The Best POS Systems for Cafes in 2026

Square is the best POS system for cafes, as not only does it let you get started for free, but its app is ultra-intuitive and easy to navigate – making it a particularly safe bet for small cafes with a low learning curve. 

However, while Square is our best-rated all-rounder, Toast’s advanced hardware options and slick ordering features make it the best choice for medium-to-large cafes, especially those that serve high volumes of customers. 

The truth is, some POS systems are much better suited to cafes than others. From quick service settings to splash-proof hardware, we understand what factors matter the most to cafes, and we’ve ranked and reviewed the best cafe POS systems accordingly. Read on to learn how the best systems compare when it comes to industry-specific features, usability, support centres and more.

Best POS Systems for Cafes: Quick Overview

Check out the table below for a quick overview of the best POS systems for cafes:

1. Square: Best for quick-service cafes and coffee shops

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

Square is the best choice for quick-service cafe businesses and coffee shops, offering a pay-as-you-go flat-rate processing model, intuitive ordering tools, and flexible features that keep high-volume service running smoothly.

Cafe businesses with high staff turnover and peak order rushes can benefit from Square’s easy-to-use frontend. With visual grid organization, intuitive category tabs, and real-time product search, staff can quickly input custom drink orders – such as milk choices or syrup shots – and send tickets to baristas or kitchen displays with just two taps.

Square also connects counter sales with Square Online pickup ordering through a shared item library. This means that modifiers, item availability, and inventory counts update instantly across physical registers and online channels, reducing order mistakes and improving customer flow.

How much does Square cost?

Square starts at $0 per month/location with its free plan, giving you core point-of-sale functionality and a generous amount of cafe tools, including unlimited menu item creation with pre-set modifiers (like milk choices, syrup shots, and size variations), digital pickup and ordering, order routing and tickets, and basic inventory management.

For more advanced features, Square Plus costs $49/month/location, unlocking kitchen display management, seat tracking, and detailed labor reports. Moreover, the Square Premium plan ($149/month/location) adds 24/7 priority support and integrated employee management features.

For in-person transactions, rates depend on which plan you choose. Transaction fees are 2.6% + $0.15 under the Free tier, 2.5% + $0.15 with Plus, and 2.4% + $0.15 for Premium.

For new users, Square provides the first magstripe card reader at no cost, with additional readers available for $10 each. Other hardware equipment includes:

• Square Reader (contactless & chip): $59 per unit
• Square Stand (iPad mount with reader): $149
• Square Terminal (all-in-one handheld): $299
• Square Register (dual-touchscreen desktop): $799

Our experience with Square

We were impressed with how easy Square’s software was to use when we tested it out ourselves. Square’s interface is extremely intuitive, and it didn’t take us long to get to grips with logging orders and processing payments. Every time we struggled to locate features, we were able to identify them quickly by using the provider’s useful search function. 

Its learning curve was in stark contrast to POS systems like Epos Now, which are clearly designed for experienced users, rather than beginners using it for the first time. 

Our experience wasn’t perfect, however. We encountered some glitches when it came to syncing the menu items and customizing the table plan. We also found some processes — like cancelling items or adding users — to be unnecessarily repetitive. All in all, these were just minor inconveniences, though, and shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most cafes.

2. Toast: Best for full-service cafes

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

Toast is ideal for full-service cafes because it gives businesses the tools to coordinate multiple preparation stations, manage detailed orders, and provide a faster and more consistent service.

Toast routes ticket line items to specific prep stations in seconds (such as barista bar, hot kitchen, bakery prep). From there, its Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) allow chefs and baristas to track order times, view color-coded dietary alerts, and clear items at the same time. Its menu engineering tools also allow operators to update item availability across all front-of-house terminals, handhelds, and online ordering channels instantly.

Additionally, with its Toast Go handheld terminals, servers can take orders, apply complex food or drink modifiers, split bills by seat, and process payments directly at the table. Orders are then fired to the kitchen in real time as the guest orders.

How much does Toast cost?

Toast’s software starts at $0 per month for its Starter Kit, providing full access to its core POS interface so that counter staff can create menu items, handle drink modifiers, process payments, and manage open tabs.

Upgrading from the Starter Kit costs $69 per month/terminal for Toast’s Core Point of Sale plan. Aside from lower transaction fees (down from 3.09% + $0.15 to 2.49% + $0.15 per transaction), it also unlocks advanced tools like full KDS software capabilities, more API access and third-party integrations, and centralized menu management and consolidated sales/labor analytics across multiple sites from a single dashboard.

Toast also offers a build your own/custom plan, which comes with personalized pricing and transaction fees and bundled advanced operational modules (such as multi-terminal routing, custom API access, workforce management).

