If you’re in the market for a new POS, you’ve probably discovered that finding reliable information on the best restaurant POS systems can be tricky.
Not only are there dozens of different providers to choose from, but each one has a unique set of features, tools, and services to offer – it’s enough information to make anyone’s head spin. And if you’re a restaurateur, you don’t have the time to scour through company websites and online reviews of the best restaurant pos software just to find the information you need.
To help you cut through the noise and make shopping for a new POS a little less painful, we’ve put together an ultimate guide to the best restaurant POS systems. With in-depth reviews of all the top POS providers (including our own), this guide will help you narrow down the best restaurant POS for your specific business.
In each review, you’ll find:
- A basic overview of each of the top restaurant POS systems
- Each system’s strengths and weaknesses
- Your payment processing options
- Software pricing and other fees
- The ideal restaurant for each POS system
We know that no restaurant POS system is a one-size-fits-all solution, and you need all the information you can get in order to make an informed decision. We hope that with this guide to the best restaurant POS systems, you’ll find the answers to all your burning questions (and then some).
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
TouchBistro
Overview
TouchBistro is an award-winning iPad POS system and integrated payment processing solution built for restaurant people, by restaurant people. Used in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Mexico, and over 100 other countries, TouchBistro is one of the best restaurant POS systems for independent restaurants. It has even been featured as Gordon Ramsay’s POS system of choice on the hit show Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Strengths
TouchBistro’s strengths include:
- A hybrid architecture that offers all the convenience and remote capabilities of any other cloud POS, but there’s also a hardwired, local connection that acts as a backup when the Internet goes down
- TouchBistro is equipped with robust core features and add-on solutions that have been specially crafted to meet the unique demands of running a restaurant, such as taking orders tableside, processing online orders, and menu engineering.
- TouchBistro also offers an in-house reservations management system, which is something no other restaurant POS provider has.
- Unlike many of the other POS solutions on the market, TouchBistro’s integrated payment processing solution, TouchBistro Payments, is structured according to an interchange plus (also known as cost plus) pricing model – a pricing model that tends to be the cheaper option for restaurants.
Weaknesses
There are also some drawbacks to TouchBistro, including:
- TouchBistro lacks a few of the enterprise-level capabilities that other POS providers offer, making it a less suitable option for major restaurant chains.
- Because TouchBistro is largely designed for independent restaurants and not major chains, it does not have an extensive network of third-party integration partners.
Payments
Unlike some POS providers that offer integrations with dozens of different partners, TouchBistro supports POS software integrations for a more curated list of partners. TouchBistro partners with a number of other payment partners, like TSYS and Moneris in Canada, and Barclaycard in the U.K. This means you have a bit more freedom to go with the payment processing solution that fits your business model or your location-specific needs.
In addition to partnerships with third-party payment processors, TouchBistro also offers an integrated payments solution. In the U.S., customers can use TouchBistro Payments powered by Chase, which is an in-house, integrated payment processing solution. Unlike many other payment processors, TouchBistro Payments uses an interchange plus (sometimes known as cost plus) pricing model. With an interchange pricing model, factors such as the type of card a customer pays with, processing volume, and risk criteria are taken into consideration. This means you pay a custom rate for each transaction, instead of a flat rate for all transactions. The result? You get a more competitive rate than you would with fixed rate pricing.
Pricing
Not only are TouchBistro’s payment processing fees competitive, but so are its monthly software fees. TouchBistro’s software starts at $69 USD per month for a single license, and its pricing is tiered so the cost decreases for each additional license you add. With each package, you get all of TouchBistro’s core POS features, cloud-based POS reports and analytics, 24/7/365 support, and unlimited users and logins for your staff and management.
Like other POS systems, you’ll also have to factor in additional costs to use TouchBistro such as installation, hardware, and payment processing fees (if you’re using integrated payments). Because TouchBistro is an iPad-based POS system, you may be able to save on some POS hardware costs by reusing your current iPad tablets (as long as it’s a compatible generation). TouchBistro also gives you the option to split the cost of your POS tablets over 24 months, which is a great alternative if you don’t want to purchase your iPads outright.
The Best POS For: Single and Multi-Location Independent Restaurants
With all the POS features you need to run a restaurant, TouchBistro is a great all-around solution for independent restaurants big and small. And with in-house technology like customer loyalty, marketing, online ordering, integrated reservations, and more, TouchBistro is one of the best restaurant POS systems for both QSRs and FSRs.
