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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 | ||
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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 Cafes and bars | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 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 |
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurants doing dine-in and online business | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0.00 Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available. | Learn more on Toast POS'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 | $55.00 $54.95 and up. | |||
SpotOn Restaurant Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Overall restaurant POS system | 1.99% + $0.25 For most cards in paid plans. | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Features focused on profitability | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Lightspeed Restaurant POS Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Established restaurants with multiple locations | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $69.00 Starter plan; $189 Essential plan; $399 Premium plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website | ||
Lavu Learn more on Lavu's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Cash discount program | N/A Quote-based. | $99.00 and up. | Learn more on Lavu's secure website |
Our pick for
Cafes and bars
Square Restaurant POS
on Square Restaurant POS's secure website
Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
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
Restaurants doing dine-in and online business
Toast POS
on Toast POS's secure website
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 support via web messaging.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering is considered an add-on for all plans.
Our pick for
Quick-service restaurants
Clover Restaurant POS
$54.95 and up.
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
Overall restaurant POS system
SpotOn Restaurant
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
For most cards in paid plans.
and up.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Our pick for
Features focused on profitability
TouchBistro
on TouchBistro's secure website
Quote-based.
and up.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Includes restaurant-specific features, like table and menu management.
- Optional profit management system provides tools for improving margins.
- As a hybrid POS system, TouchBistro can operate without the cloud. Offline capabilities include accepting payments, taking orders, editing menus and managing staff.
Cons
- Payment processing rates are quote-based, making them difficult to compare to the competition.
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
- No free plan options and charges setup fee.
- Ability to accept online orders costs extra.
Our pick for
Established restaurants with multiple locations
Lightspeed Restaurant POS
on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website
Starter plan; $189 Essential plan; $399 Premium plan.
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
Cash discount program
Lavu
on Lavu's secure website
Quote-based.
and up.
Pros
- 24/7 phone and chat support.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
- Restaurants can set up timed menu changes, start customers’ tabs on one register and cash them out at another.
- Dual pricing program can help decrease payment processing fees.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot cancel subscription before term is up.
- Does not list payment processing fees.
- No virtual terminal for accepting transactions remotely.
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SpotOn Restaurant POS: Best overall restaurant POS system
- $0 for Quick Start plan.
- $99 for Counter-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- $135 for Full-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- Custom pricing available as well.
- $850 for the Counter POS.
- $750 for the Station POS.
- $600 for the KDS.
- Other hardware devices, like the handheld option, are custom.
- 1.99% plus 25 cents for most cards in the Counter-service, Full-service and Customizable plans.
- 2.89% plus 25 cents for Quick Start plan subscribers (this processing rate includes hardware and software costs).
- 2.99% plus 25 cents for reward, international, corporate and keyed-in cards.
Toast: Best for restaurants doing dine-in and online business
- $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.
- $799.20 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,024.20 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,339.20 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- 3.09% 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
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $60 for Square Restaurant Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $192 and up for Square Restaurant Essentials Bundle.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail 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; monthly financing available).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
- 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.
Clover Restaurant POS: Best for quick-service restaurants
- $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, though rates may also vary by hardware type.
- 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
- $69 for Starter plan.
- $189 for Essential plan.
- $399 for Premium plan.
- $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
- $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.
Lavu: Best for cash discount program
- $99 for Starter plan with Dual Pay.
- $149 for Growth plan with Dual Pay.
- $279 for Optimize plan with Dual Pay.