Skip to content
Español

Restaurant POS review

SpotOn

Restaurant POS with two published plans. All-In costs $0 per station with hardware included and a 2-year minimum; POS Essentials costs $55 per station a month with month-to-month software and lower card rates. Payments run through SpotOn under a processing agreement with a 3-year initial term.

By SpotOnParent company: SpotOn (private company)
  • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.

RTC SCORE

6.0

#2 of 13 with enough data

Get a quote for your restaurant

Leave your phone number and a person will call you with a quote.

We may earn money from this request. How we make money

Our verdict

Clear published pricing with a real choice between $0 up front and month-to-month software. Ask for the Account Closure Fee amount and which processing term applies to your plan before signing.

What we like

  • Plan prices and card rates are published, including a plan with month-to-month software.
  • 24/7 support included, per its pricing page.

What to watch

  • The $0 All-In plan has a 2-year minimum, processing minimums and higher card rates.
  • The processing agreement is exclusive, has a 3-year initial term on both plans, and its Account Closure Fee is not published.
  • Receipts are always in English on SpotOn Express.

How the score breaks down

How the score of SpotOn is built: 6.0 out of 10#2 of 13 with enough data. We could verify 100% of the scoring data. Cost to get started (reference restaurant): 25 of 25; Switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant): 0 of 25; 36-month total cost (reference restaurant): 20 of 20; Own online ordering: 5.5 of 11; Hardware warranty included: 2.4 of 8; Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it): 5 of 5; 6 criteria in one bar: 2 of 6; Initial term: Weight 2%; Early termination fee: Weight 2%; Exclusive processing commitment: Weight 1%; Trial or money-back period: Weight 1%; Length of automatic renewals: Weight 1%; Notice to avoid renewal: Weight 0%. Points earned: 59.9 out of 100 verified, or 59.9%. Multiplied by the completeness factor (1), that gives 6.0 out of 10. Methodology v0.5.0.6.0RTC Score,out of 10SpotOn#2 of 13 with enough dataData completeness100%We could verify 100% of thescoring dataMethodology v0.5.0How this score is builtEach bar is as long as the weight of its criterion.The filled part is what SpotOn earned.70% of the RTC ScoreCost to get started (reference restaurant)25 of 25Strongest · $0 to get startedSwitching or signing bonus you qualify for(reference restaurant)0 of 25Weakest36-month total cost (reference restaurant)20 of 20Strongest · $0 over 36 months24% of the RTC ScoreOwn online ordering5.5 of 11StrongestHardware warranty included2.4 of 8Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it)5 of 56% of the RTC Score6 criteria in one bar2 of 6The 6 criteria, enlarged1234561Initial termWeight 2%2Early termination feeWeight 2%3Exclusive processing commitmentWeight 1%4Trial or money-back periodWeight 1%5Length of automatic renewalsWeight 1%6Notice to avoid renewalWeight 0%Points earnedPoints possibleNo data: lowers completeness, never counts as zero59.9points earned÷100points verified=59.9%of the verified points×1completeness factor=6.0out of 10
How the score of SpotOn is built: 6.0 out of 10#2 of 13 with enough data. We could verify 100% of the scoring data. Cost to get started (reference restaurant): 25 of 25; Switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant): 0 of 25; 36-month total cost (reference restaurant): 20 of 20; Own online ordering: 5.5 of 11; Hardware warranty included: 2.4 of 8; Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it): 5 of 5; 6 criteria in one bar: 2 of 6; Initial term: Weight 2%; Early termination fee: Weight 2%; Exclusive processing commitment: Weight 1%; Trial or money-back period: Weight 1%; Length of automatic renewals: Weight 1%; Notice to avoid renewal: Weight 0%. Points earned: 59.9 out of 100 verified, or 59.9%. Multiplied by the completeness factor (1), that gives 6.0 out of 10. Methodology v0.5.0.05106.0RTC Score, out of 10SpotOn#2 of 13 with enough dataData completeness100%We could verify 100% of the scoring dataMethodology v0.5.0How this score is builtEach bar is as long as the weight of its criterion. The filled part is what SpotOn earned.0510152025points70% of the RTC ScoreCost to get started (reference restaurant)Strongest · $0 to get started25 of 25Switching or signing bonus you qualify for(reference restaurant)Weakest0 of 2536-month total cost (reference restaurant)Strongest · $0 over 36 months20 of 2024% of the RTC ScoreOwn online orderingStrongest5.5 of 11Hardware warranty included2.4 of 8Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it)5 of 56% of the RTC Score6 criteria in one bar2 of 6The 6 criteria, enlargedInitial termWeight 2%Early termination feeWeight 2%Exclusive processing commitmentWeight 1%Trial or money-back periodWeight 1%Length of automatic renewalsWeight 1%Notice to avoid renewalWeight 0%Points earnedPoints possibleNo data: lowers completeness, never counts as zero59.9points earned÷100points verified=59.9%of the verifiedpoints×1completenessfactor=6.0out of 10
Verified Oct 1, 2026Each data point and its source are under “All the data, with sources”, further down this page.How we score

