Booking Engine by HotelRunner vs. iStay Booking Engine (by IBS Software):
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The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine is vital for your hotel's revenue and guest experience. Both HotelRunner and IBS Software aim to streamline your booking process, but they serve different needs and maturity levels. HotelRunner offers a highly-rated, feature-rich platform with active hotelier adoption, while IBS Software’s iStay provides a broad, all-in-one system primarily for larger property portfolios. Which solution aligns better with your hotel’s current goals?

Quick Verdict: HotelRunner or IBS Software — Which Is the Stronger Choice?

HotelRunner’s recent reviews and high ratings make it the clearer option for most hoteliers. With over 40 reviews and a 4.5-star rating in the past six months, its reputation is current and well-supported. IBS Software’s iStay, by contrast, lacks recent user feedback and review counts, making it harder to gauge real-world performance. For most hotels, HotelRunner’s proven track record gives it a decisive edge.

Is HotelRunner or IBS Software Better for Hotels?

HotelRunner excels at serving small to mid-sized hotels, boutique properties, and vacation rentals looking for a flexible, feature-rich booking engine. Its 40+ features include multi-currency, multi-lingual capabilities, and automated emails, which are ideal for properties seeking to boost direct bookings and streamline operations.

IBS Software’s iStay appears more suited to large resorts, hotel chains, and integrated property management needs, offering an all-in-one platform that covers more than just bookings. However, it lacks recent user reviews, so its practicality and ease of use are less clear.

Do you need a flexible, easy-to-use booking engine with recent reviews? Or a comprehensive, enterprise-level platform for larger operations? The choice hinges on your hotel’s size and digital strategy.

HotelRunner vs IBS Software: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a straightforward, reliable booking engine with a proven track record, go with HotelRunner. It’s rated 4.5/5 with over 40 recent reviews, praised for its ease of use, extensive features, and strong support.

If your hotel requires an integrated platform covering property management, guest experience, and distribution — especially if you operate multiple resorts or large properties — IBS Software’s iStay might be more appropriate. But the lack of recent reviews makes it difficult to evaluate its current usability and support.

For most hoteliers, HotelRunner’s specific booking focus and recent positive feedback make it the more practical and safer choice.

Is HotelRunner or IBS Software Easier to Use?

HotelRunner’s user interface has an average rating of 4.73/5, with reviews consistently highlighting its intuitive design and straightforward setup. Hoteliers report that onboarding is smooth, and staff adopt the platform quickly, often citing minimal training needs. Customers praise the platform's responsiveness and clear navigation, with many saying it simplifies their operations.

In contrast, IBS Software has no recent reviews or ratings available, leaving its usability unverified. The lack of feedback prevents a confident assessment, but the absence suggests it may cater more to larger, enterprise clients who prioritize comprehensive solutions over ease of use.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has Better Features: HotelRunner or IBS Software?

HotelRunner offers over 40 features that directly serve hoteliers’ needs, including multi-currency, multi-lingual support, automated pre- and post-stay emails, flexible rates, booking abandonment recovery, and integration with social media and Google Hotel Ads. It also features customizable website templates, booking widgets, and detailed analytics.

IBS Software’s iStay, by contrast, does not publicly list specific features but claims to provide a unified platform covering property management, distribution, and guest experiences. However, without detailed feature counts or recent user validation, it’s hard to compare directly.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has Better Customer Support: HotelRunner or IBS Software?

HotelRunner’s customer support has a high rating of 4.8/5, with reviews praising prompt, helpful assistance via multiple channels, including WhatsApp. Users often mention that support resolves issues quickly, contributing to smooth daily operations.

IBS Software provides no recent reviews or ratings, and support quality remains unverified. Given its enterprise focus and lack of recent user feedback, it’s difficult to assess whether support meets the needs of typical hoteliers.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has More Integrations: HotelRunner or IBS Software?

HotelRunner boasts 17 verified partners, including major OTAs like Expedia, Airbnb, Agoda, and channel management systems like Hotelogix and Oracle Hospitality. Its wide array of integrations allows for extensive connectivity and ease of distribution.

IBS Software has only 2 verified integrations: Duetto and IBS Software itself, indicating a more limited or specialized set of partners. For hoteliers looking for a broad, flexible connection ecosystem, HotelRunner’s integrations are significantly more comprehensive.

Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: HotelRunner or IBS Software?

HotelRunner’s reviews are recent, with a total of 40 and a 4.5/5 overall rating. Hoteliers particularly appreciate its ease of use, feature set, and support, with one reviewer calling it “a great solution for my boutique hotel,” and others noting it “makes operations much easier.”

IBS Software has no recent reviews or ratings available, making it impossible to gauge how hoteliers perceive its performance or support. Its lack of feedback means HotelRunner currently holds the advantage in user satisfaction.

Edge: HotelRunner.

How Much Do HotelRunner and IBS Software Cost?

HotelRunner’s pricing starts at $100 per month, with no free tier or implementation fees, making it accessible for small to mid-sized hotels. Its transparent pricing structure allows hoteliers to easily evaluate ROI and plan budgets.

IBS Software does not publicly list its pricing details, typically offering custom quotes for large enterprises. Without public pricing, smaller hotels may find IBS’s offering less accessible or more suited to large chains with bigger budgets.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HotelRunner?

• Hotels that want a flexible, easy-to-manage booking engine with recent, positive reviews.
• Boutique hotels looking for customizable website and booking tools.
• Hotels seeking multi-currency, multi-lingual support.
• Properties that prioritize strong customer support and rapid onboarding.
• Teams that want a platform with extensive OTA and channel integrations.
• Not ideal if your hotel needs an all-in-one enterprise platform for large-scale property management.

What Type of Hotel Should Use IBS Software?

• Large resorts, multi-property hotel chains, or gaming providers requiring a comprehensive, unified platform.
• Hotels that need more than just booking management — including distribution, guest experience, and property management.
• Teams prepared for a custom implementation based on enterprise needs.
• Hotels operating in markets where IBS Software’s regional presence and integrations align with their distribution needs.
• Not ideal if you’re a small property or prefer a straightforward, feature-rich booking engine with recent reviews.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

HotelRunner and IBS Software serve different hotel segments and operational needs, with HotelRunner clearly leading in recent reviews and user satisfaction. HotelRunner’s emphasis on ease of use, rich features, and strong support makes it the top choice for most hotels seeking a reliable booking engine.

IBS Software’s iStay aims for a broader, enterprise-level system, but the lack of recent customer feedback limits confidence in its current performance. Unless your hotel operates on a large scale with complex distribution needs, HotelRunner offers a more proven, user-friendly solution.

For most hoteliers, HotelRunner’s recent positive reviews, high ratings, and comprehensive integrations make it the safer, more practical investment today.