How to use this guide (and avoid overspending)
- Start with service style + scale. Bars need pre-auth and fast tab work; full-service wants table management, coursing, and handhelds; QSR/fast-casual needs drive-thru, kiosks, and robust KDS.
- Price ≠ total cost. Software stickers are the tip of the iceberg—processing and hardware usually dominate TCO.
- Bundle thoughtfully. If you won’t use a module (e.g., reservations), don’t pay for it.
- Pilot first. Roll out to one zone (patio, bar, pickup counter) before chain-wide.
1) Toast — Restaurant-native depth across FOH, BOH, and growth modules
Why operators pick it: Android-based hardware built for kitchens, strong KDS and handhelds, and a dense suite (online ordering, loyalty, payroll, catering, inventory, cost). Great balance of usability and depth.
Pricing (public):
- Starter Kit: from $0/month (starter bundle) Toast POS
- POS plan (BYO/Core): from $69/month (software) Toast POS
- Pay-as-you-go hardware option notes 3.09% processing when you finance via processing (hardware paid off, not a lease). Toast POS
Best for: Full-service and fast-casual brands that want a restaurant-built stack with excellent handheld/KDS workflows.
Watch-outs: Processing and add-ons make the biggest difference to TCO; confirm all rates and any marketing-fund fees up front. Toast’s own guidance pegs typical hardware bundles roughly $800–$1,000 per terminal (ballpark for planning). Toast POS
2) Square for Restaurants — Fastest time-to-live and transparent entry pricing
Why operators pick it: A generous Free tier, clean UI, and a broad ecosystem (Marketing, Loyalty, Payroll, Banking). Onboarding is quick; pricing is visible.
Pricing (public):
- Free: $0/month (one countertop device per location included) Square
- Plus: $69/month per location (extra countertop devices +$50/month each; handheld software add-ons apply) Square
- Premium: $165/month per location (unlimited devices) Square
- In-person processing commonly listed at 2.6% + $0.10 on paid plans (Free is 2.6% + $0.15). Square
Best for: New concepts, cafés, bars, food trucks, multi-location light-complexity ops that want speed + clarity over deep customization.
Watch-outs: Device add-on fees on Free/Plus and per-transaction rates can outgrow alternatives at scale; model your volume.
3) Lightspeed Restaurant — Data-driven operations with strong inventory & analytics
Why operators pick it: Multi-location controls, detailed analytics, hotel revenue centers, and rich inventory/menu engineering. iPad-based with open APIs.
Pricing (public):
- Essentials $69, Plus $189, Premium $399 per month; KDS $30/screen/month (published add-on). Lightspeed
Best for: Groups who live in dashboards—menu engineering, product mix, and cost visibility—and want a robust, scalable cloud suite.
Watch-outs: You’ll maximize value only if you actually work the analytics; ensure payment terms and any gateways are clear.
4) TouchBistro — Polished iPad tableside workflows for full-service
Why operators pick it: Intuitive floor/tableside flows, quick server ramp-up, and à-la-carte add-ons so you pay for what you use.
Pricing (public):
- Software from $69/month (single license). TouchBistro
Best for: Full-service dining rooms prioritizing iPad ergonomics, simple training, and predictable software costs.
Watch-outs: Confirm payment integrations and total add-on costs (reservations, loyalty, online ordering) to avoid creep.
5) SpotOn Restaurant — Flexible pricing (including $0 plan) and modern hardware
Why operators pick it: Aggressive “start for $0” option, then lower processing with paid plans; strong set of modules (reservations, kiosks, team management, marketing).
Pricing (public):
- Quick Start: $0/month with processing at 2.89% + $0.25. SpotOn
- POS Essentials: $55/station/month with processing 1.99% + $0.25. SpotOn
- Company pages reference $0–$135/month software range and $500–$850 per station hardware as typical. SpotOn
Best for: Cost-sensitive operators who plan to scale into richer modules and want a clear path to lower processing.
Watch-outs: Check processing minimums on $0 plan and confirm contract term.
