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Food & Restaurant · head to head

SpotOn vs Upserve

SpotOn logo

SpotOn

Food & Restaurant

Restaurant tech that works as hard as you

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Upserve logo

Upserve

Food & Restaurant

Restaurant management platform with insights

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SpotOn credit card processing issues with handheld devices reported by users; Upserve offline terminals can only store credit card payment data for 48 hours before requiring internet connection
  • They diverge on capability: SpotOn covers Online ordering, Upserve covers Guest insights.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SpotOn and Upserve actually diverge.

Attributes where SpotOn and Upserve differ
AttributeSpotOnUpserve
Starting priceOn request$59/month
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iPad, Android, Custom POS terminals
Founded20172013

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Food & Restaurant).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in SpotOn

  • Online ordering
  • Reservations
  • Loyalty programs
  • Marketing tools
  • Reporting
  • DoorDash
  • Google
  • Yelp

Only in Upserve

  • Guest insights
  • Menu intelligence
  • Server performance
  • Reputation management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Xero
  • 7shifts
  • Grubhub

Both cover

  • Cloud POS
  • QuickBooks
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

SpotOn

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Upserve

  • Point of Sale
  • Order Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Staff Scheduling

Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

SpotOn

  • Credit card processing issues with handheld devices reported by users
  • System crashes and lost tickets in high-volume restaurants
  • Customer tabs can disappear from system, resulting in lost revenue
  • Menu edits live only in back office; no real-time updates to handhelds
  • Limited hardware options with no direct accessory purchases available

Upserve

  • Offline terminals can only store credit card payment data for 48 hours before requiring internet connection
  • Customers cannot add tips when the system operates in offline mode
  • $400 monthly penalty for using alternative payment processors instead of Lightspeed
  • No global ability to change menu items across all locations at once, requiring per-location updates
  • Mandatory 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction payment processing fee with Lightspeed

Pricing, plan by plan

SpotOn

On request
  • All-In PlanFree
    • Hardware included
    • Card present: 2.79% + $0.20
    • Keyed: 3.79% + $0.20
  • POS Essentials$55/month
    • Best value
    • Card present: 2.45% + $0.15
    • Hardware discounted

Upserve

$59/month
  • Core$59/month
    • Cloud-based point of sale
    • Basic reporting
    • Guest insights
  • Pro$199/month
    • All Core features
    • Inventory management
    • Online ordering

Which should you pick?

Choose SpotOn if

  • You need online ordering.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want reservations.
SpotOn review

Choose Upserve if

  • You need guest insights.
  • You work on Web, iPad, Android, Custom POS terminals.
  • You also want menu intelligence.
Upserve review

Questions people ask

Is SpotOn or Upserve better?
Neither clearly leads. SpotOn starts at On request and Upserve at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SpotOn or Upserve?
SpotOn starts at On request and Upserve at $59/month.
Does SpotOn or Upserve run on more platforms?
SpotOn runs on Web, iOS, Android. Upserve runs on Web, iPad, Android, Custom POS terminals.
What is SpotOn best used for?
SpotOn is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
What can SpotOn do that Upserve cannot?
SpotOn covers Online ordering, Reservations, Loyalty programs, Marketing tools. Upserve covers Guest insights, Menu intelligence, Server performance, Reputation management. Both handle Cloud POS, QuickBooks, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SpotOn: What hardware does SpotOn require?

SpotOn provides proprietary hardware including countertop terminals (Station 15 at $750), tableside handhelds ($297), and kitchen display systems. All hardware is included with the All-In Plan or purchased separately with other plans.

Source
Upserve: Does Upserve support offline mode?

Yes. Upserve is a hybrid cloud-based system where reporting data is stored in the cloud but offline mode allows the software to store important data locally on your device in case the internet goes down, allowing transactions to continue.

Source
SpotOn: Does SpotOn have online ordering?

Yes, SpotOn offers commission-free online ordering with a white-label app option and integration into their Core Bundle. The system supports QR code ordering and digital menus.

Source
Upserve: What is Upserve's pricing structure?

Upserve offers three plans: Core at $59/month, Pro at $199/month with advanced features like inventory management and loyalty programs, and Pro+ with custom pricing for enterprise customers. Hardware is sold separately.

Source
SpotOn: What payment processing fees does SpotOn charge?

Fees vary by plan. All-In Plan: 2.79% + $0.20 for card-present transactions. POS Essentials: 2.45% + $0.15. Business or custom plans offer negotiated rates.

Source
Upserve: Does Upserve offer a free trial?

Yes, Upserve offers a 14-day free trial for new users to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
Upserve: What delivery platforms does Upserve integrate with?

Upserve integrates with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub through partner middleware services like Chowly and Deliverect, which provide real-time menu syncing and order management.

Source
Upserve: What are the payment processing requirements?

Upserve requires using Lightspeed payment processing at 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction. Using alternative payment processors incurs a $400 monthly fee, making Lightspeed the mandatory choice for most restaurants.

Source
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