For restaurants, point-of-sale systems do much more than accept credit and debit card payments. They also help with communication between the front and back of house, table and menu management, inventory tracking and sales reports.
The best options, listed below, are reliable, easy to use and packed with features that make day-to-day restaurant operations go smoothly. All of NerdWallet's top picks are also equipped with 24/7 customer support options and tools for inventory management, table management and employee management.
Best Restaurant 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurants doing dine-in and online business | 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. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website |
Square Restaurant POS Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Cafes and bars | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available. | Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Features focused on profitability | N/A Quote-based. | $69 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
SpotOn Restaurant Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Overall restaurant POS system | 1.99% + $0.25 | $25 | Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | ||
Clover Restaurant POS | 4.0/5 Best for Quick-service restaurants | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $55 $54.95 and up. | |||
Lightspeed Restaurant POS Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Established restaurants with multiple locations | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $69 Starter plan; $189 Essential plan; $399 Premium plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website | ||
Loyverse | 4.0/5 Best for Small dine-in or takeout restaurants | N/A Varies by processor. | $0 |
Our pick for
Restaurants doing dine-in and online business
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.
Every element of Toast's POS system is designed in a restaurant-first way. Hardware options are made to withstand spills, grease and heat. These include self-serve kiosks, kitchen display systems, handheld POS systems and guest displays that let customers view orders. Its free plan also offers 24/7 support via email, live chat and phone, just like its higher-tier plans do.
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
Cafes and bars
Square Restaurant POS
Learn more
on Square Restaurant POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
The free version of Square for Restaurants comes equipped with a comprehensive list of features, including inventory management, menu management, table management and employee time tracking.
Pros
- Free plan available.
- App and card readers are compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- Can pay for hardware in installments.
- No long-term contracts or installation fees.
- In-house payroll software available.
- All plans include a free online ordering page.
Cons
- Free plan doesn’t include 24/7 support.
Our pick for
Features focused on profitability
TouchBistro
Learn more
on TouchBistro's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69
and up.
For restaurants that haven’t warmed to the idea of a totally cloud-based POS system, TouchBistro is a solid option. It’s a hybrid POS, meaning it’s locally installed but data is still sent to the cloud. Although other cloud-based POS systems can accept payments in offline mode, the TouchBistro system will maintain additional capabilities, like real-time reporting, in a Wi-Fi outage.
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
Overall restaurant POS system
SpotOn Restaurant
4.5
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25
Monthly fee
$25
SpotOn’s monthly software fee and payment processing fees along with its ability to integrate with third-party hardware make this system an affordable and appealing option. SpotOn offers customizable add-on features such as a loyalty program and team management software. The company also has a strong reputation for its hands-on approach to customer support, from installation and training to 24/7 availability for assistance.
Pros
- 24/7 customer support via telephone.
- No long-term contract.
- Hands-on installation and training for an additional fee.
- Can integrate with third-party hardware.
Cons
- Quote-based hardware pricing makes it hard to compare total costs with other POS systems.
Our pick for
Quick-service restaurants
Clover Restaurant POS
Monthly fee
$55
$54.95 and up.
Clover’s sleek hardware is a real investment considering the price point, but it can be worth it for restaurants that do a lot of business, especially those that offer dine-in as well as takeout and online ordering options.
Pros
- 24/7 customer support.
- Includes online ordering capabilities.
- Hardware and software features designed for various dining services.
Cons
- Must use Clover’s proprietary hardware.
- Monthly software fee and hardware costs may be prohibitively high for some businesses.
Our pick for
Established restaurants with multiple locations
Lightspeed Restaurant POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$69
Starter plan; $189 Essential plan; $399 Premium plan.
While some POS systems strictly limit what hardware you can use, Lightspeed Restaurant may be able to combine different brands’ restaurant-specific items in its hardware stack. This is especially ideal for restaurants with an existing collection of hardware.
Pros
- 24/7 phone and chat support.
- Free online training with a specialist.
- May be compatible with hardware from different brands.
Cons
- Annual contracts are required for lower pricing.
- Monthly software fees are higher than many competitors.
Our pick for
Small dine-in or takeout restaurants
Loyverse
4.0
NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$0
Loyverse offers free POS software with several features well suited to businesses in retail or food and drink industries. It can support inventory tracking for mixed drinks in bars and order management for cafes and restaurants, for example. It can also handle retail store inventory.
