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If you’re looking to switch or get started with a new restaurant POS system, we’d recommend using Square, especially if you’re looking to scale and grow your business. Square was a favorite among our testers, due to its intuitive interface and feature-rich plans.
There are tons of competent restaurant POS systems to choose from, though, each with unique strengths. So, whether you want an all-singing, all-dancing restaurant system for your small business or simply a fuss-free way to streamline ordering and payment processes, there’s something for everyone.
Check out the list of our top picks below, or use our free restaurant POS comparison tool to receive personal recommendations in minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Square POS emerged as the best POS system for restaurants in our latest round of testing
- Square is an excellent choice for businesses because of its generous free plan, slick and stylish hardware, and strong analytics and inventory management tools
- The other POS systems that made it onto our list are Toast, Clover, SpotOn, SumUp, and Epos Now
- Businesses should prioritize whether they need features such as inventory management, employee tracking, and customer engagement features when choosing a POS system.
- It is also important to choose appropriate hardware based on your business’s needs, such as card readers and docks for iPads if your business is more mobile.
- During our testing for the best restaurant POS, we put 16 POS systems to the test, and compared them against a further 41 subcategories
What is The Best Restaurant POS System in 2025?
- Square POS – Best for scaling and growing your business
- Toast – Best for established restaurants with complex operations
- Clover POS – Best for professional restaurant hardware
- SpotOn – Best for simplifying staff scheduling and communication
- SumUp – Best for speed and efficiency
- Epos Now – Best for optimizing customer experiences
Starting price The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | Free plan | Tech.co rating Score out of 5 for general restaurant suitability, based on Tech.co's independent market research. | Best Restaurant POS for: Tech.co's verdict to help you identify the most suitable choice for your restaurant | Lowest transaction fee The lowest possible fee that will be incurred with each transaction. | Hardware packages | |||
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SPONSORED PROVIDER | BEST OVERALL | |||||||
Free (but transaction fees apply) | Free (but transaction fees apply) | |||||||
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4.2 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.9 | |||
Small counter-service vendors like cafes | Scaling and growing your business | Complex restaurant operations | Professional restaurant hardware | Simplifying staff communications | Managing complex inventories | |||
2.6% + 10¢ | 2.6% + 15 cents | 2.49% + 15¢ | 2.3% + 10 cents | 1.99% + 25¢ (2.89% + 25¢ with free plan) | 1.4% + 5¢ | |||
Sells a range of in-house hardware, including iPad stands, card readers and kitchen display systems. | Options include: Square stand kit for $579 and Square stand kit for restaurants at $1,089. | Offers a full hardware suite for $1,024 but custom pricing is available on more expensive software tiers | Sells a range of proprietary hardware devices from handheld tableside tablets to full POS terminals. | Offers several hardware options for businesses including include touchscreen monitors and payment terminals. | Restaurant POS package costs $1099. Also works with a variety of third-party peripherals. | |||
Visit SumUp | Visit Square | Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
Why should you trust us?
The Tech.co team pours hundreds of hours into researching the best POS systems because it’s the only way to ensure we’re providing our readers with the most accurate, up-to-date information possible.
We’ve spoken to daily POS users working in restaurants, retail and more, and have tested out more than 20 point-of-sale platforms ourselves, paying close attention to everything from the quality and feel of the hardware to how easy the software is to use, to help you make a clear decision for your business needs.
Head over to our methodology section to learn more about our product review process, which is one of the reasons more than one million users consult our articles every month.

