HotelFriend HMS vs. HotelRunner HMS:
Qual è Quello Giusto per Te?

The Decision

Choosing between HotelFriend HMS and HotelRunner HMS hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and your team's priorities. Both aim to streamline operations and improve guest satisfaction, but they go about it differently. HotelFriend offers a broader suite of features with high support ratings, while HotelRunner emphasizes simplicity and affordability. Your decision depends on whether you value depth of features and support or ease of use and cost.

HotelFriend is more comprehensive, but HotelRunner has a more recent and larger volume of reviews. Which one aligns better with your hotel's goals?

Is HotelFriend or HotelRunner Better for Hotels?

HotelFriend presents an all-in-one platform with 37 unique features, including direct billing, automated night audit, and a guest app, but it suffers from very low user ratings (0/5) and negative reviews highlighting bugs and usability issues. Conversely, HotelRunner offers a streamlined platform with 13 shared features plus two exclusive ones like multi-currency and rate shopping, and it boasts a 5/5 rating from 14 recent reviews.

HotelFriend's reviews are predominantly negative, citing cumbersome, buggy software that doesn’t meet expectations. HotelRunner’s recent reviews praise its user-friendliness, efficiency, and strong customer support, making it a more reliable choice for hotels seeking stability and ease. Do you prioritize a feature-rich platform with potential drawbacks, or a user-rated solution with proven stability?

HotelFriend vs HotelRunner: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable, feature-heavy system, HotelFriend is appealing, especially if you operate in Germany or Austria and require full compliance with local regulations. Its support for complex operations, including detailed accounting and integration with German fiscal standards, makes it suitable for large or corporate hotels looking for tailored solutions.

If your focus is on simplicity, quick implementation, and a platform that improves daily reservation management without steep learning curves, HotelRunner is the clear choice. Its affordability, ease of training, and highly recent positive reviews make it ideal for small to medium-sized hotels prioritizing efficiency over extensive customization.

For hotels seeking a robust, highly configurable system with in-depth modules, HotelFriend is the better fit. If you want a straightforward, cost-effective platform with immediate benefits, go with HotelRunner.

Is HotelFriend or HotelRunner Easier to Use?

HotelFriend scores 4.71/5 for ease of use, with glowing reviews about its user-friendly interface and onboarding process. However, despite high ratings, many reviews critique the software as cumbersome and buggy, indicating that the platform’s complexity may hinder staff adoption initially. The onboarding is rated 4.76/5, suggesting good support but not necessarily smooth sailing for all users.

HotelRunner also scores high, at 4.64/5, with reviews emphasizing its simplicity and ease of management. Users find it intuitive and quick to learn, which supports rapid staff adoption.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has Better Features: HotelFriend or HotelRunner?

HotelFriend offers a staggering 37 features exclusive to it, including advanced tools like direct billing, automated night audits, integrated ID scanners, and digital registration. It also provides guest messaging, shift planning, real-time reporting, and a guest app, delivering a broad operational toolkit.

HotelRunner provides only two unique features—multi-currency and rate shopping—and shares 13 features with HotelFriend. Its smaller feature set means it may lack some specialized tools that larger or more complex hotels need.

Edge: HotelFriend.

Which Has Better Customer Support: HotelFriend or HotelRunner?

HotelFriend’s customer support is rated 4.76/5, with reviews highlighting their premium, personalized service, including onsite visits and tailored feature development. One client praised their quick response and support tailored to large corporate needs, reinforcing a reputation for strong, reliable assistance.

HotelRunner’s support is rated 4.5/5, with reviews describing it as responsive and helpful but less personalized. The majority of recent reviews mention their customer service as good but not exceptional.

Edge: HotelFriend.

Which Has More Integrations: HotelFriend or HotelRunner?

HotelFriend integrates with just 1 verified partner, mainly offering a streamlined, all-in-one solution suitable for smaller operations or those preferring minimal integration. Its limited integrations could be a drawback if your hotel relies on many third-party systems.

HotelRunner supports 17 verified partners, including major platforms like Expedia, Airbnb, and Oracle Hospitality. Its extensive integration options make it more adaptable for hotels needing connectivity with various OTAs and management tools.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: HotelFriend or HotelRunner?

HotelFriend’s reviews are overwhelmingly negative, with many giving 0/5 and citing dissatisfaction with buggy, outdated, and non-functional features. Its review count is just 17, with most recent reviews in the last 6 months, but the feedback remains poor.

HotelRunner’s 14 reviews, all from the last 6 months, are uniformly positive, with a 5/5 rating. Hotels across boutique and city segments praise its ease of use, efficiency, and support quality.

Edge: HotelRunner.

How Much Do HotelFriend and HotelRunner Cost?

HotelFriend charges a base price of $800 per month, with no freemium option or trial period. Its high price reflects its extensive features and tailored solutions, but some users question whether the value matches the cost given the poor reviews.

HotelRunner’s smaller scale and streamlined platform cost just $100 per month, with no trial or implementation fees. Its affordability makes it more accessible for smaller hotels or those testing new management systems.

Note: Price transparency exists, but HotelFriend’s higher cost does not necessarily translate into better user satisfaction.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HotelFriend?

• Hotels that operate complex, large-scale properties with multiple departments needing tailored workflows.
• Teams that require detailed accounting, invoice management, and compliance with regulations like TSE, GoBD, GDPR.
• Hotels seeking an all-in-one platform with extensive modules for guest management, POS, and event handling.
• Hotels that value local, personalized support, especially in Germany or Austria.
• Not ideal if you are a small hotel or boutique seeking quick deployment, straightforward management, or budget-friendly options.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HotelRunner?

• Independent, boutique, or city hotels looking for an easy-to-use, affordable PMS with essential features.
• Hotels that prioritize online visibility, bookings from OTAs, and multi-channel distribution.
• Teams seeking rapid onboarding, minimal training, and a platform that adapts easily to daily operations.
• Hotels that want to automate reservations and simplify guest interactions without extensive customization.
• Not ideal if you need a deeply customizable, feature-rich system for large or complex operations.

HotelFriend vs HotelRunner: The Bottom Line for Hotels

HotelFriend is a comprehensive, customizable solution suited for large hotels or groups operating within Germany or Austria. Its extensive modules and support are ideal if your hotel requires deep functionality, detailed reporting, and full compliance with local regulations. However, its poor reviews suggest that implementation and usability might be challenging.

HotelRunner is a straightforward, budget-friendly platform providing core hotel management tools with high user satisfaction. Its recent reviews confirm it is easy to adopt, highly rated, and well-supported, making it suitable for small to medium hotels prioritizing efficiency and simplicity.

If your hotel needs a deeply integrated, multi-feature system with local support and compliance, HotelFriend is the definitive choice. If your focus is on ease of use, affordability, and quick results, HotelRunner is the better option.