For independent hotels, choosing a property management system is also a payment decision.
Your PMS can influence which processor you use, how deposits are collected, how cards are authorized, what terminals work at the front desk, how refunds are handled, and how transactions reconcile back to the guest folio.
That means a hotel should ask more than:
“Does this PMS process payments?”
A better question is:
“How much control will we have over our payment setup after we choose this PMS?”
For hotels that already have negotiated processing rates, preferred hardware, or an established merchant relationship, that distinction can matter significantly.
This guide compares OpenHotel, Cloudbeds, Mews, Stayntouch, and RoomRaccoon based on payment architecture, processor flexibility, gateway integration, PMS workflows, and operational fit.
Payment flexibility can include several different things:
Not every hotel needs maximum flexibility.
Some operators prefer a single embedded payment provider because it simplifies setup and support.
Others value having multiple gateway or processor options because they want more control over rates, contracts, hardware, or existing financial relationships.
Neither approach is automatically better.
The important thing is knowing which model you are choosing before you commit to the PMS.
| Platform | Payment approach | Processor / gateway choice | PMS payment workflow | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenHotel | Multiple integrated gateway and processor options | Strong flexibility among supported providers | Payments handled directly within reservation and folio workflows | Independent hotels wanting more control over their payment stack |
| Cloudbeds | Cloudbeds Payments plus supported third-party gateways | Multiple supported gateways available | Integrated processing and folio posting | Hotels wanting embedded payments with additional gateway options |
| Mews | Mews Payments embedded into the platform | Processing handled through Mews-supported PSP infrastructure | Deep native automation across guest journey | Hotels prioritizing embedded, automated payments |
| Stayntouch | Stayntouch Pay | Native integrated payment solution | PMS-connected payment links, terminals and reporting | Hotels wanting one payment relationship and simplified support |
| RoomRaccoon | RaccoonPay-centered ecosystem | Payment functionality closely tied to RoomRaccoon environment | Automated hotel payment workflows | Hotels wanting payments embedded into a broader hotel platform |
The biggest difference is not whether payments are available.
It is how much choice the hotel retains over the payment relationship.
Payment flexibility is one of the areas where OpenHotel deserves especially close consideration.
Rather than requiring hotels to use only one embedded processing model, OpenHotel integrates its PMS with multiple payment providers and gateway configurations.
Its current payment documentation lists options including:
These providers serve different operating needs. Some can combine merchant processing and gateway services, while others allow the hotel to use a gateway that connects to an existing merchant processor.
That distinction can be important for an independent hotel that already has a payment relationship it wants to preserve.
OpenHotel's approach gives hotels choices within the supported ecosystem rather than forcing every property into one payment arrangement.
For example, OpenHotel describes Shift4 and Global Payments as options that can simplify the relationship by combining processing and gateway functionality.
For properties that already have a processor they prefer, OpenHotel identifies gateway-focused options such as SlimCD, Authorize.net, and Windcave that can connect the PMS with the hotel's merchant arrangement.
That creates an important buying distinction:
Choosing OpenHotel does not automatically mean giving up control over your existing payment strategy.
Flexibility would have limited value if employees then had to manage payments in an entirely separate system.
OpenHotel integrates payment actions directly into the PMS reservation workflow.
From the PMS, hotel staff can work with common payment functions such as:
Authorize → Capture → Void → Refund
while keeping the transaction associated with the guest reservation and folio. OpenHotel's payment documentation describes authorizations, captures, refunds, and voids being processed from the same PMS environment.
This can reduce manual re-entry and make it easier for front-desk employees to understand:
Payments begin before the guest arrives.
OpenHotel's integrated gateway setup can collect guest deposits during the booking process, allowing payment activity to connect directly with reservation information instead of becoming a separate reconciliation task later.
That connection is important because many payment discrepancies that appear at checkout actually begin earlier in the reservation journey.
Depending on the selected provider, OpenHotel supports payment workflows across the PMS, Booking Engine, and physical terminals.
For example, its current documentation describes Shift4 as supporting online payments through both the Booking Engine and PMS, along with EMV physical terminals for in-person transactions.
That lets hotels evaluate their payment provider according to how guests actually pay:
Online → Pre-arrival → Front desk → During stay → Checkout
rather than treating every payment as the same transaction.
OpenHotel also supports both linked and unlinked refunds and allows hotel teams to issue full or partial credits from the guest folio.
For hotel operations, this matters because refunds should remain visible within the same financial history employees use to understand the guest stay.
OpenHotel's integrated payment model keeps sensitive card information tokenized through the payment gateway rather than storing raw card numbers directly inside the PMS.
That helps separate hotel operations from the handling of sensitive payment credentials.
OpenHotel has also announced plans to expand its payment ecosystem with FreedomPay and ConexPay, although hotels should verify availability before assuming either integration is currently live.
OpenHotel is particularly compelling for independent hotels that want integrated PMS payment workflows without automatically surrendering processor or gateway flexibility.
