Choosing the right POS system can transform your restaurant operations, but wondering what is a POS system in a restaurant? It’s more than just a tool for processing payments—it’s the backbone of managing orders, inventory, and customer service.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the 10 best restaurant POS systems in 2024, tried and tested for performance and ease of use.
Whether you run a single location or multiple restaurants, these POS systems will help streamline your restaurant operations and boost efficiency.
Key Takeaways
Benefits of the Best Restaurant POS System: A good POS system enhances overall efficiency by simplifying order processing, restaurant inventory management, and payment handling, allowing smoother day-to-day operations.
Real-time Inventory Management: Many restaurant POS systems provide real-time stock tracking, ensuring restaurants avoid understocking or overstocking, optimizing inventory control.
Choosing the Right POS System: Key factors such as scalability, ease of use, and seamless integration with other tools like online ordering systems are essential when selecting the best restaurant POS system for your business.
Cloud-based and Mobile Features: Many restaurant POS systems are cloud-based, offering remote management and mobile access, allowing owners to control operations from anywhere.
Customizable Features: The best POS systems offer flexibility, enabling restaurants to easily customize their menu settings and manage table configurations based on their specific needs.
Best Restaurant POS Systems
This year, we’ve selected ten best restaurant POS systems, which you can explore below.
If you’re curious about how we chose these restaurant management software, check out our detailed criteria for selecting the top restaurant POS systems.
Best Restaurant POS Systems Comparison Matrix
Use this comparison matrix to find the best restaurant POS system that’s ideal for your restaurant business by comparing key features and functionalities.
| Systems | Free Trial | Sales Reporting | Inventory Management | Employee Management | Customer Relationship Mgmt | Online Ordering | Integration Capabilities | Mobile Access | Offline Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toast POS | |||||||||
| Square for Restaurants | |||||||||
| Lightspeed Restaurant | |||||||||
| SpotOn | |||||||||
| Loyverse | |||||||||
| Lavu | |||||||||
| PosBistro | |||||||||
| Clover | |||||||||
| Aloha POS by NCR | |||||||||
| Epos Now |
1. Toast POS
Toast is an all-in-one restaurant POS and management system designed to streamline operations for restaurants of all sizes. It integrates tools like online ordering, customer engagement, labor management, and sales reporting into a cloud-based platform.
Toast POS helps restaurants enhance efficiency, grow restaurant revenue, and gain better business insights while aiming to improve the overall guest experience by addressing the unique challenges of the restaurant industry.
Customer Rating: 4.2/5
Pros:
- Ease of Use: A cloud-based platform that can be accessed where you need it, when you need it.
- Comprehensive Features: The system offers an extensive array of capabilities, encompassing everything from menu management and order handling to insightful analytics and detailed reports.
- Payment Flexibility: Toast accepts various payment methods, including Toast Easy Pay and the Starter Kit Pay-as-you-Go plan from $0/month.
- Integration: The system is part of many other Toast products and integrates with third-party applications, offering added functionality.
- Hardware Compatibility: Restaurant-grade hardware that’s 3x faster than competitors
Cons:
- No free trial, but there is a Free version
- No bring your own device option: Requires Toast hardware in order to run the POS
- Some customers have expressed frustration over the lack of notifications for software updates, stating that updates occur without any prior warning
2. Square
The restaurant POS system Square is explicitly designed for any restaurant business. This comprehensive restaurant automation tool is designed for food service businesses like full-service restaurants, food trucks, and franchise restaurants.
Square provides comprehensive features to streamline operations, including front and back of the house, to improve efficiency and restaurant customer service.
The system allows direct order transmission to the kitchen, floor plan customization, and real-time table status monitoring. Additionally, it includes tools for team management, such as setting roles, tracking labor vs. sales, and managing tips and commissions.
Customer Rating: 4.7/5
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Square for Restaurants is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for staff to learn and use.
- Comprehensive Features: The system provides a wide range of features, from menu and order management to analytics and reporting, making it a one-stop solution for most restaurant needs.
- Payment Flexibility: Square accepts a variety of payment methods, including all major credit cards, mobile wallets, and even gift cards.
- Integration: The system integrates seamlessly with other Square products and a variety of third-party applications, offering added functionality.
Cons:
- Cost: For small businesses or those just starting, the costs of using Square for Restaurants, notably the premium plan, might be high.
- Hardware Compatibility: Square for Restaurants has limitations on the hardware it supports. If you already have POS hardware, you’ll need to check if it’s compatible with Square.
- Offline Mode Limitations: While Square does offer an offline mode, there are limitations to what it can do. For example, you can’t process certain types of payments or refunds in offline mode.
