Preno vs. ThinkReservations PMS:
Which Is Right for You?

Is Preno by Preno or ThinkReservations PMS by ThinkReservations Better for Hotels?

Preno and ThinkReservations both serve independent hotels, but they diverge sharply in scope and regional focus. Preno targets boutique hotels, motels, B&Bs, and pubs with rooms, emphasizing simplicity and integration with accounting systems like Xero. Its user base is global, spanning 24 countries, with a strong presence in boutique hotels (19%) and motels (25%). ThinkReservations concentrates primarily on North American independent inns and small hotels, especially bed & breakfasts (63% of its users), with deeper OTA integration for channels like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb.

Both products solve the core problem of managing bookings, payments, and daily operations in a unified system designed for small to medium-sized hotels. They reduce administrative burdens by connecting reservations, guest communications, and financial workflows, aiming to increase operational efficiency and revenue. The choice hinges on your property type, geographic region, and the complexity of your channel and revenue management needs.

Preno by Preno vs ThinkReservations PMS by ThinkReservations: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If you run a boutique hotel, motel, or B&B outside North America, especially in one of the 24 countries Preno supports, Preno fits best. Its integrated CRM, revenue management module, and native Xero integration support properties needing straightforward financial workflows and multi-property management. This is backed by 170 reviews, including 68 from boutique hotels, with an overall rating of 4.8/5. However, recent review activity dropped sharply, with only 3 reviews in the last six months versus an average of 23.3, indicating potential recent product or support changes that buyers should consider.

If your property is a bed & breakfast, inn, or small hotel in North America, particularly seeking broad OTA connectivity and a booking engine with upsell capabilities, ThinkReservations is preferable. It holds 424 reviews with a strong last-six-months rating of 4.9/5 across 38 recent reviews, signaling current customer satisfaction. Its user base of 63% B&Bs and solid ratings across segments (4.9/5 for B&Bs from 375 reviews) supports this fit. Its features like multi-currency, digital registration, and integrated payment terminals cater to properties with higher operational complexity. Data for outside North America and larger chains is limited for ThinkReservations.

Is Preno or ThinkReservations Easier to Use?

Both Preno and ThinkReservations score identically in ease of use and onboarding at 4.8/5 and 4.7/5 respectively. Reviewers for Preno highlight its intuitive interface and quick staff training, with one noting "Any of my staff can log on from any office, any laptop, any phone, anywhere in the world," reflecting cloud-based flexibility. ThinkReservations users praise its simplicity for daily operations, with comments like "So easy even a caveman like me can run this stuff" and reports of smooth transitions from legacy systems.

Both systems benefit from responsive support during onboarding, though Preno’s onboarding may involve a more time-consuming setup phase. This does not impact ease of use once implemented. Staff adoption appears strong for both, aided by clean interfaces and accessible customer support. Given identical scores and comparable user feedback, neither product has a clear ease of use advantage.

Edge: Even.

Which Has Better Features: Preno or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations offers 14 unique hotel features Preno lacks, including guest communication via SMS, multi-currency support, digital and tablet/kiosk check-in, integrated payment terminals, and shift planning. These features support hotels with more complex operational needs, such as properties processing multiple currencies, automating guest messaging, and streamlining check-in workflows. ThinkReservations’ rate management and tax configuration tools provide finer control over pricing and compliance.

Preno has 5 distinctive features: guest CRM, integrated central reservation system (CRS), a revenue management module, automated space optimization, and automated room assignments. These features focus on operational efficiency and revenue optimization, helping properties with multi-property management and dynamic pricing. The guest CRM and automated assignments reduce front desk workload by centralizing guest data and optimizing room allocation.

With 25 shared features and a significant number of unique features on each side, ThinkReservations’ richer feature set better serves properties needing advanced operational and guest communication tools. Preno’s unique features concentrate on revenue and space optimization for independent properties with fewer operational complexities.

Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Preno or ThinkReservations?

Both products have strong customer support ratings at 4.8/5 overall and 4.7/5 for onboarding. Preno’s users consistently praise the support team’s responsiveness and willingness to incorporate user feedback, with one reviewer remarking on the "exemplary" support and smooth transition experience. However, some note occasional delays during busy periods or weekends.

ThinkReservations receives frequent praise for live-person support and knowledgeable account managers who understand innkeeping. Reviewers highlight the ease of reaching support by phone, chat, or email and proactive issue resolution. One customer called the support "very accessible" and "highly recommended."

Neither product shows a significant edge in ratings or qualitative feedback.

Edge: Even.

Which Has More Integrations: Preno or ThinkReservations?