That can be valuable when a property:
For these hotels, payment flexibility becomes part of the broader OpenHotel philosophy: technology should adapt to the operation rather than force the property to redesign its operation around the technology.
Cloudbeds provides its own integrated solution, Cloudbeds Payments, while also supporting several third-party payment gateways.
Current Cloudbeds documentation lists supported connections including Authorize.net, Elavon Converge, Fiserv, PayPal Payflow Pro, Cloudbeds Payments, and other regional options.
That gives hotels more flexibility than an exclusively closed payment model.
When an integrated gateway is connected, hotels can process guest payments directly from a reservation and automatically update the folio balance.
Cloudbeds Payments itself is deeply integrated and supports card-present, card-not-present, and alternative payment methods along with payment reporting and reconciliation.
Cloudbeds also allows hotels to use external processing and manually record a payment in the folio when a transaction occurs outside its integrated payment environment.
Cloudbeds supports third-party gateways, but certain functionality is more closely tied to Cloudbeds Payments.
For example, Cloudbeds documentation says connected physical payment terminals require Cloudbeds Payments.
Its newer Smart Policies also provide deeper automation with Cloudbeds Payments, while third-party gateways can support a more limited set of automated actions.
Cloudbeds is worth considering for hotels that want a strong embedded payment solution while retaining access to a selection of supported third-party gateways.
Hotels with an established processor should confirm whether their existing provider, terminals, and desired automation are supported before switching.
Mews takes a more embedded approach through Mews Payments.
Its payment infrastructure covers secure card collection, tokenization, online and in-person payments, payment links, terminals, chargebacks, settlement, and reporting.
Behind the platform, payment processing is currently performed through certified payment service providers including Adyen and Stripe depending on region and configuration.
The strength of this approach is integration.
Mews Payments works throughout its booking engine, guest portal, kiosk, PMS, and POS ecosystem.
For hotels that prioritize automation, that can simplify:
Mews also supports multiple payment methods including cards, wallets, and selected local methods depending on geography.
Mews documentation notes that third-party payment transactions can be recorded as external payments, but those external providers do not receive the same automated workflow as Mews Payments.
Mews can be a strong option for hotels that prioritize embedded payment automation and a unified commercial relationship over retaining a completely separate processor strategy.
Stayntouch offers Stayntouch Pay as its native payment-processing product.
Its platform supports in-person, online, kiosk, payment-link, card, wallet, and alternative payment methods.
Stayntouch emphasizes operational simplicity:
One provider → one bill → one support relationship
Its payment platform includes:
Stayntouch says Stayntouch Pay uses Adyen's processing infrastructure and provides PCI DSS Level 1 compliance controls.
Stayntouch's current integration directory identifies Stayntouch Pay as its payment integration, positioning the platform primarily around its native payment environment rather than a menu of external processors.
That is not necessarily a disadvantage.
For a hotel that prefers one relationship for PMS and payments, it can simplify both onboarding and support.
Stayntouch may appeal most to properties that want a tightly integrated payment experience and a single support path rather than managing several payment vendors.
RoomRaccoon also emphasizes an embedded payment model through RaccoonPay.
Its payment workflows are closely connected with reservations and distribution, including support for OTA payment scenarios.
For example, RoomRaccoon documentation describes both OTA Collect and Hotel Collect workflows and supports tools such as payment links, pre-authorizations, and advance collection.
The integrated approach can make it easier to automate collections across the reservation lifecycle.
Hotels can manage scenarios such as:
without building a separate payment workflow around the PMS.
RoomRaccoon can be a strong candidate for smaller independent hotels that want payments closely embedded into the same environment as reservations, distribution, and hotel operations.
Hotels that already have a preferred merchant arrangement should confirm how that relationship would fit before making a decision.
This is where terminology matters.
A hotel may say “I want to keep my processor,” but the PMS may require a compatible gateway between that processor and the hotel system.
So the right question is:
“Can this PMS connect with a gateway that supports my existing merchant processor?”
OpenHotel is particularly worth evaluating for this requirement because it supports multiple gateway and processor arrangements rather than relying exclusively on one embedded processor.
Gateway-oriented options such as SlimCD, Authorize.net, and Windcave can provide a path for hotels that want to preserve an existing merchant relationship, while Shift4 and Global Payments provide more consolidated processing models.
Cloudbeds also supports several third-party gateways alongside Cloudbeds Payments, although certain terminal and automation capabilities are specific to its embedded solution.
Mews, Stayntouch, and RoomRaccoon place greater emphasis on their embedded payment ecosystems.
For hotels prioritizing processor independence, this architectural difference deserves careful attention.
There is a common misconception that the most integrated payment system is automatically the best one.
It depends on the hotel's priorities.
Simpler onboarding
One commercial relationship
Integrated support
Deep automation
Consistent hardware
Processor choice
Ability to preserve merchant relationships
More negotiating flexibility
Different gateway options
Greater control over the payment stack
This is why payment architecture should be evaluated alongside PMS functionality.