Pros
- Free to get started
- Slick and stylish hardware that impresses customers
- Affordable restaurant package for small businesses
- Strong analytics, inventory, and third-party integrations
Cons
- No dedicated training mode to teach staff
- 3.5% + 15¢ charge for keyed-in transactions
- No floor plan edits from the front end
If you run a small food business and are looking for a dependable, affordable point-of-sale system, Square POS is a great option. Square was one of the cheapest POS’s we reviewed, and its feature-rich plans and versatile hardware options make the POS a great fit for most hospitality vendors.
However, its generous free tier and app-based approach make it especially useful for small food vendors with single locations, such as cafes, food trucks, and kiosks.
Learn more about the popular POS provider in our Square POS review.
Square’s restaurant POS features
Square is one of the best restaurant POS systems on the market, and it took the top spot in our latest round of testing.
It offers an excellent array of hardware options, from fully-fledged POS registers to payment terminals, and even gives a complimentary chip and PIN card reader to users of its free forever plan – providing a lifeline for new businesses looking to sell with minimal outlays.
Despite Square’s suitability for single-location businesses, it also lends itself well to growing businesses and those with multiple venues. During our tests, we enjoyed exploring Square’s strong menu management feature, and we found it simple to create new items, categories, and discounts.
Businesses using Square can accurately identify customers by using their iOS or Android camera to scan a ‘reference ID’ via QR or barcode. This benefits businesses that have members’ clubs or those that apply group discounts to certain customers.
While Square is pretty easy to get to grips with, it doesn’t provide a dedicated training mode. We can’t fault it too much, though, because it does still include a hefty amount of help and support options, including phone, live chat and a knowledge center.
It also stood out to our researchers because of its app-based approach, earning it the top spot in our roundup of the best mobile POS systems.

I was able to easily create a new floor plan using the Square app, but the system doesn’t let you customize its colors or labels. Source: Tech.co testing
Square’s software offers a number of great capabilities for sit-down restaurants, including table management, seat management, and table-side ordering.
However, unlike Lightspeed and SpotOn, Square doesn’t let you customize the colors and labels of tables when creating or editing a floor plan. So, our researchers wouldn’t recommend Square if you have a complex layout, or change your floor plan regularly.
What’s more, despite Square’s impressive versatility, it lacks some profit-focused features that may prove useful to bigger chain restaurants, such as a cost/profit management tool, which other systems such as Toast do offer.
Likewise, some testers didn’t have a great experience with the POS, with one claiming the software actually felt quite “clunky” because they had to “manually add everything to an order, one thing at a time”.
Another tester found its payment features a bit hard to use, especially when they tried splitting the bill by specific items.
Notes from Testing
Of all the POS systems I tested, Square turned out to be my favorite. Both the front-end and back-end were easy to use and simple to navigate, and every function was exactly where I expected it to be.
There were also multiple options for completing the same task during testing, which I thought made the interface feel more flexible. For example, there were different ways in the back end to create a new product.
I became comfortable with Square a lot more quickly than I did with the other POS systems we tested. I think it’s really important for businesses to choose software that people feel they can easily get to grips with and master.

Who should use Square?
- Small businesses that want a platform they can grow with
- Businesses that are just starting out and need a low-risk option
- Businesses that want to integrate their online store
Who shouldn’t use Square?
- Owners who need in-depth cost vs profit tools
- Managers who track ingredient usage
- Owners who want a training mode for new staff
Square’s pricing plans
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Best for | Transaction fees | Benefits | |
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Small, mobile food and beverage vendors | Established food and beverage businesses | Large and multi-location food and beverage establishments | |||
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Check out our full guide to Square POS pricing for more.
Is Square good value for my business?
Square is an extremely affordable POS for food vendors to get started on. It doesn’t require you to pay any upfront costs, making it a great option for new food businesses, or mobile sellers like food trucks.
However, its processing fees are a bit steeper than alternatives like Clover, so will provide less value to restaurants with high turnovers.
What's New in Square POS? (June 2025)
- Square has recently introduced a new hardware device, Square Handheld, that focuses on being light and convenient for restaurants and retailers
- Businesses using Square Loyalty, a customer loyalty program, can now give customers the option to add their loyalty pass to their Apple Wallet
If you like Square, you might also like…
- Epos Now, if your business needs to assign ingredients to certain dishes
- Clover, if you’re after slightly more advanced features like cost vs profit tools

Pros
- Great for Android users with built-in interface
- Strong menu customization for your team
- Advanced inventory management tools, including cost management
Cons
- Doesn't work on iOS devices
- No knowledge center
Toast’s restaurant POS features
When we tested the Toast platform, we were especially impressed with its inventory management system – which includes several standout tools, including real-time sales and inventory updates and low stock alerts.
The software also lets you re-order goods when inventory is low, meaning you don’t have to handle this process through a third-party app like you would need to with most other POS providers.
The POS offers lots of unique features for businesses serious about protecting their profitability. Toast offers an automatic tip-sharing feature, and the system also gives users access to granular, mobile-friendly reports and a profit margin calculator that helps you consistently track your incomings and improve your restaurant’s margins.

