Top Restaurant POS Software: Compare the Best Systems for Your Business

Ever had a server stuck at the terminal because the system froze mid-order? Meanwhile, the kitchen’s already backed up, and a customer’s getting antsy. For restaurants, janky POS software creates unnecessary stress and slip-ups that cost you money.

Choosing the right restaurant POS software helps your staff keep things moving without running into payment errors. And when your kitchen and front-of-house hit that flow state, you’re free to focus on creating a great guest experience.

In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top restaurant POS systems, break down the must-have features, and help you choose the right one for your restaurant.

TL;DR: Top restaurant POS software

Need a quick rundown of what to look for in a POS system for your restaurant? We’ve got you.

Key features of the best restaurant point of sale software:

• Touchscreen order entry and user-friendly interface
• Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) integration
• Tableside ordering and mobile POS capabilities
• Payment method flexibility
• Robust reporting and sales analytics
• Inventory management and tracking
• Online ordering integrations
• Reliable hardware and offline capabilities
• Employee and tip management

Top recommendations for restaurant point of sale systems:

• Best POS system for restaurants: Toast POS
• Best for budget-conscious food businesses: Square for Restaurants
• Best for multi-location restaurants: Clover POS
• Best for small-to-medium-sized restaurants: TouchBistro
• Best for upscale dining: Lightspeed Restaurant
• Best free restaurant POS software: Square POS and eHopper free tiers

How to choose the best restaurant pos software for your business:

• Identify must-have features like menu management, reporting, and mobile ordering
• Set your budget with an eye on the monthly software fees and hardware costs
• Consider integration capabilities with payroll, scheduling, HR, and accounting software
• Ensure strong customer support and onboarding options
• Evaluate how easy it will be for your staff (and customers!) to use
• Schedule demos or free trials

{{banner-cta}}

What is restaurant POS software?

Restaurant POS software is the point of sale system that processes payments, tracks sales, manages orders, and gathers business insights in one place. It typically comes with payment processing hardware (think payment terminals or card readers) that helps with transactions.

For restaurants, POS systems are the backbone of your daily operations—they get you paid and your customers fed.

POS software for restaurants helps you:

• Take and manage food orders
• Process payments quickly and securely
• Track inventory levels
• Generate sales reports and analytics

Point of sale systems are used in all sorts of retail settings, but restaurant POS software is specifically designed for the food service industry. You’ll find features like menu management, tipping options, kitchen displays, and table tools.

The best restaurant POS software will also integrate with restaurant management software for a better backend experience. Something to think about as you weigh your options.

Key features restaurant owners should look for in POS software 

The best restaurant POS software should come stacked with these key features:

• Touchscreen order entry and a user-friendly interface: A clean, intuitive interface helps staff take orders quickly and accurately—especially during rush hours or when training new team members. Simple layouts are your friend.
• Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) integration: Ever been in the eye of the storm when a printed ticket gets lost? With KDS integration, orders are sent directly to kitchen screens in real time, reducing errors and keeping the peace between front and back-of-house staff.
• Tableside ordering and mobile POS capabilities: Mobile POS lets servers take and send orders right from the table, speeding up service and improving order accuracy. Plus, no more bottlenecks at fixed terminals.
• Payment flexibility: Customers expect a modern restaurant POS system that accepts all major payment types. From chip cards to contactless payments to mobile wallets, fast, flexible payment options reduce friction at checkout.
• Robust reporting and sales analytics: Track sales trends, peak hours, top-selling items, and more with built-in analytics. These insights can inspire the choices that help boost efficiency and profitability.
• Inventory management and tracking: Real-time inventory tools monitor ingredient levels and alert you when items run low. This prevents stockouts, reduces waste, and helps you make smarter purchasing decisions.
• Online ordering integrations: Who among us hasn’t wanted to eat our favorite food without having to put on pants and leave the house? Your POS should sync with delivery apps or your website to handle in-house and off-premise orders all in one place.
• Reliable hardware and offline capabilities: Look for durable, restaurant-grade hardware built to handle spills, drops, and daily wear. And offline capabilities are non-negotiable—if your internet goes down, your profits shouldn’t go with it.
• Employee and tip management: Integration with scheduling and time tracking apps helps you keep all your operational info in one place. Plus, built-in tip pooling and tracking make distribution and payroll much simpler and more transparent.

