If you’ve ever faced a throng of caffeine-craving customers from behind the register, you know how important it is to have a reliable point-of-sale system. The right POS system will keep the line moving, include easy-to-use features and help turn customers into regulars. Look for a system that offers customer-facing displays for tipping, loyalty programs, employee time-tracking features and online ordering options.
Here are NerdWallet’s picks for best cafe and coffee shop POS systems.
Best Cafe and Coffee Shop POS Systems
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Restaurant POS Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall cafe and coffee shop POS | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website |
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Taking payments from customers in line | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $15 $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Larger coffee shops that serve food | 2.99% + $0.15 if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront. | $0 Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Customer relationship management platform | N/A Quote-based. | $69 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Lavu | 3.0/5 Best for Cash discount program | N/A | $59 and up. |
Our pick for
Overall cafe and coffee shop POS
Square Restaurant POS
Learn more
on Square Restaurant POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
Square is easy to use and built to incorporate customer-facing displays for tipping. The free software plan, which comes with an online ordering page, may be sufficient for smaller cafes and coffee shops. With an array of add-ons, plan tiers and kitchen display system hardware, the product leaves room for growth, too.
Pros
- Easy to scale up as your business grows.
- Flexible system can adapt to restaurants of many types.
Cons
- Other systems have more front-of-house features.
- Limited inventory management.
Our pick for
Taking payments from customers in line
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$15
$14.95 and up.
Clover point-of-sale hardware is pricey, but the reasonable monthly cost and low payment processing fees may help offset that upfront investment over time.
Pros
- Competitive flat rates for payment processing.
- Hardware performs well and is well designed.
Cons
- No free options.
- Pricing can be tough to understand.
Our pick for
Larger coffee shops that serve food
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.99% + $0.15
if you pay for hardware monthly; 2.49% + 15¢ if you buy upfront.
Monthly fee
$0
Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.
Toast's restaurant-oriented POS system makes it easy to update menus, track table statuses, split checks, add gratuity automatically, apply various discount rules — say, for happy hour — take online orders, manage multiple locations, track employee performance and accept tableside payments.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, email and chat support.
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- In-house payroll software available.
- Online ordering is included in some plans.
- In-house delivery platform available.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
Cons
- A two-year contract is required.
Our pick for
Customer relationship management platform
TouchBistro
Learn more
on TouchBistro's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69
and up.
TouchBistro is built just for restaurants and includes a wide variety of add-on features, like reservation management. You can also choose from a list of compatible payment processors.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Built specifically for restaurants.
- Greater offline mode capabilities than many competitors.
Cons
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
Our pick for
Cash discount program
Lavu
Payment processing fees
N/A
Monthly fee
$59
and up.
Lavu’s terminals are entirely iPad-based and business owners can piece together their hardware components, all the way down to the rotation bases and brackets. One of the company’s most unique features is its cash discount program that rewards customers for paying in cash and upcharges those who pay with a card.
Pros
- Compatible with third-party payment processors.
- Lets you pick and choose integration features.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
Cons
- Limited hardware options.
- Monthly software fees skyrocket if you choose not to use Lavu Pay for payment processing.
- Lack of payment processing pricing transparency.
Square POS for Restaurants: Best overall cafe and coffee shop POS
Monthly fees:
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $60 for Square Restaurant and Retail Plus plans.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
Hardware pricing:
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $49 and up for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer.
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system.
Payment processing:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Why we like it: Square is easy to use and built to incorporate customer-facing displays for tipping. The Square Stand swivels to face the customer, while the Square Register has a separate customer-facing screen. The free software plan, which comes with an online ordering page, may be sufficient for smaller cafes and coffee shops. However, with an array of add-ons, plan tiers and kitchen display system hardware, the product leaves room for growth, too. Read our full Square POS for Restaurants review.
» MORE: Best small-business apps
Clover: Best for taking payments from customers in line
Monthly fees:
- $14.95 for Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter, Professional Services Starter and Standard and Home & Field Services plans.
- $49.95 for Retail Standard, Personal Services Standard and Advanced and Professional Services Advanced plans.
