Comparison
How to choose a digital welcome book
There's no best welcome book in absolute terms, only the one that answers what your guests actually ask. If you mainly need to share your favourite places, a dedicated tool like HerePicks is enough. If you also want to handle check-in, wifi and extra services, an all-in-one tool will suit you better.
Three kinds of welcome book
- The paper welcome book: a folder or laminated sheet in the property. Simple and screen-free, but frozen the day it's printed.
- All-in-one tools: web apps that combine check-in instructions, wifi codes, house rules, recommendations and sometimes paid extras. Complete, with more to set up.
- Tools dedicated to recommendations, like HerePicks: they only handle good places, with features built for that (travel times, map, directions, instant updates).
The criteria that really matter
- What your guests ask. Reread your latest messages: if questions are about wifi and arrival, you need that information; if they're about "where should we eat?", you need your places.
- How easy it is to update. A welcome book is only useful if it's accurate. How long does fixing a place take, and do guests see the fix straight away?
- Languages. Do your guests read your language? Check which languages the tool displays, and who handles translation.
- Access for guests. An app to install, an account to create, or a simple web page? Every extra step loses readers.
- Cost over time. Weigh the subscription against the time spent keeping the book current, and against reprints for paper.
- Your content. Can you edit it freely, and does it stay yours?
Paper, all-in-one or HerePicks: the table
| Criterion | Paper welcome book | All-in-one tool | HerePicks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Whatever you print | Arrival, wifi, rules, places, sometimes services | Good places only |
| Updates | Reprint | Online | Online, visible immediately, same link |
| Guest access | On site only | Link or QR code, sometimes an app | Link or QR code, no app, no account |
| Languages | Whatever you translate | Varies by tool | English, French, German, Italian, automatic translation |
| Travel times and directions | No | Varies by tool | Walking and driving times, one-tap directions |
| Setup | Writing and printing | More to configure | A few minutes for your first places |
| Price | Printing costs | Subscription, varies | Free to start, then a subscription with no commitment |
When HerePicks isn't the right choice
If you want a single tool for door codes, wifi, house rules and selling extras, HerePicks won't do that, and it isn't planned. An all-in-one tool will suit you better, and nothing stops you adding a HerePicks guide's link to it for the good-places part.
If there's almost nothing around your property and guests never ask for tips, a simple sheet may be enough. A welcome book should answer a real need.
When HerePicks is the right choice
If your guests mostly ask where to eat, what to see and where to walk, if you want your tips to stay current without effort, and if you prefer a simple tool to a complete software suite, HerePicks is built for that. The free plan lets you judge for yourself.
The page on local recommendations shows in detail what a HerePicks guide contains. And to compare the sharing formats themselves (PDF, Google Maps list, message or online guide), see our comparison of PDF, Google Maps, WhatsApp or QR code.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine an all-in-one tool with HerePicks?
Yes. A HerePicks guide has a permanent link that you can add to any other tool, message or document.
Is a paper welcome book still worth having?
Yes, for guests who'd rather not take out their phone, or where signal is weak. But it ages fast: a printed QR code leading to an online guide gives you the best of both.
How much does a digital welcome book cost?
Prices vary a lot depending on the tool and what it includes. At HerePicks, the Discovery plan is free; the Host and Pro plans are detailed on the pricing page.
Do I need technical skills?
Not for HerePicks: you search for a place by name and the tool fills in the rest. An all-in-one tool needs more configuration, since it covers more ground.
The simplest way to judge is to try it
Create a free guide with a few places, show it to a guest, and decide afterwards.
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