- Customer Support: Some users have reported that while Square offers 24/7 support, the quality, and speed of support can sometimes be lacking.
3. Lightspeed Restaurant
Lightspeed is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed specifically for the foodservice industry. It is equipped with features to handle the unique demands of restaurants, bars, cafes, and other similar businesses.
The POS system lets you design and manage your floor plan to match your restaurant layout, helping with efficient table turn and restaurant seating arrangements. It also offers robust inventory management, features to manage employees’ roles, shifts, permissions, and performance, and integrates with various payment processors, facilitating smooth and secure transactions.
Customer Rating: 4.4/5
Pros:
- Comprehensive Features: Lightspeed offers a wide range of features, including order management, inventory control, employee management, and customer relationship management, making it a well-rounded solution for restaurant management.
- Ease of Use: Lightspeed Restaurant is generally praised for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, which can make training staff more straightforward.
- Integration Capabilities: The system integrates well with various third-party applications, enhancing its functionalities and versatility.
- Cloud-Based System: Being a cloud-based POS means you can access your business data from anywhere and at any time, not just from your restaurant.
Cons:
- Price: Some users have noted that Lightspeed can be expensive, especially for small businesses or startups with tighter budgets.
- Occasional Software Bugs: Some users have reported occasional software glitches that can interrupt service. However, Lightspeed’s customer support team usually addresses these promptly.
- Hardware Compatibility: Lightspeed may not be compatible with all types of hardware. If you already have hardware, you’ll need to make sure it’s compatible with the system.
4. SpotOn
SpotOn offers an all-in-one restaurant management platform that includes robust POS solutions designed to enhance operations and improve customer experiences. The system provides tools for managing orders, payments, inventory, and staff, along with integrated marketing solutions to drive customer engagement.
SpotOn also supports online ordering, reservations, and restaurant loyalty programs, making it ideal for restaurants looking to streamline operations and boost revenue
Customer Rating: 4.3/5
Pros:
- Comprehensive Features: SpotOn offers a full suite of restaurant management tools, including POS, online ordering, inventory management, and customer engagement features.
- Customization: The platform is highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific needs.
- Multi-location management: SpotOn is built to handle multiple locations efficiently, allowing restaurant owners to manage all their locations from a single, centralized platform.
- Integrated Marketing Tools: SpotOn includes integrated marketing solutions such as email campaigns and customer loyalty programs to help restaurants boost engagement.
- Ease of Use: The user interface is intuitive, making it easier for staff to learn and operate the system quickly.
Cons:
- Occasional Software Bugs: Some users reported frequent issues with error warnings and ongoing technical difficulties
- Hardware Requirements: Some users have reported that SpotOn’s hardware can be costly, and switching from another system may require new hardware investments.
5. Loyverse
Loyverse is a free POS software aimed at small and medium businesses. The name “Loyverse” is short for “Loyalty Universe.” The system is mobile-based and is available for both iOS and Android devices.
Restaurant owners can track sales growth and manage sales data at any time and from any place. They can instantly visualize trends and determine their best-selling items or categories.
Customer Rating: 4.8/5
Pros:
- Cost: One of the biggest draws of Loyverse is that it’s free for its basic features, which include sales transactions, inventory management, and basic analytics.
- Ease of Use: Users often mention that the system is intuitive and easy to navigate, which can make training staff quicker and easier.
- Mobility: As a mobile-based system, it allows for operations on the go, which is great for businesses like food trucks or outdoor events.
- Customer Loyalty Program: The integrated restaurant loyalty program is a great feature for small businesses looking to increase customer retention.
Cons:
- Limited Features in Free Version: While the free version of Loyverse is quite robust, some features, like employee management and advanced inventory, require a paid subscription.
- Customer Support: Some users have reported that customer support can be hard to reach or slow to respond.
- Lacks Some Advanced Features: Compared to some other POS systems for restaurants, Loyverse may lack advanced features, such as in-depth reporting or complex inventory management, which some businesses may require.
- Integration with Other Software: Depending on your existing software and tools, you might find that Loyverse doesn’t integrate as seamlessly as you’d like.
6. Lavu
Lavu is one of the more powerful mobile POS systems designed specifically for bars and restaurants of all sizes. It operates on the iPad platform, providing an intuitive, touch-screen interface that simplifies order-taking and payment processing.
This mobile POS system for restaurant businesses can not only process payments but also makes restaurant management simple with features like customizable table layouts, easy split-check functionality, color-coded modifiers for special requests, menu customization, and advanced reporting, and it allows users to manage inventory and track levels in real time.
Customer Rating: 4.2/5
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Lavu operates on the iPad, providing an intuitive, touch-screen interface that is typically easy for staff to learn and use.
