With so many excellent POS systems available, it can be a bit difficult to determine which is the best fit for your business or restaurant. However, choosing the right POS system is essential as it can impact many different aspects of your restaurant and business.
The right POS can make or break your system, from order, menu, and inventory management to receiving payments and processing tips. Two of the most popular options on the market are SpotOn POS and Toast.
In this article, we’ll compare SpotOn POS and Toast side-by-side, analyzing all the most significant features and other essential factors. By the end of this article, you should have all the critical details you need to make an informed decision.
Toast vs SpotOn POS: At a Glance
We’ve constructed a summation since we know you probably want the information as quickly as possible. This Toast vs SpotOn table gives you all the critical information about these two systems.
Toast POS: The Details
Toast POS is one of the most popular restaurant POS platforms, with good reason. Developed specifically for use in restaurant environments, it has a lot to offer this kind of business.
Features
When you use the Toast POS system, you get access to a range of different features, including the following:
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Reporting and Analytics tools
- Online ordering
- Delivery management
- Gift cards
- Marketing suite
- Team management
- Customer engagement
- Offline mode
- Restaurant-grade hardware
- 24/7 support
- 100+ integrations
Pricing
The Toast POS system focuses on accessibility and offers a range of flexible payment options. All of the payment options have a flat-rate payment processing fee.
- Starter Kit: $0/month – Ideal for young businesses, the starter kit allows you to use both a hardware kit (containing 1 or 2 terminals) and the cloud-based POS system.
- Point of Sale: From $69/month—This is probably the right fit if your restaurant just needs core functionality. It includes a monthly software subscription and a cloud-based POS system.
- Build Your Own: Offers custom pricing for a custom-built selection of features. It’s ideal for any restaurant since you can easily customize the package to include what you need without paying for tools you won’t use.
Toast is also currently offering the opportunity to bundle its POS and Toast Payroll. The price starts at $90/month, including everything in the core functionality, as well as essential payroll and basic scheduling tools.
Ease of Use
As with SpotOn, the Toast POS system is easy to use. In this case, user-friendliness is less linked to adaptability and more linked to the incredibly straightforward software design. Toast also offers training and installation services to help you get up and running as soon as possible.
Customer Service
Toast has a somewhat checkered reputation for customer service. Though most people agree that they’re incredibly helpful and prompt to respond, some people claim that customer support isn’t as helpful as it could be.
Toast offers 24/7 customer service options via phone, email, and live chat. They also have an advantage in terms of customer service in that they offer on-site installation and the opportunity for training. Like SpotOn, Toast also offers online materials with a knowledge base.
SpotOn POS: The Details
SpotOn POS works well for restaurants, but unlike Toast, it hasn’t been designed specifically for this sector. Instead, it is more of a generalist POS and offers much broader versatility than its counterpart.
Features
The SpotOn POS system offers a range of useful features, including the following:
- Payment processing
- Menu management
- Floor plan management
- Order management
- Inventory management
- Reporting & analytics tools
- Online ordering and delivery
You also can choose to add a range of additional features like:
- Kitchen display systems.
- Restaurant scheduling software.
- Loyalty programs.
- Marketing promotions.
Pricing
SpotOn offers a range of flexible pricing options, making it easy for businesses to find an option they can afford. In addition to the monthly fees, all the plans require the payment of processing fees.
- Quick Start: This is a free plan with processing fees (2.89% + 25¢). Hardware and software costs are included.
- Counter Service: $99/month + $3/employee/month. Processing fees: 1.99% + 25¢ for most cards.
- Full Service: $135/month + $3/employee/month. Processing fees: 1.99% + 25¢ for most cards.
- Customize Your Own: Custom pricing based on your needs. Processing fees start at 1.99% + 25¢, with custom rates possible.
Currently, SpotOn also has a limited-time special offer for new restaurant openings. It costs $110 per month, plus an additional $3 per employee per month. This limited-time software bundle comes with commission-free online ordering and a custom-built website.
Ease of Use
The SpotOn POS system offers excellent user-friendliness, with a special focus on customization. This program is relatively easy to use, largely due to its intuitive design.
Because of its usability and customization, it’s a great fit for many different types of businesses. That said, it still doesn’t have restaurant-specific features like Toast does.
Customer Service
SpotOn is renowned for its efficient, around-the-clock customer support. While you can easily speak to a customer service representative anytime, their knowledge base should answer all your most important questions.
The Knowledge Base is invaluable. It covers everything from general usage questions to those about mobile and payment-related topics. If you need to speak to a representative directly, you can use the live chat, email, or phone options.
Toast vs SpotOn POS: Significant Details
Some critical details are worth mentioning when looking at these two POS systems.
Scalability
First, both platforms offer excellent scalability. This is an essential aspect for any business or restaurant since your store may grow anytime. While you may not have significant funding when you open your store, you need to know that when your store grows, you have the option to upgrade to a better subscription with more features.
Mobile Access
In the modern business place, having mobile access to your tools and services is essential. While both of these POS systems offer mobile compatibility to some degree, their focus is somewhat different.
Since Toast focuses on restaurants, their mobile access focuses on tools like mobile ordering and ordering from your phone. SpotOn, on the other hand, leans more toward mobile reporting, analytics, payment processing, and other similar features.
Integrations
It’s worth mentioning that both platforms offer a range of integrations to third-party apps and services. In the case of Toast, you have access to well over 100 integrations, With SpotOn reputedly having about double that number.
These integrations can significantly simplify your overall processes by automating and simplifying processes. For example, the QuickBooks integration can make reporting finances easier.
Final Thoughts
While both of these POS systems have excellent attributes and are wonderfully purposeful in certain applications, there is definitely an argument to be made for using each of these POS systems for specific use cases.
Toast POS is the ideal solution for restaurants, as it has been specifically designed for that scenario. SpotOn POS is more versatile and works well in retail environments and general storefronts.
It’s worth noting that both POS systems offer a particularly flexible range of pricing options. These are generally based on monthly subscriptions, but they also allow you to create custom pricing plans so that you get only what you desire.
Finally, both services offer 24/7 customer service, but Toast POS offers additional on-site installation and training.
In summary, if you’re looking for a restaurant POS, consider Toast, but if you’re looking for a retail POS, SpotOn would probably be better suited to your application.
