Planet Payments vs. Zil Money:
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Is Planet Payments or Zil Money Better for Hotels?

Planet Payments and Zil Money both serve hotel payments processing but diverge sharply in focus and scale. Planet Payments excels as a global, all-in-one payment platform integrated with over 190 partners, supporting 150+ currencies and a wide array of payment methods, appealing to hotels aiming for international guest flexibility and revenue from currency conversion. Zil Money, with a smaller footprint and 58 reviews averaging 4.4 stars, emphasizes cloud-based financial operations including payroll and automated payments, suited for hotels seeking a straightforward, user-friendly system to manage both payments and financial workflows.

Both solve the core problem of enabling secure, diverse payment acceptance integrated with hotel operations. Planet targets properties requiring expansive payment options and global processing, while Zil Money focuses on simplifying financial management alongside payments in predominantly North America and select global markets.

Planet Payments vs Zil Money: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel operates internationally or hosts a diverse guest base requiring payment acceptance across multiple currencies and alternative payment methods like AliPay or WeChat Pay, Planet Payments is the better fit. This is supported by its 196 verified integrations with PMS and revenue management systems such as Omnibees and RevControl, essential for hotels needing seamless front-desk workflows. Planet’s 150+ currency support and dynamic currency conversion enable revenue generation on each transaction, critical for luxury and resort properties with global guests.

Conversely, if you run a mid-sized or independent property in North America or South America focused on simplifying payroll, invoicing, and expense tracking alongside payments, Zil Money fits better. Its cloud platform supports ACH, wire transfers, and printable checks, aligning with hotels seeking operational finance consolidation. Zil Money’s 58 reviews averaging 4.4 stars and features like partial capture and recurring payments highlight its strength in user-friendly financial operations. However, Zil Money’s zero verified integrations may limit PMS or channel manager connectivity for hotels needing fully integrated front-desk payment processing. Review volume for Zil Money has dropped sharply recently, so its all-time ratings may not reflect current product or support quality.

For small hotels or properties with limited integration needs, Zil Money’s easier financial workflows might outweigh Planet’s broader payment capabilities. For luxury or multi-property groups seeking global payment flexibility and integrated revenue management, Planet is preferable, though its smaller review base (6 total) means less evidence.

Is Planet Payments or Zil Money Easier to Use?

Planet Payments scores 4/5 for ease of use and 2.8/5 for onboarding across 6 reviews, with users noting the interface is well-structured and understandable even for new employees. However, support delays and complexity in navigation—such as complaints about excessive clicks—pose challenges during adoption. Zil Money scores slightly higher at 4.5/5 ease of use and 4.2/5 onboarding from 58 reviews, with many citing its intuitive interface and straightforward payment processing that reduces training time.

Both products present trade-offs: Planet’s comprehensive platform requires more initial training, while Zil Money’s simpler design speeds adoption but may lack advanced hotel-specific capabilities. Given the narrow rating gap and both sets of reviews highlighting ease of use positively, ease of use and onboarding are effectively even.

Edge: Even.

Which Has Better Features: Planet Payments or Zil Money?

Planet Payments offers 10 unique features tailored for hotel payments complexity, including PCI compliance, payment tokenization, dynamic currency conversion (DCC), a multi-processor gateway, and acceptance of payment methods like Discovery, WeChatPay, Diners Club, Mastercard, AliPay, and GlobalPayments credit card processing. DCC enables hotels to increase revenue by allowing guests to pay in their preferred currency with transparent conversion rates. Tokenization enhances security by replacing sensitive card data with tokens, reducing PCI scope. The multi-processor gateway offers flexibility in routing payments for optimization or redundancy. These features benefit hotels with high international guest volumes and diverse payment preferences.

Zil Money offers 4 exclusive features: recurring payments, gratuity function, partial capture, and PayPal acceptance. Recurring payments automate billing for extended stays or memberships, reducing manual invoicing. The gratuity function streamlines tip management at checkout, a convenience for hospitality staff and guests. Partial capture permits hotels to authorize a payment amount upfront and capture the remainder later, useful for incidentals. PayPal acceptance adds a popular alternative payment method particularly favored in North America.

Planet’s 10 unique hotel-relevant features target comprehensive global payment acceptance and security, while Zil Money’s 4 features focus on financial flexibility and operational convenience. Planet’s broader feature set aligns better with hotels that prioritize multi-currency and multi-acquirer processing. Zil Money’s features are compelling for properties needing payroll and billing automation.

Edge: Planet Payments.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Planet Payments or Zil Money?

Planet Payments rates a low 2.7/5 in customer support and 2.8/5 onboarding from 6 reviews, with frequent remarks about slow response times and unresolved tickets stretching over months. One reviewer noted repeated automated requests for feedback without meaningful resolution, undermining perceived value. However, some users praised individual support agents for competence and kindness.

Zil Money scores 4.5/5 for customer support and 4.2/5 onboarding from 58 reviews, with many users highlighting top-tier, responsive service that removes operational headaches. Some reviewers requested faster resolution times and broader client support but overall rated the experience positively.

Despite the rating gap, both products receive mixed feedback from some users, and Planet’s small review count limits reliability. Given these factors and the overlap in onboarding experiences, customer support is statistically even.

Edge: Even.

Which Has More Integrations: Planet Payments or Zil Money?

