Restaurant POS Systems Best-Of Guide 2022: Find The Right Fit
These restaurant POS systems are built with the tools you need to adapt and thrive during these challenging times.
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Restaurant POS systems do everything from managing ingredient inventories to taking orders or reservations online and everything in between. Besides just taking payments, modern restaurant POS software also helps restaurant owners manage tasks from accounting to staff management. Moreover, these restaurant POS systems have user-friendly features for helping restaurants get more customers during an increasingly volatile time.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Summary | Next StepsSummary |
|---|---|---|
 | Best for free restaurant POS software. | Best for free restaurant POS software.
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 | Best for restaurants seeking an intuitive interface. | Best for restaurants seeking an intuitive interface.
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 | Best for restaurants needing a rich feature set. | Best for restaurants needing a rich feature set.
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 | Best for restaurant owners wanting an affordable all-in-one system. | Best for restaurant owners wanting an affordable all-in-one system.
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 | Best for full-service restaurants wanting a reservation management system. | Best for full-service restaurants wanting a reservation management system.
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Other Featured Options:
- Toast POS: Best for advanced digital ordering features.
- Shopify POS: Best for online ordering.
- Upserve POS: Best for reporting.
- talech POS: Best for restaurants wanting a cost-effective system.
- Lavu POS: Best for numerous integrations.
Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents
Top Restaurant POS Systems In 2022
Restaurant POS systems are feature-rich, all-in-one systems that provide restaurant owners with tools to run a restaurant business efficiently and pivot when needed.
The best restaurant POS systems include: Revel, Lightspeed, Square, Clover, TouchBistro, Toast, Shopify, Upserve, And talech.
1. Square For Restaurants: Best Affordable Option
Square For Restaurants POS
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Square For Restaurants offers a generous free plan, including employee management, free Square online ordering, and plenty of add-on options when it is time to scale.
Pros
- Free plan
- Free online ordering
- Works on iPad or Square Register
- Includes employee management
Cons
- It doesn’t include your own merchant account
- No reservation management
Square For Restaurant POS Software Features
With Square for Restaurants, the processing and POS giant hit the bullseye again. Square for Restaurants is available on iPad, and Square’s sleek all-in-one POS has a customer display and card/NFC reader, Square Register ($799). Here are some of Square for Restaurant’s highlights:
- Fast order entry
- Simple set up
- Square online ordering
- Square App Store
- Advanced discount options
- Live sales reports
- Course management
- A strong kitchen display system
- Automatic gratuity and tipping options
Square Pricing
Square for Restaurants is extremely easy to use, includes employee management, and doesn’t skimp on restaurant-specific features, all for a very reasonable $60/month rate for the “Plus” version. Or you can choose the free plan if you are okay with a more basic feature set.
Hardware Cost
Square has a wide variety of hardware options. Square Register starts at $799, the handheld Square Terminal starts at $299, and the basic reader is free.
Payment Processing
Square is known for its simple credit card processing. With Square for Restaurants, its rate for in-person transactions is 2.6% plus $0.10.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
Square for Restaurants has month-to-month pricing plans, and its basic plan with limited features is free.
Where Square For Restaurants Really Shines
Square has been an industry leader for years now and is one of the best all-in-one systems. The free plan for Square for Restaurants is exceptionally generous, and with Square, you also get excellent customer service and access to thousands of apps through its market. During Covid times, Square is also one of the best options for storefronts running ghost kitchens. Couple that with how easy Square is to set up and operate, and it’s tough to go wrong.
Get Started with Square For Restaurants POS
2. Clover: Best For Reservations
Clover POS
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Clover POS is a popular and incredibly easy-to-use system that gives restaurant owners everything they need to start selling food and managing a restaurant.
Pros
- Sold by numerous merchant account providers
- Full-service and quick-service software plans
- Convenient pay-as-you-go pricing through Clover.com
- Several sleek Clover hardware setups to choose from
Cons
- Can’t resell or reprogram hardware after purchase
- Not all Clover sellers are reputable
Clover Restaurant POS Software Features
Clover restaurant pos software is intuitive to use and set up. Simply select your desired hardware setup and software plan, and once it arrives, plug in your POS and begin serving customers in a matter of minutes. Here are a few of Clover’s other great features:
- Dynamic floor plans
- Complex check splitting
- Great hardware for tableside ordering
- Included apps
- Clover Marketplace
- Delivery integrations
- Online ordering functionality
- Highly customizable
- Virtual terminal
Clover Pricing
As far as software plans, you can choose from two month-to-month, pay-as-you-go Clover Dining plans. A sit-down restaurant should choose the table service restaurant plan, which is $69.95/month for the first device. QSRs can choose Clover’s counter-service plan for $39.95/month.