Toast Takeout & Delivery features let me manage online orders and edit my menu in real time. Source: Tech.co user testing
Unlike Square, Toast also offers a dedicated cost management feature that lets you easily study the costs of labor and dishes, factoring in fixed overhead costs for a simple, unified view of total revenue. This means you can get an in-depth understanding of where your restaurant is making and losing money – a capability that’s becoming more important than ever as supplier prices continue to rise.
Toast’s customer loyalty program, Toast Loyalty, is a cut above the competition too. The system offers point-based rewards to encourage repeat buying and gives businesses access to a range of customer-focused perks like accrual and redemption rates, sign-up bonuses, and birthday rewards. Our researchers found this makes Toast a great choice for businesses looking to retain loyal customers.
Aside from streamlining operations, Toast is also one of the most server-friendly POS systems on this list. With a sleek, modern interface and shallow learning curve, we found it was one of the easiest POS’s to use, with one tester commenting on the system’s “lovely journey” and experience.

While Toast’s Android exclusivity may put off businesses with existing Apple hardware, I found its stylish POS terminals ideal for those who haven’t invested in any yet. Source: Tech.co testing
Despite Toast’s accolades, of which there are many, it won’t cut the mustard for every food and drinks-based business. For one, the app is only compatible with Android hardware, ruling it out from being used by businesses that rely on other technology.
Toast POS shouldn’t be the first choice for small businesses that want a simple POS setup, either as it lacks a knowledge center and its feature-rich software will likely be overwhelming for beginners. For small businesses that don’t need bells and whistles, we’d recommend Square as the software is less overwhelming.
Learn more about how the providers compare in our comparison of Toast vs Square.
Notes from Testing
We were impressed by Toast’s hardware options, as the POS lets businesses build specific hardware packages or just get started for free with its Handheld Starter Kit.
Toast isn’t compatible with iOS though, so if you’re after a simple iPad setup, Square is the better option. Square offers an equally competitive free plan, and its cost-effective software makes it ideal for smaller food businesses like food trucks and cafes.
Clover and SpotOn are also worth checking out, especially if you manage full-service restaurants with large teams and need a platform that can keep up – although they aren’t quite as easy to use as Toast.

Who should use Toast?
- Full-service restaurants with complex operations
- Owners seeking guest community-building
- Restaurants or bars with large inventories
Who shouldn’t use Toast?
- Small businesses with simple inventories
- Users who rely heavily on customer support
- Users who require an iOS solution
Toast’s pricing plans
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Best for | Transaction fees | Benefits | |
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Small, single location food vendors, and mobile sellers | Established food and beverage businesses | Large or complex food and beverage establishments | |||
3.09% | 2.49% + 15¢ | 3.5% + $0.15 | |||
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Remote or in-person installations are an additional cost, and they start at $499. Learn more about Toast’s pricing structure and features in our Toast POS review, or see how its pricing plans compare below.
Is Toast good value for my business?
Toast’s free tier, affordable monthly packages, and low transaction rates make it a great choice for small businesses.
However, if you’re looking for slightly more bang for your buck, we’d recommend using SpotOn instead, as it offers a feature-rich forever plan with the cheapest processing fees we researched.
What's New in Toast? (June 2025)
- Toast has introduced TipOut – a feature that speeds up and simplifies how operators pay their teams. The function automatically distributes non-cash tips to employees
- A new menu pricing optimization tool provides operators with insights into item demand and how it changes when the price is adjusted
If you like Toast, you might also like…
- TouchBistro, if you’re after a feature-rich iPad-based restaurant POS system
- Square, if you run a smaller cafe or food business and don’t require tons of advanced features

Pros
- Top-of-the-line hardware options for users
- Many features for staff and order efficiency
- In-depth and customizable analytics system
Cons
- High up-front cost for hardware
- Additional features cost extra and can become expensive
- No automated tip sharing tools
Our researchers concluded that Clover offers some of the best hardware options on the market. It boasts an ultra-sleek design, and we found it to be super responsive and fast during our tests.
However, with no free plan in sight and restaurant packages starting from $179/month for 36 months, Clover may exceed the budgets of smaller establishments.
Clover’s restaurant POS features
Clover offers just about any restaurant-focused feature you can think of, including menu editing, table and floor plan management, bill splitting, and advanced inventory management. In fact, during our tests, Clover scored higher on features than Square, our top choice, making it an excellent choice for full-service or multi-venue restaurants.

