Exely Booking Engine vs. StayNow: AI-Powered Trip Planning & Hotel Booking:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Exely Booking Engine and StayNow hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and priorities. Both products target direct booking growth, but Exely’s longstanding presence and extensive reviews make it the more proven option, especially for hotels seeking robust features and regional coverage. StayNow, being newer and less reviewed, offers AI-driven personalization but lacks detailed user feedback. Your decision should weigh the importance of established support and features against innovative AI capabilities.

Quick Verdict

Exely Booking Engine emerges as the clearer choice due to its superior review count, recent positive feedback, and extensive feature set. With 144 reviews and a 92.67 score, it’s trusted by a wide range of hotels globally. StayNow, while promising, has no reviews and limited regional presence, making it a less reliable option at this stage. If you want proven performance, go with Exely.

Is Exely or StayNow Better for Hotels?

Both products aim to increase direct bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs, but they approach this goal differently. Exely offers a comprehensive booking engine with advanced marketing tools and channel management, proven through years of operation and recent reviews. StayNow emphasizes AI-driven trip planning and personalized listings, but its lack of user feedback makes its reliability uncertain. Do you need a tried-and-true platform or a new AI-focused approach?

Exely’s strengths lie in its feature depth, extensive integrations, and regional presence. It boasts 29 unique features, including multi-lingual support, multi-currency handling, and detailed analytics, which are absent in StayNow. Conversely, StayNow touts AI capabilities for personalized guest discovery, but its limited review data and smaller regional footprint mean less proven performance. Are you prioritizing experience and proven results, or innovation and AI?

Exely vs StayNow: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a reliable, feature-rich booking engine with proven support, go with Exely. Its suite of tools—ranging from multi-room bookings to conversion rate reports—addresses the core needs of most hotels, especially those in North America and Europe. Additionally, with a high customer support rating (4.96/5) and recent reviews from 63 users, Exely’s stability and responsiveness are well established.

If, however, your hotel is a boutique or independent property seeking AI-powered guest targeting and personalized listings, StayNow might appeal, provided you can tolerate the lack of review evidence and regional support. Its PMS integration and tailored pricing could help small hotels stand out, but the platform’s untested status makes it a riskier choice. Is your goal to rely on a proven system or explore innovative AI features?

Is Exely or StayNow Easier to Use?

Exely scores 4.91 out of 5 for ease of use, supported by onboarding ratings of 4.84, and positive customer feedback about its user-friendly dashboard and responsive support. Many users mention that managing rates, availability, and reservations is smooth, with the team actively implementing improvements based on feedback. Its interface is optimized for desktop and mobile, making daily operations straightforward.

StayNow, lacking review data, cannot be evaluated on usability. Its emphasis on AI and personalization suggests a modern, intuitive interface, but without user feedback, the ease of adoption remains unclear. The absence of detailed onboarding and support ratings further clouds its usability profile.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Features: Exely or StayNow?

Exely offers 29 unique features, including multi-lingual support, multi-currency handling, conversion reports, and website integration, catering directly to hotel operational needs. It supports flexible rate plans, automated emails, booking abandonment recapture, and even Tripadvisor bookings—features that are absent from StayNow.

StayNow’s core proposition is AI-driven trip planning and personalized listings, but it provides no detailed feature list or additional tools. The lack of integrations or advanced reporting capabilities means it’s less equipped for complex hotel environments. Given the feature depth, Exely maintains a significant edge.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Exely or StayNow?

Exely’s customer support scores an impressive 4.96 out of 5, with reviews praising its quick response times and proactive assistance. Users commend the team’s friendly communication and willingness to implement feedback, which enhances the overall user experience. Its onboarding process is rated 4.84, indicating a smooth transition for new users.

StayNow, with no available review data, offers no concrete insights into support quality. As a newer company, it may lack the established customer service reputation that Exely has built over years of operation. For reliable, responsive support, Exely is the clear leader.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has More Integrations: Exely or StayNow?

Exely integrates with 8 verified partners, including major systems like Hotellab, Oracle Hospitality, IDeaS, and Booking.com, providing flexibility and broad connectivity. These integrations support channel management, revenue management, and online distribution, streamlining hotel operations.

StayNow, with no verified integrations listed, appears to be more limited in connectivity at this point. This restricts its ability to fit into existing hotel management ecosystems and may require additional custom work.

Edge: Exely.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Exely or StayNow?

Exely’s reviews, totaling 144 with recent feedback from 63 users, give it a high rating of 92.67 out of 100. Hoteliers from diverse segments—including luxury, boutique, city center, and resorts—highlight its ease of use, support, and feature set. Recent reviews reinforce its reputation, with a 98% likelihood of recommendation.

StayNow, lacking reviews, cannot be rated. Its unknown performance and unverified user satisfaction make it a less dependable choice. For proven high ratings from real hoteliers, Exely is the clear winner.

How Much Do Exely and StayNow Cost?

Exely’s pricing starts at $200 per month without a free tier or trial. It charges no implementation fees, but the cost may be a consideration for smaller hotels given its higher entry price.

StayNow is priced at $100 per month, also without a free trial or setup fees. While more affordable upfront, its unproven track record means you may trade initial savings for potential performance risk.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Exely?

• Hotels that need a feature-rich booking engine with multi-currency, multi-lingual, and automation capabilities.
• Teams that prioritize reliable support and proven integrations with major OTA and revenue management systems.
• Hotels seeking to boost direct bookings and reduce OTA dependence with a platform that has demonstrated success.
• Properties in North America, Europe, or regions served by Exely’s extensive network.

Not ideal if your hotel is small, budget-constrained, or primarily regional in Asia or Africa. Also, if you prefer a free or low-cost solution, Exely’s pricing might be less attractive.

What Type of Hotel Should Use StayNow?

• Independent or boutique hotels looking for AI-driven guest targeting and personalized listings.
• Hotels eager to differentiate with innovative trip planning and tailored guest experiences.
• Properties that are comfortable experimenting with newer, less proven platforms.
• Hotels seeking a PMS-integrated channel that emphasizes authentic, unique guest interactions.

Not ideal if your hotel relies heavily on proven systems, requires extensive integrations, or operates in regions where StayNow currently lacks presence. Also, if budget is a concern, the platform’s untested features carry inherent risks.

Exely vs StayNow: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Exely offers a well-established, feature-rich booking engine with extensive integrations, proven support, and proven success across multiple regions. Its high review count and recent positive feedback back its reliability for hotels seeking stability and detailed operational tools.

StayNow presents an AI-enhanced alternative focused on personalized guest experiences and innovative trip planning. However, its lack of reviews and regional reach make it unsuitable for hotels prioritizing proven performance and support.

If your hotel values dependability, extensive features, and broad integrations, Exely clearly outperforms. For hotels willing to take a chance on newer AI capabilities without a proven track record, StayNow might hold some appeal—though the risk remains high at this stage.