Counter vs. Preno:
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Is Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno Better for Hotels?

Counter by Counter and Preno by Preno both address property management, but they diverge sharply in target clientele and feature depth. Counter focuses on hostels, comprising 83% of its user base with a 4.7/5 rating from 50 hostel reviews. Preno, by contrast, serves independent boutique hotels, motels, B&Bs, and pubs, with strong adoption in boutique hotels (19%), motels (25%), and bed & breakfasts (9%), achieving 4.8/5 across 170 reviews.

Both systems solve the core problem of simplifying daily hotel operations—reservations, check-ins, payments, and channel management—through cloud-based interfaces that support remote access. Counter emphasizes ease and speed for hostels with a mobile-friendly design, while Preno integrates broader operational modules including revenue management and multi-property oversight.

Counter by Counter vs Preno by Preno: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If you operate a hostel primarily focused on bunk-style accommodations, Counter is the better choice based on 50 hostel reviews averaging 4.7/5 and a user base where hostels dominate 83%. Its interface and automation reduce manual workload for front desk teams managing complex shared rooms. However, if your property is a boutique hotel, motel, or B&B with fewer than 100 rooms, Preno’s 4.8/5 rating across 170 reviews, including 68 for boutique hotels and 55 for motels, makes it a superior fit. Preno’s integrated revenue management and channel manager suit properties needing dynamic pricing and multi-property visibility.

Data for luxury hotels, resorts, and branded hotels is too thin for Counter (fewer than 10 reviews each), while Preno has consistent ratings above 4.7/5 for these segments, supporting its suitability. Preno’s multi-property dashboard is also a key advantage for operators managing multiple sites, a feature missing in Counter.

Is Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno Easier to Use?

Counter and Preno both receive high ease-of-use ratings: 4.6/5 for Counter and 4.8/5 for Preno, with onboarding both rated 4.7/5. Reviewers praise Counter’s intuitive interface that requires no teaching and is easy for any staff member to adopt quickly. Preno users highlight the clean layout and rapid training curve, even for new staff with limited tech skills.

Counter’s mobile browser interface supports operations on the go, which is crucial for hostel staff who often multitask remotely. Preno’s cloud access from any device, including phones and laptops, enables centralized control over multiple properties. Neither product shows significant ease-of-use weaknesses in reviews.

Edge: Even.

Which Has Better Features: Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno?

Preno offers 13 unique hotel-relevant features beyond the 17 shared with Counter, including integrated CRS, revenue management, native email marketing, EPoS, drag-n-drop tapechart, real-time status updates, GDPR and PCI compliance, and automated space optimization. These features enable boutique hotels and motels to optimize pricing, automate guest communication, and manage rooms dynamically, directly impacting revenue and operational workflows.

Counter’s unique features are limited to multi-currency and multi-lingual support, which benefit hostels serving international backpackers but lack the advanced revenue and booking tools Preno provides. Counter’s strength lies in simplified hostel workflow automation rather than complex revenue management or detailed reporting.

Edge: Preno.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno?

Both products have strong customer support ratings with Counter at 4.9/5 and Preno at 4.8/5, and equal onboarding scores of 4.7/5. Counter reviewers frequently mention rapid, friendly, and knowledgeable support staff, specifically naming Evelyn, Max, and José as responsive. Preno users also commend its responsive support team and helpfulness through onboarding and issue resolution, though some note occasional delays during busy periods.

Given the close ratings and similar feedback about support quality and responsiveness, neither product has a clear advantage.

Edge: Even.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno?

Preno has 17 verified integrations compared to Counter’s 7, a 143% difference exceeding the 25% threshold for edge calls. Both support key partners like SiteMinder and Goki. Counter integrates with payment processors like Stripe, channel managers like Cloudbeds and Channex, and hospitality platforms like WuBook and FLYR Hospitality.

Preno’s broader ecosystem includes Xero accounting, Bookboost marketing, RevControl revenue management, GuestTraction guest feedback, Zingle messaging, TrustYou reputation, STAAH channel manager, and Revinate CRM. This rich integration suite supports boutique hotels and motels requiring comprehensive financial, marketing, and guest engagement capabilities.

