POS systems have become crucial to the success of restaurants, thanks to features that allow these businesses to track inventory, manage employees and orders, process sales, and find new ways to squeeze profit out of their operations.

And while there are a wide variety of options available for restaurant owners to choose from, not every POS system will be right for your needs. Moreover, you cannot keep a separate pos for pizza or each category of recipes you have. You need a thorough exploration of the best options available before you can opt for one, which is exactly what you’ll find here.

In this article, you’ll find an overview of the best restaurant point-of-sale systems available, including their features and pricing, why your restaurant needs one, and how to choose the one that works best for you.

Why Does Your Business Need a POS System for Restaurant Point of Sale?

The restaurant Point of Sale system has many advantages. One of the most important is that they can save owners time and money. A restaurant POS system can automate inventory management and reporting, allowing restaurant staff to focus on more critical tasks. A good POS system will easily integrate with any pizza delivery software POS system.

In addition to helping restaurants increase sales, POS systems can help them reduce costs. Especially for a niche restaurant this can be crucial in generating profits. There is a POS system for pizza restaurants as there is a POS system for other niche restaurants. As a result, customers are often encouraged to spend more money in restaurants through POS systems that offer upselling and cross-selling features.

Last but not least, POS systems can improve customer service. This is because they typically include features such as guest monitoring, which enables restaurant employees to obtain information about customers quickly and easily.

What Features Should You Look for in POS Software for Restaurants?

There are a few distinguishing features of the best restaurant point of sale (POS)systems, but they should also have the following top characteristics:

• Restock alerts that let you know when specific ingredients need to be restocked.
• Keeping track of orders and used ingredients with inventory management.
• Table service management allows you to keep track of which tables are receiving orders.
• Employee tracking to determine who was in charge of which station at what time.
• Payment processing for credit cards, cash, and contactless payments.
• Internet ordering allows quick-service restaurants to take orders from clients.
• Capabilities for collecting and securely storing customer contact data, such as email addresses or phone numbers, for marketing purposes.
• A reservation management system can be used to keep track of lunch reservations made weeks or months in advance.
• Programs that encourage customers to return by offering discounts or gift cards.

Some of these components were not always necessary. You used to be able to get by without internet orders, but not anymore. For example, as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, even the largest and wealthiest restaurants have begun to accept online orders almost exclusively. 

You should also consider other factors when choosing a POS for your restaurant in addition to the features described above. POS systems for restaurants should also be reasonably priced, well-reviewed, easy to use, and supported by an experienced customer service team.

7 Best restaurant point of sale (POS)

Having seen the importance of having a POS system for your restaurant, let’s look at the top 5 options available today:

Lightspeed Restaurant: Best All-Around

Restaurants can choose Lightspeed Restaurant as their iPad POS for quick service and full-service operations.

Both restaurants with few locations or franchises can benefit from the system’s features. Plus, the iPad-based POS gear is completely expandable, so if Lightspeed doesn’t work out, you can use it with another system.

Lightspeed has invested heavily in its product and offering over the past few years, and it is hard to find a POS system that ticks all the boxes quite like this one. 

Features

• Lightspeed Restaurant POS includes the following features:
• Options for contactless ordering and payment
• Ability to order through QR codes
• Tip distribution among employees using smart tipping
• Table mapping that is simple and adjustable
• Direct delivery with UberEats and DoorDash
• A single screen for online ordering
• Customers-facing displays
• Easy-to-use reservation system
• Reports for multiple locations
• Customer support is available 24/7

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

POS for small to medium full-service restaurants can be had for as low as $39 per month (billed annually) with Lightspeed Restaurant.

Through its website, Lightspeed Restaurant offers iPad bundles, as well as individual iPad pieces. Prices are not listed on the company’s website, so you’ll need to call for a quote.

All Lightspeed Restaurant hardware is iPad-based. You might find standalone iPads for tableside ordering, and/or self-serve kiosks and countertop POS systems. Lightspeed’s KDS uses iPads as well.

Lightspeed has its own processing program, and its fees are 2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions and 2.6% + $0.30 for card-not-present transactions.

The lowest advertised rate at Lightspeed comes with an annual payment, although the company offers options for paying month-to-month without a long-term contract.

