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

The Decision

Choosing between RateGain’s Hotel Booking Engine and Safara hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. RateGain offers a mature, globally integrated platform with more features and a larger partner network, but Safara excels in ease of use, recent reviews, and direct user satisfaction. Both aim to drive direct bookings, yet their approaches, regional focus, and feature sets differ significantly. Which aligns best with your hotel’s growth strategy?

Is RateGain or Safara Better for Hotels?

RateGain’s hotel booking engine has been in the market since 2004, boasting a solid global presence, especially in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Safara, founded in 2021, is newer and primarily active in North and South America, with a smaller but rapidly growing footprint.

Both platforms aim to increase direct bookings while improving guest experience, yet RateGain emphasizes extensive integrations, advanced features, and a large partner network—95 verified partners—making it suitable for hotels with complex needs. Safara, with a focus on simplicity, user experience, and higher recent reviews, appeals to properties that prioritize ease of implementation and guest engagement.

RateGain’s review count (21) is slightly lower than Safara’s (24), but Safara’s recent reviews—none for RateGain in the last six months—give it a clear advantage in recency, reinforcing current user satisfaction.

Ultimately, RateGain’s mature, feature-rich platform is better for hotels needing advanced capabilities and global reach, while Safara’s newer, highly-rated platform benefits hotels emphasizing guest experience and quick deployment. Are you looking for a well-established solution or a modern, user-friendly platform?

RateGain vs Safara: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a comprehensive booking engine with extensive integrations, multiple advanced features, and a global footprint, go with RateGain. Its 95 verified partners and features like Tripadvisor bookings, post-stay emails, and Paypal support make it ideal for larger or complex hotel portfolios.

If, however, your hotel values simplicity, high user satisfaction, and a platform with recent positive reviews, choose Safara. It’s especially suitable for boutique or independent hotels seeking an intuitive interface, rapid onboarding, and strong guest engagement tools like upselling and deep linking, with a focus on North and South American markets.

For hotels that want advanced analytics, loyalty integrations, or non-room service bookings, Safara’s current feature set may be limiting, whereas RateGain’s broader capabilities may be overkill for smaller properties. Consider your hotel’s size, technical capacity, and regional focus when choosing.

Is RateGain or Safara Easier to Use?

RateGain scores 4.71 out of 5 for ease of use, and reviews frequently mention its friendly, intuitive interface and swift onboarding process. Users note that training new staff is straightforward thanks to familiar options and clear dashboards, but some mention occasional issues with inventory updates.

Safara shines with a slightly higher ease-of-use score—4.92 out of 5—and recent reviews rave about its responsiveness and simple, seamless booking flow. Guests and staff find the platform highly intuitive on all devices, and onboarding is quick and smooth.

Considering recent reviews, Safara's interface and onboarding process seem marginally better, reflecting a modern design and focus on user experience. Edge: Safara.

Which Has Better Features: RateGain or Safara?

RateGain offers 22 shared features plus 6 exclusive, including multi-room bookings, Tripadvisor integration, and gift vouchers. Its unique features cater to larger hotels with complex needs, such as multiple booking channels and advanced revenue tools.

Safara provides 22 shared features plus 14 exclusive, notably booking abandonment recapture, ADA compliance, pooled inventory, and loyalty program integration. Its features support boutique hotels and properties seeking deep link promotions, non-room bookings, and social media integration.

While RateGain’s feature count is impressive, Safara’s unique offerings in loyalty, social media, and non-room services give it an edge for hotels prioritizing guest engagement and modern marketing tools. Endorsement: Safara.

Which Has Better Customer Support: RateGain or Safara?

RateGain’s support scores 4.76 out of 5, with reviews emphasizing timely problem solving and friendly staff. Users appreciate its support system, although some mention occasional delays during busy periods.

Safara scores a perfect 5/5, with reviews highlighting exceptional responsiveness and a proactive team that continually seeks improvements. Guests and hoteliers alike find its customer service to be a key strength, with reviews repeatedly mentioning their receptiveness to feedback.

Recent reviews point to Safara’s support as a decisive advantage, especially for properties new to online booking platforms. Edge: Safara.

Which Has More Integrations: RateGain or Safara?

RateGain boasts 95 verified partners including major players like Hospitality Software Development Services, RoomRaccoon, and Profitroom. Common integrations with The Hotels Network, Aven Hospitality, and Oracle Hospitality mean it can plug into most existing property tech stacks.

Safara has 6 verified partners, including Stayntouch, Revinate, and Triptease. It shares some integrations with RateGain but offers fewer options overall, which could limit scalability for larger or more complex hotels.

In terms of breadth and depth, RateGain’s extensive partner network makes it the better choice for hotels requiring a wide array of integrations. Edge: RateGain.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: RateGain or Safara?

Safara’s users, especially boutique hotels, rate it higher overall due to its ease of use, responsiveness, and recent positive feedback. Its recent reviews demonstrate a high level of satisfaction, with many praising the platform’s simplicity and support.

RateGain’s ratings are more mixed; despite a solid 4.76 support score, the overall rating of 0 and lack of recent reviews weigh against it. Larger hotels or those with complex needs tend to appreciate its extensive capabilities, but smaller properties may find it less user-friendly.

Given the recent reviews, Safara enjoys higher ratings from hoteliers, especially in boutique segments. Edge: Safara.

How Much Do RateGain and Safara Cost?

RateGain’s pricing starts at $400/month, with no mention of discounts, trials, or additional fees. Its pricing model suggests a straightforward monthly fee, but details on tiered plans are unavailable.

Safara costs $800/month, also without a trial or tiered pricing info. Its higher price point likely reflects its newer platform, targeted features, and niche focus.

Both are subscription-based, but RateGain’s lower starting cost may appeal to budget-conscious hotels. Without trial options, hotels should evaluate based on feature needs and regional support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use RateGain?

• Hotels that require extensive integrations and advanced features, such as multi-channel distribution, Tripadvisor bookings, or gift vouchers.
• Large properties, city center hotels, or resorts with complex inventory and revenue management needs.
• Hotels operating in Asia Pacific or the Middle East, where RateGain has a strong regional presence.
• Hotels that prioritize global reach, multi-language support, and broad partner networks.
• Teams that already have a mature tech stack and want a platform with deep customization options.

Not ideal if your hotel is small, boutique, or primarily focused on North America, as Safara might provide a more streamlined experience.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Safara?

• Boutique hotels, independent properties, or those emphasizing guest experience and ease of use.
• Hotels seeking a quick, frictionless onboarding process with high recent user satisfaction.
• Properties targeting North or South American markets, especially with a focus on social media and loyalty integrations.
• Hotels that want to boost direct bookings with features like deep linking, upselling, and non-room service options.
• Teams prioritizing responsiveness and ongoing product improvements.

Not ideal if your hotel needs extensive integrations, a global presence, or complex revenue features, where RateGain’s platform might be more suitable.

RateGain vs Safara: The Bottom Line for Hotels

RateGain offers a broad, mature platform with extensive features, integrations, and regional reach, making it ideal for larger or multi-property hotels seeking a comprehensive solution. Its current support and review scores, however, are lower, and recent customer feedback is lacking, which could be a concern.

Safara, with its modern design, superior recent reviews, and high user satisfaction, is best suited for boutique hotels and properties looking for an intuitive, guest-focused booking engine. Its limited integrations and regional presence are less of an issue if your hotel operates mainly in North or South America and values ease of use.

In summary, if your hotel needs a feature-rich, globally supported platform, RateGain is the more complete choice. If you prioritize simplicity, recent positive reviews, and guest experience, Safara is the safer, more satisfying bet.