Though TouchBistro can easily support larger, multi-unit restaurants, it’s not equipped with the kind of enterprise-level capabilities required to support nationwide restaurant chains. For restaurants with these kinds of complex needs, a more bespoke POS solution with advanced reporting capabilities would be a better fit.
Want to see TouchBistro in action?
Toast
Overview
Toast is one of the top cloud-based POS systems for restaurants in the U.S. Unlike some of the other POS systems on the market, Toast runs on an Android operating system and uses proprietary tablets as its POS terminals. Beyond its core POS system, Toast also offers an integrated payments solution so you can manage everything in one platform.
Strengths
Toast’s strengths include:
- Toast’s features are very robust and customizable, making them well suited to the needs of large, enterprise restaurant concepts.
- Toast also offers an extensive list of third-party integration partners that deliver specialized solutions for restaurants.
Weaknesses
Drawbacks to the Toast POS system include:
- The system is strictly cloud-based and completely reliant on the Internet, which means losing WiFi could cause major disruptions. And while Toast does have an offline mode that allows you to continue taking orders and payments, your devices will be unable to talk to one another and you won’t be able to carry out certain functions such as sending orders to the KDS.
- Toast is an Android system, which is less common in the restaurant industry because the operating system comes with a steep learning curve, and updates are often fragmented due to the variances in available hardware.
- While Toast recently introduced its own reservations management solution called Toast Tables, the solution lacks an online discovery platform for diners to find new restaurants and book a table. This limited reach means that the solution is only useful to restaurants that already have a strong website presence and can expect diners to specifically come to their website to make a booking.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Payments
Toast offers integrated payments with all of its POS packages, making it a one-stop-shop for your POS and payment processing needs. However, it’s important to note that Toast is not compatible with other payment processors, which means you can’t shop around for the best rates. For many restaurants, this can be a big commitment to make upfront – especially if your business is relatively new and you aren’t yet sure what kind of payments volume you’ll be processing.
It’s also important to know that Toast offers interchange plus and flat rates. However, the standard pricing (as per their website) is a fixed rate.
With a fixed rate pricing model, the payment processor charges your restaurant a fixed rate regardless of card type, processing volume, and other factors. The benefit to this pricing model is that it’s simple and predictable – you pay the same rate regardless of what type of card is used. The downside is that the rates are priced higher than that of other payment processors to cover the fluctuating interchange fees associated with the type of card and type of payment.
For some restaurants, interchange plus would be a more cost-friendly fee structure. However, Toast’s interchange plus rates are custom-built, which means you may need to process a certain volume of payments in order to make a switch from a fixed rate pricing model to an interchange plus pricing model.
Lastly, there’s the matter of the fine print. As part of its payment terms, Toast reserves the right to increase its credit card processing fees at any time during the contract, as long as 30 days’ advance written notice is provided – something to keep in mind as this type of increase can throw a major wrench in your budget.
Pricing
When compared to other cloud-based restaurant POS systems, Toast’s monthly software fees are in line with most other providers. Though Toast does have a basic subscription that starts at $0 per month, this package is primarily designed for smaller venues like cafes and coffee shops because it includes more limited features. Toast’s more complete offering is its Growth package, which starts at $165 per month and is best suited for restaurants.
While Toast’s monthly software fees are reasonable, they aren’t the only costs to take into account. Remember that you’re also obligated to use Toast as your payment processor, which comes with its own set of fees. Additionally, you also need to purchase Toast’s proprietary hardware in order to use the POS – something that you might not need to do if you switch from one restaurant iPad POS system to another.
The Best POS For: Enterprise-Level Restaurants
With its robust features and numerous third-party integrations, there’s no doubt that Toast is a well-equipped restaurant POS. The system is especially well suited to enterprise-level restaurants with multiple units that need the kind of bespoke POS solution that Android technology can support.
However, Toast is less suited to independent restaurants due to its entirely cloud-based system, which may cause some service interruptions when the WiFi connection is down. Toast’s high payment processing fees can also be a challenge for smaller restaurants with thinner profit margins and tighter budgets.
