The 5 Best POS Systems For Pizza Parlors & Pizzerias
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Pizza is the ultimate food; I’d be perfectly content subsisting entirely on pizza forever. Alas, my loved ones would probably get on my case big-time if I did this, so I must content myself with eating pizza only part-time while doing all I can to better the lives of those who make this ultimate Food of the Gods — I’m talking about you, pizza shops!
In lieu of consuming a large stuffed-crust pizza, alone, my pizza-related activity for today is writing this blog post on the best cloud-based POS software systems for pizzerias.
Pizza POS systems typically come loaded with must-have features, such as EMV compliance, raw ingredient tracking, and the ability to input complicated pizza orders with ease. Some cloud pizza POS systems (mmm, “cloud pizza,”…that sounds good) also offer some sweet extras, such as online ordering and delivery options.
In this article, I’ll go over the merits and shortcomings of five pizza-friendly POS systems — Shopkeep, Clover, Toast, Upserve, and Revel — to help you figure out which one is the best for your pizza shop.
If you have any thoughts on my choices, we can talk about those in the comments. Or we could just chat about pizza, that would be cool too.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Summary | Next StepsSummary |
|---|---|---|
ShopKeep POS
 | Best for quick-serve | Best for quick-serve
|
Clover POS
 | Best for easy setup | Best for easy setup
|
Toast POS
 | Best for digital ordering options | Best for digital ordering options
|
Upserve POS
 | Best for full-service restaurants | Best for full-service restaurants
|
Revel POS
 | Best for customizability | Best for customizability
|
Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents
The Best Pizza POS Systems
The best pizza POS systems offer features, such as ingredient management, online ordering, delivery, and takeout. Whether you operate a takeout pizzeria or a sit-down pizza parlor, having the right POS system can make your life a lot easier. Here are some of our top picks for pizza POS software.
1. ShopKeep
ShopKeep POS
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Best for quick-serve.
ShopKeep is one of the best POS systems for quick-serve businesses, and while it wasn’t made specifically for pizza, it has useful pizza features, such as raw ingredient tracking. The system is highly scalable, customizable, and affordable (call for a custom quote; there’s also a limited free plan). Pizzerias can set their system up so that they can, for example, add different toppings and calculate those into the total price of a pizza. Customers can order pizzas online using your custom online ordering website.
ShopKeep runs on both iPad and proprietary Clover hardware. In addition to its versatility, reliability is another benefit of ShopKeep. Its offline functionality ensures that you’ll still be able to run credit card transactions even if your internet connection goes down. If you do have a problem, ShopKeep will work hard to fix it for you, thanks to its top-notch customer support.
ShopKeep integrates with numerous payment processors, allowing you to work with your preferred merchant services provider — or you can use ShopKeep’s in-house payment processing, ShopKeep Payments, which offers interchange-plus rates.
All in all, most pizzerias will find this to be a high-quality POS, particularly for a quick-serve and takeout pizza shop, including pizzerias that sell by the slice. However, full-service restaurants may find the feature-set somewhat lacking.
Jump back to comparison chart
2. Clover POS
Clover POS
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Best for easy setup.
Clover is a complete restaurant POS with lots of useful functions for both counter-service and table-service restaurants. Clover has modules for ingredient tracking, online ordering, and delivery, and it even markets a pizza-builder app made specifically for pizzerias. Clover’s popular Counter Service plan is $39.95/month and includes online ordering, bar tabs, tips, shifts, discounts, and more; Clover’s Table Service plan is $69.95/month and adds table management.
Clover uses its proprietary hardware with various options, including Clover Station, Clover Station Pro, Clover Mini, and Clover Flex. Clover is always sold with a Fiserv merchant account, though there are thousands of different entities that sell Fiserv merchant services. Your rates and terms will vary on which Clover reseller you choose, so it’s important to choose a good one, or buy it directly from Clover. Being an all-in-one system that combines hardware, software, and payment processing, Clover is incredibly easy to set up and use out of the box.
The Clover POS system is ultra-customizable — it comes out of the box with basic POS functionality, and you use apps, typically purchased via a monthly fee, from Clover’s app market to add the specific features you need. Clover’s “Swift Pizza” app offers several useful functions for quick-serve pizzerias for $19.95/month.
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3. Toast POS
Toast POS
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Best for digital ordering options.
Toast POS works well for pizza parlors of all sizes, from takeout/delivery to full-service restaurants. Unlike the other pizza POS software systems on our list, Toast was built specifically for foodservice. This POS and restaurant management system starts at $75/month for the core POS and runs exclusively on Android devices, which gives Toast a little more versatility compared to its iPad-based counterparts. Toast POS uses hardwired terminals with (optional) handheld tableside ordering devices (Toast Go, pictured above) and kitchen display screens.
