The best POS systems for bars in 2026

Square offers the best POS system for US bars because it’s affordable and offers a functional free plan that includes bar tabs and free QR code ordering, plus it offers a variety of splash-proof and portable hardware options.

However, larger bars or chains might prefer a system that offers them better organizational and financial oversight, such as Toast, which comes with ingredient tracking.

Either way, the best bar POS system allows for quick order processing, comes with discount tools for easy happy hour set-up and preferably offers staff management tools, whether built-in or integrations.

Below, we’ll share five of the best POS systems for bars, what they offer, and important considerations to make before choosing a provider for your business.

Working in the Food & Beverage Industry? Don’t miss Expert Market’s exclusive industry report exploring today’s challenges and future predictions.

The Best POS Systems for Bars: Summary

Here’s a quick summary of what the best POS systems for bars have to offer:

1. Square: Best for pop-up bars

• Price: From $0/month
• Free plan: Yes
• Transaction fees: From 2.4% + $0.15 per transaction

Square is the best POS for pop-up bars and seasonal drink counters, as it offers a comprehensive free software plan and flat processing fees for every transaction, meaning there are no recurring monthly software costs during non-trading periods.

Moreover, as temporary counters lack the physical space and wiring infrastructure needed for traditional POS terminals, Square’s ultra-portable, compact hardware – such as the Square Reader and Square Terminal – is completely cordless and can operate over cellular hotspots or WiFi, letting seasonal businesses set up and take payments with little to no installation.

Square’s visual register layout and fast search engine also enable temporary staff to learn the interface quickly, while managers can create or push updated drink menus across multiple mobile terminals in real time via the cloud.

How much does Square cost?

Square costs $0 per month under its free plan, which includes basic point-of-sale functionality, open check tracking, digital receipt distribution, and a built-in direct online ordering site.

Meanwhile, its Square for Restaurants plan costs $49 per month per location and adds real-time floor plan customization, course management, seat-by-seat bill splitting, advanced live reporting and 24/7 technical support access. Its highest-paid tier, Square Premium for $149/month/location, is built for high-volume venues, with advanced team management and lower transaction processing rates.

Square operates on flat-rate payment processing, with in-person transaction fees varying depending on which plan you choose:

• Free: 2.6% + $0.15 per transaction
• Plus: 2.5% + $0.15 per transaction
• Premium: 2.4% + $0.15 per transaction

For hardware, Square offers a variety of affordable equipment for first-time bar businesses:

• Square Reader ($59): Portable card reader that connects via Bluetooth to iOS/Android tablets for simple tap/chip payments.
• Square Stand ($149/$14 for 12 months): Turns an iPad into a countertop checkout terminal with an integrated card reader.
• Square Terminal ($299/$27 a month for 12 months): Portable, standalone wireless card reader with a built-in receipt printer.
• Square Register ($899/$44 a month for 24 months): Fully integrated dual-touchscreen countertop terminal with a dedicated customer-facing display.

Our experience with Square

We found Square generally very easy to use. The backend was quite intuitive, and we had no trouble creating menus or listing items. We also appreciated the search function, which helped us find tools quickly.

However, we did run into a few annoying glitches. For example, the table plan didn’t appear in the backend, and we found the process of cancelling orders and adding staff accounts overly complicated.

When it comes to hardware, we tested the $299 Square Terminal, its portable POS device and card machine. While it was easy to access inventory and process payments from the device, we did have issues with the physical design. The card machine was quite wide, so it wasn’t easy to hold in one hand, making it better suited to countertops than table service.

2. Toast: Best for bars with complex operations

• Price: From $0/month
• Free plan: Yes
• Transaction fees: From 2.49% + $0.15 per transaction

Toast is the best option for large, established bars with complex operations – like venues with extensive menus – because it gives bartenders the tools to manage complex orders, payments, and workflows without slowing down service.

Toast mitigates the risk of walkouts and unpaid bar tabs during busy night shifts by allowing bartenders to pre-authorize a customer’s card when they open a tab, verifying funds upfront and securely storing the card’s details for payment.

It also makes it easy to manage complex orders. Its quick modification tools mean that complex drink orders (like custom spirit swaps and mixer adjustments) can be configured directly from the main order screen without navigating through pop-ups. Bartenders can also split checks by seat, guest or specific drink order, or transfer open checks from an outdoor patio server to primary bar terminal without re-entering items.

