The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 58 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Elavon shines .
Zil Money shines in ease of use and customer support , with exclusive features like Recurring Payments and Mail Order Telephone Order (MOTO) Payments.
Side-by-side ratings based on 58 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 58 |
After analyzing 58 verified reviews, Elavon users most value its , while Zil Money users highlight user-friendly interface, customer experience enhancements, payment processing speed. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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User-Friendly Interface
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Customer Experience Enhancements
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Payment Processing Speed
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Customer Support
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Integration Capabilities
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Third-Party Integrations
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Approval Process
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How each product ranks among Payments Processing Software vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #1 9 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #2 27 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | — | #3 12 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #3 2 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #3 17 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #3 15 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | — | #3 25 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #1 9 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | — | #3 51 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #3 0 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #2 1 reviews |
Choosing between Elavon by Elavon and Zil Money for your hotel’s payment processing depends on your specific needs. Elavon offers extensive hospitality experience with end-to-end payment solutions, while Zil Money provides a versatile financial management platform with numerous features. Your decision hinges on whether you prioritize specialized payment processing or broader financial operations.
Elavon, despite its long-standing presence, has zero recent reviews and a perfect score of 0 out of 5, indicating limited current customer feedback. Conversely, Zil Money, with 54 reviews and recent feedback, scores over 62 points on the HTTR scale, making it the more validated choice today. Which aligns better with your hotel’s priorities?
Elavon claims to understand complex hotel payment systems, offering secure transactions and integration with existing systems. However, with zero reviews and no recent customer feedback, its current efficacy remains unverified.
Zil Money, by contrast, boasts 54 reviews with recent activity, a 4.5/5 ease of use rating, and an 8.57/5 NPS score, indicating high customer satisfaction. It also offers 15 unique features like Pay by Link, Recurring Payments, and Multi-Currency Settlements, which are absent in Elavon. The real-world feedback suggests that Zil Money’s platform is straightforward and trusted by many hotels. Do you need a proven, well-supported platform with multiple features?
If your hotel requires a comprehensive financial management platform that includes invoicing, expense tracking, and multi-entity support, Zil Money is your best option. Its user-friendly interface and broad feature set appeal to small and mid-sized hotels looking for versatility.
Elavon might be suitable if you’re seeking a traditional payment processor with a long hospitality track record, but the lack of recent reviews and detailed features suggests it may not meet your current needs. For hotels prioritizing ease of use, quick onboarding, and customer support, Zil Money's high ratings and recent reviews point to a more reliable choice.
Zil Money earns a 4.5/5 in ease of use, buoyed by positive reviews praising its intuitive interface and straightforward setup. Customers highlight that onboarding takes minimal time and staff adapt quickly, reducing operational disruptions.
Elavon’s score is 0/5, with no recent reviews or user feedback available. This absence suggests uncertainty about its current usability and support. Without verified user experiences, it’s difficult to assess how easily your team could adopt or navigate Elavon’s platform.
Edge: Zil Money.
Zil Money provides 15 features, including Pay by Link, Recurring Payments, Multi-Currency Settlements, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Payment Splitting. These features support diverse payment needs and international transactions, adding flexibility.
Elavon’s offering is unquantified, with no unique features listed, implying its core focus is traditional payment processing without the added functionalities Zil Money offers. Given the feature breadth and recent positive reviews, Zil Money’s platform is better equipped for varied financial tasks.
Edge: Zil Money.
Zil Money’s customer support scores 4.5/5, with reviews citing responsive service and helpful onboarding. Users mention that support is prompt and assists with setup, enhancing confidence in ongoing use.
Elavon has a 0/5 rating with no recent reviews, making it impossible to verify its support quality today. The lack of recent feedback suggests that, if support is critical, Zil Money is the safer choice.
Edge: Zil Money.
Elavon integrates with three verified partners, including Book4Time, Oracle Hospitality, and Yanolja Cloud Solution, offering some connectivity within hospitality systems. However, this is limited compared to broader financial software.