Edge: Preno.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter by Counter or Preno by Preno?

Counter has an overall rating of 4.6/5 based on 57 reviews, primarily from hostels, with no reviews in the last six months. Preno holds a slightly higher overall rating of 4.8/5 from 170 reviews, including 3 recent reviews in the last six months. However, Preno’s review volume has dropped 87% recently (3 vs 23.3 average per 6 months over prior two years), suggesting its all-time ratings may not fully reflect current product quality or support.

Both products receive high segment ratings; Counter’s hostel rating is 4.7/5 (50 reviews), while Preno’s boutique hotel and motel ratings are 4.8/5 or above. Preno also scores consistently higher across luxury hotels, resorts, and branded hotels segments.

Edge: Even.

How Much Do Counter by Counter and Preno by Preno Cost?

Counter does not publicly disclose pricing, offers no freemium or trial, and does not charge implementation fees or monthly flat or per-room fees. It is promoted as free and easy to use, with no published cost details.

Preno publishes a $500 base price with no freemium or monthly flat/room fees, no implementation fees, and offers a 30-day trial. This upfront pricing suits boutique and motel operators seeking transparency and a trial period before commitment.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter by Counter?

• Hotels that operate primarily as hostels with shared rooms and bunk beds, based on 83% of its user base and 4.7/5 hostel rating.
• Teams that need a mobile-friendly PMS for managing check-ins, payments, and reservations on the go.
• Properties seeking a free or low-cost PMS without implementation fees or mandatory subscriptions.
• Hostels requiring multi-currency and multi-lingual support for international backpacker clientele.
• Operations wanting simple, clean interfaces with fast onboarding and strong customer support focused on hostel needs.

Not ideal if:

• Your property requires advanced revenue management or dynamic pricing features.
• You need integrated CRS, email marketing, or drag-and-drop tapecharts.
• Multi-property management or detailed reporting is important.
• You operate a boutique hotel, motel, or branded hotel segment.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Preno by Preno?

• Boutique hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts seeking a PMS with integrated revenue management and marketing tools.
• Properties managing multiple sites needing centralized dashboards and consolidated booking control.
• Hotels requiring strong integrations with Xero accounting, SiteMinder channel manager, and guest engagement platforms.
• Operations wanting real-time status updates, automated assignments, and drag-and-drop tapecharts to optimize room inventory.
• Teams looking for native email marketing and transactional emails to automate guest communication.

Not ideal if:

• Your property is a hostel or primarily uses shared-room accommodations.
• You require a free PMS or have very limited budgets without ability to pay a $500 base price.
• You prioritize mobile app features beyond basic cloud access; Preno’s mobile app has limited offline functionality.

Counter by Counter vs Preno by Preno: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Counter by Counter and Preno by Preno serve distinctly different hotel segments with some feature overlap but divergent depth and integrations. Counter excels for hostels with its free, mobile-friendly platform, multi-currency support, and streamlined workflows praised by 83% hostel users. Preno targets boutique hotels, motels, and B&Bs with richer features like revenue management, integrated CRS, and extensive third-party integrations supporting complex operations and multi-property management.

Choose Counter if you run a small to medium-sized hostel seeking a low-cost, easy-to-use PMS focused on bunk bed and shared accommodation management, emphasizing mobile access and responsive support. Two concrete advantages are its no-cost model and multi-lingual interface tailored to international backpackers.

Choose Preno if your property is a boutique hotel, motel, or B&B requiring integrated revenue management, multi-property dashboards, and native marketing tools. Advantages include its extensive verified integrations (17 vs 7), and advanced features like drag-and-drop tapecharts and GDPR compliance that improve operational control and revenue optimization.

Note that Preno’s review activity has dropped sharply in the last six months—3 reviews versus an average of 23.3 in prior periods—so its all-time stellar ratings (4.8/5) may not fully represent recent product or support experience. Counter’s review volume is smaller (57) but stable, though lacking recent feedback. This contrast in review recency and volume should weigh into your purchasing decision alongside your property type and feature priorities.