TravelPal vs Chekin
Chekin is check-in software with one AI inbox for guest messages. TravelPal is an AI concierge that starts from the guest conversation and sells your paid extras inside it.
What Chekin is
Chekin calls itself automated check-in for hotels and short-term rentals. Guests check in online before they arrive. Chekin reads their ID and matches it to a selfie. It sends guest reports to the local authorities and works out the tourist tax. It also takes deposits and sends a virtual key. Its AI inbox brings WhatsApp, email, SMS, booking-site and phone messages into one place. Chekin says its AI learns each property and answers guests. Its upsells include a better room, early check-in, late checkout and parking. Guests see them during online check-in or in the AI inbox chat. Chekin says it connects to 35 or more property management systems and authorities, Guesty and Hostaway among them.
Where TravelPal differs
TravelPal starts from what guests ask: its AI answers from the facts you give it about each unit.
When a guest could use more, it offers a paid extra in that conversation, at your price.
For a Guesty booking, it checks that the cleaners have time before offering a late checkout.
A question it cannot answer waits for your team, and your reply is saved.
$25 per unit per month, or $15 + 20% of upsells TravelPal sells, by card or through Airbnb
Where Chekin is ahead
Before you decide, see what Chekin does well.
Reports to the authorities and tourist tax
Chekin sends guest reports to the local authorities on its own. It works out the tourist tax by country, region and type of property. If the law asks this of your units, that is a strong reason to choose it.
ID checks for many countries
Chekin reads a guest's ID document and matches it to a selfie. It says it reads documents from 150+ countries.
One inbox for WhatsApp, email and SMS
Its AI inbox covers WhatsApp, email, SMS, booking sites and phone messages. Your team reads all guest messages in one place.
Deposits, keys and smart locks
Chekin takes security deposits and sends guests a virtual key. It connects to smart locks such as Salto, Nuki, TTLock, Yale and August.
Side by side
Each row is something property management companies ask about. For Chekin, we show what they say in public.
- Offered, on that product’s own public pages
- What their materials say, where a check mark would say too much
| What you get | TravelPal | Chekin |
|---|---|---|
| AI answers guest questions from the facts you give it | ||
| Connects to your property management system | 33 systems, among them Guesty and Hostaway | 35+ systems and authorities, Guesty and Hostaway among them |
| Sells paid extras to guests | ||
| Sells an early check-in or a late checkout | On Guesty | |
| Where the guest sees the offer | In the guest's chat | During online check-in, or in the AI inbox chat |
| Airbnb guests send the payment inside Airbnb, through its Resolution Center | Not described on its pages | |
| Adds the sale to the booking in your property management system | On Guesty | Not described on its pages |
| Before it sells a late checkout on a Guesty booking, checks how long your cleaners need | No public claim | |
| Holds what the AI cannot answer; your team's reply goes into the guest's chat and is saved | Not described on its pages | |
| Price | A price per unit each month; see our pricing page | Basic from €3.95 per property a month. Premium from €5.95. Enterprise: custom. Upsells: 10% of what guests pay, per its blog |
Based on nine of Chekin's public pages, read November 9, 2026, all listed under Sources. Where Chekin publicly claims a feature, it gets the check mark.
When Chekin’s materials do not describe something, the row says so. That does not mean Chekin cannot do it.
Common questions
Does Chekin have an AI that answers guests?
Yes. Its inbox page (read November 9, 2026) says its AI learns each property and answers guests. The same page puts the Smart Inbox in the Basic plan. It says more AI will come later, paid for in credits. TravelPal's AI also answers from your facts. What comes next is different: TravelPal offers paid extras in that same conversation. When it does not know, the question waits for your team.
Does Chekin charge a fee on upsells?
Its own blog post on upselling, dated May 26, 2026, says Chekin takes 10% of what guests pay. The same post says the upsell feature has no monthly fee of its own. Check its pricing page as well before you compare. See our pricing page for what TravelPal costs.
Chekin also handles check-in, ID checks and tourist tax. Why look at TravelPal?
If the legal side of check-in matters most, Chekin covers more of it. TravelPal is built for the conversation with the guest: questions, requests and paid extras. It answers from your facts and sells at your prices. On Guesty, each sale is recorded on the booking. A short demo on a few of your units shows how it answers.
How do we choose?
Start with the work that takes your team the most time. If it is check-in, ID checks and reports to the authorities, look at Chekin first. If it is guest questions and paid extras, look at TravelPal first. Both connect to Guesty and Hostaway.
Sources
If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Updated
Chekin is a trademark of its owner. TravelPal is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chekin.