- Visby for Hotels
- Visby vs Akia
Visby vs Akia
Visby vs Akia: hotel guest app comparison
Akia is texting-first: guests chat with AI by text, and links open small browser pages for check-in, upsells and guidebooks. Prices are by quote.
Visby for Hotels is a branded guest app guests browse, with offers, the hotel guide and places nearby, plus chat with your team. It is free to start and set up in minutes.
Side by side
From each company’s own website, checked October 2026. Features change, so confirm anything that decides it for you in a demo.
| Visby for Hotels | Akia | |
|---|---|---|
| How guests open it | Lobby QR or link opens in the phone browser. No download. | Link by text or chat, opens in the browser. No download. |
| Requests and chat | Requests and guest chat in one team inbox | AI messaging by text and chat |
| Upsells and extras | Spa, dining, late checkout and extras, bookable and paid by card in the app | Upsells, in-room dining, tipping |
| Online check-in | Optional online check-in (registration card, card on file for extras) | Digital check-in with ID and selfie checks |
| Digital room keys | No digital keys | Keyless entry |
| AI | AI answers guest questions in your hotel’s voice and hands off to your team | AI messaging, and AI voice that can take payment |
| Pricing | Free to start (Visby takes a small share of sales), or a flat monthly plan with no commission | Quote only (Basic, Pro and Max plans) |
| Best for | Independent and boutique hotels that want a branded guest app live this week | Hotels and vacation rentals that want AI-led guest messaging by text |
What Akia is
Akia calls itself the AI for 5-star guest experiences. Guests get a link by text or chat that opens in the browser, with no download. It covers AI messaging, AI voice that can take payment, pre-arrival with ID and selfie checks, digital check-in, upsells, in-room dining, tipping, guidebooks and keyless entry. Prices are by quote.
Where each one is stronger
Choose Akia if
- You want guests to talk to the hotel by text message first.
- You want AI to answer phone calls and take payment by voice.
- You want ID and selfie checks before arrival, and keyless entry.
Choose Visby if
- You want a branded app guests browse, with photo offers, the hotel guide and places nearby, not only a text thread.
- You want to start free, without a sales call.
- You want to set it up yourself today.
Sources
Also compared: Visby vs Duve, Visby vs Canary Technologies, Visby vs Bookboost, Visby vs STAY. Or see the full roundup.
Questions hotels ask
Straight answers. For anything else, book a 30-minute demo or email hello@visbytravel.com.
Is Visby for Hotels an Akia alternative?
If you want a branded guest app with bookable extras and a team inbox, yes. If you want AI that runs guest conversations by text and phone, Akia is built for that.
Does Akia need an app download?
No. Akia sends links by text or chat that load in the browser. Visby for Hotels also opens in the browser, from a QR code or link.
How much does Akia cost?
Akia does not publish prices. Its pricing page lists Basic, Pro and Max plans through sales (October 2026).
How much does Visby for Hotels cost?
Two plans. The Performance plan has no upfront or monthly fee: Visby earns a small share of what guests buy through checkout. The Platform plan is a flat monthly fee sized to your room count, with no commission on sales. Standard card processing applies on both.