How much does a restaurant POS system cost?

Monthly software fees range from $0 (Square, Toast Starter) to $399/month (TouchBistro Unlimited, Lightspeed Premium). Hardware adds $300–$3,000+ depending on the setup. The biggest ongoing cost is payment processing, typically 1.99–3.69% per transaction.

Can I use my own payment processor with a restaurant POS?

Most restaurant POS systems lock you into their own payment processing. Toast and Square require their in-house processors. Clover may offer flexibility through resellers. Lightspeed and Revel offer some third-party processor options on higher tiers.

What's the cheapest POS system for a new restaurant?

Square for Restaurants offers a genuinely free plan with no monthly fees and month-to-month terms. Toast's Starter Kit is also $0/month but comes with higher processing fees (3.09–3.69%) and a 2-year contract. For the best value at low volume, Square wins.

Do I need a KDS (kitchen display system)?

If you're running a counter-service or food truck operation, a KDS isn't essential — printed tickets work fine. For full-service restaurants with multiple kitchen stations, a KDS dramatically improves order accuracy and kitchen speed. Budget $19–$30/month per screen in software fees plus $300–$700 for the hardware.

How long does it take to switch POS systems?

Switching typically takes 1–4 weeks including menu rebuilding, staff training, and hardware setup. The biggest pain point is that customer data and transaction history usually can't be migrated automatically. Plan for overlap — run both systems in parallel for at least a few days.

Home / Best POS Systems for Restaurants

Best POS Systems for Restaurants in 2026

Choosing a POS system is one of the biggest technology decisions a new restaurant owner makes — and one of the hardest to reverse. Hardware lock-in, processing fee contracts, and add-on costs mean switching later can cost thousands. We compared the 6 most popular restaurant POS systems on real 2026 pricing, features, and total cost of ownership to help you pick the right one from the start.

Last updated Mar 2026

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.

Best Overall

Toast

Best Budget

Square for Restaurants

Best Value

SpotOn

Toast

Purpose-built restaurant POS with industry-leading kitchen tools

Best Overall4.2/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Starter	Free	3.09% + $0.15	—
Point of Sale	$69/mo	2.49% + $0.15	—
Build Your Own	Custom	—	Custom pricing

Hardware	Price	Notes
Handheld Kit	$449	—
Countertop Kit	$1,024	—
KDS	$674	—

Contract: 2-year on starter kitsFree tier available

Pros

✓24/7 support on all plans
✓Restaurant-grade hardware survives kitchen environments
✓Strong offline mode
✓Largest restaurant-specific POS ecosystem

Cons

✗Locked into Toast Payments
✗Processing fees increased March 2026
✗Add-ons stack up fast
✗2-year contracts on starter kits
✗Android-only hardware

Best for: Full-service restaurantsBest for: Fast casualBest for: Multi-location chains

Not ideal: Food trucks on a budgetNot ideal: Businesses wanting processor flexibility

User reviews (Capterra: 4.1/5)

Praise: Reliability, restaurant-specific features, responsive support

Complaints: Fee increases, expensive add-ons, hardware lock-in

Visit Toast Official website →

Square for Restaurants

Zero-cost entry with no contracts — perfect for getting started

Best Budget4.3/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Free	Free	2.6% + $0.15	—
Plus	$49/mo	2.5% + $0.15	—
Premium	$149/mo	2.4% + $0.15	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Terminal	$299	—
Register	$799	—
Magstripe Reader	$0	Free, included

Contract: Month-to-monthFree tier available30-day trial on paid plans

Pros

✓Genuinely free plan
✓No contracts
✓500+ app integrations
✓Affordable hardware

Cons

✗Fewer restaurant-specific features
✗KDS is extra per device
✗Loyalty and scheduling are separate products
✗No 24/7 phone support on lower tiers

Best for: Food trucks and pop-upsBest for: Small cafes and bakeriesBest for: Counter-service restaurants

Not ideal: Complex full-service restaurantsNot ideal: Multi-location enterprises

User reviews (GetApp: 3.9/5 value)

Praise: Easy setup, transparent pricing, good free plan

Complaints: Limited restaurant depth, add-on costs

Visit Square for Restaurants Official website →

SpotOn

Commission-free online ordering with hardware included in monthly plans

Best Value4.4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Quick Start	Free	2.89% + $0.25	—
Counter-Service	$99/mo	1.99% + $0.25	—
Full-Service	$135/mo	1.99% + $0.25	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Counter Bundle	$0	Included in $99/mo plan
Full-Service Station	$0	Included in $135/mo plan

Contract: Month-to-monthFree tier available

Pros

✓Commission-free online ordering
✓Hardware included in monthly plans
✓24/7 support with personalized onboarding
✓Lowest processing rate at 1.99%
✓Built-in loyalty and scheduling

