PayPal vs. Sertifi by Flywire (Payments):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right payments processing software for your hotel depends on your specific needs and priorities. PayPal offers a well-known brand with a long history in digital payments but lacks recent reviews and detailed hotel-specific features. Sertifi by Flywire, however, boasts a broad suite of features, numerous recent reviews, and a higher overall score, making it the stronger option for most hoteliers.

Both products aim to streamline transactions, improve security, and enhance your revenue management. But with Sertifi’s recent performance data and comprehensive feature set, it stands out as the more reliable choice for hotel payments.

Is PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire Better for Hotels?

PayPal is a globally recognized digital payments platform that simplifies online transactions, allowing both individuals and businesses to send and receive money securely. It’s designed for a broad audience, including online retailers and small businesses, but it’s not tailored specifically for hospitality needs.

Sertifi by Flywire, in contrast, is built explicitly for hospitality businesses, integrating payment processing with eSignature capabilities. It streamlines workflows like deposit collection and contract signing, reducing administrative overhead and increasing efficiency.

While PayPal’s simplicity makes it a convenient option for basic transactions, Sertifi’s hotel-specific features and recent high review score (94.14) make it a better fit for hoteliers looking for a dedicated payments and agreements platform.

Sertifi by Flywire vs PayPal: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel requires a comprehensive, dedicated solution that combines secure payment processing with contract management, go with Sertifi by Flywire. Its suite of 20 features, including PCI compliance, multi-currency settlements, and refund management, is tailored to hospitality workflows and is backed by recent, positive reviews.

On the other hand, if your team needs a simple, widely accepted method for online payments without the need for hotel-specific integrations or advanced features, PayPal might suffice. However, given its zero reviews and lack of recent data, Sertifi’s targeted design and active user base make it the safer bet for most hotels today.

Is PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire Easier to Use?

Sertifi by Flywire scores a 4.78 out of 5 for ease of use, with many reviews praising its intuitive interface and straightforward onboarding. Users appreciate how quickly staff can adopt the system, often mentioning how it reduces time spent on administrative tasks.

PayPal scores a 0 out of 5, reflecting a lack of recent reviews and unclear usability feedback. Its interface is considered outdated and less tailored to hotel workflows, which can hinder staff adoption and efficiency.

Edge: Sertifi by Flywire.

Which Has Better Features: PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire?

Sertifi offers 20 features, including advanced options like payment tokenization, 3-D Secure payments, multi-currency settlements, and chargeback management. These are specifically designed to meet the complex needs of hospitality transactions and ensure PCI compliance.

PayPal, meanwhile, offers no hotel-specific features or integrations, making it less capable of handling the nuanced requirements of hotel payments. Its lack of additional features leaves it limited in scope.

Edge: Sertifi by Flywire.

Which Has Better Customer Support: PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire?

Sertifi by Flywire boasts a customer support rating of 4.59/5, with reviews highlighting quick issue resolution and attentive service. Users appreciate the dedicated team’s responsiveness, which is critical for resolving payment and contract issues swiftly.

PayPal’s support rating is 0, with no recent reviews to evaluate. Given its widespread consumer use but limited hotel focus, its support quality for hospitality-specific needs is uncertain.

Edge: Sertifi by Flywire.

Which Has More Integrations: PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire?

Sertifi integrates with seven verified partners, including Salesforce, Oracle Hospitality, Infor, Amadeus, HotelKey, Stripe, and Thynk. These integrations streamline workflows by connecting payment and contract management directly with hotel systems.

PayPal has only one verified integration with Yanolja Cloud Solution, limiting its ability to embed into your hotel’s existing infrastructure.

Edge: Sertifi by Flywire.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: PayPal or Sertifi by Flywire?

Sertifi by Flywire has a significantly higher recent review score of 94.14, with 129 reviews, mostly positive. Hotels across various segments, including luxury, branded, and resorts, report that Sertifi improves efficiency and reduces administrative burdens.

PayPal has no recent hotel reviews or ratings in the context of hospitality. Its overall score of 0/5 signals a lack of current user feedback from hotel operators.

Edge: Sertifi by Flywire.

How Much Do PayPal and Sertifi by Flywire Cost?

PayPal offers a freemium model with no clear pricing details provided, making it potentially cost-effective for basic needs. However, transaction fees vary and are not specified here.

Sertifi charges a flat fee of $100 per month without details on transaction fees or tiered pricing. Its higher upfront cost reflects the hotel-specific features and integrations it offers.

What Type of Hotel Should Use PayPal?

• Hotels that need a simple, widely accepted payment solution for online bookings or deposits.
• Teams that are comfortable with basic transactions without complex workflows or integrations.
• Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced security features, contract management, or multi-currency settlements.
• Not ideal if you rely heavily on automation or integrations with property management systems, as PayPal’s capabilities are limited.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Sertifi by Flywire?

• Hotels that want to streamline deposits, contracts, and payment collection within existing workflows.
• Teams seeking secure, PCI-compliant payment options with multi-currency support.
• Hotels that value integrations with systems like Salesforce, Opera, or Infor to automate administrative tasks.
• Hotels aiming to reduce processing fees significantly, as Sertifi has demonstrated savings of up to $175k annually.
• Not ideal if your hotel operates at a very low volume or if you prefer a free, no-cost payment solution without extra features.

Sertifi by Flywire vs PayPal: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Sertifi by Flywire is a dedicated, feature-rich platform built for hospitality, combining secure payments with contract management. Its current high review score and active user base confirm its suitability for hotels seeking efficiency and reliability.

PayPal, while globally recognized, offers limited hotel-specific features and lacks recent user feedback, making it a less suitable choice for hospitality today. It may serve small, uncomplicated needs but falls short for more complex hotel operations.

If your hotel values seamless integrations, advanced security, and positive recent reviews, Sertifi is the clear choice. For straightforward, low-volume transactions without specific hotel needs, PayPal could suffice—though it’s not optimized for hospitality.