Cloudbeds PMS vs. Softstar:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) is crucial for your hotel’s efficiency, guest satisfaction, and revenue growth. Cloudbeds PMS by Cloudbeds and Softstar serve different hospitality sectors, with Cloudbeds primarily designed for hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals, while Softstar caters more to rental property managers. Both aim to streamline operations, but their core features and user experiences differ significantly—how do you decide which is better suited for your needs?

Cloudbeds has a sizable user base and a proven track record, with over 1,000 recent reviews and a 4.63/5 overall rating, making it the more credible choice. Conversely, Softstar, with zero reviews and no recent customer feedback, lacks the community validation that Cloudbeds benefits from.

Is Cloudbeds PMS or Softstar Better for Hotels?

Cloudbeds offers a comprehensive, all-in-one platform for hospitality properties, integrating PMS, channel management, booking engines, and revenue tools within a single system. It is built to serve a broad range of accommodations, from boutique hotels and hostels to resorts, with over 190 verified integrations and a presence in 101 countries, making it highly scalable.

Softstar, on the other hand, appears tailored for rental property management, focusing on automating tenant tracking, maintenance, and financial reporting. It lacks a broad integration ecosystem and international market presence, which limits its appeal for multi-property hotel operations seeking a unified solution.

Given Cloudbeds' extensive feature set, global reach, and recent high customer ratings, it’s clear that Cloudbeds is more suited for hotels needing operational integration and growth support. Does your hotel prioritize a broad, proven platform over specialized rental management tools?

Cloudbeds vs Softstar: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel requires a flexible, easy-to-use system that consolidates reservations, channel management, revenue, and guest communication, Cloudbeds is the clear choice. Its user-friendly interface, rated 4.61/5 for ease of use based on recent reviews, makes onboarding and staff adoption straightforward—crucial for busy teams.

Softstar might be suitable if your property focuses exclusively on long-term rentals or tenant management, with a need for detailed financial analytics and maintenance automation. However, with no recent reviews or user feedback, it’s hard to verify its effectiveness for hotel operations.

For most hotels aiming to streamline daily tasks, increase direct bookings, and scale efficiently, Cloudbeds’s proven capabilities and recent customer satisfaction make it the more reliable option.

Is Cloudbeds or Softstar Easier to Use?

Cloudbeds’s intuitive, visually clean interface receives a 4.61/5 rating from recent users, who praise its straightforward navigation and minimal training requirements. Its onboarding process, rated 4.45/5, ensures new staff can quickly become proficient, and the platform’s mobile accessibility supports remote management.

Softstar offers automation tailored for property managers but lacks recent reviews or detailed user feedback, making it difficult to assess its usability. Its design and onboarding process are unverified, raising questions about how easily staff can adapt.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

Which Has Better Features: Cloudbeds or Softstar?

Cloudbeds boasts 64 exclusive features, including a channel manager connecting to 190 verified partners, a customizable booking engine, revenue management, integrated payment processing, and guest communication tools. It supports multi-lingual, multi-currency operations and offers modules for housekeeping, task management, and digital check-ins.

Softstar’s feature set is focused on tenant tracking, maintenance, and financial reporting, with AI-driven insights for property performance. It does not offer the extensive operational tools or integrations relevant to hotel management.

With a broader and deeper feature set, Cloudbeds provides a one-stop platform for hotels looking to manage their entire operation efficiently.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Cloudbeds or Softstar?

Cloudbeds’s support team is consistently rated 4.41/5, with recent reviews highlighting quick, attentive assistance and a responsive support staff. Users appreciate the ongoing onboarding help and the ease of resolving issues, often describing their support experience as empathetic and reliable.

Softstar, lacking recent reviews or community feedback, cannot be confidently evaluated on support quality. Its smaller size suggests limited availability of dedicated support, especially for complex hotel needs.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

Which Has More Integrations: Cloudbeds or Softstar?

Cloudbeds excels with 190 verified partner integrations, including popular booking channels, payment systems, and property management tools, supporting seamless data flow and operational efficiency. Its marketplace includes integrations with KASAccess, Atomize, and many other third-party apps, facilitating scalability.

Softstar offers no publicly available verified integrations, limiting its connectivity options. This restricts the ability to connect with external systems, a critical drawback for hotels needing a unified tech stack.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Cloudbeds or Softstar?

Cloudbeds’s recent reviews consistently rate it above 4.5/5, with hotel segments like boutique hotels, hostels, and independent properties providing positive feedback on ease of use, feature richness, and support. Hotels like The Brannan Cottage Inn and South Wind Motel praise its reliability and operational impact.

Softstar, with no recent reviews or ratings, cannot be benchmarked. Its lack of community validation suggests it isn’t favored or widely adopted among hoteliers.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

How Much Do Cloudbeds and Softstar Cost?

Cloudbeds’s pricing starts at $600 per month, with no free trial or freemium options. Its transparent pricing model reflects its extensive feature offering and global support.

Softstar’s pricing details are unavailable, and without a free trial or clear fee structure, assessing its value is challenging. Its limited market presence and absence of recent customer feedback imply a less competitive pricing approach.

Edge: Cloudbeds.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Cloudbeds?

• Hotels seeking a unified system for reservations, distribution, and guest communication.
• Properties aiming to increase direct bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs.
• Boutique hotels, hostels, and small chains looking for scalable, easy-to-adopt technology.
• Teams wanting real-time reporting, revenue management, and automation features.

Not ideal if your hotel operates solely with long-term rentals or is a large enterprise requiring bespoke, highly specialized solutions.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Softstar?

• Rental property managers seeking detailed tenant and maintenance automation.
• Small-scale landlords managing multiple units with a focus on financial reporting.
• Businesses that benefit from AI-driven property performance insights.

Not ideal if your hotel needs multi-property management, comprehensive guest engagement, or extensive integrations.

The Bottom Line for Hotels: Cloudbeds or Softstar?

Cloudbeds is a comprehensive, reliable platform built for the needs of hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals. Its extensive features, integrations, recent high reviews, and international presence make it a clear choice for properties aiming for operational excellence and growth.

Softstar remains unproven in recent customer satisfaction and lacks the breadth of integrations or global reach. Without recent validation, it’s best suited for rental managers rather than hotel operators.

If your hotel needs a proven, scalable, and feature-rich system, Cloudbeds is the definitive option. Softstar’s niche appeal and limited community support make it a less attractive choice for hospitality professionals.

In conclusion, Cloudbeds’s large, recent review base, high ratings, and extensive capabilities establish it as the more trusted, versatile PMS for hotels. Its proven track record and global presence make it a safe investment for hoteliers seeking to streamline operations, increase revenue, and enhance guest experiences.