Cubilis review: how good is this vacation rental channel manager?

You manage a hotel, a guest house, a cottage or a B&B and you dream of boosting your bookings while simplifying your day-to-day management? You’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to talk about Cubilis, a software that could well transform your professional life by saving you time and increasing your visibility. You’re still hesitating? Well, let’s be honest, we understand: there are many solutions on the market. But trust us, Cubilis certainly deserves attention. In this article (and what an article!), we’re going to decipher what Cubilis offers, who it’s for, its features, pricing, advantages and disadvantages, as well as user feedback. We’ll also touch on a few alternatives to help you make the right choice. Ready to learn everything about Cubilis? Then, settle in with a good coffee and let’s go!

Cubilis: the all-in-one Channel Manager for hotels, guest houses and B&Bs

Cubilis presents itself as an all-in-one channel manager and booking engine, with an option for pricing manager (dynamic pricing). In short, it’s a 3-in-1 tool:

1. Channel Manager: to manage your booking channels (Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, etc.).
2. Booking Engine: to allow customers to book directly through your website, with no commission.
3. Pricing Manager: to adjust your rates based on occupancy rate, demand, or the prices charged by your competitors.

The big asset of Cubilis is its centralized dashboard. Instead of managing your prices and availability individually on each OTA, the tool lets you control everything from a single place. Each update is reflected in real time on all connected channels. It’s the end (or almost!) of overbooking errors and of the multiple clicks to adjust a rate in peak season.

Another key point: Cubilis offers a 14-day free trial, no credit card required. The idea is to let you see if the interface meets your needs, and if daily use goes smoothly. Pretty good if you want to test before committing.

For which hosts is Cubilis Channel Manager designed?

Whether you run a small guest room, a family cottage, or a hotel with several dozen rooms, Cubilis adapts to different profiles thanks to pricing proportional to the size of the establishment. The platform isn’t reserved for large hotel chains: you’ll also find independents, inns, small boutique hotels, and even vacation home owners who want to monetize their seasonal rentals.

In reality, the question isn’t whether you are a hotel, a B&B or an aparthotel, but rather whether you’re looking for a tool to centralize your bookings and increase your online visibility. If you answer “yes” to either of these two questions, Cubilis is for you:

• You want to save time. Because, yes, juggling between 3, 4 or 10 extranets isn’t your dream, and we understand you.
• You want to boost your direct bookings. Because OTA commissions hurt at month-end, and there’s more profit when you don’t rely solely on third-party platforms.

Finally, Cubilis positions itself as an all-in-one solution, which means that even if you start with just a channel manager, you can easily add a booking engine and dynamic pricing option later. It’s scalable.

Key features of the Cubilis Channel Manager to boost your bookings

Cubilis offers a wide range of features to make life easier for hosts. To help navigate, we will break them down into several subcategories. Each feature presented here proves crucial for optimizing the management and profitability of your establishment.

Centralized Channel Management

The first standout feature is the centralized management of booking channels. Rather than managing Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia or Agoda (and many others) one by one, you can control everything from the Cubilis platform. Do you modify your rates or your availability? The information is updated in real time on all connected sites. No more tedious back-and-forths. And above all, goodbye to overbookings. You’re at the helm of a single dashboard, and that’s happiness.

Integrated Booking Engine

Then there is the famous Booking Engine. It’s a module you can easily integrate into your own website. The goal? Allow your visitors to book directly, securely, without going through an OTA and without commission. In other words, it’s your 100% in-house booking channel. Cubilis even offers a “ratebox” (a price comparator tool) that shows internet users the best available rate on your site, to convince them in two seconds that they’ll gain by booking direct rather than elsewhere. Honestly, someone had to think of that.

Real-Time Synchronization

Cubilis also offers real-time synchronization. As soon as you change a price, open or close a availability, the information is instantly shared with all the relevant channels. Result: the risk of overbooking is drastically reduced, and you save a lot of time. Who hasn’t dreamed that, as soon as they adjust a rate for the peak season, it automatically reflects on Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com or your own site? With Cubilis, it’s automatic.

Dynamic Pricing

Moving on to the Pricing Manager feature, which offers dynamic pricing. The idea is simple: adapt your prices according to several criteria (occupancy rate, market demand, competition, etc.). If Valentine’s weekend is approaching and you know demand will rise, the Pricing Manager can adjust your rates to optimize your revenue. The tool relies on data analysis and AI to recommend the best rates. You can even automate everything and let it do the work. Handy for those who have neither the time nor the expertise to recalculate prices daily!

Clear Dashboard

Let’s be honest: a software is useful when you can understand at a glance what’s happening. And with Cubilis, you have a clear dashboard, designed to give you a panoramic view of the status of bookings, the rates applied, and the availability of each room or property. You can even group your channels to make changes simultaneously. The goal? Save time and avoid headaches. We love it.

Analytics and Reports

Cubilis doesn’t just synchronize your data: it helps you analyze your performance. With its analytics and reports section, you can view key figures (revenue, occupancy rate, customer segments, etc.) to refine your strategy. Do you want to know which booking channels perform best? Which types of rooms sell like hotcakes? Which customer segment is the most profitable? Everything is in the reports. Handy for adjusting pricing or better targeting your promotions.

Multiple Integrations

Another flagship feature: multiple integrations. Cubilis can connect with over 400 partners. On the program: PMSs (Mews, Bookingplanner, Protel, Fidelio, Opera…), revenue management tools (RMS), online payment providers (Stripe, Mollie, etc.), and even GDS systems for distribution via traditional travel agencies. Want to offer an upselling service for arriving guests? There’s a good chance Cubilis offers a ready-made integration. This extensive compatibility makes the solution extremely versatile and suitable for establishments of all sizes.

