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Updated Sep 26, 2024

5 Best Restaurant POS Systems in 2024

Top restaurant POS systems like TouchBistro simplify ordering and payment processing with cutting-edge restaurant-specific tools.

Quinn Springett Headshot
Written By: Quinn SpringettSenior Analyst & Expert on Business Operations
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A business.com editor verified this analysis to ensure it meets our standards for accuracy, expertise and integrity.
Chad Brooks
Managing Editor & Expert on Business Ownership
Business.com earns commissions from some listed providers. Editorial Guidelines.
Sponsored Partners
Clover Restaurant POS
Best for Credit Card Processing
Clover POS logo
Visit Site
Links to Clover Restaurant POS
  • Starting Price: $59.95/month
  • Must use native payment processor
  • Monthly and annual plans
Toast Restaurant POS
Best for Online Ordering
Toast POS logo
Visit Site
Links to Toast Restaurant POS
  • Starting Price: $0
  • Must use native payment processor
  • Multiyear plans
Cake Restaurant POS
Best for Ongoing Support
Cake logo
Visit Site
Links to Cake Restaurant POS
  • Starting Price: $69/month
  • Must use native payment processor
  • Monthly plans
Lavu Restaurant POS
Best for Add-on Services
Lavu logo
  • Starting Price: $59/month
  • Allows 3rd-party payment processor
  • Monthly, annual and multiyear plans
TouchBistro Restaurant
Best Overall
TouchBistro logo
  • Starting Price: $69/month
  • Allows 3rd-party payment processor
  • Monthly plans
Table Of Contents Icon

Table of Contents

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Food and drink establishments require special technology to deliver the best customer experience and maximize profits. That’s where restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems come in. Unlike ordinary POS solutions that are designed to apply to all kinds of businesses, these programs are tailored to the specific needs of the restaurant industry, whether you run a fine-dining restaurant or the corner coffee shop.

The best restaurant POS systems — like TouchBistro, our top pick overall — boast intuitive ordering features, inventory tracking, tools for staff scheduling and customer loyalty programs, and much more. In a competitive market, the five solutions highlighted here stood out in business.com’s rigorous testing and analysis.

Toast POS system

The best restaurant POS systems, like this one from Toast, include terminals, kitchen displays, laptop software and mobile apps. (Source: Toast)

At business.com, our team of technology experts has analyzed hundreds of tools and services designed to improve essential business operations, from POS systems to GPS fleet management services to remote PC access software, and we use these experiences to provide business owners with actionable guides and industry insights. Every playbook and explainer is infused with advice from real IT consultants, implementation experts, security specialists, software developers and more.

Our rigorous product review process involves in-depth industry research, vendor interviews, hands-on testing and service comparisons. Each analysis — whether for a business phone system, CRM platform, call center software or website builder — is independently verified by a business.com editor to ensure our recommendations are free of bias and errors. Learn more about our editorial process.

How We Decided

Tip Bulb

How We Decided

The business.com team spent weeks evaluating dozens of point-of-sale systems to identify the top solutions across industries. To determine the best POS systems for restaurants, we considered the unique features needed to help a range of food and beverage...

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The business.com team spent weeks evaluating dozens of point-of-sale systems to identify the top solutions across industries. To determine the best POS systems for restaurants, we considered the unique features needed to help a range of food and beverage establishments succeed, such as ingredient-level inventory tracking, online ordering and delivery services, and customer retention tools. In addition to examining each restaurant-specific POS solution’s feature set, we evaluated the varying hardware and software options, usability, implementation process, customer support availability, and, of course, the pricing and contracts.

112

evaluated

10

researched

5

chosen

The business.com team spent weeks evaluating dozens of point-of-sale systems to identify the top solutions across industries. To determine the best POS systems for restaurants, we considered the unique features needed to help a range of food and beverage establishments succeed, such as ingredient-level inventory tracking, online ordering and delivery services, and customer retention tools. In addition to examining each restaurant-specific POS solution’s feature set, we evaluated the varying hardware and software options, usability, implementation process, customer support availability, and, of course, the pricing and contracts.

