The 5 Best POS Systems for Restaurants in 2025

Female server using a point of sale system in an evening restaurant setting

Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral.

We’ve researched and tested the 10 best POS systems and found that Square offers the best restaurant POS system. It’s got a functional free plan perfect for new ventures and more advanced paid plans that can support budding chains, while still being priced cheaper than most competitor systems.

Square won’t be the perfect fit for all restaurants and established, large sit-down eateries will fare better with Toast or Clover, since they offer tools for managing expenses and limiting wastage, like cost versus profit and ingredient tracking.

For a quick overview of the six best restaurant POS systems, check out the table below. If you don’t have time to read our in-depth reviews of each platform, you can use our quote-finding tool to find the best value service for your business in under a minute.

What are the top 5 POS systems for restaurants?

  1. Square – Best for scaling up your restaurant business
  2. Toast – Best for established restaurants with complex operations
  3. Clover – Best for professional restaurant hardware
  4. SpotOn – Best for simplifying staff scheduling and communication
  5. SumUp – Best for small restaurants seeking speed and efficiency
  6. Lightspeed Restaurant – Best for increasing customer loyalty

We recommend these providers based on results from our independent research and testing. Please go to our methodology section to learn more about how we test POS systems.

Swipe right to see more
0 out of 0

Square for Restaurants

Toast

Clover

SpotOn

SumUp

Lightspeed Restaurant

4.8
4.7
4.5
4.4
4.2
3.9
Price
  • Free: $0/month
  • Plus: $69/month
  • Premium: $165
Price
  • Starter Kit: $0/month
  • Point of Sale: $69/month
  • Build Your Own: Custom
Price
  • Starter: $89.95/month
  • Standard: $109.90/month
  • Advanced: $129.85/month
Price
  • Quick start: $0/month
  • Counter-service: $99/month
  • Full-service: $135/month

+ custom pricing

Price
  • POS Lite: $0/month
  • Connect Lite: $99/month
  • Connect Plus: $199/month
  • Connect Pro: $289/month
Price
  • Essential: $189/month
  • Premium: $399/month

+ custom pricing

Key Features
  • Free plan
  • Free online store
  • Wide range of affordable hardware
Key Features
  • Advanced inventory and profit management tools
  • Native delivery and takeout app
  • Offline mode
Key Features
  • Fingerprint login
  • Intuitive back office
  • Top range hardware selection
Key Features
  • Free plan
  • Native scheduling and payroll app
  • Tip management
Key Features
  • Integrated marketing and loyalty tools
  • Mobile and QR code ordering on all plans
  • Android and iOS app
Key Features
  • Marketing tools + loyalty programs
  • Delivery and contactless online ordering
  • Ingredient usage tracking
Visit Square Compare Quotes Compare Quotes Compare Quotes Compare Quotes Compare Quotes
The Best Restaurant POS Systems: Key Takeaways

  • Key features of a restaurant POS system include inventory management, table plan management (for table-service venues) and menu management.
  • Additional restaurant POS features include loyalty and marketing integrations, online ordering, and staff scheduling and tip management.
  • Restaurant POS systems typically cost around $69 per month for software, with hardware purchases costing up to $1,000 per location.
  • Square was ranked as our top restaurant POS system for scalability, thanks to its free plan, affordable hardware and range of add-on tools.
  • Other top POS systems for restaurants include Toast, Clover and SpotOn.

Cover Image: Expert Market Food and Beverage Report 2024 - sponsored by Toast
Working in the Food & Beverage Industry? Don’t miss Expert Market’s exclusive industry report exploring today’s challenges and future predictions.

1. Square: Best for Scaling Up Your Restaurant Business

Square’s POS software is app-based and starts at $0 per month, making it a good entry-level system for new restaurateurs or small eateries. At the same time, the advanced features available on its paid plans (starting at $69 per month) and its wide range of hardware make Square an equally great option for small chains.

Square
4.8
Pricing From $0/month
Suitable for

Restaurants that want a low-risk option

Small businesses looking to grow and expand

Businesses that want to integrate an online store

Not suitable for

Businesses that need granular cost vs profit management tools

Restaurants that want to track ingredient usage

Owners who want a training mode for new staff

Pricing
Solution typePrice
POS software Free $0/month; Plus $69/month; Premium $165/month
Card processing fees From 2.6% + $0.10
Card machines $59-$399
iPad stands (iPad not included) $149
Register $799
KDS $20/month/device

What’s great about Square’s restaurant POS?

