Flute vs. Astral Payments

Flute is a payment processing and financial technology platform designed to give growing businesses a unified way to accept, manage, protect, and access payments. The platform supports in-person, mobile, online, phone, and embedded payment workflows so merchants can use a consistent system across different sales channels. Payment options include credit and debit cards, contactless payments, QR codes, ACH, digital wallets, virtual terminals, hosted payment pages, and recurring transactions. Businesses can choose from portable or mounted point-of-sale hardware, use compatible existing devices, or accept payments directly through supported mobile devices. Flute’s invoicing tools allow organizations to send branded invoices with multiple payment methods while keeping transaction activity connected to the broader payment environment. Dashboard and reporting features provide visibility into customers, merchants, transactions, operational activity, and payment performance from a centralized interface. Recurring billing capabilities support subscriptions and repeat purchases while storing tokenized customer payment information in a secure vault. Flute also provides instant payouts and working capital features that can help businesses gain quicker access to earned revenue and manage cash flow. Fraud protection, encryption, network tokenization, and other security features are designed to reduce exposure to card testing, chargeback abuse, payment declines, and sensitive data risks. Developers and software companies can use Flute’s APIs, SDKs, gateways, and embedded payment tools to integrate payment capabilities directly into their own applications and customer experiences. Flute is intended for merchants, SaaS providers, ISOs, associations, and service businesses that want a scalable payments infrastructure with flexible processing, financial management, security, hardware, and developer options.

Astral Payments by Shiji is a hospitality-focused payment platform designed to unify payment processing, security, and financial operations within a single solution. Created specifically for hotels and hospitality businesses, the platform simplifies payment management while supporting a broad range of payment methods, including cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment options. Astral Payments provides centralized transaction management that helps reduce complexity across multiple properties and operational systems. A core component of the platform is its tokenization technology, which securely stores payment information through the Shiji Vault, preventing unencrypted card data from being stored within hotel systems. The platform adheres to strict industry standards, including PCI DSS 4.0 and PSD2 compliance requirements, helping organizations maintain strong security and regulatory practices. End-to-end encryption further protects guest payment information throughout the transaction process. Deep integration with Daylight PMS, Infrasys POS, and Stellaris Digital creates a connected hospitality ecosystem that reduces manual processes and improves operational efficiency. Multi-region account management capabilities support hotel groups operating across multiple markets, allowing them to manage payment accounts and expansion efforts more effectively. Automated reconciliation tools simplify financial management by matching transaction data across systems and reducing administrative workloads. Cloud-based updates keep the platform secure and current without requiring significant maintenance or downtime. Supported by Shiji’s global hospitality expertise and around-the-clock customer service, Astral Payments helps hotels streamline transactions, improve security, and deliver a more seamless payment experience for guests and staff alike.