112

evaluated

10

researched

5

chosen

Restaurant POS Systems Compared

BDC Ribbon
Our Top Picks for 2024
Clover Restaurant POS
Toast Restaurant POS
Cake Restaurant POS
Lavu Restaurant POS
TouchBistro Restaurant
Rating (Out of 10)9.29.59.49.29.4
Use Case

Best for Credit Card Processing

Best for Online Ordering

Best for Ongoing Support

Best for Add-On Services

Best Overall

Starting Price

$59.95/month

$0

$69/month

$59/month

$69/month

Free Trial

No

No

No

No

Yes, 14 days

Key Features

Customer management, online ordering, reporting, e-commerce, merchant cash advance, rapid deposit

Online ordering, delivery services, Order & Pay, customized tipping, Order with Google, loyalty programs, integrations, reports

Ordering, payment processing, integrations

MenuDrive, Sourcery, integrations

Restaurant management, employee management, inventory management, customer management and loyalty programs, reporting, mobile app

Third-Party Payment Processor Compatibility

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Review Link
Scroll Table
Clover POS logo
Editor's Rating: 9.2/10
Visit Site
Links to Clover

Why Clover Is Best for Credit Card Processing

Clover is one of the most well-known brands in the POS sector and for good reason — as discovered in our investigation, its software and hardware are reliable and affordable and will meet virtually all your restaurant POS and credit card processing needs. Clover combines the best point-of-sale functionality with payment processing in a single solution available via industry-specific plans for restauranteurs.

That means you can not only enjoy more traditional POS tools like inventory tracking but also financial assistance like Clover Capital for cash advances and Clover Rapid Deposit for fast processing. In other words, this provider covers your front-of-house, back-of-house and back-office needs. Clover also sets itself apart with its assortment of card readers and other hardware.

Clover Pricing

PlanFeaturesPrice
Quick-service restaurant StarterContactless dining, item and order-level discounts, online menu, no-fee online ordering, pickup and delivery, item and category management, stock tracking, third-party menu integrations, real-time sales tracking, sales reports, cost tracking by item, shift management, Mini touchscreen device$105 per month for 36 months

or $799 + $59.95 per month

Quick-service restaurant Standard Everything in the Starter plan, plus customer database, promotions, loyalty program, gift cards, Station Duo device instead of Mini touchscreen$145 per month for 36 months or $1,799 + $59.95 per month
Quick-service restaurant AdvancedEverything in the Standard plan, plus line busting and Flex device$200 per month for 36 months or $2,398 + $79.90 per month
Full-service restaurant StarterTable mapping, open tabs, bill splitting, item and order-level discounts, contactless dining, tipping, online menu, no-fee online ordering, pickup and delivery, item and category management, stock tracking, third-party menu integrations, real-time sales tracking, sales report, cost tracking by item, shift management, Station Solo device, cash drawer, receipt printer$165 per month for 36 months or $1,699 + $89.95 per month
Full-service restaurant StandardEverything in the Starter plan, plus tableside ordering, tap card payments, mobile wallet payments, Flex device$220 per month for 36 months or $2,298 + $109.90 per month
Full-service restaurant AdvancedEverything in the Standard plan, plus Station Duo device$325 per month for 36 months or $4,097 + $129.85 per month

Payment Processing Fees

  • 3.5% + $0.10 for card information typed in
  • 2.3% + $0.10 for card tapped, swiped or inserted

Clover Advantages

  • Clover’s handheld devices allow servers to take and input orders at diners’ tables, sending them straight to the kitchen for quicker service.
  • A virtual terminal, online ordering and curbside transactions give customers convenient ways to place and retrieve their orders.
  • The e-commerce module is a great asset for food establishments that want to sell special products via an online store.

Clover Disadvantages

  • You’re required to use Clover’s hardware, so you can’t mix and match Clover’s software with another vendor’s terminal or kiosk.
  • You must also use Clover as your payment processor.
  • Your costs will be greatly impacted by your ability and willingness to pay a large amount upfront.

TrustRadius Score: On TrustRadius, Clover has a trScore of 7.3 out of 10 based on a couple dozen reviews. One customer, who uses this POS solution at their family restaurant, notes, “The highlight of the system is their proprietary software.”

CHECK OUT OUR FULL CLOVER REVIEW

Toast POS logo
Editor's Rating: 9.5/10
Visit Site
Links to Toast

Why Toast is Best for Online Ordering

Toast is a well-featured POS system specifically designed to serve a variety of restaurant types, but our testing showed that the online ordering capabilities are where this solution truly shines. Online ordering with Toast doesn’t have to mean your customers are sitting at home and waiting for delivery. Rather, the Order & Pay feature allows in-person guests to order online while seated in your restaurant. That said, Toast Delivery Services and its on-demand network of delivery drivers make it easy to also serve patrons from afar.

We also like that the dynamic order throttling allows you to control the flow of orders during peak times so you can maintain an optimal standard of service and not sacrifice quality.

