5 Best POS Equipped With Drive-Thru Ordering Systems

We love that Toast offers highly durable, versatile restaurant-grade hardware and flexible software so that servers, cooks, and managers in large restaurants can easily take care of customers and back-of-house operations. With Toast, you can offer customers several ways to skip the line. This includes online ordering for pickup, drive-up self-ordering options, and curbside ordering through a server stationed outside with a handheld POS.

The POS also has great features to accommodate dine-in customers, making Toast a great option for versatile, sit-down/fast casual restaurants that offer takeout and drive-thru options.

Toast also offers one of the most comprehensive loyalty program builders in the restaurant software industry, and we highly recommend it for any restaurant looking to bring in a customer base with this marketing tactic.

You must use Toast hardware with Toast software, so there will be an initial hardware investment for everyone except those on the Quick Start Bundle plan who only sign up for one POS terminal. You can technically get two POS systems on the Quick Start Bundle plan, but only one of the terminals will have no upfront or monthly costs.

You can add any number of POS terminals to a Core, Growth, or New Restaurants package. You’ll pay a custom upfront and monthly software fee, and Toast often provides bulk discounts for purchasing multiple terminals at once.

Depending on the size/needs of your restaurant, strongly consider adding these Toast modules to your basic subscription:

• Online Ordering: $75/month
• Kitchen Display Screens: $25/device/month (plus an upfront kitchen display hardware investment)
• Loyalty Program: $50/month
• Self-Ordering Kiosks: $90/device/month (plus an upfront kitchen display hardware investment)
• Gift Cards: $50/month

Note: If you opt into the Quick Start Bundle plan, you can bundle the online ordering, loyalty, and gift card programs into your plan.

Like Revel, Toast is an all-around excellent POS system for restaurants, but large restaurants with drive-thru/pickup options will appreciate these features the most:

• Loyalty program that syncs with payment methods, so drivers can earn points without having to pull out a physical loyalty card
• Durable Android-based handheld POS systems to take curbside orders
• Self-ordering restaurant kiosks and contactless QR code ordering, so users can order from their car or indoors and get their orders brought out to their cars
• Integration with Raydiant restaurant digital signage board software
• Excellent floor planning to manage drive-thru, takeout, and dine-in options
• Durable Android-based kitchen display screens that can withstand the heat and spills that come with a busy kitchen

Toast also offers a number of add-on products so that large restaurant owners can easily manage their locations. For example, Toast Scheduling and Toast Payroll make it easy to hire, schedule, and pay several staff members at different pay rates.

Toast POS mobile app, admin dashboard on PC, kitchen display system, Toast Go 2 mobile handheld POS, and countertop POS.

Toast is the only software provider on this list that requires you to purchase proprietary POS hardware. These are the base prices for Toast hardware, although you will get a better price when you get a custom quote for several POS systems, kiosks, and/or kitchen displays:

• Toast Countertop POS: $875
• Toast Go 2 Handheld POS: $607
• Self-Ordering Kiosk: $809
• Kitchen Display Screen: $629
• Guest-Facing Display: $124 (only compatible with Toast’s countertop POS)
• Cash Drawer: $134
• Customer Receipt Printer: $296

On the Quick Start Bundle plan, you can get a free countertop or handheld POS system (the Toast Go 2 is one of the best handheld restaurant POS systems on the market), but will pay a reduced upfront cost as well as a monthly fee for a second POS terminal and accompanying Toast POS software.

You’ll have to get a custom quote for Raydiant digital signage hardware.

You can only use Toast as your payment processing provider. If you own a larger or multi-location drive-thru restaurant business, you’ll get a custom payment processing quote from Toast.

Contracts with Toast are set for at least two years, with huge early termination fees if you decide to cancel your contract early. Also, the price of Toast software increases with every new contract term. You have to buy Toast hardware and can’t do anything with it if you decide to use another restaurant POS provider.

Essentially, Toast POS is a huge investment that you shouldn’t take lightly.

Keep this in mind before signing on with Toast, and make sure to negotiate the best payment processing rate for your business.

