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 182 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:
Cendyn shines when it comes to responsive support team — especially for independent properties (4.7/5) , with exclusive features like Special offers & discounts and Multi-currency.
Simple Booking shines in ease of use and ROI , with exclusive features like Gift Vouchers and A/B testing & optimization.
Side-by-side ratings based on 182 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | From $400/mo | From $200/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 151 | 31 |
After analyzing 182 verified reviews, Cendyn users most value its responsive support team, ease of use, dynamic pricing, while Simple Booking users highlight user-friendly interface, customer support, increased booking conversions. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Responsive Support Team
▾
|
+
User-friendly Interface
▾
|
|
+
Ease of Use
▾
|
+
Customer Support
▾
|
|
+
Dynamic Pricing
▾
|
+
Increased Booking Conversions
▾
|
|
+
Integration with PMS/CMS/CRMs
▾
|
+
Flexibility and Customization
▾
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Booking Engine Customization
▾
|
−
Advanced Functionalities
▾
|
|
−
Reporting Capabilities
▾
|
−
Cost-related Issues
▾
|
|
−
Interface Connectivity Issues
▾
|
|
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) ▾ | #17 25 reviews | #31 6 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #12 59 reviews | #21 19 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #5 27 reviews | #24 4 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #2 28 reviews | #27 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #8 84 reviews | #28 13 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #8 64 reviews | #26 12 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #8 41 reviews | #26 7 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #10 15 reviews | #27 3 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #3 108 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #18 9 reviews | #11 25 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #18 7 reviews | #22 2 reviews |
| Middle East | #19 2 reviews | #12 4 reviews |
Choosing between the Cendyn Booking Engine and Simple Booking hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both aim to boost direct bookings and streamline reservations, but they diverge in complexity, features, and market presence. Cendyn, with its larger review base and recent feedback, offers a more established platform for hotels prioritizing revenue tools and extensive integrations. Simple Booking, however, appeals to smaller properties seeking ease of use and affordability. Do you need a feature-rich, scalable system or a straightforward booking solution?
Cendyn’s Booking Engine has a higher overall rating and significantly more recent reviews, making it the more reliable choice for most hotels today. Simple Booking’s higher recent review scores and user ratings favor its simplicity and affordability, especially for independent hotels or those new to booking technology.
Both products address online reservations but serve different hotel profiles. Cendyn’s platform excels in dynamic pricing, multi-currency, and multi-lingual support, targeting hotels that need advanced merchandising and cross-sell features. Simple Booking, with its focus on speed, ease, and integration, suits properties emphasizing straightforward booking processes and wide distribution.
Where they diverge most is in their customer base: Cendyn’s stronghold is boutique and resort hotels, while Simple Booking attracts independents and small chains. Do your hotel's priorities lean toward sophisticated revenue management or easy-to-manage reservations? If so, which system better aligns with your future growth plans?
If your hotel needs robust features like multi-currency, special offers, and ADA compliance, Cendyn is the clear winner. Its 124 reviews and a rating of 4.38/5 reflect a mature platform trusted by hotels seeking advanced merchandising capabilities.
Conversely, if ease of use, quicker onboarding, and lower price point are key, Simple Booking’s 29 reviews and a higher recent rating of 4.79/5 make it appealing. It’s ideal for independent hotels or those with limited staff who want a reliable, straightforward booking system.
In summary, choose Cendyn if you require extensive features, multi-property cross-selling, and a proven track record. Opt for Simple Booking if your hotel values simplicity, fast deployment, and cost-effectiveness.
Cendyn’s user ratings in ease of use stand at 4.36/5, with reviews praising its intuitive interface and seamless integrations. However, some users mention connectivity issues and cumbersome features like photo uploads, suggesting there is room for improvement in usability.
Simple Booking, with a 4.79/5 rating, is consistently praised for its speed and straightforward interface, making onboarding swift. Users find it remarkably user-friendly, especially for small teams managing limited inventory.
Edge: Simple Booking.
Cendyn offers 39 features, including unique ones like multi-currency, multi-lingual support, special offers, discounts, and ADA compliance—features that Simple Booking does not provide. Its features are tailored toward revenue optimization and complex merchandising.
Simple Booking, with 44 features, excels in automation, channel management, and marketing integrations, including tools like Rate Match, metasearch, and CRM modules. It offers modules for loyalty, mini-shops, and dynamic rates, designed for flexible, scalable reservation management.
Edge: Cendyn.
Cendyn’s support is rated at 4.56/5, with reviews highlighting responsive and helpful service, especially in resolving technical issues swiftly. Some users, however, mention occasional connectivity glitches and support delays.
Simple Booking’s customer support scores slightly higher at 4.76/5, with reviews emphasizing real-time chat support and a helpful team. Users appreciate the ongoing evolution and updates, although some find recent support responsiveness inconsistent.
Edge: Simple Booking.
Cendyn boasts 116 verified partners, including key integrations like SiteMinder, RateGain, and Oracle Hospitality, along with exclusive partnerships with PMS systems like Visual Matrix and Hotello. Its extensive network supports complex, multi-channel operations.
Simple Booking has 56 verified partners, including major platforms such as Triptease, Swayy, and Lybra Tech. It shares common integrations with Cendyn like SiteMinder and RMS but offers fewer exclusive partnerships.
Edge: Cendyn.
Cendyn’s reviews are more numerous and recent, with a 4.38/5 rating and 124 reviews, mostly from boutique and resort hotels. Hotels appreciate its advanced features, although some note connectivity issues.
