Best 16 POS systems for restaurants: The ultimate 2025 guide for busy owners & managers

 

Choosing a POS system used to be simple. You picked a cash register, maybe a card reader, and that was it. But restaurants today run on data, speed, and flexibility and your POS has to keep up. Whether you're running a small café or managing a multi-location brand, your system needs to do more than just take payments. It should help you serve faster, track what’s selling, cut down on errors, and give you a clear view of how your business is doing. This guide will walk you through what a modern restaurant POS looks like in 2025 and how to choose one that actually fits the way you work. It also provides solutions for many types of establishments, such as Asian restaurants, bars, and liquor stores.

 

What is a POS system?

A POS (Point of Sale) system is the combination of software and hardware that restaurants use to take orders, process payments, and manage day-to-day operations. Think of it as the central nervous system of your restaurant.

A good POS system does more than just handle transactions. It can help you track sales, manage staff schedules, monitor inventory, split bills, offer loyalty programs, and even analyze performance in real-time.

 

Hardware Components

Here are the core hardware elements of most restaurant POS systems:

• POS Terminal & Tablet: The main device staff use to input orders and process payments.
• Receipt Printer: Prints customer receipts and kitchen tickets.
• Cash Drawer: Stores cash securely when accepting payments.
• Card Reader: For accepting credit cards and contactless payments.
• Kitchen Display System (KDS): A digital screen that sends orders directly to the kitchen, reducing errors and speeding up prep time.
• Self-ordering kiosks: Useful for quick-service restaurants with heavy footfall.

 

How restaurant pos systems work

Restaurant POS systems connect the front of house (FOH) and back of house (BOH) in real-time. Here's a simple breakdown:

• Order Taking: A server inputs the order into a tablet or touchscreen. For counter-service, the cashier does this at the register.
• Order Routing: The system sends the order to the kitchen display system or prints a ticket for the kitchen staff.
• Payment Processing: Once the customer has paid, the POS handles payment through cash, card, or mobile wallet.
• Data Syncing: Sales, tips, inventory levels, and table activity are logged automatically, giving you real-time insights on everything.
• Reporting & Analytics: Many modern POS systems generate reports to help you understand peak hours, best-selling items, and labor costs.

The best systems are cloud-based, so you can monitor activity remotely from your phone or laptop.

 

What to look for in a point of sale system

Choosing the right POS depends on your restaurant type, but here are the must-have features every modern setup should include in 2025:

• Ease of Use: Your staff should be able to learn it in minutes, not hours. An intuitive interface reduces training time and errors.
• Cloud-Based Access: Remote access lets you check sales, update menus, and make staffing decisions from anywhere, even at home.
• Offline Mode: If your internet drops, your system should still work without losing orders or payment processing ability.
• Menu Customization: Look for flexible menu-building tools, including item modifiers, combos, and offers.
• Tableside Ordering: Mobile tablets that allow staff to place orders from the table speed up service and reduce mistakes.
• Integration-Friendly: It should connect with your existing tools such as delivery platforms and inventory apps.
• Multi-Location Management: If you run more than one venue, you will need centralized control for reporting, menu updates, and user permissions.
• Transparent Pricing: Avoid hidden fees and long contracts. Look for flat rates and month-to-month options with no surprises.

 

Benefits of using a modern POS System

Upgrading to a modern POS system in 2025 isn’t just a tech move, it’s a business strategy. Here’s why:

• Speed & Efficiency: Faster order taking and payment processing mean more customers served, more tips for staff, and less waiting time.
• Real-Time Insights: Track your best-selling items, busiest hours, and most efficient employees. This data helps you make smarter decisions.
• Better Customer Experience: With features like loyalty programs, QR code menus, or contactless payments, your guests get a smoother, more personalized service.
• Inventory & Cost Control: Automatically track ingredient usage, get alerts for low stock, and spot waste to help you protect your profit margins.
• Staff Management: Manage shifts, clock-ins, payroll, and performance all from one place. This reduces admin time and errors.

 

Best POS Systems for Restaurants

1. Toast POS

Toast, founded in 2011, is the largest point of sale provider and focuses primarily on the food service industry. Its POS system is Android-based and cloud-powered, with software that manages ordering, payments, labor, and customer data. It supports both quick-service and full-service models and offers a vast amount of features such as online ordering, a full marketing suite and numerous integrations. Toast is known for requiring restaurants to use its proprietary hardware and payment processing system.

Best for

Restaurants looking for a robust, restaurant-first POS with deep integrations across the business.