Cons

✗$3/employee/mo adds up for large staffs
✗Smaller integration ecosystem
✗Free plan has much higher processing fees
✗Custom plan pricing requires sales call

Best for: Independent full-service restaurantsBest for: Bars and nightlifeBest for: Businesses wanting bundled hardware

Not ideal: Large teams (per-employee fees add up)Not ideal: Businesses needing huge integration ecosystem

User reviews (G2: 4.4/5)

Praise: Responsive support, great value, commission-free ordering

Complaints: Occasional bugs, per-employee fee

Visit SpotOn Official website →

Clover

Flexible hardware lineup with the lowest card-present processing rates

3.8/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
QSR Starter	$135/mo	2.3% + $0.10	—
QSR Standard	$185/mo	—	—
FSR Starter	$179/mo	—	—
FSR Standard	$239/mo	—	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Clover Flex	$599	Approximate price
Station Solo	$799	Approximate price
Station Duo	$1,099	Approximate price

Contract: 36-month standard

Pros

✓Lowest card-present rate at 2.3% + $0.10
✓Flexible hardware lineup
✓Built-in loyalty program
✓300+ apps in Clover App Market
✓Available through many US banks

Cons

✗36-month contracts
✗Pricing varies by reseller
✗Not restaurant-first platform
✗Limited multi-location tools
✗Proprietary hardware only

Best for: Independent restaurants and cafesBest for: Quick-service operationsBest for: Businesses wanting built-in loyalty

Not ideal: Businesses avoiding long contractsNot ideal: Complex full-service chains

User reviews (G2/Capterra: 3.8/5)

Praise: Hardware quality, wide availability, App Market

Complaints: Long contracts, inconsistent reseller pricing, support issues

Visit Clover Official website →

TouchBistro

iPad-based tableside ordering built for full-service dining

4.1/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Solo	$69/mo	—	—
Dual	$129/mo	—	—
Team	$249/mo	—	—
Unlimited	$399/mo	—	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Essentials Bundle (iPad-based)	$119	Starting at $119/mo lease

Contract: Month-to-month on software

Pros

✓Transparent base pricing from $69/mo
✓Intuitive iPad interface
✓KDS at only $19/mo
✓Strong tableside ordering
✓Native reservations module

Cons

✗Reservations add-on is $229/mo
✗Processing rates require a quote
✗Add-ons push bills over $500/mo
✗Smaller integration marketplace
✗iPad-only hardware

Best for: Full-service restaurantsBest for: Wine bars and fine diningBest for: Canadian restaurants

Not ideal: Budget-conscious startupsNot ideal: Businesses needing transparent processing rates

User reviews (G2: 4.3/5)

Praise: Ease of use, tableside ordering, great for full-service

Complaints: Expensive add-ons, payment processing opacity

Visit TouchBistro Official website →

Lightspeed Restaurant

Multi-location powerhouse with loyalty and online ordering included

4/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Starter	$69/mo	2.6% + $0.10	—
Essential	$189/mo	—	Custom processing rates
Premium	$399/mo	—	Custom processing rates

Hardware	Price	Notes
iPad-based setup	$0	Buy your own iPad
Card Reader + Stand	$0	Priced separately, contact sales

Contract: Annual billing standard14-day free trial

Pros

✓Online ordering and loyalty included on all plans
✓40% fewer clicks for common workflows
✓Strong multi-location support
✓14-day free trial
✓Custom processing rates on higher plans

Cons

✗Big pricing gap between Starter and Essential
✗KDS at $30/screen/mo
✗API access locked to Essential+
✗iPad hardware purchased separately
✗Pushes toward their own payment processor

Best for: Multi-location restaurantsBest for: Hotel restaurantsBest for: Owners wanting loyalty included

Not ideal: Businesses wanting a free tierNot ideal: Single-terminal simple operations

User reviews (G2/Capterra: 4.0/5)

Praise: Fast checkout, clean interface, good reporting

Complaints: Pricing jump to Essential, limited support on lower tiers

Visit Lightspeed Restaurant Official website →

Buying Guide

Processing Fees Matter More Than Monthly Cost

At $30K/month in card volume, a 0.5% processing rate difference costs you $1,800/year. Always calculate total cost of ownership — not just the sticker price.

Hardware Lock-In Is Real

Toast, Clover, and SpotOn use proprietary hardware. If you switch POS providers, that hardware becomes worthless. Square and Lightspeed use iPads, which retain resale value.

Add-Ons Change Everything

A $69/month POS can easily become $300+/month once you add online ordering, loyalty, KDS software, and scheduling. Price out every feature you need before signing.

Contracts and Cancellation

Square is month-to-month with zero penalties. Toast and Clover lock you into multi-year commitments. Make sure you understand the exit cost before you commit.

FAQ