Toast’s upfront hardware costs are generally higher than Square’s and come with additional expenses for extra add-on features:

• Toast Go 3: $599 per terminal
• Toast Flex Countertop Station: $494-$799 per terminal
• Kitchen Display System (KDS): $499-$899 per display terminal
• Complete Starter Hardware Bundles: $799-$1,024
• Online Ordering & Direct Delivery (add-on): $50-$75/month
• Kitchen Display System Software: $25/month per terminal
• Loyalty Program & Gift Cards: $50/month
• Payroll & Workforce Management: $40+/month

Our experience with Toast

We were able to hit the ground running when we used Toast. Its frontend is functional and intuitive, and it didn’t take us long for us to access all key features. The system also uses a clean, uncluttered interface, making it easy for us to log orders and add custom modifiers quickly.

Toast’s backend took us slightly more time to navigate, however, due to its complex functionality. While this wouldn’t pose an issue for established cafes, it does make the POS slightly less beginner-friendly than alternatives like Clover and Square.

3. SpotOn: Best for growing independent cafes

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

SpotOn is the top choice for growing independent cafes, as it provides tailored software customization and dedicated local support without forcing businesses into rigid contracts.

For mid-sized cafes scaling up operations, there’s a risk of operational downtime or lost sales caused by self-setup errors during peak trading hours. That’s why SpotOn matches each venue with Account and Success Managers who handle custom menu creation, physical terminal installation, and direct staff training – giving businesses direct and personalized support.

For growing cafes relying on repeat customer traffic, SpotOn embeds customer loyalty, online ordering, review management, and automated email/SMS marketing directly into the core terminal software – allowing businesses to track order history and preferences across both physical and online sales without any third-party software subscriptions.

How much does SpotOn cost?

Like Square and Toast, SpotOn’s software costs $0 per month for its All-In plan. With this, you get station hardware (such as terminal displays or touchscreen registers), 24/7 support, menu management, table layouts, reporting tools, and more. However, the All-In plan requires a two-year minimum contract and monthly processing volume minimums.

If you want more flexibility, SpotOn’s POS Essentials plan costs $55 per month and does not require a fixed contract. It also gives you everything in All-In, plus discounted hardware (with financing options available) and lower transaction fees (down from 2.79% + $0.20 to 2.45% + $0.15).

You can also choose the Build Your Own plan with custom pricing and transaction fees, as well as a discounted custom software bundle tailored to your business operations.

SpotOn also offers its own proprietary hardware, which costs as follows:

• Station 15 (15-inch desktop terminal): $995 per terminal ($750 with Essentials and Build Your Own)
• Handheld: $495 per terminal ($297 with Essentials and Build Your Own)
• Station 10 (10-inch counter terminal): $415 per unit
• Guest-facing display: $200 per unit
• Wireless router: $300

Our experience with SpotOn

During testing, we found we were able to easily access all relevant areas needed for setup. We also found SpotOn’s backend to be super intuitive and easy to use, and were able to access all the features we needed in a couple of taps.

The frontend wasn’t quite as streamlined, however. It required a few extra clicks to add items to an order compared with other POS systems. SpotOn also only offers a dark mode which didn’t have great visibility. While this shouldn’t be an issue for bars and dimly lit restaurants, we thought this could be a drawback for cafes that rely on speed.

4. Clover: Best for counter-service cafes and bakeries

• Price: From $135/month (36-month contract)
• Free plan: No
• Transaction fees: 2.3% + $0.10 per transaction

Clover is a great option for counter-service cafes and bakeries, thanks to its fast hardware, intuitive ordering interface, and flexible payment setups that keep busy service lines moving.

Clover’s front-end terminals are well-regarded for being exceptionally fast and responsive – something which is crucial during peak morning rush hours. Cashiers can quickly access popular menu items (like drip coffee, speciality lattes and baked goods), then complete payments with a simplified checkout process that minimizes unnecessary steps. Its clear visual categorizations and item grids make it easy to assign drink modifiers or separate items by guest.

Its dedicated station setups (such as the Clover Station Duo and Mini) include both customer-facing payment screens and built-in thermal printers and biometric fingerprint scanners, the latter of which allows counter staff to sign in instantly between orders without having to type in PINs or passwords.

How much does Clover cost?

Clover costs $135 per month for a 36-month contract under its Starter plan. This provides you with the Mini 8-inch touchscreen POS (with built-in receipt printer) hardware, as well as a variety of core software features, including order management (like contactless dining and remote order firing), online ordering, omnichannel menu management (item modifiers, color-coded categories, etc.), and tracking and reporting.

Next, its Standard plan costs $185/month for 36 months, which comes with the Station Duo, receipt printer, and cash drawer hardware. It also comes with the same software features as Starter, plus loyalty programs, promotions, and gift cards, but does not include the Mini 8-inch touchscreen POS.

The Advanced plan for $245/month for 26 months offers everything in Standard, as well as line busting. Transaction fees for all plans are 2.3% + $0.10 per in-person sale across all plans.

Clover software runs exclusively on its proprietary hardware, requiring outright purchase or financing:

• Clover Go (Mobile Reader): $49-$149 per unit
• Clover Flex (Handheld all-in-one POS and printer): $599-$699 per device
• Clover Mini (Compact countertop terminal): $799-$899 per device
• Clover Station Solo (Single-screen station): $1,349-$1,699
• Clover Station Duo (Dual-screen counter system with biometric scanner): $1,799-$1,999

Our experience with Clover

Clover’s interface was quick and easy to navigate. Whether we were selecting items from the order screen or splitting the bill, managing tasks was straightforward, positioning it well for busy cafe staff managing highly specialized orders. 

