Overview

HiveSuite connects the steps between an enquiry and a completed hire. Embedded enquiry forms collect party details, create a customer record and draft a quote; bookings are checked against equipment availability, and the system also supports deposits, invoicing, online booking, delivery scheduling and return tracking. That combination addresses the logistical demands of hire operations more directly than the needs of a business seeking a general-purpose service platform.

A branded customer portal lets clients view booking details, approve quotes and pay invoices. Stripe is included on all plans, and businesses can use their own payment methods. QuickBooks and Xero integrations can sync accounting data, which makes HiveSuite more useful as an operational hub than a booking calendar alone.

Key features

Bookings, stock and field scheduling

Inventory is tracked against bookings so staff can see availability and reduce the risk of double booking equipment. HivePlanner provides a visual drag-and-drop calendar for deliveries and collections, including job assignment to team members. For operators juggling equipment and transport, connecting those tasks in one workflow is a practical advantage; teams that do not manage hire stock or delivery work are less likely to benefit from this specialized scope.

Customer and crew access

The customer portal moves quote approval and invoice payment out of back-and-forth office handling, while HiveCrew gives staff mobile access as a native Android app or an installable Progressive Web App on iOS, with push notifications. This can suit crews who need job access away from the office without requiring every user to be an administrator. The distinction matters because each tier has separate admin and crew allowances.

Reporting and data handling

HiveIntel answers plain-English questions about business data and can present results as charts, tables or dashboards. That may help operators explore business information without building a report manually. HiveSuite says information submitted to HiveIntel or HiveAssist may be sent to third-party AI providers, and advises against submitting unnecessary sensitive personal data. Businesses handling sensitive customer information should take that warning into account when deciding whether to use those AI tools.

HiveSuite says it is UK GDPR compliant, is registered with the ICO, does not sell personal data and hashes account passwords using bcrypt. It advertises UK-based support and provides support@hivesuite.co.uk and 020 3984 5366 as contact channels.

Pricing

HiveSuite has no free plan, but offers a 30-day trial. All five paid plans include all features, so lower prices mean smaller teams rather than fewer capabilities. Monthly prices include VAT; annual options are also stated inclusive of VAT.

Solo: £34.99 per month, billed monthly, or £349 per year; 1 admin and 2 crew. It is the entry point for a small operation, but leaves little room for extra staff.
Small Team: £89.99 per month, billed monthly, or £899 per year; 5 admins and 5 crew. This fits a modest office-and-field team without paying for larger-tier seat capacity.
Growing Team: £149.99 per month, billed monthly, or £1,499 per year; 10 admins and 10 crew. It gives a larger operation room to expand while retaining a defined crew cap.
Professional: £249.99 per month, billed monthly, or £2,499 per year; 20 admins and unlimited crew. This is the first tier for businesses with more than 10 crew or an unusually large administrative team.
Enterprise: £499.99 per month, billed monthly, or £4,999 per year; 50 admins and unlimited crew. It is aimed at larger organizations that need substantially more admin seats.

Users who exceed a plan’s seat limit must upgrade, so the cheapest tier is not necessarily economical if seasonal or expanding staffing pushes the business over its allowance. Choosing between monthly and annual billing also changes the commitment: the annual prices are stated as yearly amounts, rather than monthly rates.

Platforms

HiveSuite is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. HiveCrew’s iOS option is an installable Progressive Web App rather than a native iOS app; Android crew access is native.

Who it's for

HiveSuite is designed for UK service businesses, including bouncy castle, photo booth, hot tub, soft play and decoration hire operators. It is the stronger fit when bookings depend on knowing which equipment is available and coordinating collection and delivery jobs. A business that does not need hire inventory or customer booking workflows may find that this product’s central strengths are not relevant to its operation.

Pros and cons

Pro: Every plan includes all features, so a smaller operator does not lose quoting, scheduling or customer tools by starting on a lower tier.
Pro: Booking-linked availability and delivery scheduling address two connected sources of operational friction for equipment hire businesses.
Pro: A branded portal, Stripe payments and accounting integrations support customer approvals, collections and bookkeeping within the wider workflow.
Con: Seat caps can force an upgrade even when a business needs no additional features; Solo allows only 1 admin and 2 crew.
Con: HiveIntel and HiveAssist submissions may go to third-party AI providers, so users need to avoid unnecessary sensitive personal data in those tools.
Con: The iOS crew experience is a Progressive Web App, not a native iOS app.

Alternatives

For a broader choice of rental-focused products, compare the Event Rental Software category. If the work is primarily trade or field service rather than party hire, Ascora offers per-user Essentials and Elite plans in USD, Android, iOS and web access, and a free trial; Service Storm is another paid option, with a Solo plan billed monthly in USD and Android, iOS, web and API platforms.

For security-system or fire-protection work, consider the AlarmOps or SedonaOffice listings instead: AlarmOps has a GBP-priced Starter plan and a free trial, while SedonaOffice is a paid product with Android, iOS, web, Windows, API and self-hosted platforms. Readers in other trades can compare the Tradescraft per-user AUD Core plan, traqR AUD tiers organized by user count, or the Uptick monthly platform fee with per-user pricing. Ember Software uses custom pricing.

The Security System Installer Software, Fire Protection Software, Roofing Software, Garage Door Software and Pressure Washing Software lists may also help readers compare software within those trades.

Verdict

HiveSuite is a sound choice for a UK party-hire operator that needs bookings, equipment availability, delivery work and customer payments tied together. The main reason to choose it is that every plan includes the full feature set, including customer and crew tools; the main reason to look elsewhere is a team whose seat needs exceed a tier’s allowance or a business whose work does not depend on hire inventory and logistics. Check the seat count against the actual team before committing, and treat the AI data warning as part of the buying decision.

	HiveSuite	Planellio
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	£34.99/mo	£29/mo
Platforms	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	No	No
Quote builder	Yes
Delivery scheduling	Yes
Online booking	Yes
Customer portal	Yes
Return tracking	Yes
Venue calendar		Yes
Space booking		Yes
Proposal builder		Yes
Contract management		Yes
Staff scheduling		Yes
Event-day tools		Yes

HiveSuite vs Planellio

HiveSuite

Planellio