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7 Best Restaurant POS Systems of April 2024

The best restaurant point-of-sale systems have table and menu management features, inventory and employee management tools, and strong reporting capabilities.
By Hillary Crawford, Lisa A. Anthony, Karrin Sehmbi
Last updated on January 2, 2024
Edited byChristine Aebischer
Fact checked and reviewed

⏰ Estimated read time: 11 minutes

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The best restaurant point-of-sale (POS) solutions are reliable, easy to use and packed with features that make day-to-day restaurant operations flow. These do much more than accept payments — they also facilitate communication between the front and back of house and have table or menu management capabilities.

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Square
Square

Square Restaurant POS

NerdWallet Rating 
5.0
Other features to look out for include 24/7 customer support, inventory tracking and employee management tools.
Here are our top picks for the best restaurant POS systems.

Best Restaurant POS Systems

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Estimates assume an average interchange fee of 1.81% + $0.10, based on our latest available data. Estimates provided reflect online and in-person transactions, but exclude any keyed transactions. Estimates are based on the lowest monthly plan and processing fees for each provider.

Product
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Payment processing fees
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Square Restaurant POS

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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

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on Toast POS's secure website

4.5/5

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

4.5/5

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

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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

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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

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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

Learn more

on Square Restaurant POS's secure website

Monthly fee
$0.00

Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available.

Our pick for

Restaurants doing dine-in and online business

Toast POS

Learn more

on Toast POS's secure website

Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15

if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.

Monthly fee
$0.00

Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.

Our pick for

Quick-service restaurants

Clover Restaurant POS

Monthly fee
$55.00

$54.95 and up.

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

For most cards in paid plans.

Monthly fee
$0.00

and up.

Our pick for

Features focused on profitability

TouchBistro

Learn more

on TouchBistro's secure website

Payment processing fees
N/A

Quote-based.

Monthly fee
$69.00

and up.

Our pick for

Established restaurants with multiple locations

Lightspeed Restaurant POS

Learn more

on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website

Monthly fee
$69.00

Starter plan; $189 Essential plan; $399 Premium plan.

Our pick for

Cash discount program

Learn more

on Lavu's secure website

Payment processing fees
N/A

Quote-based.

Monthly fee
$99.00

and up.

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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.

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 .

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 .

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 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 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 .

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 .

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 , catering companies and bakeries. TouchBistro is an iPad POS system. It’s compatible with most iPad models but not Android devices. Read our full .

Lavu: Best for cash discount program

Why we like it: On top of offering a cash discount program, all of Lavu’s POS software plans include team management features, inventory management tools and bluetooth scale plug-ins. You can also add gift card capabilities, as well as specific integrations for third-party products like QuickBooks Online, Xero, UberEats and DoorDash. 

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 .

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 , , 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 .
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 January 2, 2024

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 .
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 .
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