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Fifty-two percent of restaurant owners cite high operating and food costs as challenges to their bottom line, according to Toast's Restaurant Success report. In response, restaurateurs use point of sale (POS) systems to track inventory, process payments, and analyze sales. Moreover, with robust software, restaurant owners can efficiently manage employees, accept online orders, and otherwise try to squeeze every bit of profit from each operating dollar.
To uncover the best of the best, we researched more than two dozen top POS systems for restaurants. To narrow down our decision, we compared plans, features, and hardware options. Plus, we looked for solutions with extra services and plenty of customer support. Here are our top picks.
As an industry leader, TouchBistro provides customizable options with tons of capability.
Only need an iPad to start
Credit card processing fees aren’t listed on site
Online ordering is an extra fee
Founded in 2010, TouchBistro supports unlimited users and provides free 24/7 support. It's created specifically for restaurants and is our top choice for best overall POS software for restaurants.
POS software licenses start at $69 a month and include:
To get started, you'll only need an iPad. But, you can choose from all types of hardware to fully equip your restaurant. TouchBistro uses POS hardware partners to supply add-ons such as:
You'll pay extra fees for payment processing, but you can choose from many companies that partner with TouchBistro to find the best rates for your restaurant. You can also select add-on features like reservations, online ordering, and gift cards.
TouchBistro integrates with many popular programs, including QuickBooks, Sage, and 7Shifts. The company offers a comprehensive customer service lineup, from videos and self-diagnostic tools to 24/7 phone support.
A free solution (only pay payment processing) to oversee your eatery and make ordering easy.
Free for unlimited devices and users - Only pay for payment processing.
Payment processing included with POS
Free plan doesn’t offer 24/7 support
Since 2009, Square has provided free and paid POS options to merchants of all stripes. Its free POS system offers integrated payment processing and can be used on unlimited devices, making it a clear winner for the best free POS software.
The free plan provides table and menu management, an order manager, and an auto gratuity feature, though you won't get tools like live reporting with the free version. To get advanced services, you can sign up for their $60 a month plan or even the premium plan which does not disclose its price. Some add-on services like payroll and loyalty are an extra charge no matter your tier. Square services integrate with many programs, including:
To get started, you'll need your own iPad or iPhone plus the free magstripe reader. You can buy a Square terminal or a contactless and chip reader too. The company offers financing options to make paying for equipment easier. Use its online equipment calculator to see the prices and various configurations of dozens of devices and other hardware like:
Square doubles as a credit card processor, so you'll pay 2.6% plus $0.10 per credit card transaction. With the free plan, you'll get access to customer service during select business hours.
Optimize your dine-in menu, oversee your marketing, and train employees all from one POS system.
Upserve got its start in 2009 and stands out as a flexible, restaurant-ready POS software with feature-rich options, including a training mode. Upserve places first in our best for dine-in restaurants category.
The company offers three plans that come with various features. All programs offer tools such as:
Upserve categorizes its plans as the starter version called the Core plan, the most popular Pro plan, and the Pro Plus enterprise program. All include integrated credit card processing through Upserve Payments. Although the processing fees vary, you will be told upfront what your fee per transaction will be. The costs per plan are:
Upserve offers financing options for its systems and equipment. You can choose from hardware such as:
Along with offering extra services for loyalty, inventory, and advanced reporting features, this POS software integrates with many programs such as:
You'll get access to 24/7 customer support and a dedicated support channel.
Lightspeed offers order flexibility and low-priced add-ons for delivery and loyalty programs.
Payment processing is a separate service
Extra fees for delivery integration
Founded in 2005, Lightspeed is the oldest POS system on the list and provides versatile carry-out features, which is why it tops our list for best POS systems for carry-out.
You'll pay $69 per month to get all the standard features, with an extra register costing $34 per month. The highlights for carry-out orders include:
The necessary hardware you'll need is a receipt printer, cash drawer, payment terminal, kitchen printer, Lightspeed server, iPad, and stand. However, you'll have tons of options for hardware, from Lightspeed's iPad hardware kit to software and hardware add-ons that start at $12 per month like:
Lightspeed provides plenty of integrations for software commonly used by restaurant owners such as:
You can choose your own credit card processing service or add on Lightspeed Payments. For tapped, inserted, or swiped cards you’ll pay 2.6% plus $0.10. If you manually key-in a card you’ll pay 2.6% plus $0.30.
Its robust support options give restaurateurs the support they need with a full lineup of customer service including 24/7 phone or email support, webinars, demos, and videos.
Clover delivers space-saving POS equipment perfect for restaurants on the go.
