6 Best Kiosks For Restaurants To Keep Orders Moving Quickly

We love that Lightspeed Restaurant is an easy-to-use system for restaurant owners that have to deal with high employee turnover rates, which is common in the fast-casual industry. The intuitive user interface on registers and self-order screens makes it easy to train new employees.

Plus, it’s simple to transition between register, standing kiosk, and tableside ordering kiosk, so customers have a number of ways to order without holding up any lines. The tableside ordering kiosk comes with features to offer customers a great dining experience, including the ability to request help from a server and input multiple items at the pace they choose to.

To use Self-Order Menu software, you’ll also need a Lightspeed Restaurant POS software plan. Though the above pricing if for Lightspeed’s advertised plans, you have to get a custom quote and sign a contract that specifies how much you’ll pay in fees and whether fees are charged monthly or annually.

Lightspeed offers self-serve restaurant kiosks as an add-on app called the Self-Order Menu. The company previously advertised the software as costing $39/month but has since removed the pricing and requires restaurant owners to get a custom quote on kiosk software. The more kiosks you build into your restaurant operations, the more you’ll pay per month.

Note: Lightspeed POS plans include one register software license. Additional register software licenses are available as a custom quote.

Lightspeed Restaurant’s most unique kiosk features include its convertible tableside to standing kiosks. Quick-serve restaurants can easily place standing kiosks near the front of the establishment, while fast-casual and sit-down restaurants can place kiosks at the front or at tables.

Additionally, you can allow customers to:

• Place numerous orders throughout the tableside dining experience
• Request help from staff members at the self-serve kiosk
• Collect and redeem loyalty points at restaurant kiosks using QR codes
• Send “order ready” confirmation texts for customers who opt into them

Lightspeed also has one of the best kitchen display systems for restaurants, and it syncs well with tableside/standing kiosks. You can create custom menus specifically for kiosks and designate specific kitchen display/expo screens to manage self-serve orders. Orders are synced to your restaurant inventory, and menu items/add-ons will automatically be removed from kiosk order screens when an ingredient runs out.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS and self-order kiosks run on iPads. You may purchase your own iPads or through Lightspeed at $329 per device.

If you purchase your hardware from Lightspeed, the iPad stand costs $199, the kitchen bump bar costs $199, the cash drawer costs $129, and the kitchen printer costs $299.

It’s important to purchase your card reader (Lightspeed supports Verifone products) from Lightspeed to make sure your Lightspeed Payments account is configured correctly with the hardware.

We advise contacting Lightspeed to get a custom quote on a hardware bundle.

Lightspeed has its own in-house payment processor, Lightspeed Payments, which charges a credit card processing fee of 2.6% plus $0.10 for card-present payments. This rate is for business owners on the Starter and Essential plans. Those on the Premium plan can get a lower custom payment processing rate from Lightspeed.

Note: Currently, customers cannot use cash at restaurant kiosks.

Despite the monthly plan pricing listed online, you must still get a custom quote from Lightspeed, which may be more than what the company advertises.

Lightspeed also charges hefty early termination fees, especially for users who opt into a yearly subscription plan or get a discount on their pricing plan.

Lightspeed’s 30-day hardware warranties (14-day warranties on Apple products) also have many stipulations. For example, you must contact Lightspeed to validate hardware purchased through Lightspeed within five days of receiving your order, or Lightspeed warranties won’t apply to your products.

We love all of Toast’s restaurant hardware, including Toast kiosks, which are all durable, spill-resistant, and heat resistant. This is a huge advantage for busy restaurants with a lot of movement.

Toast’s barcode scanner and scale integrations also make it easy for your restaurant to offer prepackaged ready-to-go meals and weight-based orders (frozen yogurt, build-your-own salads, etc.). If your busy restaurant includes these kinds of meal options, Toast Kiosk is an excellent option.

We also appreciate that Toast’s loyalty signup and redemption options are available at self-ordering kiosks. This is an attractive feature if you want to lean on a loyalty program to drum up new and repeat business.

Toast kiosk software costs $90/month, and is an add-on module to POS software plans.

Toast also offers several add-on products, everything from third-party delivery services, to kitchen displays, to Toast Payroll. The most popular add-ons are the marketing and digital ordering suite products, which include the following:

• Digital Ordering: $75/month
• Loyalty: $50/month
• Gift Cards: $50/month
• Email Marketing: $75/month

Toast will often bundle add-ons and multiple POS terminals and give restaurant owners a bulk discount, so you may get a better deal when you get a custom quote from a Toast representative.

Note: If you are on the Quick Start Bundle plan, you can incorporate Toast add-ons for no monthly cost, just an increased payment processing fee (more on this below).