Wondering how Toast compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Toast
Square for Restaurants
Overview
Square for Restaurants is restaurant-specific software from the popular mobile payment company Square. Like the company’s other products, Square for Restaurants is designed for simplicity, combining an iOS-based POS system with Square’s signature payment processing services. Though Square itself is available in many countries, Square for Restaurants is only available in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Spain.
Strengths
Square’s main strengths include:
- The hardware is simple and easy to use, which makes for a quick setup process and ensures that the devices are intuitive enough for virtually any staff member to pick up and learn.
- Square for Restaurants is one of the more affordable restaurant POS systems on the market, with relatively low hardware costs and reasonable monthly software fees.
Weaknesses
Some of the drawbacks to Square for Restaurants include:
- Square for Restaurants is a much more basic POS system than many of its competitors, meaning its features are less robust and lack some of the unique functions available with other systems.
- The system is entirely cloud-based, which means that if your WiFi goes down, Square for Restaurants goes down with it.
- If you use Square for Restaurants, you’re obligated to use Square’s payment processing services, meaning you don’t have the freedom to use other payment processing partners that may offer better rates.
Payments
When you sign up for Square for Restaurants, you also sign up with Square as your payment processor. Square is an aggregator, which means it charges higher payment processing fees because it assumes liability for its merchant base.
In other words, the fees are structured according to a fixed rate pricing model so you have to pay the same rate for every transaction, even if your customers are using low-cost cards like debit cards or credit cards. For restaurants that process high ticket items or do a lot of processing volume, this means that you will probably be paying higher fees than necessary.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Pricing
Pricing is one area where Square for Restaurant shines. Unlike most of the top restaurant POS systems, Square actually offers a free version of its software with no monthly charges. However, the free version of Square for Restaurants has very limited capabilities and you still need to pay for the necessary hardware and Square’s payment processing services in order to use the system.
A more comparable offering is Square’s Plus package, which costs $60 per month per location, and $40 per month per added device. This package comes with all of Square’s core POS features, full reporting, and 24/7 support. Though you still need to account for the cost of hardware and Square’s payment processing fees, Square for Restaurant is one of the most affordable POS programs for restaurants.
The Best POS For: Food Trucks and Cafes
With its affordable monthly software fees and easy iPad setup, Square for Restaurants is one of the best restaurant POS systems for new food service venues that are looking to get up and running very quickly. Its simple and streamlined design also makes it a great option for restaurants that process lower ticket items or process a lower volume, such as cafes and food trucks.
However, Square for Restaurants has much more limited capabilities than other restaurant POS systems. For many FSRs and QSRs – especially those that plan to scale – this means that Square for Restaurants’ POS and reporting features may not be robust enough to support their busy operations.
Wondering how Square for Restaurants compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Square for Restaurants
Revel
Overview
Revel is an iPad-based POS system that’s used across North America, and in a number of countries in Europe and Asia. Revel is best known for its robust POS features and its enterprise-level capabilities. The POS system is particularly popular among major multi-unit QSR chains in the U.S.
Strengths
Revel’s strengths include:
- Revel offers robust, enterprise-level features that are powerful enough to handle just about any aspect of restaurant management.
- Revel uses Apple iPads as its POS terminals, which are known for being extremely user-friendly and easy for staff to learn.
See how TouchBistro stacks up
Weaknesses
Some drawbacks to the Revel POS system include:
- Revel’s extensive and complex features can make navigating the software overwhelming and tough for new staff to master.
- Revel’s monthly software fees are some of the highest among other cloud restaurant POS systems.
- Revel’s integrated payment processing solution, Revel Advantage, comes with high integrated payment processing fees structured according to a fixed rate pricing model.
Payments
As mentioned, Revel does support some other payment processing partners in addition to its in-house payment processor, Revel Advantage.
Revel Advantage is structured according to a fixed rate pricing model, which means that you pay 2.49%, plus $0.15 per transaction – regardless of what type of card is used. On the one hand, a fixed rate pricing model means that your payment processing rates will be more predictable and easier to budget. The tradeoff is that you pay more on a per-transaction basis than other pricing models.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Pricing
At $99 per month for one terminal, Revel’s monthly software fees are higher than many other POS programs for restaurants. However, this higher cost does mean you get a bit more bang for your buck as all of Revel’s plans come with a robust suite of POS features, reporting and analytics, 24/7 support, and personalized onboarding.