Square is highly scalable thanks to its functional free POS software, which is capable of supporting new restaurants. It includes features such as bill splitting by amount, items or percentage, and has a native kitchen display system (KDS) that you can customize and view reports on. This last one costs $20 per month, per device, but is still available to use on the free plan.

On Square’s free POS plan, you can also create an online ordering website for free and accept payments through it. This is great for establishments looking to increase their sales, allowing them to serve more customers than their restaurant seats.

Square’s paid plans, the $69 per month Plus plan and the $165 per month Premium plan, will give you access to more advanced features. These include floor plan customization, advanced staff management tools and the ability to reopen closed bills to make amendments. These are useful tools for larger restaurants with a complex seating chart that serve big parties.

You’ll also get access to in-depth reporting tools, such as live sales tracking, and reports divided up by section (bar, dining room and so on) or time of day (for example, lunch versus dinner service). These aren’t available on Square’s free plan, and are crucial for pinning down what works best for your restaurant and capitalizing on it.

screenshot of Square POS items listing
Here's what menu items look like in the Square backend. We were able to edit and add items quite easily. Source: Expert Market

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.

We did run into a few annoying glitches, however, such as the table plan not appearing 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 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.

What is Square’s restaurant hardware like?

Square’s POS system is app-based and compatible with both Apple and Android tablets (although these are not provided by Square). That’s something to consider if you don’t already own a tablet, or need to purchase multiple ones, since doing so can drive up setup costs.

The equipment Square does provide is pretty modern-looking, which is a plus if aesthetics are important to your business. Available hardware includes:

  • Register ($799): A standing register with a staff screen and customer-facing touchscreen terminal.
  • Card machines ($59-$399): Most can accept contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile payments.
  • Tablet stand ($149): Doubles as a contactless and chip and PIN card reader (tablet not included).
  • KDS ($20/month): A 15.6-inch or 21.5-inch touchscreen.

Also available through Square are POS kits that include registers or tablet stands with cash drawers and receipt printers (prices range from $399 to $1,899).

We tested Square’s portable card machine, the Square Terminal, and found it easy to use. You can access Square’s POS software directly from it, easily adding items to orders. However, we do think that design-wise it’s slightly too wide to be comfortably held by people with small hands. Clover’s equivalent, the Clover Flex, is better in that regard.

Square has a new card machine

For summer 2025, Square released the $399 Square Handheld, a sleek handheld POS device and card machine. The Square Handheld combines the slim and portable profile of the Square Reader with the touchscreen and access to Square’s POS software of the Square Terminal. But, at $399, it’s now Square’s most expensive card machine.

Close up of Square Terminal on wooden desk
We tested the Square Terminal, Square's handheld POS device. Although it was easy to use, it was a little wide, making it difficult to hold in one hand. Source: Expert Market

Where could Square improve?

We don’t think Square’s inventory management tools have enough depth to meet the needs of large restaurant chains or those with complex inventories. It doesn’t come with ingredient tracking or cost versus profit management, for instance. If those are the tools you need, Toast or Lightspeed Restaurant are better options.

Square also doesn’t have a training mode for staff, which can slow down onboarding new recruits. That said, Square’s software is quite easy to use, so this isn’t a huge issue, but if a training mode is a must for your business, competitors Clover, SumUp, Toast and Lightspeed Restaurant all offer one.

2. Toast: Best for Established Restaurants with Complex Operations

Toast offers a large array of inventory and profit management tools, as well as some neat customer engagement features. It is most suited to restaurants that are well-established, have multiple locations and require robust management tools.

Toast
4.7
Pricing From $0/month
Suitable for

Medium to large establishments

Restaurants with complex and large inventories

Owners looking to foster customer loyalty

Not suitable for

Businesses that have iPads and require an iOS solution

Small cafes or restaurants with simple inventories

Owners who want a knowledge center for support

Pricing
Solution typePrice
Starter Kit (up to two terminals) $0/month
Point of Sale (includes custom hardware options) $69/month
Build Your Own (includes custom hardware options) Custom pricing
Card processing fees 2.49% + $0.15 to 3.69% + $0.15
Card machines $494.10
Registers $719.10-$944.10

What’s great about Toast’s restaurant POS?