Hardware Costs
It’s a little tricky with Clover, as all of its hardware is sold by independent retailers. So the prices can vary, and you’d be wise to shop around. But Clover features a wide and impressive array of hardware options, from handheld devices to full-scale POS systems.
Payment Processing
With Clover, you must use Fiserv for your payment processor, which comes with some less-than-ideal customer service reviews. Clover has a base rate of 2.3% plus $0.10 per transaction, but rates may also vary slightly depending on your plan.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
With Clover, you have the option of paying month-to-month, but you will want to make sure you buy any hardware you use instead of leasing, if at all possible.
Where Clover Really Shines
Despite its issues, Clover pretty much does everything well. It has excellent hardware options and has some of the better online ordering and delivery options around, making it a strong choice as the pandemic continues to force restaurants to get creative. Clover’s table mapping function is also excellent, and its app marketplace makes for great customization options.
3. Revel: Best For Larger Restaurants
Revel POS Systems
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Revel is best for large restaurants, with advanced restaurant features and robust inventory management.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Advanced restaurant features
- Full offline functionality
- Flat-rate processing
Cons
- Many features cost extra
- Requires a long-term processing contract for the best price
Revel Restaurant POS Software Features
The word we often use to describe Revel is “powerhouse.” Here are some of its best features:
- Always-on mode for internet outages
- Conversational ordering system
- Simply discounting system
- Robust inventory management
- Intelligent reporting suite
- Self-service kiosk option
- Mobile and remote ordering options
- Open API for developers
- Strong loyalty options
- Built-in delivery feature
Revel Pricing
This system has one of the deepest feature sets of any POS system around and includes virtually anything a medium or large restaurant operation could possibly want, starting at $99/month. The cost can add up when you include numerous add-ons, but, especially for an enterprise business, Revel is certainly worth a long look.
Hardware Cost
Revel offers everything you need to get your business up and running, including individual iPads, stands, printers, and card readers. Prices aren’t listed on its website, but you can contact Revel directly for packages.
Payment Processing
Revel integrates with multiple processors and has Revel Advantage, the company’s payment system, which has a flat rate of 2.49% plus $0.15 for transactions.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
You need to sign up for a three-year deal through Revel Advantage to get its best rates, but this isn’t a requirement to use Revel’s services.
Where Revel Really Shines
Revel has the features to compete with some of the biggest POS competitors. It may not be cost-effective for smaller restaurants, but finding another system that gives you more bang for your buck isn’t easy. Revel has excellent customization options and also integrates with multiple companies. Because of Revel’s highly customizable feature set, we recommend it in even very customizable niches beyond just restaurants, such as a golf pos system.
Food service, niche industries (or a combination of both), can find what they need with Revel.
Get Started with Revel POS Systems
4. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best All-Around
Lightspeed Restaurant POS
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Lightspeed Restaurant is a premium iPad POS for restaurants and works as well for quick-service as it does for full-service restaurants.
Pros
- Affordable base price
- In-depth ingredient management
- Reservation management
- Customer-facing loyalty app
Cons
- The monthly software fee can get expensive with add-ons
- Flat-rate processing is expensive for high-volume restaurants
Lightspeed Restaurant POS Software Features
Lightspeed Restaurant POS features include:
- Contactless ordering and payment options
- QR code ordering capability
- Smart tipping with the option to distribute among staff
- Simple, adjustable table mapping
- Integrations with multiple delivery apps
- Online ordering on a single screen
- Customer-facing display
- Intuitive reservation system
- Multilocation reports
- 24/7 customer support included
Lightspeed Pricing
With pricing starting at $39/month (billed annually), Lightspeed is an affordable and quality choice of POS for small to medium full-service restaurants.
Hardware Cost
Lightspeed Restaurant has iPad bundles that you can purchase through its website, as well as a wide variety of individual pieces you can buy. It’s best to call the company for a quote on pricing.