Beyond its monthly software fees, it’s also important to account for the other costs of using Revel’s POS system, including installation fees, hardware, and the payment processing fees for Revel Advantage. While you may be able to offset some hardware fees if you’re switching from another iPad-based POS system, Revel is still one of the priciest restaurant POS systems out there.
The Best POS For: Multi-Unit QSR Chains
With some of the most robust and customizable POS features out there, Revel is an excellent option for multi-unit establishments, especially major QSR chains. Unlike other POS providers, Revel offers enterprise-level capabilities such as an extensive third-party partner network, an open API, standardized hardware bundles, and even consultative services.
Of course, not every restaurant needs the kind of bespoke POS system that Revel provides. For independent restaurants with one or just a few locations, the price of Revel’s POS system may be too steep for features that can’t or won’t be used.
Wondering how Revel compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Revel
Clover
Overview
Clover POS is a cloud-based POS system that runs on an Android operating system and proprietary hardware. Unlike other restaurant POS systems, the Clover system is made up of a series of apps that can be downloaded to meet the needs of restaurants, retailers, and other small businesses.
Strengths
Clover’s strengths include:
- Clover operates its own App Marketplace, which is stocked with a wide variety of in-house, restaurant-specific apps that you can download to customize your system.
- Clover supports a lengthy list of third-party integration partners.
Weaknesses
Weaknesses of the Clover POS system include:
- The free versions of many of the Clover apps have very limited capabilities, meaning you need to pay to access more robust POS features – features that generally come standard on other POS systems.
- Clover was acquired by the payment processing company Fiserv (First Data), which means that Fiserv is the only integrated payments solution and you’re locked into a fixed rate pricing model.
- Unlike many other restaurant POS systems, Clover was not specifically designed for the needs of restaurants, and the system is not equipped with the advanced features or capabilities needed to support some growing restaurants.
Payments
As mentioned, Fiserv is the only integrated payments solution that you can use with a Clover system. This means you don’t have the option to shop around for other payment processors with better rates unless you want to use an unintegrated solution – a situation that is less than ideal for restaurants.
Fiserv’s fees are structured according to a fixed rate pricing model, which means you pay a fixed rate per transaction regardless of card type, processing volume, and other factors. The benefit to this model is that your rates are predictable, but the downside is that you pay more than you would with a cost plus pricing model.
Pricing
Depending on the type of restaurant you operate, Clover can be a highly affordable POS solution. The company’s Counter-Service Restaurants package starts at just $54.95 per month for two systems, while its Table-Service Restaurant package starts at $84.95 per month.
In addition to Clover’s monthly software fees, it’s also important to factor in the cost of hardware. Clover uses proprietary Android hardware, which means that you need to invest in Clover’s hardware upfront in order to use the system. For restaurants that are currently using Apple hardware, this is a major consideration.
The Best POS For: Retail-Focused Restaurant Concepts
With its unique app ecosystem, Clover is one of the most flexible and versatile restaurant POS systems. The unique set up allows restaurants to pick and choose from a wide variety of apps, including extensive retail and ecommerce functions. As a result, Clover is well suited to restaurants that focus more on retail sales, and less on dine-in service.
While Clover’s app-based system is perfect for unique restaurant concepts looking for a bespoke POS solution, it may not be the best restaurant POS software for more traditional restaurants. QSRs and FSRs may find that many of Clover’s apps lack the robust capabilities of the core features found on other restaurant POS systems. As a result, these kinds of venues may quickly outgrow their Clover POS.
Wondering how Clover compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Clover
Lightspeed
Overview
Lightspeed is a popular all-in-one iPad-based POS system that’s used across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. Unlike some other POS systems on the market, Lightspeed sells POS systems for retail and golf courses, in addition to restaurants.
Strengths
Lightspeed’s strengths include:
- Lightspeed runs on an iOS operating system and uses Apple hardware, which is generally considered a more reliable and user-friendly system because of the seamless integration between the POS software and tablets.
- In addition to integrations with various third-party payment processors, Lightspeed also offers many third-party integrations with best-in-class partners for services such as payroll, accounting, staff management, marketing, ecommerce, and more.
Wondering how TouchBistro stacks up against the competition?
Weaknesses
Lightspeed’s weaknesses include:
- Lightspeed is not a restaurant-specific POS solution and the company’s broad focus means that there may be less emphasis on continuously improving features for restaurateurs.
