Written by Dan Barraclough Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on 21 October 2021 On this page What is a Food Truck POS System? Best POS Systems for Food Trucks 1. Touchbistro 2. Nobly 3. Lavu 4. Revel Verdict How We Test POS Systems FAQs Expand To run a successful food truck, you need more than just a dream, a killer taco recipe and a chic van: you need a POS system.You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be comparing the very best food truck POS system providers out there to help you make the right choice for your business.For an even easier solution, you can get free quotes directly from trusted POS companies through our quote-finding tool. You simply answer a few questions, and we match your food truck business with the most suitable company. They’ll then offer you more information and no-obligation quotes to compare. It’s really quick and easy. What is a Food Truck POS System?A food truck POS system is a software that enables you to accept orders and payments directly from your food truck. It usually comes with inventory management, payment processing features, and the option to use a mobile POS system to help your food truck business earn money from anywhere, quickly and easily.Without further ado, let’s take a look at our top four food truck POS systems: Best POS Systems for Food TrucksThe best POS systems for food trucks are: Touchbistro, Nobly POS, Lavu and Revel. 1TouchBistro★★★★★Best for innovative features that add value2Nobly POS★★★★★Best affordable POS system3Lavu★★★★★Best for reports you’ll actually use4Revel★★★★★Best for trucks that travel 1. TouchBistroBest for innovative features that add valueIn a situation where space matters, an iPad POS system makes perfect sense. TouchBistro is easily one of the best POS systems in Canada, offering an iPad system that integrates as seamlessly into a food truck as it would a bricks and mortar restaurant. That’s to say, very.TouchBistro doesn’t just look great – it delivers real results. For example, upselling prompts help you increase check size. The CRM capabilities also help you to keep in touch with customers and gain repeat business.TouchBistro will also crunch the numbers to find your most profitable items, and how you should be spending your time – something we bet you won’t fancy doing yourself after a busy day of cooking in a hot van. License packages start at $89/month. Pros Get up and running with just an iPad, payment portal and license – no need for bulky or costly hardware 24/7 customer support over phone and email CRM capabilities enable you to keep in touch with customers and encourage repeat business Crunch the numbers to find out what’s making you money, and what should be left behind No Wi-Fi? No worries – TouchBistro can run offline from anywhere Cons Some reviews complain the program is prone to small glitches 2. Nobly POSBest affordable POS systemNobly is another POS system that’s very well-liked by customers, earning an impressive Trustpilot rating of 8.5/10.At $59/month (less if you pay annually), Nobly is the cheapest POS system on this list, but it’s clear that it hasn’t compromised on features; you’ll still get the same CRM, reporting and inventory management features that you’d expect from the (slightly) pricier TouchBistro.Customers praise the easy-to-use interface, as well as the thorough and caring customer service. It’s clear Nobly is providing a great, affordable service without compromise. Pros Extremely well-rated by users (8.5/10 on Trustpilot) A very affordable POS system, with an additional discount for an annual subscription Self-service setting allows customers to serve themselves during busy periods CRM, reporting and inventory management features Compact hardware to maximize space (can also be used from an iPad) Works offline Cons While most reviews are glowing, some complain of pushy sales tactics The back end of the software a little tricky to navigate 3. LavuBest for reports you’ll actually useIf you love data, you’ll love Lavu. If you don’t love data, you’ll love it even more.Why? Because Lavy makes it easier than any other POS system to visualize wins and problems across all aspects of your business. We’re talking activity reports (refunds etc.), product reports, payment reports, sales reports, labor reports and order reports. That’s a lot of useful information for one little POS system.You’d be forgiven for thinking that all this reporting would make the Lavu system a bit on the slow side. Quite the opposite, in fact: Lavu has got speedy service down to a fine art. It’ll even let you take orders from customers right the way down the line in order to maximize kitchen efficiency, and to stop people from leaving when the wait time is high. Pros Excellent reporting features A proactive POS system that’s constantly updating and improving Great for getting down the line as quickly as possible, and preventing customer drop-off due to wait time Cons With improvements and updates comes the occasional glitch and bug – that’s to be expected, but can be frustrating nonetheless While the vast majority of reviews are positive, some complain of unhelpful