Restaurant profit optimization

Otter POS — Deep Dive Review

Delivery-first restaurant operating system with order aggregation, self-service kiosks, AI-powered upselling, and commission-free online ordering—built by CloudKitchens for high-volume QSR and ghost kitchens.

Quick Summary

TL;DR

The 30-second version for busy operators

Verdict: Best fit for delivery-heavy QSR, fast-casual, ghost kitchens, and multi-location operators who need to consolidate third-party delivery orders into one system.

Shines at: Order aggregation (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub), AI-powered kiosk upselling, commission-free online ordering, and industry-low processing fees (2.39% + 15¢).

Know Before You Sign

Payments run through Stripe only; newer POS player vs. Toast; some KDS lag during rush hours reported. CloudKitchens/Travis Kalanick ownership may matter to some operators.

US and Canada only. Feature availability varies by plan.

Otter POS Hardware Suite Otter Logo

Background

Who Is Otter?

CloudKitchens Subsidiary

Otter is owned by City Storage Systems / CloudKitchens, led by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick since 2018. Originally built as internal software for CloudKitchens' ghost kitchen operations, Otter expanded to serve external restaurants and reportedly handles 18% of U.S. food delivery transactions as of 2024.

Backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund ($400M) and Microsoft ($850M round), CloudKitchens was valued at ~$15 billion in 2021. Otter operates as a standalone SaaS business offering order aggregation, POS, kiosks, and marketing tools.

Platform Overview

What Otter Does & Who It's For

Core Features

Delivery-First Stack

  • Order Aggregation: Consolidates DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and 100+ platforms into one tablet/screen.
  • POS System: Cloud-based with single/dual-screen terminals, offline mode, real-time reporting.
  • Self-Service Kiosks: 27" standing and 15" countertop options with AI-powered upselling (claims 22-30% order increase).
  • Online Ordering: Commission-free direct ordering, QR code ordering for dine-in.
  • Menu Management: Centralized updates sync across all platforms in real-time.
  • Analytics: Sales, operations, financials; "Always On" monitors for paused stores; Revenue Recapture for lost delivery sales.

Feature availability depends on plan/add-ons. Confirm with sales.

Who It's For

Best Fit

  • Quick-service restaurants (QSR) and fast-casual.
  • Ghost kitchens and virtual brands.
  • Food trucks, pizzerias, cafes.
  • Multi-location franchises with heavy delivery volume.
  • Operators juggling multiple delivery apps who want to eliminate "tablet chaos."

May Not Be Best For

  • Full-service restaurants needing complex table management.
  • Operators who want bring-your-own payment processor.
  • Restaurants outside US/Canada.

Investment

Pricing & Payments Reality

What to ask before you sign

Pricing Notes

POS Plans

  • Starter: $19/month per location (basic POS)
  • Standard: $59/month per location (more features + lower processing)

Order Aggregation Plans

  • Lite: $99/month per location
  • Standard: $149/month per location

Hardware

  • Terminal lease: ~$29/month
  • Kiosk hardware bundle: starts at $100
  • Kiosk software: $99/month per device
  • One-time purchase options available
  • Activation fee per location (covers onboarding)
Save 10-20% with annual plans. Add-ons (KDS, kiosk mode, virtual brands) available.

Payments Reality

Stripe Required

  • Card processing runs through Stripe—bring-your-own processor not supported.
  • Processing rate: 2.39% + 15¢ per transaction (industry-low claim).
  • Offline mode available—sync transactions within 24 hours.
  • Supports tap, chip, and swipe.

Request your effective rate and all fees in writing before signing.

Processing Fees

Card Processing Snapshot

Illustrative U.S. ranges only

Otter's Published Rates

  • Card-present: 2.39% + $0.15 per transaction
  • Processed via: Stripe (required)
  • Offline mode: Yes—sync within 24 hours

Request a formal quote from Otter for your actual pricing. Rates may vary by plan and volume.

