How much does SpotOn cost for a restaurant?

On spoton.com/pricing (October 23, 2026), the All-In plan is $0 per station a month with hardware included and cards at 2.79% + 20¢ (3.79% + 20¢ keyed), with processing minimums and a 2-year minimum term. POS Essentials is $55 per station a month, month to month, with cards at 2.45% + 15¢ (Amex 3.19% + 15¢), and you buy the hardware: a Station 15 is listed at $750 and a handheld at $297, plus implementation costs. The Core Bundle add-on is $50 a month plus 0.20% of card volume, capped at $200.

Does SpotOn have a contract?

SpotOn's All-In plan says "Processing minimums apply, 2yr minimum term." POS Essentials is described as "month-to-month." Agreements can differ from the website, so read yours for the end date and any early-termination terms.

Can I use my own iPad with SpotOn?

SpotOn's own pricing FAQ answers "Can I use my own POS hardware or tablets?" with "No." Ser.vi POS runs on your existing iPad, or on Ser.vi hardware offered on terms if you want it.

Is SpotOn cheaper than Ser.vi?

On the per-swipe rate, yes: SpotOn lists 2.79% + 20¢ on All-In and 2.45% + 15¢ on Essentials, versus Ser.vi's 3.0% + 20¢. Ser.vi has no monthly software fee, needs no new terminals if you have an iPad, and most Ser.vi POS restaurants pass the POS fee to customers with a cash discount program. Run your own ticket count and average check through both.

Is Ser.vi POS really free?

The software is: $0 a month, no subscription, no software contract. Card processing on staff-entered POS orders is 3.0% + 20¢, paid by the restaurant by default or passed to customers with a cash discount program. The POS runs on your existing iPad; Ser.vi hardware is optional and offered on terms.

Does Ser.vi include online ordering and QR ordering?

Yes, with no add-on bundle. Online ordering is 0% commission to the restaurant with no monthly fee; the guest pays 5% at checkout. QR self-service ordering runs on the same menu as the POS, with the same guest-paid 5%.

Blog / October 23, 2026

SpotOn POS alternative

A SpotOn alternative that runs on the iPad you already have

Short answer: SpotOn runs on its own hardware only. Its pricing FAQ answers "Can I use my own POS hardware or tablets?" with "No." Its $0 All-In plan charges 2.79% + 20¢ per card with a 2-year minimum term, and month-to-month POS Essentials is $55 per station a month plus hardware you buy. Ser.vi's POS software is $0 a month and runs on your existing iPad, with Ser.vi hardware optional and offered on terms. Staff-entered POS orders are 3.0% + 20¢, paid by the restaurant by default, and you can pass that to customers with a cash discount program. Online ordering is 0% commission to you; the guest pays 5% at checkout.

Updated October 23, 2026 · SpotOn prices read from spoton.com/pricing on October 23, 2026

Request a free 20-minute demo See our pricing

Ser.vi integrated restaurant POS on an iPad, a SpotOn POS alternative

Ser.vi vs SpotOn for restaurants (published prices)

	Ser.vi	SpotOn All-In	SpotOn POS Essentials
Monthly POS software	$0	$0 per station	$55 per station
In-person card rate	3.0% + 20¢ per POS transaction, paid by the restaurant by default; pass it on with a cash discount program	2.79% + 20¢ card present; 3.79% + 20¢ keyed	2.45% + 15¢ card present (Amex 3.19% + 15¢); 3.45% + 15¢ keyed
Hardware	Runs on your existing iPad, or Ser.vi hardware offered on terms	SpotOn hardware, included in the plan	Buy SpotOn hardware: Station 15 $750, Station 10 $415, handheld $297 each; financing available
Use your own tablets?	Yes, your existing iPad	No (SpotOn pricing FAQ)	No (SpotOn pricing FAQ)
Setup	1-week setup guarantee once we have your information	Implementation costs apply (per SpotOn FAQ)	"Plus implementation costs"
Term	No contract on POS and online ordering software	"Processing minimums apply, 2yr minimum term"	"Month-to-month flexibility"
Online ordering	0% commission to you; guest pays 5% at checkout; no monthly fee	"Ordering" listed; branded SpotOn Order is in the Core Bundle	"Ordering" listed; branded SpotOn Order is in the Core Bundle
Core Bundle add-on	Not needed: ordering, QR ordering and POS share one menu	$50/mo + 0.20% of card volume, capped at $200 (online ordering, guest app, AI P&L and marketing tools)	Same

SpotOn's hardware prices are shown marked down (Station 15 from $995, Station 10 from $550, handheld from $495). Its FAQ also recommends a backup 4G router "in most cases" (wireless router listed at $300), and a guest-facing display is $200.

SpotOn: spoton.com/pricing, restaurant pricing, read October 23, 2026. SpotOn also sells custom "Build Your Own" pricing for multi-unit and high-volume operators, and quotes can differ from the website, so read your own agreement. Ser.vi: our pricing page. Prices change. SpotOn is a trademark of its owner; Ser.vi is not affiliated with SpotOn.

What a SpotOn alternative really costs

Every restaurant POS bill has the same three lines: software, card processing and hardware. SpotOn's All-In plan folds software and hardware into a higher card rate; SpotOn's own FAQ says you "pay for your hardware and software costs over time with a higher credit card processing rate." Essentials splits them back out. Ser.vi charges nothing for the software, runs on the iPad you already have, and puts the cost on the transaction, where you choose who pays it.

Worked example: 1,000 in-person tickets a month at $40 ($40,000 in card sales), two stations, no Amex.