Features

• Tableside ordering and payment
• Integrated online ordering & delivery
• Menu and inventory management
• Catering and events management
• Guest feedback and loyalty programs
• Kitchen display system (KDS)
• Payroll and team management
• Tips management
• Cost analytics
• Restaurant websites
• Marketing and loyalty features

Pricing

Toast offers a free plan, a fixed-priced paid plan, a custom option, as well as various add-ons such as Mobile Order & Pay. Its free plan includes hardware with no upfront fees and is suitable for single-unit restaurants. All plans come with 24/7 support and a flat rate for payment processing.

 

2. Square

Square, launched in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, offers a POS solution tailored to small and mid-sized restaurants. If you don’t wish to purchase additional hardware, Square’s payment software also runs on iOS and Android. Square offers quick setup, menu building, staff management, and online ordering. It has a transparent, flat-rate pricing and no long-term contracts, but has limited customization for complex restaurant operations.

Best for

New or small restaurants that want a simple, all-in-one POS with no hidden fees.

Features

• Quick setup and user-friendly interface
• Built-in payment processing
• Online ordering integration
• Employee time tracking
• Menu customization
• Mobile and iPad compatibility
• Basic inventory tools
• Online bookings
• Staff management
• Invoicing

Pricing

Square’s 3 pricing plans (plus the custom one) are very straightforward with no hidden fees or locked-in contracts and offer the ability to cancel at any time. Square Free comes with a POS app, bookings and invoicing while Square Premium, priced at $149 per month includes priority support, advanced reporting and lower payment processing fees, among others. For small restaurants, you can get the most value with Square Plus at $49 per month.

You do not need to purchase hardware to take payments with Square. However, various handheld and POS devices are available at an extra cost which can be found here.

 

3. Lightspeed

Lightspeed, a Canadian company founded in 2005, provides a cloud-based POS system used by multi-location restaurants, cafés, and hotels. Its restaurant product runs on iOS devices and includes features like table management, floor planning, advanced reporting, and inventory tracking. Lightspeed supports third-party integrations and is commonly used by businesses with more complex operational needs. It acquired Gastrofix and Upserve to expand its restaurant capabilities.

Best for

Growing restaurant groups and fine dining establishments that need deep analytics and customization.

Features

• Advanced inventory management
• Floor plan and table management
• Real-time analytics and reporting
• Loyalty program integration
• Multi-location support
• Offline mode

Pricing

Lightspeed’s Essential plan costs $189 per month while the Premium plan is priced at $399. Both plans include core features like floor plans, menu manager, integrated payments, online orders and loyalty while the custom plan offers a dedicated support team and customer success manager.

 

4. TouchBistro

TouchBistro is a Canadian company focused solely on iPad-based POS systems for restaurants. The system works locally on the iPad, meaning it does not rely on constant internet access. It includes features for tableside ordering, bill splitting, menu management, and customer profiles. TouchBistro also offers optional add-ons for reservations, gift cards, and loyalty programs. Its offline functionality is a core aspect of its architecture.

Best for

Full-service restaurants that prioritize tableside efficiency and customer service.

Features

• Tableside ordering and bill splitting
• Payment processing
• Menu management
• Online ordering
• Reservations and table management
• Staff management
• Inventory tracking
• Loyalty and marketing features
• Reporting and analytics
• Kitchen display system
• Offline functionality
• Integrations

Pricing

TouchBistro POS starts at $69 per month and includes menu, table and staff management as well as tableside ordering and analytics. Additional features such as inventory management, kitchen display system and reservations are charged extra. Finally, there are additional hardware and payment processing fees.

 

5. Clover

Clover is a hardware and POS platform owned by Fiserv, a major financial services company. Its POS runs on proprietary hardware and uses Android-based software. Clover offers modular functionality through an app marketplace, allowing businesses to customize tools for inventory, payroll, and loyalty. The system requires the use of Clover’s payment processing, either through Fiserv or a reseller. Clover offers marketing services like restaurant websites via BentoBox, which is also a Fiserv company.

Best for

Quick-service restaurants and cafes that want plug-and-play simplicity with room to grow.

Features

• Virtual terminal for accepting payments online
• Payment processing
• Modular hardware options
• Employee management
• Menu and inventory management
• Loyalty and gift card programs
• Payment processing
• Available offline with ServiceSync feature
• Apps and integrations

Pricing

Clover offers various subscription plans for different types of establishments which includes both software and hardware. Payment processing fees are charged extra and start at 2.3% plus 10¢ per transaction. For quick-service restaurants, the cheapest plan, Starter, is priced at $135 per month for 36 months or $849 upfront plus $89.95 per month and includes a mini touchscreen POS with receipt printer.

 

6. SkyTab by Shift4

Shift4 Payments is a U.S. payment technology company that acquired Harbortouch and now markets it as SkyTab POS. It offers POS hardware at no upfront cost in exchange for long-term payment processing contracts. The system is Windows-based and includes support for menu configuration, staff scheduling, loyalty, and online ordering. SkyTab is often bundled with services like marketing tools and online ordering.