Toast Pricing

PlanFeaturesPrice
Starter KitRestaurant-grade hardware, flat-rate payment processing, table and order management, digital menus, mobile payments, guestbook, employee timekeeping, basic scheduling, hardware configuration for up to two terminals$0
Point of SaleEverything in the Starter Kit plan, plus custom hardware configuration and wider selection of add-ons$69 per month
Build Your OwnChoose your own featuresCustom quote

Payment Processing Fees

  • Custom rates

Toast Advantages

  • Toast offers its Starter Kit POS package at no cost — you can pay nothing except processing fees and still access the vendor’s hardware and software; none of its rivals provide a similar cost-free option.
  • Toast further saves you money by not charging any commission on online orders.
  • The built-in Google integration, called Order with Google, allows customers to place orders directly through Google services, such as Google Maps.

Toast Disadvantages

  • Toast doesn’t integrate with third-party processors; you must use its own processing system and rates vary based on which package you choose.
  • Some of the most appealing features aren’t included in the entry-level free POS system.
  • Toast is only compatible with Android devices.

TrustRadius Score: After nearly 40 reviews, Toast has a trScore of 7.1 out of 10. “Toast Point of Sale has been a great addition to our restaurants. It covers all areas we were looking for and has helped us to grow and save money,” says one user.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL TOAST REVIEW

Cake logo
Editor's Rating: 9.4/10
Visit Site
Links to Cake

Why Cake is Best for Ongoing Support

When we tested Cake’s POS system and compared it to its peers, we found Cake to be especially user-friendly for staff and customers alike, but we were comforted by the extensive vendor support. There’s little to no learning curve with Cake, but its implementation team can still train your employees on how to use the system and make the most of its features. Based on trying the platform ourselves, we estimate it’ll take less than an hour for your staff to understand the software and customize it to their liking.

Setup assistance and employee training are provided at no charge, backed up by the online Cake University and further supplemented by unlimited around-the-clock support. We appreciate that you’ll also have access to a dedicated customer success representative and can even get menu consultations.

Cake Guest Manager

Cake’s Guest Manager program includes features that benefit both restaurants and their customers, such as reservation tracking and waitlist notifications. (Source: Cake)

Cake Pricing

PlanFeaturesPrice
EssentialsPOS station, menu management, reporting, QR code payments, system health monitoring, remote training, Cake University, unlimited 24/7 support$69 per month
PlusEverything in the Essentials plan, along with commission-free online ordering, gift cards$125 per month
ProEverything in the Plus plan, along with Guest Manager, email marketing, loyalty tools$295 per month

Payment Processing Fees

  • Competitive rates

Cake Advantages

  • Cake’s straightforward functionality makes it fast and easy for customers to order at kiosks or use iPad Minis at their tables.
  • The analytics help you make informed seating decisions and identify your most loyal patrons.
  • The Guest Manager tool lets diners communicate with your team via text message.

Cake Disadvantages

  • Cake doesn’t have as many integrations as rivals like Clover or the extensive inventory management features you’ll find with TouchBistro.
  • The Guest Manager program, along with modules for loyalty programs and marketing, are limited to Cake’s most expensive tier, and some of its restaurant-specific tools are classified as add-ons.
  • The iPad Minis are laggy at times.

TrustRadius Score: Cake doesn’t have any ratings or reviews on TrustRadius.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL CAKE REVIEW

Lavu logo
Editor's Rating: 9.2/10

Why Lavu is Best for Add-On Services

No two food and beverage businesses are exactly the same, which is why Lavu’s extensive a la carte integration and customization options are ideal for building the restaurant POS system that best serves your establishment’s unique needs. Lavu offers exceptional flexibility by allowing you to customize its base packages with add-on services like a kitchen display system, DoorDash and UberEats integrations, contactless pay kiosks, gift cards and more.

Plus, with API access, you can build custom integrations that streamline operations. Lavu will even help you identify the best setup for your type of food establishment, whether you’re operating a deli, ice cream shop, food truck, brewery or full-service restaurant.

Lavu MenuDrive

MenuDrive by Lavu lets customers order online while you track order metrics. (Source: Lavu)

Lavu Pricing

PlanPrice
Starter$59 per month
Growth$129 per month
Optimize$279 per month

Payment Processing Fees

  • Competitive rates

Lavu Advantages

  • Lavu’s MenuDrive platform mixes an online order system with marketing tools to help promote your establishment.
  • The bill-pay and invoicing tool integrates with popular accounting software solutions.
  • The dual-pricing feature facilitates a cash discount program and helps you save on credit card processing fees.

