In the battle of SpotOn versus Heartland Retail, both systems bring unique strengths to the table. SpotOn is particularly strong for Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs, while Heartland Retail excels at Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Whether you prioritize $0/month entry plan or Heartland integration, this comparison covers everything you need to know.
Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs Heartland Retail
| Feature | SpotOn | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Retail |
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | Contact for pricing |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Target Business | All Sizes | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Best For | Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs | Retail stores wanting integrated payments |
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
Heartland Retail Overview
Heartland Retail is a point-of-sale and payment processing solution for retail businesses. Part of the Heartland family, it offers inventory management, customer loyalty, and integrated payments.
Heartland Retail is offered by Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments) (founded 2001) based in Jeffersonville, IN. The system focuses on Retail, Specialty Stores.
Key Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
- E-commerce Integration
Feature Comparison
SpotOn Features:
- Online ordering
- Tableside payments
- Mobile ordering
- Labor dashboards
- Tip pooling
Heartland Retail Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while Heartland Retail differentiates itself with Heartland integration. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | SpotOn | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/month (Quick Start) | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Available | Not 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
Heartland Retail
Pros:
- Heartland ecosystem
- Integrated payments
- Retail focus
- Customer loyalty tools
Cons:
- Custom pricing
- May require Heartland processing
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 Heartland Retail?
Heartland Retail is ideal for Retail stores wanting integrated payments. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Specialty Stores.
However, Heartland Retail may not be the best fit for Restaurants.
Our Recommendation
Both SpotOn and Heartland Retail are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Choose Heartland Retail if you’re Retail stores wanting integrated payments. SpotOn has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.1). 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.