Points by criterion

#2 of 13 with enough data

  • 70% of the RTC Score
    • Cost to get started (reference restaurant): 25 of 25 · Strongest · $0 to get started
    • Switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant): 0 of 25 · Weakest
    • 36-month total cost (reference restaurant): 20 of 20 · Strongest · $0 over 36 months
  • 24% of the RTC Score
    • Own online ordering: 5.5 of 11 · Strongest
    • Hardware warranty included: 2.4 of 8
    • Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it): 5 of 5
  • 6% of the RTC Score
    • 6 criteria in one bar: 2 of 6
    • Initial term: Weight 2%
    • Early termination fee: Weight 2%
    • Exclusive processing commitment: Weight 1%
    • Trial or money-back period: Weight 1%
    • Length of automatic renewals: Weight 1%
    • Notice to avoid renewal: Weight 0%

Points earned: 59.9 out of 100 verified, or 59.9%. Multiplied by the completeness factor (1), that gives 6.0 out of 10.

Methodology v0.5.0

RTC Score6.0out of 10

Methodology v0.5.0

Data completeness100%

We could verify 100% of the scoring data

Strongest points
Cost to get started (reference restaurant), 36-month total cost (reference restaurant), Own online ordering
Weakest point
Switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant)

Score by criterion

  • Cost to get started (reference restaurant)Weight 25%Strongest10.0 out of 10

    $0 to get started

  • Switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant)Weight 25%Weakest0.0 out of 10

    $0 in promotions our reference restaurant qualifies for

  • 36-month total cost (reference restaurant)Weight 20%Strongest10.0 out of 10

    $0 over 36 months

  • Own online orderingWeight 11%Strongest5.0 out of 10
  • Hardware warranty includedWeight 8%3.0 out of 10
  • Support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it)Weight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 2%3.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 2%5.0 out of 10
  • Exclusive processing commitmentWeight 1%0.0 out of 10
  • Trial or money-back periodWeight 1%0.0 out of 10
  • Length of automatic renewalsWeight 1%7.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 0%10.0 out of 10

Cost to get started

The cash your restaurant puts in before it opens on the new POS, in our reference scenario ($30k/month in card sales, $35 average ticket, 2 terminals, 1 location, 36 months): equipment you buy up front plus one-time setup or installation fees. Same rows for every POS.

25% of the RTC Score

Terminals, upfront: Station included in All-In (×2)$0
Total to get started$0

$0 up front: the equipment is loaned, rented or included with no upfront payment.

Left out and why

  • Monthly and yearly charges (rent, software, yearly fees per device) are part of the 36-month cost, not of the entry cost.

Switching or signing bonus

What the vendor's current promotions are worth to our reference restaurant ($30k/month in card sales, $35 average ticket, 2 terminals, 1 location, 36 months), an established restaurant switching from another company's POS.

25% of the RTC Score

Counted in the RTC Score

$0

No current switching or signing promotion. It counts $0.