How much does Toast cost?

Like Square, Toast starts at $0 per month with its Starter Kit. With this, you get a generous amount of hardware included – such as the Toast Flex Countertop Terminal, Toast Tap, and Toast Go 2 Handheld – while its core bar features within its software include native check management, menu creation, drink modifiers, and floor mapping.

However, the trade-off is that while there are no monthly costs, its free plan comes with higher payment processing rates, which are 3.9% + $0.15 per in-person transaction.

If you want lower transaction fees, Toast’s Point of Sale plan is $69 per month. Aside from lower processing fees (2.49% + $0.15 per in-person transaction), it also comes with credit card pre-authorization, offline card data capture during network drops, seat-by-seat bill splitting, configurable menu layouts, and ingredient modifiers.

You can also build your own plan, which starts at around $165 per month and offers a tailored software bundle for complex multi-station bar operations with specialized add-on features, such as online ordering/delivery, marketing and loyalty, and payroll and team management.

Toast’s hardware is available to buy either outright or through financing, though it doesn’t publicize its pricing:

• Toast Flex Countertop Terminal: Spill-resistant primary register display.
• Toast Go 2 Handheld Terminal: Mobile order-and-pay device for patios and floor staff.
• Kitchen/Bar Display System: A digital screen setup to show drink orders to a bar, sent directly from the POS system.

Our experience with Toast

We found Toast easy to use. The backend was particularly intuitive and easy to navigate, and the setup tutorial offered a clear step-by-step guide that helped us find our way around the platform.

The only task we struggled with a little was setting up a discount on an order, which is something we had trouble with on a lot of other POS platforms we tested. In this case, we found Toast’s wording a little confusing, since you have to click on an “update” button to find the discount button. Square clearly labels this option on the checkout screen.

Additionally, Toast’s app is only compatible with Android tablets. If you already use iPad-based POS software and want to spare yourself the expense of replacing your hardware, we recommend Square.

3. SpotOn: Best for full-service taverns

• Price: From $0/month
• Free plan: Yes
• Transaction fees: From 2.45% + $0.15 per transaction

SpotOn is the best POS system for full-service taverns, as it combines specialized bar management software with an industry-leading support model that can handle high-traffic food and beverage operations.

Specifically, SpotOn unifies food and bar management with real-time inventory insights, recipe and cost tracking, customizable drink modifiers, and order routing between kitchen and bar stations. The platform’s automatic gratuity application for large parties, custom tip-pooling configurations, and seat-by-seat bill splitting also help to reduce manual admin on the floor.

SpotOn offers businesses a dedicated account manager who builds and optimizes custom menu structure setup, as well as round-the-clock live phone assistance – minimizing operational disruption and preventing costly payment delays during important weekend trading periods.

How much does SpotOn cost?

You can get SpotOn’s software for $0 per month under its All-In plan, which includes open check parking, custom drink modifier matrices, drag-and-drop floor planning, automatic party gratuity rules, and seat-by-seat bill splitting.

And as with Toast, it also includes a hardware package of touchscreen countertop stations, card readers and receipt printers in exchange for higher transaction fees (2.79% + $0.20 per card swipe/tap).

Meanwhile, SpotOn’s POS Essentials plan costs $55 per month and comes with lower processing fees (2.45% + $0.15) and financing available for the Station 15 and Handheld hardware. It also offers a “Build Your Own” plan for a custom price, which includes custom transaction rates and a discounted software bundle tailored to your operations.

For its hardware, you can get the SpotOn Countertop Station for $600-$1,200 per station – a spill-resistant, dual-screen touchscreen register with integrated customer-facing display and card reader. There’s also the SpotOn Mobile Handheld Terminal for $400-$600 per unit. Kitchen & bar display systems (KDS/BDS) cost $300-$500 per display screen.

Our experience with SpotOn

SpotOn was one of the most intuitive POS systems we tested to navigate. We didn’t have much trouble setting up discounts or creating menu items with variations.

However, the backend was easier to use than the frontend, mainly because the frontend required a few extra clicks to add items to an order, compared with how quickly we could do this using other POS systems, like Lightspeed.

