11 Best Restaurant POS Systems 2024: Pros, Cons And Features

Last Updated: April 2024

Embark on a culinary revolution with the 11 best restaurant POS systems of 2024, meticulously curated for seamless operations. Explore their pros and cons, uncovering innovative features that redefine the dining experience. 

Elevate your establishment to new heights with these cutting-edge solutions.

Notably, 69% of restaurateurs consider integration capabilities with other systems as the paramount feature in choosing POS software.

1. Square POS

restaurant pos

Rating: 4.7/5

Pricing: A free plan is available, 30-day free trial; $60/mo

Square POS, a versatile and user-friendly point-of-sale system, caters to a spectrum of businesses with its transparent pricing, intuitive interface, and tailored solutions. 

Pros

    • Versatility: Square POS caters to a wide range of businesses, making it adaptable to various industry needs.
    • User-friendly Interface: Its intuitive design ensures easy navigation and quick onboarding for users, enhancing overall efficiency.

Cons

    • Limited Offline Functionality: Square heavily relies on an internet connection, which can be a drawback in areas with inconsistent connectivity.
    • Hardware Costs: While the software is budget-friendly, additional costs for compatible hardware may add up, impacting the overall affordability for some businesses.

Key Features 

    • Inventory Management: Comprehensive tools for inventory tracking help businesses stay organized and manage stock efficiently.
    • Contactless Payments: Square supports contactless payment methods, promoting faster and more convenient transactions.
    • Online Ordering: Seamless integration of online ordering features enables businesses to tap into the growing trend of digital and remote transactions.

2. Lavu

Rating: 3.8/5

Pricing: Free demo, $99/month

Lavu POS stands out with its user-friendly interface, offering a comprehensive solution that includes a table management system, flexible tipping options, and efficient inter-store capabilities.

Pros

    • Advanced Hospitality Features: Lavu’s specialized features and customizable tipping options cater specifically to the needs of restaurants and food businesses.
    • Training Mode: The inclusion of a staff training mode facilitates efficient onboarding, ensuring the seamless integration of new personnel.

Cons 

    • Cost: The pricing structure of Lavu may be higher, and businesses should carefully assess whether the advanced features align with their budget and requirements.
    • Learning Curve: While the system offers a training mode, its advanced features may still pose a learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with complex POS systems.

Key Features 

    • Detailed Reports: Comprehensive reporting features offer businesses valuable insights into their operations, aiding in decision-making.
    • Staff Performance Tracking: Enables businesses to monitor and assess staff performance, fostering accountability and improving overall productivity.
    • 24/7 Phone Support: Lavu’s commitment to customer service includes continuous phone support, and assisting around the clock.

3. Clover POS 

Rating: 3.8/5

Pricing: $1699 + $84/mo; For every transaction, incurs only 2.3%, with an additional 10$.

Clover POS offers cloud-based point-of-sale solutions with versatile hardware options, empowering businesses to efficiently manage sales, inventory, and customer engagement from anywhere.

Pros

    • Cloud-based Accessibility: Clover’s cloud-based system allows business owners to access their POS data and manage operations from anywhere with an internet connection. 
    • Hardware Options: Clover provides a range of hardware options, including countertop devices, mobile solutions, and contactless payment options.
    • App Ecosystem: The variety of apps offered by Clover enhances the functionality of the POS system. Businesses can customize their setup with apps that cater to specific industry needs.

Cons

    • Dependence on Internet Stability: While the cloud-based nature of Clover POS provides flexibility, it also means that a stable Internet connection is crucial for uninterrupted operations. 
    • Initial Setup Complexity: Setting up and customizing Clover POS, especially with the addition of various apps, may require time and expertise. 

Key Features

    • Customer Loyalty Programs: Clover POS supports loyalty programs, enabling businesses to reward repeat customers and encourage customer retention.
    • Ordering and Reservations: Restaurants can benefit from features like tableside ordering, order modifiers, and reservation management to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience.
    • Online Ordering Integration: Clover POS can integrate with online ordering platforms, facilitating businesses that offer both in-store and online sales channels.

4. NCR Aloha – Restaurant Point Of Sale Software

restaurant pos

Rating: 4.1/5

Pricing: Customized 

Elevate your restaurant experience with NCR’s Aloha POS system—an end-to-end solution crafted to manage your business, providing seamless transactions, customizable menus, and insightful analytics.

Pros

    • Customizable Menu Options: Flexible menu customization features allow restaurants to adapt to changing offerings, promotions, and seasonal variations.
    • Customer Engagement: Robust CRM tools enable businesses to capture and analyze customer data, helping implement effective loyalty programs and personalized services.
    • Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Powerful reporting and analytics features provide actionable insights into your sales trends, customer behavior, and operational performance, aiding informed decision-making.

Cons 

    • Cost Consideration: The initial setup cost and ongoing fees associated with NCR’s Aloha POS system may be considered relatively high for some smaller establishments.

Key features 

    • Kitchen Display System (KDS): Efficient communication between kitchen and front-of-house staff through a KDS improves order accuracy and expedites service.
    • Staff Management: Provides tools for employee scheduling, time tracking, and performance monitoring to optimize workforce management and overall operational efficiency.
    • Security Measures: Enhanced security features, including user access controls and encrypted payment processing, ensure the protection of sensitive customer and business data.

5. Zettle

restaurant pos

Rating: 4.6/5

Pricing: Made-to-order; 1.75% per transaction for major cards and Paypal QR codes

Zettle by Paypal is a user-friendly payment solution that empowers businesses with seamless card transactions, making it easy for owners to accept payments anytime, anywhere. 

Pros

    • Mobility and Flexibility: Zettle is designed for flexible and mobile-first businesses, allowing users to conduct transactions on the go.
    • User-friendly Interface: The POS system boasts a user-friendly interface, making it easy for businesses to set up, train staff, and manage transactions efficiently.
    • Payment Options: Zettle supports various payment methods, providing customers with diverse payment options.

Cons

    • Limited Advanced Features: While suitable for small and mobile businesses, Zettle lacks some advanced features that more complex businesses may require in a POS system.

Key Features

    • Receipt Customization: Businesses can customize receipts with their branding and include personalized messages, enhancing the overall customer experience.
    • Sales Reporting: Zettle offers detailed sales reports and analytics, providing insights into best-selling products, peak sales times, and overall business performance.
    • Offline Mode: The system allows businesses to continue processing transactions even when an internet connection is temporarily unavailable.

6. TouchBistro POS

restaurant pos

Rating: 3.9/5

Pricing: $69/mo

Meet TouchBistro, your restaurant’s best ally – a user-friendly POS system designed for speed, reliability, and enhanced guest experiences.

Pros 

    • Reliability: TouchBistro is known for its stability, providing consistent and reliable performance even during peak hours.
    • Speedy Transactions: The fast processing speed ensures that orders are taken and payments processed swiftly, contributing to shorter wait times for customers.
    • Profitability Boost: The system provides tools for effective sales tracking, inventory management, and reporting, empowering you to make informed decisions that can positively impact your bottom line.

Cons 

    • Cost: While the features are comprehensive, some users may find the initial setup and subscription costs relatively higher compared to other POS systems.
    • Limited Offline Functionality: TouchBistro’s reliance on an internet connection may pose challenges during network outages. Limited offline functionality might hinder operations in such scenarios.

Key Features

    • Order Creation: Streamline your order creation with a few taps, ensuring quick and accurate processing, and contributing to improved operational efficiency.
    • Online Sales Tracking: Monitor online sales in real time, providing valuable insights and control over your business performance.
    • Discount Application: Easily apply discounts to orders, empowering you to implement promotions and loyalty programs seamlessly.

7. Talech POS

restaurant pos

Rating: 3.9/5

Pricing: $29/mo and offers a free plan for Mobile. 

Talech POS makes business management a breeze – navigate through its features effortlessly and instant sales insights for simplicity and power at your fingertips.

Pros 

    • Intuitive Interface: Enjoy a seamless experience with Talech’s user-friendly POS system, simplifying order creation, discount application, inventory management, and online sales tracking with just a few taps.
    • Discount Management: Seamlessly apply discounts with just a few taps, enhancing your ability to implement promotions and loyalty programs for increased customer satisfaction.

Cons 

    • Learning Curve: The extensive feature set may result in a learning curve for some users, requiring additional time for training to fully maximize the system’s capabilities.

Key Features

    • Order Creation: Streamline your order creation with a few taps, ensuring quick and accurate processing, and contributing to improved operational efficiency.
    • Online Sales Tracking: Monitor online sales in real time, providing valuable insights and control over your business performance.
    • Discount Application: Easily apply discounts to orders, empowering you to implement promotions and loyalty programs seamlessly.

8. Lightspeed Restaurant

Rating: 4.5/5

Pricing: $69

Experience efficiency at its best with Lightspeed Restaurant – a fast, flexible platform designed to seamlessly connect and optimize every aspect of your multi-location dining operations.

Pros 

    • Efficient Table Management: Manage your tables seamlessly, turning them faster to enhance customer satisfaction and optimize your restaurant’s capacity.
    • Revenue Optimization: Boost your revenue with Lightspeed’s powerful features that facilitate upselling, order customization, and targeted promotions.

Cons 

    • Integration Challenges: Integration with existing systems may pose challenges, potentially causing disruptions during the implementation phase.

Key Features

    • Effortless Multi-Location Management: Seamlessly connect and manage all your locations with Lightspeed, ensuring centralized control and streamlined operations for increased efficiency.
    • Flexibility Tailored to Your Business: Customize Lightspeed to suit your specific business needs, whether you run a fine dining establishment or a quick-service restaurant. 

9. Toast POS

restaurant pos

Rating: 4.2/5

Pricing: $69/mo; Free plan available

Toast streamlines restaurant operations with an all-in-one platform, combining POS systems, payroll, and more. Trusted by 99,000* restaurants, Toast lets businesses concentrate on their strengths.

Pros 

    • Comprehensive Solution: Toast offers an all-encompassing solution, covering everything from Point of Sale (POS) to payroll management, streamlining operations for your restaurant.
    • Time-saving Efficiency: By handling POS and payroll tasks, Toast allows you to dedicate more time to your core strengths, ensuring you can focus on what you do best – running and growing your restaurant.

Cons

    • Dependency on Technology: Relying heavily on technology means that any system downtime or technical issues could temporarily impact your restaurant’s operations.

Key Features 

    • End-to-End Management: Toast provides a holistic solution, reducing the need for multiple software systems and simplifying management tasks.
    • Time and Resource Optimization: Toast helps optimize your time and resources, allowing you to focus on core business activities.
    • Innovative POS Solutions: The POS system by Toast is equipped with innovative features, enhancing customer interactions and providing a modern, efficient transaction experience.

10. Revel POS

restaurant pos

Rating: 3.7/5

Pricing: Adapted 

Revel POS leads in POS innovation, blending an intuitive iPad system with potent management features for enriched customer experiences.

Pros

    • Intuitive iPad POS System: Revel POS offers an intuitive iPad-based system that simplifies your point-of-sale operations. 
    • Powerful Management Tools: Revel Systems provides robust management tools to empower you in achieving your business goals. 
    • Scalability and Diversification: Revel POS grows with your business. Whether you’re a restaurant or retailer, the platform allows you to scale operations effortlessly. 

Cons

    • Dependency on iPad Technology: The reliance on iPad technology, while providing a user-friendly interface, may pose challenges if there are compatibility issues. 
    • Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While the basic functions are intuitive, the advanced features of Revel POS may have a learning curve. 

Key Features

    • Comprehensive Management Tools: Revel Systems presents powerful management tools covering inventory, employee scheduling, and more. 
    • Customer Experience Enhancement: The platform focuses on improving customer experience through features like order customization and loyalty programs. 

11. SkyTab

restaurant pos

Rating: 4.8/5

Pricing: $29.99/mo

Elevate your restaurant experience with SkyTab—a game-changing POS system that streamlines your operations, seamlessly connecting front-of-house and back-of-house for enhanced efficiency and satisfaction.

Pros

    • Holistic Transformation: With SkyTab, your restaurant operations undergo a comprehensive transformation. From front-of-house interactions to back-of-house management, SkyTab ensures a seamless and integrated experience, enhancing overall efficiency.
    • Operational Streamlining: The system excels at streamlining operations across all restaurant aspects. 

Cons

    • Initial Implementation Time: The initial implementation of SkyTab might take time as it transforms various aspects of restaurant operations. 

Key Features

    • Unified Front-to-Back Integration: SkyTab excels in providing a unified experience from front-of-house to back-of-house operations. 
    • Customer-Centric Payment Options: Enhance customer satisfaction with SkyTab’s customer-centric payment options. 
    • Comprehensive Back-of-House Tools: SkyTab goes beyond traditional POS systems by offering comprehensive back-of-house tools. Manage inventory, streamline order processing, and optimize kitchen operations for a well-rounded restaurant management solution.

 

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Also read, Enhancing Restaurant Customer Service: 10 Ideas To Foster Loyal Guests In 2023

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Wrap up

Choose the ideal restaurant POS system for seamless operations in 2024. From robust features to user-friendly interfaces, these top 11 options cater to diverse needs. Elevate your restaurant management with these efficient solutions.

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