Promotions end and change, so we re-check them: one with no end date comes down if we can't re-check it within 30 days, and an expired one stops counting the day after it ends.

Hardware warranty

The same rows for every POS: how long the main terminal is covered against defects when you get it a standard way (buying, leasing, renting, a subscription or a loan), the conditions, including what it leaves out and what keeping it costs, and the price to replace that terminal outside the coverage.

Hardware warranty included1 yearSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)One year from shipment. It comes from SpotOn's 2019 restaurant POS terms, which are still published and linked from its legal pages; the current Merchant Terms (December 16, 2024) give no hardware warranty length. No longer coverage is published for the hardware included in the All-In plan.
Warranty conditionsSpotOn repairs or replaces the unit at its discretion. You need SpotOn's written approval, proof of purchase and a backup of your data. SpotOn pays shipping both ways on covered claims; if it decides a claim is not covered, you pay the repair or replacement and the shipping. No advance replacement is promised. The warranty does not apply to damage from negligence, misuse, abuse, accidents, electrical problems, theft, vandalism, water or force majeure, or to unauthorized changes or devices SpotOn has not approved. On the All-In plan the hardware stays SpotOn's: you must keep it in good working condition, return it within 15 business days after the agreement ends, and a unit you don't return is charged the replacement fee in your Fee Summary or, if none is set, its fair market value (Merchant Terms §1.4). SpotOn publishes no paid protection plan.Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Price to replace the main terminal$750 one-timeSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn Station 15 on its own, the standard countertop station, listed at its current price of $750 (list price shown crossed out at $995). On the All-In plan the station is included, and the charge for a lost or unreturned one is the replacement fee in your Fee Summary or its fair market value, which is not published.

The RTC Score only counts how long defects are covered. What the coverage leaves out (accidents, theft, loss) and what it costs to keep are in the conditions. A protection plan sold separately doesn't count; if the vendor offers one, it's in the conditions. The replacement price isn't added to the 36-month cost, because there's no public data on how often equipment fails.

Trial or money-back period

Whether you can try the POS and leave, and what it costs you if you do. Same rows for every POS.

Trial or money-back periodNone published()Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)We checked SpotOn's pricing page, Point of Sale Terms, payments terms and merchant terms: no trial or refund window for the restaurant POS is published.
Trial periodN/A()Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn publishes no trial period.
Charges during the trialN/A()Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn publishes no trial period.
Trial conditionsNo trial is published. SpotOn's Point of Sale Terms say the restaurant POS and processing agreement is month to month, the $400 deposit is refundable until your installation date, and if you cancel within a year of installation you pay the difference between what you paid for the hardware and its full list price.()Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)

In the RTC Score the trial is part of the contract block, the lowest weight in the model: full points when you can try it with no software charges or get your money back, half when you can cancel without the early termination fee but the charges during the trial are yours.

