Buying guide · Updated October 25, 2026
How to choose a digital guestbook for your vacation rental
By GuestsBoard
The best digital guestbook depends on where guests need information. A mobile guide helps before arrival and while exploring. A TV welcome screen makes house information visible inside the rental. A dedicated tablet offers a screen guests can tap. Start with that choice, then compare design, setup, and total cost.
This guide is written by GuestsBoard. Competitor examples use linked public information reviewed October 25, 2026; they are not a hands-on ranking or independent endorsement.
Which type of guide fits your property?
| Your main need | Type to compare | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival instructions and a guide guests carry | Mobile guidebook | Touch Stay, Hostfully |
| A visible welcome and house guide | In-property display | GuestsBoard, WelcomeScreen |
| Welcome content alongside TV entertainment controls | Hospitality TV platform | STR TV, BetterSTR TV |
| A supplied tablet guests can use | Managed guest tablet | YourWelcome |
Where does GuestsBoard fit?
GuestsBoard is an in-property guest guide for hosts who want a personal welcome and useful house information on a screen. Its current ordering options use a Raspberry Pi and HDMI display, with a dashboard for property content and themes. The included QR phone concierge helps guests ask questions without installing an app.
Choose it because the guest experience fits your property and you want to own the display hardware. A mobile-only guide may fit better if your main need is sharing directions before arrival. A TV entertainment platform may fit better if streaming-account management is the priority.
Compare the complete cost
Check whether pricing is per property, per screen, or per reservation. Include required hardware, annual commitments, extra screens, AI allowances, and transaction fees if you plan to sell extras. Confirm what happens when a trial ends.
GuestsBoard lists its hardware and property subscriptions together. Lower-cost alternatives exist: BetterSTR publishes a free guidebook and basic TV tier, while paid features have separate terms. Free entry pricing and a fully configured setup are different offers to evaluate.
Try it like a guest
Read the welcome and Wi-Fi instructions from the couch. Find an appliance instruction and the host contact. Try the phone flow without an installed app. On a TV, check what happens when a guest changes inputs, restarts the device, or opens streaming. Ask which information survives an internet outage and how details change between reservations.
Check what “AI included” means
Guest chat, generated guidebook content, and booking-inbox automation solve different problems. Ask which is included, what information answers use, and what usage limits apply. Our AI concierge guide explains the distinction.
Comparing TV options? Read GuestsBoard vs WelcomeScreen and GuestsBoard vs STR TV, then evaluate your preferred setup.