Clover’s reporting tools helped me track everything from sales to average ticket size. Source: Tech.co testing
On top of offering impressive capabilities such as stock alerts, custom inventory systems, and real-time stock analytics, the system also integrates with Shopventory – a friendly app with advanced features like discount reporting and ingredient-level tracking. This makes Clover excellent at handling large and complex inventories.
Check out our POS data analysis guide for more information on utilizing POS data

When I tested out Clover’s hardware I found it easy to use, and the design of their devices is very sleek and modern. Source: Tech.co testing
Clover’s unique CRM app, Clover Rewards, allows you to build contact lists, share promos and rewards, and collect private feedback, helping restaurants forge meaningful relationships with their clientele.
The app also makes it simple to create offers and automate personalized perks for customers, which is a great way to improve the customer experience.
If you offer food-to-go options, Clover’s Online Ordering platform lets you manage online ordering and delivery processes in-house, and even integrates the service with its in-house CRM system Stream, unlike systems like Square.
Clover’s integration with Stream removes the need to enter data manually as well, making it easier than ever for restaurants to manage orders with delivery partners like GrubHub and Uber Eats.
Clover offers a great array of hardware options, from handheld payment terminals like Clover Flex to all-in-one POS solutions like Clover Station Pro. When we tested out Clover’s interface, we were really impressed by its straightforward, intuitive nature and speedy response times.
Clover isn’t perfect though. It lacks certain capabilities that more affordable solutions like Square offer, such as automated tip sharing and advanced menu customization. Clover hardware and software bundles aren’t cheap either, making it unsuitable for small food vendors or pop-ups.
Likewise, some of our researchers struggled with certain back-end tasks. A few users struggled with carrying out certain tasks, such as bulk uploading items or applying discounts. Compared to the front-end, we felt the back end had a steeper learning curve, and this could impact those who don’t have prior training on the system.
See how Clover compares to our top pick Square in our Square vs Clover comparison guide.
Who should use Clover?
- Medium to large establishments
- Businesses that want to deep dive into their analytics
- Businesses that want market-leading hardware
Who shouldn’t use Clover?
- Small businesses or pop-up vendors
- Businesses that want to avoid expensive upfront costs
- Businesses that require tip-sharing tools
Clover’s pricing plans
Unlike other providers, such as Square and Toast, Clover only offers software and hardware bundles instead of retailing these options separately. So, while the software starts at $59.95 per month, you’ll have to pay extra to get access to the hardware.
Clover offers three plans for quick-service restaurants and three for full-service restaurants. We break them down below.
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Best for | Transaction fees | Benefits | |
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Food trucks and pop-ups | Small counter service food businesses | Counter service restaurants | Small full-service restaurants | Tableside service restaurants | Mid-size to large full service restaurants |
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Is Clover good value for my business?
Clover’s upfront costs are more expensive than most of the other providers on this list because all of its packages include software and hardware.
Businesses won’t have to buy pricey hardware elsewhere though, and the average price of Clover’s processing fees are lower than alternatives like Toast and Square, somewhat justifying the provider’s steeper price tag.
Clover also offers a free 30-day trial, which allows you to trial the system before you sign any contracts.
Learn more about how much the provider might cost you in our Clover POS pricing guide.
What's New in Clover? (June 2025)
- A new update to Clover Payments, the provider’s payment platform, that sees more details added to the Checkout page. This includes the addition of a card holder name field, and icons for accepted card network brands
- Clover have integrated 3D Secure (3DS) authentication into its payment processing services, adding a layer of verification for transactions where a card is not present
If you like Clover, you might also like…
- Square, if you’re a smaller food business that wants to avoid hefty start-up fees
- Toast, if you’re in need of advanced employee management capabilities like automated tip-sharing tools

Pros:
- Customizable POS options
- Solid inventory management tools
- Affordable hardware
Cons
- Charges extra for lots of features
- Pricier than similar systems
- Business management features are lacking
SponOn is a specialized POS system designed with the needs of food and beverage businesses in mind. With strong hospitality features and a generous free version available to small vendors, the POS has improved by leaps and bounds since our last round of testing.
It’s SpotOn’s labor management and staff scheduling software that really sets it apart from the competition, though, making it a top pick for busy managers with large teams. However, the POS’s limited hardware and integration options are what keeps it from the top half of our list.
SpotOn’s restaurant POS features
SpotOn may not be as well-known as other providers on this list, but it offers just about every capability small to medium restaurant businesses might desire, including flexible stock management tools, stand-out ordering tools like QR ordering and payment features like bill and tip management.
SpotOn even offers built-in reservation features that let customers add themselves to a waitlist from your website or Google profile page, enabling you to simply text them when their table is ready.
This makes it more ideal for full-service restaurants that rely heavily on bookings than Square and Clover, which offer fairly basic reservation features in comparison.