Planet Payments has 196 verified integrations including major hotel systems like Innspire, Right Revenue, Omnibees, Profitroom, Bookboost, 4SUITES, RevControl, Lybra Tech, and NightsBridge. These integrations facilitate front-desk workflows by syncing payment data with PMS, revenue management, and channel managers, reducing manual entry and errors while enhancing reporting accuracy. This broad ecosystem supports hotels of various sizes and segments with complex operational needs.

Zil Money has zero verified integrations according to available data, limiting connectivity to third-party hotel software. Its focus is on cloud-based financial management rather than front-desk payment integration. Hotels relying on PMS or CRM integrations for seamless guest payment processing will find Planet far superior.

Edge: Planet Payments.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Planet Payments or Zil Money?

Zil Money’s overall rating is 4.4/5 from 58 reviews, compared to Planet Payments’ 3.6/5 from 6 reviews. Zil Money’s rating is supported by a larger and more diverse sample, spanning boutique hotels (4.5/5, 17 reviews), branded hotels (4/5, 26), and city center properties (4.5/5, 17). Planet Payments’ ratings are concentrated in fewer segments with small review counts, e.g., City Center Hotels (4.3/5, 2 reviews) and Resorts (4.3/5, 2 reviews). The limited reviews for Planet make its rating less representative.

However, Zil Money has dropped from an average of 14.5 reviews per 6 months over the prior two years to zero in the last six months, signaling decreased review activity. This sharp decline means Zil Money’s historical ratings may not accurately reflect recent product or support quality. Planet’s last six months include 4 reviews, but still below the 10-review threshold to judge recent ratings.

Hotels in luxury segments rate Planet at 5/5 (1 review) versus Zil Money’s 4.2/5 (16 reviews), but sample sizes are small. Limited service and budget hotels rate Zil Money higher (4.2/5, 16) than Planet (1/5, 1 review).

Edge: Even.

How Much Do Planet Payments and Zil Money Cost?

Planet Payments does not publish pricing publicly, with no implementation fees, trials, or base monthly charges disclosed. Pricing is likely customized per client, reflecting its modular global platform approach.

Zil Money’s pricing starts at $400 base price with no freemium or monthly flat fees and no implementation fee. It offers a 15-day free trial. The straightforward cost structure aligns with small to mid-sized hotels seeking transparent budget planning.

Without comparative pricing transparency from Planet, hotels must engage sales for quotes. Zil Money’s published pricing provides clearer budgeting but may be less flexible for larger properties needing complex payment solutions.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Planet Payments?

• Hotels that serve a diverse international guest base requiring payment acceptance in 150+ currencies and via alternative payments like AliPay, WeChat Pay, and Discovery.
• Luxury and resort properties aiming to generate ancillary revenue through dynamic currency conversion.
• Hotels needing broad PMS and revenue management integrations, including Omnibees, Profitroom, RevControl, and 4SUITES for unified daily operations.
• Teams that require multi-processor gateway functionality to optimize payment routing and reduce transaction costs.
• Properties looking for a modular payment platform that can serve as the primary acquirer or integrate with existing acquirers.

Not ideal if:

• You need transparent, published pricing for budgeting without engaging sales.
• Your hotel requires rapid onboarding and superior customer support, given the mixed reviews on Planet’s support responsiveness.
• You run a small independent hotel without complex integration needs or international payment requirements.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Zil Money?

• Hotels focused on North American and South American markets with standard payment needs and a preference for cloud-based financial management.
• Properties seeking to automate payroll, recurring payments, gratuity handling, and partial payment capture.
• Independent and boutique hotels valuing a user-friendly interface with minimal staff training time.
• Teams wanting to consolidate invoicing, expense tracking, and payments into one platform without complex PMS integrations.
• Hotels with tight budgets needing published pricing and a free trial to assess fit.

Not ideal if:

• Your property requires numerous PMS or revenue management integrations; Zil Money currently has no verified partners.
• You depend on international currency conversion and alternative payment methods beyond PayPal.
• You seek high-volume transaction support with extensive global payment gateway options.

Planet Payments vs Zil Money: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Planet Payments and Zil Money address different hotel payments needs, with Planet focusing on global payment acceptance breadth and intricate integrations, while Zil Money emphasizes cloud-based financial workflows and ease of use in core payment functions. Planet’s strength lies in supporting 150+ currencies, multiple acquirers, and payment methods favored by international travelers, beneficial for luxury and resort hotels. Zil Money’s strengths include recurring payments, gratuity management, and simplified payroll by credit card, favored by independent and boutique hotels in the Americas.

Choose Planet Payments when your hotel prioritizes multi-currency payment options, comprehensive PMS and revenue management integrations, and an all-in-one payment platform adaptable to global operations. Its 196 verified integrations and advanced payment tokenization and DCC features facilitate revenue generation and operational efficiency, especially for luxury and large properties.

Choose Zil Money if your hotel values straightforward, cloud-based financial management with payroll, invoicing, and automated payments integrated in one place, backed by a stronger all-time user rating of 4.4/5 from 58 reviews. Its published pricing and free trial offer transparency and low entry barriers for smaller or mid-sized properties. However, Zil Money’s review activity has dropped sharply recently, possibly reflecting changes in product or support quality, so proceed cautiously.

In summary, Planet Payments suits hotels with global payment complexity and integration needs, while Zil Money fits those seeking operational simplicity and financial consolidation. Both have strengths and limitations clearly reflected in review data and feature sets, empowering hoteliers to align choices tightly with property size, market, and operational priorities.