- Tailored for Restaurants and Bars: Designed specifically for the hospitality industry, Lavu offers features that directly cater to the needs of bars and restaurants.
- Inventory Management: Lavu’s real-time inventory tracking helps prevent shortages and reduce waste, which can save businesses money.
- Offline Mode: Even if the internet goes down, Lavu’s offline mode ensures that business can continue as usual.
Cons:
- Hardware Limitations: Because Lavu operates on the iPad, businesses may need help with the types of hardware that can be used with the system.
- Customer Support: While Lavu offers customer support, some users have reported that it can sometimes be slow or unresponsive.
- Software Glitches: Some users have reported occasional software bugs or glitches, which can disrupt service or create difficulties in using certain features.
- Cost: Some small businesses might find Lavu to be more expensive than other POS options, particularly when considering the cost of iPad hardware and the monthly software subscription.
7. POSBistro
POSBistro is a comprehensive, point-of-sale (POS) software designed for restaurants, food trucks, bars, coffee shops, and other types of food and beverage businesses. The software helps you keep track of stock levels in real-time, manage your supply chain, staff schedules, tracking working hours, and reviewing employee performance.
POSbistro also allows you to build customer databases, manage loyalty programs, and handle gift cards, and gives you insight into sales trends, product popularity, and other key restaurant metrics, which can support business decision-making.
Customer rating: 4.3/5
Pros:
- Intuitive User Interface: POSbistro is known for its user-friendly interface, making it relatively easy for staff to get acquainted with the system.
- Mobile Compatibility: Its compatibility with a variety of mobile devices provides flexibility, which can be particularly beneficial for businesses like food trucks or for managing outdoor seating areas.
- Offline Mode: The ability to function offline ensures business continuity even in case of an internet outage.
- Wide Range of Features: From sales management to reporting and analytics, POSbistro provides a comprehensive suite of features that can cater to the different needs of a food and beverage business.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: Some users have noted that the system doesn’t allow as much customization as they’d like.
- Software Updates: There have been reports of software updates causing temporary disruption in service or changes in the user interface that require adjustment.
8. Clover
Clover POS is a flexible, cloud-based system designed for businesses like quick service restaurants, bars, and retail stores. It offers various hardware options, from mobile devices to countertop systems.
Clover simplifies order management, including dine-in, takeout, and delivery, and enhances table and inventory tracking. It also features restaurant CRM tools to track customer preferences and manage loyalty programs.
Customer rating: 3.8/5
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Clover is known for its intuitive design and user-friendly interface, which can make training staff much easier.
- Versatile Hardware Options: Clover offers a variety of POS hardware options, from compact mobile devices to full-scale countertop systems, making it adaptable to different types of businesses.
- Integrated Payment Processing: Clover’s built-in payment processing makes it easy to accept a variety of payment types, including credit cards and contactless payments.
- App Market: The ability to download additional apps from Clover’s App Market allows businesses to customize the system to their specific needs.
Cons:
- Cost: Some users find Clover to be expensive, particularly when factoring in the cost of hardware, software, and payment processing fees.
- Limited Customization: While Clover’s App Market allows for some customization, the core software has been reported by some users to offer limited customization options.
- Occasional Software Glitches: Some users have reported occasional software issues, which could interrupt business operations.
9. Aloha POS by NCR
Aloha POS by NCR is a widely used point-of-sale (POS) system designed for the restaurant industry. It suits various establishments, from fast food and casual dining to upscale restaurants and bars.
Aloha POS supports tableside ordering, which allows servers to take orders directly at the table using mobile devices, reducing errors and improving service speed, inventory tracking and management features, tools for scheduling, payroll management, and tracking employee performance.
Customer rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Industry-Specific Design: Aloha POS is designed specifically for the restaurant industry, which means it’s tailored to meet the unique needs of different types of food and beverage establishments.
- Comprehensive Features: From tableside ordering and inventory management to CRM and robust reporting, Aloha POS offers a wide range of features to help streamline operations.
- Reliable and Robust: Aloha POS is known for its reliability and robustness, making it a trusted choice for many restaurants.
- Integrated Payment Processing: Aloha POS allows businesses to process various types of payments, providing convenience for customers and easy reconciliation for businesses.
Cons:
- Complexity: Some users mentioned that it may be too complex for small startups.
- Customer Support: While NCR provides customer support for Aloha POS, some users have reported difficulty reaching support or resolving issues quickly.
- Limited Flexibility: Aloha POS might offer a different level of flexibility or customization than some newer, cloud-based POS systems for restaurants.