Lavu Disadvantages

  • To realize Lavu’s full potential, you may need the assistance of a software developer who can properly engineer all the integrations and tools for a seamless experience.
  • You’ll pay more if you want to use a third-party payment processor.
  • With so many add-on options, your total costs can balloon quickly, which is why the $59/month starting price can be a bit misleading.

TrustRadius Score: With only a handful of reviews, Lavu has a trScore of 6.6 out of 10 on TrustRadius. One of the users gushes, “I’ve used many other products in the last 20 years and Lavu is by far the easiest to use and most flexible system I’ve encountered.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT LAVU

TouchBistro logo
Editor's Rating: 9.4/10

Why TouchBistro is Best Overall

After evaluating dozens of the leading POS systems on the market, including the top options for food and beverage businesses, we determined TouchBistro is the best POS system for restaurants overall. While some rival vendors, like Toast, stand out for a specific restaurant-related function, such as online ordering, our analysis found TouchBistro to be the ideal point-of-sale solution for restaurant needs in general.

We love how the tools for restaurant management, staff management, inventory management and customer management cover all aspects of running a food establishment and help you streamline operations throughout one or multiple locations. Also, unlike most competitors, TouchBistro is a hybrid system, meaning you aren’t dependent on an internet connection to conduct operations but you also get peace of mind knowing your data is securely backed up.

TouchBistro Pricing

PlanFeaturesPrice
Point of saleFloor plan and table management, menu management, staff management, reporting and analytics, tableside ordering$69 per month
TouchBistro Payments (add-on)Payment processingCustom quote
Customer-Facing Display (add-on)Counter screenCustom quote
Inventory Management (add-on)Inventory and recipe management$195 per month
Labor Management (add-on)Employee scheduling, task management and labor forecasting$69 per month
Kitchen Display System (add-on)Order ticket views$19 per month
Profit Management (add-on)Financial tools$330 per month
Online Ordering (add-on)Commission-free ordering$50 per month
Reservations (add-on)Table reservations and status tracking$229 per month
Loyalty (add-on)CRM and rewards platform$99 per month
Marketing (add-on)Marketing platform$99 per month
Gift cards (add-on)Physical and digital gift cards$25 per month

Payment Processing Fees

  • Cost plus pricing model

TouchBistro Advantages

  • TouchBistro is capable of helping restaurants of all sizes and types process sales, enable tableside and online ordering, and upsell customers.
  • The drag-and-drop table management, menu dashboards and bill-splitting tools are valuable for providing efficient restaurant service.
  • In addition to tracking ingredient inventories, TouchBistro also monitors the costs involved with each menu item.

TouchBistro Disadvantages

  • TouchBistro doesn’t have self-service kiosks or digital menu boards.
  • The vendor’s mobile app is not a mobile POS system but rather an app for accessing POS reports on the go.
  • TouchBistro is an iPad-based POS system and not compatible with Android devices.

TrustRadius Score: TouchBistro has more than 20 reviews and a trScore of 5.6 out of 10 on TrustRadus. Says one satisfied customer, “The system is super reliable and has not given us any issues like some of the alternative options out there.”

CHECK OUT OUR FULL TOUCHBISTRO REVIEW

What Is a Restaurant POS System?

A restaurant POS system is a point-of-sale (POS) system specially designed for use in food and beverage businesses. Unlike regular POS systems, restaurant POS systems are built with specific features applicable in restaurant settings, such as quick-service and full-service establishments, fine-dining restaurants, fast-casual eateries, coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, ice cream shops and even bars and breweries.

With these specialty features, restaurant owners and their staff can not only ring up sales but also use their POS system to create menus, track ingredients and popular items, schedule employee shifts, manage guest reservations and table assignments, facilitate takeout and delivery services, and implement loyalty programs. In addition to the valuable software, restaurant-specific POS systems also include hardware designed for usage in food and beverage businesses, such as kitchen display systems, tableside tablets and self-order kiosks. This technology allows restaurants to take and fulfill orders more efficiently.

While a restaurant POS system doesn’t make sense for businesses that aren’t in the food industry, some providers like Clover also sell POS solutions that cater to other sectors, such as retail stores and field services. Conversely, a food or drink business wouldn’t find much benefit in a general POS system or one designed for other business types. To get the most out of a POS system, a business should use one specific to their industry.

What Are the Benefits of a Restaurant POS System?

Restaurant-specific POS systems are uniquely equipped to help food and beverage businesses conduct everyday operations, from taking orders and ringing up sales to monitoring server performance and engaging repeat customers. Below are the benefits of using one of the best POS systems for restaurants.