Payment Processing
Lightspeed has its own processing program, and its fees are 2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions or 2.6% + $0.30 for card-not-present transactions.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
Lightspeed has options that allow you to pay month-to-month without a long-term contract, but its lowest advertised rate comes with an annual payment.
Where Lightspeed Restaurant Really Shines
Lightspeed has made a big commitment to expanding its features and its product in general in recent years, and it’s tough to find a POS system that checks all of the boxes as efficiently as this system does. Lightspeed has made numerous changes to help restaurants deal with issues stemming from Covid and remains one of the more cost-efficient options for what is included.
Get Started with Lightspeed Restaurant POS
5. TouchBistro: Best For Ease Of Use
TouchBistro
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TouchBistro is an elegant POS system designed specifically by and for restaurant workers.
Pros
- Locally-installed POS app (doesn’t require the internet)
- An excellent in-house reservation system
- Works with Square
- Integrates with third-party delivery apps
Cons
- No online payments
- It can be pricey with add-ons
TouchBistro Restaurant POS Software Features
TouchBistro’s unique model allows you to run your entire restaurant on an iPad, even with no internet connection, as it’s a locally-installed system. TouchBistro has excellent table-mapping and menu management as well. Here are some of its most impressive features:
- Simple floor planning
- More than 50 reports
- Customer-facing display system
- Tableside ordering integrations
- Streamlined payroll and staff management
- A robust number of integrations
- Built-in loyalty and gift card add-on
- Excellent reservation system
- Online ordering through third-party platforms
- Digital menu board
TouchBistro Pricing
TouchBistro has flexible pricing options starting at $69.00 a month.
Hardware Cost
TouchBistro offers a wide variety of Apple products through its website, including custom bundles and individual pieces of equipment, and the company encourages you to call for a quote.
Payment Processing
TouchBistro integrates with an impressive number of payment processors, including Square and Worldpay, which allows you to pick what option might be best and most cost-effective for your restaurant.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
Like most other POS systems, TouchBistro gives you options to sign up month to month but offers its best rates if you pay for its services a year in advance.
Where TouchBistro Really Shines
As we mentioned, TouchBistro has its finger on the pulse of the restaurant industry, and it has made it its mission to help restaurants out even in difficult times. TouchBistro has an exceptionally sleek and simple interface, and its integrations are excellent. Couple that with the number of add-on services it provides, and you can customize TouchBistro into the perfect system for your business.
6. Toast: Best For Android Users
Toast POS
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Toast is best for restaurants looking for a solid, Android-based system with numerous digital online ordering options and hearty team training resources.
Pros
- Numerous digital ordering options
- Advanced employee management
- Advanced reporting
Cons
- Long-term commitment
- High transaction fees for online orders
Toast Restaurant POS Software Features
Toast is one of our favorite POS systems for restaurants that want to use a cloud-based tablet POS but don’t necessarily want an iPad system. In fact, Toast runs exclusively on Samsung Android devices. Despite that distinction, it has a lot in common with the other tablet POS systems on our list — it’s feature-rich, user-friendly, and easy to set up. Here are some of its other top features:
- Tableside service
- Excellent hardware options
- Online ordering integrations
- Cloud-based reporting
- Excellent menu management
- Restaurant team training
- A strong kitchen display system
- Multilocation management
- Delivery integration options
- Built-in loyalty and gift cards
Toast Pricing
Toast has a free plan, but its all-in-one packages start at $165/month, which includes its takeout app and online ordering.
Hardware Cost
Toast has some of the best hardware options of any POS company, including the Toast Go handheld device and other individual options. There are multiple places where you can purchase Toast hardware. The prices vary, but your first stop should be through Toast’s website.
Payment Processing
You must use Toast’s own payment processor, but its rates are competitive, starting at 1.8% plus $0.15 for card-present transactions.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
You do have to sign up for a contract through Toast, which can be from one to three years, and the cost of breaking one of these contracts can be pretty pricey.
Where Toast Really Shines
Despite the issues with contracts and its price increase, Toast is still one of the top POS systems for restaurants. Toast’s intuitive hardware and built-in online ordering and delivery options are top-notch, and it has been on the cutting edge of adapting during the pandemic. Toast also has some of the highest-rated customer service around.
7. Shopify: Best For Online Ordering
Shopify POS
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With options for curbside pick-up, delivery, and multiple tipping choices, Shopify can help you start selling online or enhance your online presence tremendously.
