Still juggling multiple hotel management tools?
If you’re researching Cloudbeds, you’re probably frustrated with booking errors, logging in and out of systems, or simply not having a clear view of your property’s performance.
Let’s be honest, constantly bouncing between disconnected tools kills productivity—you lose valuable hours tracking reservations, guest info, and rates.
That’s exactly where Cloudbeds steps in with its unified suite for property management, channel management, direct bookings, revenue optimization, and guest engagement—all under one login. I’ve tested where it actually saves your team time, prevents overbookings, and helps you keep guests happy.
In this review, I’ll break down how Cloudbeds can cut out operational headaches from your daily routine and what you really gain from their integrated approach.
In this Cloudbeds review, you’ll discover real user experiences, side-by-side feature breakdowns, pricing insights, a candid look at revenue and booking tools, and top alternatives you might be considering.
You’ll get the features you need to finally compare, choose, and roll out a hospitality platform with confidence.
Let’s dig right in.
Quick Summary
- Cloudbeds is a cloud-based hospitality management platform that unifies PMS, channel management, booking, and revenue tools to streamline operations.
- Best for independent hotels, boutique properties, hostels, and vacation rentals seeking an all-in-one management system.
- You’ll appreciate its intuitive interface and strong onboarding that reduce training time while boosting direct bookings and operational efficiency.
- Cloudbeds offers flexible, quote-based pricing with no commissions on direct bookings and 24/7 support, though costs and billing can be complex.
Cloudbeds Overview
I’ve been tracking Cloudbeds since they started back in 2012. Based out of San Diego, their entire mission from day one has been to give independent lodging businesses a single, powerful platform to run their operations.
What really sets them apart for me is their specific focus on independent properties—from boutique hotels to unique vacation rentals. They truly specialize in serving lodging businesses needing one integrated system, so you can finally avoid the classic headache of patching together different, disconnected software tools.
- 🎯 Bonus Resource: While we’re discussing supporting businesses, understanding corporate social responsibility software is equally important for long-term brand elevation.
Their recent acquisition of guest engagement tool Whistle was a particularly smart move. We’ll see how this directly enhances guest communications and workflow automation as we go through this Cloudbeds review.
Unlike competitors that can often feel like separate products bolted together, Cloudbeds was intentionally designed from the ground up as a truly unified all-in-one platform. I find this integrated approach makes daily operations and staff training significantly smoother for your entire team.
They work with a massive range of properties in over 150 countries, from single-owner B&Bs and hostels to sophisticated multi-property hotel groups. This diverse customer base tells me the platform has proven its real-world scalability and flexibility.
Right now, I see their strategy centering on deepening that core all-in-one experience while expanding their third-party integration marketplace. This directly meets the market’s demand for a central, adaptable hub that grows with your business.
Now let’s examine their core capabilities.
Cloudbeds Features
Struggling to manage your hospitality business with disconnected systems?
Cloudbeds offers an integrated platform with features designed to simplify operations for properties of all sizes. Here are the five main Cloudbeds features that can transform your daily management.
1. Property Management System (PMS)
Is your front desk overwhelmed by manual tasks?
Dealing with fragmented reservations and check-ins can lead to errors and frustrated guests. This often drains staff time that could be spent elsewhere.
Cloudbeds’ PMS provides a central hub for daily operations, featuring a drag-and-drop calendar for efficient reservation management. From my testing, its intuitive design makes managing check-ins and check-outs surprisingly smooth. This feature truly simplifies the daily flow, reducing training time for new staff.
This means you can streamline your front desk, giving your team more time to focus on delivering excellent guest experiences.
2. Channel Manager
Are overbookings and manual updates eating your profits?
Managing rates and availability across countless online travel agencies manually is a nightmare. This can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities.
The Channel Manager syncs your rates and inventory across unlimited OTAs in real-time, preventing overbookings instantly. What I found impressive is how this feature maximizes your online exposure without additional commissions. You can reach a global audience effortlessly, diversifying your booking channels.
So, you can finally eliminate manual updates and gain confidence that your online presence is accurate and optimized, boosting your revenue.
