Touchstay vs. Checked In: Which Platform Delivers a Better Guest Experience?

Eleri Carys
Property Management Expert
4 min read

When it comes to managing vacation rentals, owners & property managers are increasingly turning to digital tools to enhance the guest experience, streamline operations, and improve efficiency. Two popular platforms in this space are Checked.in and Touchstay. Both offer valuable features, but they cater to slightly different needs. Let’s explore their key benefits and why Checked.in may be the better choice for many property managers.

Feature Comparison: Checked.in vs. Touchstay

Both Checked.in and Touchstay provide key features like personalized digital guidebooks, self-service check-in, and guest sentiment tracking. However, Checked.in truly stands out with its advanced automation tools and revenue management features, making it the superior choice for property managers seeking to streamline operations and maximize income.

Key Advantages of Checked

  • Automation & Communication: Checked.in offers AI-powered messaging to handle guest inquiries, send automated reminders, and verify check-ins seamlessly. This reduces the need for manual work and ensures a consistent, professional experience for guests.
  • Revenue Generation: Checked.in includes powerful tools for dynamic pricing and add-on/cross-selling, enabling property managers to promote additional services, such as food packages, extra amenities, and merchandise, directly within the platform.
  • Integration & Operational Efficiency: With its comprehensive suite of automation tools and integrations with PMS (Property Management Systems), Checked.in simplifies day-to-day tasks and boosts overall efficiency.

In contrast, while Touchstay excels at creating highly customizable digital guides and enhancing guest personalization, it lacks automation for operational tasks and built-in revenue management tools.

With its focus on automation, revenue growth, and streamlined operations, Checked.in is the ideal solution for property managers aiming to deliver exceptional guest experiences while driving business growth. Touchstay, on the other hand, is a great option for those prioritizing personalized guest guides without the need for operational or revenue-focused features.

Cost Effectiveness: Checked.in vs. Touchstay

When it comes to value, Checked In provides a more feature-rich platform at a comparable price point. While Touchstay is focused mainly on offering highly customizable digital guides and guest personalization, Checked In offers a more comprehensive solution that also includes automation, guest verification, dynamic pricing, and add-on —all in one. This makes Checked In the more cost-effective option for property managers looking to improve both guest experience and operational efficiency.

Enhancing Guest Experience with Personalization

Touchstay’s key strength lies in its ability to create highly personalized and branded digital guides. The platform enables property managers to provide extensive details about their properties, services, and local recommendations, ensuring a tailored experience for guests. However, this deep level of customization comes at a cost. Touchstay’s interface is generally busier and more complex compared to Checked In, leading to a steeper learning curve for property managers. The abundance of customization options can be overwhelming, making it time-consuming to fully utilize the platform. For guests, this complexity may translate into a less intuitive experience, potentially diminishing the intended convenience. While the platform offers significant potential for tailoring guest experiences, the effort required to set up and navigate it might deter users, increasing the likelihood that the digital guide is underutilized or even overlooked.

In contrast, Checked In prioritizes simplicity and efficiency. Its streamlined interface allows property managers to easily customize their digital guides completely to match their branding and design. The platform’s intuitive design ensures a quicker onboarding process, enabling property managers to immediately leverage its powerful automation and revenue-generating tools without the hassle of a lengthy setup. This focus on ease of use ensures that both property managers and guests can enjoy a seamless experience, reinforcing convenience as a core feature.

Ultimately, while Touchstay offers extensive customization, Checked In’s user-friendly design and operational efficiency make it the ideal choice for property managers seeking to deliver a better guest experience with minimal effort. However, Checked In enhances personalization through automation, which goes beyond what Touchstay can offer. Owner & property managers using Checked In can automate guest communications, such as check-in instructions, service reminders, and upselling opportunities. Additionally, the platform’s AI features can help create a more customized communication flow based on each guest’s behavior or needs, delivering a seamless, personalized experience.

Streamlined Property Management with Automation

Checked.in stands out when it comes to automation, streamlining key operations to save property managers time and reduce complexity. Here’s how

In contrast, Touchstay offers limited automation. While it allows property managers to create highly personalized guides and manage guest communication, it lacks the automation features that Checked.in provides, such as check-in automation, upselling, and real-time guest interaction management.

Customization and Interface Design

When it comes to property management software, customization is crucial for creating a personalized guest experience. Touchstay shines with its robust customization options, allowing property managers to create highly personalized, branded digital guides. However, this flexibility comes with a downside: its interface design can be difficult to navigate, leading to a less optimal experience, both for property managers and their guests.

For property managers, the complexity of Touchstay's interface means spending additional time searching for key information and completing basic tasks. This can slow down operations and increase the time spent on managing the property. Moreover, guests—who are simply looking to enjoy their stay—aren’t interested in learning new software. If the system is too complicated, it can detract from their experience, especially when they struggle to find the information they need about the property or local amenities.

User-Friendly and Intuitive Design

In contrast, Checked.in offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that both property managers and guests can easily navigate. A case study found that property managers using Checked.in spent an average of just 15 minutes on basic tasks like managing bookings or adding properties—thanks to its streamlined design. This ease of use is a major advantage for property managers who need to save time and focus on delivering a top-tier guest experience without being bogged down by a complex system.

For property managers, Checked.in provides easy-to-use customization options like cover photos, property names, and color schemes—allowing them to create a branded experience without having to master a complex interface. This simplicity is key for ensuring that property managers can quickly set up their properties and manage bookings while still offering a personalized touch.

Most importantly, Checked.in’s intuitive design benefits guests, who can navigate the platform without confusion. Whether checking in or looking for property details, guests can find what they need easily, without having to learn how to use a new system. This makes the guest experience seamless and enhances their stay, ensuring they can focus on enjoying their vacation rather than struggling with technology.

                                        Why Checked In Stands Out

While Touchstay is an excellent choice for property managers primarily focused on creating personalized guidebooks, Checked.in provides a more comprehensive, all-in-one property management solution. With its powerful automation tools, revenue management features, guest verification, and real-time analytics, Checked.in helps property managers optimize every aspect of their operations while driving revenue growth. Its intuitive design and seamless integration capabilities make it the superior option for those looking to simplify property management tasks without compromising the guest experience.

If you're a property manager in search of an easy-to-use platform that combines automation, personalization, and efficiency, while also helping you grow your revenue, Checked.in is the ideal solution.

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Eleri Carys
Property Management Expert

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