Zil Money does not list verified partners but offers an API, enabling custom integrations with multiple accounting and financial tools. Its open approach may provide more flexibility if your hotel relies on diverse software systems.
Edge: Elavon (slightly), but Zil Money’s API offers greater potential.
Zil Money’s reviews are recent, averaging 4.5/5 in ease of use and customer support, with an NPS of 8.57/5 and 87% likelihood to recommend. Hotels across various segments, including boutique and limited-service, endorse its reliability.
Elavon’s score is zero, and no recent feedback exists, so current hotel ratings are unavailable. Based on recent reviews, Zil Money clearly has the edge in user satisfaction.
Edge: Zil Money.
Elavon does not specify pricing, indicating it might have custom quotes or higher-tier enterprise models. This lack of transparency can complicate budgeting.
Zil Money charges a $400 base fee, with no monthly or implementation fees, and offers a 15-day free trial. Its transparent pricing model and free trial make it accessible for hotels wanting clear costs upfront.
Elavon suits larger hotels or chains already integrated with its systems, but lack of recent reviews makes current suitability uncertain.
Zil Money is well-suited for boutique hotels, limited-service brands, and properties seeking to modernize their financial operations.
Elavon offers a long-established payment processing solution focused on security and stability, but the absence of recent reviews raises questions about current performance. Its strengths lie in traditional systems, large-scale enterprise support, and secure transactions.
Zil Money, with its recent reviews and 15 unique features, appeals to hotels seeking ease of use, diverse payment options, and comprehensive financial tools. It also boasts higher customer satisfaction ratings and a transparent pricing model.
If your hotel values proven, secure payment processing and already has systems in place, Elavon might still be worth considering—but its current lack of verified customer feedback weakens its position.
For hotels aiming for a user-friendly, feature-rich platform with strong positive reviews, Zil Money emerges as the clear choice. Its recent customer ratings and extensive feature set make it a more reliable partner for modern financial management.
Final recommendation: For most hotels active today, Zil Money offers the proven, well-reviewed, and feature-rich platform that aligns with your operational needs.
According to HTR's product database, Elavon and Zil Money share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Authorization Adjustments | ||
| Gratuity Function | ||
| Multi-Currency Settlements | ||
| Partial Capture | ||
| Pay by Link | ||
| Recurring Payments |
Showing top differences. 3 more features differ between these products.
What hoteliers love
Users frequently praise Zil Money for its intuitive and straightforward interface that simplifies invoicing, expense tracking, and other financial tas... Users frequently praise Zil Money for its intuitive and straightforward interface that simplifies invoicing, expense tracking, and other financial tasks. The platform’s ease of use reduces the onboarding time and enhances operational efficiency.
Several reviews indicate that minor improvements in customer experience, such as easing the verification process and reducing the time taken for setup... Several reviews indicate that minor improvements in customer experience, such as easing the verification process and reducing the time taken for setup, could make the platform even more efficient and user-friendly.
Several users highlight the speed and reliability of Zil Money's payment processing feature, which ensures timely transactions and supports the hotels... Several users highlight the speed and reliability of Zil Money's payment processing feature, which ensures timely transactions and supports the hotels' cash flow management.
Where hoteliers push back
Users value Zil Money's ability to integrate seamlessly with various accounting and financial software, which helps consolidate financial operations a... Users value Zil Money's ability to integrate seamlessly with various accounting and financial software, which helps consolidate financial operations and enhances efficiency.
Expanding integrations with more third-party applications is suggested by users, which would offer more flexibility and customization, catering to var... Expanding integrations with more third-party applications is suggested by users, which would offer more flexibility and customization, catering to varying business needs.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Elavon and Zil Money share many core Payments Processing Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Elavon offers 3 verified integration partners, while Zil Money offers 0. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Zil Money leads in ease of use at 4.5/5 vs 0.0/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Elavon: No. Zil Money: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Payments Processing Software vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Elavon has an HT Score of 0 and Zil Money has 63. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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