- Visby for Hotels
- Visby vs STAY
Visby vs STAY
Visby vs STAY: hotel guest app comparison
STAY is built for hotel chains and offers a web app, a native app or an embedded app, with ordering, bookings and an AI concierge. Prices are not published.
Visby for Hotels is built for independent hotels: free to start, self-serve and web-first, with a named App Store app as an option later.
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 | STAY | |
|---|---|---|
| How guests open it | Lobby QR or link opens in the phone browser. No download. | Web app from a QR code, native iOS and Android app, or embedded in your app |
| Requests and chat | Requests and guest chat in one team inbox | Requests and concierge chat |
| Upsells and extras | Spa, dining, late checkout and extras, bookable and paid by card in the app | Bookings for restaurants, spa and activities; food and drink ordering; upselling |
| Online check-in | Optional online check-in (registration card, card on file for extras) | Ask STAY |
| Digital room keys | No digital keys | Ask STAY |
| AI | AI answers guest questions in your hotel’s voice and hands off to your team | AI concierge |
| Pricing | Free to start (Visby takes a small share of sales), or a flat monthly plan with no commission | Not published |
| Best for | Independent and boutique hotels that want a branded guest app live this week | Hotel chains and resorts, especially ones that want native apps |
What STAY is
STAY calls itself the guest experience platform for hotel chains. Hotels can run it as a web app guests open from a QR code, a native iOS and Android app, or an app embedded in their own. It covers bookings for restaurants, spa and activities, food and drink ordering, requests, concierge chat, upselling, an AI concierge, feedback, a hotel directory with maps and a destination guide. RealTime Reservation acquired STAY in June 2026.
Where each one is stronger
Choose STAY if
- You want native iOS and Android apps as a core part of the product.
- You run a chain and want one platform across many hotels.
- You want food and drink ordering across several outlets.
Choose Visby if
- You are an independent hotel and want to start free, without a sales cycle.
- You want to set it up yourself in minutes.
- You want a native app only later, if at all. With Visby it is optional and uses the same guest experience.
Questions hotels ask
Straight answers. For anything else, book a 30-minute demo or email hello@visbytravel.com.
Is Visby for Hotels a STAY alternative?
For independent and boutique hotels, yes. STAY is built for chains and leans on native and embedded apps. Visby is web-first, free to start and set up in minutes.
Does STAY need an app download?
Not necessarily. STAY offers a web app guests open from a QR code, as well as native iOS and Android apps. Visby for Hotels opens in the browser.
How much does STAY cost?
STAY does not publish prices on its website (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.