Choose by the kind of property you run and how many booking channels you sell through. Small properties need something simple that keeps one calendar right, rentals need strong channel syncing, and hotel groups need multi-property tools. Whatever you pick, test that a booking on one site blocks the room everywhere else.
Running a small hotel, a guesthouse or a handful of rentals means your booking system is the business. Mews sells itself as cloud hospitality software that automates operations and the guest experience. If it feels like more than you need, or not quite the right shape, these eight systems cover the same ground for different kinds of property.
Hotel and rental systems, alphabetically
They're listed in no particular order beyond the alphabet. Each line describes who the vendor says the system is for.
Beds24
Best for: Vacation rentals, hotels and property managers who want bookings, listings, calendars, payments and guest messages handled alongside a channel manager in one system, per the vendor.
Cloudbeds
Best for: Ambitious hotels, in the vendor's words, wanting a property system, channel manager and guest messaging with digital check-in under one hospitality platform.
eviivo
Best for: Hotels and holiday rentals updating every channel from one multi-property calendar, with an AI helper the vendor likens to an extra employee who never sleeps.
Hotelogix
Best for: Hotels wanting front desk, housekeeping, point of sale, channel manager and direct bookings in a single cloud property system, per the vendor.
Little Hotelier
Best for: Small properties wanting bookings and day-to-day operations in one place with a mobile app; the vendor says it's powered by SiteMinder.
RoomRaccoon
Best for: Hoteliers who want bookings and guest communication automated inside all-in-one hotel management software, as the vendor puts it.
Sirvoy
Best for: Property owners after an all-in-one hotel system the vendor describes as simple to learn, with friendly support around the clock.
StayNTouch
Best for: Independent hotels and hotel groups needing a full-featured cloud property system for group bookings and multi-property work, per the vendor.
Quick comparison of the property systems
| Tool | Property type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Beds24 | Rentals and hotels | A channel manager and PMS in one |
| Cloudbeds | Hotels | PMS, channels and guest messaging together |
| eviivo | Hotels and holiday rentals | One calendar across several properties |
| Hotelogix | Hotels | Front desk to housekeeping in one cloud PMS |
| Little Hotelier | Small properties | Running a small property from one app |
| RoomRaccoon | Hotels | Automated bookings and guest messages |
| Sirvoy | Hotels and guest properties | A simple system with round-the-clock support |
| StayNTouch | Independent hotels and groups | Group bookings and multi-property set-ups |
Double bookings start in the channel sync
The thing to test in any replacement is how calendars, channels and guest messages stay in sync without double bookings. Every system here says it handles the big booking sites, but the detail matters: how quickly an availability change reaches each channel, what happens when two bookings land in the same minute, and whether a guest message from one site ends up in the same inbox as the rest.
So don't judge on screenshots. Set up a test room, connect two channels, and book it on both as close together as you can. The way a system handles that small stress test tells you more than any feature tour.
It's also worth asking who you'll talk to when something goes wrong on a busy Saturday. A sync problem at check-in time can't wait for a reply next week, so find out how support works, what hours it covers and whether there's a person on the end of the line. You'll rarely need it, but when you do, it's the only thing that matters.
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Small properties, rentals and hotel groups
Small hotels and guesthouses. Little Hotelier and Sirvoy both pitch simplicity, with one aimed squarely at small properties and the other at owners who want something easy to learn.
Rentals and mixed portfolios. Beds24 and eviivo both cover holiday rentals as well as hotels, with channel management and a multi-property calendar at the centre. If you also market rentals directly, my SEO tips for vacation rental websites are worth a read.
Hotels wanting a full system. Cloudbeds, Hotelogix and RoomRaccoon each bundle front desk, channels and guest messaging, while StayNTouch is aimed at independent hotels and groups with group bookings to manage.
My advice for hosts and hoteliers
Start with your property type, then your channel mix. A guesthouse selling through two booking sites doesn't need the same system as a group of hotels with conference bookings. Shortlist two systems built for your kind of property, run the double-booking test, and ask how guest messages from every channel are handled. If you're weighing direct and platform bookings, my guide to Airbnb alternatives may help with the channel side.
Switching without losing future reservations
- Export every future booking, with guest details and deposits taken.
- Ask the new vendor how it imports reservations and rate plans.
- Pick a quiet week to switch channels over, one at a time.
- Keep the old system read-only until the last imported stay has checked out.
- Check each booking site shows the right availability the day after the switch.
Do you make hotel or rental management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most important thing to test when leaving Mews?
Test whether calendars, channels and guest messages stay in sync. Book one test room on two channels at almost the same time and see how the system handles it.
Do small guesthouses need a full property management system?
Not always. Many small properties manage well with a simpler system that keeps one calendar, takes bookings and handles guest messages, as long as the channel sync is reliable.
Can holiday rentals and hotels use the same software?
Some systems cover both, with a multi-property calendar and channel manager. Check that the tool handles the way you let your rentals, such as minimum stays and cleaning gaps.
How do I move future bookings to a new system?
Export them first, then ask the new vendor how it imports reservations. Switch channels over one at a time and keep the old system available until imported stays are complete.
Is this list in any order?
It's alphabetical, with no crowned pick. The right system depends on your property type and how many channels you sell on.
Are there legal rules for short-term lets?
Requirements vary by country and city, and they change. Check with your local authority or regulator before you take bookings.