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, grocery stores, retail stores and boutiques.
- Integrates with several payment processors, including SumUp and Zettle.
- Can be used with other payment processors without an integration.
- Free software includes a loyalty program, which most competitors offer as an add-on with additional cost.
Cons
- 24/7 live chat support is only available with paid add-on subscriptions.
- Not all features are available with the free version, including employee management and integrations into accounting and e-commerce apps.
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Our picks for best restaurant POS systems
SpotOn Restaurant POS: Best overall restaurant POS system
Why we like it: With one of the most competitive payment processing rates we’ve seen among POS providers, a reasonable monthly fee inclusive of email marketing, reporting and review management features, 24/7 phone support, hardware financing options and the ability to integrate with third-party hardware, SpotOn’s restaurant POS solution stands out as great value for money spent. The SpotOn team is dedicated to helping restaurants build just the right system for their needs and consults with its restaurant advisory board — a group of restaurant-industry veterans — for feedback to continue improving its products.
- $25 for base software, which includes email marketing, reporting and review management.
- $45 for online ordering.
- $65 for loyalty program.
- $100 for reservations and waitlist.
Quote-based.
- 1.99% plus 25 cents for standard credit and debit card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 25 cents for reward, international, corporate and keyed-in cards.
Toast: Best for restaurants doing dine-in and online business
Why we like it: Toast offers a wealth of restaurant-specific tools and features, including in-house delivery, online ordering and takeout services. Each of these is included in Toast’s mid-tier monthly plan or available as an add-on with other plans. Toast Delivery Services charges a flat fee for each order with no additional monthly cost. It offers a Pay-as-you-Go pricing option with any of its starter kits, which charges higher processing fees but no monthly software fee and no hardware payment — but you still own the hardware from the start. This can be a great and affordable option for restaurants with a lower volume of transactions. Toast runs on an Android operating system and sells proprietary hardware (at undisclosed prices) that’s been built to withstand the kitchen environment. Read our full Toast POS review.
- $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.
- $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).
- 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.
Square for Restaurants: Best for cafes and bars
Why we like it: In addition to a free plan, Square offers quick, commitment-free sign-up; flexibility to scale with any number of its add-on tools; the ability to trial the Plus plan free for 30 days and to cancel any of its plans without fees; and the option to pay for hardware in installments — making it an exceptional option for newer and smaller food-service establishments. These benefits in addition to competitive payment processing rates and full pricing transparency have earned Square a 5-star rating from NerdWallet. The tablet accessories offered by Square are mostly compatible with iPads, though they can operate on some Android tablets. Read our full Square for Restaurants review.
- $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.
- $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.
- 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.
» MORE: Best bar POS systems
Clover Restaurant POS: Best for quick-service restaurants
Why we like it: Bustling quick-service restaurants that draw big crowds can likely justify the heavy investment in Clover’s pricey but sturdy hardware. Those that are looking to help shorten long lines may especially appreciate the Clover Flex, a mobile POS terminal that enables employees to take orders, collect payments and print receipts on the go. Clover systems, like many competitive POS providers these days, can accept payments while the internet is down or you don’t have Wi-Fi. The Full-Service Restaurant plans also include online ordering that some competitors treat as add-ons. The company now offers its own kitchen display hardware and software, albeit at a steeper price than many of its competitors. Clover’s POS software runs on an Android operating system and operates only on its proprietary hardware, although it does provide a list of supported third-party accessories. Read our full Clover POS review.
- $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.
- $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.
- 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.
Lightspeed Restaurant POS: Best for established restaurants with multiple locations
Why we like it: As a powerful POS system that runs on the higher end of the pricing spectrum for monthly software fees, Lightspeed Restaurant POS is a good fit for restaurants that are firmly established, perhaps with multiple locations to take advantage of the features Lightspeed offers for multi-location management. Given the annual contract requirement and higher priced monthly plans, Lightspeed makes better sense for businesses that have had time to establish a reliable customer base. And if you process more than $50,000 a month, you may be eligible for lower payment processing fees. Lightspeed is compatible with a variety of iPads and iPhones and is optimized for use with iOS systems. Its supported hardware page doesn’t list any Android tablets. Read our full Lightspeed Restaurant POS review.
- $69 for Starter plan.
- $189 for Essential plan.
- $399 for Premium plan.
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $99 for Chipper 2X BT card reader.
- $199 for iPad stand or swivel stand.
