Best Point of Sale Systems for Restaurants in 2021

• Reading Time: 6 Minutes
• Published: March 4, 2021
• Last Updated: February 12, 2025

Point of Sale System (POS) has emerged as one of the restaurant industry’s essential tools. Whether you want to take orders, process payment, print invoices, or perform complex tasks like inventory management, cash management, or tedious tasks like sending an electronic invoice via text or email. A feature that has been making the life of restaurateurs more comfortable is integrating with accounting software and the availability of a cloud system. This feature also helps your restaurant accountant immensely.

An ideal POS system helps the restaurant thrive and grow, especially the POS, specifically made for the hospitality industry, helping measure relevant KPIs. Few features that an ideal restaurant POS must have are –

• Tableside Ordering System
• Accepting Reservation
• Inventory Management
• Menu Management
• Food and Ingredient cost
• Kitchen and Front of the House Communication
• Staff Management
• Detailed reporting system
• Invoice via Text or Email

There are many POS system in the market that offers a range of features to help restaurateurs, and it is vital to identify your business requirement to select a system that can deliver the same. We have prepared a comprehensive list of the top 9 POS systems, which will provide you with a starting point for comparison.

TouchBistro POS

TouchBistro Inc. is a Canada-based software company that was launch in 2010. It is one of the leading iPad POS solutions for restaurants in 37 countries. One-third TouchBistro customer base is of Australia. It is a locally installed POS system, so it does not require an Internet connection and communicating with printers or cash drawers via local WIFI. However, you need the internet to take credit card payments. You can integrate various apps, which can help to extend TouchBistro’s functionality. You can also add a few additional features like online ordering, gift cards, loyalty, reservation with additional cost.

Toast POS

Toast POS is a US-based software company that was launch in 2012. The company provides POS systems and restaurant management systems built on the Android operating system. Simultaneously, the backend can be managed through a mobile device or a web browser in real-time. Similar to TouchBistro, you can also add a few additional features like online ordering, gift cards, loyalty with additional cost.

Square POS

Square POS is a product by Square Inc., which is a financial services, mobile payment, and merchant services aggregator company. It is a US-based company, and the POS system was launch in the year 2013. You can add on features like – Employee Management, Square Marketing, Square Loyalty, Gift Cards, and Square Payroll with additional cost.

Lightspeed POS

Lightspeed POS is a POS system by Lightspeed company which is based in Canada. Lightspeed POS was launch in 2005 to provide point-of-sale and e-commerce software to retail businesses. However, in 2014, it expanded its customer base to include the hospitality industry.

Upserve

Upserve, formerly Swipely, is a US-based POS service provider which was launch in the year 2009. It is a cloud-based POS that runs on Android and iOS devices. You can add on online ordering, Upserve Inventory at an additional cost.

ShopKeep

ShopKeep is a cloud-based iPad POS system that was founded in 2008 in the US. It offers both iPad-only quick-serve systems and full restaurant systems, both of which have nicely designed, intuitive mobile app options.

PayPal Here

While PayPal requires no introduction but what might be attractive to a restaurant owner is its mobile payment system – PayPal Here. PayPal Here was launch in 2012, and although it is not a specific restaurant POS system, many restaurant business owners use it for its payment processing

Epos Now

Epos Now is a cloud-based software provider founded in 2011. It is a UK-based company, and it is built specifically for retail and hospitality businesses. It can be operated from any device or platform with a web browser or using Epos Now’s IOS or Android app.

Revel POS

Revel is a US-based iPad POS system. It was founded in 2010.  The backend can be managed via a mobile device or a web browser. Revel Systems was not explicitly made for restaurants. Nevertheless, this incredibly customizable iPad POS can handle the needs of a full-service restaurant or busy quick-service restaurant. Revel has several POS systems for the culinary industry, such as Kitchen Display System, Drive-through POS, Food Truck POS, and Restaurant POS.

The final decision is solely dependent on your business needs and how each system can full that particular requirement. We hope this comparative list will help you in the process of selecting the right POS for your restaurant. It would help if you compare each software and then zero down on one system that will best fit your requirement. Our experts can further assist you in selecting an ideal accounting and bookkeeping software that can seamlessly integrate with your POS system.

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