  • Streamlined ordering and sales processes: High-quality restaurant POS systems like Toast provide both the hardware and software required to expedite ordering and checkout, from handheld devices that can be used to place orders tableside to native payment processing so funds hit your bank account faster. These POS programs also help ensure order accuracy, error-free transactions and reliable financial records.
TipBottom line
Like DoorDash and UberEats, Grubhub also partners with restaurants and integrates with select restaurant POS systems.
  • Automated inventory and productivity monitoring: One of the biggest assets of a restaurant-focused POS system is all the behind-the-scenes work it can do without your assistance. For example, software programs such as TouchBistro will automatically adjust stock counts based on customer orders and can even reorder items for you when they’re getting low. Restaurant POS solutions will also keep an eye on your employees, tracking who is keying in and when, which workers generate the most sales and more.
  • Increased customer engagement: With tools like text message communications, loyalty programs, gift cards and even features to create marketing materials like promotional emails and flyers, the leading restaurant POS systems help you attract and engage customers so they become loyal, repeat diners.
  • Efficient cloud-based technology integrations: Today’s restaurant POS solutions are typically cloud-based, securely storing your data and granting you access from any internet-connected device, even if you’re away from your restaurant. Plus, with APIs and integrations, you can connect your POS system to the business software you already use to sync operations across your establishment and improve efficiency. For example, some programs will integrate with payroll services, accounting software, employee scheduling software and time-tracking systems. [Using the latest technology is one way to take your restaurant to the next level.]
  • Valuable business intelligence: Thanks to the reporting functionality built into the leading restaurant POS systems, restauranteurs can get valuable insights into various aspects of their business. Metrics can not only reveal how the restaurant is performing but also forecast future sales, identify the most popular menu items, determine the most commonly used payment methods and more.
FYIDid you know
Restaurant-specific POS systems are great alternatives to restaurant management systems, as they share nearly identical functionality.

How Much Does a Restaurant POS System Cost?

Clover kitchen display

Kitchen displays, such as this one from Clover, showcase and categorize orders as the POS system receives them. However, they may only be available at an added cost. (Source: Clover)

Based on our investigation, pricing for a restaurant-specific POS system is usually around $50 to $70 per month for lower-level plans. Your total price will be impacted by a number of factors, including credit card processing rates, implementation costs, your chosen package tier, the equipment you need and any add-on services you select, such as online ordering and loyalty programs.

Your base cost will be for the restaurant POS software. This is typically a recurring monthly cost, although you can sometimes get a discounted price if you pay for a full year upfront. The most comprehensive packages cost nearly $400 per month. Then you’ll have per-transaction fees to account for. These are the rates charged to accept and process credit card payments. Credit card processing rates vary by provider and transaction type, such as whether the credit card is swiped or the number is keyed in. Clover, for instance, may charge 3.5% + $0.10 for card-not-present transactions and 2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions. Some vendors may be willing to negotiate their rates, especially if they don’t want you to use a third-party payment processor.

The other major expense for your restaurant POS system is hardware costs. A basic POS setup traditionally includes a terminal, card reader and receipt printer. But for a restaurant setting, you may also want guest-facing displays, a kitchen display system, handheld tablets for servers, tableside tablets for guest usage and self-order kiosks. The more equipment you purchase, the higher these costs will be. In fact, a complete setup could set you back more than $1,000. Also keep in mind that whether this technology is a one-time expense depends on what you initially purchase and whether you decide to expand your hardware selection as needs dictate. For example, your business may need just one or two terminals to start and only implement portable ordering devices down the line.

While we appreciate vendors that provide transparent pricing on their websites, it’s crucial to speak to a sales representative to make sure you understand all the costs involved with the restaurant POS service you’re considering. Some providers, like Clover, have a one-time package fee in addition to its monthly subscription price. Others, like Toast, offer a free POS solution but then limit the most robust features to their most expensive plan.

You’ll also want to inquire about any contract-related costs and cancellation fees. Companies may give you a better deal if you commit to a longer contract. Some may saddle you with early-termination fees. Get quotes from multiple providers to see which will offer you the best bang for your buck. [Learn more about POS system charges and fees.]

Did You Know?Did you know
According to Hospitality Technology’s POS Software Trends Report, 86 percent of restaurants use POS data to inform their loyalty programs and special offers. Both are great tactics for increasing your restaurant’s profits.

How to Choose a Restaurant POS System

The process for choosing a restaurant POS system is much like when purchasing any business software or hardware. You’ll want to start by considering your restaurant’s specific needs. Then, guides like this one can help you determine which restaurant POS solution best lines up with your objectives at a price point you can afford.