Clover’s bulk import feature helped us upload products quickly too, eliminating the time associated with handling the task manually. 

However, while we were really impressed with the system’s frontend, its backend was slightly less intuitive. It took us quite a lot of time to locate basic features, and handling loyalty, promotions and discount capabilities felt a bit clunky and disjointed. 

5. SumUp: Best for micro-cafes and mobile coffee carts

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

SumUp is the best fit for micro-cafes and mobile coffee carts because its simple interface, compact hardware, and flexible connectivity make it well suited to teams operating in space-constrained environments.

Thanks to its exceptionally simple, clear and responsive frontend, seasonal and temporary staff can learn the ropes quite quickly without long or complicated training, as its Apple-style layout allows them to select products, edit orders, and check out in just a few taps. During busy periods, its “Park Order” feature lets employees temporarily hold active orders mid-checkout and complete other customer orders without cancelling tickets or restarting transactions.

Moreover, as mobile cafes don’t have limited counter space and rely on wireless cellular or mobile connections, SumUp’s light and compact card readers (such as the SumUp Solo and Air) fit easily into small counter spaces and pair seamlessly with mobile devices or built-in cellular SIMs, meaning there’s no need for bulky countertop hardware, wired connections, or dedicated POS stations.

How much does SumUp cost?

SumUp starts at $0 per month under its pay-as-you-go plan; you only pay transaction fees for every sale you make (2.6% + $0.10 in-person). The free plan allows you to accept contactless payments using Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android, or pair with standalone hardware (like SumUp Plas card reader). It also lets you create product catalogs, track sales, and view basic financial reports.

However, if you want automated marketing and customer rewards, you can upgrade to the POS with Connect Plus plan for $199 per month. This also gives you dedicated installation and training, and two SMS and email promotions per month. You can also get the POS with the Connect Pro plan for $289 per month, which includes unlimited marketing promotions (including daily AI-powered SMS and email promotions) and a Google review boost.

On the other hand, if you’d prefer to buy SumUp’s hardware upfront, here’s what you can get:

• SumUp Plus ($54): Connects via Bluetooth to mobile phones or tablets running the SumUp app. Includes a base USB charging cable.
• SumUp Solo ($99): Includes an integrated touchscreen, standalone WiFi capabilities, a built-in unlimited 4G SIM card, and a countertop charging cable.
• SumUp Terminal ($249): Features an integrated thermal receipt printer, dual WiFi/4G connectivity, and full order-taking controls.
• SumUp Solo & Printer Bundle ($199): Combines the standalone Solo touchscreen terminal with a detachable printer base that also functions as an external battery pack.

Our experience with SumUp

Our experience with SumUp was a bit of a mixed bag. Overall, it’s frontend interface is simple, clear, and responsive, suggesting the platform would be ideal for beginners or smaller businesses that prefer a minimal design. We also found it easy to complete basic tasks like managing tables, cancelling payments or editing orders.

However, navigating its backend felt unnecessarily clunky, making it harder for us to find things like reports, bulk imports or user settings. We weren’t a fan of its layered sidebar menus, either, which could cover up other navigation elements.

Buying Guide: What to Look For in a Cafe POS System

From dealing with morning rushes to managing ultra-custom orders, cafes are unique hospitality environments that require a POS to match. To ensure your POS is capable of meeting your cafe’s unique needs, here are some features to look out for:

• Order modifiers: By ensuring your POS has intuitive order modifying features, it’ll be easier for your staff to log in custom orders quickly and accurately, rather than entering them manually or relying on memory. 
• Ingredient-level inventory management: These tools allow you to monitor stock at a level so you can use up older items before they expire, while ensuring your customers always get their preferred items. 
• Marketing tools: Tools like loyalty programs, personalized offers and email campaigns are all designed to help you turn first-time visitors into regulars. 
• Kitchen display system (KDS) integration: By integrating directly with your POS, the technology helps workers track orders in real-time, improving communication and reducing time-consuming human errors.
• Online and mobile ordering integration: Integrating this service to your POS directly also allows staff to stay focused on in-store service during peak takeaway and delivery hours. 

How We Test POS Systems for Cafes

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 what we learned to evaluate how each POS system fared in six categories important to hospitality businesses, broken down into up to 12 subcategories, to assign 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, including inventory management, menu/product creation, customer engagement tools and table management.
• Usability (20%): How easy each system is to use, based on feedback from several average users who were assigned basic tasks to complete on each system, such as menu/item creation, accessing reports or applying a discount.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pricing (10%): The price of the system, how it compares with competitors and whether it’s good value for money.
• Reputation (10%): Measures a provider’s long-term market trust, stability, and customer feedback from verified review platforms (like Trustpilot and Capterra).