Pros
- Pairs with eCommerce
- Multiple payment options
- Sleek interface
- Excellent mobility
Cons
- No offline mode
- Complicated pricing
Shopify Restaurant POS Software Features
Shopify, a huge player in the eCommerce game, has also made big strides with its point of sale product. Having a POS with excellent online ordering options has been a must during the pandemic, and Shopify has your back in that department. Here are some of its best features:
- Accept multiple payment options
- Gift card and loyalty functionality
- Custom sales and discounts
- Automatic tax calculations
- Order histories
- Real-time inventory management
- Shopify App Store
- Customized setup options
Shopify Pricing
Shopify starts $29/mo. However Shopify also offers Shopify Lite at $9/mo., for those who only need a buy button on an existing site. A 14-day free trial on any plan is available.
Hardware Cost
Shopify offers hardware bundles on its website for custom prices. It also has individual items, such as printers and scanners, that you can purchase.
Payment Processing
Shopify integrates with more than 100 payment processors, meaning that virtually any processor you find with rates that fit your business should be an option. It also has its own processor with in-person rates starting at 2.4% plus $0.0.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
Shopify lets you use its services on a month-to-month basis, so there’s no need to worry about breaking a contract.
Where Shopify Really Shines
Not surprisingly, Shopify is at the top of its game when it comes to eCommerce. Shopify’s restaurant online ordering system is superb and allows you to set up your restaurant for whatever fits best, be it in-store, curbside pick-ups, or delivery. Shopify has an excellent interface and numerous integrations that can help you operate at peak profitability, even if your restaurant can’t be open at 100% capacity.
8. Upserve: Best For Reporting
Upserve POS
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Upserve features simple, intuitive interfaces for both its front and back end. It remains a top choice for the highly customizable system and deep reporting features.
Pros
- Great online ordering
- Highly customizable
- Sleek interface
- Deep reporting
Cons
- Thin features for the price
- Buggy software
Upserve Restaurant POS Software Features
Upserve is another system made specifically with restaurant workers in mind. It runs on both iOS and Android platforms and prides itself on its mobility, making it an ideal choice for a busy quick-serve or full-service establishment. Here are some of its top features:
- Course and menu management
- Strong online ordering platform
- An efficient kitchen display system
- Multiple payment options
- Deep integration set
- Multilocation management
- Tableside ordering
- Mobile app
- Analytics integration
Upserve Pricing
Upserve starts at $59 a month and has a great always-on feature for internet outages. It’s also highly scalable, with larger plans available if you need to expand.
Hardware Cost
Upserve offers everything, from full-fledged POS systems to handheld tableside ordering terminals, to printers through its website, and a call to a sales rep can get you a custom quote.
Payment Processing
Upserve uses its own Upserve Payments processing system. Card-present rates start at 2.49% plus $0.15.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
With Upserve, you can pay month-to-month, and there are no long-term contracts for its software. Once again, we would suggest that you purchase the hardware upfront instead of leasing it.
Where Upserve Really Shines
Upserve is a step above some of its competition when it comes to online ordering. Upserve allows restaurants the ability to sell online quickly and efficiently without fees. Upserve is also highly customizable and has very deep reporting, especially when paired with some of its integrations. Its tableside ordering device is also a great additional feature for full-service restaurants.
9. talech: Best For Smaller Restaurants
talech POS
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While talech is best for smaller, quick-serve restaurants, it has solid inventory management features, including the ability to automatically generate purchase orders.
Pros
- Low monthly price
- Purchase ordering
- Works with multiple payment processors
- Works on iPad and Android
Cons
- Can’t accept credit cards offline
- No integrated reservation system
talech Restaurant POS Software Features
This POS’s inventory management is excellent, displaying product history and performance and letting you track ingredients for all locations with ease. Notably, talech also includes the ability to create and auto-generate purchase orders, which is pretty advanced for an iPad POS. Here are a few other standout features:
- Course and order management
- Table and position management
- Adjustable tips and transactions
- Excellent purchase order functionality
- 24/7 customer support
- Label printing
- Cash drawer management
- Deep reporting suite
talech Pricing
talech is a user-friendly tablet POS offered at an amazing starting price of just $29/month.
Hardware Cost
talech offers bundles for restaurants and individual hardware items for sale. Call a talech rep to get complete pricing.
