It’s 2 PM on a busy Friday.
You have a long queue of customers, and on the fifth person, the POS flashes “Network Error.” You try again. Nothing. The customer gets impatient and walks away.
That’s a lost transaction, lost income and a dent in your reputation.
Most agents assume the best POS is the one with the lowest advertised fees. But if you look closer, you’ll see that what truly determines your profit isn’t the fee you see, but the transactions you don’t lose.
We’ll compare two of the most popular options in Nigeria – Moniepoint and Opay, with a new player, Supply Smart, but not on their marketing claims.
We’ll look at the metrics that actually matter: transaction reliability, settlement speed, and the quality of support you get when things inevitably go wrong.
Let’s find out which one truly keeps your business running.
The Metrics That Actually Determine Your Profit
When you ask agents what they look for in a POS, the first answer is almost always “low charges.” And it makes sense because fees are a direct cut from your earnings.
But if you look at the agents who consistently run profitable businesses, you’ll find they’re more concerned over something else entirely: downtime.
A 0.1% difference in fees is irrelevant if your terminal is offline for two hours during peak business.
Essentially, a reliable terminal that charges 0.6% is far more profitable than an unreliable one that charges 0.5%.
So, before we compare Moniepoint, Opay, and Supply Smart, let’s agree on the metrics that matter.
- Transaction Success Rate: This is about the terminal’s connection. How often do transactions fail due to “bad network”? A terminal with a weak or unstable connection is a constant source of frustration for both you and your customers.
- Settlement Time: How long does it take for the money from a transaction to appear in your wallet? Is it instant, or does it take until the end of the day? For an agent, cash flow is everything.
- Real Customer Support: When your terminal stops working, who do you call, and how fast can they solve your problem? Good support isn’t a chatbot or a call centre that puts you on hold for 30 minutes. It’s a responsive team that understands your business is on pause until they help you fix the issue.
- True Cost of Ownership: Does buying the POS mean you own it outright? Or are you tied to monthly targets, with the risk that the company could repossess the terminal if you don’t meet them? True ownership gives you freedom and security.

Now, with these crucial metrics in mind, let’s put our three contenders to the test.
Moniepoint vs. Opay vs. Supply Smart: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Let’s get to the heart of the matter.
We’ll evaluate each POS provider against the four critical metrics we established: Network Reliability, Settlement Speed, True Cost of Ownership, and Customer Support.
1. Transaction Success Rate & Network Reliability
A failed transaction is the fastest way to lose a customer.
- Moniepoint: As one of the largest players, Moniepoint has a wide reach. In urban areas with strong connectivity, their terminals are generally reliable. However, a common frustration for agents in more remote or underserved locations is network downtime, which can lead to transaction failures during peak hours.
- Opay: Opay’s aggressive expansion has made its green terminals a common sight. But this rapid growth has come with challenges. Agents frequently report issues with network instability and transaction declines, which can be a significant source of lost revenue, especially when customer queues are long.
- Supply Smart: This is where Supply Smart positions itself as a direct solution to the network problem. Agents frustrated by unstable connections often seek an alternative. The Supply Smart POS includes a free SIM card with unlimited data, specifically to ensure the POS terminal remains online even when local networks are poor. This focus on consistent connectivity is its core strength.
Summary: Moniepoint is widely used but can be inconsistent in low-signal areas. Opay agents often complain about network stability. Supply Smart is best for agents in underserved or low-network areas who cannot afford the business cost of failed transactions.
2. Settlement Speed: How Quickly Do You Get Your Money?
Your ability to serve customers depends on your working capital. Waiting for money to settle is a drag on your business.
All three providers have thankfully moved toward faster settlement systems. Both Moniepoint and Opay offer instant settlement into their respective agent wallets, which is a huge improvement over the old model of waiting until the next day.
Supply Smart provides instant settlements as well. The key difference here isn’t the settlement speed itself, but the reliability of the transaction that precedes it. An “instant” settlement system is only useful if the transaction completes successfully in the first place.
Summary: All three platforms offer the modern convenience of instant wallet settlement. The deciding factor, therefore, becomes the reliability of the terminal that ensures you have successful transactions to settle.