Both Preno and ThinkReservations report 17 verified integrations, including a shared partnership with TrustYou. Preno’s integrations emphasize accounting and revenue management tools like Xero, Bookboost, RevControl, and channel managers such as SiteMinder and STAAH. These integrations support streamlined financial reconciliation and channel distribution, critical for properties managing revenue and avoiding overbookings.

ThinkReservations integrates with OTAs and guest experience platforms including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Triptease, and INTELITY, supporting extensive online distribution and guest engagement. It also integrates with payment, marketing, and guest communication tools like Sojern, Whistle, and CartStack.

For hotels prioritizing financial and revenue operations, Preno’s integrations fit best. Properties focused on maximizing OTA reach and guest experience automation will lean toward ThinkReservations’ ecosystem.

Edge: Even.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Preno or ThinkReservations?

Both products share an overall rating of 4.8/5 on Hotel Tech Report, but ThinkReservations’ rating is based on a larger and more recent sample: 424 reviews total, with 38 in the last six months averaging 4.9/5. Preno’s 4.8/5 rating comes from 170 reviews, but only 3 recent reviews—87% fewer than its historical six-month average—making its current rating less representative.

Segment-specific ratings favor ThinkReservations in B&B & Inns with 4.9/5 (375 reviews) versus Preno’s 4.8/5 (65 reviews). Preno scores well in boutique hotels (4.8/5 from 68 reviews) and motels (4.8/5 from 55 reviews), where ThinkReservations also performs solidly but with fewer reviews.

The volume and recency of ThinkReservations’ reviews suggest a more reliable current rating, signaling strong ongoing customer satisfaction. Preno’s sharp drop in recent review activity demands caution as its all-time ratings may not reflect recent product or support changes.

Edge: Even.

How Much Do Preno and ThinkReservations Cost?

Both Preno and ThinkReservations have a base price of $500. Neither offers a freemium tier, monthly flat fee, nor per-room pricing. Preno includes a 30-day trial, while ThinkReservations does not offer a trial period publicly. Neither charges an implementation fee.

The pricing models are straightforward and align similarly, so pricing should not be a decisive factor unless trial availability and upfront evaluation periods matter to a buyer.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Preno?

• Hotels that operate boutique hotels, motels, or B&Bs in one of 24 supported countries outside North America.
• Teams that require integrated accounting with Xero and simplified multi-property management.
• Properties prioritizing revenue management and dynamic pricing optimization via automated space and assignment modules.
• Operations seeking a cloud-based PMS with easy staff training and centralized guest CRM.
• Hotels looking for a system that integrates with major channel managers like SiteMinder and supports automated guest communications via email.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel requires advanced guest messaging including SMS or multi-channel communications.
• You need multi-currency support or integrated payment terminals and kiosks for check-in/out.
• You rely heavily on North American OTA connectivity or need deep booking engine customization.
• Your team demands a mobile app with offline capability or more extensive reporting tools.

What Type of Hotel Should Use ThinkReservations?

• Bed & breakfasts, inns, and small independent hotels primarily located in North America.
• Properties that depend on wide OTA connectivity including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, and Tripadvisor.
• Hotels needing advanced guest communication tools including SMS messaging and automated reminders.
• Teams requiring multi-currency handling, task management, and integrated payment terminals to streamline operations.
• Hotels looking for digital and tablet/kiosk check-in features to enhance guest experience and reduce front desk workload.

Not ideal if:

• Operating outside North America or in regions not supported by ThinkReservations.
• Your property prioritizes integrated accounting with Xero or automated space optimization features.
• You prefer trial access before committing, as ThinkReservations does not offer a public trial.
• You require extensive multi-property management capabilities.

Preno by Preno vs ThinkReservations PMS by ThinkReservations: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Preno and ThinkReservations both deliver strong PMS solutions for independent hotels but differ in geographic reach, feature focus, and customer base. Preno offers an integrated CRM, revenue management, and automated space optimization, excelling in boutique hotels and motels outside North America. ThinkReservations provides a broader feature set with advanced guest communication, multi-currency, and OTA channel integrations, making it a better fit for North American B&Bs and inns.

Choose Preno if your property values seamless accounting integration with Xero, multi-property management, and dynamic pricing tools that improve revenue without adding operational complexity. Its 170 reviews and 4.8/5 rating reflect reliable performance, though recent review activity has decreased sharply, warranting caution.

Opt for ThinkReservations if your hotel prioritizes extensive OTA connectivity, advanced guest messaging including SMS, and digital check-in features to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency. Supported by 424 reviews and a 4.9/5 rating in the last six months, ThinkReservations demonstrates strong current satisfaction, particularly among B&Bs and small hotels in North America.

Edge calls favor ThinkReservations on features and more current rating data, while ease of use, support, integrations, and overall ratings are even. The sharp decline in Preno's recent review volume suggests buyers should verify current product status before committing.