We found the SpotOn interface quite customizable with thorough modifiers for each item, even when we used it in dark mode. Source: Tech.co testing
SpotOn is an extremely intuitive platform, boasting a particularly user-friendly back-end for managers – we found it easy to handle business processes and track analytics. Its front end is simple for servers to get to grips with as well, but when we tested it out, we did find that it took a couple of extra steps to make orders and take payments.
If you manage a sit-down restaurant, you’ll be able to create a detailed table layout with SpotOn’s software. However, we found it harder to create and edit custom floor plans with SpotOn, which isn’t helpful for food businesses that regularly change their layout.
By comparison, Epos Now enables users to handle the process much more simply with a drag-and-drop tool.
“Frustration came with little things like when creating the floor plan, you had to click an add or minus button… and I was just like, why can’t it just be drag and drop?” – A member of Tech.co’s testing team

Accepting payments was easy for cash, cards, gift cards, and even a house account. Source: Tech.co testing
On top of its basic package, SpotOn offers a host of integrations to stretch its potential even further. For example, SpotOn integrates with FreshKDS for businesses that want to use a kitchen display system (KDS) to connect their front of house to their kitchen.
SpotOn also offers a custom integration called Teamwork, which streamlines a range of employee processes including staff onboarding, shift management, cost projections, payroll administration, and more.
However, compared to the other POS providers we tested, we found SpotOn lacking when it comes to integrations. The system does not integrate with CRM or ecommerce apps, or floor management and booking tools that could be essential for businesses who want to plan ahead of schedule.
Similarly, SpotOn offers very few accessory options as part of its software. Therefore, if your business is also looking to add a printer, cash drawer or scanner to its POS arsenal, you won’t be able to buy these directly from SpotOn’s POS platform. Likewise, SpotOn isn’t compatible with tablet-based systems, which could be a dealbreaker to small businesses looking to save on hardware.
Who should use SpotOn?
- New POS users who are seeking a low-risk option
- Small to mid-sized businesses with 1-3 locations
- Managers looking to streamline employee processes
Who shouldn’t use SpotOn?
- Restaurants that regularly change their floor plan
- Owners who want to purchase additional POS accessories
- Owners who want a tablet-based system
SpotOn’s pricing
SpotOn has a custom pricing model, so the price you’ll end up paying will depend on the size and needs of your food and beverage business.
Like Clover, SpotOn offers software and hardware bundles. Here’s an overview of the starting price of SpotOn’s plans:
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Transaction fees | Benefits | ||
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Quick Start | Terminal | Terminal + Website | Counter Service | Full Service | Customize Your Own |
Free | $25/month | $90/month | $99/month | $135/month | Custom pricing |
2.89% + 25¢ | 1.99% + 25¢ | 1.99% + 25¢ | 1.99% + 25¢ | 1.99% + 25¢ | 1.99% + 25¢ |
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Is SpotOn good value for my business?
Yes, SpotOn’s rock-bottom starting price and affordable processing fees will make it a great value for most food and beverage businesses.
In fact, due to its free tier and paid packages that offer great bang for your buck, SpotOn is one of the best value POS systems we researched.
Find out more about the provider’s potential and price points in our SpotOn review.
What's New in SpotOn? (June 2025)
- SpotOn users can now use the GoTo app – an app that allows customers to order, reserve, and pay while earning and redeeming loyalty perks, as part of their membership
- You can now customize your schedule in the Business Hours section of the SpotOn dashboard, allowing you to set overnight hours, holiday schedules, and custom closures
If you like SpotOn, you might also like…
- Square, if you want to purchase additional accessories or hardware for your POS
- TouchBistro, if your restaurant would benefit from a portable tableside ordering POS
POS expert Judy KreisMarel spoke to us about one time-saving POS hack:
“One time-saving POS feature is automated inventory syncing. By leveraging this feature, businesses can streamline inventory management processes and eliminate the need for manual data entry.” – Judy KreisMarel, Marketing Manager at Hellovein