- Lightspeed does not have an in-house reservations management solution, which means you need to use a third-party reservations solution that may charge a fee per cover and may also own your restaurant’s guest booking data.
- While Lightspeed does offer 24/7 support, this support is not available during major holidays – a major problem for restaurants that are extremely busy during holidays.
Payments
Lightspeed stands out from some of the other restaurant POS providers in that the company gives you the freedom to use third-party payment processors. This flexibility can be beneficial to restaurateurs who may want to shop around for the best payment processing rates for their particular business. However, it’s important to note that your monthly software fees will be higher if you do not use Lightspeed’s integrated payment processing solution.
Lightspeed also offers its own integrated payment processing solution, which is powered by the global payments platform Stripe. Lightspeed Payments is structured according to a fixed rate pricing model, which means that you pay a fixed rate regardless of card type, processing volume, and other factors. While these rates are predictable, the tradeoff is that you end up paying more on a per-transaction basis than you would with cost plus pricing. This is an important consideration for restaurateurs because it could mean that you pay more in payment processing fees than necessary if your customers are mainly using low-cost cards.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Pricing
When it comes to POS software, Lightspeed’s monthly fees are in line with many other restaurant POS systems. Lightspeed’s software starts at $69 per month USD or $89 per month CAD for a basic package with one terminal. The basic plan includes Lightspeed’s core POS software, personalized onboarding, basic reporting, free updates, and 24/7 support.
If you’re just using Lightspeed’s core POS features, the system is fairly reasonable. However, if you need a lot of different add-on solutions like loyalty, self-serve kiosks, a kitchen order system, and customer facing displays, your monthly fees can quickly add up. Not to mention, if you use Lightspeed Payments, you’ll also have to factor in the costs of fixed rate payment processing fees, which may be on the high end compared to other payment processors.
The Best POS For: Restaurants with a Retail Component
With expertise in POS solutions for retail businesses and ecommerce, Lightspeed is an excellent solution for restaurants that also include a retail component, such as breweries with bottle shops, or cafes that also sell groceries. Lightspeed not only offers in-house solutions for these unique restaurant concepts, but it also offers dozens of third-party integrations that allow you to create a bespoke POS solution for your business.
However, for more traditional FSRs and QSRs, Lightspeed may not be the best restaurant POS solution. Lightspeed lacks some crucial in-house solutions that many restaurants rely on for day-to-day operations, such as a well-developed offline mode and advanced CRM options. Additionally, Lightspeed lacks some valuable add-on features, such as in-house reservations, which are important to today’s independent restaurants.
Wondering how Lightspeed compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Lightspeed
SpotOn
Overview
SpotOn originally began as a marketing and loyalty platform called SpotOn Transact, and has since transformed into a payment processing and POS software. As a result, SpotOn offers a large suite of in-house, value added services for restaurants, including marketing, loyalty, and review management. However, the company also creates products for a wide range of other businesses, including clothing retailers, auto repair shops, nail salons, plumbers, accountants, and more.
Strengths
SpotOn’s biggests strengths include:
- An extensive suite of in-house, value added services for restaurants, including standard products such as loyalty and online ordering, but also more niche solutions such as a website builder and review management software.
- SpotOn offers very competitive payment processing rates through its POS-integrated payments solution, SpotOn with Payments.
Weaknesses
Some drawbacks to SpotOn include:
- Though SpotOn does offer competitive payment processing rates, the company reserves the right to change its payment processing pricing at any time with just 30 days’ notice, which could cause your rates to jump without much warning.
- SpotOn runs on a Windows operating system and requires the use of its own proprietary Windows devices, which is an added expense for many operators, especially those who are hoping to repurpose their existing hardware.
- More than 60% of SpotOn’s customers are actually in the retail space, which means there is little focus on continuing to develop and refine the company’s restaurant-specific solutions.
Payments
As mentioned, one of SpotOn’s biggest strengths is that it offers very competitive payment processing rates for the industry. However, these lower rates come with a catch. When you look closely at SpotOn’s payment terms, you’ll notice that the company reserves the right to change its payment processing pricing at any time with just 30 days’ notice. If this happens, even a small increase in your monthly payment processing fees can dramatically impact your bottom line.
