Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR) powers the experience economy, enabling businesses to deliver the moments that matter. Transforming how people shop, dine, stay, and play, Shift4’s commerce technology allows for a seamless experience at any scale. From your neighborhood restaurant to the world’s largest event venues, Shift4 handles billions of transactions annually for hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world.
Written by the business, not verified by us.
Is Shift4 legit?
Shift4 (shift4.com) has a 2.7 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 104 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Money & Insurance and its reputation is poor. Opinions are polarized: 42% rate it 4 stars or higher while 56% give 1 star; The business has replied to 100% of negative reviews; Reviews mostly discuss Customer service, Price. Last updated 2026-08-12.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the helpful staff and representatives for guiding them through a smooth, hassle-free account setup. Consumers note that the card terminals connect quickly, work reliably in crowded places, and ensure funds are deposited the next morning.
Some reviewers were not happy with unexpected annual fees and sudden maintenance costs applied without clear notice. People also mentioned that reaching customer support during problems can be nearly impossible, leaving them frustrated with the service. Reviewers expressed concern about being locked into long term contracts they cannot easily afford or escape.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
Over charging --- hidden costs --- they changed companies - started charging us 499 a month without our consent. Said it was within their right to change the fees as they like.
Late deposits, poor support.
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating concerns around billing, deposits, and support can be.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account in detail and better understand what happened. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
Annual fees was suppose to be billed in january they doubled them and billed them in agust without a notice . Can not get anyone on phone to discuss. Have written emails saying annual fees was in january and only january . Customer service is awful takes forever to get through . Do not use this compnay. Fraudulent, liars, thieves. .. no notification and how when my contract says annual fee did it turn into biannual , and double in price .
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. As part of a recent billing update, two separate biannual fees were combined into a single annual fee, and customers were notified in advance. The annual billing also includes continued access to services such as 24/7 technical support, equipment swaps, PCI compliance, and on-site assistance when needed.
If you have questions about your account or billing, please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can review your case and follow up with you directly.
Randomly took 1500. This is not in the contract and they need to write a 30 day notice about any fees that change. This is not in the contract.
SkyTab Service Fee
* The agreement says each SkyTab pay-at-table device requires a $20/month service fee.
* It states this includes software support and complimentary hardware replacements if the device breaks (excluding damage due to negligence).
* This is the closest thing to a software maintenance/update fee, but it’s monthly, not annual.
2. Merchant Compliance (PCI)
* There is an annual $89.99 PCI compliance fee.
* The contract also says Shift4 may change billing with 30 days’ notice.
3. Pricing Changes
* The agreement contains language allowing Shift4 to change fees or charges by giving 30 days’ notice.
* That means they can raise certain fees, but they generally must provide notice as required by the contract.
4. Service Agreement
* The POS agreement says additional hardware, software, or add-on services may be purchased separately.
* I do not see language saying they can automatically bill you $1,500 each year for software updates.
I’m sorry where in the contract does it say such a thing. Shift 4 is a sneaky company. Beware. I am going back to toast if they do not comply.
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your concerns and understand how frustrating unexpected billing can be. The recent billing update consolidated two previously separate biannual fees into a single annual fee, and advance notice was provided. The annual billing also covers a range of ongoing services, including 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed.
If you have questions about your account or billing, please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can review your case and follow up with you directly.
PLEASE READ CONTRACT CAREFULLY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL FEES PAID IN ADVANCE, 4 HOUR SERVICE WAIT TIMES, DAILEY EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS,THIS IS A TERRIBLE PIZZA PLATFORM FOR PLACING ORDERS
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration with the issues you described. We'd also like to clarify that our annual billing is now a once-per-year charge, and monthly fees are not billed in advance but rather in arrears.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and better understand the issues you encountered. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
My experience with Shift4 has been extremely disappointing.
Without receiving what I consider adequate direct notice, more than $1,200 was withdrawn from my business bank account as a consolidated annual fee. The only notice I was later told about had reportedly been placed in an online customer portal that I rarely log into. I do not believe merchants should be expected to routinely search a portal for significant billing changes involving large withdrawals. Material billing changes should be communicated directly by email or postal mail before they occur.
After contacting customer service, I spent hours trying to get answers. Instead of immediately reviewing the charges in detail, I was offered only a partial refund. I also discovered an additional charge for online ordering, a service I never knowingly requested or used.
What concerns me most is not simply the amount charged, but the lack of transparency surrounding the billing process. Businesses depend on predictable expenses and clear communication. Unexpected withdrawals of this size can create real financial hardship.
I have filed complaints with my state’s Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and another state Attorney General because I believe these billing practices deserve regulatory review.
Until Shift4 improves its billing transparency, provides direct notice of significant fee changes and handles customer concerns more effectively, I cannot recommend this company.
Reply from Shift42026-08-05
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how concerning an unexpected withdrawal can be for any business.
We recently introduced a simplified annual billing model that includes ongoing services such as 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed. That said, we understand your concerns about communication and appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and address the concerns you've raised. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can follow up with you directly.
Stay away from this company at all cost. Lots of hidden fe like the other reviewers said. Hit you with the $2000 annual fee. On their contract they didn’t mention anything about cancellation fee but when you want to cancel, they hit you with that and claiming because you consent to the new term and now you have to pay for the rest of the term. There are never any renewal notice and I never signed anything like that. This company is a scam. On hold for hours on the phone trying to talk to someone like the other reviewers said today, guess everyone found out about their scam today and trying to call all at the same time. This company a scam !
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand your concerns regarding billing and contract terms. The recent billing update combined two previously separate biannual fees into one annual fee, with advance notice provided. It also includes services such as 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and address the concerns you've raised. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
Signed a contract in April, agreeing to $29,99 a month and an annual fee of $189.99. Yesterday this company took $1230 from my account. I spent 8+hours straight on the phone trying to resolve. Apparently they can increase their fees 6x the amount, as long as they “whisper” it to you. Given the amount of businesses that were blindsided yesterday, it’s apparent their notification of this change wasn’t sufficient, as most of us didn’t see it buried in their customer hub. My small business just simply can not afford this system, and now we’re locked in to a contract I wouldn’t have signed to begin with.
Reply from Shift42026-08-05
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this situation must have been. As part of a recent update to our billing structure, some account charges were consolidated into a single annual fee. This annual billing also covers a range of ongoing services, including 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and address the concerns you've raised. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can follow up with you directly.
We bought a business July 2025. Didn't read the small print when I signed the merchant agreement. I didn't realize the terms was for 3 years. They couldn't keep the billing of the credit card fees straight. Sometimes they would take it out of the deposits and sometimes they would bill me for them. They billed me with no notice on Jan 1, 2026 for $1000 for equipment fees. I have 2 POS terminals and 2 handhelds that never worked. Hold times for issues were usually upwards of 1hr-2hrs. Sometimes they hold deposits on a holiday weekend for 4-5 days. When I asked about getting released from the contract, they wanted $15k for 18 months. I finally got it down to a manageable $2500. I paid that last Thursday to be released from the contract. 2 days later they billed me $2035 for equipment fees. I spent 2 hours on hold with them today to try to resolve it. Ended up having to dispute it with the bank. It is a user-friendly product but the hidden huge fees and inconsistencies in reliability far outweigh the benefits. If I could give zero stars, I would.
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear your experience has been frustrating. The recent billing change consolidated two existing biannual fees into a single annual fee, with advance notice provided. This also includes a range of ongoing services designed to support your business, including 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service if required.
We’d welcome the opportunity to review your account. Please contact us at [email protected] so our team can look into your concerns and follow up directly.
Don't Believe the Positive Reviews! They are Fake!
Don't believe the reviews! This company is shady! They arbitrarily charged me $1240 on 8/1/2026 and said it was for annual fees. They just charged me over $900 in January for annual fees. They have countless fees they charge every few months. Their low rates don't matter when they are charging you thousands of $$ on top of the transaction charges. I'm a small business and can't afford these charges. I just signed up with Square today. No BS fees and you only pay the transaction fees. I'm cancelling Shift as soon as the terminal comes in.
Reply from Shift42026-08-05
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating unexpected billing concerns can be, especially for a small business.
We recently introduced a simplified annual billing model that includes ongoing services such as 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed. We’d like the opportunity to review your account and address the charges you’ve referenced.
Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can follow up with you directly.
Thieves. They add maintenance charges for thousands of dollars with no notice. We canceled and they are still charging fees. I have to deal with the idiots to try to get 2000 dollars back. They have tried to start doing it 2 times a year. Run away from these unethical scumbags. Support is terrible too. They steal from you.
Update: after emailing the review email as per requested by the company. They have proven my review correct but not responding. Keep trying Shift 4 to deflect! Poor business.
Reply from Shift42026-08-03
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this situation must be, especially regarding billing and your account closure.
We’d like the opportunity to review this in detail and help resolve the issue. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can follow up with you directly.
I'm the current merchandiser at a retail store, and Shift 4 has been making unauthorized charges of $2,000 from my bank account without any explanation. Getting support from them is nearly impossible—their customer service is terrible. I've been on hold for two hours, and no one has answered yet.
Reply from Shift42026-08-03
We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how concerning this situation must be.