We also didn’t like the floor plan functionality, since it’s not drag-and-drop. To change the size of the tables, you have to click a bar chart button rather than drag them to make them bigger, something restaurants with large floor plans might want to consider.

4. Clover: Best for established sports bars

• Price: From $179/month (36-month contract)
• Free plan: No
• Transaction fees: 2.3% + $0.10 per transaction

Clover is the best option for established sports bars thanks to its durable hardware, fast payment processing, flexible floor management tools, and built-in customer engagement features.

Clover’s commercial-grade hardware features integrated fingerprint scanners and highly responsive touchscreens. With this, bartenders can instantly log in to terminals with a single touch, process tap-and-pay transactions quickly, and split guest bills by seat or drink round with little to no slowdown at the register during halftime or game breaks.

Its intuitive drag-and-drop floor mapping tool also lets staff track open tabs, monitor table occupancy across multiple rooms, and reassign checks between servers or sections. On top of that, its native loyalty features mean bars can automatically award points, issue game-day drink promotions, and get customer contact details during payment processing without slowing down orders.

How much does Clover cost?

Clover’s pricing starts at $179 per month for 36 months with its Starter plan. This includes the Station Solo hardware, cash drawer, receipt printer, order management (table mapping, open tabs, bill splitting, etc.), online ordering, omnichannel menu management, and tracking and reporting (including real-time tracking and detailed sales reports).

The next step up is the Standard plan for $239 per month (36 months). You get everything in Starter, plus the Clover Flex handheld POS and tableside ordering and firing. Its highest plan – Advanced for $354/month – adds the Station Duo hardware to the mix. Transaction fees remain at 2.3% + $0.10 across every plan.

To purchase Clover’s hardware outright, these are the prices you can expect:

• Clover Flex ($599-$699): Portable 5-inch handheld touchscreen with built-in card reader and receipt printer for table-side or patio ordering.
• Clover Mini ($799-$999): Compact 8-inch countertop station suitable for secondary bar counters or tight payment stations.
• Clover Station Solo ($1,699-$1,799): 14-inch commercial display terminal with integrated high-speed printer and cash drawer.
• Clover Station Duo ($1,899): Premium dual-screen terminal with a 14-inch main display and 7-inch customer-facing display with integrated fingerprint login readers.

Our experience with Clover

Clover has remained consistently easy to use in our testing, despite offering advanced features. We particularly like Clover’s frontend, which is highly intuitive and makes great use of color to highlight features. The drag-and-drop design of Clover’s table planner is also a nice touch for bars that change their floor plan a lot.

That said, it wasn’t quite smooth sailing when it came to certain backend features. For example, we had trouble finding where to set up discounts and loyalty programs, and real-time syncing issues disrupted the overall smoothness of the experience.

When it comes to hardware, we were particularly impressed by how light the Clover Flex, Clover’s handheld POS device/card machine, was. Despite its size, it fit easily in our hand and didn’t feel awkward to hold, making it great for table service.

5. SumUp: Best for micro bars

• Price: From $0/month
• Free plan: Yes
• Transaction fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction

SumUp is the top choice for micro bars and low-volume venues, as it offers an affordable and easy-to-use POS solution without the complexity or overhead of traditional systems.

Under its $0/month plan, SumUp operates on a pay-as-you-go structure with no monthly licensing fees or cancellation penalties. Instead, in-person card payments are charged at a transparent rate of 2.6% + $0.10. Its light and portable hardware – like the SumUp Solo – is battery-powered and requires no professional installation.

Plus, as micro-bars often run with a single bartender managing cash, orders and drink preparation at the same time, SumUp offers a clean and responsive interface that lets users quickly build orders, park a check mid-transaction, and resume checkout without getting bogged down in nested modifier menus.

How much does SumUp cost?

You can use SumUp for $0 per month with its free plan, which gives you full access to its core POS software, including order and transaction management, basic floor and table planning, integrated online ordering, catalog and inventory controls, and employee management.

However, if you want more advanced features, the POS with the Connect Plus plan costs $199 per month and includes everything the free plan offers, plus customer rewards, automated marketing, and two monthly SMS and email promotions. Meanwhile, the POS with Connect Pro plan for $289 per month gives you unlimited marketing promotions, AI-powered SMS and email promotions daily, and a Google review boost.