Pros
- Great range of hardware accessories for in-person selling
- Low monthly costs for small businesses on a budget
- Excellent stock management to track your inventory
Cons
- Lacks offline mode, so it won't work without internet
- No restaurant reservation system
- No handheld POS option
Businesses that are looking for sleek and lightweight hardware, coupled with an easy-to-use back-end, might do well with SumUp. Having taken a huge jump since our last round of testing, our researchers concluded that the POS was a strong contender for beginners and smaller businesses.
Likewise, SumUp isn’t lacking in features. Our testers highlighted the park order function, which allows users to save an open order and retrieve it at a later date. This could help businesses that are particularly busy at certain times, such as cafes.
SumUp’s restaurant POS features
In terms of features, SumUp can compete with the top half of our restaurant POS roundup. The POS boasts strong table management and floor plan features, and its effective bill/order splitting functions earned it a top score in that category of testing.
SumUp can also compete with the likes of Square and Toast in its inventory management features. Our users enjoyed how easy it was to bulk upload inventory onto the system and create stock alerts, which is a vital component of any business that is looking to keep a close eye on inventory.

We found SumUp POS’s ordering system to be simple, clear, and responsive. Source: Tech.co user testing
Similarly, our users were impressed with the sleek, professional hardware that SumUp provided, and no doubt, it will impress customers, too. SumUp offers numerous amounts of hardware accessories to go along with your system, too, including a printer, cash drawer, scales, and scanner.
There is also an iOS and Android-friendly app available, unlike Toast, which is only compatible with Android.
While SumUp’s knowledge center lagged behind a few of the other POS systems we tested,d such as Clover, the platform does offer numerous help and support channels, including phone, live chat, and video tutorials.
SumUp also has a dedicated training mode, which is something our top contender, Square, is missing out on.

I found SumUp’s customer support options to be useful and easy to navigate during testing. Source: Tech.co testing
However, a lot of the frustrations that our users experienced during testing were surrounding the system’s back-end. A lot of our testers called it clunky and unintuitive, making certain functions like reports or user settings difficult to find.
While the help center proved useful in some of these cases, the lack of an accessible knowledge base meant that our users were often turning to Google for answers.
SumUp is also lacking some elements of hardware, including a handheld POS system. Therefore, if your business is looking to operate more efficiently, we would recommend Square or Epos Now for this option.
Who should use SumUp?
- Businesses who would prefer to pay one cost upfront and no monthly costs
- Users who want to integrate an online store
- POS beginners and small businesses who need a simple solution
Who shouldn’t use SumUp?
- Users who need reliable offline functionality
- Businesses that need a handheld POS system
- Businesses that want physical gift card creation
SumUp’s pricing plans
SumUp has three plans for restaurants. Take a look at how they compare below.
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Transaction fees | Loyalty program | Marketing | |
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Connect Lite | Connect Plus | Connect Pro | |||
$99/month | $199/month | $289/month | |||
2.60% + 10¢ (in-person card) | 2.60% + 10¢ (in-person card) | 2.60% + 10¢ (in-person card) | |||
No | Yes | Yes | |||
No | 2 monthly promotions | Daily promotions |
Is SumUp good value for my business?
SumUp’s free plan makes it a good option for businesses that want to try the software before committing to it, and if you do decide to commit, SumUp’s starting price of $99/month fares well compared to the features and hardware you’ll get access to.
That being said, SumUp can sit on the more expensive side. So, if you’re looking for cheaper solutions, we would recommend Toast or Square instead.
Find out more about SumUp’s pricing in our SumUp POS review.
What's New in SumUp? (June 2025)
- SumUp has recently updated its Solo terminal, and the hardware will now be able to process payments in under three seconds, speed up checkout, and sell offline, amongst other new features
- It has also launched POS Plus – a solution designed for growing businesses. It has features such as PIN-based employee profiles and one-tap promotions
If you like SumUp, you might also like…
- Square, if you want to create physical gift cards
- Shopify, if you require a handheld POS system

