Helcim vs SpotOn Restaurant
Helcim
helcim.com
SpotOn Restaurant
spoton.comSide by side
| Figure | Helcim | SpotOn Restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.40/mo | $50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 5 |
| Spec score · Point of Sale POS software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.6 (#4) |
| API authentication | API endpoints require a Helcim API token and accept requests only from a secure back-end server. | Restaurant API consumers need a SpotOn API key sent in the x-api-key header, with access granted per location. |
| Company size | Crunchbase places Helcim in the 101–250 employee range. | LinkedIn lists SpotOn as a privately held software-development company with 1,001–5,000 employees. |
| Developer documentation | Helcim publishes API guides, API reference pages, authentication instructions and a changelog in its developer documentation. | The developer portal provides API references, implementation guides, common API considerations, Postman collections and release-note subscriptions. |
| Founded | LinkedIn lists Helcim as founded in 2006. | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Helcim lists its primary headquarters at 440 2 Ave SW, Suite 400, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5E9, Canada. | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, WooCommerce and Foxy, with additional software connections available. | Listed integrations include DoorDash, Uber Eats, Deliverect, Chowly, Checkmate, 7shifts, MarginEdge, Restaurant365, Tenzo, OpenTable, Shogo, DAVO and payroll providers. |
| Praise: support | Trustpilot reviewers frequently praise patient, knowledgeable and responsive customer-support staff. | Reviewers repeatedly praise accessible, knowledgeable customer support and helpful account or success representatives. |
| Praise: usability | Independent reviewers repeatedly describe Helcim's interface as intuitive, modern and easy to learn. | GetApp reviewers commonly describe the interface as intuitive, easy to learn and helpful for staff training. |
| Product | Helcim provides payment processing tools for businesses to accept payments in person, online, by invoice, or through a virtual terminal. | SpotOn describes itself as a cloud-based restaurant management system with point-of-sale, online ordering and reservations, labor management, AI-powered P&L analysis, and integrations. |
| Rating on G2 | 3.9 out of 5 from 19 reviews | 4.4 out of 5 from 245 reviews |
| Rating on Google Play | 3.0 out of 5 from 179 reviews | SpotOn Restaurant Reports is rated 3.5 out of 5 from 32 reviews |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 4.0 out of 5 from 1,100 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 624 reviews |
| Reporting | Real-time reporting provides sales and transaction data from a centralized dashboard. | Dynamic reporting can filter in-house and online sales by categories and time periods. |
| Security | Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. | SpotOn lists PCI PTS v7 and end-to-end encryption in the security specifications for its Handheld device. |
Plans
Helcim
- Helcim payment processingFree
- Helcim platformFree
- Recurring payments$0.40 a month
- 4G wireless data$7 a month
- Helcim Card Reader$199, paid once
- Helcim Smart Terminal$349, paid once
SpotOn Restaurant
- All-In PlanFree
- All-In PlanFree
- Core Bundle$50 a month
- POS Essentials$55 a month
- Build Your OwnPriced on request
In their own words
Helcim
Helcim provides businesses with payment processing tools for in-person and online sales, invoices, and virtual-terminal transactions. Its tools include point of sale, online checkout, payment links, recurring payments, invoicing, a customer vault, and an inventory catalog. In-person payments support major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Eligible merchants can also accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Helcim lists integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce, as well as its API and HelcimPay.js for custom integrations and website payments. The Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details for future or recurring payments, while Helcim says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. It identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider. The POS app is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, with listed device requirements. The processing plan costs nothing, with no account monthly fees; transaction rates vary by volume and payment method.
SpotOn Restaurant
SpotOn Restaurant is a cloud-based restaurant management system combining point-of-sale, online ordering, reservations, labor management, AI-powered P&L analysis, and integrations. Its POS includes table layouts, menu management, ordering, payments, reporting, and employee tools. SpotOn presents options for full-service restaurants, bars and pubs, and counter service, as well as casual and fine dining, breweries, quick service, fast casual, cafes, and bakeries. The dashboard adds an AI menu assistant, dynamic reporting, marketing campaigns, remote management, multi-location tools, and employee tools. SpotOn Order connects commission-free online ordering to SpotOn POS and the GoTo Place app. Direct delivery integrations include DoorDash and Uber Eats; other delivery platforms are supported through Deliverect. Offline mode is designed to keep stations connected and orders flowing to the kitchen during internet outages, then sync payments when connectivity returns. Users can access the dashboard from a browser on any device. SpotOn says its restaurant POS uses proprietary hardware, so customers cannot use their own POS hardware or tablets. Pricing includes POS Essentials at $55 per station per month, plus implementation, hardware, and processing costs. Support is available 24/7/365 at no extra cost.