management and marketing platforms.
Edge: Planet (due to sheer number of partners), but quality and support may vary.
Given the sparse reviews for Planet, with only 3, all rated 0/5 and one recent review praising its simplicity only for single-property, low-complexity hotels, it’s clear that user satisfaction is minimal.
Simplotel’s reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.75/5 rating based on 297 reviews, including 14 recent ones. Hoteliers from various segments—resorts, boutique hotels, and branded properties—highlight its ease of use, support, and revenue impact.
Edge: Simplotel.
Planet’s pricing is unavailable, suggesting it may operate on a custom quote or free model, but combined with its limited support, it likely entails hidden or ongoing costs that aren’t transparent.
Simplotel charges a straightforward $500/month, with no implementation fee, making budgeting simple for your hotel. Its transparent pricing aligns with its scalable, feature-rich platform, providing clear value.
Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced automation, multi-property management, or support for complex rate structures.
Not ideal if your hotel has very limited digital needs and prefers a simple, minimal support platform.
Planet’s booking engine appears limited and unsupported, with very low ratings and minimal recent activity. It might serve very small, straightforward properties in the short term but presents significant risks if growth or support are priorities.
Simplotel, backed by hundreds of recent reviews and a high satisfaction score, offers an extensive feature set, integrations, and proactive support. Its platform is well-suited for hotels seeking to boost direct bookings, improve guest engagement, and grow their online presence.
If your hotel values reliability, features, and ongoing support, Simplotel is the clear choice. For small, simple operations with no growth plans, Planet might suffice, but the risk of poor functionality and support should be carefully considered.
According to HTR's product database, Planet Booking Engine and Simplotel Booking Engine share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Automated reporting | ||
| Mobile optimized/responsive | ||
| Pooled inventory | ||
| Pre-stay emails | ||
| Tariffs | ||
| Urgency messaging |
Showing top differences. 25 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Although customer support is generally rated as responsive and helpful, there are calls for more proactive communication. Monthly check-ins and traini... Although customer support is generally rated as responsive and helpful, there are calls for more proactive communication. Monthly check-ins and training materials are suggested for enhanced service.
Simplotel's booking engine stands out for its intuitive and user-friendly design, simplifying navigation for guests and hoteliers. Reviews consistentl... Simplotel's booking engine stands out for its intuitive and user-friendly design, simplifying navigation for guests and hoteliers. Reviews consistently mention improved booking experience and engagement, translating to increased bookings and customer satisfaction.
The platform enhances guest experiences by streamlining booking processes and supporting upselling and cross-selling services. This feature is cited f... The platform enhances guest experiences by streamlining booking processes and supporting upselling and cross-selling services. This feature is cited for adding value and contributing to increased revenue.
Where hoteliers push back
Many users appreciate the potential for customizing brand-specific templates and designs but express a demand for more flexibility. There is feedback... Many users appreciate the potential for customizing brand-specific templates and designs but express a demand for more flexibility. There is feedback on limited options for personalizing website layouts and dynamic content.
Simplotel provides robust analytics and reporting features aiding in data-driven decision-making and marketing strategies. Users find these insights b... Simplotel provides robust analytics and reporting features aiding in data-driven decision-making and marketing strategies. Users find these insights beneficial for optimizing bookings, although some suggest further advancements in analytics tools.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Planet Booking Engine and Simplotel Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Planet Booking Engine offers 194 verified integration partners, while Simplotel Booking Engine offers 22. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Simplotel Booking Engine leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 1.7/5. 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.
Planet Booking Engine: No. Simplotel Booking Engine: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Booking Engine 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. Planet has an HT Score of 0 and Simplotel has 90. 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