We’d like the opportunity to review this as a priority and help resolve it. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
First off we were up front and explained we probably wouldn't be using the credit card service as we are a non-profit veterans club an except cash only. My sales rep, who disappeared after a month said no problem just pay the monthly software fee and your fine. Well after a year the fees started. We were charged a monthly fee of 580 for not using credit. Keep in mind non-profit business. This hurts our ability to donate to our charities. 7000 a year is just outrageous. We canceled in February this year 2026 our reoccurring contract was to expire in August 2026. Offered a 2000 cancelation fee upfront or continue to pay the 580 I chose the latter because we didn't have 2 grand laying around. Forgot to mention the 1100 dollar fee charged in January 2026 for credit card security fee that we weren't even using. Equipment returned in May so we were supposed to be all done with contract July 31st 2026. Woke up to another 1,586 charge for insurance billed August 1st. Keep in mind we canceled in February, but I didn't pay the fee upfront. There saying they can't refund because it auto bills but know I canceled. Please make that make sense? In closing if you're looking for a Pos system I would look elsewhere. Upfront it's all bells and whistles, however you'll get fees that will turn your head down the line. Good luck 👍
Reply from Shift42026-08-03
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this situation must be, particularly given the impact on your organization.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and the billing concerns you've raised in detail. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can follow up with you directly.
This is the most dishonest company, I have worked with. They charged me for over a year for equipment I had returned, I spent countless hours trying to get credited. They lied to me telling me the charges were for other equipment. They charged me $1000 for a 'transaction fee' and when I cancelled my account, they charged me $1500 for "half of a transaction fee", have spent hours on hold
Reply from Shift42026-08-03
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this situation must have been.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account in detail and help resolve these concerns. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
Shift 4 is a shady business not disclosing hidden fees and yearly fees. They charged me yearly fees twice without notifying me. One in the amount of almost $700 and the other $1275. It’s outrageous. I was unable to reach a representative after hours of trying and couldn’t get help on the portal either. Very poor customer service and random fees. They are not upfront and are not clear about what you are signing up for. Do not trust this company, you will lose a lot of money.
Reply from Shift42026-08-04
We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating concerns around billing and support can be.
The recent billing change consolidated two previously separate biannual fees into a single annual fee. It also includes ongoing services such as 24/7 technical support, free equipment swaps and repairs, and on-site service when needed.
If you have questions about your account, please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can review your case and follow up with you directly.
SCAM! Do NOT trust this company! Signed up and agreed to pay $38.50 p/m and I was not notified Smartpay was taken over by Shift4! They charged me $1000+ in 12 months and I barely used their service! STAY AWAY.
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating unexpected billing concerns can be.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account in detail and better understand what happened. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
Lee was amazing setting up our Shift4 card system. He delivered it quickly, set it up for us and showed us how to use it. He is always on hand with any questions and his service is brilliant. On top of that, the card machine is so easy to use and the additional features make it so easy to use for our food truck. Thank you for everything Lee.
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re happy to hear the setup process was smooth and that the system is proving to be such a great fit for your food truck.
It’s wonderful to know the features are making day-to-day operations easier. We look forward to continuing to support your business.
Lee was really helpful at setting up the account and making it so hassle free! We received the terminal and Lee was there to set it up and start using it the next day! Very straightforward to use! Excellent signal for payments to go through even in very crowded areas like shows and events! Lee is on hand always with an answer and solution to every question making things run so much smoother!! Highly recommend!
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear the setup was quick and hassle-free and that you were up and running so quickly.
It’s great to know the reliable signal is helping your business at busy shows and events. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to support your business.
very disgusting, you feel you work for them and they controlling you and your business with their stupid system
lack of communication, you request a callback and no one response
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating it is when you feel unsupported and unable to get the help you need.
We’d like the opportunity to better understand your concerns and help resolve them. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account details so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
This is my 3rd terminal for my 3rd business with Eric Shackelton, things couldn’t be easier, great price, everything as explained and customer after care is 10 out of 10, if you need a card terminal, Eric is your man!
Thanks again, Jamie Cowell - LEC Refinishers
- Chasing Caffeine - The Dirty Flamingo
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re thrilled to hear you’ve chosen Shift4 across multiple businesses and that each experience has been smooth and straightforward.
We appreciate your continued trust and recommendation, and look forward to continuing to support your businesses.
Shift4 is a scam. The will bill you for shit you never consented to or signed up for simply because they purchased Givex. They are making absurd claims for platform fees that were never a part of Givex's contracts and act like this is normal.
Reply from Shift42026-07-31
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating concerns around billing and account changes can be.
We’d like the opportunity to review your account and better understand what happened. Please contact us at [email protected] with your account information so our team can investigate and follow up with you directly.
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