POS Comparisons

Harbortouch vs Oracle Simphony: Which POS Is Better? (2025)

By Mauricio Oct 10, 2025 3 min read

When comparing Harbortouch vs Simphony, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to multi-industry point-of-sale technology. Harbortouch, rated 4.0/5, offers Small businesses wanting low startup costs. Meanwhile, Simphony, rated 4.2/5, provides Global brands and multi-location operators. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison: Harbortouch vs Simphony

FeatureHarbortouchSimphony
CategoryMulti-IndustryRestaurant
Starting Price$29.99/month$1/month per workstation
Rating4.0/54.2/5
Target BusinessSmall BusinessSmall Business to Enterprise
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Free TrialNoNo
Free VersionNoNo
Best ForSmall businesses wanting low startup costsGlobal brands and multi-location operators

Harbortouch Overview

Harbortouch (now SkyTab) offers free POS hardware with low monthly fees. Features include tableside ordering, table tracking, free reservations, and online ordering. No upfront costs with lifetime hardware warranty.

Harbortouch is offered by Shift4 Payments (founded 1999) based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. The system focuses on Restaurants, Bars, Retail, Salons.

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Key Features:

  • Tableside ordering (iPad)
  • Table tracking
  • Reservations (free)
  • Online ordering (free)
  • KDS
  • Waitlist management

Simphony Overview

Oracle Simphony is a cloud-based POS platform serving restaurants, hotels, and stadiums in 180 countries. Features 200+ integrations, offline mode, and scalable architecture from single locations to global chains.

Simphony is offered by Oracle (founded 2010) based in Austin, TX. The system focuses on Full Service, Quick Service, Hotels, Stadiums.

Key Features:

  • Cloud POS
  • Offline Mode
  • 200+ Integrations
  • Multi-language
  • Online Ordering
  • Kitchen Display

Feature Comparison

Harbortouch Features:

  • Tableside ordering (iPad)
  • Table tracking
  • Reservations (free)
  • Online ordering (free)
  • KDS

Simphony Features:

  • Cloud POS
  • Offline Mode
  • 200+ Integrations
  • Multi-language
  • Online Ordering

When comparing features, Harbortouch stands out with Free hardware, while Simphony differentiates itself with $1/month entry pricing. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing AspectHarbortouchSimphony
Starting Price$29.99/month$1/month per workstation
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Price RangeBudgetBudget to Premium
Free TrialNot availableNot available
Free VersionNoNo

Harbortouch is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.

Pros and Cons

Harbortouch

Pros:

  • No upfront hardware costs
  • Low monthly fees
  • Lifetime hardware warranty
  • Free online ordering
  • 24/7/365 support

Cons:

  • 1-year contract required
  • Must use their payment processing
  • Rebranded to SkyTab

Simphony

Pros:

  • Affordable $1/month entry
  • 180 country presence
  • 200+ integrations
  • Enterprise scalability

Cons:

  • Complex for small operations
  • Advanced features cost more
  • Implementation required

Who Should Choose Harbortouch?

Harbortouch is ideal for Small businesses wanting low startup costs. The system is particularly well-suited for Restaurants, Bars, Retail, Salons.

However, Harbortouch may not be the best fit for Businesses wanting processor flexibility, those avoiding contracts.

Who Should Choose Simphony?

Simphony is ideal for Global brands and multi-location operators. The system is particularly well-suited for Full Service, Quick Service, Hotels, Stadiums.

However, Simphony may not be the best fit for Very small restaurants wanting simplicity.

Our Recommendation

Both Harbortouch and Simphony are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Harbortouch if you’re Small businesses wanting low startup costs. Choose Simphony if you’re Global brands and multi-location operators. Simphony has a higher user rating (4.2 vs 4.0). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.