Like Lightspeed, Toast kiosks allow you to incorporate your loyalty program into your kiosk. Unlike Lightspeed, Toast allows customers to not only collect and redeem points on kiosks, but sign up for your restaurant’s loyalty program with an automated signup prompt. Customers can collect loyalty points with one or more linked payment cards, rather than a loyalty card, which means that it’s even easier for customers to earn points.

You can also allow customers to pay at kiosks or at a register with a printed QR code receipt. This allows customers to pay in cash and order alcoholic drinks, if you serve them.

Additionally, Toast uniquely includes a scanner integration and weight scale integration, so customers can scan prepackaged items and purchase weight-based items (frozen yogurt, salads, etc.) without needing to see an employee or use a separate lane.

You can also add suggested tipping, daily deals, and upsell prompts on kiosk screens.

Toast self-ordering kiosk.

Toast offers a Starter register kit and accessories exclusively for users on the Quick Start Bundle and Core plans. If you decide on the Growth or Build Your Own plan, you need to contact Toast and get a custom quote on POS and kiosk hardware.

Starter kits include either a handheld or countertop POS system, router, WiFi access point, and basic POS software subscription. You could also purchase only a self-serve kiosk if you run a business such as a food stall.

The Handheld kit, which includes the Toast Go 2, one of the best restaurant handheld POS systems, costs $627 upfront. The Countertop kit costs $875 upfront. The Toast Kiosk costs $1,009 upfront.

Alternatively, you can pay $0/month, with $0 upfront, and pay higher payment processing fees to cover your Starter kit hardware and monthly software subscription costs.

Toast requires you to use its own in-house payment processor which charges the following payment processing fees per transaction:

• Quick Start Bundle Plan: 2.99% plus $0.15 (3.49% plus $0.15 if you add the Toast digital marketing and online ordering bundle)
• Core Plan: 2.49% plus $0.15
• Growth & Build Your Own Plans: Custom quote

Our advice: If you can, sign up for the Standard plan and purchase your equipment upfront. The amount you save on payment processing fees will probably more than cover your monthly fee.

Get one of these best small business loans or use one of these best equipment financing options to pay for your Toast hardware upfront.

You have to sign a merchant contract with Toast, which typically lasts at least two years. There are early termination fees, should you decide to break your contract early.

You are also required to buy Toast’s proprietary hardware, which means that you could be paying a lot for a setup that includes POS registers, kiosks, kitchen displays, kitchen printers, etc.

Toast covers hardware purchased directly from the company for up to three years, which is much longer than most POS and kiosk hardware providers.

We appreciate that with Revel kiosks, you can create custom kiosk menus that include combo building, upsell prompts, timed specials, highly detailed item modifiers, and more. Customers can check on, collect, and redeem loyalty points at kiosks with an individual loyalty points number and branded rewards card. They can also enter custom discount codes, pay via gift card, and send their orders to one central register.

Revel’s kiosks also integrate seamlessly with Revel KDS software, so you can create a workflow specifically for kiosk orders. Customers will always get fresh, hot, and correct orders for dine-in or takeout, no matter how complex their orders (or your kitchen areas) are.

Revel’s enterprise-level menu, inventory, employee, and sales management console will also ensure success for multilocation restaurant businesses, which tend to lean on kiosks more often than small establishments.

Revel lists one pricing plan for POS software online, which costs $99/month per terminal, with a two-terminal minimum, making the minimum monthly bill $198/month. This plan is for restaurant owners who sign up for a three-year minimum contract and use Revel Advantage, Revel’s in-house payment processor.

However, most restaurant owners will need more than the company’s core POS software, so you’ll get a custom quote on your monthly restaurant software fees. You’ll also get custom pricing on the company’s kiosk software, Kiosk XT.

There’s also a one-time implementation fee starting at $674. The fee includes hardware installation and software setup with a dedicated Revel representative.

Like Toast, Revel allows you to collect/redeem loyalty points by manually entering a loyalty member number. They can also or swipe or scan a loyalty card at kiosks. Also like Toast, you can set up tipping options, including suggested and custom options.

Revel’s more unique restaurant kiosk features include the ability to:

• Collect info such as call name, call order, buzzer number, table stand number, etc. through kiosks
• Require manager override for POS and kiosk functions
• Funnel orders towards a central register and kitchen displays
• Create very specific custom modifier rules (e.g. custom toppings on only half a pizza)
• Print or email receipts

In general, Revel restaurant kiosks offer a smooth ordering experience with upsell item and group combo builder popups, much like any customer would except when using self-ordering kiosks. You can also brand your kiosks to create a more unified look in your establishment.

Also, Revel has excellent multilocation and enterprise-level restaurant management capabilities, including the ability to run franchises. In fact, its franchise management features is a major reason why Revel is one of the best pizza POS systems.

Revel restaurant kiosk ordering screen, card reader, and receipt printer.

You must contact Revel for pricing on the company’s proprietary self-ordering kiosk touchscreen.