3. Booking Engine
Are you paying high commissions for every online booking?
Relying solely on third-party channels means a significant chunk of your revenue goes to commissions. This can severely cut into your profit margins.
Cloudbeds’ Booking Engine drives commission-free direct bookings from your website, integrating seamlessly with your PMS. This feature is highly customizable to match your brand and supports multiple languages and currencies, attracting international guests. It even includes a rate checker to show guests your best direct rates.
This means you can significantly increase your direct bookings, putting more money directly back into your pocket rather than paying third-party fees.
4. Revenue Management
Are you leaving money on the table with static pricing?
Without dynamic pricing, you could be undercharging during high demand or missing out on bookings during low seasons. This hurts your average daily rate.
Cloudbeds offers automated rate adjustments through its Pricing Intelligence Engine (PIE) and integrates with advanced RMS partners. This feature leverages performance data and competitor rates to optimize occupancy and increase Average Daily Rate (ADR). It helps you make data-driven decisions to maximize revenue.
The result is smarter pricing strategies, ensuring you’re always charging the right price, leading to improved profitability for your property.
5. Guest Management & Engagement
Is guest communication feeling impersonal and reactive?
Juggling guest profiles, managing feedback, and sending manual communications is inefficient. This can lead to missed opportunities for personalized service and upselling.
The guest management tools streamline guest profiles, automated communications, and even online check-in/check-out. From my experience, the Whistle platform elevates this feature, enabling digital guest experiences and incremental revenue opportunities through seamless messaging. Staff can easily update notes on the go.
This means you can deliver tailored experiences, boost guest satisfaction, and encourage repeat bookings, building stronger relationships with your visitors.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Integrated platform simplifies daily operations for all hospitality business types.
- ✅ User-friendly interface significantly reduces staff training time and errors.
- ✅ Strong channel management boosts online visibility and prevents overbookings.
- ⚠️ Some users report inconsistencies with advanced customer phone support.
- ⚠️ The optional Pricing Intelligence Engine (PIE) may not meet all expectations.
- ⚠️ Limited record-keeping has been noted by some users, potentially losing data.
These Cloudbeds features work together as a comprehensive, unified platform, eliminating the need for separate systems and simplifying your entire hospitality business.
Cloudbeds Pricing
What will Cloudbeds actually cost your business?
Cloudbeds pricing follows a custom quote model, which means you’ll need to contact sales but also get pricing tailored to your specific needs. This sets the context for a detailed analysis of their cost structure.
Cost Breakdown
- Base Platform: Custom quote based on property size/units
- User Licenses: Starting around $75 per user/month (estimated)
- Implementation: Varies by complexity, typically included in quote
- Integrations: Varies by complexity; marketplace access included
- Key Factors: Property size, number of units, required features, add-ons
1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors
Confused by custom quotes?
Cloudbeds’ pricing is subscription-based, but without public tiers. Instead, they tailor quotes to your property size, number of units, and specific feature requirements. From my cost analysis, factors like add-on solutions (e.g., Digital Marketing Suite, Website Platform) and premium support packages further influence your final pricing.
This means your monthly costs scale precisely with your operations, avoiding unnecessary expenses for unused features.
2. Value Assessment & ROI
Will Cloudbeds justify its cost?
Cloudbeds’ integrated suite aims to streamline operations, potentially reducing the need for multiple systems and thereby lowering your overall operational costs. What I found regarding pricing is that it’s designed to provide a comprehensive solution to optimize revenue and enhance guest experiences, which often translates to a strong ROI.
This helps your finance team see tangible returns on investment by improving efficiency and direct bookings.
- 🎯 Bonus Resource: Before diving deeper into optimizing your tech stack, you might find my analysis of best database backup software helpful.
3. Budget Planning & Implementation
Consider all your budget needs.
While Cloudbeds emphasizes no commissions on direct bookings, be mindful of potential additional fees for optional add-on solutions and enhanced support. Budget-wise, what stood out is that you’ll need to request a personalized quote to understand your total cost of ownership, which could include some upfront setup or training.
