Alexis Kestler
Running a restaurant or bistro comes with many challenges, from managing inventory to training staff. One of the most critical components is choosing the right point-of-sale (POS) system to keep everything running smoothly. The right POS system can streamline operations, improve customer service, and provide valuable insights through reporting and analytics.
In this comprehensive guide, we will review the 9 best POS systems on the market today for restaurants and bistros. We analyze the key features, hardware options, integrations, pricing, and ideal customer size for each system. With this information, you can make an informed decision on the best platform for your specific needs.
Why are POS Systems Important for Restaurants and Bistros?
Before reviewing the top systems, let’s look at why POS software is so essential for restaurants, cafes, and other food service businesses in the first place:
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Streamlined ordering: POS systems allow you to easily input customer orders at the table, at the counter, or in the drive-thru. This improves order speed and accuracy.
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Integration with kitchen: Many POS systems come with a kitchen display system that immediately transmits orders to the back of house to start prep. This improves ticket times.
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Payment processing: POS software allows you to accept credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, and sometimes even gift cards. This enhances customer convenience.
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Menu management: You can quickly update menus, add modifiers or extras, and track inventory levels with a good POS. This helps minimize waste.
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Analytics and reporting: Robust reporting provides insights into your top-selling items, peak hours for traffic, server performance, and more. This enables better decision making.
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Marketing capabilities: Many modern POS systems have built-in customer loyalty programs, email collection, and other features to help you market to customers.
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Inventory tracking: With detailed inventory reports and some even interfacing with food distributors, POS systems can help you better manage supply levels.
The right POS system optimizes the ordering process, increases efficiency for staff, provides business insights, and enhances the customer experience. For restaurants and bistros, this technology is invaluable.
Now let’s dive into the top 9 systems on the market today!
Top 9 POS Systems for Restaurants and Bistros
1. Square POS
Square is one of the most popular and user-friendly POS systems for restaurants and retail businesses. The software is paired with Square‘s minimalist hardware to create a powerfully simple setup.
Key Features:
- Streamlined interface
- Robust reporting
- Digital receipts
- Inventory management
- Loyalty program options
- Employee management
- Custom tipping
Hardware: Square Register, Square Terminal, Square Stand, accessories
Integrations: Accounting, ecommerce, payroll, email marketing
Pricing: Free Square POS software. Hardware costs around $300-$800 one-time, plus transaction fees of 2.6% – 3.5% per sale.
Best For: Square is a great “starter” POS for new restaurants or small cafes, with an easy setup and transparent pricing.
Pros
- Very simple and intuitive
- Affordable hardware
- Good for small businesses
Cons
- Reporting capabilities could be more advanced
- Limited functionality compared to advanced systems
2. Toast POS
Toast is one of the fastest-growing restaurant POS systems due to its powerfully integrated hardware bundles, intuitive software, and scalability.
Key Features:
- Labor management capabilities
- Advanced reporting
- Inventory integration
- Loyalty programs
- Staff management
- Menu building tool
Hardware: Toast Go, Toast Flex, Toast Pro hardware bundles
Integrations: Quickbooks, Appetize, Xenial, Bixby, GotChecks and more
Pricing: Monthly subscription fees starting at $79/month per terminal. Additional fees for payroll, payments, etc.
Best For: Mid-size to large restaurants looking for a scalable solution with robust features. Also popular with franchises.
Pros
- Powerful inventory and ordering features
- Scales well for larger businesses
- Integrated hardware bundles
Cons
- Can get expensive with add-ons
- More complex than “starter” POS systems
3. Shopify POS
Shopify POS is a great cloud-based system built specifically for ecommerce retailers that also have a brick-and-mortar presence. The software syncs across in-store and online sales channels.
Key Features:
- Centralized dashboard
- Mobile POS capability
- Integration with Shopify ecommerce platform
- Inventory synchronization
- Customer profiles and history
- Barcode scanning
Hardware: Shopify offers POS hardware bundles starting at $748
Integrations: Shopify ecommerce platform plus many app integrations
Pricing: Shopify POS software starting at $29/month. Hardware bundles and transaction fees extra.
Best For: Retail shops and restaurants with existing Shopify online stores who want a unified POS solution. Also works for pop-up shops and markets.
Pros
- Unified online and offline sales
- Great inventory synchronization
- Good for central management of multiple locations
Cons
- More tailored to retail than restaurants
- Shopify payments required for POS discount
4. Clover POS
Clover offers highly flexible POS hardware and software solutions for restaurants that can be customized with a huge app marketplace.
Key Features:
- Scalable and modular
- Customizable apps and software
- Robust reporting
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Customer loyalty tools
Hardware: Countless hardware options including Clover Station, Mini, Flex, Go, and more.
Integrations: Quickbooks, Peachworks, Zomato, Vendrive, Olo and 1000s more through Clover App Marketplace
Pricing: Starts at $19.95/month per terminal for software, plus payment processing fees. Hardware costs around $400 – $900 one-time.
Best For: Customization through apps. Good for expanding restaurant groups with diverse needs.