Pros

• Low, affordable base price
• A comprehensive approach to ingredient management
• Management of reservations
• Loyalty app for customers

Cons

• Add-ons can increase the monthly fee
• For high-volume restaurants, flat-rate processing is expensive. It can be a cheap pos pizza software when it comes to a restaurant that only delivers pizza. But, it might be costly for restaurants that sell a variety of products and recipes.

Revel: Best for Larger Restaurants

Revel’s restaurant-specific features and robust inventory management make it ideal for large restaurants.

A small restaurant can use Revel, but larger restaurants and franchise QSR businesses will get the most out of it. Due to its higher price and longer commitment, Revel is less affordable for smaller businesses than a month-to-month POS.

However, Revel has the features to compete with some of the biggest POS systems. Although it may not be cost-effective for smaller restaurants, finding another system that offers more value isn’t easy. The Revel system offers excellent customization options and integrates with multiple companies. Revel’s highly customizable feature set allows it to be used beyond just restaurants for niches such as golf courses, where it can be customized even further. If you work in food service or niche industries, you can find what you need at Revel.

Features

The following are some of Revel’s best features:

• Always-on mode during internet outages
• Dialogue-based ordering system
• An easy way to discount
• Effective inventory management
• A suite of intelligent reporting tools
• Self-service kiosks
• Options for mobile and remote ordering
• APIs open to developers
• Strong loyalty programs
• Integrated online ordering system
• Platform for in-house delivery
• Integration with DoorDash

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

From $99 per month, this system offers one of the deepest feature sets of any POS software, including virtually everything a medium or large restaurant could need. If you include numerous add-ons, the price can add up, but Revel is certainly worth a closer look, especially for an enterprise-sized business.

Revel offers almost everything you need to get your business going, including card readers, printers, stands, and individual iPads. Package prices are not listed on the website, but you can contact Revel directly for more details.

Revel’s hardware is exclusively iPad-based. Tabletop POS systems with iPad customer displays, iPads for tableside ordering, and self-service kiosks are a few of the options available.

Revel is integrated with multiple processors and has its own payment system, Revel Advantage, which charges a flat rate of 2.49% plus $0.15 per transaction.

To get the best rates, you need to sign up for a three-year deal through Revel Advantage. However, you are not required to do this to use Revel’s services.

Pros

• High degree of customization
• Features of advanced restaurants
• Offline capability
• Processing at a flat rate

Cons

• Several features aren’t free
• For the best price, a long-term contract is required

Clover: Best for Reservations

Clover POS gives restaurant owners everything they need to start selling food and managing a restaurant, and it is incredibly easy to use.

Clover works well for both small and large, multi-location restaurants. Clover.com bills its customers on a month-to-month basis, so you should have no problem scaling your system up or down as needed.

Clover Restaurant POS software is intuitive to use and easy to set up. Upon receiving your POS, you simply plug it in and begin serving customers in minutes.

Clover does pretty much everything well, despite its issues. The system offers excellent hardware options and some of the best online ordering and delivery options around, making it a strong choice for restaurants as the pandemic continues to force them to get creative. Clover’s table mapping feature is also very good, and its app marketplace offers plenty of customization options.

Features

Clover offers the following features:

• A dynamic floor plan
• Splitting complex checks
• Tableside ordering is made easy with this hardware
• Featured applications
• App marketplace through Clover
• Integrations with delivery services (direct integration with GrubHub)
• Online ordering capability
• High degree of customization
• Remote terminal

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

Clover Dining offers two month-to-month pay-per-use software plans. The table service restaurant plan, which costs $74.95 per month for the first device, is recommended for sit-down restaurants. Clover offers a counter-service plan for $44.95 per month for QSRs. 

Clover has these hardware options:

• Clover Go: $49.00
• Clover Flex: $499
• Clover Mini: $749
• Clover Station: $1,349 or $1,649

Clover’s payment processor is Fiserv, which has less-than-ideal customer service reviews. Clover charges a base rate of 2.3% plus $0.10 per transaction, although rates may vary depending on your plan.

In Clover, you can pay month-to-month, but you’ll want to purchase any hardware you use instead of leasing, if possible.

