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Square Restaurant POS
Best for Cafes and bars
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
on Square's website
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online ordering page.
Cons
- Free plan only includes phone support for the first 90 days.
- Complex restaurants might prefer a more specialized system.
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square hits the mark for most small cafes, coffee shops and bars. It's not as complex as competitors like Toast. But it offers capable POS software and hardware at a reasonable overall cost.
That's part of why I recommended Square for my husband's brewery. The brewery's menu is straightforward with limited modifiers. The business needed something affordable and easy to use. So far, Square has worked out pretty well minus some outages here and there (these were fixed with a phone call).
A word of caution: I initially thought that Square's free plan would be enough for the brewery. It includes item and menu management, order tabs, low-stock alerts and an online ordering profile. We ended up needing to upgrade to the Plus plan to access tip pooling and more staff management tools. But at $49 per month, Square's plans are still more affordable than lots of competitors. Clover’s lowest-tier restaurant plan, for example, costs $89.95 per month.
Square's biggest drawback is its processing rates — especially in its free plan. It charges 2.6 plus 15 cents per in-person transaction and 3.3% plus 30 cents per online sale. But the relatively cheap feature-filled software plans help make up for it.
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online ordering page.
Cons
- Free plan only includes phone support for the first 90 days.
- Complex restaurants might prefer a more specialized system.
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Square hits the mark for most small cafes, coffee shops and bars. It's not as complex as competitors like Toast. But it offers capable POS software and hardware at a reasonable overall cost.
That's part of why I recommended Square for my husband's brewery. The brewery's menu is straightforward with limited modifiers. The business needed something affordable and easy to use. So far, Square has worked out pretty well minus some outages here and there (these were fixed with a phone call).
A word of caution: I initially thought that Square's free plan would be enough for the brewery. It includes item and menu management, order tabs, low-stock alerts and an online ordering profile. We ended up needing to upgrade to the Plus plan to access tip pooling and more staff management tools. But at $49 per month, Square's plans are still more affordable than lots of competitors. Clover’s lowest-tier restaurant plan, for example, costs $89.95 per month.
Square's biggest drawback is its processing rates — especially in its free plan. It charges 2.6 plus 15 cents per in-person transaction and 3.3% plus 30 cents per online sale. But the relatively cheap feature-filled software plans help make up for it.
Toast POS
Best for Full-service restaurants
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 and up for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- 24/7 chat support and everyday phone support.
- Offers in-house payroll and team management software.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
- In-house delivery and reservations platforms available.
Cons
- Locks you into a contract for two to three years.
- Site lists steep onboarding fees.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Toast was designed specifically for businesses in the restaurant industry, and it shows. Unlike some of its competitors, it provides most of the capabilities restaurants need under one roof (albeit at an added cost). Those include a loyalty program, reservations platform, online ordering app and delivery services.
These features combined with 24/7 support and custom plans make Toast a solid solution for most restaurants. We recommend it mainly for more complex, full-service operations because it’s expensive. And we think they’ll get the most out of it.
Toast does let you use its hardware and software for $0 per month, but there’s a catch. You’ll pay higher processing fees in exchange. This might be tempting, but it’s not always worth it in the long run. We only recommend that option if you don’t have the cash to pay for hardware upfront.
On top of an onboarding fee, Toast charges extra for basics like accounting integrations. And it doesn’t include online ordering in every plan. Combine that with a long-term contract and Toast becomes a harder sell for simpler operations with smaller menus.
Pros
- 24/7 chat support and everyday phone support.
- Offers in-house payroll and team management software.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
- In-house delivery and reservations platforms available.
Cons
- Locks you into a contract for two to three years.
- Site lists steep onboarding fees.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Toast was designed specifically for businesses in the restaurant industry, and it shows. Unlike some of its competitors, it provides most of the capabilities restaurants need under one roof (albeit at an added cost). Those include a loyalty program, reservations platform, online ordering app and delivery services.
These features combined with 24/7 support and custom plans make Toast a solid solution for most restaurants. We recommend it mainly for more complex, full-service operations because it’s expensive. And we think they’ll get the most out of it.
Toast does let you use its hardware and software for $0 per month, but there’s a catch. You’ll pay higher processing fees in exchange. This might be tempting, but it’s not always worth it in the long run. We only recommend that option if you don’t have the cash to pay for hardware upfront.
On top of an onboarding fee, Toast charges extra for basics like accounting integrations. And it doesn’t include online ordering in every plan. Combine that with a long-term contract and Toast becomes a harder sell for simpler operations with smaller menus.
Clover Restaurant POS
Best for Quick-service restaurants
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.3% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$90
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Can pair with third-party payment processors.
