5 Best Food Truck POS Systems

The best POS systems for food trucks come with compact hardware, can function offline, and facilitate mobile or QR code ordering. These features will help keep your business ticking over, no matter where you are, and ensure customers have a smooth ordering experience.

Based on our research, Square is the number one POS system for food trucks. It offers the best value, with a free POS software plan that still comes with advanced features like online ordering, as well as reasonably priced hardware. However, it’s not perfect – transaction fees are a little high, and you can get cheaper ones with Clover and Zettle.

Different businesses have different needs and priorities of course, but we’re confident one of the five food truck POS systems discussed in this article will fit the bill:

Best POS Systems for Food Trucks: Quick Overview

For a quick overview of the best POS systems for food trucks, check out the table below:

1. Square: Best Value for Money

Square is the best value POS system for food trucks. It has free POS software, a free online store, and has one of the cheapest card readers among the ones we surveyed.

Why Square’s a good choice for food trucks

Square is an affordable POS system that doesn’t skimp on functionality. It offers a free version of its POS software, from which you track cash payments and even accept payments while your system is offline. All offline payments will be tracked as long as you reconnect to the internet within 24 hours.

Square’s plethora of free tools include ecommerce integration, and a free online ordering page. This is a treat for food trucks that want in on the internet deal, but don’t want to invest in a full website.

If you upgrade to Square’s paid POS software for $60 per month, you’ll get access to more advanced reporting tools, and crucially, you’ll be able to send order-ready texts to customers. So, if your food truck is generally very busy, and customers wander off while they wait for an order, upgrading to the paid plan could make your life easier.

When it comes to hardware, Square has a range of compact solutions perfect for small spaces. Square has a POS app, that you can download onto a phone or iPad for free, so you don’t need to bother with large physical terminals. Its $59 card reader is also an incredibly compact 2.6″ x 2.6″ device that takes tap and chip card payments. Square also sells an iPad case with a hand strap that you can insert its card reader into, so you can keep your equipment in the same place.

Who shouldn’t use Square?

You shouldn’t use Square if you’re looking for a POS system with advanced cost vs profit management tools, or want to track ingredient usage. Neither of these features are available with Square.

Clover has some great profit management tools, but for ingredient tracking, you’ll need a fully fledged restaurant POS system like Lightspeed. Lightspeed didn’t make the cut for this list since its a pricey option, and doesn’t have a great range of compact hardware suitable for food trucks.

Lastly, Square’s transaction fees are on the high end, at 2.6% + 10¢ with free POS software. You can get slightly lower fees with Zettle (2.29% + 9¢) or Clover (2.3% + 10¢).

2. Clover: Best for Professional Hardware

Clover has the best POS hardware on the market, with a wide range that includes compact devices perfect for food trucks. It’s a great choice for businesses looking for a full kit that doesn’t take up much space.

Why Clover’s a good choice for food trucks

Clover’s range of hardware is a level above the rest, and includes compact designs that are perfect for food trucks.

The Clover Mini is a small countertop terminal with a built-in receipt printer and card reader, complete with card slot. It’s got a touchscreen and is only 8 inches wide. At $799, it’s not exactly a cheap option, but you won’t need to spend money on any other hardware.

For an even smaller device, you’ve got the Clover Flex. It’s essentially a card machine that doubles up as a handheld POS device, meaning you can access Clover’s POS software from it. Also fitted with a touchscreen and receipt printer, it costs $599.

Clover offers tiered pricing plans for its POS software. The Essential plan is the cheapest, at $14.95 per month, however it’s quite basic when it comes to features. Its main functions are sales tracking and menu item creation, but it also includes loyalty program and gift card creation, something not offered on Square’s free plan.

For better functionality, we recommend the $59.95 per month Starter plan, from Clover’s “Quick-service dining management” suite. On this plan, you’ll be able to generate order numbers, categorize and track stock, and accept online ordering, whether that’s from an online store of through integration with third-party delivery apps.

Who shouldn’t use Clover?

We don’t recommend Clover to food truck businesses operating on a tight budget, since its hardware is expensive, and it doesn’t have free POS software.

Plus, Clover’s cheapest plan has quite limited features, so you’ll need to pay $59.95 per month to get real functionality. You’ll get access to more features for less with Square.

3. SumUp: Best for Marketing and Loyalty Tools

SumUp’s POS system comes with built-in marketing and loyalty tools, making it a great option for food truck owners who work events, and want to get word of their location out to customers.

Why SumUp’s a good choice for food trucks

If you run a food truck that frequently changes locations, and need to keep customers informed of where you are, and offer them incentives to buy from you, then SumUp is a great choice.

Its POS software has a heavy focus on marketing and loyalty tools, although the amount of tools you get varies depending on how much you pay. On SumUp’s cheapest $99 per month Connect Lite plan, you’ll just get a customer database, where you can view their purchase history and save contact information. But, on the $199 per month Connect Plus plan, you’ll be able to set up rewards programs, and send email promotions. These get upgraded to automatic email promotions on the $289 per month Connect Pro plan.

You’ll also be able to accept online and QR code ordering on all of SumUp’s plans, which can speed up service on busy days.

When it comes to hardware, SumUp’s offering is a little limited. It doesn’t have any small POS terminals that could easily fit in a food truck, however there is a SumUp POS app that you can download on your phone or tablet. This can be paired with one of SumUp’s three card readers. For food trucks, we’d recommend the $99 SumUp Solo. It’s a compact touchscreen device with a built-in unlimited data SIM card, perfect if you don’t have access to Wifi.

Who shouldn’t use SumUp?