Pros

• Numerous merchant account providers offer this service
• Plans for full-service and quick-service software
• Clover.com offers convenient pay-as-you-go pricing
• You can choose from several sleek Clover hardware setups

Cons

• Hardware cannot be resold or reprogrammed after purchase
• There are some Clover sellers who are not reputable

Clover: Best for Reservations

Clover POS gives restaurant owners everything they need to start selling food and managing a restaurant, and it is incredibly easy to use.

Clover works well for both small and large, multi-location restaurants. Clover.com bills its customers on a month-to-month basis, so you should have no problem scaling your system up or down as needed.

Clover Restaurant POS software is intuitive to use and easy to set up. Upon receiving your POS, you simply plug it in and begin serving customers in minutes.

Clover does pretty much everything well, despite its issues. The system offers excellent hardware options and some of the best online ordering and delivery options around, making it a strong choice for restaurants as the pandemic continues to force them to get creative. Clover’s table mapping feature is also very good, and its app marketplace offers plenty of customization options.

Features

Clover offers the following features:

• A dynamic floor plan
• Splitting complex checks
• Tableside ordering is made easy with this hardware
• Featured applications
• App marketplace through Clover
• Integrations with delivery services (direct integration with GrubHub)
• Online ordering capability
• High degree of customization
• Remote terminal

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

Clover Dining offers two month-to-month pay-per-use software plans. The table service restaurant plan, which costs $74.95 per month for the first device, is recommended for sit-down restaurants. Clover offers a counter-service plan for $44.95 per month for QSRs.

Clover has these hardware options:

• Clover Go: $49.00
• Clover Flex: $499
• Clover Mini: $749
• Clover Station: $1,349 or $1,649

Clover’s payment processor is Fiserv, which has less-than-ideal customer service reviews. Clover charges a base rate of 2.3% plus $0.10 per transaction, although rates may vary depending on your plan.

In Clover, you can pay month-to-month, but you’ll want to purchase any hardware you use instead of leasing, if possible.

Pros

• Numerous merchant account providers offer this service
• Plans for full-service and quick-service software
• Clover offers convenient pay-as-you-go pricing
• You can choose from several sleek Clover hardware setups

Cons

• Hardware cannot be resold or reprogrammed after purchase
• Some Clover sellers are not reputable

Touchbistro: Best for Ease of Use

A POS system specifically designed by and for restaurant workers, TouchBistro is an elegant solution. TouchBistro is best suited for restaurants with one location because it is locally installed. TouchBistro can work in small or large venues – multiple iPad devices can communicate with each other via a shared Mac server.

Since TouchBistro is a locally installed system, you can operate your restaurant using an iPad even if you do not have an internet connection. In addition to table-mapping, TouchBistro has excellent menu management.

They have stated that their mission is to assist restaurants when times are difficult, and TouchBistro has a firm grasp of the restaurant industry. The TouchBistro interface is extremely sleek and simple, and it offers excellent integrations. When you combine that with the number of services it offers, TouchBistro can be customized into the ideal system for your business.

Features

The following are some of TouchBistro’s most impressive features:

• Plan your floor easily
• Over 50 types of reports
• Display system for customers
• Integration of tableside ordering
• Streamlining payroll and staff management
• Several robust integrations
• Add-ons for loyalty and gift cards
• A great reservation system
• Offering online ordering through in-house and third-party platforms
• Menu board with digital display

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

TouchBistro offers flexible pricing options starting at $69 per month.

Through its website, TouchBistro provides an extensive selection of Apple products, including bundles and individual pieces of equipment. 

The company does not list hardware prices and encourages you to call.

With TouchBistro, you’re able to select the most cost-effective and efficient payment processor based on your restaurant’s specific needs, including Square and Worldpay.

TouchBistro gives you the option to sign up month-to-month, but it offers the best rates if you pay for the services a year in advance.

Pros

• POS app that can be installed locally (no internet connection required)
• The in-house reservation system is excellent
• Compatible with Square
• Integration with third-party delivery apps

Cons

• Online payments are not available
• Add-ons can make it pricey

Square For Restaurants: Best Budget Option

With Square For Restaurants, you can manage employees, use Square online ordering, and add lots of add-ons when you are ready to scale up.

Due to its per-location pricing and month-to-month contracts, Square for Restaurants can easily scale up and down to accommodate different-sized businesses.