One example of how Toast can help your business run smoothly is that it allows you to create different menus for different times of day (a feature missing from rival Clover) and create menu item variations. This will make catering to fussy customers easy, and ensure your staff don’t mix up items from different menus.

The Toast platform really shines when it comes to its add-on features, although unfortunately, most of these come at an extra cost (not specified by Toast). Features you can add to your Toast POS system include in-depth inventory management, which includes food and recipe cost management, as well as low-stock alerts.

You can also take your restaurant online with online and mobile ordering, Toast’s delivery services and takeout app, and a host of integrations with third-party delivery apps. These are essential features for casual dining restaurants looking to increase sales by reaching a larger number of customers.

Other useful add-ons include customer engagement tools, like loyalty program building (set spending and create a points system), email marketing, and gift card creation, including physical gift cards, a feature SumUp is missing.

We were also impressed by Toast’s native reservation management tools, which allow businesses not only to accept reservations but to automatically assign seating based on guest count and allow the host to keep track of service progression. Unlike competitors, Toast’s tools are built into the POS system and not integrations.

Screenshot of Toast POS floorplan
We really like Toast's drag and drop editor, which made creating a floor plan very easy. Source: Expert Market

Our experience with Toast

Toast is easy to use. We found the backend 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. Lightspeed and Square both clearly label this option on the checkout screen.

Another aspect we like is that Toast’s customer service line is open 24/7, 365 days a year (that’s right, even on holidays) – this includes a phone line and a web messaging service.

What is Toast’s restaurant hardware like?

Most of Toast’s hardware is matte black, creating a discreet, unflashy look. Its free Starter Plan includes either a terminal or a handheld POS kit, while its paid plans allow you to choose the equipment you need.

The core pieces of restaurant POS equipment available through Toast are:

  • Flex Terminal ($719.10): A terminal with a 14-inch touchscreen that can accept all payment types, thanks to its built-in card reader.
  • Flex Terminal + Guest display ($944.10): A 14-inch terminal with an 8-inch touchscreen customer-facing display, that can either be attached to the terminal or mounted separately.
  • Toast Go 2 ($494.10): A handheld POS system that’s waterproof and lets you take tableside orders.
  • KDS: A 22-inch touchscreen that can be mounted on the wall, can withstand high temperatures and can aggregate orders from multiple channels.

Toast also has POS accessories, such as receipt and kitchen printers, scales, and cash drawers.

We tested the Toast Flex, Toast’s countertop terminal, and overall, it was a good experience. The screen is bright and responsive, and at a good height for countertop use.

Toast POS terminal shot from front
Toast's POS terminal is heat and spill resistant, so it can handle any environment. Source: Expert Market

Where could Toast improve?

Although Toast offers both countertop terminals and an EPOS app that works on tablets, its app is only compatible with Android tablets. If you already use iPad-based EPOS software and want to spare yourself the expense of replacing your hardware, we recommend Square or Lightspeed.

Another aspect we don’t love is that a lot of Toast’s marketing and advanced profit and inventory management tools come as add-ons, meaning you’ll have to pay extra for them. How much exactly isn’t something Toast advertises, which does raise some eyebrows. This isn’t the case for most rivals, including Lightspeed and Clover.

Use our comparison tool to receive no-obligation quotes from trusted POS system providers

Ask the experts

We asked Daniel Fragkos, an operations manager for a restaurant chain with over 10 years’ experience working in the front and back office, for insights on what makes a good POS system.

What features are missing from your current POS system that you wish were present?

“Our POS system doesn’t have graphs [for data report visualization]. It feels very numerical sometimes, and it could save me loads of time if I could look at a pie chart rather than focusing on individual numbers.

“Newer POS systems usually have this feature included and have an easy interface. Our current POS system requires training for new users, whereas newer [more intuitive ones] don’t, since they’re quite straightforward.”

What POS features improve user and customer experience the most?

“From a user experience standpoint, digitalization helps things run smoother. For example, we are currently using printed paper tickets to send orders to the kitchen, which increases the chances of things going wrong.

“If we had digital tickets on a screen, we could easily update the ticket if the table moves seats, and the new information would appear on the kitchen screen and food runner screen.”

3. Clover: Best for Professional Restaurant Hardware

Clover is the best POS system for professional restaurant hardware. Its collection ranges from countertop terminals complete with screens (no need to purchase your tablets separately), to handheld devices that sync with the main EPOS system and allow you access to all features, from order management to reporting.

clover logo
Clover
4.5
Pricing From $89.95/month
Suitable for

Medium to large restaurants

Owners or managers who want to deep dive into their analytics

Businesses that want top of the range hardware

Not suitable for

Small pop ups or simple establishments (food trucks or independent cafes)

Business owners who want to avoid hefty upfront costs

Restaurants that want automated tip sharing tools

Pricing
Solution typePrice
Quick Service POS Software (including basic hardware) $849 + $89.95/month to $2,648+ $109.90/month
Full Service POS Software (including basic hardware) $1,699+ $89.95/month to $4,097+ $129.85/month
POS terminals (included in some software plans) $849-$1,899
Card processing fees From $2.3% + $0.10
Card machines (included in some software plans) $199-$749
KDS Contact for quote

What’s great about Clover’s restaurant POS?

Clover has some of the best restaurant hardware on the market and its handheld POS device, the Clover Flex, is a great option for restaurants that do table service. It’s light and easy to hold, making it a user-friendly tool for table staff.

The provider also has great terminals for counter-service restaurants. We particularly liked Clover’s customer display screens when we tested them – they’re bright and very reactive to touch, making it easy for customers to use them. Another standout is Clover’s fingerprint login function, making it quicker for staff to access the interface and serve customers.

When it comes to software, Clover’s POS system allows you to create custom table plans that perfectly match your restaurant’s layout, create customized orders for guests and even transfer orders from one table to another if customers switch seats. This is great for busy restaurants where customers might get drinks at the bar before being seated, or ones that need to adapt to large parties.

You’ll also be able to see the status of each table in real-time, track and transfer bar tabs, send orders straight to the kitchen, split bills, manage staff, take bookings and track your sales.

We will say, however, that Clover’s KDS system is a little lacking. It does provide the hardware, but the software is through a third-party app, and it doesn’t provide kitchen reports. Alternatives that do include Toast and Lightspeed.

Speaking of integrations, there’s also a Clover app store, where you can find a variety of marketing and reporting tools to integrate into your POS system, allowing you to fill in the gaps in Clover’s tool kit.

Screenshot of Clover POS reporting screen
We appreciated that we were able to see reports on Clover in graph and chart form, since it made interpreting data easy. Source: Expert Market

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 hospitality businesses.

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 programmes, 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.

What is Clover’s restaurant hardware like?

Clover has a variety of payment plans, most of which include a software account and a set of hardware, with hardware options varying by plan. All of Clover’s equipment has a sleek, modern design, with white frames and silver finishes.

Here’s what’s available with Clover:

  • Station Duo ($1,899): A terminal with a 14-inch staff touchscreen, customer screen (complete with swipe, dip or tap reader), cash drawer and receipt printer.
  • Station Solo ($1,799): Same as above, minus the customer-facing screen and card reader functionality.
  • Mini ($849): A small terminal with an 8-inch touchscreen that can also take dip or tap payments.
  • Clover Flex ($749): A handheld device that connects to both Wi-Fi and 4G, and doubles as a card machine and POS interface, complete with a built-in receipt printer.
  • KDS: A 14-inch or 24-inch touchscreen.

Clover also offers a bunch of restaurant accessories, such as a KDS bump bar (to operate KDSs mounted on the wall), stands and wall mounts, scales, kitchen printers, and employee login cards. It offers the widest range of equipment of any provider we researched and tested, helping to earn it the top spot for POS hardware.

Clover POS terminal with screen set to table plan
We really liked Clover's layout. It's spaced-out, clear, and bright - Source: Expert Market

Where could Clover improve?

Clover’s hardware can be expensive, and prices have recently gone up further. The Clover Flex alone now costs $799, far more than Square’s $299 equivalent. If you’re a budding restaurateur looking for an affordable POS system, providers like Square or SpotOn are a better choice since they both offer free plans and cheap hardware.

Additionally, although Clover has advanced features, it’s missing automated tip sharing, a useful feature for hospitality businesses. The best option for easy tip sharing is Square.

POS Systems in Action

Wondering which providers are chosen by the world’s biggest chains? Check out examples of restaurant POS systems in real businesses.

4. SpotOn: Best for Simplifying Staff Scheduling and Communication

SpotOn is a great POS system for simplifying staff scheduling and streamlining communication. It’s designed specifically for restaurants and has a proprietary “Teamwork” app that handles shift management and cost projections.

SpotOn
4.4
Pricing From $0/month
Suitable for

Businesses seeking a low-risk option

Restaurant owners who need seamless staff management

Small to mid-sized restaurants with 1-3 locations

Not suitable for

Restaurants that change their floor plan frequently

Businesses that want to purchase additional accessories

Restaurants owners who want a tablet-based system

Pricing
Solution typePrice
Quick Start plan (includes hardware) $0/month (excluding processing fees)
Counter-service plan (includes hardware) $99/month +$3 per employee/month
Full-service plan (includes hardware) $135/month +$3 per employee/month
Customize Your Own plan Custom
Card processing fees 1.99% + $0.25-2.89% + $0.25

What’s great about SpotOn’s restaurant POS?

SpotOn is well-suited to new restaurants, since its starting plan is free, and includes a terminal, customer display, stand, receipt printer and cash drawer. All you’ll have to pay is the 2.89% + $0.25 card processing fee, which goes down to 1.99% + $0.25 once you upgrade to one of SpotOn’s paid plans.

That’s a better deal than even Square, which charges upfront fees for its hardware, even if it has a free version of its POS software.

If you’re on a paid plan, you’ll also get access to SpotOn’s Teamwork app, which includes full tip management, such as tip sharing and tip reports, features not offered by established providers Clover and Lightspeed Restaurant.

SpotOn’s menu and table management functions are also on a par with big guns like Clover, allowing for full table plan customization and separate menus and item variations.

On the customer side, SpotOn has a customizable customer-facing screen and optional marketing tools, such as email marketing, discount code and gift card creation, and a loyalty plan builder. It’s on a par with Lightspeed and Square when it comes to customer engagement tools.

The software also has an automatic offline functionality, which means none of your data will be lost if your connection is lost.

Screenshot of SpotOn POS order checkout.
SpotOn only has dark mode, which we didn't love. It might not be a problem for bars or evening only restaurants, but could lead to reduced visibility during the day. Source: Expert Market

Our experience with SpotOn

During testing, we found SpotOn to be the one of most intuitive POS systems 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 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.

What is SpotOn’s restaurant hardware like?

Hardware is included in all of SpotOn’s plans, even its free tier. Here’s what you can expect to get in your package:

  • Station POS ($750): A black, 15.6-inch countertop terminal with a touchscreen and built-in customer display screen that can take tap, dip or swipe payments.
  • Counter POS ($850): A white 10.1-inch countertop terminal, with an optional customer display screen/card reader or a clip-on card reader.
  • Handheld (price not specified): A handheld mini POS device that doubles as a card reader (tap or dip) for tableside service.

However, there are virtually zero accessories, like printers, cash drawers, or scales, available with SpotOn. For those, you’ll need third-party equipment. If you want a provider with a full range of proprietary POS hardware and accessories, Clover is your best bet.

Where could SpotOn improve?

As we’ve noted above, SpotOn doesn’t offer as wide a range of POS hardware and accessories as competitors, so if you want all your equipment bases covered, you’re better off with a provider like Clover or Square.

Also unavailable is a tablet-based POS system, with SpotOn’s software only available on desktops or via its countertop terminals. If you’re looking for a cheap iPad-based restaurant POS system, we recommend Square.

Find the right POS system for your business with our comparison tool

5. SumUp: Best for Small Restaurants Seeking Speed and Efficiency

SumUp’s POS software has improved a lot in the past year, earning it a spot on this list for the first time. Like Square, it offers free POS software and cheap hardware kits. Combine this with its easy-to-use interface, and SumUp is a great option for small businesses looking for an efficient system.

SumUp Logo
SumUp
4.2
Pricing From $0/month
Suitable for

Small to medium-sized restaurants

Owners looking to avoid high monthly costs

Businesses that want to integrate an online store

Not suitable for

Users that need a reliable offline function

Businesses that want a physical gift card creation tool

Businesses that need a handheld POS device

Pricing
PlanSoftware costHardware costCard processing fees
POS Lite $0/month $499 2.6% + $0.10
Connect Lite $99/month From $799 2.6% + $0.10
Connect Plus $199/month From $799 2.6% + $0.10
Connect Pro $289/month From $799 2.6% + $0.10

What’s great about SumUp’s restaurant POS?

SumUp’s free POS software plan is a great option for small counter-service restaurants looking for an easy-to-use POS system, but it might be too basic for some restaurants since it doesn’t include table plan management or marketing tools (those are reserved for SumUp’s paid plans).

Upgrading to SumUp’s $99 per month Connect Lite plan and above gives you access to SumUp’s best restaurant POS tools. These include easy and free digital gift card creation, a loyalty programme, and email and SMS marketing, included at no extra cost, unlike with Square or Lightspeed.

With SumUp, you can also enable item modifiers and add allergen warnings to all menu items, which will appear in your backend, as well as on menus displayed on kiosks or online. This can make your eatery more accessible to people with dietary restrictions, and increase the likelihood that they’ll order from you.

Another highlight is that SumUp offers a self-service kiosk, making it a great POS system for a takeout restaurant. Unlike Square, which only offers an iPad-based kiosk, SumUp offers a large standing kiosk, the kind you’d see in large fast food chains.

Screenshot of sales history in SumUp POS
Sales reports in SumUp are laid out in a traditional list style, but data fans might prefer graphs and charts. Source: Expert Market

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 and 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 or user settings. The sidebar menu would also often cover up other navigation elements, which made completing tasks difficult.

What is SumUp’s hardware like?

SumUp doesn’t offer a massive range of hardware, unlike Square, but the hardware it does offer is sleek, lightweight and professional-looking. Here’s what’s available:

  • Card readers ($54-$169): Compact card readers, ranging from PIN pad to touchscreen design, with built-in printer.
  • SumUp Register: 13-inch register with touchscreen and stand.
  • Customer display: Touchscreen with built-in card reader.
  • Kiosk: Large touchscreen device on stand.

SumUp doesn’t specify the exact cost of its register or customer display, however, they are included in hardware packages. The free POS software comes with a $499 hardware package that includes one of SumUp’s card machines and the SumUp Register. Paid POS plans come with a hardware kit that starts at $799 and includes the SumUp Register and customer display.

Accessories, such as receipt printers, cash drawers, barcode scanners and label printers, are also available as add-ons, but again, pricing isn’t specified.

the SumUp Air card machine on a table
The SumUp Air is compact and lightweight, but it still has room for a small PIN pad. Source: Expert Market

Where could SumUp improve?

SumUp doesn’t have an automatic offline function, which means that if you lose internet access, you won’t be able to keep processing orders. Many competitors offer this function, since it’s a useful backup in a crisis, including SpotOn and Lightspeed Restaurant.

Additionally, SumUp doesn’t supply handheld POS devices, which are useful for restaurants that do table service. Most competitors offer this type of device, including Square, Clover and Toast.

6. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Increasing Customer Loyalty

Lightspeed Restaurant is the best POS system for restaurants looking to increase customer loyalty, thanks to its range of integrated marketing features.

lightspeed logo
Lightspeed
3.9
Pricing From $189/month
Suitable for

Businesses who want to pay no upfront costs

Restaurants owners looking to expand and grow

Establishments who have extensive and complex inventories

Not suitable for

Businesses who want a physical terminal

Restaurants that need automated tip management

Restaurants that change their floor plan frequently

Pricing
Solution typePrice
Essential plan (hardware not included) $189/month
Premium plan (hardware not included) $399/month
Enterprise plan (software and hardware bundle) Custom
Card processing fees From 2.6% + $0.10
KDS $30/month/device

What’s great about Lightspeed Restaurant’s POS?

With Lightspeed Restaurant, you’ll get access to email and SMS marketing, loyalty programs, and automated marketing, all of which can entice customers to return. It’s got far more built-in loyalty and marketing features than rival Clover.

There’s also an optional Order Anywhere feature, which allows you to give your customers more ways to order, such as online or via a QR code. These tools can help create a loyal customer base and contribute to growth.