The system is feature-rich but easy enough to learn, with a straightforward, intuitive interface. Some cool functions of this POS include the ability to update your menu online, offer digital or printed receipts, and provide customized tip percentage options during customer transactions. QSR can definitely use Toast, but the POS also has plenty of functionality to support a full-service bar-and-restaurant. Toast also has multiple digital ordering options, including online ordering, contactless delivery, and takeout. For the full digital ordering suite, you’ll pay another $75/month.
Toast offers its in-house, integrated payment processing, which means you can’t use your own merchant services provider. Toast promises to match the rates of your current merchant services provider, but if you want to use a specific outside payment processor, this isn’t the POS for you. Toast is also a little pricier than some of the other options on our list.
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4. Upserve POS
Upserve POS
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Best for full-service restaurants.
Upserve is a cloud POS made specifically for restaurants that’s available on both iPad and Android tablets. With features such as online ordering, recipe costing, and delivery management, Upserve works great for quick-serve and takeout pizzerias. However, it also has features for full-service pizza parlors, including table management and tableside ordering using the custom-built Upserve Tableside device with built-in contactless payments. In a lot of ways, Upserve is similar to Toast, so if you are interested in Upserve, it’s a good idea to compare it with Toast also.
Upserve is a pizza POS system that integrates in-house, call-in, and online orders, making it easy to manage all your orders. It’s also super easy to add a tip, fee, or delivery charge to any check.
Upserve subscription plans start at $59/month, but you’ll need the $199/month subscription to access such features as inventory management and loyalty. Online ordering is also included with the $199/month subscription (for a limited time only; usually, it is a paid add-on). All plans come with flat-rate payment processing using Upserve Payments.
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5. Revel Systems
Revel POS
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Best for customizability.
Revel Systems is a comprehensive iPad POS with a truly exhaustive set of features. Revel has a ton of slick features and integrations, and it might be your POS of choice if you want a super-customizable POS with options for delivery management, tableside ordering, online pizza ordering, kitchen display systems, multilocation support, and more.
Revel has been around since 2010, and it has many satisfied customers in the food industry thanks to features ranging from a digital menu board to an open API. You can build on Revel’s functionality with its app marketplace — Revel also builds branded mobile apps for merchants. Highly-scaleable Revel can even work for enterprise-level foodservice businesses and counts Popeyes Chicken and Arby’s among its customers.
Revel’s software is super robust and can be customized for both full-service and quick-service pizzerias, though I would say it’s better suited for quick-serve overall. The POS has strong menu-building capabilities and customizable ordering options that let you add toppings, create half-and-half pizzas, and enter special requests. You can even track your delivery drivers like you would an Uber driver.
Revel is probably the highest-end iPad POS on this list. Plans start at $99/month for core POS functionality (without extras, such as online ordering), and they are billed annually with a three-year contract and an agreement to use Revel’s in-house payment processor, Revel Advantage.
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What To Look For In A Pizza Point Of Sale System
Here are some features that are important for pizza restaurants to consider while they’re looking around.
- Ingredient Tracking: With raw ingredient management, you can track which and how many ingredients are used in each order and update your inventory automatically. Some systems even let you reorder ingredients right from the app.
- Online Ordering: Take it from a millennial: Your younger customers want to place their pizza order without having to speak to an actual human. Customers should have an option to order their takeout or delivery pizza online, either on your website or using an app.
- Delivery Management: Pizza and delivery go together like pepperoni and cheese. A pizza delivery POS system lets you manage and track delivery orders, either with an in-house delivery system or via an integration with a third-party delivery service.
- Order Management: Many pizzerias will have some combination of dine-in, online, and phone-in orders. A POS with strong order management integrates all of these orders in one convenient system.
- Pizza Builder: A POS with a pizza builder module made specifically for pizzerias will allow you to do things such as create custom pizzas, including half-and-half pizzas and unique topping combinations. Even if your POS doesn’t have a pizza-specific app, it should allow you to quickly and easily create custom orders.
- Loyalty Program: A loyalty program encourages repeat business and is usually offered as a paid POS add-on. Customers can sign up with their email address and earn points toward a free pizza.
Depending on your specific needs, you’ll likely need other features as well. For example, in a restaurant that might see a lot of staff turnover, an easy-to-learn POS is valuable because it reduces the time spent on training. Sit-down restaurants likely need a POS system with table management, pre-auth for bar tabs, and tableside ordering capabilities, while some quick-serve restaurant setups might benefit from a self-order kiosk.
How Do I Find The Right Pizza POS For My Restaurant?
Choosing the right pizza POS system requires you as the restaurant owner to look at some top systems and then narrow down your choices based on your budget and needed features. As most POS systems come with integrated payment processing, you should also take into consideration the credit card processing rates and fees charged by said POS companies, and consider how long of a contract you are comfortable signing.
Most importantly, you need to test out a POS system before committing to it. Some companies offer a free trial, while others may just have a free demo. It’s also a good idea to read reviews about the system and find out what the common complaints are.