- $299 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
TouchBistro: Best for features focused on profitability
Why we like it: From a table management feature that shows total spend and time seated per table to a new (admittedly pricey) profit management tool with advanced inventory, reporting and vendor management capabilities, TouchBistro’s POS software features place a particular emphasis on helping restaurants assess, manage and increase profitability. It’s a hybrid POS system (meaning data is stored both locally and in the cloud, which enhances offline functionality) that has solutions for all types of restaurants, including food trucks, catering companies and bakeries. TouchBistro is an iPad POS system. It’s compatible with most iPad models but not Android devices. Read our full TouchBistro review.
- $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.
Not disclosed. An iPad is necessary to run TouchBistro software. IPads, cash drawers, routers, printers, mini servers, keyboards and other accessories are available by quote only. You may also have the option to use your existing equipment.
Quote-based if you use TouchBistro Payments; can also choose from third-party payment processors.
Loyverse: Best for small dine-in or takeout restaurants
Why we like it: Loyverse is one of a few restaurant POS providers that offers free POS software, and because you download the free app to your own compatible smartphone or tablet, it’s easy to get up and running quickly. Loyverse enables both cash and card (including contactless) payments, but credit card payments are processed through third-party processors, so it’s not an all-in-one solution like Square or Clover. Since its software lacks some of the more advanced restaurant-oriented features such as menu and table management and online ordering, Loyverse is a good fit for smaller establishments with simple POS needs that are looking to keep costs low. Unlike many of its competitors, Loyverse offers free KDS software; you need only provide a tablet to use as your display screen. The software runs on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
- $0 for base POS software.
- $25 each for employee management and advanced inventory management.
- $9 for each third-party integration.
You can shop on the Loyverse website from a selection of hardware the company has tested for compatibility with its POS software. Prices are listed once you go into the Shop POS Portal. The company lists compatible options for both Android and iOS.
Through third-party payment processors.
» MORE: Best tablet POS systems
What is a restaurant POS system?
Restaurant employees use POS systems to accept various forms of payment, keep track of inventory, take orders and send them to the kitchen, clock in and out, manage table layout, and maintain menus. A full system consists of hardware — usually a terminal, card reader, cash drawer and receipt printer — and software, along with payment processing capabilities.
How much does a restaurant POS system cost?
When you’re estimating cost, factor in hardware, software and payment processing. Expect to pay around $800 to $1,700 upfront for a register setup that includes a POS terminal, card reader, receipt printer and cash drawer. Taxes, delivery and potential setup and training fees can get pricey too, so make sure you understand what additional costs are associated with a product before you sign a contract.
Some software plans are free while others cost around $60 or $70 per month on the lower end. Most companies charge extra fees per additional terminal, too. Consider whether you’ll need integrations such as advanced inventory management, vendor management or online ordering. These will further increase your monthly cost.
Payment processing fees vary, but try to avoid monthly PCI compliance fees and high chargeback fees (those over $25 per dispute).
How to choose a restaurant POS system
Consider the following factors when choosing a POS system for your restaurant:
Payment processing. A payment processor allows you to accept card payments, an important capability for most restaurants. Some POS providers offer their own payment processing services, while others give you the option to connect with various third-party processors.
Front-of-house management. All restaurants need to take, process and manage orders from customers. The best POS system for your restaurant will allow you to manage your front-of-house operations in the way that makes everything run smoothly, whether that includes tableside ordering, splitting and authorizing checks, communicating with the kitchen or managing your floor plan.
Menu and inventory management. A restaurant POS system should allow you to customize the menu, track inventory, and note modifications, special offers and sold-out items.
Employee management and access. A good system allows you to set up employee access and permissions, schedule shifts, let employees clock in and out, and split tips.
Reporting. Strong reporting capabilities are a must. Look for actual versus theoretical cost reports on food and labor to find opportunities for improving margins. Ideally you should be able to run reports on your restaurant’s different sales channels to see how each channel is performing. This can tell you which dishes are selling best in-house versus takeout, for example.
Integrations. Many restaurant POS systems allow you to connect to additional internal or third-party tools, such as online ordering apps, email marketing software and payroll services.
Support. Consider what kind of customer support is offered by restaurant POS providers. Some providers have phone, chat and email support, as well as implementation and training services. If your restaurant is open late at night, go with a product that offers 24/7 support.
Last updated on August 28, 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.