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Shift4 Payments

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What Shift4 Payments is

Shift4 Payments provides business software and payment processing for in-person, online, and omnichannel transactions. Its payment API handles card-present and card-not-present payments, and supports alternative methods such as PayPal, WeChat Pay, and Alipay. Merchants can use a Shift4-hosted checkout page or add Shift4-hosted card fields to their own website. These hosted options keep card numbers out of the merchant’s systems, and the typical PCI questionnaire for them is SAQ A. Apple Pay and Google Pay are available through hosted checkout and payment components.

For in-person payments, Commerce Engine connects with on-premise and cloud-based point-of-sale and property-management systems, and runs on Android payment devices. Shift4 Dine lists integrations with 7shifts, OpenTable, Restaurant365, and Marketman. Developers can integrate through a Shift4 .NET DLL SDK or the REST API, which covers authorization, capture, sales, refunds, and invoice retrieval. Shift4’s Marketplace connects merchants with third-party applications for functions such as ordering, payroll, timekeeping, loyalty, and inventory management. The service is paid, starting at $29.99/mo, and is available on Android, through its API, and on the web.

Who it suits

Shift4 Payments suits businesses that need to handle in-person and online transactions, from small owner-operated businesses to multinational enterprises. Retail, food and beverage, and lodging businesses can use its secured gateway, while developers can connect through the REST API or .NET SDK.

What it does well

Handles card-present, card-not-present, and omnichannel transactions
Offers hosted checkout and embeddable hosted card fields
Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, WeChat Pay, and Alipay
Commerce Engine connects with on-premise and cloud POS and PMS systems
REST API covers authorization, capture, sales, refunds, and invoice retrieval

What to know first

No free plan is available
Embedded payment components require a fixed line-item amount
Embedded payment components do not support customer-chosen amounts

Limits

There is no free plan; paid service starts at $29.99/mo. Embedded payment components require a fixed line-item amount and cannot accept customer-chosen amounts.

Getting started

Visit the Shift4 website.
Choose the web, Android, or API route that fits your use.
For API integration, use the .NET DLL SDK or connect directly to the REST API.
For online checkout, use a Shift4-hosted checkout page or embed Shift4-hosted card fields.

Verdict

Choose Shift4 Payments if your business needs both in-person and online payment processing, with hosted checkout options and POS or PMS integrations. Consider the embedded payment component’s fixed-amount requirement if customers need to choose their own payment amounts.

Questions

How much does Shift4 Payments cost?

The paid service starts at $29.99/mo.

Is there a free plan?

No, Shift4 Payments does not have a free plan.

Which platforms does Shift4 Payments support?

It is available on Android, through its API, and on the web.

Can merchants accept digital wallets and alternative payment methods?

Hosted checkout and payment components support Apple Pay and Google Pay. The API supports PayPal, WeChat Pay, and Alipay.

How can developers integrate with Shift4?

Integrators can use a Shift4-provided .NET DLL SDK or connect directly to the REST API.

Can customers choose their own amount in embedded checkout?

No. Embedded payment components require a fixed line-item amount.

Facts from Shift4 Payments's own pages

API integration: Integrators can use the REST API directly or a .NET SDK; the documentation says support for additional SDK languages is being added. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
API methods: Integrators can use a Shift4-provided .NET DLL SDK or integrate directly with the REST API. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Checkout: Merchants can use a low-code Shift4-hosted checkout page or embed Shift4-hosted card fields in their own site. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Company history: Shift4 Payments, LLC was founded in 1999, according to a company filing. · investors.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Digital wallets: Apple Pay and Google Pay are available with hosted checkout and payment components. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Embedded checkout limit: Payment components require a fixed line-item amount and do not support customer-chosen amounts in the embedded flow. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Industries: Shift4’s API documentation identifies retail, food and beverage, and lodging as sectors using its secured gateway. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
In-person payments: Commerce Engine is a card-present platform for POS and PMS integrations and runs on Android payment devices. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations: Shift4’s 2026 annual report says its Marketplace connects merchants with third-party applications for functions including ordering, payroll, timekeeping, loyalty, and inventory management. · investors.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Online checkout: Merchants can use hosted checkout or embed Shift4-hosted payment fields in their own site. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Payment channels: The platform supports card-present, card-not-present, and omnichannel transactions. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Payment integrations: Commerce Engine supports card-present integrations with on-premise and cloud-based POS/PMS systems and runs on Android PIN pads. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Payment methods: The API supports alternative payment methods including PayPal, WeChat Pay, and Alipay. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Payment processing: Shift4’s API supports card-present, card-not-present, and omnichannel payment processing. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Restaurant integrations: Shift4 Dine lists integrations including 7shifts, OpenTable, Restaurant365, and Marketman. · dine.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Security: Shift4-hosted checkout and payment components capture card data without bringing card numbers into the merchant’s systems; the documentation lists SAQ A as the typical PCI questionnaire for both. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support: Shift4’s API documentation directs customers to its API support team at [email protected]. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Transactions: The API documentation covers payment authorization, capture, sale, refund, and invoice retrieval. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
What it does: Shift4 provides software and payment processing solutions for businesses, including omnichannel payment processing. · docs.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026
Who it serves: Shift4 describes its merchants as ranging from small owner-operated businesses to multinational enterprises. · investors.shift4.com, 7 Oct 2026

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