Comparing the best restaurant POS software in 2025

There’s no shortage of restaurant POS solutions out there—but finding one that actually fits your restaurant’s size, style, and goals? That’s the real trick.

Here are some of our top picks of 2025 to help you figure out what works best for your business:

1. Toast POS

Toast is a POS system that was specifically built for food service, and is a popular choice among both full-service and fast-casual restaurants. Features like integrated payment processing and robust menu modification keep you on top during busy rushes.

Strengths:

• Tableside ordering and payment with handheld devices
• Built-in online ordering integrations
• Robust reporting and analytics tools
• Integration with scheduling and time-tracking software

Who it’s best for: Full-service, quick-service, and growing restaurants looking for all-in-one restaurant POS software that scales with their needs.

Pricing: Starts at $120/month

2. Square for Restaurants

Square is an all-in-one POS software for restaurants and retail establishments. Simple, affordable, and easy to set up, Square is great for smaller spots that want to hit the ground running.

Strengths:

• Transparent, simple pricing structure
• Mobile POS and tableside features
• Clean, intuitive interface

Who it’s best for: Budget-conscious restaurants, food trucks, and cafes seeking the best POS system for small businesses without sacrificing key functionality.

Pricing: Starts with a free plan that only charges processing fees per transaction

3. Clover POS

Clover POS offers flexible hardware options and a customizable app marketplace, making it ideal for restaurants with unique needs. With customer support specialists on hand, you can reach a human instead of a chatbot with your questions.

Strengths:

• Modular system with flexible hardware
• Broad app integration options
• Payment flexibility and strong inventory tools

Who it’s best for: Versatile or multi-location restaurants needing a customizable restaurant POS system that adapts to different workflows.

Pricing: Contact to get a quote on monthly software fee and processing rate per transaction

4. TouchBistro

TouchBistro is another POS system that was designed specifically for restaurants, and emphasizes easy-to-use tableside functions. Its POS software is only one part of TouchBistro’s larger restaurant management system.

Strengths:

• Easy tableside ordering
• Table- and floor-planning management
• Offline functionality for reliability

Who it’s best for: Small-to-medium-sized dining establishments wanting a reliable, mobile-friendly POS system for restaurants with restaurant-specific tools.

Pricing: Starts at $89/month

5. Lightspeed Restaurant

With advanced reporting and analytics tools, Lightspeed Restaurant is great for operators who want to dig deep into performance data across multiple locations. If your business is growing fast, Lightspeed can get you to the next level.

Strengths:

• Excellent inventory tracking
• Data-backed recommendations for customers
• Built-in tools for multi-location management

Who it’s best for: Upscale or multi-location restaurants that need detailed insights and high-level restaurant POS software performance.

Pricing: Starts at $119/month plus 2.6% + 10c processing fees

Budget-friendly and free restaurant POS software options

If you’re looking for the cheapest POS system for restaurants, two popular options are:

• Square POS: Like we mentioned, Square’s Basic plan is free, and comes with unlimited countertop POS devices in unlimited locations. However, this tier lacks many restaurant-specific features, so you’ll want to investigate where it’s worth it to invest.
• eHopper: A free plan with eHopper has a robust set of features including free credit card processing, detailed reporting,  and inventory tracking for one register. However, it doesn’t include features like customer loyalty programs or third-party integrations.

Going with a free restaurant POS software tier is a way to save on costs if you’re running a smaller business. But if you’re looking for more advanced tools or integrations, plan for at least a small investment.

Restaurant POS hardware considerations

There are a few key pieces of restaurant POS hardware that help keep things running smoothly:

• Terminals (aka, the main screens your staff uses)
• Card readers for payments
• Tablets for tableside ordering
• Receipt printers

Some restaurant POS solutions include multiple hardware components, while others mostly function as software that can be downloaded to things like iPads.

When you’re checking out your options, find out if the hardware is

• Durable and reliable. Your hardware needs to handle fast-paced environments, occasional spills, and constant use without slowing down your team. 
• Easy to use. A simple, intuitive setup helps your staff stay focused on guests, not technology. 
• Fully compatible with your POS software. If your restaurant POS software comes with its own hardware, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’re looking into integrations, checking compatibility upfront can save headaches down the line.

How to choose the right POS software for your restaurant

So we’ve shown you your options—now which restaurant POS system do you actually choose?