We appreciate that Revel Systems offers a fully connected POS ordering, checkout, and kitchen order display screen solution so that no orders ever get lost in the shuffle. This is very important for fast-paced restaurants taking orders from multiple customer touchpoints. Servers will also appreciate the two-way ordering chat, the ability to write down a customer’s name and vehicle information, and the ability to take orders and payments without leaving the ordering screen.

Revel’s POS integrations with digital menu and signage boards, drive-thru headsets, and drive-thru timers will also help restaurants with drive-thru lanes run smoothly and efficiently.

Revel Systems’ advertised pricing requires you to sign a three-year contract with the POS provider, use the company’s in-house payment processing system (Revel Advantage), and use a minimum of two terminals. The bare minimum pricing becomes $198/month (two terminals at $99/month each).

Since you’ll likely have more than two terminals at your drive-thru restaurant, you’ll be paying more than $198/month and you’ll have to contact Revel for a custom quote.

There’s also a one-time implementation fee, which starts at $674. Make sure to ask about implementing drive-thru integrations with Delphi Display Systems.

You’ll also pay for any third-party software such as drive-thru communications software.

Revel Systems is an excellent POS software and hardware provider with the following drive-thru lane features:

• Integration with Delphi Display Systems, which offers drive-thru timers, headsets, digital menu boards, and more
• Automatically or manually update drive-thru digital menus/signage boards to reflect the latest menu offerings and promotions
• Offline mode so outdoor systems will work whether there’s WiFi or not
• Order display that can be placed outside in drive-thru lanes in the form of an iPad or television
• Two-way video chat between customers and servers
• Servers have the option to enter customer names, vehicles, and phone numbers

Revel also has a quick order and payment flow on POS systems, which allows servers to take an order and payment on the same screen rather than having to enter in information and then move to a separate payment screen. This reduces order input times and increases order accuracy, two very important parts of providing a good fast food ordering experience.

Additionally, Revel has one of the best kitchen display systems, and drive-thru orders can be sent to designated kitchen stations as well as an expo screen placed at drive-thru windows. Servers can check each bag before handing orders out the window to make sure customers got everything they ordered and can leave satisfied.

While not necessarily important for drive-thru lanes, Revel also offers “order ready” screens that, when connected to Revel POS and kitchen display software, can show customers in your restaurant the status of their dine-in or takeout order. Since many restaurants with drive-thru lanes are fast-paced and offer several dining options, giving customers standing in your store the ability to see their order progress will improve their satisfaction as well.

Revel’s franchise management system makes this software a suitable option for chain restaurants.

Revel iPad POS register, iPad stand, iPad customer-facing display, cash drawer, receipt printer, and card reader.

Revel Systems is iPad-based. You can purchase iPads to use as registers, kitchen display systems, order display systems (to place outdoors in drive-thru lanes), and self-serve kiosks indoors.

The company offers Revel-compatible card readers, iPad stands, printers, routers, access points, and more. Revel does not disclose pricing online, so you’ll have to contact a representative for a quote.

In some cases, you can bring your own hardware accessories. For example, if you have an Epson kitchen printer or Verifone card reader, you may be able to add it to your POS setup. You’ll have to get permission from Revel, as the company wants to make sure you’re adding the right POS hardware to your restaurant.

Revel also integrates with Delphi Display Systems, which provides hardware and software for all things drive-thru related, including drive-thru digital menu boards, order timers, server headsets, two-way customer chat boxes, and order confirmation screens. You’ll get a custom quote on your drive-thru lane hardware when you contact a Delphi Display Systems representative.

Revel advertises that its in-house payment processing system, Revel Advantage (backed by Worldpay), offers the lowest flat-rate payment processing for business owners. You have to complete a request form, fill out business information on an order form, and get a custom payment processing rate.

In general, the more transactions you process and the less “risky” your business is, the lower your payment processing rates will be.

You can also integrate Revel with a number of third-party payment processing providers, such as Heartland, TSYS, Elavon, and Chase Merchant Services (formerly Chase Paymentech) for an additional monthly fee.

