Crave Mobile Platform (acq by HCN) vs. TouchMenu:
Lequel vous convient le mieux ?

The Decision

When selecting a guest app platform, your hotel needs a solution that enhances guest engagement, streamlines operations, and boosts revenue. Both Crave Mobile Platform and TouchMenu aim to address these needs, but their approaches and strengths differ significantly. Crave focuses on mobile access that's integrated across hotel services, while TouchMenu emphasizes a fully digital, AI-driven guest experience. Which platform best aligns with your hotel’s priorities?

Is Crave Mobile Platform or TouchMenu Better for Hotels?

Crave Mobile Platform by Crave Interactive has been around since 2009, with 48 reviews and a recent average rating of 4.75/5, making it a proven choice for hotels seeking reliable service automation. TouchMenu, founded in 2020, has 25 reviews with a slightly higher overall rating of 77.4, but fewer recent reviews, which diminishes the strength of its current data. Crave’s long-standing presence and larger review base suggest more tested stability, but TouchMenu's higher recent satisfaction score indicates growing momentum. Do you prioritize platform stability or immediate guest experience?

Crave specializes in mobile, app-less access to hotel services via QR codes and contactless options, with 16 unique features. TouchMenu offers broader automation capabilities, including AI-powered insights, guest profiling, and integrations that may help with revenue growth. Crave's focus is on easy, instant access for guests, while TouchMenu aims to automate and personalize the entire guest journey. Which approach aligns better with your operational goals?

Crave Interactive vs TouchMenu: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel prioritizes straightforward, reliable guest access to services like menu browsing, ordering, and contactless payments, Crave is your best choice. Its user-friendly interface, extensive integrations, and proven support make it ideal for hotels seeking to enhance service speed and reduce manual errors.

If your needs lean toward an innovative, fully digital guest experience with AI-driven insights, personalized communication, and operational automation, TouchMenu is more suitable. Its ability to integrate booking, ordering, and guest messaging helps hotels aiming to increase revenue through upselling and data-driven guest engagement.

For hotels that want a mature platform with a proven track record, Crave’s larger review count and recent positive feedback support a safer choice. Conversely, if your hotel is looking to experiment with newer tech and personalized automation, TouchMenu's higher recent NPS score indicates strong current satisfaction.

Is Crave or TouchMenu Easier to Use?

Crave’s UI/UX has a high ease of use rating at 4.61/5, with many reviews praising its simplicity and helpful onboarding, though some users mention that menu creation could be more intuitive. It has a solid onboarding score of 4.57/5, indicating a smooth initial setup, but its interface may feel slightly dated compared to newer platforms.

TouchMenu boasts a slightly higher ease of use rating at 4.96/5 and an onboarding score of 4.96/5, with many reviewers emphasizing its intuitive and quick setup. Its modern design and straightforward navigation are frequently praised, making adoption easier for staff and guests alike.

Edge: TouchMenu.

Which Has Better Features: Crave or TouchMenu?

Crave offers 16 unique features, including web-based access, QR codes, Apple Pay, digital menus, in-venue and contactless ordering, POS and payment integrations, curbside pickup, tipping, upselling, scheduling, and NFC. These features make Crave highly versatile for various service scenarios.

TouchMenu provides 2 exclusive features—guest profiles and mobile check-in—focusing on personalization and operational automation, alongside the 9 shared features like ordering and booking.

While Crave has a broader feature set, TouchMenu's focus on data-driven personalization may deliver more immediate revenue opportunities.

Edge: Crave Interactive.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Crave or TouchMenu?

Crave’s customer support scores a strong 4.79/5, with reviewers highlighting quick response times and proactive assistance, though some mention the back-end system could be more modern. Crave’s support team is praised for resolving issues swiftly, which is critical during implementation.

TouchMenu scores a perfect 5/5 in support and onboarding, with reviews emphasizing responsiveness and ease of getting help. Many users appreciate its dedicated team helping them integrate and troubleshoot in real-time.

Edge: TouchMenu.

Which Has More Integrations: Crave or TouchMenu?

Crave’s platform connects with 17 verified partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality, Infor, Amadeus, and POS solutions, offering extensive options for hotel integration. These integrations support complex hotel operations and large-scale deployments.

TouchMenu has only 4 verified partners, with notable support for Stripe, Clock, and Mews, but fewer integrations overall. Its limited partner network suggests it may be less adaptable for complex or large hotel chains.

Edge: Crave Interactive.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Crave or TouchMenu?

Crave’s 48 reviews include an overall rating of 4.75/5, with many praising its reliability, ease of use, and customer service. Its older reviews reflect sustained performance across different hotel segments, especially luxury and branded hotels.

TouchMenu’s 25 reviews rate it very highly at 77.4, with recent reviews giving it a score of 98% likelihood to recommend, especially among luxury hotels. However, its smaller review base and lack of older feedback mean less long-term validation.

Edge: Crave Interactive.

How Much Do Crave and TouchMenu Cost?

Crave’s pricing starts at a base fee of $400, with no mention of monthly or per-room charges, and no free tier or trial. TouchMenu’s base price is $300, also without ongoing fees or trials. Both platforms appear to favor upfront pricing, but Crave’s higher base fee might reflect its broader features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Crave?

• Hotels that want a mature, well-supported platform with extensive integrations.
• Properties seeking reliable mobile engagement with QR codes and contactless payments.
• Hotels prioritizing fast setup and proven customer service.
• Larger hotels or chains with the capacity to manage more complex systems.

Not ideal if your hotel prefers a highly customizable or AI-driven personalization approach, as Crave’s options are somewhat limited in customization.

What Type of Hotel Should Use TouchMenu?

• Hotels that want a sleek, easy-to-use interface with quick onboarding.
• Properties aiming for personalized guest experiences through guest profiles and check-in.
• Hotels interested in AI-powered insights and operational automation.
• Tech-savvy hotels that value data-driven upselling and guest messaging.

Not ideal if your hotel requires a broad set of integrations or relies heavily on legacy hotel management systems, as TouchMenu offers fewer partner options.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Crave Mobile Platform provides a reliable, feature-rich, and well-supported guest app system with proven stability and extensive integrations. It is ideal for hotels seeking a mature solution with broad functionality, especially larger properties or chains.

TouchMenu, meanwhile, offers a modern, highly rated user experience with a focus on personalization and automation. Its strengths lie in guest profiling and operational streamlining, making it best suited for hotels aiming to innovate quickly with AI-driven tools.

If your hotel values stability, proven support, and extensive integrations, choose Crave. If you prioritize a sleek user interface, guest personalization, and automation, TouchMenu is the better fit.

In conclusion, Crave’s larger review base and recent positive feedback make it the safer, more reliable choice today. However, TouchMenu’s high satisfaction scores highlight its potential for hotels ready to embrace newer, smarter guest engagement solutions.