Compare Shift4 side-by-side against Dojo, Square, Zettle, and legacy UK till systems. Discover where competitors hide costs and how Shift4 saves you £200–£500/month.
| Evaluation Criteria | Shift4 Partner UK | Dojo | Square / Zettle | Legacy (EPOS Now, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware Upfront Cost | ✓ £0 Upfront Bundle | £0 to £150 | ✕ £150 – £800+ | ✕ £1,500 – £4,000 |
| Monthly Software & Terminal | ✓ From £39/mo (All-in-one) | £20–£40 (Card Only) | £0–£69/mo (iPad needed) | £39–£99/mo + add-ons |
| Card Transaction Fee Model | ✓ True Interchange++ or Low Flat | Blended / Tiered | ✕ 1.75% Flat (High cost) | 3rd party acquirer margin |
| On-Site UK Engineer Installation | ✓ 100% Free Nationwide | ✕ Self-install box | ✕ Self-install box | £250–£500 extra fee |
| Contract Agreement Length | ✓ Simple 12-Month Agreement | 12 to 24 Months | Rolling (High card rate) | ✕ 36 to 60 Months Lock-in |
| Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) | ✓ Fully Integrated | ✕ None (Payments only) | Paid app upgrade | Paid third party add-on |
| Tableside Mobile Handheld POS | ✓ Shift4 Duo Handheld | Card terminal only | iPad / Phone clip-on | Bulky paid handhelds |
| Hardware Warranty | ✓ Lifetime Free Replacement | 12 Months only | 12 Months standard | Paid monthly warranty |
| UK Telephone & WhatsApp Support | ✓ 24/7/365 Dedicated UK Team | Business hours phone | ✕ Email/Community only | Ticketing queue |
The Problem: Dojo provides sleek card machines, but they are strictly a payments company—not a comprehensive EPOS system. You must purchase a separate third-party EPOS software and hardware system to take orders, print food tickets, and track table bills.
The Problem: Flat-rate providers advertise "no monthly fee" but charge an eye-watering 1.75% on every transaction. If your venue takes £30,000/month, you are paying £525 in fees. Furthermore, consumer iPads overheat in warm kitchens, suffer battery swelling, and break easily when dropped.
The Problem: Older till companies (like EPOS Now) charge £2,000–£4,000 upfront or lock you into a 3 to 5-year non-cancellable third-party lease. When hardware fails or software freezes on a Saturday night, you are forced into an offshore support ticket queue.