Choosing between SpotOn and Shopify POS for your business? Both are popular restaurant solutions, but they serve different needs. SpotOn starts at $0/month (Quick Start) and is Restaurant POS excelling at labor and food cost control., while Shopify POS starts at $89/month (POS Pro) and is Unified commerce platform connecting online and in-store sales. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs Shopify POS
| Feature | SpotOn | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Retail |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $89/month (POS Pro) |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Target Business | All Sizes | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs | Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce |
SpotOn Overview
SpotOn is a cloud-based restaurant POS known for labor and food cost control. Features include labor-vs-revenue dashboards, automatic tip pooling, inventory management, QR/mobile ordering, and in-POS reservations. Offers a $0/month Quick Start plan.
SpotOn is offered by SpotOn Transact LLC (founded 2017) based in San Francisco, California, USA. The system focuses on Restaurants, Bars, Quick Service, Full Service.
Key Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
- Inventory management
Shopify POS Overview
Shopify POS seamlessly connects your online and retail stores, allowing you to sell anywhere. It syncs products, inventory, and customer data between your online store and physical locations.
Shopify POS is offered by Shopify Inc. (founded 2013) based in Ottawa, Canada. The system focuses on Retail, Pop-up shops, Markets, Omnichannel sellers.
Key Features:
- Unified inventory
- Customer profiles
- Staff management
- In-store analytics
- Product management
- Gift cards
Feature Comparison
SpotOn Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
Shopify POS Features:
- Unified inventory
- Customer profiles
- Staff management
- In-store analytics
- Product management
When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while Shopify POS differentiates itself with Best-in-class eCommerce integration. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | SpotOn | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $89/month (POS Pro) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Available | Available |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
SpotOn
Pros:
- $0/month starter plan
- Strong labor cost tools
- No long-term contracts
- User-friendly interface
- Dual pricing feature
Cons:
- Menu edits in back office only
- Limited integration marketplace
- Processing fees can add up
- Unexpected fee increases reported
Shopify POS
Pros:
- Seamless eCommerce integration
- Beautiful interface
- Strong brand recognition
- Extensive app store
- Great for omnichannel
Cons:
- Best with Shopify eCommerce
- POS Pro needed for key features
- Transaction fees without Shopify Payments
Who Should Choose SpotOn?
SpotOn is ideal for Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. The system is particularly well-suited for Restaurants, Bars, Quick Service, Full Service.
However, SpotOn may not be the best fit for Businesses needing extensive third-party integrations.
Who Should Choose Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is ideal for Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Pop-up shops, Markets, Omnichannel sellers.
However, Shopify POS may not be the best fit for Restaurants or businesses not doing eCommerce.
Our Recommendation
Both SpotOn and Shopify POS are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Choose Shopify POS if you’re Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce. Shopify POS has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.3). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.