customer service 4. RevelBest for trucks that travelRevel is the priciest POS system to make the list at around $79/month for the cheapest package. However, it has the features to justify it. Plus, Revel is compatible with most hardware brands, so you won’t have to fork over the big bucks for new equipment.Revel lets you monitor your inventory with pinpoint accuracy, right down to the last lettuce leaf. You can also integrate Quickbooks with Revel’s system to make your accounting that bit easier.Revel’s real USP, though, is the ability to adjust your taxes based on location – very handy if you’re planning to take your truck around the country, or even the world.Any truck owner will tell you just how important social media is for getting your brand out there. Revel’s Twitter integration makes it that bit easier to connect with your followers and let them know where you’re setting up shop for the day. Pros Able to integrate with Quickbooks and adjust taxes based on location Compatible with most hardware types, so if you already have a printer/card swipe you can use it (although it can also work from just an iPad) Built-in Twitter integration to easily reach out to your followers on social media Advanced reporting features Cons An ‘Average’ Trustpilot score, with some users complaining of poor customer service Most expensive POS system to make our top four list Expert VerdictWe’ve shown you the best mobile POS systems for food trucks. However, the truth is there’s stiff competition in the POS system market; lots of companies are supplying very good products, and for very similar prices. Without knowing the specifics of your business, it’s hard to say which will be the right option for you. But there’s a solution…Use our free comparison tool, and we’ll compare your requirements to find the best match for your business. It’s a quick, free, no obligation service that will save you a lot of time and research. How We Test POS Systems for BusinessesWe tested 16 market-leading POS systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, price, features, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to Canadian businesses.Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in eight main categories of investigation and 45 subcategories – in fact, we covered 61 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!Our main testing categories for POS systems are:Till: the core functionality of the POS system, which includes the processing of sales transactions. It involves features such as item scanning, item look-up, and price calculation.Business Management: the features and tools provided by the POS system to support various aspects of running a business, such as employee management, shift scheduling, and customer management.Stock Management: the POS system's capabilities to manage inventory and track stock levels, including inventory tracking, stock alerts and transfers, and purchase order management.Business Development: the features and tools provided by the POS system to help businesses grow and improve their operations, e.g. customer relationship management, marketing integrations, and sales forecasting.Usability: how easily and intuitively the POS system can be used by the staff, including the user interface design, navigation, ease of training, and overall user experience during setup.Price: the cost associated with acquiring and using the POS system, such as the initial purchase cost, licensing fees, subscription plans, and any additional charges or ongoing costs.Help and Support: the assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using the POS system including documentation, tutorials, or knowledge bases.Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the POS product. This can include dedicated restaurant and retail functionality including KDS, loyalty management, and multi employee login. FAQsWhat is a food truck POS system?A food truck POS system is a combination of hardware and software that allows you to accept orders directly from your food truck. The best mobile POS systems for food trucks typically come with features for inventory management and payment processing, plus the flexibility you’d expect from using a mobile-based POS system.Is Square good for food trucks?Square POS would be an excellent addition to your food truck. It offers mobile POS hardware that’s simple to use and software that’s free to install. Some of the most useful features include the ability to print QR codes that enable customers to order on their smartphones while queueing for your food. Written by: Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics. Reviewed by: Ruairi Shirlow Business Services Researcher Ruairi uses his 3+ years of research experience to uncover insights which can help Expert Market provide the best business solutions for their users. He has done this by meeting with business owners to find out what is important to them and what challenges they face on a daily basis. Ruairi specialises in tools that can be used to grow your business and has done research for a wide range of categories on Expert Market, such as EPOS, Website Builders, and Merchant Accounts.