6) Clover Dining (Fiserv) — “All-in-one” bundles with predictable monthly payments
Why operators pick it: Restaurant-specific Starter/Standard/Advanced bundles that combine hardware, software, and processing with published device financing options.
Pricing (public, example Dining bundles):
- Starter: $179/mo for 36 months (or $1,799+ upfront + monthly software)
- Standard: $239/mo for 36 months (or $2,548+ upfront)
- Advanced: $354/mo for 36 months (or $4,447+ upfront)
- In-person card fees often shown as 2.3% + $0.10. Clover
Best for: Owners who want a turnkey bundle + financing through a single vendor.
Watch-outs: 36-month terms are common—understand cancellation, device ownership, and upgrade paths.
7) Revel Systems — High-volume configurability for QSR/fast-casual & multi-unit
Why operators pick it: Mature enterprise features, strong offline resilience, and granular configuration for complex production lines and drive-thru.
Pricing (public/industry trackers):
- Often cited from ~$99/month per terminal, typically with multi-year terms and in-house processing. POSUSA.comExpert Market
Best for: Busy QSR/fast-casual, franchises, and operations that need deep customization and kitchen routing options.
Watch-outs: Quotes vary widely; clarify contract length, terminal minimums, and implementation fees.
8) Oracle MICROS Simphony — Enterprise-grade stability and global scale
Why operators pick it: The long-time enterprise standard (hotels, stadiums, cruise lines) with rugged hardware and a massive integration ecosystem.
Pricing (public signals):
- Oracle markets “affordable monthly pricing” for Simphony Cloud, but specifics are quote-based. Oracle
- Oracle’s PAYG price lists show transaction-based Simphony fees (e.g., per processed transaction) for certain editions—useful for modeling. Oracle
Best for: Multi-concept enterprises, hospitality complexes, and global brands needing bulletproof scale and governance.
Watch-outs: Pricing is modular and can be transaction-metered; align the commercial model with your traffic patterns.
9) NCR Voyix Aloha Cloud — Modern cloud successor with familiar Aloha DNA
Why operators pick it: Brand familiarity, easier cloud back office, and an option-set that runs from Starter to Premium with public anchors.
Pricing (public):
- Starter: From $0/month (promo; $0 upfront software/hardware offers are often advertised) NCRncrvoyix.com
- Premium: From $175/month. NCR
Best for: Existing Aloha operators moving to cloud, or groups wanting a known ecosystem with modern management.
Watch-outs: Verify what “$0 upfront” covers (ownership vs financed hardware), and processing program details.
10) PAR Brink POS (now “PAR POS”) — Enterprise-friendly for QSR/fast-casual chains
Why operators pick it: Widely deployed in franchise QSR/fast-casual; strong menu/version control, kiosk/drive-thru support, and open integrations (PAR Pay optional).
Pricing (industry trackers):
- Public directories often cite starting around $90/month (single terminal) with additional terminals ~$50/month; exact pricing is quote-based. POSUSA.comSoftwareSuggest
Best for: Multi-unit brands standardizing across hundreds of stores.
Watch-outs: True cost depends on roll-out, integrations, and whether you bundle PAR Pay. PAR Technology
11) Tabit — Mobile-first, tableside-centric operating system
Why operators pick it: Fully mobile POS (iPad/tablet) with deep tableside flows, analytics (TabitChef), and omnichannel ordering (TabitOrder, kiosks). Replaces the fixed terminal paradigm with staff using tablets for order, payment, and upsell.
Pricing: Not publicly listed—quote-based. Product pages highlight the ROS (Restaurant Operating System) with centralized menu/pricing control and add-ons. tabit.cloud+3tabit.cloud+3tabit.cloud+3
Best for: Full-service and polished casual concepts that want to go “all-in on mobile” to accelerate turns and check averages.
Watch-outs: Model Wi-Fi/network rigor and device density; confirm payment processor options and kiosk costs.
12) HungerRush (incl. HungerRush 360) — Omnichannel + first-party ordering DNA
Why operators pick it: Deep online ordering, delivery, voice/text ordering, and loyalty—particularly strong in pizza/QSR and delivery-heavy concepts.