To further assist you in your buying journey, business.com spoke with restaurateurs and food and beverage business owners to find out what they prioritized during the decision-making process. Below are the factors they considered when purchasing a restaurant-specific POS system.

Cost & Credit Card Processing Rates

Julie King, the owner of Villa México Café for more than two decades, recently upgraded her restaurant’s POS terminal and sought a vendor that doesn’t “charge fees for everything” and has “competitive” credit card processing rates.

“Right now, owning a restaurant is a labor of love, not money. Therefore, find the best tools and equipment at the best price,” King advised. “Ask providers what they bring to the table. Do you really need all the bells and whistles they’re trying to upsell you on? Most likely not, but they do need your business, so get a good deal.”

Integrations

At Malisse Sinito’s Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar, she selected her restaurant POS system “due to the integration with our reservation system, Tock.” King also wanted a restaurant POS solution that would “integrate with third-party ordering apps like Ritual and ChowNow so we don’t have to get more printers for those kitchen tickets.”

Added Services

Some providers, like Clover and Square, offer products that go beyond traditional restaurant POS functionality. King liked that with her chosen vendor, she could also enjoy “business benefits like loans and payroll [processing].”

Customer Support

While the biggest learning curve comes when you first implement a restaurant POS system, it’s inevitable hiccups will come in the future. For that reason, Jonathan Gillespie, a partner at Adalina, recommended, “Make sure you know what long-term support and services will come with the POS for the life of your partnership.”

Because “support, documentation and implementation resources” factored into his buying decision, Gillespie has been pleased to see that, several years later, his provider’s “continued support and desire to build out new features that meet our business needs remain unwavering.”

What Are Some Features of Restaurant POS Systems?

Cake POS seat assignment

Modern POS systems like Cake eliminate the need to manually track and adjust seat assignments on paper. Instead, you can access digital restaurant layout tools on a computer or tablet. (Source: Cake)

Restaurant POS systems are different from regular point-of-sale programs in that they are packed with tools designed to facilitate the unique tasks involved with operating food establishments. Restaurateurs and their staffs need to develop and execute menu items, enable both in-person and online ordering, accommodate a variety of payment types, and attract new and returning customers.

When researching POS systems for your food and beverage business, you’ll want to look for solutions with the following POS features so you can streamline the above operations and provide the level of service that fosters customer loyalty.

Software Features

The key components of restaurant-specific POS software are order management, inventory management, employee management and guest management features. Order management tools allow you to control the flow of customers’ orders to and from the kitchen, while inventory management tools help you monitor food and beverage stocks, with the best systems offering granular ingredient-level tracking. Employee management tools help you schedule shifts, assign roles and even track which staffers complete the most upsells, and guest management tools let you adjust seating arrangements based on foot traffic, communicate with diners via text and more.

Your chosen software should also boast built-in payment processing or be capable of integrating with a third-party processor to transfer funds from sales to your bank account. Depending on the establishment, you may also want the program to include online ordering abilities, a reservations system and loyalty program features. Some solutions can facilitate delivery services or integrate with third-party delivery companies. Lastly, your restaurant POS software should have POS reporting that tracks critical business metrics. The best systems will allow you to create custom reports based on selected data, whether you want to see which servers turn over the most tables or which menu items are most popular.

Hardware Features

At the very least, your restaurant POS hardware setup will involve a terminal capable of placing orders, generating customer checks and processing payments. You may want to implement self-service kiosks and restaurant tablets that let diners place and pay for orders without requiring employee assistance. Many food and beverage businesses will also find it worthwhile to invest in a mobile POS system that allows servers to ring up sales from anywhere, which is critical for both tableside payment processing and events like food truck fairs.

Almost all establishments will find a kitchen display system essential for coordinating between the front and back of house, and like any business accepting credit cards, you will need a card reader. Some peripherals, like customer-facing displays and digital menu boards, are optional, but the more advanced your technology solution, the better customer service you may be able to provide. In any case, one of the biggest upsides of using a restaurant-specific POS system is that virtually all of the top vendors provide restaurant-grade hardware — that is, durable equipment that can withstand the high temperatures and messy spills common in food environments.

FYIDid you know
Increasing table turnover is the top pain point for restaurants and guests alike, according to Toast’s 2023 Restaurant Operator Insights Report. Restaurant POS systems featuring table and seat management tools are designed to help ease this problem.

What Are Some Ways to Implement Restaurant POS Systems?

To implement a restaurant POS system, you’ll begin by establishing your online account to operate the software component. When the software is set up, you can begin connecting the hardware you purchased — terminals, card readers, receipt printers, display screens, etc. Whether you’ve chosen a cloud-based system, on-premises solution or hybrid program will dictate how long this process takes and the complexity involved.