Pros
- Extremely flexible and customizable
- Modular hardware options
- Packed app marketplace
Cons
- Can get expensive for multiple terminals
- Steep learning curve
5. Revel POS
Revel offers an intuitive cloud-based POS solution built specifically for the needs of restaurants, bars, quick-service businesses, and franchises.
Key Features:
- CRM capabilities
- Mobile management app
- Robust reporting
- Custom floor plans
-Recipe management - Catering tools
Hardware: iPad based POS. Add-ons like printers and cash drawers available.
Integrations: Quickbooks, Mailchimp, DoorDash, Square, COVER, HotSchedules, and more.
Pricing: Monthly subscription fees starting at $99/month per terminal.
Best For: Full-service restaurants. Good for multi-location businesses.
Pros
- Built for restaurants
- Good for franchises
- Floor plan customizations
Cons
- More limited hardware than Clover
- Advanced features cost extra
6. Focus POS
Focus offers an intuitive restaurant POS system built on a UNiX operating system for maximum security and stability. Used in thousands of restaurants worldwide.
Key Features:
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Granular menu customization
- Table layout management
- Enterprise reporting
- Recipe cost management
- Multilingual capabilities
Hardware: Focus POS Terminal, Focus POS II Terminal, plus accessories like cash drawers and printers.
Integrations: Quickbooks, Adyen, Aldelo, Appetize, Brink, DoorDash, and more.
Pricing: Starts at $135/month. Custom quotes available.
Best For: Full table-service restaurants that want a robust legacy system.
Pros
- Specialized for restaurants
- Powerful reporting insights
- Stable UNiX based system
Cons
- More limited hardware compared to Clover
- Can be complex for very small restaurants
7. Upserve POS
Upserve POS provides cutting-edge cloud-based technology merged with Upserve‘s restaurant management expertise to help owners optimize decisions.
Key Features:
- Labor management tools
- Inventory management
- Menus and recipe building
- Automated accounting
- Robust reporting with "business dashboard"
Hardware: Optimal bundles available, also integrates with common POS hardware.
Integrations: DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub, Google, Tripadvisor, Slack, Mailchimp, Quickbooks.
Pricing: Custom quotes. Starts at $99/month per terminal.
Best For: Full service restaurants that want detailed business insights coupled with management tools.
Pros
- Specialized restaurant expertise
- Advanced business dashboard
- Automated accounting
Cons
- Requires debit/credit card processing through Upserve payments
- Higher learning curve than basic POS platforms
8. TouchBistro
TouchBistro features powerful POS hardware coupled with efficient table layout management, making it a top choice for full-service restaurants.
Key Features:
- Floor plan management
- Tableside ordering
- Staff management capabilities
- Top-notch support & training
- Powerful reporting
- Recipe management
Hardware: Designed for iPad. Compatible stands, cash drawers, receipt printers, and kitchen display systems available.
Integrations: Accounting, online ordering, and 250+ other apps available.
Pricing: Starts at $79/month per iPad POS station. Hardware and add-ons extra.
Best For: Full service restaurants requiring flexible floor plans and table management.
Pros
- Specialized floor plan management
- Tableside ordering capability
- Top-notch support
Cons
- iPad hardware limits compared to full POS terminals
- Integrations can get expensive
9. Lightspeed Restaurant
Lightspeed provides a fast cloud-based POS designed for the needs of high-volume restaurants, nightlife spots, cafes, fast casual outlets, and chains.
Key Features:
- Custom floor plans
- Tableside ordering
- Reservation management
- Order across channels (dine-in, online, etc)
- Robust reporting
- Inventory management
Hardware: Standalone hardware or built for iPad. Compatible printers, stands, and cash drawers available.
Integrations: Accounting, ecommerce, online ordering, and enterprise solutions.
Pricing: Starts at $99/month per location for Base plan. Higher tiers add features.
Best For: Hospitality brand looking to unify management systems at high volume establishments.
Pros
- Unified brand management
- Scalable for multiple locations
- Advanced floor plan and table management capabilities
Cons
- Reporting lacks granularity of some systems
- Higher learning curve than entry-level POS
Key Comparisons and Recommendations
With this overview of the top POS contenders, we can draw some helpful comparisons:
Pricing
Square and Shopify offer the most transparent and affordable pricing models. Clover and Touchbistro give you more customization and features, but also higher costs, especially as you add on hardware and capabilities.
Small vs Large
Entry-level systems like Square and Touchbistro can work for very small cafes. Mid-size restaurants will want Toast or Shopify for more advanced functions. Large restaurant groups are best served by Revel, Focus POS, Upserve, and Lightspeed.
Ease of Use
Square has the most intuitive and easy to learn software. Touchbistro is also designed to onboard quickly with tablets. Shopify also has a relatively low learning curve. Systems like Clover allow more customization but require more training.
Powerful Analytics
Upserve and Toast lead the pack when it comes to advanced data and robust restaurant management insights. Square reporting is also decent for its price point.
No single POS system is objectively the “best.” Your specific business model and functional needs will determine which option is right for you. Using this guide and key comparisons, you can zero in on 2-3 contenders that seem most aligned with your restaurant or bistro. Take advantage of free demos and trials to experience the software first-hand before committing. An investment in the right POS pays dividends through optimized operations and a better customer experience.
