The Best Apps for Paying Your Restaurant Bill Conveniently

Paying the check at a restaurant can often be a tedious process – waiting for the server to bring the bill splitting it between friends calculating tip, and waiting for approval after swiping your card. Pay-at-the-table apps provide a convenient solution by allowing customers to view their check, tip, and pay directly from their smartphone. This innovation is streamlining the dining experience for both customers and restaurants.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll review the top apps that let you conveniently pay your restaurant tab right at your table

How Pay-at-the-Table Apps Work

These apps allow you to securely pay your bill via your phone, using just a quick scan of a QR code at your table.

The basic process is

• Server informs you to pay with app and provides unique QR code
• Open app and scan QR code to pull up your check
• Review items, calculate tip, and pay the total due
• Receive digital receipt, and you’re done!

The payment goes through the restaurant’s point-of-sale system, which makes the process easy for them. A lot of apps also let you see menus, order food and drinks, split bills, join loyalty programs, and do other things.

Benefits of Paying with a Restaurant App

For customers, these apps provide:

• Convenience – Pay on your terms without waiting on the server
• Customization – Calculate tip and split bills easily
• Speed – Settle your check quickly and be on your way
• Security – Payment details encrypted and protected

And for restaurants, benefits include:

• Increased efficiency – Faster table turnover and fewer servers needed
• Upselling – Apps provide platform for daily specials and promotions
• Customer data – Gain insights on dining habits and demographics
• Branding – Customize app with your logo, images, and messaging

Top Pay-at-the-Table Apps

Here are some of the most popular restaurant payment apps:

Sunday

Sunday is designed specifically for hospitality businesses. It offers an intuitive mobile app for customers to pay via QR codes as well as tools for restaurants to manage menus, collect feedback, and view sales data.

Pros:

• Works with major POS systems
• Provides restaurants with actionable analytics
• Has features to customize branding
• Gives customers ability to preorder

CityCheers

CityCheers focuses on helping restaurants connect with and market to customers. Their app enables paying with QR codes at the table. It also allows restaurants to send push notifications about specials and discounts directly to app users.

Pros:

• Free for restaurants (small transaction fee for customers)
• Integrates loyalty programs
• Provides customer data and feedback
• Gives restaurants marketing capabilities

Velocity

A well-rounded app with pay-at-table functionality as well as online ordering and takeout/delivery options. Velocity partners with restaurant chains like Denny’s and IHOP.

Pros:

• Established large network of restaurant partners
• Offer customized apps for individual brands
• Provides insights on customer engagement

MyCheck

MyCheck aims to create a seamless dining experience through mobile order and payment. Works with major POS systems across casual and fine dining restaurants.

Pros:

• Emphasis on speed and simplicity
• Offers pre-authorize credit cards as a payment option
• Let’s customers self-select gratuity amount

DashNow

Recently rebranded as HYFIN, DashNow is tailored for fast casual restaurants and emphasizes efficient takeout experiences via its pay-at-table QR code functionality.

Pros:

• Ideal for quick service and takeout situations
• Alerts restaurants when customer arrives to pick up order
• Focuses on making takeout frictionless

Zapper

Zapper has customizable features like digital menus, bill splitting, and customer surveys along with standard pay-at-the table service. Provides data and reviews to help restaurants improve.

Pros:

• Collects customer feedback and testimonials
• Offers restaurants detailed analytics and reports
• Lets restaurants showcase daily specials

What to Look for in a Pay Restaurant App

When evaluating restaurant payment apps, key factors to consider include:

• Integration – How easily does it connect with your point-of-sale system?
• Features – Does it provide additional benefits besides bill payment?
• Analytics – Will it provide customer and business data and insights?
• Cost – Is there a monthly fee or only small transaction charges?
• Support – Is customer service and tech support readily available?
• Security – Does is use encryption and tokenization to protect data?
• Branding – Can you customize it to align with your brand?

Choosing an app that seamlessly integrates with your POS, provides valuable data, and has features to enhance both customer and restaurant experience will provide the best value.

Getting Started with Restaurant Payment Apps

Adopting a pay-at-the-table app is easy to implement:

• Choose app and create an account
• Integrate with your POS system
• Display signage with QR code for app use
• Train staff on encouraging customers to use app

The app company provides all necessary software and support. The biggest hurdle is getting customers accustomed to paying through the app rather than the typical payment process. But over time, it becomes habitual and appreciated.

Paying the Check Just Got Easier

Pay-at-the-table apps provide enormous benefits for restaurants and customers alike when it comes to settling the bill. For guests, it means greater convenience, speed, and simplicity. And for restaurants, it enables faster table turns, data collection, and enhanced customer experience.

With options like Sunday, CityCheers, Velocity, MyCheck, DashNow, Zapper, and more, find the right app fit for your business needs. Adopting this technology shows your customers you’re on the leading edge when it comes to dining innovations.