Pros
- Plenty of features for large businesses
- Customize menu through the front-end
- Widely compatible with barcode scanners and receipt printers
Cons
- Lacks complexity in reporting
- Paid customer support and no knowledgebase
- No kiosk option or CRM
Epos Now is a versatile POS system that combines feature-rich software with professional hardware.
Whether getting started with its tablet-based app or a multi-device POS terminal, Epos Now lets businesses skirt monthly fees by paying upfront, and offers inventory management features sophisticated enough to meet the needs of most large, full-scale restaurants.
Learn the ins and outs of the solution in our Epos Now POS review.
Epos Now’s restaurant POS features
Epos Now comes into its own when it comes to inventory management. It offers just about any feature a large restaurant would need, including low-stock alerts, bulk uploads, and cost vs profit management tools, making it perfect for businesses with large, fast-moving inventories.
Epos Now also lets you customize your menu directly through its front end, making it easier for servers to make amendments quickly.
However, unlike rival Square, Epos Now doesn’t let you create multiple menu types for different services like lunch and dinner, making it less suitable for restaurants that offer more than one dining experience throughout the day.

Epos Now’s app store gave me a chance to integrate with a wide range of third-party software providers. Source: Tech.co user testing
Our product research also suggests that Epos Now could make a great fit for larger restaurants or chains because it offers solid till features and excellent till-based products. It lets you create custom floor plans easily with a drag-and-drop tool, and you can customize tables by size, shape, and label.
However, compared to the other restaurant POS systems on this list, Epos Now isn’t the easiest to use.
While testing it, we didn’t find its interface very intuitive, and the software wouldn’t respond when we tried to handle some basic processes. In fact, some of our testers suggested that businesses who wanted to implement Epos Now, should issue staff training beforehand.
If usability is a high priority for you, we would recommend using Toast instead, as it’s one of the simplest POS’s we tested.




