6 Best Restaurant POS Systems for 2024: Which POS System is Right for Your Business?
Whether you're running a full-service restaurant, food truck, or cafe, a reliable and feature-rich POS system can streamline operations, manage inventory, track sales, and keep customers coming back. Absecon Capital, proud owner of Black Turtle Coffee and Kook Burger, dives into the top restaurant POS systems for 2024 to help you select the best POS solution for your unique needs.
1. Toast – Best Overall for Restaurant Operations
Best for: Full-service restaurants with complex operations
Price: From $69/month
Toast stands out as a comprehensive POS system with user-friendly navigation and deep inventory controls. It offers real-time inventory management, profit margin tracking, and a customer loyalty program. Its Android-based hardware is designed for demanding environments, although it doesn’t work on iOS devices, making it less versatile for Apple-focused businesses.
2. Square POS – Ideal for Small Businesses
Best for: Food trucks, cafes, single-location restaurants
Price: Free, with transaction fees
Square POS is a cost-effective solution for smaller operations. Its robust free plan includes basic sales tracking, payment processing, and a range of affordable hardware options. Square’s app-based POS allows flexible management, but businesses with large inventories may find it lacking in advanced features like ingredient tracking.
3. Clover POS – Best for Hardware Flexibility
Best for: Professional restaurant settings
Price: From $59.95/month
Clover POS offers one of the most customizable hardware solutions with fingerprint logins and seamless integration with popular kitchen devices. While Clover’s hardware makes it an excellent choice for larger restaurants, its upfront costs may deter smaller businesses, and its lack of built-in tip-sharing tools could impact usability for certain setups.
4. SpotOn – Best for Employee Management
Best for: Large teams with complex scheduling needs
Price: From $99/month
SpotOn’s standout labor management and scheduling tools make it a top pick for busy, multi-employee establishments. It also integrates with kitchen display systems, making it ideal for fast-paced kitchens. Although the customer support is somewhat limited, SpotOn’s powerful features outweigh this drawback for many full-service restaurants.
5. Lightspeed Restaurant – Best for Customer Loyalty
Best for: Establishments prioritizing customer engagement
Price: From $69/month
Lightspeed’s POS stands out for its advanced customer loyalty features, offering marketing integration for promotions and SMS communication. It's well-suited for businesses that rely on customer retention and relationship building. However, its higher-than-average transaction fees make it less budget-friendly for smaller vendors.
6. Epos Now – Best for Complex Inventory Needs
Best for: Restaurants with large or complex inventories
Price: From $39/month (software only)
Epos Now is a versatile POS that combines inventory control with professional hardware. Its ability to manage complex stock and real-time updates is ideal for restaurants with a high volume of items. Though less user-friendly than competitors like Toast, its detailed inventory management tools make it a strong option for larger food establishments.
Choosing the Right POS System for Your Restaurant
The ideal POS system will simplify your operations, reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and improve customer experience. From seamless integration to employee management and marketing features, each POS system offers unique benefits to suit different business needs. Here at Absecon Capital, our experience with managing hospitality brands like Black Turtle Coffee and Kook Burger has shown us the value of choosing the right tools to ensure business success.
When evaluating POS systems, consider not only upfront costs but also how each platform's features align with your operational goals.