Pricing (public):
- Marketing states “starting as low as $0/month” tiers; details via plan pages. HungerRush
Best for: Delivery-heavy QSR/fast-casual and pizza concepts consolidating digital + in-store on one stack.
Watch-outs: Confirm any $0-plan processing minimums, delivery integrations, and loyalty pricing.
13) SkyTab (Shift4) — Low monthly sticker with lots of “included” features
Why operators pick it: $0 upfront pitch with $29.99/month starting software and many included features (online ordering, website builder, marketing/loyalty, reservations/waitlist). Great for value-hunters.
Pricing (public):
- Starts at $29.99/month with $0 upfront for POS software + hardware (processing with Shift4). SkyTab
Best for: Owners wanting an integrated, low-monthly package—especially bars and casual concepts.
Watch-outs: Processing is part of the economics; verify effective rates, contract length, and any early termination fees.
14) Heartland Restaurant POS (Global Payments) — Solid iPad POS with straightforward entry
Why operators pick it: Familiar iPad workflows, integrated payments, and national field support via Global Payments/Heartland network.
Pricing (public):
- From $89/month (per station). Heartland+1
Best for: Concepts wanting a mainstream iPad POS and a single vendor for POS + payments.
Watch-outs: Processing and gateway fees determine TCO; ask for interchange-plus quotes if available.
15) Lavu — iPad POS with flexible packaging for independents/bars
Why operators pick it: Ingredient-level inventory, delivery integrations, and bar-friendly features (tabs, dual pricing options) with a long footprint in iPad POS.
Pricing (public, vendor content):
- Lavu’s own materials reference setups “as low as $59/month” for POS (kiosk add-on $50/month); other Lavu pages list $99/month in bar-focused content. Final pricing is quote-based. Lavu –+1
Best for: Independents that want iPad POS flexibility and delivery/bar features.
Watch-outs: Inconsistent public pricing across landing pages—lock an official quote and confirm payment processor terms.
Snapshot: starting prices & tell-tale pricing notes
| POS | Public starting price (software) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toast | $0 (Starter) / $69 (POS plan) | Pay-as-you-go hardware option uses 3.09% processing for financed HW. Toast POS+1 |
| Square for Restaurants | $0 (Free); $69/location (Plus); $165/location (Premium) | Add’l countertop devices on Free/Plus +$50/mo; in-person 2.6% + $0.10 on paid plans. Square+1 |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | $69 / $189 / $399 | KDS $30/screen/mo. Lightspeed |
| TouchBistro | $69 (single license) | Add-ons à la carte. TouchBistro |
| SpotOn | $0 (2.89% + $0.25) / $55/station (1.99% + $0.25) | Vendor cites $0–$135/mo software range; hardware $500–$850. SpotOn+1 |
| Clover Dining | $179 / $239 / $354 per mo (36 mos) | Or upfront device cost + monthly SW; card fees 2.3% + $0.10. Clover |
| Revel | ~$99/terminal/mo (typical published baseline) | Terms & processing vary; multi-year common. POSUSA.comExpert Market |
| Oracle Simphony | Quote-based | Oracle shows transaction-metered Simphony pricing structures; monthly plans marketed as “affordable.” Oracle+1 |
| NCR Aloha Cloud | From $0/mo (Starter); from $175/mo (Premium) | Frequent $0-upfront promos. NCRncrvoyix.com |
| PAR Brink (PAR POS) | ~$90/mo (single terminal, trackers) | Additional terminals often ~$50/mo; quotes vary. POSUSA.comSoftwareSuggest |
| Tabit | Quote-based | Mobile-first ROS with centralized catalog/pricing & kiosks. tabit.cloud+2tabit.cloud+2 |
| HungerRush | As low as $0/mo (marketing) | Plan specifics via quote. HungerRush |
| SkyTab (Shift4) | $29.99/mo, $0 upfront | Many “included” features; processing via Shift4. SkyTab |
| Heartland Restaurant | $89/mo (per station) | iPad POS; quotes vary with hardware. Heartland+1 |
| Lavu | Vendor content cites $59–$99+/mo depending on offer/page | Confirm official quote; kiosk add-on $50/mo referenced. Lavu –+1 |
Reminder: The numbers above are starting points. Your processing rate and hardware bundle will move the needle far more than a $10–$20 difference in monthly software fees.
