Best Self-Service Restaurant Kiosks

The Self-Order Menu is an add-on app for the Lightspeed Restaurant POS system. You’ll need a Lightspeed Restaurant subscription before activating the kiosk software.

While Lightspeed lists clear pricing for its POS plans, kiosk pricing is no longer published and is available only by custom quote. Earlier marketing materials listed the Self-Order Menu at $39 per month, but current rates depend on your contract and the number of kiosks you use, with pricing typically charged per device.

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

Lightspeed Restaurant stands out for its flexible kiosk setup and seamless kitchen integration. Key features include:

• Convertible kiosks that switch between standing and tableside modes
• Customers can place multiple orders during their meal
• Option for diners to request staff assistance directly from the kiosk
• Integrated loyalty program support with QR code collection and redemption
• Automated “order ready” text notifications for participating customers
• Custom kiosk menus and designated kitchen display screens for self-serve orders
• Real-time inventory syncing that removes sold-out items automatically

Lightspeed Restaurant POS and self-order kiosks run on iPads. You may source your own iPads or purchase through Lightspeed.

Other hardware options include iPad stands, kitchen bump bars, cash drawers, and kitchen printers.

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% + $0.10 for card-present payments.

Premium plan subscribers can get a lower custom payment processing rate from Lightspeed.

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.

Toast kiosk software is an add-on module to POS software plans. You will need to contact Toast for pricing.

Toast also offers several add-on products, including third-party delivery services and Toast Payroll.

Bulk discounts may be available.

Toast’s self-order kiosks are built to integrate smoothly with the rest of your POS system while offering flexible payment and loyalty options.

Key features include:

• Loyalty program integration with automated sign-up prompts at the kiosk
• Ability for customers to collect and redeem points using linked payment cards (no loyalty card required)
• Option for customers to pay at the kiosk or register with a printed QR code receipt
• Barcode scanner and weight scale integrations
• Customizable tipping suggestions, daily deals, and upsell prompts directly on kiosk screens

Toast offers dedicated kiosk terminals.

Other Toast hardware includes the Toast Go 2 handheld POS, countertop POS, outdoor Wi-Fi access point, kitchen printers, cash drawers, and kitchen display systems.

On the pay-as-you-go Quick Start Bundle plan, you can get a handheld or countertop POS for no upfront cost and no monthly fees, as long as you agree to pay higher per-transaction payment processing fees.

In general, we do not recommend the pay-as-you-go plan because the higher per-order fees will cost you more than the original price of the hardware once you get in enough orders.

If you can, pay for your POS and kiosk hardware upfront. Otherwise, look into equipment financing to help you cover the costs of the restaurant hardware you need in your establishment.

Toast requires you to use its own in-house payment processor, with card-present fees starting at 2.49% + $0.15. Fees will be higher on the Quick Start Bundle plan. Custom quotes are also available. 

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

You are also required to buy Toast’s proprietary hardware.

Toast covers hardware purchased directly from the company for up to three years.

Revel now requires every restaurant owner to get a custom quote on restaurant hardware and software, including pricing on the company’s kiosk software, Kiosk XT.

There’s also a one-time implementation fee, which includes hardware installation and software setup with a dedicated Revel representative.

Key features of Revel include:

• Collect info such as call name, call order, buzzer number, table stand number, etc.
• Require manager override for POS and kiosk functions
• Funnel orders towards a central register and kitchen displays
• Create very specific custom modifier rules
• Print or email receipts
• Collect/redeem loyalty points
• Set up tipping options
• Popups to upsell items and combos
• Branded kiosks
• Multilocation & enterprise-level restaurant management tools
• Franchise management tools

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.

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.

You’ll need a paid Square plan and kiosk software to add kiosks to your restaurant. Kiosk software is $30 – $50/month per device.

Third-party integrations (such as KioskBuddy) usually have a monthly cost, transaction fee, or both.

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 third-party software such as KioskBuddy, KIOS, and Kyoo. These options turn any iPad into a more traditional self-ordering restaurant kiosk.

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

The Square Stand Mount is a great iPad mounting hardware that 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 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, fees are 2.9% – 3.3% + $0.30. 

Transactions made at a standing or tableside kiosk using KioskBuddy are considered in-person transactions, which have lower payment processing fees. You’ll pay 2.4% – 2.6% + $0.15 flat fee, per transaction.

There is a 30-day free trial for paid plans.

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

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 to 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
• Loyalty programs
• Timeout features

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.

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 for a monthly fee.

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.