- Large variety of hardware, including two different handheld terminals.
- Includes online ordering.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Expensive hardware and software.
- Limited reporting capabilities.
Clover is a good pick for quick-service restaurants that draw big crowds. Its hardware is pricey, but sturdy. You can use the handheld Flex, for example, to take orders from anywhere and print receipts on the go. Or you might opt for the sleeker Flex Pocket terminal for an even more compact solution. Alongside countertop registers, tools like these can help you quickly shorten long lines.
Another big plus: Clover doesn't lock you into using it as a payment processor. You can buy its hardware from various third-party processors. This gives you the flexibility to shop around for the best processing rates. Just make sure to vet your Clover reseller. For example, you might ask them how the customer support situation works or how long they’ve been in business for. Some resellers are better than others.
Pros
- Can pair with third-party payment processors.
- Large variety of hardware, including two different handheld terminals.
- Includes online ordering.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Expensive hardware and software.
- Limited reporting capabilities.
Clover is a good pick for quick-service restaurants that draw big crowds. Its hardware is pricey, but sturdy. You can use the handheld Flex, for example, to take orders from anywhere and print receipts on the go. Or you might opt for the sleeker Flex Pocket terminal for an even more compact solution. Alongside countertop registers, tools like these can help you quickly shorten long lines.
Another big plus: Clover doesn't lock you into using it as a payment processor. You can buy its hardware from various third-party processors. This gives you the flexibility to shop around for the best processing rates. Just make sure to vet your Clover reseller. For example, you might ask them how the customer support situation works or how long they’ve been in business for. Some resellers are better than others.
SpotOn Restaurant
Best for Menu management tools
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25
For most cards in paid plans.
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on SpotOn's website
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- 24/7 customer support.
- All plans include an AI menu assistant to help you change pricing, item names, etc.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Integrations and online ordering cost extra.
- Free plan processing rates are steep.
- Charges setup fees (menu creation costs $500 and on-site install costs $1,500).
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Menu management tools are a must for restaurants. Adjusting pricing, adding modifiers or updating items should be an easy and straightforward process. SpotOn’s AI assistant takes the process a step further by automating most of it.
Instead of updating each menu item separately, you can write prompts to apply updates to all items. For example, you could ask it to increase all entree pricing by 10%. Or you might ask it to only adjust pricing for items that cost more than $10. This is a huge time saver.
SpotOn’s menu management AI assistant is available in all POS plans, including the free one.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- 24/7 customer support.
- All plans include an AI menu assistant to help you change pricing, item names, etc.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Integrations and online ordering cost extra.
- Free plan processing rates are steep.
- Charges setup fees (menu creation costs $500 and on-site install costs $1,500).
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Menu management tools are a must for restaurants. Adjusting pricing, adding modifiers or updating items should be an easy and straightforward process. SpotOn’s AI assistant takes the process a step further by automating most of it.
Instead of updating each menu item separately, you can write prompts to apply updates to all items. For example, you could ask it to increase all entree pricing by 10%. Or you might ask it to only adjust pricing for items that cost more than $10. This is a huge time saver.
SpotOn’s menu management AI assistant is available in all POS plans, including the free one.
Lightspeed Restaurant POS
Best for Multi-location restaurants
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$189
for Starter plan, $189 for Essential plan, $399 for Premium plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- 24/7 support.
- Has an in-house reservations platform.
- Offers multi-location management and advanced inventory tools.
Cons
- Accounting integrations cost extra.
- Isn’t transparent about processing rates.
- Charges setup fee.
There’s no getting around the fact that Lightspeed’s plans are pricey. For multi-location restaurants, though, the cost could be worth it. Lightspeed’s Essential and Premium plans let you create menus for different locations and assign certain menus to each device. You can also use them to share customer data between restaurant locations. This helps give customers a more cohesive experience.
Lightspeed’s open API opens up more options to customize the POS system. For example, you might use it to build custom integrations, though you may need some coding expertise to do this.
Other notable features include add-ons for in-house reservation management and takeout/delivery integrations with UberEats and DoorDash.
Pros
- 24/7 support.
- Has an in-house reservations platform.
- Offers multi-location management and advanced inventory tools.
Cons
- Accounting integrations cost extra.
- Isn’t transparent about processing rates.
- Charges setup fee.
There’s no getting around the fact that Lightspeed’s plans are pricey. For multi-location restaurants, though, the cost could be worth it. Lightspeed’s Essential and Premium plans let you create menus for different locations and assign certain menus to each device. You can also use them to share customer data between restaurant locations. This helps give customers a more cohesive experience.
