Full disclosure: this comparison is published by Cléo. We’ve kept it rigorous — facts from official sites, July 2026, competitor strengths acknowledged, everything verifiable. Our thesis: features have converged; what really separates solutions is the pricing model and the final rendering.
The market at a glance
| Solution | Pricing model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cléo | €29 one-time per guidebook, for life | Free to create & test; France-built, guest view auto-translated |
| Touch Stay | Subscription (price calculator; scales with properties) | The category veteran, mature product |
| Hostfully Guidebooks | Subscription tiers | Browser-based, part of a PMS ecosystem |
| GoGuidebook | Subscription | Positions itself against Touch Stay |
| YourWelcome | Subscription per property | In-property tablet (hardware included) |
| BetterSTR | Free guidebooks | Monetises via Wi-Fi marketing / email capture |
Details gathered from official websites in July 2026 — subject to change. Spot an error? Tell us and we correct within 48 hours.
The question nobody puts in the headline: cost over 3 years
Guidebook subscriptions look small monthly. Over 36 months, per property, they compound — third-party comparisons cite $12–$120/month for Touch Stay depending on portfolio size. Against that, a one-time €29 is not a discount; it’s a different philosophy:
Coût total sur 3 ans — 1 logement
Illustrative subscription tiers based on published third-party comparisons of the EN market; exact vendor pricing varies by portfolio and billing cycle.
Where Cléo genuinely differs
- Pay once, own forever — stop paying a subscription and your guidebook disappears; a Cléo guidebook is yours for life.
- Google-enriched recommendations — type a place’s name: photo, rating, live opening hours, distance and directions fill in automatically.
- Editorial design — a guidebook guests mention in reviews, not a corporate template.
- Live proof — real published guidebooks you can open without signing up. Try finding that elsewhere:
Livret d’exemple · liveAppartement Montmartre
Paris 18e · Visiter le livret →
Livret d’exemple · livePenthouse vue mer
Marseille · Visiter le livret →
Livret d’exemple · liveAppartement Vieille Ville
Annecy · Visiter le livret →
Des livrets d’exemple publiés avec Cléo — ouvrez-les comme le ferait un voyageur.
Honest verdict
Notre verdict
For enterprise PMS workflows, look at the incumbents. For the most beautiful guidebook at the lowest lifetime cost — that’s us.
Touch Stay and Hostfully are mature, deeply integrated products — priced accordingly, forever. If what you actually need is a stunning, auto-translated guidebook your guests love, paid once, Cléo is the rational choice. Check every claim: the demos are one tap away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cléo available in English?
Your guests’ guidebook displays in their language automatically (English included). The host dashboard is French-first — European hosts use it daily; full English dashboard is on the roadmap.
Why is one-time pricing so rare?
Because subscriptions are better for vendors: €12/month is €432 over three years versus €29 once. We bet on the opposite: honest pricing, many hosts, guidebooks that stay online because hosts own them.
What happens if I stop using Cléo?
Nothing — the guidebook is paid for and stays online, editable, for life. That’s the fundamental difference with every subscription in this table.
Créez votre livret d’accueil en quelques minutes
Création et test gratuits. Publication : 29 € une seule fois — votre livret est à vous à vie, modifiable à volonté.
Keep reading
Touch Stay alternative: same job, one payment, no subscription
Touch Stay is the category veteran — with a veteran’s pricing. Here’s the alternative for hosts who want the result without the rent.
ComparisonFree digital guidebooks: what “free” actually costs
Nobody runs servers out of kindness. The three business models behind “free” guidebooks — and their invoices, hidden or delayed.
GuideWelcome Book Template: start from real examples, not a blank Word file
Everyone offers downloadable templates that age badly. We offer something better: real, live welcome books you can open and learn from.