Best for

Restaurants that want low upfront costs and don’t mind committing to a processing contract.

Features

• Free POS hardware
• Online and mobile ordering
• QR code order and pay
• Reservations and waitlists
• Loyalty and marketing tools
• Website builder
• Workforce management
• Integrations with other POS systems

Pricing

SkyTab POS starts at £39 per month with zero upfront costs and includes hardware, installation and 24/7 customer support.

 

7. SpotOn

SpotOn is a technology company that entered the restaurant POS space in 2018 through the acquisition of EmaginePOS. Its system includes features like order and table management, reservations, customer feedback, kitchen display system and marketing tools. SpotOn also offers payment processing and supports both quick-service and full-service models. The company focuses on integrating customer engagement tools with its POS software and hardware (POS counters and handheld equipment).

Best for

Single-unit restaurants that want to combine POS operations with powerful marketing and loyalty tools.

Features

• Contactless ordering and payments
• Reservation and waitlists
• Online ordering & delivery
• Loyalty programs
• Tip management
• Kitchen display system
• Experiences & events management
• Online menus
• Tip management

Pricing

SpotOn offers 2 monthly subscription plans for restaurants as well as a free plan and a custom one. Free plan includes 15” SpotOn Station, guest-facing display, stand, cash drawer and receipt printer at no cost. The free plan also offers table and menu management, free installation and 24/7 support but an extra fee of 2.89% + 25c per transaction applies for payment processing. Paid plans which include marketing and employee management features start at $99 +$3 per employee per month.

 

8. Otter POS

Otter is an order aggregation and point of sale company, headquartered in the US, that offers beautiful and modern software and hardware. It started as a delivery order aggregator and later expanded into POS functionality. Otter’s system is designed primarily for restaurants that operate across multiple delivery platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. The POS integrates tightly with delivery and online ordering channels, helping restaurants manage menus, track performance, and streamline orders from various third-party apps into a unified dashboard. Unlike traditional POS systems, Otter places more emphasis on virtual brands, ghost kitchens, and delivery-first operations.

Best for

Delivery-first restaurants, ghost kitchens, or multi-platform operators looking to centralize online orders and streamline delivery operations.

Features

• Manage menus across different locations and integrate with delivery platforms
• Online and QR code ordering
• Restaurant order management
• Kitchen display system
• Restaurant Manager iOS mobile app
• Marketing automation features
• Built-in loyalty program
• Automated review management

Pricing

Otters offers two distinct services. Order aggregation has 2 plans priced at $99 and $149 per month which include 24/7 customer support, among other order management features. On the other hand, Point of Sale plans range between $19 and $59 per month plus processing fees. No plan includes any hardware that must be bought extra but there are lease options for lower fees.

 

9. ePOS Now

ePOS Now is a UK-based POS provider that supports retail and hospitality businesses offering both software and hardware solutions. It offers built-in features for inventory, kitchen management, and tableside ordering. ePOS Now integrates with more than 130 tools like Xero, QuickBooks, and Deliveroo.

Best for

Restaurants that want a flexible, affordable POS with solid integrations and support.

Features

• Tableside ordering and payment
• Real-time kitchen management
• Intelligent sales insights
• Stock management
• Loyalty features
• Kitchen display system
• Cloud-based software available on any device
• Numerous integrations

Pricing

You can use Epos Now's POS software on any device for $72 per month or $1,799 upfront. Alternatively, you can choose your desired hardware products according to your needs.

 

10. Flipdish POS

Flipdish, founded in Ireland in 2015, provides digital ordering infrastructure for restaurants, including POS functionality. While its core product is white-labeled online and mobile ordering, Flipdish also offers an integrated POS system, as well as hardware, designed to consolidate in-house and digital operations. It supports branded websites, apps, kiosks, and customer retention tools like push notifications and loyalty programs. Its online ordering platform can also integrate with other POS systems. Flipdish is focused on helping restaurants reduce reliance on third-party delivery apps.

Best for

Restaurants that want to boost digital ordering and reduce reliance on third-party platforms.

Features

• Branded online ordering websites and apps
• Menu and order management
• Payment processing
• Driver tracking
• Vouchers and discounts
• Kiosk ordering
• Kitchen display system
• Payroll management

Pricing

FlipDish offers three subscription plans, paid monthly or annually, ranging between €69 and €79 per month. Its POS hardware can be purchased extra but it’s optional.

 

11. Chowbus

Chowbus is a newer POS platform with a focus on automation and AI. It targets small and medium-sized restaurants looking for fast deployment and minimal staff training. Chowbus offers a full suite of hardware equipment such as tablets and self-ordering kiosks. While not as widely adopted as other platforms, Chowbus positions itself as a modern, customizable alternative to legacy systems. It is also heavily used by specialty restaurants such as Asian restaurants and bubble tea shops.