Lightspeed’s open API opens up more options to customize the POS system. For example, you might use it to build custom integrations, though you may need some coding expertise to do this.
Other notable features include add-ons for in-house reservation management and takeout/delivery integrations with UberEats and DoorDash.
Jump to
How we selected the best restaurant POS systems
What restaurant-specific features should you look for?
How to get the best deal on restaurant POS systems
How do you choose the best POS system for your restaurant?
How we selected the best restaurant POS systems
To make this list, I started with companies that offer restaurant-specific versions of their POS systems. Our editorial team collects more than 30 pieces of data to rate each of these products. I used that data set first to find cost-conscious options, like Square, that have transparent and straightforward pricing.
Then I chatted with a restaurant tech consultant and cafe CEO to learn more about which features actually matter to businesses in the restaurant industry. I asked them which POS systems they work with and recommend as well. This helped me learn about when it’s necessary to splurge on a more complex solution, like Toast. From there, I added options that stand out for their menu management tools, integration capabilities and other advanced features.
After getting feedback on more enterprise-level products, like Restaurant365 and Oracle, I decided to leave those out. Their price point is typically too big of a commitment for most small restaurants.
My own experience in the food and beverage industry also informed my choices. My husband owns a brewery that shares a space with both a quick-service kitchen and a coffee shop. I recommended Square, helped set it up and worked behind the bar with it. Researching other products in this process helped me understand some of the usability considerations in this space. Now, I prioritize products that seem intuitive to both set up and operate.
» MORE: Toast vs. Square
What restaurant-specific features should you look for?
Businesses in the restaurant industry all need basic capabilities. Some might require more complicated versions of them, but for the most part, the checklist below is universal.
Menu management
Heather Perry, CEO of Klatch Coffee, says a solid POS system lets you set up modifiers and update items in just a few taps.
That’s part of the reason why Perry chose Toast for the company’s 30+ coffee shop locations. She says its modification process is pretty intuitive and that employees think it’s easy to use.
All of the products on the list above offer some form of menu management. But if you need to change items often, an easy-to-use system may add a lot of value.
Reporting
Sales reports are an absolute must when it comes to any POS system. How you’re able to slice that data is just as important. You need to be able to compare how one item category is selling over another. You should also be able to see when your restaurant makes the most sales. This helps inform employee scheduling and hours of operation.
Related to sales, Spencer Michiel, tech consultant for Back of House, a restaurant tech consulting business, says restaurants’ two go-to reports are typically the sales mix and product mix.
The sales mix report shows you how different groups of items are selling in comparison to each other. For example, you might use it to compare alcoholic versus non-alcoholic drink sales. The product mix report shows how each of your individual menu items is selling.
Integrations
First and foremost, POS systems help you take orders and manage your restaurant. But they can’t do everything — at least not well. Regardless of which system you choose, you’ll probably need to integrate it with different software programs for things like accounting, payroll and inventory management.
Ideally, your POS system will sync with these programs for free. Some options, like Toast, charge extra. In that case, ask if the company will waive the fee.
Don’t forget to think about the products you’d like to bring into the fold in the future either. Perry, for example, says it’s unlikely Klatch Coffee will continue to use Toast’s customer-facing app and loyalty program down the road. Fortunately, Toast integrates with third-party options that could be suitable replacements.
If you’d like to adopt new technology as it rolls out, Michiel also suggests making sure your POS system uses RESTful APIs. This universal programming interface lets you connect your system to other software programs via plug-and-play integration. All of the options we list above have this.
It probably isn’t as important to very small operations. But it’s something to consider if you plan to scale your restaurant in the future.
Offline mode
Klatch Coffee’s previous POS system didn’t have an offline mode. Perry says it was one of the business’s biggest paint points, and I can see why. Your POS system’s main job is to accept payments. If it can’t do that, you lose sales.
All of the options above have an offline mode. Just know that some of them (e.g., SpotOn, Toast, Lightspeed) require you to purchase a router.
How to get the best deal on restaurant POS systems
With price being one of the biggest factors in the decision-making process, don’t be afraid to try and get the best deal possible. The experts I spoke with helped explain how to go about that. Here’s what I’d do based on their advice:
- Ask for custom pricing. Michiel says this model gives you the most room to negotiate. That goes for POS software plans or processing rates. It requires more conversation up front, but the savings could be worth it. Perry, for example, says Klatch Coffee’s high-volume sales likely helped get the business a lower processing rate.
- Negotiate discounts. Don’t like the extra fees for integrations or crucial add-ons? Michiel says it’s fair to ask the POS system provider if they’ll waive them. They might hold them for the first year or indefinitely, but you won’t know unless you ask. This can be especially effective if you’re on board with everything else about the product, minus a handful of extra fees.