Hardware & Setup

Device Options & Ecosystem

Terminals & Tablets

Hardware

  • Single Screen Terminal: 15.6" touchscreen
  • Dual Screen Terminal: 15.6" + 10.1" customer-facing display
  • Tablet Terminal: 10.5" Samsung tablet
  • Restaurant-grade, designed for kitchen environments
  • Card readers (USB/Bluetooth, Stripe-compatible)

Self-Service Kiosks

AI Upselling

  • 27" Standing Kiosk: Floor-mounted, professional install (~1 hour)
  • 15" Mini Kiosk: Countertop, self-install (<1 hour)
  • Kiosk Mode: Convert existing POS terminal to self-service
  • Powder-coated steel, spill/heat resistant
  • Integrates with Toast, Square, Clover (not just Otter POS)

Kitchen & Peripherals

BOH Ready

  • KDS: Digital order tickets, station routing (add-on subscription)
  • Printers: Bluetooth and cloud options
  • Cash drawers: Standard integration
  • Cloud-based; remote updates

Note: Some users report KDS can be slow during rush hours.

Otter Self-Service Kiosk

Ecosystem

Integrations (100+ Partners)

Delivery Platforms

Order Aggregation

  • Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, Caviar
  • Skip the Dishes, Hungry Panda, Seamless
  • Order with Google, Slice, ezCater
  • ChowNow, Zuppler, Flipdish, and 50+ more

POS & Other Systems

Works With Existing POS

  • POS: Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, Revel, Lavu, TouchBistro, POSitouch
  • Courier: DoorDash Drive, Relay, Shipday, Nash
  • Other: Inventory systems, loyalty programs, virtual brand partners

Otter can aggregate orders into your existing POS or use Otter POS standalone.

Honest Take

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

  • Industry-low processing fees (2.39% + 15¢).
  • Best-in-class delivery app aggregation (100+ integrations).
  • Eliminates tablet clutter from multiple delivery services.
  • Commission-free online ordering.
  • AI-powered kiosk upselling (claims 22-30% order increase).
  • Offline mode for payment continuity.
  • 24/7 customer support (chat, phone, email).
  • Menu syncs across all platforms automatically.
  • Kiosks integrate with Toast, Square, Clover (not just Otter POS).
  • "Always On" prevents missed orders from paused stores.

✗ Cons

  • Payments must go through Stripe—no processor choice.
  • Newer POS player compared to Toast/Square.
  • KDS can be slow to update during rush hours (per reviews).
  • US and Canada only.
  • CloudKitchens/Kalanick association may concern some operators.
  • No deep payroll/team management like Toast.
  • POS requires Otter hardware (no BYOD).
  • Less established for full-service table management.

Getting Started

Support & Onboarding

Support Channels

  • 24/7 Live Chat: Directly on device
  • Phone/SMS: 1-727-268-8837 or 1-888-681-8837
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Dedicated Customer Success Manager for paying customers
  • Help center with extensive documentation

TrustPilot reviews (~474) generally positive; support has improved significantly.

Onboarding Process

Fast Setup

  • Dedicated onboarding specialist guides setup
  • Go live in 1-2 weeks typical
  • Test environment for staff training (no live data risk)
  • Professional installation for 27" kiosks
  • Self-serve setup guides available

Options

Alternatives & Recommendations

Closest Alternatives

POS Competitors

  • Toast: More established, unified stack, but higher costs.
  • SpotOn: Similar delivery focus, different pricing.
  • Square for Restaurants: Simpler, good for small ops.
  • Clover: SMB-friendly, app marketplace.

Order Aggregation Competitors

  • Chowly: Simpler, ~$80-120/month.
  • Deliverect: Strong analytics, ~$100+/month.
  • Cuboh: Enterprise-focused.
  • KitchenHub: Multi-location focus.

What We Recommend

  • If you're delivery-heavy (30%+ revenue from delivery apps), Otter's aggregation is best-in-class.
  • For full-service with complex table management, consider Toast or TouchBistro instead.
  • Get quotes from 2-3 vendors; compare total cost of ownership.
  • Ask about contracts, renewal terms, and exit fees before signing.

Common Questions

Otter POS FAQ

Does Otter require Stripe for payments?

Required

Yes—card processing runs through Stripe; bring-your-own processor isn't supported.

Can I use Otter kiosks with my existing POS (Toast, Square, Clover)?

Yes

Otter kiosks integrate with popular POS systems, not just Otter POS.

What delivery apps does Otter integrate with?

100+ Platforms

Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, Caviar, and many more. Full list at tryotter.com/integrations.

Is Otter good for full-service restaurants?

Consider Alternatives

Otter is optimized for QSR, fast-casual, and delivery-heavy operations. Full-service may prefer Toast or TouchBistro for table management.

Who owns Otter?

CloudKitchens

Otter is owned by CloudKitchens (City Storage Systems), led by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick.

Is Otter available outside the US?

US & Canada Only

Otter POS is currently only available in the United States and Canada.