Here are some tips for figuring out which POS is best for your restaurant’s needs:

Identify essential features

Beyond basic order taking and payment processing, think about the core features that would simplify your daily tasks.

For example, you might benefit from:

• Menu management tools that let you easily update dishes and prices.
• Reporting features to help you track sales trends and manage inventory effectively.
• Mobile ordering and tableside payment options that could speed up service and improve customer experience.

There’s no need to splurge on extras you won’t use—but if a feature solves a problem fast, that’s a good sign it’s the right fit.

Set your budget

POS costs vary, so setting a realistic budget can help narrow down your options without sacrificing quality.

As you research restaurant point of sale systems, make note of:

• Upfront hardware costs
• Monthly software fees
• Credit card processing fees
• Extra charges for add-ons or updates

Consider integration capabilities

Put simply, your POS system should play well with other tools you use. If you’ve got a specific restaurant POS contender in mind, check if it integrates with your payroll, employee scheduling, accounting software, or restaurant HR software. Smooth integration means less manual work and fewer errors.

Ensure strong customer support and onboarding

Switching to new restaurant POS software is a big move, and you don’t want your team scrambling to figure out a tool that’s supposed to make life easier.

Choose a provider known for responsive customer support and thorough onboarding. Training resources like videos, manuals, and live help can get your team up to speed quickly, and save you time and frustration down the road.

Evaluate ease-of-use and staff training requirements

Your staff will be the ones using your POS every day, so it’s important to choose something that’s user-friendly. Technology frustrations in an afternoon rush are a stress factor that no one wants!

If the system feels clunky or confusing, it can slow down service and lead to mistakes. A clean, user-friendly interface lets your team do their jobs with confidence—and keeps your more old-school customers from getting intimidated by the payment process.

Schedule demos or free trials

Before committing, test the waters. Lots of providers offer free trials or live demos that let you explore the software’s features and usability firsthand.

Use this chance to ask questions, see how the system handles real-life scenarios, and involve your team in the decision-making process. Hands-on experience is the best way to find the best restaurant pos software for your needs.

Frequently asked questions about restaurant point of sale systems

Here are some frequently asked questions that come up when shopping for restaurant POS software:

What POS system do most restaurants use?

Toast and Square for Restaurants are two of the most commonly used restaurant POS systems. Toast is popular with full-service restaurants, while Square is favored by smaller, quick-service spots for its simplicity.

If you’re trying to choose restaurant POS software, don’t just go with what’s popular. Look into how different systems can serve your restaurant’s specific needs.

Which software is best for restaurants?

For restaurants, tools like scheduling, accounting, HR, payroll, and POS software all have benefits. These tools help streamline tedious processes so your business can run smoothly, and without the risk of errors that cost you time and money.

Ideally, restaurant software should fill multiple needs at once, and have integrations set up for the rest. Our all-in-one mobile app gives you everything you need to get your employees onboarded, scheduled, and paid—and integrates with Square and Toast.

Shoot us a message if you want to learn more!

Looking for some deeper reading? Check out our blog posts that dive into different types of restaurant software.

• Restaurant task management software
• Payroll software for restaurants
• Restaurant time clock software
• Restaurant tip pooling software
• Restaurant accounting software
• Restaurant employee scheduling software

Is Toast or Square better?

Toast is better for full-service restaurants, while Square is better for smaller, more casual operations.

Toast offers advanced features like kitchen displays and in-depth reporting, which is great for busy, growing teams. Square is simpler and more affordable, perfect for food trucks, cafes, or newer spots that need an easy and reliable setup.

If you’re undecided, your best bet depends on how complex your restaurant’s needs are and how much you're ready to invest.

How much does a POS system cost for a restaurant?

Restaurant POS software costs anywhere between zero to $300 per month, depending on features and hardware.

Entry-level plans—like free restaurant POS software from Square—can get you started with the basics. But if you want advanced tools like inventory tracking, mobile POS, or kitchen display systems, expect to pay monthly fees (including processing fees) and invest in hardware.

For restaurants, the point of sale is the point

No matter what you’re serving, the right restaurant POS software is a gamechanger for keeping daily operations smooth and speeding up your service. If a specific software has caught your interest, try out a demo or chat with a provider to see what feels right. 

And if you’ve got scheduling and payroll on your mind, Homebase plays nicely with a couple of the top restaurant POS systems on the market—let’s build the toolkit of your dreams.

{{banner-cta}}