In general, Revel software runs on iPads and iPad Minis.

Revel software is also compatible with hardware from providers such as Ingenico, Honeywell, Infinite Peripherals, Epson, Linksys, Brecknell, and Zebra. You can source card readers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, ID card swipers, and routers from any of these providers or purchase them directly from Revel.

Revel offers an in-house payment processing solution, Revel Advantage (powered by Worldpay). You will receive a custom quote for payment processing fees with Revel Advantage.

You can also use third-party payment processors such as Fiserv (previously called First Data), Heartland, TSYS, Elavon, and Chase, but will most likely pay an added monthly fee to do so.

Our advice: Get a few quotes from third-party payment providers before approaching Revel. You can get a sense of what a fair payment processing rate is for your business and negotiate with Revel to get the lowest payment processing rate you can.

You must sign a merchant agreement with a three-year minimum commitment, two-terminal minimum, annual billing, and use Revel Advantage if you want to get the advertised pricing plan above. Otherwise, you have to get a custom quote.

If you cancel your Revel agreement early, there are early termination fees, which can get very expensive depending on how close you are to the end of your contract. You must also return any Revel equipment you haven’t paid off.

Plans are renewed yearly unless you give a 30-day notice before your renewal date.

Revel has a one-year warranty on hardware purchased through the company.

We believe that Square is a great option for most startup owners who have very little money to invest in kiosk hardware or software. Square’s low-cost self-serve QR code ordering feature that links to a branded online ordering page provides an excellent way for business owners to create ordering stations all around their location.

Also, if you don’t have a lot of room in your establishment (or any, if you run a food truck or host outdoor events), printing out a QR code and taping it to a table, wall, or menu is one of the most cost-effective and spatially efficient ways to add a self-ordering station anywhere.

In general, Square is one of the best free POS systems, so if you have one location and low funding, strongly consider Square as a POS and kiosk solution.

Alternatively, Square does integrate with kiosk software such as KioskBuddy for a more conventional restaurant kiosk experience.

You’ll need Square For Restaurants POS software (free for individuals with one physical location) and kiosk software (included with a paid Square Online plan or a third-party kiosk software) to add kiosks to your restaurant.

A Square Online site that includes QR code self-serve ordering costs $29/month, billed annually. If you purchase the $79/month Square Online plan, you’ll get reduced payment processing fees, which could make it worth upgrading to a higher plan if you process a certain amount dollar amount per month.

Third-party integrations usually have a monthly cost, transaction fee, or both. For example, the KioskBuddy integration costs between $50/month and $200/month, plus there are transaction fees if you make more sales than the monthly limit on your pricing plan.

Note: If you have more than one permanent location, you’ll need to upgrade to the Plus plan. On the Plus plan, extra Square registers cost $40/device/month.

Square offers two distinct self-ordering solutions: a low-cost QR code generator that you can place anywhere in your restaurant and traditional third-party kiosk software that runs on iPads.

Square’s most unique self-ordering restaurant kiosk features include:

• QR code generator that links to your own branded online ordering site
• Pre-built QR code designs that you can print and place anywhere (great for popup events, food trucks, spacious areas, etc.)
• Tie different QR codes to specific ordering locations (e.g. bar, table number) or require customers to manually input their location
• Accept discount codes and run specials

Square also integrates with software such as KioskBuddy, KIOS, and Kyoo, all third-party software that turns any iPad into a more traditional self-ordering restaurant kiosk. You can install this software on Square Stand Mounts to create a sturdy standing or tableside kiosk anywhere at your restaurant.

Square Stand Mount POS hardware.

Square runs on iPads, which you can source yourself or purchase from Square.

The Square Stand Mount is a great iPad mounting hardware that costs $149 and allows you to permanently or temporarily place standing or tableside kiosks anywhere in your restaurant. This hardware includes an integrated card reader so customers can pay at the kiosk.

You will need a $49 Square Contactless Chip + Card Reader to take payments on the go, which is a great solution for businesses that are mainly mobile, such as food trucks or caterers at event venues.

Read our guide to Square POS hardware to find out the cost of extra hardware and what you may need to run your restaurant.

You must use Square’s in-house payment processor to process all payments.

QR code orders are considered online orders, so you get charged Square’s online payment processing fees. For QR code payments, you’ll pay either 2.6% or 2.9%, plus a $0.30 flat fee per transaction depending on your Square Online subscription level.

Transactions made at a standing or tableside kiosk using KioskBuddy are considered in-person transactions, which have lower payment processing fees. You’ll pay 2.6% plus a $0.10 flat fee, per transaction.

Square Online plans are advertised as being billed annually, but you can contact sales and set up a monthly plan. You will pay more per month on a monthly plan. There is a 30-day free trial of paid plans and you can pause your subscription for up to three months.