If your rates do increase and you want to switch to another payment processor, it’s also important to point out another catch. If you stop using SpotOn’s integrated payment processing solution, but want to continue using the POS, there is a nearly $1,000 “conversion fee” charge and your monthly software license costs will double. As a result, you may be able to keep your payment processing fees in check, but you’ll end up paying some of the most expensive monthly software fees of any restaurant POS provider.
Pricing
Unlike some of the other POS providers on the market, SpotOn’s POS software fees will vary depending on whether you choose to use the company’s integrated payment processing solution. If you do opt for SpotOn With Payments, you’re looking at a reasonable monthly fee of $25 per month for payments, plus the cost of your specific SpotOn POS platform plan. Most restaurants will need the SpotOn Restaurant plan, which is priced at $65 per month (on top of the $25 per month for integrated payments).
However, If you choose a package without integrated payments, you can expect to pay nearly $200 per month for the POS software – more than double the original cost. You’ll also pay double for the cost of any add-ons, so online ordering will cost you $90 per month instead of $45. In other words, if you do not plan on using the company’s integrated payment processing solution, you can expect some very high monthly fees.
The Best POS For: Restaurants with a Retail Component
With a wide variety of in-house, value-added services, SpotOn offers a robust and capable POS system. However, many of these add-ons, such as its ecommerce solution, appointment scheduler, and website builder, are more valuable to retailers and other small businesses than restaurants.
As a result, SpotOn is best suited to niche restaurant concepts with an added retail element, such as breweries with an on-site bottle shop or QSRs that also sell some grocery items. These types of restaurants are most likely to get the full benefit of SpotOn’s many integrated tools, while more traditional FSRs and QSRs may benefit from a more dedicated restaurant POS.
Wondering how SpotOn compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs SpotOn POS
Lavu
Overview
Lavu is an iPad-based POS and payment processing system used by restaurants in more than 90 different countries worldwide. Founded in 2010, Lavu has more than 10 years of experience providing restaurant management solutions and boasts more than 300 features and add-on solutions.
Strengths
Lavu’s major strengths include:
- Lavu has gone the extra mile to develop dedicated POS solutions for several niche restaurant concepts, such as pizza parlors, ice cream shops, wineries, and more.
- Lavu does not require customers to use its in-house payment processing solution, LavuPay, meaning customers have the freedom to shop around and choose from one of Lavu’s many other integrated payment processing partners, including PayPal.
Want to see TouchBistro in action?
Weaknesses
Drawbacks to Lavu’s restaurant POS system include:
- Lavu’s “do it all” approach sometimes means that the quality and depth of its features are not consistent across the board.
- Lavu does not offer an in-house reservations system, which can be a problem for restaurants because some of these third-party integration partners charge per cover fees that can quickly add up.
- Based on user reviews, Lavu appears to struggle to provide consistent customer service and technical support.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Payments
As mentioned above, Lavu sets itself apart from many other POS programs for restaurants by offering a lot of flexibility when it comes to payment processing. Lavu customers can use the company’s in-house payments solution, LavuPay, or choose from a number of other integrated payment processing partners. This type of flexibility is beneficial for restaurateurs because it means you can compare payment processing rates and choose the most cost-effective option for your specific venue.
If you do choose to use LavuPay, it’s important to note that this integrated payment processing solution is structured according to a fixed rate pricing model. Fixed rate pricing tends to be more expensive than cost plus pricing because payment processors set their rates higher to cover the cost of different types of cards. If you know your customers tend to use low-cost cards, it might be cheaper to go with one of Lavu’s other payment processing partners over LavuPay.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, Lavu’s software starts at a very reasonable $69 USD per month for a single POS terminal. For this price, you get all of Lavu’s core POS features, including 24/7 support, and real-time sales and labor reporting. If you need more than one terminal, you will need to contact Lavu directly as the company does not publicly disclose the price of its multi-terminal or enterprise plans.
The Best POS For: Highly Specific Restaurant Concepts
With an extensive list of features, numerous third-party integration partners, and flexible payment processing options, Lavu is a great POS option for many restaurants. Lavu is particularly well suited to venues such as pizzerias, ice cream shops, breweries, and wineries because of its highly specialized solutions for niche restaurant concepts.
While Lavu excels when it comes to creating features for very specific restaurant concepts like pizzerias, this “do it all” approach means that some of Lavu’s core POS features are lacking. Instead of focusing on the quality of its core POS features, Lavu seems to prioritize quantity. For many busy QSRs and FSRs, this means that Lavu’s core POS features may not be robust enough to keep up with the demands of day-to-day operations.
