When comparing Clover vs SpotOn, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to multi-industry point-of-sale technology. Clover, rated 4.3/5, offers Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. Meanwhile, SpotOn, rated 4.3/5, provides Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Comparison: Clover vs SpotOn
| Feature | Clover | SpotOn |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multi-Industry | Restaurant |
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $0/month (Quick Start) |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | All Sizes |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Version | No | Yes |
| Best For | Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware | Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs |
Clover Overview
Clover is a versatile POS system offering customizable hardware and software solutions for retail, restaurant, and service businesses. Known for its sleek hardware design and app marketplace.
Clover is offered by Fiserv (formerly First Data) (founded 2010) based in Sunnyvale, CA. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
Key Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
- Online ordering
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
Feature Comparison
Clover Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
SpotOn Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
When comparing features, Clover stands out with Extensive app ecosystem, while SpotOn differentiates itself with $0/month entry plan. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Clover | SpotOn |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $0/month (Quick Start) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Not available | Available |
| Free Version | No | Yes |
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
Clover
Pros:
- Beautiful hardware design
- Extensive app marketplace
- Flexible configurations
- Multiple hardware options
- Strong payment processing
Cons:
- Locked to Fiserv processing
- Hardware is proprietary
- Pricing can be confusing
- Contract requirements vary
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
Who Should Choose Clover?
Clover is ideal for Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
However, Clover may not be the best fit for Businesses wanting processor flexibility.
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.
Our Recommendation
Both Clover and SpotOn are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Clover if you’re Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. 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.