- Prioritize low processing rates. “Over the long term, if you're paying higher rates in payment processing, that's going to be the largest expense,” says Michiel. He suggests paying as much as you can upfront instead of opting for a $0-down situation that comes with higher processing costs.
- Try not to focus too much on the free stuff. POS companies offer software and hardware freebies to get new clients onboard. But a lot of their money is actually coming from ongoing payment processing fees, Michiel says. Free stuff is still a plus — just don’t make decisions based on it.
- Request costs of every single line item. Ask for a list of all the costs you should expect to pay, and be direct about it. Examples include fees for add-ons, integrations, PCI compliance and implementation. You don’t want to run into surprises after you sign a contract or invest in hardware.
How do you choose the best POS system for your restaurant?
Michiel likens switching POS systems to “open heart surgery.” No one wants to be in that position. Transferring all of your data from one system to another can be messy, to say the least. That’s why you want to get it right the first time.
Follow these steps to land on the best POS system for your restaurant:
1. Make a list of must-have features based on your restaurant type
Most restaurants will need the features listed above (e.g., menu management, reporting, integrations, offline mode) at a minimum. Not sure what else to prioritize? Start by considering the type of restaurant you run. Here are some of the main restaurant types, along with what they should look for in a POS system:
Quick-service: Michiel says ease of use and quick setup is key for these types of restaurants. These elements keep busy lines moving. He also recommends a product with online ordering features. Then customers can order ahead and skip the line.
Food trucks: Portability is the biggest factor for Michiel in this case.
“Can you pack it up and put it away at the end of the night?” he asks.
Full registers probably aren’t the move in this scenario. Instead, you might look for tablet POS systems paired with a mobile credit card reader.
Full-service: This is often the most complex type of restaurant, and you’re going to need a more capable POS system to match it. Michiel says coursing features and kitchen display systems can keep things flowing smoothly.
“There's a pace to the evening, especially if you are a fine dining restaurant,” he adds. “You don't want to be bunching up entrees.” In other words, you don’t want an employee to serve entrees while a table’s still working on appetizers.
To avoid this, he suggests making sure your POS system can fire off orders to different stations and space them out correctly. For example, a drink order might go to the bar, while an appetizer order goes to the grill. Depending on its prep time, the entree order might not get sent to the kitchen until the table is halfway done with their appetizers.
Coffee shops and bars: Like quick-service restaurants, coffee shops and bars need to be able to enter orders and add modifiers quickly. Their POS systems should be nimble and easy to use.
2. Confirm it integrates with the rest of your tech stack
Your POS system holds your sales data — that info is critical to other operations within your business. It should be able to communicate with your restaurant accounting software, payroll system and any other program you use (e.g., inventory management, customer-facing app, loyalty program, reservations platform, etc.).
Ask a rep if the product integrates with your existing tech stack and any other programs you think you might adopt in the future. After confirming the integrations exist, ask if they cost extra.
3. Vet customer support
To gauge the quality of a system’s customer support, Michiel suggests asking for a company’s call volume (the lower the better), average hold time and first call resolution rate (ideally around 90%).
Michiel acknowledges that a company might not have these metrics. In that case, he recommends asking if someone could get back to you with the figures. Even if they can’t, you can at least gauge how knowledgeable the representative seems.
Metrics aside, see who you actually have a connection with, too. Perry, for example, appreciated that her Toast sales representative actually had restaurant experience. She says he understood her business better than a representative she spoke with at Square.
“Toast worked harder for my business,” she says.
4. Schedule a demo and request a test account
Schedule a demo before you commit to a POS system. And try to come to it prepared with specific questions.
Perry, for instance, asks things like, “What if a customer takes something away — can you deduct the price?” Another example she mentions is swapping the type of cheese a customer wants versus adding an extra piece of cheese.
Perry also says not to get distracted by features that don't matter to you. Don't hesitate to ask the representative to move on to a topic that's more important to your operation.
After the demo, request a test account if you'd like to play around with the software more yourself. This is one of the best ways to feel out a product’s ease of use.
6. Ask for a list of all the fees you should expect to pay
Ongoing payment processing fees, monthly POS software costs and upfront hardware expenses are the main costs you should expect.
Outside of that, ask what else the company charges for. Here are some less obvious expenses to ask about:
- Setup and implementation.
- Add-ons.
- Integrations.
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews point-of-sale (POS) system providers before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we added a payroll integration category to our POS systems rubric. It’s important that POS systems can sync up with payroll software to minimize manual data entry and keep track of employee hours.
NerdWallet’s POS system provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria.
Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate POS system providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
