POS Comparisons

SpotOn vs SumUp: Which POS Is Better? (2025)

By Mauricio Oct 4, 2025 3 min read

When comparing SpotOn vs SumUp, you’re looking at two distinct approaches to restaurant point-of-sale technology. SpotOn, rated 4.3/5, offers Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Meanwhile, SumUp, rated 4.3/5, provides Small businesses and mobile sellers. Let’s dive into the details to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Comparison: SpotOn vs SumUp

FeatureSpotOnSumUp
CategoryRestaurantMulti-Industry
Starting Price$0/month (Quick Start)$39 (reader) + 2.75% per transaction
Rating4.3/54.3/5
Target BusinessAll SizesSmall Business
Pricing ModelSubscriptionTransaction-based
Free TrialYesNo
Free VersionYesNo
Best ForRestaurants focused on controlling labor and food costsSmall businesses and mobile sellers

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.

Looking for a POS system? Get free quotes from top vendors

Key Features:

  • Online ordering
  • Tableside payments
  • Mobile ordering
  • Labor dashboards
  • Tip pooling
  • Inventory management

SumUp Overview

SumUp provides mobile payment solutions and card readers for small businesses. Features simple pricing, no monthly fees, and easy setup for accepting card payments on the go.

SumUp is offered by SumUp (founded 2012) based in London, UK. The system focuses on Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.

Key Features:

  • Card Reader
  • Mobile Payments
  • Invoicing
  • Payment Links
  • Reporting
  • No Monthly Fees

Feature Comparison

SpotOn Features:

  • Online ordering
  • Tableside payments
  • Mobile ordering
  • Labor dashboards
  • Tip pooling

SumUp Features:

  • Card Reader
  • Mobile Payments
  • Invoicing
  • Payment Links
  • Reporting

When comparing features, SpotOn stands out with $0/month entry plan, while SumUp differentiates itself with No monthly fees. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing AspectSpotOnSumUp
Starting Price$0/month (Quick Start)$39 (reader) + 2.75% per transaction
Pricing ModelSubscriptionTransaction-based
Price RangeMid-rangeBudget
Free TrialAvailableNot available
Free VersionYesNo

SumUp is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. 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

SumUp

Pros:

  • No monthly fees
  • Simple flat-rate pricing
  • Easy setup
  • Portable

Cons:

  • Higher per-transaction rate
  • Limited POS features
  • Basic reporting

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 SumUp?

SumUp is ideal for Small businesses and mobile sellers. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Service, Mobile Businesses.

However, SumUp may not be the best fit for High-volume businesses where percentage fees add up.

Our Recommendation

Both SpotOn and SumUp are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose SpotOn if you’re Restaurants focused on controlling labor and food costs. Choose SumUp if you’re Small businesses and mobile sellers. 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.