Secure Online Payments

Cubilis also handles online payments securely. Your guests can pay for their stay using their preferred payment method, and you can request deposits or the full amount of the reservation. No more no-shows without compensation, or credit card details to be entered manually. Cubilis complies with PCI standards, which ensures reliability and transaction security. So you can sleep soundly.

How much does Cubilis cost? Pricing and plans for the Channel Manager

Cubilis offers a pricing grid tailored to the size of the establishment. Concretely, that means prices vary based on the number of rooms you manage, but also the level of features you need. The idea is that you only pay for what you use. You thus have three main plans to choose from: Cubilis, Cubilis Premium and Cubilis Premium + Website.

The Cubilis Standard Plan

The Cubilis (Standard) plan starts at 40 €/month per room (and scales with the number of rooms). It includes the Channel Manager, online distribution to over 200 channels, basic pricing management, automated reservation confirmations, and much more. The Booking Engine is also included. However, some advanced modules, such as extras and packages, require a monthly surcharge.

See also: Which Channel Manager to choose?

The Cubilis Premium Plan

The Cubilis Premium plan is at 60 €/month (still for a base room), adding advanced reports management, a more advanced visual scheduling, the ability to add manual reservations without extra charges, and integration with online payment providers or third-party PMS (which may incur an additional cost of 19 €/month depending on the integration). The idea is to offer a more complete solution for those who want a more detailed overview and enhanced analytics capabilities.

The Cubilis Premium + Website Plan

The Cubilis Premium + Website plan at 135 €/month includes a complete, responsive and personalized template website with a content management system (CMS). It is obviously connected to the Cubilis Channel Manager and Booking Engine. If you don’t already have a website or if you want to switch to an all-in-one solution without the hassle, it’s an interesting choice. Email hosting and a free domain name are included, which can greatly simplify your life.

Important: The unlimited support mandatory is offered at +15 €/month, regardless of the plan. And if you prefer monthly billing, that implies +10 % compared to the annual price.

Plan Compare Table

Cubilis: strengths and limitations of this Channel Manager

Advantages

✔ Ultra-practical centralized management: No longer scattering across different extranets, it’s a huge time saver.
✔ A commission-free booking engine: An opportunity to grow your direct bookings and reduce commissions taken by OTAs.
✔ Dynamic pricing to boost revenue: Adjusting prices in real time based on demand and competition is a valuable asset to maximize your RevPAR (revenue per available room).

Disadvantages

❌ Mandatory unlimited support with a fee: It’s a pity to have a €15 monthly surcharge for support. Some competitors include it in the base price.

Full review of Cubilis: should you choose this Channel Manager?

Cubilis is a powerful software that suits both small accommodations and larger hotels. Its clear interface and numerous features (channel manager, booking engine, dynamic pricing, integrations, etc.) make it a formidable tool for managing and optimizing your bookings daily. Users seem generally delighted, and the 14-day free trial gives you time to verify whether Cubilis really meets your needs. In short, if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to simplify your online distribution, Cubilis is well worth considering.

The best alternatives to Cubilis for managing your bookings

Of course, Cubilis isn’t the only solution on the market. Here are a few alternatives to consider if you want to compare several software options before getting started:

1. Lodgify
   Lodgify focuses particularly on creating websites for vacation rentals and offers an integrated channel manager. The interface is intuitive, though less advanced in certain aspects of revenue management. Lodgify is mainly appreciated by vacation rental managers rather than traditional hotels.
2. Hostfully
   Hostfully is another vacation rental management system, quite focused on ease of use and automation. Its main asset lies in centralized channel management and the CRM aspect. However, if you’re a traditional hotel property, you might find Hostfully’s angle somewhat less suited.
3. Cloudbeds
   Cloudbeds is highly appreciated for its great simplicity, reliable channel manager and integrated PMS. Its very modern interface and multiple integrations make it a solid alternative for hotels, hostels, and B&B that want a complete ecosystem. Price-wise, it’s often higher than some other solutions, but remains competitive given the features.
4. SiteMinder
   SiteMinder is one of the historical references in channel management. Its main advantage: recognized reliability and a very wide range of integrations. However, the integrated booking engine (if you add it) may be less customizable than with other competitors, and pricing isn’t always as transparent as Cubilis.

Before deciding, the best approach is to list your priorities (budget, need for a booking engine, multi-property management, dynamic pricing, etc.) and test several software options through their trial offers.

Practical tips to get the most out of Cubilis

To get the most out of Cubilis, here are some practical tips:

1. Take advantage of the 14-day free trial: Before subscribing, test the interface and explore as many features as possible. You’ll quickly see if it meets your expectations.
2. Connect all your main reservation channels: The more you centralize, the more efficient you become. Just make sure to properly configure your prices, availability, and restrictions.
3. Configure the booking engine on your site: A simple “Book now” button leading to your Cubilis booking module can make all the difference in direct conversions.
4. Leverage dynamic pricing: Use the Pricing Manager to automatically adjust your rates. This way, you optimize your revenue without spending hours on it.
5. Monitor your reports: Data is your best ally. Regularly check sales statistics, occupancy rate, or the customer segments to fine-tune your strategy.
6. Train your staff: If you work with a team, take the time to explain how Cubilis works. It’s by understanding the tool that you avoid manipulation errors.
7. Contact support if needed: Yes, it’s 15 €/month, but email or phone assistance can save you if you’re stuck. Don’t stay stuck on a technical detail.
8. Stay tuned for updates: Cubilis evolves regularly and rolls out new integrations or options (notably in Revenue Management). A quick look at their marketplace or blog can inspire improvements for your own establishment.

By following these best practices, you should quickly notice the tangible benefits of Cubilis on your daily management and your bookings volume.