Payment Processing
talech integrates with a number of the top payment processors in the country, allowing you to pick and choose the best option for you.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
talech has a free option, and its paid services are offered month-to-month, so you don’t have to worry about being locked into a contract.
Where talech Really Shines
talech has everything that a quick-service or smaller full-service restaurant might need and a few unique features that even some of its more expensive competitors don’t offer. talech’s price point is excellent, and the number of companies it integrates with for payment processing and additional add-on services is impressive. It’s also highly scalable, making it a good option if you think your business will grow in the near future.
10. Lavu: Best For Included Integrations
Lavu POS
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Lavu offers an excellent price point and includes access to plenty of third-party delivery apps as well as online ordering and delivery features.
Pros
- Competitive monthly pricing
- Local server option for full offline functionality
- Works with PayPal
- Free DoorDash integration
Cons
- Expensive equipment leases
- No purchase ordering
Lavu Restaurant POS Software Features
Lavu is another affordable and aesthetically pleasing iPad POS for small to medium-sized restaurants, including multilocation restaurants. Lavu is cloud-based but has a local server backup option that offers added stability for restaurants that want to sync multiple devices. Here are some of Lavu’s best features:
- Detailed timekeeping
- Job rates
- Online ordering integrations
- Delivery integrations
- Self-serve kiosk functionality
- Flexible table mapping
- Tableside ordering
- Multiple payment options
- Separate loyalty app
Lavu Pricing
Lavu has tons of features, and with its super-affordable price tag — $69/month for all features — it can potentially save your restaurant a lot of money.
Hardware Cost
Lavu offers many hardware options for customers, including its own kitchen display system. Check out its website for custom pricing, and if you have to lease, make sure you’ve read the contracts first, as that has been a complaint with some users.
Payment Processing
Lavu has its own processing program that you are incentivized to use, but you are not locked into it. Again, you’ll need to contact Lavu directly to get your best rate.
Contract Requirements/Warnings
Lavu offers month-to-month pricing options for its software. However, as mentioned, there have been issues with users complaining about feeling trapped after signing leases for Lavu’s hardware.
Where Lavu Really Shines
Lavu’s price point is tough to beat, especially when you compare the features it offers with other similar products. Lavu’s kitchen display system is excellent and affordable, and its inventory and reporting are more than just bare bones. On top of that, Lavu integrates with hundreds of companies, making it easy to set up online ordering, delivery, or an accounting service if you need those additional features.
Finding The Restaurant POS System That Grows With You
Perhaps now more than ever, you need one of the best POS systems for restaurants to make sure that you’re maximizing available features in an extremely difficult business climate. Expanded online ordering like third-party delivery and contactless payment options are likely here to stay, and the above POS systems can help with that. Today’s smart, web-enabled restaurant point of sale systems can help make your restaurant more efficient and might even improve your quality of service and customer communications.
Some of the options on this list even offer restaurant payroll software add-ons like Square Payroll and Toast Payroll, which can help your restaurant be even more efficient.
Want a quick way to compare restaurant POS systems? Our restaurant POS software comparison table is a great place to start. If you want more details about any of the above systems — or any of their competitors in the foodservice point of sale arena — check out our selection of comprehensive restaurant POS reviews. Looking for the lowest in cost? Be sure to check out our latest post on free restaurant POS software to find out what to expect and how to spot the best free POS restaurant systems.
FAQs: Best POS For Restaurants
In Summary: Top Restaurant POS Systems In 2022
- Square For Restaurants POS: Best for free restaurant POS software.
- Clover POS: Best for restaurants seeking an intuitive interface.
- Revel POS Systems: Best for restaurants needing a rich feature set.
- Lightspeed Restaurant POS: Best for restaurant owners wanting an affordable all-in-one system.
- TouchBistro: Best for full-service restaurants wanting a reservation management system.
- Toast POS: Best for advanced digital ordering features.
- Shopify POS: Best for online ordering.
- Upserve POS: Best for reporting.
- talech POS: Best for restaurants wanting a cost-effective system.
- Lavu POS: Best for numerous integrations.
Matt Sherman
Expert Analyst & Reviewer at Merchant Maverick
A former sports editor and journalist, Matt Sherman has been writing about and researching small business software since 2015, with a special emphasis on retail and restaurant sales. Matt's expert opinions are cited in various industry publications, including Fox Business. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
View Matt Sherman's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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