A favorite of all-in-one systems, Square is a long-standing industry leader. With Square for Restaurants, you also get outstanding customer service and access to thousands of apps through its app market. Square is also a good option for storefronts running ghost kitchens during Covid times. Add to that Square’s ease of use, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Features

The following are some of Square for Restaurant’s highlights:

• Easy order entry
• Easy to set up
• Ordering online with Square
• Store for Square Apps
• Discount options with advanced features
• Real-time sales reports
• Management of courses
• The square kitchen display system
• Automatic tipping and gratuity options
• Integrations with third-party delivery systems

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

Square for Restaurants is very easy to use, includes employee management, and is chock full of restaurant-specific features, and all for a very reasonable $60 per month rate for the “Plus” version. If you are okay with the more basic features, you can choose the free plan.

Square offers a wide range of hardware options. Tabletop POS options include the all-in-one Square Register (starting at $799) and Square Stand for iPad (beginning at $149, not including iPad).

In terms of mobile options, Square’s basic reader is free, but their handheld terminal starts at $299. Square’s mobile POS module for restaurants runs exclusively on Square Terminal and will soon be available on Square’s new “Restaurant Mobile POS Kit”.

The Square credit card processing system is known for its simplicity. Square for Restaurants offers a 2.6% rate plus $0.10 for in-person transactions.

Restaurants can sign up for Square for Restaurants on a month-to-month basis, and its free basic plan has limited features.

Pros

• Plans that are free
• Online ordering is free
• Hardware at an affordable price
• Employee management is included

Cons

• Doesn’t include a dedicated merchant account
• There is no reservation management

Aloha POS: Flexible and Powerful

Aloha POS, created by NCR Global, is a specialized point-of-sale system tailored for the restaurant industry. It streamlines operations with a variety of hardware options, including kitchen display systems, touchscreen terminals, mobile tablets for tableside service, and receipt printers.

Aloha also accommodates peripherals like barcode scanners and cash drawers, enhancing workflow flexibility and efficiency.

Being cloud-based, Aloha POS offers features such as order management, online ordering, and integrated payment processing. Its software is designed for tasks like check splitting, tip sharing, and real-time reporting.

Businesses can leverage its reporting and analytics to access critical data anytime, supporting informed decision-making and optimized operations. Additionally, Aloha POS integrates with third-party services for payroll, employee scheduling, and reservations, providing a comprehensive solution for restaurant management.

Features

The following are some of Aloha POS’s highlights:

• Flexible hardware options (kitchen displays, mobile tablets)
• Cloud-based operations
• Real-time reporting and analytics
• Table-side ordering and line-busting
• Integrated payment processing
• Employee scheduling and payroll integrations
• Comprehensive third-party integrations
• Tip sharing and check splitting

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

Aloha POS pricing starts at 2.25% plus $0.15 per transaction, with free plans available and monthly pricing starting at $175. NCR, the company behind Aloha POS, offers custom pricing based on your restaurant’s specific requirements.

This quote-based pricing depends on factors such as the number of terminals, locations, and any additional features like online ordering, loyalty programs, or advanced analytics.

Typically, there are no upfront costs for software or hardware, as Aloha provides flexible payment models that include either monthly subscriptions or per-terminal fees.

For smaller restaurants, Aloha offers a basic “Launch Kit,” which includes essential hardware and software for single-location setups. Larger operations can access custom plans that include add-ons like handheld devices, contactless payments, and labor management tools. Free setup is also available.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Highly customizable
• Provides decent reporting features

Cons

• High costProne to crashes and reliability issues
• Difficult to learn initially

Toast: Best for Enterprise-Level Setups

Toast is an Android-based POS system designed for the food and beverage industry, with a particular focus on full-service restaurants with complex operations. Its extensive feature set, enterprise-grade hardware, and easy-to-use interface make it a strong option for managing restaurants of various sizes, though it’s particularly suited for larger establishments.

One of Toast’s standout features is its inventory management system, which provides real-time sales and inventory updates, low-stock alerts, and automatic reordering, removing the need for third-party apps. This integration helps streamline the supply chain, reducing errors and saving time. The xtraCHEF tool, which integrates with QuickBooks, further boosts efficiency by automating accounts payable, vendor management, and ingredient tracking.

Toast also offers detailed reporting and cost management tools. Its mobile-friendly reports allow restaurant owners to track profitability in real time, monitor labor and dish costs, and account for fixed overhead expenses.