If you work in areas with faulty service, we’d recommend Square instead. of SumUp. Although two of SumUp’s card readers have a built-in SIM card, its system doesn’t have an offline functionality. That means if the Wifi or cell reception is bad, the system won’t log sales.

We also don’t recommend SumUp to businesses that are trying to lower costs. It’s the most expensive option on this list, from its monthly fees to its transaction fees. For a cheap POS system, we recommend Square or Zettle, both of which have free software plans and affordable hardware.

4. Epos Now: Best for Established Food Trucks

Epos Now has a dedicated POS system for food trucks that’s highly advanced, and is best suited to established food trucks that are part of a larger business.

Why Epos Now’s a good choice for food trucks

Epos Now offers portable POS hardware and dedicated food truck POS software.

Epos Now charges a one-off fee for its POS hardware and software bundles, although in most cases you’ll also have to pay a $79 monthly fees to maintain your software access. Costs start at $349 for a full countertop terminal, and $549 for a tablet-based system, which is better for small food trucks. If you need a complete hardware kit, Epos Now’s bundles are good value for money.

On top of physical a terminal screen and software, Epos Now’s bundles also include a receipt printer and portable card machine.

Epos Now’s POS software has a comprehensive suite of features. It’s got advanced stock management tools, with stock levels updating as you sell, and issuing low stock alerts when needed. You’ll also be able to track cash payments on top of card payments, and even set up discounts for customers who pay by cash.

Epos Now’s POS system can also be used to manage multiple food trucks. You can set variable pricing for menu items, and generate separate reports for each truck. You’ll also get access to Epos Now’s marketing and loyalty tools, and set up online ordering by imbedding links in social media posts, and QR code ordering.

Who shouldn’t use Epos Now?

We don’t recommend Epos Now to novice POS system users of very new businesses. You can do a lot with an Epos Now POS system, but this also makes it a little difficult to use, and very small or new businesses will do a better with a simpler system, like Square or Zettle.

Since Epos Now charges one large upfront fee for its POS, it’s also not a good choice for businesses that don’t have a lot saved up.

5. Zettle by PayPal: Best for New Businesses

Zettle is a great POS systems for food truck businesses that are just starting out. Its software is free and easy to use, and can be downloaded as an app on iOS and Android, making for a highly portable system.

Why Zettle’s a good choice for food trucks

Zettle by Paypal is a simple and easy to use system. We found it to be the most intuitive to use of all the POS systems we tested, making it a great option for business owners who’ve never used a POS system before.

It’s also great for new businesses, since its got the lowest prices of all the systems we tested. Zettle’s app-based POS software is completely free to use, and its hardware is also some of the cheapest on the market. If you already own a tablet, all you’d need to buy is Zettle’s $29 card reader, which is the cheapest card reader on this list. It’s a very light device with a pin pad and an 8 hour battery life.

Zettle’s transaction fees are also quite low, especially for a free system. You’ll be charged 2.29% + 9¢ per transaction, less than Square’s 2.6% + 10¢.

With the POS software, you’ll be able to do the basics, such as categorize menu items, log sales, and generate sales reports. The platform also integrates with popular ecommerce stores like Shopify, and accounting tools like Quickbooks.

Who shouldn’t use Zettle?

We don’t recommend Zettle to businesses looking to scale, since unlike all the other POS systems on this list, it doesn’t have more advanced paid plans.

Zettle’s POS tools are also quite basic, and so aren’t the best fit for food trucks businesses with a complex menu or who rely heavily on marketing to attract customers. For extensive inventory management, we’d recommend Epos Now, and for excellent marketing we recommend SumUp.

Lastly, Zettle’s range of POS hardware is quite limited, comprising mainly of card machines, and table stands. While this will suit most food trucks just fine, if you plan on opening a brick and mortar branch in the future, we’d recommend you choose a provider with more extensive hardware options, like Clover or Square.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Food Truck POS System

Since working in a food truck means you’re operating in a small space, and potentially out of reach of a reliable signal, you’ll have slightly different POS system requirements than regular restaurant or cafes.

Here’s what you should consider:

• Portability of the hardware: most food trucks don’t have space for large countertop terminals, so look for a provider that offers small, portable hardware. App-based POS systems are particularly well-suited to food trucks.
• Offline functionality: if your food truck operates in areas with unreliable Wifi or cell service, it’s vital that you choose a POS system that has an offline functionality. This way, all your day’s sales will be saved, regardless of your connection.
• Mobile and QR ordering: accepting orders online or via QR codes can really boost sales, as a lot of customers would rather come pick up an order when its ready rather than wait in line. We recommend you choose a system that has these features built-in, or integrates with third-part apps that facilitate them.
• Order tickets or order-ready texts: along those same lines, on busy days, customers might want to wander off and return when their order is ready, rather than wait. Choosing a system that can print numbered tickets, or send texts or emails when an order is ready will make it easier for you and customers to keep track or orders.
• Marketing tools: if you’re a mobile food truck, and pop-up at different events, choosing a POS system with built-in marketing and loyalty tools is very valuable. It’ll help you notify customers of where you are, and give them incentives to come visit you.

How We Test POS Systems

We tested and compared over 20 POS system providers, evaluating them against each other on how well they cater to the specific needs of different business types. We rated each provider according to how it performed in six key areas of interest, which were:

• POS software: the breadth of features included in the POS software, and how valuable they are to the average business.
• Hardware/equipment: the variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as KDSs, portable card machines, and cash drawers.
• Ease-of-use: how easy the system is to use, navigate, and customize.
• Help and support: how effective and reachable the customer support team is, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centers and training modes.
• Cost: the price of the system, how it compares to competitors, and whether it’s good value for money.
• User experience: whether everyday restaurant owners know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviews