Toast is the best restaurant POS system for most full-service restaurants in 2026, and Square for Restaurants is the best choice for small and new restaurants that want to start for free.
Lightspeed Restaurant suits operators who want deep reporting across locations. TouchBistro fits table-service dining rooms, SpotOn appeals to restaurants watching processing fees, and Clover works for counter service.
The monthly software fee is only part of the cost. Hardware, payment processing, and contract terms decide what you pay, so compare the full agreement.
Our top pick
Toast
Built only for restaurants, from the floor to the kitchen.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best for new restaurants
Best for reporting
Best for table service
Best for counter service
How we ranked these tools
We scored each product on five criteria: fit for its intended audience, depth of core features, pricing and value, ease of use, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. Vendors did not pay for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with the vendor.
The 6 best restaurant POS systems
1. Toast
Best for full-service and high-volume restaurants
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$0 (POS plan $69 / month)
Free planYes (starter plan)
Toast is built only for restaurants. It handles tables, coursing, kitchen displays, online ordering, payroll, and loyalty on one platform with durable hardware. A starter plan has no monthly software fee, and the standard point of sale plan costs $69 a month. Toast requires its own hardware and payment processing, and many deals carry a multi-year contract, so read the agreement closely.
Pros
- Restaurant-specific features and hardware
- One vendor for POS, ordering, and payroll
- Starter plan with no monthly software fee
Cons
- Requires Toast hardware and processing
- Multi-year contracts are common
- Add-ons raise the monthly cost
Key features
- Table and order management
- Kitchen display system
- Online ordering
- Payroll and team tools
2. Square for Restaurants
Best for small and growing restaurants
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting price$0 (Plus about $60 / month)
Free planYes
Square for Restaurants is the fastest system to launch. The free plan covers the core point of sale, the hardware is affordable, and pricing is easy to understand. It suits cafes, counter-service spots, and new restaurants. Square serves many kinds of businesses from one core product, so features such as coursing and complex modifiers are less deep than those of Toast. It requires Square payment processing.
Pros
- Free plan to start
- Affordable hardware
- Simple, clear pricing
Cons
- Less depth for full-service dining
- Requires Square payments
- Advanced reports need a paid plan
Key features
- Order and menu management
- Floor plans
- Online ordering
- Team management
3. Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for operators who manage by the numbers
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$69 / month
Free planNo
Lightspeed Restaurant is an iPad-based system for operators who manage by the numbers. Its reporting and inventory tools are among the strongest in the category, and it handles multiple locations well. Plans start at $69 a month. Smaller restaurants that do not need the reporting depth may find simpler systems easier to run.
Pros
- Strong reporting
- Detailed inventory tools
- Good multi-location management
Cons
- Higher-tier plans cost much more
- More than a small cafe needs
- Hardware kits add upfront cost
Key features
- Advanced reporting
- Inventory management
- Multi-location tools
- Tableside ordering
4. TouchBistro
Best for full-service restaurants that run on iPads
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$69 / month
Free planNo
TouchBistro is an iPad point of sale built for table service. It manages floor plans, tableside ordering, and bill splitting well, and it keeps working when the internet drops. Plans start at $69 a month. It requires an annual contract, new customers must use TouchBistro Payments, and add-on modules raise the monthly price.
Pros
- Strong tableside and floor tools
- Keeps working offline
- Built-in reservations option
Cons
- Annual contract required
- Must use TouchBistro Payments
- Add-on modules raise the price
Key features
- Floor plan management
- Tableside ordering
- Bill splitting
- Reservations add-on
5. SpotOn
Best for full-service restaurants focused on fees
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting priceFrom $99 / month
Free planNo
SpotOn pairs a restaurant point of sale with marketing and loyalty tools. Its paid plans advertise lower card processing rates than most rivals, which matters for restaurants with high card volume. Paid plans start at about $99 a month. It is a smaller vendor than Toast or Square, so compare support and integrations in your area.
Pros
- Lower processing rates on paid plans
- Clear pricing
- Built-in loyalty and marketing
Cons
- Smaller integration library
- Paid plans cost more per month
- Less widely used than Toast or Square
Key features
- Order management
- Loyalty and marketing
- Reporting
- Online ordering
6. Clover
Best for quick-service and counter-service spots
Our rating4.1 / 5
Starting price$14.95 / month
Free planNo
Clover offers flexible hardware and an app market that adds features as you need them. It suits quick-service and counter-service restaurants. Software plans start at $14.95 a month, and terminals start at about $599. Clover software runs only on Clover hardware, and many resellers sell it with multi-year processing contracts, so check the terms and the provider.
Pros
- Wide range of hardware
- Large app market
- Low software entry price
Cons
- Runs only on Clover hardware
- Contract terms vary by reseller
- Less restaurant-specific than Toast
Key features
- Order management
- App market
- Customer loyalty
- Reporting
Compare the top restaurant POS systems
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toast | Full-service and high-volume restaurants | $0 (POS plan $69 / month) | Yes (starter plan) | 4.6 |
| Square for Restaurants | Small and growing restaurants | $0 (Plus about $60 / month) | Yes | 4.5 |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | Operators who manage by the numbers | $69 / month | No | 4.3 |
| TouchBistro | Full-service restaurants that run on iPads | $69 / month | No | 4.2 |
| SpotOn | Full-service restaurants focused on fees | From $99 / month | No | 4.2 |
| Clover | Quick-service and counter-service spots | $14.95 / month | No | 4.1 |
How to choose a restaurant POS system
Match the system to your service style
Full-service restaurants need table management, coursing, and kitchen displays. Counter-service spots need speed and a simple order screen. Choose a system designed for the way you serve, since a POS built for retail slows a busy dining room.
Read the processing terms
Most systems require their own payment processing. Compare the rate per transaction against your monthly card volume, and ask whether the rate can change. A lower software fee can cost more overall when the processing rate is higher.
Check the contract and the hardware
Ask how long the contract runs, what it costs to leave early, and whether the hardware works with any other system. Month-to-month terms and standard iPads give you more freedom than proprietary terminals on a multi-year agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is a restaurant POS system?
A restaurant POS system is the software and hardware that takes orders, sends them to the kitchen, and processes payments. Modern systems also report sales, manage menus, and connect to online ordering and payroll.
How much does a restaurant POS system cost?
Restaurant POS software costs from $0 to several hundred dollars a month. Toast and Square offer plans with no monthly software fee, and paid plans for Toast, Lightspeed, and TouchBistro start at about $69 a month. Hardware and payment processing add to the total.
Which POS system is best for a small restaurant?
Square for Restaurants is the best fit for most small restaurants, because the free plan and low-cost hardware keep startup costs down. A small full-service restaurant that plans to grow should also consider Toast.
Can I use my own payment processor?
Often you cannot. Toast, Square, and TouchBistro require their own payment processing, and Clover ties you to the processor that sold it. Ask each vendor before you sign if you want to keep your current processor.
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