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Software
Data pointValue
Software from$0/moSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)All-In: $0 per station with a 2-year minimum and processing minimums. POS Essentials: $55 per station a month, month to month.
Software billed perTerminal or deviceSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Kitchen display (KDS) fee$20/mo per deviceSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)Plus $500 per screen and $100 for installation.
Payment processing
Data pointValue
Who processes your cardsMust use the vendor's processingSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)
Pricing model for card feesFlat rateSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
In-person card rate2.79%Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)All-In plan. POS Essentials is 2.45% + 15¢ (American Express 3.19% + 15¢).
In-person fee per transaction20¢Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Online card rate3.79%Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)All-In plan; online orders pay the keyed-in rate. On POS Essentials it is 3.45% + 15¢.
Online fee per transaction20¢Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Keyed-in card rate3.79%Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)All-In plan. POS Essentials is 3.45% + 15¢.
Keyed-in fee per transaction20¢Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Annual fees per device$0/yr per deviceSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn's pricing and payments pages list no annual, PCI or regulatory fee per device, and Merchant Cost Consulting, a firm that audits processing fees, reported in May 2026 that SpotOn charges no annual or PCI fees.
Dual pricing or surcharge programYesSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn Dual Pricing (a card price and a lower cash price, covering every card type; it needs SpotOn's approval 30 days ahead) and Credit Card Surcharging (credit only, up to 3%, 2% in Colorado and Oklahoma, not in CT, ME or MA). With the program, card processing costs your restaurant $0 in our estimate and your customers pay the difference. Card network rules and state laws apply, and some states limit or ban surcharges.
Cards the program coversEvery card, debit and credit (dual pricing or cash discount)Source: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)SpotOn also offers a surcharge program, which only covers credit cards. When a vendor publishes both, we use the program that covers every card, the same for every vendor.
Other fees in the contractImplementation (menu build, installation and training) is charged on top; the amount is not on the pricing page. The All-In plan has processing minimums. Leaving within two years can trigger the hardware discount clawback (Merchant Terms §1.4).Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Hardware
Data pointValue
HardwareIncluded in the planSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)Included in the All-In plan. With POS Essentials you buy the hardware (financing available).
Hardware works with another processorNo()Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)This applies to hardware SpotOn loans, leases or rents, such as the stations in the All-In plan, which stay SpotOn's and go back when the agreement ends (Merchant Terms §1.4). The terms don't say whether hardware you buy outright on POS Essentials can be used with another processor.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial term36 monthsSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)Same rule for every vendor, the longest binding term among the software and processing agreements. SpotOn's published processing terms set a 3-year initial term (§4.1). The All-In plan also has a 2-year software minimum, and POS Essentials software is month to month.
Automatic renewal12 monthsSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)Renewal of the processing agreement.
Notice to avoid renewal30 daysSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)
How the early termination fee is calculatedSoftware or subscription fees left in the termSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)The processing agreement adds an Account Closure Fee whose amount is only in your application.
Early termination feeSoftware: all monthly subscription fees left in the term (Merchant Terms §10.4), and if you leave within two years you may be charged the difference between the hardware list price and the discounted price you paid (§1.4). Processing: 30 days' notice plus an Account Closure Fee whose amount is in your application (§5.2.C).Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Exclusive processing commitmentYesSource: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise prices during the termSpotOn may change its fees with at least 30 days' notice (Merchant Terms §3.3); the processing agreement can be amended with 30 days' notice.Source: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Personal guarantee by the signerNot published()Source: SpotOn (TSYS processing terms) (opens in a new tab)SpotOn's processing terms refer to a personal guarantor identified in the merchant application, if one is designated; whether you must sign one depends on your application.
Online ordering and delivery
Data pointValue
Own online orderingPaid add-onSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn Order is part of the Core Bundle add-on: $50 a month per location plus 0.20% of your card volume, capped at $200 a month.
No per-order commission on own online orderingYesSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Delivery app integrationsDoorDash, Uber EatsSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn's online ordering page lists the DoorDash and Uber Eats integrations at $25 a month each. Grubhub is not named; Deliverect is a third-party hub.
Features
Data pointValue
Kitchen display system (KDS)Paid add-onSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Loyalty programPaid add-onSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7YesSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)
Language
Data pointValue
POS screen in SpanishYes, set per deviceSource: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)Documented for SpotOn Express (station and handheld); menus are not translated. SpotOn has no equivalent article for its full restaurant POS.
Back office in SpanishYesSource: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)The SpotOn Express Dashboard and Time Clock are available in Spanish.
Kitchen display in SpanishYesSource: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Language of kitchen ticketsFollows the POS languageSource: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Language of customer receiptsAlways EnglishSource: SpotOn Help Center (opens in a new tab)Receipts and the customer-facing display always show in English.
Support in Spanish (as declared by the vendor)PhoneSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)SpotOn's US Spanish site promises 24/7 phone support in your preferred language, and its blog says it has support reps fluent in English and Spanish. The help center's contact page doesn't list languages.
Website in Spanish for the USYesSource: SpotOn (opens in a new tab)

More about SpotOn

Head-to-head comparisons

How we score