Product comparison · Updated October 25, 2026
GuestsBoard vs WelcomeScreen: choose your guest experience
By GuestsBoard
Choose GuestsBoard if you want a property guide on a dedicated Raspberry Pi display, with your own content and an included phone concierge. Consider WelcomeScreen if installing an app on a supported TV, without buying another device, is your priority. Evaluate both with your actual screen and reservation workflow.
This is a vendor-authored comparison by GuestsBoard, reviewed October 25, 2026. Competitor details below come from linked public sources; we have not independently tested every platform or feature.
Compare the setup, then the subscription
| Consideration | GuestsBoard | WelcomeScreen |
|---|---|---|
| TV setup | $499 configured Pi kit + first year for one property; or $49 SD kit with your own Pi 4/5 and separate subscription | Apps for Google TV, Fire TV, Roku and supported Samsung TVs |
| Subscription terms | TV bundle: first year included, then $205.20/property/year for the first 3 properties. SD: graduated monthly pricing of $19 each for the first 3 properties, $15 each for properties 4–15, and $12 each for properties 16+. Save 10% with annual billing. | For 1–2 listings: TV $9.99/listing/month; TV + guidebook Pro $14.99/listing/month; portfolio packages available |
| Additional screens | Up to five paired displays per property across Pi, iOS, and Android; see what counts. Contact us for more than five. | FAQ permits multiple TVs within one property without extra subscription charges |
| Guest questions | Included phone concierge with a configured usage allowance | Guest AI concierge and separate AI Messaging offering; confirm plan entitlements |
Sources: GuestsBoard pricing, WelcomeScreen pricing and its FAQ. WelcomeScreen offers annual billing, but its published cards and tables show differing annual figures. Confirm the final quote for your listing count, billing period and selected products.
As of October 25, 2026, GuestsBoard’s $499 TV bundle covers the configured Pi kit and one property’s first year from paid checkout. It has no trial; renewal starts at $205.20/property/year for the first 3 properties without a new kit. The SD kit keeps its separate monthly or annual subscription and 30-day trial. For comparison, 12 months of WelcomeScreen TV at $9.99 is $119.88, or Pro at $14.99 is $179.88, plus compatible equipment. These package costs exclude taxes, shipping, optional services and trial adjustments; their features differ. Check compatibility before ordering.
A welcome screen can do more than greet
WelcomeScreen’s Total TV Experience includes information, recommendations, entertainment shortcuts, games and a guidebook. Its homepage also describes guest AI concierge and booking-channel AI Messaging. These are different jobs: answering a question in the guide is not the same as responding through a booking platform. Confirm which features and usage terms your chosen plan includes.
For the Pi setup, GuestsBoard’s included concierge opens through a QR code on the guest’s phone after joining the property Wi-Fi. It needs access to the local device and internet for AI answers. Review the configured allowance in your dashboard; it is not unlimited. Keep clear house instructions and host contact details available alongside it.
Test the experience guests will actually see
WelcomeScreen documents instant launch on Google TV; for Roku and Amazon it recommends leaving the screen running before arrival. That makes the exact device important. Check its platform guidance before assuming every TV behaves alike.
Compare both designs from the couch: text size, the welcome, Wi-Fi instructions and how quickly a guest finds an answer. Then test a reservation change, a power restart and lost internet access. Ask what remains visible and when guest details refresh. Choose GuestsBoard for the guide experience you prefer; choose WelcomeScreen when its supported-TV installation and feature mix fit better.