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

The Decision

Choosing between Exely Booking Engine and Safara hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both aim to boost direct bookings and improve guest experience, but they differ significantly in sophistication, features, and regional presence. Exely boasts a larger, more recent review base and higher overall ratings, making it the more validated choice for hoteliers seeking reliability and extensive functionality. Safara, with fewer reviews and a narrower regional footprint, still offers compelling features for boutique and luxury hotels. Which platform aligns better with your operational goals?

Is Exely or Safara Better for Hotels?

Both Exely and Safara serve as online booking engines, but Exely’s strength lies in its robust suite of marketing tools and channel management integrations, helping your team focus on direct bookings and revenue growth. Safara emphasizes a seamless guest experience with a modern interface, flexible integrations, and a cashback loyalty model, primarily appealing to boutique and luxury hotels. Their core difference is in their approach: Exely offers more extensive features, while Safara targets simplicity and high-value guest engagement.

Exely has a higher review count (144 vs. Safara’s 24) and more recent feedback, giving it more credibility in the market. Both platforms score highly on ease of use (Exely 4.91/5, Safara 4.92/5), but Exely’s slightly larger and fresher review base makes it the more reliable choice for hotels concerned with proven results. Are you prioritizing feature depth or guest experience?

Exely vs Safara: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs an all-in-one booking engine with extensive marketing and channel management features, go with Exely. It’s ideal for independent hotels and chains that want to reduce OTA reliance, increase direct bookings, and benefit from advanced tools like multi-room bookings, email marketing, and Tripadvisor integration.

If your hotel primarily seeks a sleek, easy-to-manage platform with strong non-room booking capabilities, Safara is the better fit. It suits boutique and luxury properties aiming to enhance guest engagement with features like cashback rewards, deep link promotions, and real-time inventory, especially if your focus is on high-end, personalized service.

For hotels prioritizing regional presence, Exely’s coverage across 27 countries and broader integration options make it more versatile. Conversely, Safara’s focused deployment in North America, South America, and Central America may be sufficient for hotels with regional or niche markets. Which aspect aligns more with your market strategy?

Is Exely or Safara Easier to Use?

Both platforms excel in user-friendliness, with Exely scoring 4.91/5 and Safara 4.92/5 in ease of use, backed by recent, positive reviews. Exely’s onboarding process is rated at 4.84/5, and Safara’s at 4.83/5, indicating a smooth setup for your team. Users praise Exely for its intuitive dashboard, especially in managing rates and reservations, while Safara’s modern interface is lauded for seamless mobile and desktop operation.

Support services are also top-tier: Exely’s customer support scores 4.96/5 with quick response times, and Safara scores a perfect 5/5, with clients highlighting their responsiveness. This suggests onboarding and ongoing support will be straightforward. Edge: Safara.

Which Has Better Features: Exely or Safara?

Exely offers 7 features unique to its platform, including multi-room bookings, post-stay emails, Tripadvisor integration, and multiple payment options like Paypal and Stripe. Safara counters with 14 exclusive features, such as A/B testing, ADA compliance, social media integration, loyalty program support, and urgency messaging—more tools for marketing and guest engagement.

Shared features total 22, but Safara’s extra customization options and non-room services like spa or restaurant bookings give it an edge for hotels seeking flexibility. Exely excels in core booking functions and integrations, but Safara’s marketing features are more extensive. Which feature set better fits your hotel’s ambitions?

Edge: Safara.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Exely or Safara?

Exely’s customer support is highly rated at 4.96/5, with reviews emphasizing quick response and helpfulness. Clients praise Exely’s team for resolving issues promptly and conducting friendly onboarding, making it a trusted partner for operational continuity.

Safara boasts a perfect 5/5 support rating, with reviews highlighting their responsiveness, openness to feedback, and proactive improvements. Hoteliers feel confident that Safara’s team will adapt and assist as needs evolve. Given the recent review count and higher ratings, Exely’s support is the stronger option. Edge: Exely.

Which Has More Integrations: Exely or Safara?

Exely connects with 8 verified partners, including Hotellab, Clock, and Mews, providing broad compatibility with key PMS and channel management systems. Safara offers 6 verified integrations, with notable partners like Stayntouch and Revinate, but fewer total options.

Shared integrations include Oracle Hospitality, ensuring some overlap for your tech stack. Exely’s broader partner network offers more flexibility in system connectivity, which may be critical for your hotel’s existing infrastructure. Edge: Exely.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Exely or Safara?

Exely’s review count (144) and recent feedback make it the more credible choice overall. Hoteliers across various segments—especially city center hotels, resorts, and boutique properties—rate Exely higher in satisfaction, citing its usability, marketing tools, and support.

Safara, with only 24 reviews and a regional focus, receives perfect support ratings but fewer mentions of advanced features or broader hotel segment satisfaction. Its ratings are high, but limited feedback reduces confidence in widespread applicability. Given the review volume and recent feedback, Exely edges out as the higher-rated platform.

Edge: Exely.

How Much Do Exely and Safara Cost?

Exely’s pricing starts at $200 per month, with no trial or freemium options, making it accessible for hotels with limited budgets. Safara costs $800 per month with no trial or freemium, positioning itself as a premium choice.

Additional fees for implementation are not specified, but the lower entry cost of Exely makes it appealing for hotels seeking a cost-effective solution. Safara’s higher price reflects its focus on luxury and boutique markets with advanced marketing features. Which budget aligns with your hotel’s plans?

What Type of Hotel Should Use Exely?

• Hotels that want to increase direct bookings and reduce OTA reliance.
• Hotels seeking comprehensive marketing tools and email automation.
• Independent hotels and chains with a regional or global reach.
• Properties aiming for multi-room bookings and Tripadvisor integration.
• Hotels wanting channel management with a reliable sync.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Primarily needs a simple booking system without extensive marketing.
• Operates in a limited regional market without plans for global expansion.
• Seeks advanced non-room service integrations or loyalty features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Safara?

• Boutique and luxury hotels aiming for a sleek, guest-centric booking experience.
• Hotels that value deep integration with marketing and loyalty programs.
• Properties focused on high-end, personalized guest engagement.
• Hotels seeking to maximize non-room revenue through integrated services.
• Hotels that prioritize mobile optimization and visual branding.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Needs extensive channel management or large-scale multi-property support.
• Operates in regions where Safara has limited coverage.
• Looks for a platform with a broad array of advanced analytics or A/B testing.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Exely’s core advantage is its extensive feature set, regional reach, and proven track record backed by more reviews. Its focus on automation, marketing, and multi-channel management makes it well-suited for hotels seeking growth and operational efficiency.

Safara offers a modern, intuitive platform with a strong boutique and luxury hotel focus that emphasizes guest experience, mobile usability, and marketing. Its features support personalized engagement and non-room revenue, ideal for high-touch properties.

For hoteliers wanting a reliable, well-reviewed platform with broad integrations and proven results, Exely stands out. Conversely, if your hotel values high-end guest engagement tools and visual branding, Safara deserves consideration. In the current landscape, Exely’s larger review base and higher ratings make it the more dependable choice for most hotels.