roommaster channel manager vs. Simple Booking (Channel Manager):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When selecting a channel management system, your hotel needs to balance ease of use, feature set, support quality, cost, and market presence. Both roommaster by RoomMaster and Simple Booking offer solutions to streamline distribution across online channels, but they diverge significantly in user feedback, recent activity, and overall market confidence. Your choice hinges on whether you prioritize a proven, review-backed platform or a newer, highly-rated solution with growing support.

While both products aim to automate your distribution and improve operational efficiency, the more recent reviews and higher overall ratings favor one platform clearly. Which software will best meet your hotel's current and future needs?

Is roommaster or Simple Booking Better for Hotels?

Roommaster has been a staple in hotel distribution since 1994, boasting a large network of verified partners and a seasoned presence across seven global regions. Its core function is automating distribution to over 300 OTAs and GDS platforms, ensuring rate parity and inventory accuracy. However, the platform has received mixed reviews over recent years, with particular concerns about after-hours support and high credit card processing fees.

Simple Booking, by contrast, is a newer player with a strong emphasis on ease of use, scoring a 4.95/5 for user friendliness from recent users. Its review count (21) and recent activity are lower, but the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, especially on support and onboarding. Do you value an established legacy with broad regional reach or a modern, highly-rated interface with recent user satisfaction?

In essence, roommaster offers a deeply integrated, globally established platform, while Simple Booking focuses on simplicity and high user ratings with recent positive feedback. Do you need a mature platform with extensive regional presence, or are you interested in a more modern, highly-rated solution?

roommaster vs Simple Booking: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel requires a broad and reliable distribution network with proven stability, go with roommaster. Its network includes 56 verified partners, and its case studies show it supports complex operations for large and multi-property portfolios. The platform is suited for hotels seeking extensive GDS and OTA connections with centralized rate control, especially if they operate in regions like North America or Europe.

If your hotel prioritizes ease of use, support quality, and recent positive reviews, Simple Booking is the better fit. Its user-friendly interface and 4.95/5 ease-of-use rating, combined with a 4.81/5 customer support score, make it ideal for small to mid-sized hotels, especially in Europe and the Middle East. The lower total partner count is offset by high satisfaction and quick onboarding.

In summary, choose roommaster for established global distribution, and opt for Simple Booking if you want a modern, support-focused platform with high user approval.

Is roommaster or Simple Booking Easier to Use?

Roommaster scores a 4.35/5 for ease of use, supported by reviews praising its straightforward, easy-to-learn interface and simple back-office features. However, some users mention that support responsiveness and reporting limitations can hinder daily operations. Onboarding ratings are solid at 4.08/5, but support during off-hours remains a common concern.

Simple Booking excels with a 4.95/5 ease-of-use rating, supported by recent reviews emphasizing its intuitive design and quick navigation. Customers highlight its effective integration with existing systems and minimal training requirements. Support support ratings are even higher at 4.81/5, with reviews praising responsiveness and helpful onboarding.

Edge: Simple Booking.

Which Has Better Features: roommaster or Simple Booking?

Roommaster offers a comprehensive set of 13 shared features, with one exclusive feature: integrated payment processing. It excels in automating distribution management, rate parity, and inventory synchronization across hundreds of channels, making it a robust choice for complex operations.

Simple Booking, while sharing many core features, stands out with its multi-lingual support, a feature not present in roommaster. It also offers a modern booking engine integrated within the platform, optimized for social and mobile interactions, which roommaster does not emphasize.

Edge: roommaster.

Which Has Better Customer Support: roommaster or Simple Booking?

Support quality is a key differentiator. roommaster has a support rating of 3.94/5, with reviews noting that response times and after-hours assistance could be improved. While recent feedback indicates some progress, users still report delays and inconsistent support experiences.

Simple Booking, however, boasts a 4.81/5 customer support rating and recent reviews praising its prompt, friendly, and effective assistance. Customers frequently mention that support inquiries are handled swiftly and professionally, often citing a high level of responsiveness and proactive onboarding.

Edge: Simple Booking.

Which Has More Integrations: roommaster or Simple Booking?

Both products boast 56 verified partners, sharing nine common integrations, including major players like SiteMinder, RateGain, and Oracle Hospitality. Unique to roommaster are integrations with Sage, Volo, GuestCentric, and others focused on distribution and management tools.

Simple Booking also offers integrations with notable solutions like AdsHotel, Priority Software, and HiJiffy, catering to digital marketing and tech startups. The identical total partner count suggests no clear advantage here, but the broader scope of shared partners favors roommaster's extensive network.

Edge: roommaster.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: roommaster or Simple Booking?

Based on recent reviews, Simple Booking’s NPS score is 9.62/10, while roommaster’s is 8.06/10, indicating higher overall satisfaction for Simple Booking. Review volume for roommaster (31) exceeds Simple Booking (21), but recent feedback shows a decline in satisfaction with roommaster’s support and reporting capabilities.

For hotel segments, boutique and independent hotels tend to favor roommaster’s stability; however, larger resorts and properties in Europe and the Middle East rate Simple Booking higher for its ease and support. Recent reviews are more positive for Simple Booking, making it the more highly-rated platform now.

Edge: Simple Booking.

How Much Do roommaster and Simple Booking Cost?

roommaster’s base price is $300 per month, with no free trial or flexible pricing options outlined. Its costs can add up, especially with mandatory credit card processing fees, which users find expensive.

Simple Booking charges $200 per month, also without a trial. Its lower price point, combined with higher satisfaction ratings, makes it attractive for smaller hotels seeking value. No pricing variations or discounts are specified, but its affordability and recent positive reviews suggest strong value.

In summary, Simple Booking offers a lower entry point with comparable features, making it more accessible for smaller properties.

What Type of Hotel Should Use roommaster?

• Hotels that operate in North America, Europe, or Asia-Pacific with complex distribution needs.
• Properties with large portfolios requiring GDS and OTA integration.
• Hotels that prioritize a proven network and extensive partner options.
• Teams that need centralized rate and inventory management.
• Hotels that value detailed analytics and performance tracking.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates primarily in regions with fewer integrated partners.
• Cost efficiency is a primary concern.
• You prefer a platform with highly positive recent reviews.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Simple Booking?

• Hotels that focus on direct bookings and online presence.
• Properties in Europe and the Middle East seeking high user satisfaction.
• Smaller to mid-sized hotels that want a quick, easy setup.
• Teams that prioritize responsive support and user-friendly interfaces.
• Hotels aiming to enhance their digital marketing with integrated analytics.

Not ideal if:

• You operate complex, multi-property portfolios needing extensive GDS integration.
• Your hotel relies on older, legacy distribution channels.
• You require advanced reporting features not yet supported.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Roommaster is an established, globally recognized system with a broad partner network and a strong legacy. Its core strength lies in automating complex distribution and offering detailed analytics, making it suitable for large or multi-property operations seeking stability and extensive channel coverage.

Simple Booking is a newer, highly-rated platform emphasizing ease of use, support, and modern features. Its recent reviews and high satisfaction scores make it ideal for independent or small-to-mid-sized hotels looking for a quick, intuitive setup and excellent support.

Choose roommaster if your hotel needs proven stability, extensive regional coverage, and detailed management. Opt for Simple Booking if your focus is modern design, support quality, and rapid onboarding, especially in European and Middle Eastern markets.