POS Comparisons

SpotOn vs KORONA POS: Which POS Is Better? (2025)

By Mauricio • Nov 29, 2025 • 3 min read

When comparing SpotOn vs Korona POS, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to restaurant point-of-sale technology. SpotOn, rated 4.3/5, offers Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Meanwhile, Korona POS, rated 4.7/5, provides Liquor stores, convenience stores, retailers wanting processor flexibility. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs Korona POS

FeatureSpotOnKorona POS
CategoryRestaurantRetail
Starting Price$0/month (Quick Start)$59/month
Rating4.3/54.7/5
Target BusinessAll SizesSmall Business
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Free TrialYesYes
Free VersionYesNo
Best ForRestaurants focused on controlling labor and food costsLiquor stores, convenience stores, retailers wanting processor flexibility

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.

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Key Features:

  • Online ordering
  • Tableside payments
  • Mobile ordering
  • Labor dashboards
  • Tip pooling
  • Inventory management

Korona POS Overview

Korona POS is a cloud-based system for retail and quick service with no contracts, no hidden fees, and free support. Features include unlimited users, strong inventory, and processor-agnostic payment flexibility.

Korona POS is offered by COMBASE USA (founded 2011) based in Durham, North Carolina, USA. The system focuses on Retail, Quick Service, Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores.

Key Features:

  • Cloud POS
  • Unlimited users
  • Inventory management
  • eCommerce integration
  • Reporting
  • Gift cards

Feature Comparison

SpotOn Features:

  • Online ordering
  • Tableside payments
  • Mobile ordering
  • Labor dashboards
  • Tip pooling

Korona POS Features:

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  • Cloud POS
  • Unlimited users
  • Inventory management
  • eCommerce integration
  • Reporting

When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while Korona POS differentiates itself with No contracts ever. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing AspectSpotOnKorona POS
Starting Price$0/month (Quick Start)$59/month
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Price RangeMid-rangeMid-range
Free TrialAvailableAvailable
Free VersionYesNo

SpotOn offers a free version, which is great for testing or small operations. 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

Korona POS

Pros:

  • No contracts
  • No hidden fees
  • Processor agnostic
  • Unlimited users
  • Free 24/7 support

Cons:

  • Less known brand
  • Limited restaurant features
  • Interface not as modern

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 Korona POS?

Korona POS is ideal for Liquor stores, convenience stores, retailers wanting processor flexibility. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Quick Service, Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores.

However, Korona POS may not be the best fit for Full-service restaurants, large enterprises.

Our Recommendation

Both SpotOn and Korona 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 Korona POS if you’re Liquor stores, convenience stores, retailers wanting processor flexibility. Korona POS has a higher user rating (4.7 vs 4.3). Also, choose SpotOn if you want to start with a free version. We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.

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Written by

Sarah Martinez

Restaurant Technology Editor
Verified Expert

Sarah Martinez is a Restaurant Technology Editor with 8 years of experience covering the hospitality industry. She has interviewed hundreds of restaurant owners and published extensive research on POS adoption trends. Sarah previously served as Senior Editor at Restaurant Business Magazine and is a regular speaker at the National Restaurant Association Show.

Former Senior Editor, Restaurant Business MagazineNRA Show Speaker (2021-2024)Published in Nation's Restaurant News
Expertise:
Restaurant TechnologyFood Service OperationsPOS Pricing AnalysisIndustry Trends