Best for

Modern fast casual restaurants looking for an intelligent, user-friendly POS.

Features

• Order and menu management
• Kitchen display system
• Reservations and waitlists
• Review managements
• Multi-location management
• Online ordering
• Websites and branded mobile apps
• Loyalty, rewards and gift cards
• Integrations with major delivery platforms

Pricing

Chowbus offers three plans available upon request with the final price depending on required hardware and restaurant size. All plans include 24/7 online support with 2-minute response time.

 

12. Restoworks

Restroworks, formerly known as Posist, is a hardware-agnostic restaurant management platform used globally. It is cloud-based and built for large restaurant groups, dark kitchens, and multi-brand operators. It offers centralized menu management, CRM, inventory control, kitchen display systems, and mobile dashboards. Restroworks focuses on scalability and has been adopted by international chains and franchise networks.

Best for

Restaurants that require centralized management, scalability and a full suite of restaurant management products.

Features

• Restaurant POS
• Table ordering
• Reservations
• Inventory and recipe management
• Supply chain management
• Kitchen display system
• Online ordering and self-service kiosk software
• Insights and analytics
• Anti-theft software

Pricing

Pricing is based on software features required and scale of the restaurant. If you require hardware, Restroworks partners with selected vendors.

 

13. MenuSifu

MenuSifu is a US-based POS provider founded in 2013 and headquartered in New York. It offers a multilingual POS platform tailored primarily for Asian and international restaurants, including sushi bars, hot pot restaurants, bakeries, and bubble tea shops. MenuSifu provides both software and proprietary hardware, including touchscreen terminals, self-service kiosks, and kitchen display systems. Its POS system supports dine-in, takeout, and delivery, with tools for online ordering and menu management. The system is widely used by Asian restaurants in North America, Singapore and Japan due to its localized support and multilingual interface.

Best for

Asian restaurants and international restaurants seeking bilingual POS support, industry-specific features, and integrated hardware tailored to fast-paced service environments.

Features

• Multilingual interface and support
• Restaurant POS
• E-menus and online ordering
• Reservations and waitlists
• Loyalty program
• Kitchen display system
• Central 3rd-party delivery integration
• Real-time reports

Pricing

Custom pricing available upon request.

 

14. HungerRush

HungerRush (formerly Revention) is a U.S. company focused on enterprise-level POS systems for pizza restaurants and other delivery-heavy operations. Its platform includes integrated online ordering, driver tracking, AI-powered phone ordering (OrderAI), and marketing automation. It supports centralized control across locations and is often used by pizza chains, burger stores and high-volume quick-service outlets. It also provides dedicated POS terminals, tablets, printers, and kitchen display systems.

Best for

Pizzerias and delivery-driven restaurants that need strong phone, online, and mobile ordering tools.

Features

• Built-in delivery management
• Voice and text ordering
• Online and mobile ordering
• Loyalty and gift cards
• Email & SMS marketing
• Kitchen management
• Multi-location capabilities
• Integrations

Pricing

HungerRush offers custom pricing available upon request.

 

15. Tabology

Tabology is a UK-based company offering specialized software solutions for a variety of hospitality venues such as bars, cafes and restaurants. Bar EPOS is cloud-based and optimized for drink-led venues, with tools for tab management, stock tracking, and self-service ordering. It includes real-time reporting and integrates with staff scheduling and customer loyalty tools. BarTab is primarily used in the UK and is tailored to the needs of wet-led hospitality operations.

Best for

Bars and pubs looking for a POS tailored to high-volume, drink-first environments.

Features

• Mobile ordering and digital display boards
• Multi-site management
• Real-time stock control
• Cloud-based back office
• Kitchen management
• Loyalty tools
• Reservations and deposits

Pricing

EPOS software comes in three different monthly subscription plans ranging between £39 and £99 per month each offering a different set of features.

 

16. POS Nation

POS Nation is a POS provider that offers industry-specific solutions, including one for liquor stores, Bottle POS. The system is Windows-based and highly configurable, with one-time purchase options available. It includes features such as inventory tracking, marketing and loyalty features and integrated payment processing.

Best for

Small and medium liquor stores seeking tailor-made features.

Features

• Custom hardware bundles
• Customer loyalty and reward
• Inventory management
• Shelf label printing
• 24/7 support
• Age verification
• Built-in employee tracking

Pricing

Pricing depends on the number of required stations. For a single station, pricing starts at $59 per month including a two-year hardware warranty but excluding payment processing fees. On the plus side, there are no long-term contracts or hidden fees.