So for your specific situation, you can expect transparent discussions with their sales team to match pricing to your actual usage.
My Take: Cloudbeds’ custom pricing model focuses on delivering tailored value, making it ideal for diverse hospitality businesses that need a comprehensive, scalable solution aligned with their unique operational footprint.
The overall Cloudbeds pricing reflects tailored value for your property’s specific requirements.
Cloudbeds Reviews
What do real customers actually think?
I’ve delved into numerous Cloudbeds reviews from various platforms to offer you a balanced, user-centric view of what actual customers experience with this software.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Users seem generally quite satisfied.
From my review analysis, Cloudbeds consistently earns high ratings, averaging 4.5/5 on sites like Hotel Tech Report and Capterra. What I found in user feedback is that its comprehensive nature significantly boosts satisfaction, serving as a true “one-stop shop” for many.
This indicates that you can expect a generally positive and streamlined experience.
- 🎯 Bonus Resource: If you’re also looking into property management solutions beyond hotels, my analysis of best RTO Agents Software can help optimize your office space.
2. Common Praise Points
User-friendliness consistently shines.
Users frequently praise Cloudbeds for its intuitive interface and all-in-one functionality, consolidating essential tools. From the reviews I analyzed, the platform’s design simplifies daily operations, reducing the need for multiple disparate systems and cutting down on training time.
This means you can expect smoother daily workflows and easier staff adoption.
3. Frequent Complaints
Some support inconsistencies arise.
While overall support is praised, some reviews mention inconsistent customer support, particularly concerning phone availability or complex billing issues. What stands out in user feedback is how specific technical issues, like receipt printing, sometimes remain unresolved after multiple interactions.
You should know these issues appear to be isolated and not broadly reported as deal-breakers.
What Customers Say
- Positive: “I highly value the platform for its simplicity and intuitive, user-friendly interface. Its design ensures that even users without extensive technical knowledge can easily navigate and utilize its features effectively.”
- Constructive: “Customer service is their weakest link. If you ever want someone on the phone—go elsewhere.”
- Bottom Line: “I wanted a one-stop shop. 54% of our revenue now comes from direct bookings.”
The overall Cloudbeds reviews show a clear pattern of strong satisfaction, with minor but notable points for improvement.
Best Cloudbeds Alternatives
Considering other hospitality software options?
- 🎯 Bonus Resource: While we’re discussing software options for various operations, you might find my guide on best worship software helpful.
The best Cloudbeds alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business situations and priorities, from small properties to complex multi-property operations.
1. Mews
Need extensive integrations and advanced automation?
Mews excels for larger, more complex operations that require a highly customizable system with a vast array of third-party integrations. From my competitive analysis, Mews offers over 1000+ app integrations, though it typically involves higher implementation costs than Cloudbeds.
Choose Mews when your priority is extensive customizability and advanced automation for multi-property setups.
2. Little Hotelier
Running a small B&B or guesthouse?
Little Hotelier is ideal for very small properties prioritizing simplicity and ease of use over extensive advanced features. What I found comparing options is that Little Hotelier offers a simpler, more affordable entry for core PMS, channel manager, and booking engine needs.
Consider this alternative if you need straightforward core functionalities without Cloudbeds’ broader integrations or revenue tools.
3. Sirvoy
Budget is your absolute top priority?
Sirvoy provides essential property management features at a very affordable price, making it a strong alternative for businesses with tight budgets. Alternative-wise, Sirvoy offers simplicity and cost-effectiveness for fundamental booking engine, channel manager, and basic PMS features.
Choose Sirvoy when your primary concern is budget and you only need basic, no-frills hotel management software.
Quick Decision Guide
- Choose Cloudbeds: Unified platform with strong support for diverse properties
- Choose Mews: Complex operations needing vast integrations and automation
- Choose Little Hotelier: Small properties focused on simplicity and core functions
- Choose Sirvoy: Very tight budget requiring only fundamental features
The best Cloudbeds alternatives depend on your property size, budget, and integration needs more than generic feature lists.
