Smart Host CRM vs. WhatCounts:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Smart Host CRM by Smart Host GmbH and WhatCounts hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. While both aim to enhance guest relationships and marketing efforts, they serve fundamentally different functions—one being a comprehensive CRM platform, the other an email marketing service. Your decision should be guided by whether you seek an all-in-one guest data hub or a specialized email tool.

Smart Host CRM offers a full suite of features tailored for hotel guest management, whereas WhatCounts specializes in delivering targeted email campaigns. Which aligns better with your hotel’s current priorities: integrated guest communications or sophisticated email marketing?

Is Smart Host CRM or WhatCounts Better for Hotels?

Smart Host CRM is built specifically for hotels, integrating guest data, automating personalized communications, and providing detailed insights into guest behavior. WhatCounts, in contrast, is designed for a broader range of travel and leisure companies, focusing solely on email marketing capabilities without direct guest profile management.

Smart Host has a proven track record with 217 reviews and recent positive feedback from hotels across Europe, highlighting its capacity to centralize guest data and automate campaigns. WhatCounts, with zero reviews and no regional presence, lacks the user feedback and tailored hotel features that make Smart Host a more practical choice for hoteliers.

Are you looking for a dedicated hotel CRM that enhances personalization throughout the guest lifecycle, or a third-party email platform to supplement your existing marketing? That’s the core question.

Smart Host CRM vs WhatCounts: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs an integrated system that manages guest profiles, automates communications, and offers detailed analytics, go with Smart Host CRM. Its 29 unique features, such as segmentation, automation, feedback modules, and GDPR compliance, make it suitable for hotels aiming to deepen guest relationships and streamline operations.

If your priority is deploying sophisticated email campaigns with minimal integration concerns, WhatCounts might seem appealing. However, without reviews, regional presence, or hotel-specific features, it’s less proven in the hotel context. For hotels seeking a comprehensive, tested solution, Smart Host remains the more reliable option.

In summary, for a hotel CRM that combines guest data management with marketing automation, Smart Host is the clear leader. For isolated email marketing needs, WhatCounts’s offerings are less established in the hotel space.

Is Smart Host CRM or WhatCounts Easier to Use?

Smart Host CRM boasts a user rating of 4.7 out of 5 for ease of use, supported by an onboarding score of 4.64 out of 5 and 217 reviews, many praising its intuitive interface. Clients consistently mention how quickly staff adapt to its features, with one noting, "Smart Host is user-friendly and has a wide range of applications."

WhatCounts, with no reviews or ratings, offers no data to assess ease of use or onboarding experience. Its platform likely requires more setup and training, especially given its enterprise-level capabilities that are common among email service providers.

Edge: Smart Host.

Which Has Better Features: Smart Host CRM or WhatCounts?

Smart Host CRM provides 29 dedicated hotel features, including centralized data warehouses, guest profiles, segmentation, automation, feedback modules, and compliance tools like GDPR and CCPA. These features enable personalized communication, operational automation, and detailed analytics tailored for hotels.

WhatCounts offers a broad suite of email marketing tools, but lacks hotel-specific features like guest profiling or automation designed exclusively for hospitality. Its focus is on campaign management, with no available data indicating additional unique functionalities.

Edge: Smart Host.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Smart Host or WhatCounts?

Smart Host CRM’s support is highly rated, with a score of 4.87 out of 5 from 217 reviews, with many praising the team’s responsiveness and competence. Clients report that support is proactive, and onboarding is smooth, adding confidence to their investment.

WhatCounts, with no reviews or support ratings available, cannot be evaluated on this criterion. As a specialized hotel CRM, Smart Host’s support network is a significant advantage for hoteliers who need reliable, expert assistance.

Edge: Smart Host.

Which Has More Integrations: Smart Host or WhatCounts?

Smart Host currently integrates with 25 verified partners, including PMS and hotel management systems such as Protel, Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and SuitePad. This extensive integration network ensures smooth data flow and operational consistency.

WhatCounts, with zero verified integrations, leaves hotels to rely on manual processes or custom development for connecting with their management systems. For hotels seeking a connected, automated experience, Smart Host’s integrations are a key strength.

Edge: Smart Host.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Smart Host or WhatCounts?

Smart Host has accumulated 217 reviews, with recent positive feedback from a variety of hotel types, especially small to mid-sized properties. Hotels like Falkensteiner, Hotel Oderberger, and Hotel Post Ischgl praise its ease of use, automation, and guest engagement capabilities.

WhatCounts has no reviews or ratings from hotels, making it impossible to determine user satisfaction. Given the recent reviews and high overall ratings, Smart Host clearly holds a higher reputation among hoteliers.

Edge: Smart Host.

How Much Do Smart Host CRM and WhatCounts Cost?

Smart Host charges a base price of $900, with no mention of free tiers, freemium models, or monthly per-room charges. Pricing appears straightforward for hotels seeking a full CRM solution.

WhatCounts does not publicly list pricing, likely indicating a custom quote approach typical for enterprise email platforms. For hotels comparing value, Smart Host provides transparency and predictable costs.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Smart Host?

• Hotels that want a centralized guest data system to personalize communication.
• Teams aiming to automate pre- and post-stay campaigns and increase direct bookings.
• Properties seeking detailed analytics on guest behavior and campaign performance.
• Hotels that require integration with multiple PMS and management systems.
• Small to medium-sized hotels looking for an easy-to-use platform with strong support.
• Not ideal if your hotel primarily needs standalone email campaigns without guest profiles.
• Not ideal if you have extensive group or bulk offers that require more flexible campaign management.
• Not ideal if your hotel operates in regions where Smart Host has no regional presence.

What Type of Hotel Should Use WhatCounts?

• Hotels and travel companies that prioritize sophisticated email marketing at scale.
• Teams that have existing CRM or management systems and need a flexible email platform.
• Businesses aiming to personalize communication based on complex customer data.
• Larger properties or brands seeking enterprise-level email delivery and analytics.
• Not ideal if your hotel relies on a dedicated, integrated CRM for guest management.
• Not ideal if you prefer a solution with hotel-specific features and regional support.
• Not ideal if you need direct, dedicated hotel support and training, which is less documented here.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Smart Host CRM stands out as a comprehensive hotel-focused CRM platform, combining guest data management, automation, and detailed analytics. It is designed to improve guest engagement, streamline operations, and foster direct bookings, making it well-suited for hotels wanting an all-in-one system.

If your hotel values integrated guest profiles, automation, and proven support, Smart Host is the clearer choice. Its 217 recent reviews and high ratings confirm its effectiveness in the hotel industry.

WhatCounts, with no user reviews or hotel-specific features, remains more of a generic email marketing tool. It may suit larger companies with existing systems that need a scalable email platform but lacks the tailored hotel capabilities and proven reputation of Smart Host.

In conclusion, for hoteliers who want a dedicated, well-supported CRM to enhance guest relationships and optimize marketing efforts, Smart Host CRM is the recommended solution.