This transparency helps restaurants understand their financial performance, making it easier to adjust pricing and improve profit margins—an important feature in times of rising supplier costs.

Features

• Real-time sales tracking
• Customizable menu management
• Order management
• Integrations with services like Uber Eats
• Tableside ordering and payments
• Payroll and scheduling
• The Toast kitchen display system

Pricing, Fees, and Terms

Toast offers a flat-rate payment processing model with varying fees depending on the type of transaction. For a pay-as-you-go plan, the fee is 2.99% plus $0.15 per transaction. If a business processes card-present transactions and pays for hardware upfront, the fee is reduced to 2.49% plus $0.15 per transaction.

For card-not-present transactions under the same hardware payment condition, the fee is 3.50% plus $0.15 per transaction.

When it comes to POS system pricing, Toast has several plans available. There is a plan starting at $0 per month, which includes one terminal, though additional devices incur extra charges. Another option begins at $69 per month, which covers a monthly software subscription, a cloud-based POS system, and a custom hardware configuration.

The Restaurant Basics Plan costs $110 per month plus $4 per employee, while the Growth Plan is priced at $165 per month. Additionally, Toast offers custom plans that provide tailored pricing based on specific needs and access to the full range of Toast’s capabilities.

Lastly, it’s important to note that Toast imposes a cancellation fee for any installations, training, or go-live appointments that are canceled or rescheduled less than seven days before the scheduled date.

Pros

• Includes inventory management tools
• Allows for the creation of customer loyalty programs
• Supports multiple locations

Cons

• High transaction feesCostly hardware requirements

How To Choose the Best Restaurant POS System

Choosing the best restaurant POS system requires consideration of a few factors.

• First, you must think about the specific needs of your restaurant. Among these are things like the size of your restaurant, the type of cuisine you serve, and whether you have multiple locations.
• You can start looking at specific features after you know what your restaurant requires. Online ordering, loyalty programs, table management, and gift cards are all features to look for.
• You also need to think about how much the POS system will cost. It’s important to find a system that fits within your budget since some systems can be quite expensive.
• Last but not least, read customer reviews before choosing a POS system. In this way, you can avoid any common problems or issues with specific restaurant POS systems.

Setting Up a Restaurant POS System

To implement a restaurant POS system, there are several key steps to ensure a smooth setup and operation.  The process begins with creating your online account, where you’ll configure the software component. Vendors typically offer either cloud-based or on-premises systems, with setup times varying by type. Once the software is ready, you can connect the necessary hardware, which may include card readers, terminals, display screens, and receipt printers. Some systems provide hybrid solutions that combine cloud and local setups for greater flexibility, though these may take longer to install.

Many POS providers offer step-by-step guidance through self-paced tutorials or onboarding services. Vendors, mentioned above like Toast, Square, and Clover, often include these services in their premium plans, while others may charge an additional fee. Onboarding typically involves working with an implementation specialist to ensure that both the software and hardware are properly configured.

Before fully launching the system, conducting a trial run is advisable. This allows you to identify and resolve any issues without disrupting regular operations. If you’re already running a restaurant, consider closing for a couple of days to focus on training and integration, minimizing distractions.

Training is crucial, as the effectiveness of the system relies on your staff’s proficiency. Most systems provide detailed training resources, making it essential to ensure employees understand both basic and advanced features. After implementation, monitoring the system and collecting feedback from staff and customers will help you refine the setup to better meet your needs.

Additionally, regular system updates, including maintenance and security checks, are vital to safeguarding customer data and preventing disruptions. Many POS systems come equipped with analytics tools that track sales trends, inventory levels, and customer behavior—valuable data for refining business strategies and enhancing operational efficiency.

Conclusion

When choosing a POS system for your restaurant, make sure you evaluate more than just the pricing. The features that they have, and how they meet the needs of your business, should be your most important consideration. However, that doesn’t mean that your budget isn’t important. Find a system that can provide you with great features at a price point that you can manage.

While there are many options available, the key is to assess your restaurant’s specific needs, such as inventory management, employee tracking, and payment processing, before making a decision. Whether you run a small pizzeria or a large, multi-location establishment, the systems highlighted in this article offer various features and price points to help you find the best fit for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions