Written by Dan Barraclough Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on July 22, 2025 On this page Key Takeaways How We Categorize POS Systems Pricing, Hardware and Integration Overview How POS Improves Service and Accuracy Comparison Table Future Trends in Restaurant POS Verdict FAQs Expand Whether you operate a small food truck or a chain of fine dining establishments, a point of sale (POS) system is crucial to your success. They can help boost efficiency, offer better and faster service, monitor your finances, track sales, and manage your staff.However, there are dozens of different POS systems for restaurants to choose from, and making the right choice can be challenging. To make the process easier, we’ve explored the best examples of restaurant POS systems on the market to help you find one that fits your needs, service level and budget. Restaurant POS Systems: Key Takeaways POS software is categorized by format or service level, such as quick service, food truck, full-service and fine dining, or by features and needs, including inventory management, order tracking, order management and staffing.POS systems enhance service and accuracy by streamlining checkout, minimizing errors, reducing waste, facilitating kitchen routing, improving communication, tracking staff and managing inventory.Future trends in the restaurant POS industry include voice ordering, AI-driven inventory, AI-powered upselling, better CRM integrations, and more rugged and portable handhelds.When picking the right POS system for your restaurant you should consider the features you need, upfront and ongoing costs, scalability for future growth, and ease of use for your team. How We Categorize POS SystemsPOS systems can be categorized by restaurant format or the service level they’re best suited for. For example:Quick-service restaurants and food trucksFull-service restaurants and barsFine dining establishments and multi-location venuesPOS systems can also be categorized by their features. For instance:Online orderingSupport for customer loyalty programsInventory managementStaff trackingHardwareLet’s explore the categories, features and top POS systems in more detail below.Quick-service and food trucksQuick-service restaurants and food trucks should prioritize speed and clarity when deciding which POS system to work with. Look for a system that helps maintain order accuracy and effectively manages the lineup to ensure smooth operation.These establishments also need to focus on offering flexible menus, implementing real-time inventory updates to track stock levels and utilizing contactless payments to maintain a steady stream of customers. Consider mobile ordering for added convenience and efficiency, as well.Two of the best examples of POS systems that work well for quick-service restaurants and food trucks are Square and Toast.Square for RestaurantsSquare for Restaurants is a versatile POS system that includes a free starter plan, along with available upgrades for those with more advanced needs. The Plus plan costs $60 per month, and the Premium plan offers custom pricing.This POS system comes with a range of hardware options, including Square Register, Square Handheld, Square Terminal and Square Kiosk.It also features an offline mode and enables instant menu updates. Square offers live sales reporting, useful customer data, and features that allow you to manage your team, take online orders and track inventory. The platform also integrates with over 100 different types of restaurant technology, such as OpenTable, DoorDash, BevSpot and 7shifts.ToastToast offers a free starter plan, a Point of Sale plan from $69 per month and a Build Your Own plan with custom pricing. It provides cloud support, allowing you to access the platform from anywhere, as well as hundreds of seamless integrations and 24/7 human support.Toast’s features include robust reports for making data-driven decisions, integrated delivery, payroll and scheduling, and a detailed kitchen display system.Full-service restaurants and barsFull-service restaurants and bars must prioritize quick table turnarounds, efficient check management, and ensure that staff are coordinated and able to communicate effectively.These establishments should focus on features such as handheld device compatibility, bar tab tracking, prompts to upsell customers and dynamic seating to ensure their space can accommodate different group sizes.POS systems that are solid choices for full-service restaurants and bars are SpotOn and Lightspeed Restaurant.SpotOnSpotOn offers a free starter plan, the Counter-service plan ($99 per month), the Full-service plan ($135 per month), and the Customize Your Own plan (custom pricing). The system features a flexible and customizable interface that you can organize according to your needs, intuitive ordering and check splitting, and a range of curated reports.SpotOn also helps with managing labor, creating schedules, collecting customer data, distributing tips, and providing useful alerts and notifications. It even has SpotOn Marketing to help advertise your brand and manage your customer reviews.Lightspeed RestaurantLightspeed Restaurant offers a Starter plan ($69 per month), an Essential plan ($189 per month), a Premium plan ($399/month) and an Enterprise plan (custom pricing).The platform allows your customers to order in various ways (online, tableside or via QR codes), helps track customer behavior, optimizes your menu and customizes your POS system to your preferences. It offers features such as inventory management, delivery, accounting, payroll and workforce management, as well as in-depth data reports.The platform is also scalable and comes with a dedicated account manager to address any questions or concerns you may have.Fine dining and multi-location venuesFine dining restaurants or those operating multiple venues must focus on providing a consistently elegant customer experience, from the quality of service to the ambiance of the restaurant environment. Key POS system features to look for include visual table mapping, guest profile creation and management, and reservation handling.These establishments can also offer innovative ways to provide an upscale and unique experience, such as ordering via table tablets or voice command.Popular POS systems for fine dining and multi-location venues include Chowbus POS and TouchBistro.Chowbus POSChowbus has three plans, all of which feature custom pricing. This all-in-one platform offers flexible ordering, a smart kitchen display to keep your team connected, and lets you access real-time data and reports from any device.The platform enables you to customize and manage staff permissions, track attendance, calculate tips and wages, and maintain a digital waitlist. Chowbus also lets you sync menu items across all of your locations in seconds.TouchBistroTouchBistro starts at $69 per month and allows you to add on solutions based on your specific needs. Some of these include customer-facing displays, inventory management, labor management, kitchen display systems, profit management and gift cards.This system enables you to build and update menus from any location, customize and edit floor plans, and access dozens of reports, from staff performance to sales trends. It also sends automated reservation reminders, displays upselling prompts to servers and helps capture diner preferences, such as favorite dishes or preferred bottles of wine. Pricing, Hardware and Integration OverviewDetermining POS system costs depends on the hardware and software you go with. Software subscription costs can range from $0 to over $250 per month. Additionally, there are transaction fees, which typically range from 2% to 3%.Similarly, hardware costs vary depending on the quantity required and the type of hardware needed. For instance, a small restaurant that just requires a tablet and card reader may only have to spend around $500 on hardware, whereas larger venues that require a POS terminal or register, multiple tablets and printers may spend upwards of $2,000.Additionally, setting up your tablets, terminals, printers, handheld devices and other hardware may cost anywhere from $400 to $1,500.While the overall costs are crucial to consider when choosing a POS, don’t forget the importance of integrations. These can include connection to delivery apps (such as Uber Eats and DoorDash), online ordering services, payroll systems and loyalty programs (which 67% of restaurants have). How POS Improves Service and AccuracyPOS systems are essential tools for streamlining operations. Let’s explore how these platforms do this.Faster checkoutsPOS systems help servers access and print checks, as well as process payments quickly, saving your customers time and preventing lineups from getting out of hand.Reduced errorsThey automate tasks such as tax calculations, receipt generation, and price lookups, as well as communicating accurate order information to kitchen display systems. Using a POS system also ensures that pricing is aligned and provides real-time data reporting, reducing the chances of errors related to manual data entry.Kitchen routingPOS systems can also assist with kitchen routing, which is the process of moving orders through various food stations in the kitchen to ensure each ingredient and part of the meal is properly prepared and added to the plate. This helps guests receive their food as quickly as possible and ensures that each dish is prepared correctly and completely.Staff managementThrough time and attendance tracking, scheduling and shift management, and performance monitoring, POS systems help prevent staff shortages during busy times and ensure your team is providing the best service.Inventory management and controlMany POS systems keep track of your inventory through real-time inventory updates after each transaction and alert you when stock levels are low. Tight inventory control and management are essential for timely restocking and reducing unnecessary spending.Reduced wasteFurthermore, some systems even track and identify potential areas where food is being spoiled or wasted. Waste is a major issue in the restaurant industry, with stats showing that US restaurants spend around $162bn annually on costs related to food waste.Improved customer experiencePOS systems can enhance the customer experience by speeding up payment, keeping the line moving smoothly, integrating with loyalty systems and personalizing customer interactions. According to a 2025 report on the state of the restaurant industry, 64% of full-service customers and 47% of limited-service customers say their dining experience is more important than the price of the meal. Comparison TableFormatPOS systemPricingHardwareHighlighted featuresQuick-serviceSquare for RestaurantsStarting at $0-$60/month, plus hardwareHandheld, terminalMobile, offline, basic reportingFood truckToastStarting at $0–$69/monthFlex handheldDelivery, kitchen display, mobile orderingFull-service/barSpotOnStarting at $0-$135/monthPOS stations, handheldsScheduling, labor management, in-depth reportingFine diningTouchBistroStarting at $69/monthTablets, kiosksTable mapping, PMS (property management system) integrationsMulti-site chainsChowbus POSCustomTerminals, networkInventory, analytics, loyalty Future Trends in Restaurant POSAs the restaurant POS industry grows, new and exciting trends are emerging.Integration with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms: Restaurants will be able to manage customer data and use data analytics to make informed decisions, personalized recommendations, and targeted promotions or deals. Research already shows that restaurants using data analytics enjoy 5% to 15% increase in revenue.Voice ordering: This technology is gaining traction in the industry, offering faster service and reduced labor costs.AI-powered upselling agents: These will interact directly with customers to recommend certain food or drinks to add to their order, based on what’s already been selected.Portable and rugged handheld devices: Tough hardware will increase mobility without fear of damage or incurred costs.Automation: 91% of American restaurateurs have an interest in automated kitchen technology to streamline their operations. Whether it’s ordering, food delivery, cleaning, food prep or inventory management, automation will have a major role in the industry going forward. Verdict Restaurant POS systems are essential for boosting efficiency and streamlining operations, whether you run a food truck, a full-service restaurant, a quick-service diner or a fine dining establishment. In addition to enhancing the customer experience, these platforms save money, reduce errors, and effectively manage both your staff and inventory.To ensure you choose the right POS system for your restaurant, consider what features you need, the upfront and ongoing costs, scalability for future growth, and ease of use for your team. FAQs What are some important features to look for in a restaurant POS system? While the exact features depend on your needs, some key features to consider include inventory management, staff tracking, data reporting, online ordering, table management and customer support. Do restaurant POS systems work without internet? Yes, many restaurant POS systems have offline modes that allow them to operate without an internet connection. However, it’s important to note that certain features may only work if you’re connected to Wi-Fi. Written by: Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics. Reviewed by: Ruairi Shirlow Business Services Researcher Ruairi uses his 3+ years of research experience to uncover insights which can help Expert Market provide the best business solutions for their users. He has done this by meeting with business owners to find out what is important to them and what challenges they face on a daily basis. Ruairi specialises in tools that can be used to grow your business and has done research for a wide range of categories on Expert Market, such as EPOS, Website Builders, and Merchant Accounts.