You will pay a higher payment processing fee for QR code orders since they’re considered card-not-present payments.

We like that Lavu has great features for cafeterias with multiple food prep areas. For example, Lavu has kiosk-to-KDS routing rules, allows people such as staff members and students to pay by scanning a badge, and helps you set up rotating weekly menus.

Monthly pricing is transparent and you can add on whatever you want, so you can pay only for the features that are relevant to your cafeteria or food hall.

In addition to a POS plan, you must also pay for the Lavu kiosk app, which costs $50/month.

Each POS plan comes with one device. Extra devices cost $50/device/month.

Lavu is a POS system with a dedicated kiosk app, and includes the following best features for cafeterias:

• Nutritional and allergen information listed on menu items
• ID scan badges to add meals onto a registered account
• Integrated weight scale so customers can pay for self-portioned items like salad and frozen yogurt
• Rotating weekly menus
• Barcode scanner to scan ready-made items
• Sync kiosks with KDS in different departments/food stations

Customers can also decide whether to pay at kiosks or at the register, collect loyalty program points, and decide how they’d like their receipt (email, text, or print.)

You can customize the look of your kiosks and add a timeout feature that clears carts if someone takes too long or abandons the kiosk altogether.

Lavu iPad restaurant kiosk and iPad stand.

Lavu runs on iPads, which you can purchase from Lavu or source on your own.

To run a kiosk, you’ll need to use a compatible Verifone device.

You may purchase Epson kitchen display system hardware from Lavu to sync to kiosks, Epson kitchen displays costs between $650 and $2,500, depending on the model you choose.

Lavu has its own in-house payment processor, Lavu Pay. You can use Lavu Pay and a Verifone card reader to process payments at a custom rate, which will depend on your business size and processing volume.

You may also opt out of Lavu Pay if you agree to pay an additional $60 – $70 per month.

Lavu’s plans are month-to-month and the company offers a transparent monthly pricing structure.

You will have to sign a merchant agreement, which you should read through before signing on with Lavu. Standard merchant agreements are signed with Card Connect and Verifone, Lavu Pay’s financial partners, and last for three years. Lavu claims that there are no early termination fees for terminating your merchant agreement, but there can be hidden costs, so read through your agreement carefully.

Also, there are many Lavu software/hardware resellers who often have a separate agreement from Lavu. The company does not claim any responsibility for any cancellation fees that you may be charged from resellers or financial partners. Keep this in mind when deciding where to purchase Lavu products from.

We like that Table Tap’s variety of self-pour systems allows establishments of all shapes and sizes to introduce self-serve beverage kiosks to customers.

Table Tap’s unique all-in-one sales solution allows patrons to charge food, drinks, game tokens, and everything in between to one account, which they can add funds to before eating/drinking, or pay off later. The ID scanner and restricted beverage cards also ensure that family fun centers are safe for everyone.

Also, Table Tap’s integration with Cloudbeds makes it easy for hotel guests to charge everything to a room and pay during checkout.

Table Tap kiosk software subscriptions are a fixed monthly cost based on the number of taps you have in your establishment.

You must contact Table Tap for a custom quote.

Table Tap offers a line of self-pour beverage kiosks plus a mobile menu ordering solution. Patrons enter an establishment (restaurant, barcade, hotel, etc.), have their ID verified, and receive an RFID card, which they can scan or tap to self-serve beer, wine, soda, and more. Patrons can pre-load cards or pay when they leave your establishment.

Table Tap’s most unique self-serve beverage features include:

• Designated alcoholic and non-alcoholic RFID cards to restrict beverage flow
• Keg monitoring and sales reporting
• Integration with Scannr, an ID scanning iOS app
• Restrict self-pouring hours to remain compliant with local alcohol restriction laws

In addition to self-serve beverages, customers can also order food from tableside iPads or QR/barcode-based mobile menus. Promotions, games, and videos are available on tabletop iPad screens to keep customers entertained and maybe even spend a little more on an appetizing special or good deal.

Table Tap’s integration with Cloudbeds, a highly rated hotel management/booking software, also positions this kiosk provider as a great option for hotel restaurants. The only other providers that integrate with property management software are Lightspeed and Toast.

Table Tap self-serve kiosk and beverage tap hardware.

Self-pouring beverage hardware is a steep initial investment and varies depending on the number of taps you want to have, whether you get tabletop or wall taps, and how your restaurant is set up.

In general, you can expect to pay at least $700 per tap installation. Full-size beer walls can cost around $15,000.

The initial investment is a lot, but considering bartender turnover rates, the investment is worth it.

Table Tap has partnered with Fiserv to process payments. You will need to get a custom payment processing quote.

Table Tap requires you to sign a merchant agreement with the company, and doesn’t give much detail on its website. So, don’t sign anything before thoroughly reading and understanding your merchant agreement.