On top of its marketing and loyalty tools, Lightspeed Restaurant also has a robust array of restaurant management features. You’re able to customize your floor plan, menu, and displays, which is especially useful for customer-facing screens and KDSs.

Other top features include ingredient usage tracking, cost versus profit breakdowns for menu items, and automated resupply orders. These features are missing from Square’s offering and are part of what makes Lightspeed Restaurant more suitable for large restaurants.

Lightspeed’s POS system also has an automatic offline function, unlike SumUp, which means it’ll log data even if you get disconnected from the Wi-Fi and sync everything automatically when the connection returns.

Screenshot of Lightspeed Restaurant POS order summaries
Here's a look at order summaries in Lightspeed's POS system. We appreciated the level of detail awarded to each order. Source: Expert Market

Our experience with Lightspeed Restaurant

Lightspeed Restaurant remains a slightly difficult-to-use platform, which is the main reason it slipped down in our rankings during our latest round of testing.

We had a lot of difficulty creating a discount, mainly because the process was overly complex, with too many options for offer time limits. Bulk importing products also took a lot of time, and we didn’t like that we weren’t alerted clearly when an import had failed. We also didn’t love that the menu featured a lot of unlabelled icons that required hovering to interpret.

However, it wasn’t all bad. The frontend was much more intuitive than the backend, and we didn’t have much trouble processing payments or creating customer profiles during a sale. We also appreciated the depth and flexibility of features, like the loyalty system and product categorisation, particularly for businesses with complex inventories or advanced needs.

What is Lightspeed Restaurant’s hardware like?

Lightspeed’s POS software is completely app-based and only works on iPads. You can purchase iPads from Lightspeed, or use your own if you already have them.

Lightspeed doesn’t disclose the price of any of its hardware, which is kind of frustrating if you’re trying to budget.

The KDS and customer display screens are also app-based, and Lightspeed doesn’t offer dedicated hardware for these. This means you’ll need to buy additional tablets, which can really drive up costs if you need to buy tablets for multiple locations.

A lot of restaurants prefer these types of systems because they offer mobility to staff, but if you want dedicated KDS of customer display hardware, you can get them through providers like Clover, Square or SpotOn.

When it comes to accessories, here’s what Lightspeed can provide your restaurant with:

  • iPad stand: A black, Lightspeed-branded stand for the counter.
  • Cash drawer: Available in sizes large or small, and connects to the iPad stand.
  • Receipt printers: A variety of Epson models are available (some designs are slightly clunky).
  • Card machines: Three mobile Verifone models (Verifone e285, Verifone P400, Verifone V400m), including one with a built-in receipt printer, and a Mobile Tap card reader attachment for iPads and iPhones.

Where could Lightspeed Restaurant improve?

Because Lightspeed is a tablet-based type of POS system, it can only be operated via iPad, and the company doesn’t sell physical terminals. If you’d prefer a physical terminal, providers like Square, Toast or Clover have got you covered.

It also doesn’t have an automated tip-sharing feature, which isn’t great for fairness among staff, and is offered by rival Square. Plus, changing the floor plan on Lightspeed Restaurant is a bit of a hassle, since it requires backend access. This means it’s not the best option for establishments that make frequent changes to table placement.

Buying Guide: How to Choose a Restaurant POS System

It’s a good idea to define the specific needs of your restaurant before you choose a POS system. Aspects you should take in to account include the size of your restaurant, how you serve your food (for example, counter ordering, table service or QR code) and the number of locations you have.

Here’s what else to consider when evaluating your choices:

Costs and pricing structures

Consider upfront costs and monthly fees, as well as what’s included in them. Is it both software and hardware, or one and not the other? For example, SpotOn offers “free” software and hardware, but its transaction fees are high and you’ll need to pay extra to get access to its best features.

Don’t forget to include the added cost of integration and training in your budgeting, and to plan for any projected growth by choosing a system that can accommodate your future needs. Switching systems is expensive, so it’s easier to stick with the same provider in the future if you can.

Software

Make a list of must-have and nice-to-have software features based on your restaurant’s operational model.