Virtually all restaurant POS vendors provide step-by-step instructions for getting started. Their websites usually have self-guided tutorials you can share with employees so they can learn how to use the system. Some providers offer onboarding services for all plan levels, while others do only in their highest-tier packages or for an extra fee. In such instances, an implementation specialist will work with you and your team to ensure the software and hardware are set up correctly. You may also have access to a dedicated account representative or customer success manager who can help with any questions or troubleshooting as you learn how to use the system.

Just like with any new technology, there will be a learning curve. You should expect the implementation process to take up to a couple of weeks. If your restaurant hasn’t opened yet, you should aim to have your POS system fully operational and your staff trained on how to use it before welcoming customers. If you are already in operation, you may want to close for a few days of dedicated implementation and training if it will be too difficult to launch the system and onboard your team while your establishment is open and serving customers.

What Are Some Alternative Restaurant POS System Options?

While our top picks for the best restaurant POS systems above would be stellar choices for any food and beverage business, you may want to also consider the alternative options below.

Lightspeed

Like Clover, Lightspeed offers several industry-specific POS solutions. Its restaurant POS system comes in three plans — Starter, Essential and Premium — that range in price from $69 per month to $399 per month. With the entry-level package, you can use the program to manage your menu, floor plans and in-house orders, along with takeout and delivery services.  We like that this plan also includes loyalty tools and advanced insights that some providers only offer with more expensive packages. Note, however, that you’ll pay more if you don’t use Lightspeed’s native payment processor. Get all the details in our in-depth Lightspeed review.

Revel

Similar to TouchBistro, Revel is an iPad-based POS system ideal for food and beverage businesses that want to integrate portable tablets into their order-taking and payment processes. For restaurants that want to keep their tablets stationary, the vendor sells iPad stands that make it easy to secure your device on a countertop. You’ll also find kiosks and kitchen display systems available to round out your setup. But among the things we appreciate most about Revel is its emphasis on fostering customer loyalty. You can take advantage of the company’s own customizable loyalty program or integrate with a wide selection of third-party services.

Square

Square’s restaurant POS system is offered alongside solutions for retail and appointment-based businesses. The basic Square for Restaurants software is available at no charge with one countertop POS device included. The Square for Restaurants Plus and Square for Restaurants Premium packages, priced at $69 per month and $165 per month, respectively, also include a kitchen display system, while the latter plan further adds in mobile POS software and the Square Kiosk at no additional cost. We especially appreciated that the POS system has an offline mode, allowing you to still accept payments even if your internet connection is interrupted. Unfortunately, loyalty tools cost extra. See our full Square review for more information.

Epos Now

Epos Now’s dedication to the retail and hospitality industries includes a POS system that can serve bakeries, breweries, food trucks, quick-service restaurants, pizza shops and more businesses in the food and beverage space. As a multichannel system, you can fulfill orders for in-house dining, takeout and delivery. The full solution encompasses the vendor’s restaurant-specific POS software, a terminal with a built-in printer and a card reader; a kitchen display system is available as a separate purchase. With Epos Now Payments, you can use the company as your payment processor, but we love that the system also integrates with third-party processing services. Learn more in our detailed review of Epos Now.

Brilliant

Brilliant is a little different than the other POS vendors on this list. To provide its restaurant POS system, it collaborates with Clover and uses its widely admired POS hardware. You can build your own technology solution by deciding whether to purchase the Clover Station Solo, the portable Clover Flex or assorted other devices. As for the software features, we like that Brilliant’s Dining POS is a hybrid cloud and local system with built-in CRM tools that facilitate valuable customer insights. We also found Brilliant helpful for planning waitstaff schedules and other aspects of employee management. Our Brilliant review has a full pricing breakdown.

Methodology

To determine the best restaurant-specific POS systems on the market, our team of sales experts and software analysts began by evaluating an initial list of 112 POS solutions suitable across industries. We narrowed our list down to 10 options after identifying the most promising systems designed especially for food and beverage businesses. From there, our hands-on testing, interviews with vendors and in-depth research helped us determine the five best POS programs for food and drink establishments.

Our decision-making process involved examining the unique features each system offered for a variety of restaurant settings and considering whether the software and hardware would work just as well in a fine-dining restaurant as in a food truck. We weighed the quality of the equipment and whether it was proprietary to the vendor or sold through a partner like Clover. We looked into whether each POS company provided native payment processing or allowed businesses to work with the third-party processor of their choosing. In addition to studying payment processing rates, we compared every available plan and package tier, looking at price differences and what would cost restauranteurs extra.