Deep-dive comparisons (the stuff that actually changes outcomes)
Handhelds & pay-at-table
- Best-in-class: Toast handhelds are durable and tightly integrated (EMV + tap + tip), with strong offline behavior. Toast POS
- iPad-centric: TouchBistro, Lightspeed, Heartland, Lavu lean on Apple hardware ergonomics. TouchBistroLightspeedHeartlandLavu –
- Mobile-first ROS: Tabit builds the entire service model around tablets rather than fixed terminals. tabit.cloud
Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
- Lightspeed publishes a clear KDS add-on price ($30/screen/mo). Lightspeed
- Toast, Square, SpotOn, Revel, Aloha, PAR, SkyTab all support KDS—with differing license models and hardware options. Confirm licensing per screen vs per station.
Online order & delivery control
- HungerRush (HungerRush 360) is strong on first-party ordering + delivery orchestration. HungerRush
- Square, Toast, SpotOn have native online ordering that’s tightly tied into POS menus. SquareToast POSSpotOn
- SkyTab advertises free online ordering + website builder in its starter economics. SkyTab
Reservations & waitlist
- Square (basic waitlist tools), SpotOn (reservations), SkyTab (reservations/waitlist included), or integrate with OpenTable/Resy/SevenRooms where supported. SquareSpotOnSkyTab
- Tabit integrates with reservations and centralizes pacing/turn targets with its mobile workflow. tabit.cloud
Multi-location control
- Aloha Cloud highlights centralized back office (menus/pricing for chains). NCR
- Oracle Simphony is battle-tested across global enterprises with governance and rugged hardware (MICROS Workstations). Oracle+1
- PAR Brink (PAR POS) is a common choice for franchise networks standardizing a cloud POS with strong menu versioning. PAR Technology
Payment processing: the real swing factor
- Square publishes in-person rates (e.g., 2.6% + $0.10 on paid plans; 2.6% + $0.15 on Free). Square
- Clover commonly shows 2.3% + $0.10 card-present for its direct bundles. Clover
- SpotOn advertises 1.99% + $0.25 (paid plan) or 2.89% + $0.25 (Quick Start) alongside $0/mo software. SpotOn
- Toast provides a transparent explainer for processing fees and a 3.09% pay-as-you-go hardware program that bakes hardware financing into processing. Toast POS+1
- SkyTab pairs low monthly software with Shift4 processing; rates are quoted. SkyTab
- Revel, PAR, Heartland, Oracle Simphony, Tabit, HungerRush, Lavu: rates are quote-based and vary by volume and plan.
Tip: Ask every vendor for an interchange-plus quote at your projected volume and ticket size. A 10–20 bps improvement usually dwarfs small differences in monthly software fees.
Hardware budgeting (realistic line items)
Budget beyond terminals. You’ll likely need: terminals + cash drawers, KDS screens per kitchen station, printers (if you’re not entirely KDS), server handhelds, network gear, and stands/cases. As a planning anchor, Toast’s own “how much does POS cost” guide pegs typical terminal bundles around $800–$1,000; KDS/printers add materially. Toast POS
Picking the right fit (by concept)
- Full-service, high-touch dining:
Toast, Lightspeed, TouchBistro, Tabit.
Deep tableside flows, coursing, modifiers, and check-splitting are table stakes; handheld durability matters. Toast POSLightspeedTouchBistrotabit.cloud - Bars & nightlife:
Square (Plus/Premium) for speed and simple economics, SkyTab for low monthly + pre-auth/tab flows, Toast for large bar programs. Validate pre-auth and tip-out models. SquareSkyTabToast POS - QSR / fast-casual / drive-thru:
Revel, PAR Brink, Aloha Cloud, HungerRush.