Want to find out more about restaurant POS? Read these articles:
- How To Choose A Restaurant POS System
- Why You Should Consider A Self-Ordering Kiosk For Your Restaurant (Plus The 5 Best Kiosk POS Systems & How You Can Afford Them)
- Does Your Restaurant Need An Online Ordering System?
- Modernize Your Business With A Good Restaurant Ordering System
- POS 101: Raw Ingredient Tracking
- Restaurant Delivery Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Implementing In-House Delivery
In Summary: The Best Pizza POS Systems
- ShopKeep POS: Best for quick-serve
- Clover POS: Best for easy setup
- Toast POS: Best for digital ordering options
- Upserve POS: Best for full-service restaurants
- Revel POS: Best for customizability
Shannon Vissers
Shannon is a writer and editor based in San Diego, CA. Shannon attended San Diego State University, graduating in 2005 with a BA in English. She is the former editor-in-chief of SteelOrbis, an online trade publication. Shannon has also published articles for LIVESTRONG.COM, eHow, Life'd, and other websites. She has been with Merchant Maverick since 2015, writing about POS software, small business loans, and financing for women entrepreneurs.
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I run a small pizzeria, looking for a reasonably priced POS system, mostly to help with phone orders where I can see the address on the screen.
Thanks- Viktor
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Viktor, I’m not sure how much you’re looking to spend or if you already have a merchant account, but Toast, Revel, Clover, Upserve, Lavu, and TouchBistro can all offer those functions, as well as integrated payment processing and online ordering, somewhere in the range of $80-$150/month total. Revention is another option a lot of pizzerias use; that one costs a few thousand dollars upfront for the software and equipment, but I don’t believe it has a monthly charge.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I have been looking into POS systems and wonder why Revention is never mentioned? Thoughts on that POS? We currently have Aldelo and it is too basic for our carryout and delivery needs.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Scott,
Unfortunately we haven’t yet reviewed Revention so we can’t confidently give an assessment one way or another. I’d recommend checking out any of the POS systems referenced in this article, or you can give our filtering tool a try. Best of luck!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I have a pizza shop that has always offered carry out only with a simple cash register. We are going to start offering delivery. Currently we use Square for credit card processing. Any suggestions for a POS that could scale to online ordering and a delivery mapping function? Thanks!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Don! Both Revel Systems and Toast mentioned in this blog post offer online ordering and delivery mapping functionality. I also think you’ll like either of these systems better than Square overall because there are more advanced features and you’ll be able to get lower credit card processing rates than with Square. Before deciding on one, I would recommend testing both Revel and Toast to see which POS system you like better.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Shannon,
I am really having hard time to decide the best POS system for us. So far we have a take out delivery pizza place and planning to have more branches soon. Can you advice? Thanks
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Abdul,
Did you get a chance to read the article that you’re commenting on? We make several recommendations for a good Pizza store POS system like Shopkeep and Toast.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Another one not mentioned if you dont like monthly service fees is Point of Success. Runs on Windows computers. They use Vantiv mainly as the credit card processor. Very user friendly
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
What POS system would you recommend for a pizza restaurant with 1 location dine-in, online ordering, carry out and delivery.
thanks,
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Nino! Either Toast or Revel Systems. Both are solid systems that can perform those functions and I think their pricing is pretty comparable too. I’d recommend trying demos of both systems to see which one you like better. 🙂
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
what POS system would you recommend for a fast casual pizza restaurant with 2 locations and growing including dine-in, online ordering, carry out and delivery.
thanks,
Philippe
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Philippe,
I have a few more questions before I can make a recommendation so I am going to send you an email right now. Please keep an eye out for it!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
I’m looking for the answer to this question, too!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
EM,
Thanks for your patience. I think Revel or Toast would both be great options here.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi, Chloe
What do you recommend for pizza restaurant with delievery.
I am purchasing the small pizza restaurant and brand new owner.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Clara,
I am going to send you an email right now so please keep an eye out for it!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
What would be the best online ordering system that you would recommend to my business that has never had an online ordering system. We have been weighing our options and we are in need of a real online ordering system, we jsut havent the slightest clue to where to start, who to consult, how the process takes place.
If you could maybe give us some suggestions or pointers this would be a great help.
Thank you for your time.
-George
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi George,
I am going to send you an email right now so please keep an eye out for it.
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Can you send me that same email. Im curios about getting online as well with 4 stores
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Travis,
No problem, I’ll send you an email right now!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Can you send me that same email concerning best POS system for a pizzeria with dine-in, carry-out, and delivery service.
Thanks,
Jeff
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.
Hi Jeff,
Give our filtering tool a try. It’ll help you narrow down your options to the POS that’s best suited for your specific business needs. Best of luck!
This comment refers to an earlier version of this post and may be outdated.