Wondering how Lavu compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Lavu
Epos Now
Overview
Epos Now is a cloud-based software provider that specializes in POS systems for retail and hospitality businesses. The company is based in the U.K., however, it has since expanded its availability to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Strengths
Epos Now’s strengths include:
- Unlike nearly every other restaurant POS system on the market, Epos Now can be run on iOS, Android, or Windows, which means you can choose the operating system and hardware that works best for your particular restaurant and budget.
- Though Epos Now’s basic software package doesn’t include technical support, the system is widely considered an affordable option for restaurants that need a very basic restaurant POS.
Weaknesses
Some of the drawbacks of using Epos Now include:
- Epos Now was originally designed for retail, so its restaurant-specific features are still fairly basic and the system lacks valuable in-house add-on solutions like loyalty and reservations
- Support is not included with any of Epos Now’s software packages, meaning you need to purchase a separate technical support package for a minimum of 12-months – a cost that can quickly add up.
- Epos Now is a strictly cloud-based POS system that requires a stable Internet connection to operate, so if your WiFi connection is interrupted or lost, Epos Now’s terminals will be unable to talk to one another and you will instantly lose essential functions.
Payments
Unlike some of the major POS providers on the market, Epos Now gives customers the flexibility to choose between several integrated payment processing partners or building a custom payments integration using the company’s API. This is beneficial for restaurateurs that want to shop around and make sure they choose the payment processing partner that offers the best rate for their particular restaurant.
However, it’s important to note if you choose to use a payment processor that’s not integrated with Epos Now, you’ll have to carry out all credit card transactions separately and enter the amounts from each transaction manually into the POS system. For any restaurant that processes a high volume of transactions, this is a major consideration because manually entering each transaction is not only time consuming, but also carries the risk of costly data entry errors.
Pricing
As mentioned already, Epos Now bills itself as one of the most affordable POS systems out there. And if you need a bare-bones POS solution and basic hardware, Epos Now is indeed a budget-friendly option.
But while Epos Now’s monthly software fees may be on the low end, there are other fees to account for. For instance, Epos Now’s software subscriptions do not include technical support, so you have to factor in the added cost of an annual support package. There are also other hidden fees to consider with Epos Now, such as the cost to upload a spreadsheet to the system, and extra fees if you don’t integrate your POS with one of Epos Now’s payment processors within 60 days – all of which can add up to make Epos Now a much more expensive option than it initially seems.
The Best POS For: Small-Scale Foodservice Businesses
Based on its affordable pricing, flexible hardware options, and uncomplicated POS features, it’s clear that Epos Now is a good option for small-scale foodservice businesses with relatively straightforward needs. For instance, businesses such as ice cream shops, juice bars, and coffee carts would benefit from a system like Epos Now because it covers all the basics, and won’t weigh you down with unnecessary features or price add-ons.
However, if you need to carry out anything more than basic POS functions, you’ll likely find Epos Now inadequate. Epos Now was not originally created for hospitality businesses and many of its restaurant POS features are still limited. Not to mention, Epos Now also doesn’t offer any in-house solutions for add-ons like loyalty or reservations that can help your restaurant scale. For many QSRs and FSRs, a system like Epos Now is likely not robust enough to support a growing restaurant business.
Wondering how Epos Now compares to TouchBistro?
Read our full review of TouchBistro vs Epos Now
The Bottom Line
If there’s one key takeaway from this ultimate guide to the best restaurant POS systems, it’s that no two providers are the same. Each restaurant has its own unique set of needs and POS providers have developed different features, tools, and services to meet those needs. In short, the best restaurant POS for your restaurant will depend on your size, location, type of restaurant, and a wide variety of other factors. But armed with the information in this guide, you should be one step closer to finding the best restaurant POS software for your business.
Compare the top restaurant POS systems on features, pricing, payments, and more.
Katherine is the Content Marketing Manager at TouchBistro, where she writes about trending topics in food and restaurants. The opposite of a picky eater, she’ll try (almost) anything at least once. Whether it’s chowing down on camel burgers in Morocco or snacking on octopus dumplings in Japan, she’s always up for new food experiences.
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The right POS should help you increase sales
The right POS should help you increase sales.