10. Epos Now
Epos Now is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system that caters to retail and hospitality industries, including restaurants. This versatile system provides POS services, inventory management, and CRM tools, which can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
The system efficiently facilitates the management of orders, including table-side ordering, split checks, and customer tabs. It also provides users with inventory tracking, scheduling tools, employee performance tracking, and CRM tools that allow businesses to record customer details, track purchasing behavior, and manage loyalty programs.
Customer rating: 3.4/5
Pros:
- Versatility: Epos Now is designed to serve both retail and hospitality industries, making it a versatile choice for a variety of businesses.
- Cloud-Based: Being a cloud-based system, Epos Now allows for remote access from any device with an internet connection, providing flexibility for business owners and managers.
- Third-Party Integrations: The ability to integrate with numerous third-party applications means that Epos Now can be customized to meet the specific needs of a business.
- Hardware Compatibility: Epos Now is compatible with a wide range of hardware, allowing businesses to choose equipment that best suits their operations.
Cons:
- Cost: Some users have reported that the cost of Epos Now, particularly the monthly software subscription and add-on features, can be higher than some other POS systems for restaurants.
- Customer Support: While Epos Now offers a 24/7 support helpline, some users have reported long wait times or difficulties in resolving issues.
- Usability: Some users have found the system difficult to navigate, particularly when first getting started, which may require more training.
- Updates: Occasional updates to the system can cause functionality issues or changes in the user interface, leading to a learning curve for users.
Which is the Best POS for a Restaurant?
The best POS system for a restaurant depends on your specific business needs, but some top options include:
- Toast POS: Ideal for full-service restaurants and multi-location operations.
- Square for Restaurants: Best for small or single-location restaurants.
- Lightspeed POS: Best for mid-sized and larger restaurants, particularly fast-casual and fine dining establishments.
- SpotOn: Ideal for fast-casual and multi-location restaurants.
- Loyverse POS: Best for small restaurants or cafes.
Our Criteria for Selecting the Best Restaurant POS Systems
- Free Trial: The POS system should offer a free trial to test its features before committing.
- Sales Reporting: Provides detailed restaurant analytics to track performance and make business decisions.
- Inventory Management: Real-time inventory tracking to monitor stock levels and reduce food waste.
- Employee Management: Helps manage staff scheduling, hours, and performance.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Includes tools to track customer preferences, purchase history, and loyalty programs.
- Online Ordering: Integration with online ordering platforms is crucial for restaurants offering takeout or delivery services.
- Integration Capabilities: The POS should integrate with other essential software, such as accounting, delivery, and marketing tools.
- Mobile Access: Offers mobile access to manage operations remotely.
- Offline Mode: Ensures the POS works during internet outages to avoid service disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a restaurant POS system?
A restaurant POS system is a software and hardware solution designed to streamline restaurant operations. It manages transactions, takes orders, tracks inventory, and facilitates payments, covering both front and back of house. Key components include touch POS terminals, receipt printers, card readers, and kitchen display systems.
Modern POS systems go beyond basic tasks by offering features such as inventory management, menu customization, restaurant employee scheduling, and restaurant reservation systems. Many also integrate with a POS system with online ordering and delivery platforms, allowing restaurants to streamline all operations in one place.
What are the benefits of restaurant POS systems?
Many POS systems for restaurants offer numerous benefits that can significantly impact a dining establishment’s efficiency and profitability. Some key benefits include the following:
- Streamlined Order Management: Reduces manual errors by transmitting orders directly from the table to the kitchen for faster service.
- Improved Efficiency: Most POS systems automate tasks like bill calculation and payment processing, leading to quicker service and improved table turnover.
- Real-time Inventory Management: Tracks stock levels in real-time, preventing overstocking, reducing waste, and optimizing costs.
- Menu Customization: Easily create a menu, manage specials, promotions, and discounts to adjust offerings and cater to customer preferences.
- Table Management and Reservations: Restaurant POS providers enhance seating efficiency, manage reservations, and shorten customer wait times.
How to choose the right restaurant POS software?
Here are key factors and restaurant POS system features to consider when choosing the right restaurant POS software:
- Business Needs: Assess your restaurant’s type and size, and consider specific needs like menu complexity and integration with restaurant management software.
- Features: Look for core features such as order management, inventory tracking, menu customization, and reporting. Advanced features like CRM, employee management, and offline support can enhance your operations.
- Ease of Use: Choose a POS system that’s user-friendly and easy to set up, navigate, and train your staff on.
- Scalability: Ensure the system can scale with your business as you grow your restaurant, accommodating more orders, locations, or additional features.
- Integration: Ensure it integrates smoothly with essential tools like online ordering platforms, delivery services, payment processors, and restaurant management software to streamline operations.
- Free Trial: The POS system should offer a free trial period to allow users to explore its features before making a commitment.
