Digital Welcome Book: 5 Best Tools for Hosts Compared (2026)

You know you want to switch to a digital welcome book, but with a dozen tools available, choosing is far from straightforward. I tested the five most popular solutions on the market to save you time. Here's my honest comparison — with the real strengths and real limitations of each.

A bit of context: I've been managing two cottages in Normandy, France, for three years. I started with a paper booklet and then went digital. So this is a user's perspective, not a marketer's. If you'd like to understand why a welcome book is essential first, start there.

Why go digital in 2026

The reality is simple: today's travellers reach for their smartphone first. They want to scan a QR code and have all the information in 3 seconds, in their language. A paper booklet on the coffee table, however pretty, no longer meets that expectation.

Concrete advantages of a digital welcome book:

• Instant updates: you change the Wi-Fi code and it's updated in real time, without reprinting anything.
• Automatic translation: your German, French, Spanish or Italian guests read the book in their own language.
• Consultation statistics: you know which sections are most read and can optimise accordingly.
• Permanent access: the guest can check the book before, during, and after their stay, straight from their phone.

The 7 criteria that really matter for hosts

Before diving into the comparison, here are the criteria I used. These are the ones that make a real difference day-to-day when you manage one or more rentals.

Interface and support in your language

It might seem basic, but when you have an issue at 9 PM before a guest arrives, you want support you can communicate with easily. Many tools are designed for the English-speaking market — which is great if that's you, but worth checking otherwise.

Automatic translation for guests

Hosting international guests without translation is like opening a restaurant without a menu. Built-in automatic translation is a decisive criterion.

Ease of getting started

How long does it take to create your first welcome book? 15 minutes or 3 hours? The tool's UX makes a real difference, especially if you're not particularly tech-savvy.

Multi-property management

If you have several properties, you want to duplicate a book and customise it without starting from scratch. Multi-property management is a massive time-saver.

Customisation and branding

Your welcome book should reflect your identity as a host. Colours, logo, photos: customisation builds guest trust and your brand image.

Pricing and value for money

Prices vary fivefold. What matters is what you get for each pound or dollar invested, depending on how many properties you manage.

Specific features (AI, monetisation, stats)

Some tools offer automatic appliance detection via AI, additional service sales, or advanced analytics. Bonuses that can justify a higher price.

Detailed comparison of 5 tools

ScanStay — built for independent hosts

Strengths: AI appliance detection (take a photo of your washing machine and the tool generates usage instructions), automatic translation into 25+ languages, service catalogue with integrated payments, competitive pricing. Responsive support available in French and English.

Limitations: newer on the market, so fewer PMS integrations than veterans. But the essentials are there and updates are frequent.

Best for: hosts with 1 to 15 properties who want a simple, complete tool. Discover the features.

Touchstay — the Anglo-Saxon veteran

Strengths: market longevity, numerous PMS integrations (Guesty, Hostaway), varied templates.

Limitations: English-only interface, no built-in automatic translation, English-only support, high prices for small portfolios. The tool is designed for the English-speaking market.

Best for: English-speaking managers with a PMS and a sizeable portfolio.

StyQR — QR code first

Strengths: simplicity, quick setup, significant installed base in France.

Limitations: limited features (no AI, no service catalogue, restricted customisation). The tool does the minimum, but nothing more.

Best for: hosts who want the bare minimum — a basic welcome book with a QR code, no frills.

Hostfully — the American all-in-one

Strengths: guidebook + built-in PMS, complete ecosystem for property managers, template marketplace.

Limitations: designed for the US market, pricing in dollars, complex interface, no support in languages other than English. The guidebook alone doesn't justify the price without the PMS.

Best for: English-speaking property managers who want PMS + guidebook in one tool.

YourWelcome — the connected tablet

Strengths: original concept with a physical tablet in the property, in-property upselling, visual interface.

Limitations: significant hardware cost (tablet to purchase), aging model (guests prefer their own phone), tablet maintenance (battery, updates, theft).

Best for: high-end rentals with a substantial budget and in-person check-in.

Summary comparison

Here's a quick overview to compare at a glance:

• ScanStay: from 4.90/mo — multi-language ✓ — auto-translation ✓ — AI ✓ — multi-property ✓ — monetisation ✓ — 7-day trial
• Touchstay: from £10/mo — English only — auto-translation ✗ — AI ✗ — multi-property ✓ — monetisation ✗ — 14-day trial
• StyQR: from €5/mo — French ✓ — auto-translation ✗ — AI ✗ — multi-property ✓ — monetisation ✗ — free trial
• Hostfully: from $13/mo — English only — auto-translation ✗ — AI ✗ — multi-property ✓ — monetisation ✗ — 14-day trial
• YourWelcome: from €20/mo + tablet — English only — auto-translation ✗ — AI ✗ — multi-property ✓ — monetisation ✓ — demo on request

Our verdict: the right tool for each host profile

You have 1 to 3 properties and manage solo

Go for a simple tool with good value for money. ScanStay ticks every box: quick setup, AI-powered appliance guides, automatic translation, and a service catalogue. StyQR is an alternative if you just need the bare essentials.

You're a management company with 10+ properties

You need efficient multi-property management and potentially PMS integrations. ScanStay handles multi-property well. If you already have an English-language PMS, Touchstay or Hostfully can connect to it.

You want the best value for money

ScanStay offers the most interesting features-to-price ratio: AI, translation, monetisation, and responsive support for under €5/month. Hard to beat.

FAQ

Do these tools connect to Airbnb?

Most don't connect directly to Airbnb in terms of automatic synchronisation. However, you can paste your digital welcome book link into your Airbnb automated messages. It's simple and just as effective.

Can you migrate from one tool to another easily?

It depends on the tools. Generally, you'll need to recreate content manually. The advantage of starting with a tool like ScanStay is that AI detection significantly speeds up initial creation.

Does a digital welcome book replace pre-arrival messages?

No, it complements them. Ideally, send a pre-arrival message with the book link. The guest gets all the info in advance, and you reduce back-and-forth messaging. It's the winning combination.

Ready to try?

If you want to form your own opinion with no commitment, try ScanStay free for 7 days. Create your first welcome book in minutes and judge for yourself. No credit card required.