Be wary of Revel’s contract length and lack of transparency in terms of pricing and payment processing fees. Make sure to read your merchant agreement carefully before signing anything.

Also, try to negotiate some form of a free trial or month-to-month pricing before making a long-term commitment, and shop around for payment processing rates to get a sense of what a fair rate for your business looks like.

We appreciate that talech is a highly affordable option for drive-thru restaurants, as owners can get an online ordering platform, loyalty program, digital/physical gift card program, and employee management features for $99/month. POS hardware is also affordable, and you have the freedom to choose whether you want to work with Android or iPad-based devices.

One of the best features of talech is its online ordering for pickup system. Customers can easily order from your branded website and get an email confirmation with status updates. They can alert servers that they’ve arrived and servers can carry orders out. Customers can show their order confirmation number before driving away, which will ensure they have the right order (and you’re not paying to correct mistakes).

Drive-thru restaurant owners should opt for talech’s Premium plan, and add as many devices as they need at an extra $29/device/month.

talech does not charge extra for features like an online ordering platform, loyalty program, or gift cards on the Premium plan, making it the most straightforward and affordable POS solution for restaurant owners who want to add a drive-thru option.

talech is an affordable POS system that offers some of the best drive-thru/curbside order pickup features, including:

• Online ordering platform and QR code ordering for pickup and delivery
• Contactless order status tracking and notifications
• Customers can alert servers that they’ve arrived with the “I’m here” button in order confirmation emails
• Customers get a collection code so servers can identify their order

talech’s general restaurant features include an affordable inventory management system with purchase ordering and inventory alerts, the ability to convert registers to self-serve kiosks, and kitchen printer/display system integrations.

talech’s loyalty program is more basic than Toast’s but is a more affordable alternative.

talech POS iPad, iPad stand, cash drawer, and receipt printer.

talech has partnered with several hardware providers to offer restaurant owners the freedom to choose what works for them. You may use iPad-based or Android-based hardware for your register setups. There are countertop and handheld POS systems available.

You may choose from providers such as Ingenio, Moby, and Epson for card readers and other peripheral hardware.

You can source your hardware on your own, being mindful of compatibility and warranty information, or purchase it directly from talech.

talech also offers many payment processing options from providers such as Global Payments, Chase Merchant Services, Elavon, Bank Of America Merchant Services, and Worldpay.

With the freedom to choose your own payment processor, you can get the best payment processing rates.

talech contracts are refreshingly straightforward compared to many other restaurant POS providers on this list.

You may sign up for a monthly or yearly talech contract, with no cancellation fees or refunds if you choose to stop using talech software. If you reactivate a canceled contract, you will be charged a reactivation fee.

Sign up for a monthly contract before dedicating yourself to an annual one.

Lavu has spent a lot of time building integration partnerships to help restaurant owners succeed. Drive-thru restaurant owners will appreciate integrations with digital signage boards, text-to-pay/park-to-pay features, ordering with a cash acceptance option, and advanced restaurant inventory software.

With Lavu, there’s a lot of flexibility in terms of payment processors, POS hardware, and add-on features. Restaurant businesses both large and small can build the custom drive-thru POS solution they need.

You can choose a higher-level plan, or start with the lowest-level plan and only add on the features you need. For example, you can add on:

• Additional Terminals: $30/month/device
• Self-Service Kiosk: $50/month
• Online Ordering: $99/month (included free on Growth and Optimize plans)
• Open API Access: $30/month

Lavu offers the following features for drive-thru restaurants:

• Offline ordering and payments mode
• Self-serve kiosks for takeout orders
• Quick-serve mode to take orders faster
• Automated drive-thru order firing to Lavu KDS
• Online and QR code ordering to take contactless orders
• Nutritional information on menu items

With Lavu’s numerous integration partners, you can set up more restaurant features, such as:

• Digital menu boards
• Purchase ordering, stock taking, and perishable inventory tracking
• Text-to-pay/park-to-pay (great for curbside ordering)
• Customer ordering that includes a “pay at the drive-thru window” option

Lavu iPad, iPad stand, cash drawer, and Epson receipt printer.