3. True Cost of Ownership: Are You a Business Owner or a Renter?
This is perhaps the most significant, yet often overlooked, difference between the providers.
- Moniepoint: Moniepoint often operates on a leasing or target-based model. This means the terminal isn’t truly yours. Agents face aggressive weekly targets, and failing to meet them can lead to the machine being repossessed. This creates constant pressure and uncertainty.
- Opay: Opay has used various models, including target-based issuance. While this lowers the barrier to entry, it creates a similar dynamic to Moniepoint, where the agent doesn’t have full ownership or control over their primary business tool.
- Supply Smart: This is a clear departure from the industry norm. Supply Smart offers a one-time purchase model. Once you buy the POS, it belongs to you. There is no risk of repossession. This empowers the agent to be a true business owner.
Summary: The leasing model from Moniepoint and Opay can be a source of major anxiety for agents. The risk of losing your machine is high if you have a slow week. Supply Smart’s one-time purchase model removes this risk entirely, making it the best option for agents who value security and full ownership of their assets.
4. Additional Revenue Streams: Who Helps You Earn More?
Any active agent knows that just handling withdrawals isn’t enough.
Both Moniepoint and Opay offer a range of value-added services like bill payments and airtime purchases. These are important features, allowing agents to serve more customer needs.
However, the goal is to maximize your profit on every interaction.
Supply Smart is designed specifically for this.
While others offer bill pay, Supply Smart’s model is built for the agent’s bottom line: it charges zero fees on all bill payments.
On top of that, agents earn a commission on every bill payment processed, whether it’s for electricity, DSTV, or GOTV. This takes a simple customer request and turns it into a guaranteed new revenue stream.
Summary: While all platforms offer ways to do more, Supply Smart’s model of zero fees plus commissions is built to make those extra services more profitable for the agent.

Get your POS machine, the smart way.
At a Glance: Feature Comparison
To make it even clearer, here’s a side-by-side breakdown:
Feature | Moniepoint | Opay | Supply Smart |
Device Cost Model | Often target-based; risk of repossession | Often target-based; risk of repossession | One-time purchase; you own it |
Network Solution | Standard SIM connectivity | Standard SIM connectivity | Free SIM with unlimited data |
Settlement Time | Instant (to wallet) | Instant (to wallet) | Instant (to wallet) |
Transaction Charges | ~0.5% on withdrawals | ~0.5% on withdrawals | 0.5% on withdrawals |
Known Disadvantage | Aggressive targets, network issues | Unstable network, transaction declines | Higher upfront device cost |
Best For | High-traffic urban locations | Agents focused on promos & brand recognition | Agents in low-network areas seeking ownership & reliability |
So, Which POS is Actually Best for You?
The choice between Moniepoint, Opay, and Supply Smart ultimately comes down to what you value most as a business owner.
If you operate in a prime urban location with perfect network coverage and are confident in your ability to consistently meet high transaction targets, the models offered by Moniepoint or Opay might work for you. They lower the initial financial barrier to getting a device.
But for the vast majority of agents, especially those just starting, operating in underserved areas, or simply tired of the constant pressure, the calculation changes. The questions become:
- How much income are you willing to lose to network errors?
- Do you want the constant stress of meeting targets to avoid having your machine repossessed?
- Do you see your POS terminal as a rental or as a core asset of your business?
This is where the difference becomes clear. Supply Smart was designed from the ground up to address these specific frustrations.
It’s built on a philosophy of empowerment and reliability. Supply Smart is, ultimately, best for the agent who sees themselves as a true business owner.
The one-time purchase model gives you ownership.
The unlimited data SIM gives you peace of mind.
The instant settlement ensures your cash is always flowing.
It’s an all-in-one solution for building a stable, long-term agency banking business.
Now, Are You Ready to Stop Worrying?
Supply Smart is your answer.
It’s an all-in-one solution for building a stable, long-term agency banking business. Coming up as one of the top POS providers in Nigeria, Supply Smart powers agency banking through its robust fintech platform.
You’re welcome.