Toast, Square, Clover, Chowbus, MenuSifu — they take the order. Shisu answers the phones, books the tables, covers the shifts, and shows its work. People and AI, on the same shift.
Plans, processing, hardware — published, not quoted. No "contact sales" to find out what it costs.
Month-to-month on POS Essentials. No 2–4 year contract, no early-termination fee — add or drop software anytime.
It answers calls, books tables, covers sick shifts, hires, trains, and reorders stock — in your guests' language.
Every action it takes and exactly why — on one live timeline. Most AI is a black box. This isn't.
The numbers, side by side. Every figure is real and public — scroll the table on mobile.
| Best value Shisu | Toast | Square | Clover | Chowbus | MenuSifu | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price software / month | $0–$55per station | $0–$69+per terminal | $0–$149per location | $90++ $1,799 hardware | Quote only | Quote only |
| Transparent public pricing | Partial | Reseller-setvaries by dealer | ||||
| Card-present rate | 2.45% + 15¢ | 2.49% + 15¢ | 2.5% + 15¢ | 2.3–2.6% + 10¢ | Not public | Not public |
| Contract term | Month-to-month | ~2 years | None | 3–4 years | Not stated | Not stated |
| Early-termination fee | None | $1k–$5k+ | None | Balance owed | — | — |
| AI phone host answers & books calls | ||||||
| AI staffing hiring · shifts · training | ||||||
| Commission-free online ordering | $49/mo | $75/mo + | Included | In-platform | In-platform | Included |
| Multilingual voice Cantonese · Mandarin · English | Menus only | Menus only |
Competitor pricing and terms compiled from public listings as of June 2026 and subject to change — see each provider's site for current terms.
A dedicated, line-by-line breakdown for each one.
Lose the 2-year contract and the $1k–$5k exit fee. Keep an AI that answers your phones.
Compare → Shisu vsGreat for a register. Shisu is built for a restaurant — with staff that work the shift.
Compare → Shisu vsOne transparent bill instead of a reseller's mystery rates and a 4-year lock-in.
Compare → Shisu vsBoth speak your guests' language. Only one answers the phone in it — and shows its work.
Compare → Shisu vsThe Chinese-restaurant POS, reimagined — with an AI host and pricing you can actually read.
Compare → Not listed?Book a 20-minute demo and watch Shisu run a shift on your real numbers.
Book a Demo →Every call it answers, every order it fires, every shift it fills — on one live timeline, with the reason it acted. Nothing happens off-screen.
People and AI, working the same shift.