Integrations must go through the Clover app market
Not all hardware works with Clover Flex
Since 2010, Clover has provided standalone payment and POS systems while partnering with many outlets, including Sam's Club, to sell hardware. Clover's Flex system puts a POS in the palm of your hand, making it the best choice for food trucks.
With the Clover Flex all-in-one system, you'll pay $599 for the hardware. With the flex, you can accept all payment types including tracking payments, all your data is stored in the cloud, you can run a loyalty program, and much, much more. It comes with an all-day battery, and Clover offers a convenient three-month payment plan if you cannot afford to pay the $599 all at once.
You'll have two options to choose from for the Clover software and payment processing:
Both the Register Lite and Register monthly plans include features like:
If you decide to open a full-service restaurant or need additional equipment, Clover offers a full line of hardware and equipment options, from printers to full-size POS systems. However, not all devices integrate with the Flex system. The company also provides a Clover App Market, where you can find more than 200 apps and integrations.
To get help with your Clover products, the company offers 24/7 phone support.
An intuitive POS system that integrates with popular bar software.
Integrates with bar and management software
Offers an age prompt feature
Credit card processing is an extra service
Three-year contract required for best price
Revel's been a top choice for restaurant and bar owners since 2010. The software provides bar-specific features, making Revel the best POS system for bars.
You'll pay $99 per month per terminal when billed annually with a three-year Revel Advantage contract. You'll get great tools for bars like age prompts and pre-authorized payments. Other POS features include:
The cloud-based POS system offers tons of equipment options on their website like:
You can add integrated payment processing for a fee per transaction, using Revel Advantage. The fees are not posted online. You must request a quote.
With Revel, you'll also benefit from bar-based and business integrations such as:
And with 24/7 phone and online support, including help with setup, you can quickly add a Revel POS system to your bar.
A capable POS system with an available feature-rich loyalty program.
No fees listed for optional services
Only Growth plan comes standard with its loyalty program
Founded in 2011, Toast is a well-known name in the industry. Along with POS services, Toast offers a robust loyalty program, making it the best POS software for loyalty features.
Select the Growth plan (from $340 a month) to get the loyalty program as part of your package. If you opt for the Starter plan (from $0 a month) or Essentials plan (from $165 a month), you’ll pay an extra fee per month to add the loyalty program. All three programs provide:
The Essential plan adds online delivery and ordering and a Toast takeout app. You'll get gift card, marketing, and loyalty programs integrated into the Growth plan. The customizable, point-based loyalty program offers easy check-out opt-in, and accounts are linked to restaurant guests' credit cards.
When it comes to payment processing, Toast doesn't post pricing online. They will work with your business to find a rate that works for your situation. Toast promises clear pricing with no hidden fees.
For hardware, Toast has a variety of products and bundles to fit your needs. One starter bundle comes with a Toast Flex system, POS and credit processing software, Toast Tap, and a router. They ask that you schedule a demo before seeing the price. You can also buy extra equipment like:
Toast also integrates with most restaurant software, including 7Shifts, Chowly, and BevSpot. And for service, you can reach out for help via phone, email, chat, or submit a ticket on their site.
On a basic level, a POS system captures transaction data to maintain inventory and revenue numbers in real-time. But, excellent POS systems deliver this information to your smartphone or home devices, so you can track action even if you're not at work.
You can use your POS to simplify restaurant processes, from order entry to payment, while reducing errors. And with impressive reporting features, restaurant owners use the data to make informed decisions about staffing, inventory, and menu changes.
You can turn an iPad into a POS with cloud software. However, most restaurants use a complete system that connects your POS to one or more kitchen and bar printers. Along with the software, you'll want a device for your office, like a desktop, printers at each server station or cash register, and printer units in the kitchen. For credit card processing, you'll add an EMV card reader near registers, as well.
Your POS software works on many devices, making it easy to customize your hardware to what your store needs. For example, food trucks appreciate handheld options, while quick-service restaurants may want self-service kiosks.
However, for the majority of POS systems, you can simply hook up your iPad and create a POS anywhere. A typical restaurant may use a POS with a register for carry-out and delivery orders while providing servers with a standalone POS system or iPad-connected system for inputting orders.
Whether you're using an iPad or a POS terminal, the initial equipment costs can get pricey. Since most restaurants also need multiple printers for the back of house and front of house services, you'll need to figure in the prices for these as well. Fortunately, most POS providers offer financing or payment plans to manage your initial costs. Monthly costs and fees ranges include:
After looking over more than two dozen POS systems, these seven made our list as the best POS systems for restaurants. We reviewed individual plans, features, and hardware to assess overall costs. Then we figured in various add-on services and integrations specific to certain categories such as loyalty or bar features. Of course, customer support is vital for restaurant owners, so we ensured that each of our top picks provided top-notch support.
Toast. "Restaurant Success Industry Report."