Choosing between SpotOn and Vend 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 Vend starts at $89/month and is Cloud retail POS now integrated into Lightspeed.. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs Vend
| Feature | SpotOn | Vend |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Retail |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $89/month |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Target Business | All Sizes | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Best For | Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs | Retail stores wanting easy setup and multi-device 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.
Key Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
- Inventory management
Vend Overview
Vend, now part of Lightspeed Retail, is a cloud-based retail POS offering inventory management, customer loyalty, and multi-store capabilities. Known for ease of use and works on iPad, Mac, and PC.
Vend is offered by Lightspeed Commerce (founded 2010) based in Auckland, New Zealand. The system focuses on Retail, Fashion, Electronics, Home Goods.
Key Features:
- Cloud-based POS
- Inventory management
- Customer loyalty
- Multi-store support
- eCommerce integration
- Reporting
Feature Comparison
SpotOn Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
Vend Features:
- Cloud-based POS
- Inventory management
- Customer loyalty
- Multi-store support
- eCommerce integration
When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while Vend differentiates itself with Multi-platform (iPad/Mac/PC). Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | SpotOn | Vend |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | $89/month |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| 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
Vend
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Works on any device
- Strong inventory features
- Good customer support
- Now backed by Lightspeed
Cons:
- Limited restaurant features
- Pricing increased after Lightspeed acquisition
- eCommerce requires add-on
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 Vend?
Vend is ideal for Retail stores wanting easy setup and multi-device flexibility. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Fashion, Electronics, Home Goods.
However, Vend may not be the best fit for Restaurants, large enterprises.
Our Recommendation
Both SpotOn and Vend are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Choose Vend if you’re Retail stores wanting easy setup and multi-device flexibility. Vend 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.