The hotel is not simply choosing how to take a credit card today.
It is choosing how much control it will have over payment operations for the duration of the PMS relationship.
Before signing a PMS contract, ask every vendor the same questions.
If yes, ask exactly how.
Which gateway is required?
Get the current list.
Do not rely on a generic statement that the system “integrates with payments.”
Ask whether embedded payments are mandatory, optional, or required for certain functionality.
Changing processors can affect more than software cost.
Compare the complete payment relationship.
Have the vendor demonstrate:
Authorize → Capture → Refund → Void → Review folio
Ask whether your current terminal hardware can be used or whether new devices are required.
Have the vendor demonstrate both hotel-collected payments and OTA virtual-card workflows where applicable.
This is especially important when the processor, gateway, and PMS are different companies.
Ask:
“If the card doesn't process at 11 PM, who does my front desk call?”
There is an easy way to compare PMS payment systems.
Give every vendor the same scenario.
1. A direct reservation arrives with a required deposit.
Show how the card is stored and the deposit is collected.
2. The guest arrives.
Show how the front desk authorizes funds.
3. A charge needs to be processed.
Show where it appears on the guest folio.
4. The guest needs a partial refund.
Show the complete workflow.
5. An OTA reservation arrives with a virtual card.
Show how staff identify and process it.
6. Accounting needs to reconcile the transactions.
Show the relevant report.
Then ask:
How many different systems were opened?
Which company processed the transaction?
Which company owns the gateway?
Who controls the merchant account?
Who provides support?
Can we change processors later?
Those answers will tell you much more than asking whether the PMS “has payments.”
Large hotel organizations may have dedicated finance, IT, and procurement teams.
Independent hotels often do not.
A processing decision can therefore affect multiple parts of the operation at once:
Front desk → Reservations → Accounting → Booking engine → Guest experience
That is why independent properties should be especially careful about unnecessary lock-in.
A hotel may already have:
Changing all of that simply because the PMS requires another processor can make implementation considerably more complicated.
OpenHotel's broader sales strategy is built around reducing vendor friction and giving hotels more operational flexibility—particularly for operators frustrated with juggling multiple systems or losing control over their technology stack.
Payments are a strong example of that philosophy in practice.
There is no single best payment model for every hotel.
Your property values processor and gateway choice, an integrated PMS payment workflow, the ability to preserve compatible merchant relationships, and front-desk payment visibility inside the reservation and folio.
For independent hotels that already have a payment strategy they like, this flexibility can be a significant advantage.
You want a strong embedded payment solution with several supported third-party gateway options, while understanding that some terminal and automation features are specific to Cloudbeds Payments.
You prioritize deep payment automation across the booking, guest, PMS, kiosk, and POS experience and are comfortable working within the Mews Payments ecosystem.
You want one integrated payment provider, simplified billing, broad guest payment methods, and one support relationship.
You want payment collection closely integrated with reservations, OTA workflows, pre-authorizations, and the broader hotel platform.
A hotel's PMS should support its payment strategy, not automatically dictate it.
For some properties, the ideal solution is a fully embedded processor with one contract and one support team.
For others, especially independent hotels with existing processor relationships or negotiated rates, payment flexibility is part of maintaining operational and financial control.
That is where OpenHotel has an important advantage.
OpenHotel combines PMS-level payment workflows with multiple supported gateway and processor options, giving hotels the ability to choose a payment setup that better fits their operation while still handling payment activity from the PMS.
The most important question to ask before choosing any PMS is:
“Are we choosing a payment provider because it is right for our hotel—or because our PMS requires it?”
A flexible hotel technology platform should help you make the first choice.
OpenHotel supports multiple gateway and processor configurations, including options designed to connect with existing merchant relationships. Cloudbeds also supports several third-party payment gateways alongside Cloudbeds Payments. Other platforms may emphasize their own embedded payment ecosystems. Hotels should verify compatibility with their specific processor before signing a PMS agreement.
PMS payment processor compatibility describes whether a hotel's property management system can securely communicate with the processor or gateway used to authorize, capture, refund, and reconcile guest transactions.
Not necessarily. Embedded payments can simplify setup, automation, support, and reconciliation. Multiple-gateway models can provide greater processor choice and help hotels preserve existing merchant relationships. The best approach depends on the property's priorities.
Sometimes. It depends on whether the new PMS supports a compatible payment gateway and whether that gateway can connect with the hotel's merchant processor. Hotels should confirm this before migrating systems.
Hotels should evaluate authorizations, deposits, captures, refunds, voids, card-present payments, online payments, payment links, OTA payment workflows, folio posting, settlement reporting, and reconciliation.
This article is intended for general educational and comparison purposes. Information about third-party platforms is based on publicly available vendor documentation reviewed in October 2026. Payment providers, integrations, regional availability, processing requirements, hardware compatibility, fees, and platform functionality can change. Hotels should verify current capabilities and contractual requirements directly with each provider before making a technology or payment-processing decision.