We were impressed by Epos Now’s 15.6″ HD POS terminal with a capacitive touchscreen and built-in thermal receipt printer. Source: Tech.co testing
Who should use Epos Now?
- Food businesses with large or complex inventories
- Businesses looking for low monthly overheads
- Restaurants with sizes ranging from small to large
Who shouldn’t use Epos Now?
- Small businesses looking to avoid upfront costs
- Owners who want automated tip sharing
- Novice owners who are new to POS systems
Epos Now’s pricing plans
Epos Now lets you get started for $39 per month for its software-only package. If you’re looking for an all-singing-dancing POS system, however, you’ll have to shell out $349 up-front too.
Plan | Price Monthly cost of the software. | Best for | Users | Benefits | |
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Small, single location businesses that don’t need heavy-duty hardware | Full-service locations that need terminals, card readers, and software | ||||
Unlimited | Unlimited | ||||
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Is Epos Now good value for my business?
Since Epos Now is fairly opaque with its pricing, it’s hard to say definitively whether it will be a good value for your business.
However, it’s one of the only providers that lets you evade monthly costs by paying an up-front fee, so if your restaurant is in a position to pay for a system in one lump sum, Epos Now will be a good option for you.
What's New in Epos Now? (June 2025)
- Epos Now has updated its Back Office login page, and it now has a cleaner and minimalistic layout to achieve better accessibility
- Card terminals running on Epos Now Payments, the company’s payments provider, will now automatically switch to a cellular connection if the WiFi network loses internet access
If you like Epos Now, you might also like…
- Square, for automated and extensive tip management tools
- Lightspeed Restaurant, for a POS system with no upfront costs
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Restaurant POS System
If you’re new to POS systems, we round up some important restaurant-focused features to consider next.
What are the top restaurant POS system features to look for?
While the best systems might include a handful of unique traits, they should also provide a selection of the following top features.
- Inventory Management – tracks orders and ingredients used
- Inventory Alerts – sends automatic personalized notifications when specific ingredients need to be restocked
- Employee Tracking – records which employee was operating which station, and at what time
- Table Service – tracks which tables will receive which orders
- Billing – accepts cash, card, and contactless payment
- Loyalty Programs – offers deals and gift cards to attract repeat customers
- Customer Engagement – collects and securely manages approved contact lists for customer marketing, including email addresses and/or phone numbers
- Reservations – allows workers to track meal reservations weeks or months in advance
- Online ordering – allows quick-service restaurants to let customers place orders online
You’ll also want to make sure you are choosing the right system based on your business’s price range. You can learn more about how POS pricing is calculated on our dedicated page.
Learn more about restaurant-specific capabilities in our POS features guide.
What restaurant POS hardware accessories do I need?
Here are some of the best physical POS accessories that will make your daily chores more manageable.
- Touchscreen display — Quicker and more portable than a desktop computer for running software. iPads are most common, though other tablets or smartphones can be used as well.
- Card readers for iPad — Cash tills aren’t enough anymore. Tiny card readers the size of a quarter can be plugged into an iPad’s headphone jack. They’re often sold by POS vendors and might be included in a POS package.
- iPad stands and docks — A stand, typically designed to swivel so that customers can easily sign their bill, is a must. These are also usually sold by specific vendors.
- Self-service kiosk — A larger stand, a receipt printer, and a large card reader can all serve as a kiosk for customers to check their orders out by themselves, cutting down on employee busywork.
- Power supply — Don’t expect your iPad battery to outlast your customers: invest in compact portable chargers.
For more information, check out our cash registers vs POS guide.
How We Researched The Best Restaurant POS Systems
We take our impartial research and analysis seriously, so you can have complete confidence that we’re giving you the clearest, most useful recommendations. After identifying the most relevant, popular POS platforms on the market, we put them through their paces with hands-on testing to better understand their strengths and weaknesses.
In total, we put 16 POS systems to the test, with a vigorous research and testing methodology. In our testing sessions, participants were asked to carry out tasks on POS software and describe their user journey, to help us understand what it’s like to use the systems first-hand. In addition to first-hand testing, we developed a detailed methodology that focuses on six categories of investigation, including criteria like software features and help and support centers.
These categories were broken down into further subcategories, so we were able to drill down further into certain topics, to make our insights as granular and useful as possible. Here’s an overview of our main testing categories for POS systems:
- Software: The capabilities provided by the POS product. Includes general features like ordering and payment functionality, as well as industry-specific tools like KSU uploads, and inventory-level stock tracking KDS software.
- Hardware: The quality of a POS’s hardware selection. The presence of an own-brand terminal, as well as hardware accessories like kitchen display systems, receipt printers, and barcode scanners.
- Pricing: The cost associated with acquiring and using the POS system, such as the initial purchase cost, transaction fees, licensing fees, subscription plans, and any additional charges or ongoing costs.
- Usability: We test out the software to gauge how intuitive and easy to navigate it is. We also consider how easy the software is to navigate, and whether any errors took place during testing.
- Help & Support: The assistance and resources available to users when they encounter issues or need guidance while using the POS system, including documentation, tutorials, or knowledge bases.
- Reputation: The aggregate score from customer review sites like Trustpilot and TrustRadius, to understand how POS providers are viewed by their own customer bases.
When it comes to calculating a product’s final score, not all testing areas are weighted evenly, as we know some aspects matter more to our readers than others, For example, we’ll prioritize certain industry-specific features for specific reviews, like an offline mode when reviewing POS systems for food trucks, or kitchen display systems (KDS) when reviewing restaurant POS systems.
At Tech.co, we have a number of full-time in-house researchers who re-run this testing process regularly to ensure our results remain reflective of the present day.
Verdict: What Is the Best Restaurant POS System in 2025?
Square is the best restaurant POS we tested, as the system lets you get started for free, and offers more than enough features and integrations for single-location establishments – and it’s scalable if your needs evolve in the future. We recommend it for smaller food and beverage vendors after an iPad setup in particular.
Toast is another strong contender, because of its sophisticated hospitality-focused features, industry-leading hardware, and unbeatable usability. If you manage a full-service restaurant, Toast will be able to easily meet your needs, as long as you’re comfortable with using an Android system.
If you’re not entirely sold on these options, you can still check out prices using our quick and easy POS quote matching questionnaire. All you need to do is answer a handful of questions, and then wait for us to get back to you with tailored quotes from the leading POS systems.
If you click on, sign up to a service through, or make a purchase through the links on our site, or use our quotes tool to receive custom pricing for your business needs, we may earn a referral fee from the supplier(s) of the technology you’re interested in. This helps Tech.co to provide free information and reviews, and carries no additional cost to you. Most importantly, it doesn’t affect our editorial impartiality. Ratings and rankings on Tech.co cannot be bought. Our reviews are based on objective research analysis. Rare exceptions to this will be marked clearly as a ‘sponsored’ table column, or explained by a full advertising disclosure on the page, in place of this one. Click to return to top of page