Simple Booking, with only 29 reviews, has a higher recent rating of 4.79/5 and a 97% likelihood to recommend. Independent hotels and small chains value its simplicity and ease of implementation.
Edge: Cendyn.
Cendyn’s base price begins at $400/month, with no free tier or trial period. Its cost reflects its enterprise-level features and extensive integrations.
Simple Booking charges $200/month, also without a free version or trial. Its lower price point suits smaller hotels or those with tighter budgets.
Not ideal if your property is small, with minimal tech needs, or limited budget.
Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced merchandising, multi-currency support, or complex integrations.
Cendyn’s Booking Engine stands out with its broad feature set, extensive partner network, and proven track record in boutique and resort markets. Its high review count and recent positive feedback demonstrate a mature, reliable platform suited for hotels with complex needs.
Simple Booking offers a straightforward, cost-effective alternative for properties emphasizing ease of use, quick deployment, and essential reservation functions. Its high recent ratings and user satisfaction make it ideal for small to mid-sized hotels prioritizing simplicity over advanced merchandising.
If your hotel requires advanced revenue tools, multi-property support, and extensive integrations, Cendyn is the superior choice. For hotels seeking a user-friendly, scalable system that gets the job done efficiently, Simple Booking is the right fit.
In conclusion, consider your property’s size, complexity, and growth aspirations before making the final decision. Both systems serve distinct hotel segments effectively, but based on review data and recent feedback, Cendyn is the more established and feature-rich platform for today’s hotelier.
Booking Engine pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $400/mo | From $200/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Cendyn Booking Engine and Simple Booking (Reservations System) share 35 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| ADA Compliant | ||
| Availability block | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Meal plans | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Paypal | ||
| Rate plan comparisons | ||
| Special offers & discounts |
Showing top differences. 1 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 1 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Pegasus CRS has ensured that our direct booking channels remain competitive at all times. We create and update all our rate plans first in the CRS and then we distribute these to o..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
The support team receives consistent positive feedback for their prompt and effective assistance. Many users note quick resolution of their queries an... The support team receives consistent positive feedback for their prompt and effective assistance. Many users note quick resolution of their queries and the team’s willingness to customize and help with technical challenges, which is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted hotel operations.
Many users praise the ease of use of the Pegasus CRS and its booking engine. The interface is described as user-friendly, allowing for quick updates t... Many users praise the ease of use of the Pegasus CRS and its booking engine. The interface is described as user-friendly, allowing for quick updates to rules, rates, and restrictions. Hoteliers noted that it’s intuitive for both new and experienced staff, speeding up onboarding and daily operations.
Dynamic pricing capabilities are frequently mentioned as a strong point of Pegasus CRS. Hoteliers highlight the flexibility to implement different rat... Dynamic pricing capabilities are frequently mentioned as a strong point of Pegasus CRS. Hoteliers highlight the flexibility to implement different rate plans and promotions swiftly, which helps in responding promptly to market demand and optimizing revenue through better pricing strategies.
Where hoteliers push back
The Pegasus booking engine offers high levels of customization, which allows hotels to align the booking process with their branding. However, some us... The Pegasus booking engine offers high levels of customization, which allows hotels to align the booking process with their branding. However, some users suggest further improvements in customization options, particularly regarding the integration of payment gateways and other enhanced features.
While the detailed reporting tools are appreciated, some users feel that the reporting capabilities could be enhanced. Specific requests include more... While the detailed reporting tools are appreciated, some users feel that the reporting capabilities could be enhanced. Specific requests include more customizable reports, better drill-down options, and improved overall usability to help hoteliers make more informed decisions.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
The software's intuitive and easy-to-use interface is frequently praised, allowing both hotel staff and guests to navigate and manage bookings effortl... The software's intuitive and easy-to-use interface is frequently praised, allowing both hotel staff and guests to navigate and manage bookings effortlessly. This ease of use promotes higher conversion rates and a better overall user experience.
While customer support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, some users note a decline in its quality, finding it cumbersome and diff... While customer support is generally praised for being responsive and helpful, some users note a decline in its quality, finding it cumbersome and difficult to reach lately. Continuous improvement in this area is crucial for maintaining user satisfaction.
Many hoteliers report a noticeable increase in their booking conversions since implementing SimpleBooking. Features such as the rate match tool, optim... Many hoteliers report a noticeable increase in their booking conversions since implementing SimpleBooking. Features such as the rate match tool, optimized user experience, and persuasive booking options contribute significantly to this improvement.
Where hoteliers push back
Hoteliers are impressed by the system's advanced functionalities, such as automated rate and availability management, customizable templates, and mult... Hoteliers are impressed by the system's advanced functionalities, such as automated rate and availability management, customizable templates, and multi-language support. These features enhance the booking process, making it more efficient and user-centric.
Several reviews highlight cost-related concerns, particularly the high prices for specific features like custom URLs and payment provider options. Use... Several reviews highlight cost-related concerns, particularly the high prices for specific features like custom URLs and payment provider options. Users feel that these charges are not justified and suggest more reasonable pricing.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Cendyn Booking Engine and Simple Booking (Reservations System) share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Cendyn Booking Engine offers 116 verified integration partners, while Simple Booking (Reservations System) offers 56. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Simple Booking (Reservations System) leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 vs 4.4/5. 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.
Cendyn Booking Engine: No. Simple Booking (Reservations System): 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. Cendyn has an HT Score of 75 and Simple Booking has 68. 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