Lavu software is iPad-based, so you can purchase any compatible iPad to start taking orders.

Card readers cost $59, and KDS screens range from $729 to $2,799.

Lavu also offers a $259 iPad case with an optional hand strap available, so servers can take POS devices outside and take curbside orders.

Lavu integrates with several payment processors, including in-house processor LavuPay as well as PayPal, Square, Moneris, and Heartland.

While you are charged more every month to use an external payment processor, you might get better payment processing rates from a provider other than Lavu Pay. Shop around to find the best payment processing rates and you’ll save in the long run.

Users have reported that Lavu sales representatives attempt to lure potential customers into long-term contracts and equipment leases.

It’s best to buy your POS hardware outright or finance equipment so you don’t get stuck paying a lot of interest or risk your hardware being taken away if you decide to cancel a software subscription.

In general, carefully read through any merchant agreement terms, take advantage of free trials, and consider signing up for a month-to-month contract before committing for the long run.

We believe that while MYR (Master Your Rush) POS is not as well known as other restaurant POS providers, the company keeps up with and, at times, surpasses the competition. Franchise owners will appreciate franchise-specific features such as automated royalty invoicing, location performance reports, and the franchise partner portal.

All drive-thru restaurant owners will find that the software’s fast-paced ordering system, custom KDS order fulfillment options, and the system’s ability to remember a customer’s previous orders will dramatically decrease order fulfillment times. Orders will not only be fast, but they’ll be correct, with servers being guided by a designated dispatch screen. You will master your rush with this software.

MYR advertises two plans. The “leaner” Starter Kit costs $70/month (billed annually) and the “everything” plan costs $150/month. The company advertises that the everything plan includes multiple tablet POS registers and kitchen displays, but does not get specific about exactly how many you get and whether the price increases based on the number of software licenses you purchase.

The core POS costs $100, and the direct integrations with third-party platforms cost $50, so together, they make up all of MYR POS’s add-ons and integration offerings (a.k.a. everything.)

You’ll get a custom quote on franchise plans.

MYR POS is an emerging POS provider that offers drive-thru restaurant features such as:

• Designated dispatch screen to ensure all orders are completed and correct before being handed off
• MYR POS mobile ordering app which servers can use to take curbside orders
• Designated drive-thru order prep kitchen displays
• Fast order entry that was designed specifically for fast food restaurants

Like Revel, we like the multilocation/chain features that are included with MYR POS, such as:

• Digital loyalty program that works across all locations
• Back-office with franchise portal
• Automated royalty invoicing from franchisers to franchisees
• Multi-location performance reports monitoring how your franchise is doing
• Set up a new franchise with a single click, then allow franchise owners to modify their store as much (or as little) as you want them to

In addition to your standard drive-thru features, MYR POS also allows you to take phone orders, orders from your own branded app, your own website, social media profiles, all major third-party ordering platforms, and your Google My Business profile. This makes MYR POS a great option for businesses like pizza places that want to accept curbside and phone orders.

Plus, a strong online presence makes it easy for customers to order for pickup and then come through a drive-thru lane, curbside pickup spot, or come into the store to receive their order. This is something that large, busy chain locations (e.g. Taco Bell) do to minimize the number of people waiting in one spot and cope with minimal in-store staff.

MYR POS tablet ordering screen.

MYR is available in the form of iPad apps, so you can use any iPad you like.

The company offers a line of card readers and hardware accessories, most notably from FISERV. You must contact MYR for pricing.

MYR integrates with payment providers such as Payroc and TD Merchant Solutions. You’ll need to get a quote on payment processing fees.

MYR offers monthly and annual plans. If you cancel your plan early, you still have to pay through the end of your subscription term. Start with a monthly plan to minimize any amounts owed if you decide to stop using MYR.

All hardware sales through MYR are final. If you purchase hardware through MYR, you have five days from when you received your hardware to notify the company that your order was received in good condition, or the 30-day limited warranty will not recover any repairs or replacements.

If you return your hardware, the company will charge a restocking fee.