- $54.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $64.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $69.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $84.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $99.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $114.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
Hardware pricing:
- $49 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
Payment processing:
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter and Professional Services Standard plans, as well as Home & Field Services Standard and Advanced plans.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Why we like it: Clover's core software plan for counter service restaurants like coffee shops includes a loyalty program and no-fee online ordering. In addition, Clover Flex and Mini POS systems are equipped with LTE, a standard for wireless data transmission, which will kick in during Wi-Fi outages and allow cashiers to continue taking orders as usual. And if your coffee shop deals with long lines, the handheld Flex POS system enables staff to take orders anywhere. Read our full Clover POS review.
Toast: Best for larger coffee shops that serve food
Monthly fees:
- $0 for Quick Start Bundle.
- $69 for Core plan.
- $110 plus $4 per employee for Restaurant Basics plan.
- $165 for Growth plan.
- Custom plans available.
Hardware pricing:
- $627 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $875 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,009 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
Payment processing:
- 2.99% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose pay-as-you-go option on hardware.
- 2.49% plus 15 cents for card-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
- 3.50% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
Why we like it: As NerdWallet's top overall pick for restaurant POS systems, Toast is a solid pick for cafes and coffee shops that sell made-to-order food options and plan to expand. Highlights include an offline mode, in-house delivery service, the Toast TakeOut app for online ordering, a $50-per-month loyalty program and a kitchen display system. Read our full Toast POS review.
TouchBistro: Best customer relationship management platform
Monthly fees:
- $69 for base plan.
- $25 for gift cards feature.
- $50 for online ordering feature.
- $99 for loyalty features or marketing features.
- $229 for reservations feature.
Hardware pricing: Quote-based.
Payment processing: TouchBistro Payments is quote-based and works with third-party payment solutions.
Why we like it: TouchBistro's software is locally installed, meaning it's fully functional in the event of a Wi-Fi outage. Just ensure your payment processor is integrated with the POS or has its own offline mode so you can continue accepting payments. In addition, the company's loyalty program, which starts at $99 per month, doubles as a customer relationship management platform. The program keeps track of customer data like allergies, birthdays and preferences and sends targeted offers to customers, making it easier to recognize repeat customers and their orders. Read our full TouchBistro review.
Lavu: Best cash discount program
Monthly fees:
Pricing varies depending on whether you choose to include Lavu Pay in your plan.
- $59-$329 for Starter plan.
- $129-$429 for Growth plan.
- $279-$529 for Optimize plan.
Hardware pricing: Lavu's POS terminals use iPads, which can be bought through Lavu or elsewhere. The Vault Pro iPad enclosure is $219. Stands, rotation bases, receipt printers and cash drawers are sold separately. Read our full Lavu POS review.
Payment processing: Lavu Pay, the system's integrated solution, is quote-based; using a third-party payment processor costs $20 per month per terminal.
Why we like it: Lavu's terminals are entirely iPad-based and business owners can piece their hardware components down to the rotation bases and brackets. One of the company's most unique features is its cash discount program that rewards customers for paying in cash and upcharges those who pay with a card.
How to choose a coffee shop POS system
Here are some of the most important questions to ask while comparing your options:
Fees
- Does the system charge a monthly fee to integrate with your accounting software?
Hardware features
- Does the terminal come with a customer-facing display? Can you add one to it?
- Can you set tipping options on the customer-facing display?
- Does the company offer mobile POS options for taking orders from customers standing in line?
- Will an offline mode kick in when the Wi-Fi inevitably goes out?
Customizability and loyalty
- Can employees add special notes to orders?
- Is there a loyalty program that rewards customers for each visit?
- Will the system help your employees spot regulars and remember their orders?
Payments
- Is there an online ordering option or order-ahead option available?
- Does the system let you accept contactless payments?
- Are you stuck with the in-house payment processor, or can you use a third-party processor?
Time-tracking
- Does the system let employees easily clock in and out?
- Does it let employees tip out when a shift is over?
Last updated on March 21, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems 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 point-of-sale (POS) systems 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.