Further, in addition to taking into account other aspects like usability, integrations and customer support options, we found it important to read through independent user reviews and customer testimonials to see if their experiences matched up with ours. Ultimately, we judged each restaurant POS system on more than 25 factors.

These factors were weighted differently in our overall conclusion. The weights were determined based on how much business owners prioritize these criteria when shopping for business software and services and making purchasing decisions.

  • Pricing (30%): Our experts and analysts compared and contrasted each vendor’s plans, judging which packages offered the best bang for your buck. We took into account monthly software fees, credit card processing rates, equipment charges and the costs of add-on services like loyalty programs, gift cards and peripheral hardware.
  • Features (25%): We looked for standard restaurant POS system functions like order management, inventory management, guest management and employee management. We also assessed the available integrations and awarded extra points for advanced services, like integrations with Google and popular delivery services.
  • Ease of Use (25%): We tested the hardware and software ourselves, gauging each solution’s learning curve, user-friendliness and customization options. We also considered how easy it was for waitstaff to take and process orders tableside and for customers to order online.
  • Customer Service (20%): We evaluated the range of customer service options, including whether phone assistance was provided with all package tiers. We also examined each vendor’s online resources for businesses interested in self-guided help.

Based on these criteria, we not only determined which restaurant POS systems our readers could trust but also the ways in which each solution could best serve different food and beverage business needs. Some solutions were better at certain tasks than others or more suited to a particular type of restaurant. These takeaways informed the “Best for” use cases you see on this page.

To learn more about our methodology, see our full editorial process.

FAQs

The four types of POS systems are legacy, tablet-based, mobile and cloud-based. A legacy POS system is a traditional point-of-sale system that relies on a conventional cash register and stores data locally. A tablet-based POS system uses tablets, like iPads, to ring up sales and access POS software. A mobile POS system works similarly. A cloud-based POS system — which can encompass tablet and mobile setups — relies on the internet and stores data in the cloud instead of on local servers, making them accessible from virtually anywhere.

The difference between a POS system and a POS terminal is that a POS system refers to the hardware and software used to process sales and execute other business operations, such as inventory tracking. In contrast, a POS terminal is a register, a physical piece of technology a person uses to charge a customer and take their payment. A terminal on its own is limited in functionality, whereas a complete POS system enables a host of features that enhance the sales process.

Your business most likely needs a restaurant POS system if you operate a food and beverage establishment. While it’s possible to use a traditional cash register, you will get more value out of a restaurant-specific POS solution equipped with features — such as ingredient tracking and table management — that allow you to efficiently serve diners and deliver exceptional customer service. That said, cash-only eateries or food businesses that largely make their sales at street fairs (such as a vendor selling jars of homemade jam) can get away with not using a full-fledged POS system.

Yes, you can use a POS system to track takeout and delivery orders. All restaurant-specific POS systems are capable of taking and fulfilling to-go orders. For delivery services, some systems enable the restaurant to develop its own delivery program using the vendor’s software and the business’s own delivery drivers, but almost all of them also integrate with a third-party delivery service, like UberEats, Doordash and Grubhub.

Yes, you need both POS system software and hardware. Think of the software as the computer program you use to conduct front- and back-of-house operations and the hardware as the physical computer that runs the software. The software and hardware work together to take orders, process customer payments and track sales.

For example, a waitress can use her handheld POS device to take a table’s order. The device will then send that information to the kitchen display system for the cooking staff to prepare. At the end of the meal, the diner can go up to the terminal to pay their check using the card reader and receive a printed receipt. The POS program will then store the sales information for future reference. Both the software and hardware are needed to complete this process.

Yes, there is a good cheap POS system. Both Toast and Square offer free restaurant-specific POS plans. With Toast’s Starter Kit, you only pay credit card processing fees, but you must use the vendor as your payment processor. The package includes up to two terminals and essential restaurant POS features. Similarly, Square for Restaurants comes with a countertop terminal and key functionality, like menu management, and facilitates payment processing. For more capabilities, you can upgrade to Toast or Square’s next service tier, both of which cost $69 per month.

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Written By: Quinn SpringettSenior Analyst & Expert on Business Operations
Quinn Springett is a technology expert who helps businesses make the most of the equipment they need to run their enterprises, whether that's a restaurant-specific POS system or a specialty van for a mobile health clinic. Springett specializes in testing software and hardware to identify where different solutions excel and where they fall short. Based on this first-hand experience, Springett compares products and gives his analysis so business owners can make informed purchasing decisions.
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