For SumUp’s hardware, the prices are as follows:

• SumUp Plus ($54): A three-in-one mobile card reader that pairs wirelessly via Bluetooth to an iOS or Android smartphone/tablet.
• SumUp Solo ($99): Portable touchscreen reader with built-in WiFi and free unlimited 3G/4G cellular data.
• SumUp Solo Printer Bundle ($169): Standalone hardware kit, including the SumUp Solo touchscreen reader with a custom thermal receipt printer dock.
• Terminal ($249): All-in-one handheld POS system that doesn’t need Bluetooth pairing to a smartphone or tablet.
• POS Lite and Solo Bundle ($499): A fixed countertop solution, pairing the POS Lite register tablet with the SumUp Solo smart card reader.

Our experience with SumUp

The frontend of SumUp’s POS system is very user-friendly, allowing for speedy service, but the backend remains hard to navigate.

SumUp’s frontend has a simple, clear and responsive interface, with a minimalist design making finding features such as table management, order cancellation, and editing easy. We especially like the “park order” function, which allowed us to quickly adjust items mid-transaction.

However, the backend consistently frustrated us, since its design was much clunkier, and we ran into a lot of slow loading when trying to access reports, bulk imports and user settings. The sidebar menu would also often cover up other navigation elements, which made completing tasks difficult.

What to look for in a bar POS system

When choosing a POS system for your bar, you should first define your specific needs. These will vary depending on the size of your establishment, whether and how you serve food, and the number of locations you have.

Here’s what to consider when evaluating your choices:

Software

Make a list of must-have and nice-to-have features based on your bar’s operations to get a clear picture of what kind of system you genuinely need. These could include:

• Inventory and ingredients management: This can help you track usage and help you plan for busy times, so you never run out of your regulars’ favorite drinks
• QR code ordering: Letting your customers order food or drinks independently can free up your staff to focus on customers at the bar.
• Staff management: Allows you to stay on top of employee shifts, reward your best employees and identify those who need further training.
• Analytics and reporting: You can learn which meals are most popular, which staff members are processing the most transactions and more.
• Customer loyalty programs: Rewarding your regulars shouldn’t be overlooked since they’re the faithful patrons that keep your business running.
• AI capabilities: Streamline your business’s core processes — from ordering to stocktaking — with time-saving AI features.

Hardware

Think about the important pieces of hardware for your business and how many of them you need – from POS terminals and handheld POS devices to receipt printers, kitchen printers, and cash drawers.

Not all providers automatically provide you with card machines, for example. They’re sometimes replaced with a tablet or terminal that can take payments.

If you have existing hardware and want to save yourself from having to buy everything new, find a POS system that’s compatible with your existing equipment. Most POS providers appreciate that you might be switching to them from another supplier and that you won’t necessarily want a complete overhaul of all your hardware.

Ease of use

Choosing a POS system that’s easy and intuitive to use is especially important for busy bars, since it’ll speed up order processing and reduce wait times. Plus, in an industry where staff turnover is high, your POS system needs to be simple enough that it can be picked up quickly by new staff.

Pricing

Consider the upfront costs of a POS system, its monthly fees and what’s included in them. Is it both software and hardware, or one and not the other? Make sure to include the added cost of integration, training, and transaction fees in your budgeting.

Realistically plan for any projected growth as well. Choosing a system that can accommodate your expected future needs will prevent you from having to switch systems later down the line.

How we tested bar POS systems

The Expert Market team rigorously assessed and tested 10 different POS systems to bring you this list. In total, we spent around 160 hours researching POS platforms and over 20 hours testing them.

During that time, we used our learnings to evaluate how each POS system fared in six categories that are important to hospitality businesses, broken down into up to 12 subcategories, in order to award an impartial ranking. Here’s what we looked at:

• Software (30%): The breadth of features included in the POS software and how valuable they are to the average business. This includes inventory management, menu/product creation, customer engagement tools and table management.
• Usability/UX (20%): Whether everyday users know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviews.
• Hardware (15%): The variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as physical terminals, customer displays and accessories.
• Help & support (15%): How effective and reachable the customer support teams are, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centers and training modes.
• Pricing (10%): The price of the system, how it compares with competitors and whether it’s good value for money.
• Reputation (10%): Evaluates market trust, real-world customer sentiment, and brand stability based on online reviews, market visibility, and competitor benchmarking.