Focus on KDS routing, expo, drive-thru timers, and digital ordering orchestration. POSUSA.comPAR TechnologyNCRHungerRush - Enterprise / multi-venue / hotels:
Oracle MICROS Simphony (global scale, rugged hardware) and PAR (POS + payments + ops). OraclePAR Technology - Cost-controlled launch with clear pricing:
Square, SkyTab, SpotOn ($0 plan), Clover Starter (financed). SquareSkyTabSpotOnClover
10 Questions to lock before you sign
- Processing model: Flat vs interchange-plus? Any monthly or per-txn adders beyond headline rates? (Ask for a statement-style quote.)
- Contract term & cancellation: Month-to-month, 1–3 years, or device financing? Early termination fees?
- Hardware ownership: Buy, finance, or “$0 upfront” loaner? What happens at upgrade time? (Clover lists 36-month bundles; NCR promotes $0 upfront offers.) Cloverncrvoyix.com
- KDS license model: Per screen vs per location? (Lightspeed is $30/screen/mo; others vary.) Lightspeed
- Offline mode specifics: Can you still take EMV/tips and fire to KDS offline? (Aloha Cloud documents robust offline behaviors.) NCR
- Online ordering & delivery: Native fee structure vs third-party; can you do zones, throttling, and item-level 86? (Square/Toast/SpotOn/HungerRush each approach differently). SquareToast POSSpotOnHungerRush
- Reservations/waitlist: Included (SkyTab) vs paid add-on vs integrate (OpenTable/SevenRooms). SkyTab
- Multi-location governance: Central menu/pricing, roles, and audit logs (Aloha Cloud, PAR, Simphony). NCRPAR TechnologyOracle
- APIs & app marketplace: Are the integrations you need available and supported?
- Support SLAs: 24/7 phone vs chat, on-site field service, and parts replacement windows.
The bottom line
Every platform in this list can run a modern restaurant. Your best choice depends on operations, scale, and how much value you’ll pull from embedded modules vs best-of-breed integrations.
- If you want a restaurant-native, full-stack platform with excellent handheld/KDS depth, shortlist Toast and Lightspeed. Toast POSLightspeed
- If you want speed + transparent pricing, Square is still the easiest on-ramp; SkyTab offers the lowest monthly sticker with lots bundled; SpotOn threads the needle with a $0 plan and a lower-rate paid plan. SquareSkyTabSpotOn
- If you’re QSR/fast-casual at volume, Revel, PAR Brink, Aloha Cloud, or HungerRush are purpose-built. POSUSA.com+1NCRHungerRush
- At enterprise scale, Oracle MICROS Simphony continues to dominate deployments with rugged hardware and a global spine. Oracle
- If you want to go all-in on mobile tableside, Tabit is engineered for that world. tabit.cloud
Before you commit, build a 3-year TCO: software + processing + hardware + add-ons + support. Then run it through your actual menu, stations, and volumes—and negotiate processing hard. That’s where the real money is.
Sources & Pricing Pages
Toast pricing (Starter $0; POS $69; pay-as-you-go hardware @ 3.09%): Toast POS+1
Square for Restaurants pricing & device add-ons; plan feature overview: Square+1
Lightspeed Restaurant plan prices & KDS add-on: Lightspeed
TouchBistro pricing from $69: TouchBistro
SpotOn pricing page & range (software $0–$135; hardware $500–$850): SpotOn+1
Clover Dining bundle prices & 2.3% + $0.10 card fees: Clover
Revel baseline pricing references: POSUSA.comExpert Market
Oracle Simphony pricing model notes (monthly plans marketed; PAYG per-txn structure shown): Oracle+1
NCR Aloha Cloud plan anchors ($0 Starter; $175 Premium): NCR
PAR Brink/“PAR POS” indicative pricing from industry trackers: POSUSA.comSoftwareSuggest
Tabit product pages (mobile ROS; centralized pricing/catalog; kiosks; owner app): tabit.cloud+3tabit.cloud+3tabit.cloud+3
HungerRush “as low as $0/mo” marketing: HungerRush
SkyTab $29.99/mo, $0 upfront: SkyTab
Heartland Restaurant POS $89/mo: Heartland+1
Lavu pricing references ($59–$99+ depending on page; kiosk add-on $50/mo): Lavu –+1