SpotOn All-In: $0 software + 2.79% + 20¢ per card ($1,316) = about $1,316 a month, hardware included, with processing minimums and a 2-year minimum term.
SpotOn POS Essentials: $110 software (2 × $55) + 2.45% + 15¢ per card ($1,130) = about $1,240 a month, month to month, plus two Station 15s at $750 each ($1,500) and implementation costs SpotOn doesn't publish.
Ser.vi, restaurant pays (default): $0 software + 3.0% + 20¢ per POS order ($1,400) = $1,400 a month, on the iPads you already own.
Ser.vi, with a cash discount program: the 3.0% + 20¢ is passed to customers who pay by card, so the restaurant's POS fee line is close to $0. Most of our POS restaurants use this.

Read that honestly: if you absorb card fees yourself, both SpotOn plans have a lower per-swipe rate than Ser.vi's 3.0% + 20¢. Ser.vi comes out ahead when you pass the POS fee on with a cash discount, when you'd rather not buy new terminals or sign a 2-year term, and when a meaningful share of your orders moves online, where the guest pays 5% and the restaurant pays $0 commission. How cash discount differs from a surcharge.

Add SpotOn's Core Bundle (its branded commission-free online ordering, guest app, AI P&L and marketing tools) and the same $40,000 month adds $50 + 0.20% of card volume ($80) = $130 a month (the percentage part is capped at $200, so $250 a month at most). On Ser.vi, online and QR ordering come with the POS at no monthly fee.

Online orders, same $40 ticket: on Ser.vi the guest pays $2.00 (5%) and the restaurant pays $0 in commission and $0 in card fees. Compare that with a delivery app at 25–30% commission: $10–$12 on the same order. See commission-free online ordering and who pays the online ordering fee.

When SpotOn still fits, and when Ser.vi is the better pick

Stay with (or pick) SpotOn when

You absorb card fees yourself and want a lower published per-swipe rate.
You already own SpotOn hardware and are inside your term.
You want SpotOn's own handhelds, KDS, kiosks, labor tools or capital loans from one vendor.

Pick Ser.vi when

You want to keep your iPad instead of buying proprietary stations.
You don't want a 2-year minimum term or a per-station software fee.
You want to pass POS card fees to customers with a cash discount program.
You want commission-free online ordering and QR order-and-pay on the same menu as your POS without an add-on bundle, with the guest paying the 5% online fee.
You want optional marketing help (SEO website, Google Ads, SMS ordering link) from the same team; plans start at $249/mo and are never required.

Switching from SpotOn to Ser.vi

Read your SpotOn agreement first. On All-In, find the end of your 2-year minimum term, your processing minimum and any early-termination terms. On Essentials, check whether you still owe on financed hardware.
Export your menu and sales reports from your SpotOn dashboard so you have your items, modifiers and history.
Book a 20-minute demo. We walk through POS, online ordering and QR ordering on one menu, check that your iPad is ready to run the POS, cover optional hardware and terms, and include a free marketing report.
Go live. We guarantee a 1-week setup from the time we receive all required information from you.
Turn on direct online ordering and point your Google Business Profile and website "Order" button at your own storefront.

Questions restaurants ask

How much does SpotOn cost for a restaurant?: On spoton.com/pricing (October 23, 2026), the All-In plan is $0 per station a month with hardware included and cards at 2.79% + 20¢ (3.79% + 20¢ keyed), with processing minimums and a 2-year minimum term. POS Essentials is $55 per station a month, month to month, with cards at 2.45% + 15¢ (Amex 3.19% + 15¢), and you buy the hardware: a Station 15 is listed at $750 and a handheld at $297, plus implementation costs. The Core Bundle add-on is $50 a month plus 0.20% of card volume, capped at $200.
Does SpotOn have a contract?: SpotOn's All-In plan says "Processing minimums apply, 2yr minimum term." POS Essentials is described as "month-to-month." Agreements can differ from the website, so read yours for the end date and any early-termination terms.
Can I use my own iPad with SpotOn?: SpotOn's own pricing FAQ answers "Can I use my own POS hardware or tablets?" with "No." Ser.vi POS runs on your existing iPad, or on Ser.vi hardware offered on terms if you want it.
Is SpotOn cheaper than Ser.vi?: On the per-swipe rate, yes: SpotOn lists 2.79% + 20¢ on All-In and 2.45% + 15¢ on Essentials, versus Ser.vi's 3.0% + 20¢. Ser.vi has no monthly software fee, needs no new terminals if you have an iPad, and most Ser.vi POS restaurants pass the POS fee to customers with a cash discount program. Run your own ticket count and average check through both.
Is Ser.vi POS really free?: The software is: $0 a month, no subscription, no software contract. Card processing on staff-entered POS orders is 3.0% + 20¢, paid by the restaurant by default or passed to customers with a cash discount program. The POS runs on your existing iPad; Ser.vi hardware is optional and offered on terms. Is a free restaurant POS really free?
Does Ser.vi include online ordering and QR ordering?: Yes, with no add-on bundle. Online ordering is 0% commission to the restaurant with no monthly fee; the guest pays 5% at checkout. QR self-service ordering runs on the same menu as the POS, with the same guest-paid 5%. QR code ordering for restaurants

See if Ser.vi fits your restaurant

Bring your SpotOn statement to a free 20-minute demo. We'll put your ticket count and average check next to Ser.vi's fees and show POS, online ordering and QR ordering on one menu. No credit card, no obligation.

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