These could include:

  • Inventory management: To help you keep on top of your ingredients and prevent you from running out of something unexpectedly.
  • Reservation management: To help you book out tables in advance and gather customer data.
  • Staff management: So you can reward your best employees and identify those that need further training.
  • Online ordering functionality: So you can offer your food to takeout customers or accept online pre-orders.
  • Analytics: So you can learn which meals are most popular, which staff members are processing the most transactions and more.
  • Customer loyalty programs: So you can offer benefits that entice customers back to your restaurant as repeat visitors.

If you prioritize features that help you automate workflows and prevent manual work, you might be able to reduce your labor costs.

Hardware

Think about what pieces of hardware are vital for your restaurant and how many of them you need – from POS terminals and card machines to receipt printers, kitchen printers and cash drawers.

Not all providers automatically provide you with portable card machines, for example. They’re sometimes replaced with a tablet or terminal that can take payments. But if you need your staff to do table service, you should choose a provider that includes portable card machines in their packages.

If you have existing hardware, make sure to find a POS system that’s compatible with your existing equipment. This will save you from having to buy everything new. 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.

Add-ons and integrations

You should also pay attention to what software or apps your chosen POS system can integrate with. If you already use software, such as accounting software, make sure the POS system you choose has a ready-made integration for it, as this will help you streamline operations.

It’s also a good idea to check what other add-ons or apps are available via a POS system. Some providers offer advanced marketing or reporting features as add-ons, usually for an extra fee – but if these seem particularly valuable to your business, they could be worth the extra price.

Customer support

Make sure you check how available the POS provider’s customer support team is, and how easily reachable they are.

A POS provider should have a customer support phone line that’s open on weekdays, at the very least. Live chat support and community forums you can go to in a pinch are a welcome addition.

You should also check the training resources, onboarding support and post-implementation support terms provided by the POS provider, to ensure your team will get the support they need to learn the new system.

Do you run a hotel?

Looking for a POS system for your hotel? Check out our guide to the best POS systems for hospitality businesses.

How Much Does a Restaurant POS System Cost?

On average, monthly fees for POS systems are around $69 per month. This sometimes includes one set of hardware (a terminal, card reader, and receipt printer), but if you need more, you’ll need to pay extra.

Hardware fees can be much costlier, especially if you’re purchasing equipment for several locations. The average cost is $1,000+ for one restaurant if you include a terminal, customer display, portable card machines, and receipt printer.

However, this is an initial cost, and once you’re set up, you’re unlikely to need to purchase new hardware for a long time.

You can read more about POS system costs in our complete guide.

Our Methodology: How We Tested Restaurant 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:

  • POS software: 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.
  • Hardware/equipment: The variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as physical terminals, customer displays and accessories.
  • Ease-of-use: 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 and support: How effective and reachable the customer support teams are, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centers and training modes.
  • Costs: The price of the system, how it compares to competitors and whether it's good value for money.
  • User experience: Whether everyday users know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it and what they say about it in online reviews.

We gave each POS system a score in each of the above testing and research categories and combined them to produce an overall score, which was used to rank them.

Graph showing features vs usability scores of various EPOS systems
This axis graph shows the number of features versus usability of restaurant EPOS systems we tested. It's a visual representation of the results of our research process. Source: Expert Market
Verdict

Our overall winner is Square, which offers a free POS app that is simple and straightforward, and is a great option for small but growing restaurants.

Next up is Toast, which has all the features necessary to handle complex inventories, but can be suitable for restaurants of all types, large and small, thanks to its $0 per month Starter Kit.

For staff management and scheduling, SpotOn is the best option. It’ll help you locate and reward your best employees, and make everyone’s life easier by streamlining schedules so that your best employees stay with you.

If you want to get quotes from POS providers, you can use our free quote-finding tool to compare and save. We just need a few brief details about your restaurant, and we’ll then match you up with trusted providers who can cater to your needs. They’ll contact you directly with no-obligation quotes and answers to your questions.

Written by:
Headshot of Expert Market Senior Writer Tatiana Lebtreton
Tatiana is Expert Market's resident payments and online growth expert, specialising in (E)POS and merchant accounts, as well as website builders.
Reviewed by:
Oliver Simpson - senior researcher - headshot
After three years in operational B2B data analysis, Oliver became a business insight specialist in 2022 and now focuses full-time on understanding small business preferences and needs. He blends his quantitative skills, forged by his experience working as a law enforcement researcher, with qualitative exploration, to ensure robust and nuanced results.