When comparing SpotOn vs POS Nation, 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, POS Nation, rated 4.4/5, provides Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs POS Nation
| Feature | SpotOn | POS Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Retail |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $99/month or one-time purchase |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Target Business | All Sizes | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Best For | Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs | Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores |
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
POS Nation Overview
POS Nation provides point-of-sale systems for retail stores, liquor stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores. Features inventory management, age verification, and tobacco scan compliance.
POS Nation is offered by POS Nation (founded 2001) based in Charlotte, NC. The system focuses on Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.
Key Features:
- POS
- Inventory Management
- Age Verification
- Tobacco Compliance
- E-commerce
- Reporting
Feature Comparison
SpotOn Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
POS Nation Features:
- POS
- Inventory Management
- Age Verification
- Tobacco Compliance
- E-commerce
When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while POS Nation differentiates itself with Age-restricted retail expertise. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | SpotOn | POS Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $99/month or one-time purchase |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Available | Available |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
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
POS Nation
Pros:
- Industry specialization
- Compliance features
- Flexible pricing
- Good support
Cons:
- Niche market focus
- Add-on costs
- Hardware required
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 POS Nation?
POS Nation is ideal for Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. The system is particularly well-suited for Liquor Stores, Tobacco, Convenience.
However, POS Nation may not be the best fit for Restaurants or apparel retail.
Our Recommendation
Both SpotOn and POS Nation are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Choose POS Nation if you’re Liquor stores, tobacco shops, convenience stores. POS Nation has a higher user rating (4.4 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.