Best POS Systems for Small Restaurants in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide

Choosing a POS system for your small restaurant is one of the most important technology decisions you'll make. The right system can streamline operations and boost profits. The wrong one can cost you thousands in fees and frustration.

This guide cuts through the marketing hype to help you find the best POS for YOUR restaurant.

TL;DR: Best POS Systems by Category

• Best Overall: Square for Restaurants (free tier, flexible)
• Best for Full-Service: TouchBistro (table management, reservations)
• Best for Quick-Service: Toast (fast, integrated payments)
• Best Budget Option: Square POS (free software)
• Best for iPad Users: Lightspeed (modern interface)

Important: A POS handles payments and orders, but most don't include online ordering, loyalty programs, or phone ordering. For those features without high commissions, RestauNax integrates with any POS and adds 0% commission online ordering, AI-powered phone ordering, and built-in loyalty—features that would cost $150-300+/month from other providers.

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Why Your POS Choice Matters

Your POS system is the hub of your restaurant operations:

• Processes $50,000-$500,000+ in annual transactions
• Payment processing fees range from 2.3% to 3.5%
• Monthly costs vary from $0 to $300+
• Hardware can cost $500 to $5,000+
• The wrong choice = thousands in unnecessary fees

A 0.5% difference in processing fees on $200,000 in annual sales = $1,000/year.

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RestauNax: The POS Companion You Need

Before diving into POS comparisons, let's address a gap most POS systems have: they're great at in-store transactions but weak on digital ordering.

RestauNax isn't a POS—it's the perfect complement to ANY POS:

What RestauNax Adds to Your POS

Why This Matters for Small Restaurants

The average small restaurant processes $15,000-$25,000/month in orders. If 30% of that comes through online/phone orders:

Without RestauNax (using DoorDash/UberEats):

• $6,000/month × 25% commission = $1,500/month in fees

With RestauNax:

• $6,000/month × 0% commission = $0 in commission fees
• Annual savings: $18,000

👉 See How RestauNax Works With Your POS →

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Top 10 POS Systems for Small Restaurants

1. Square for Restaurants

Best For: New restaurants, food trucks, small cafes Price: Free - $60/month Processing: 2.6% + 10¢

Overview: Square is the most accessible POS for small restaurants. The free tier includes everything you need to get started, with paid tiers adding features like course management and advanced reporting.

Pros:

• Free tier with no monthly fees
• Easy setup (minutes, not hours)
• Modern, intuitive interface
• Free basic online ordering
• Works on iPad

Cons:

• Higher processing rates than some competitors
• Limited table management on free tier
• Customer support can be slow
• Advanced features require paid tier

Pricing Breakdown:

Best For: Startups, food trucks, coffee shops, small quick-service

RestauNax Pairing: Square handles payments; RestauNax adds AI phone ordering and 0% commission online ordering. Perfect combo for small restaurants.

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2. Toast POS

Best For: Established restaurants wanting an all-in-one system Price: $0-$165+/month Processing: 2.49-2.99% + 15¢

Overview: Toast is built specifically for restaurants and offers robust features. However, the "free" tier comes with higher processing fees, and hardware costs can add up quickly.

Pros:

• Restaurant-specific features
• Offline mode functionality
• Strong reporting
• Good for multi-location

Cons:

• Proprietary hardware required ($799+)
• Higher processing on free tier (2.99%)
• 2-year contracts typical
• Add-ons increase cost significantly

Pricing Breakdown:

Hidden Costs:

• Hardware: $799-$1,500+ per terminal
• Online ordering: $50-75/month extra
• Loyalty: $50/month extra
• Team management: $40+/month extra

Best For: Full-service restaurants with budget for hardware investment

RestauNax Alternative: Many restaurants use RestauNax instead of Toast's expensive add-ons. Get online ordering, loyalty, and AI phone ordering for less than Toast's online ordering module alone.

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3. Clover POS

Best For: Restaurants wanting hardware flexibility Price: $14.95-$94.85/month Processing: 2.3-2.6% + 10¢

Overview: Clover offers a range of hardware options from countertop terminals to handheld devices. Pricing depends on your processor, which can be confusing.

Pros:

• Multiple hardware options
• Can choose your payment processor
• App marketplace for add-ons
• Good for various business types

Cons:

• Pricing varies by processor (confusing)
• Quality of third-party apps varies
• Hardware can be expensive
• Setup can be complex

Hardware Options:

Best For: Restaurants wanting hardware options or existing Clover users

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4. TouchBistro

Best For: Full-service restaurants with complex operations Price: $69-$399/month Processing: Varies (uses third-party processors)

Overview: TouchBistro is designed specifically for restaurants and excels at table management, floor plans, and full-service operations. It runs on iPad.

Pros:

• Excellent table management
• Visual floor plans
• Strong for full-service
• iPad-based (familiar interface)

Cons:

• Higher monthly cost
• Add-ons expensive
• Third-party payment processing
• Learning curve for full features

Pricing Breakdown:

Full Suite: Can easily reach $300-500/month with add-ons

Best For: Upscale casual and fine dining with complex floor plans

RestauNax Tip: Instead of TouchBistro's $99/mo loyalty + $50/mo online ordering ($149/mo), add RestauNax for comprehensive digital ordering with loyalty included.

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5. Lightspeed Restaurant

Best For: Multi-location restaurants, franchises Price: $69-$399/month Processing: 2.6% + 10¢

Overview: Lightspeed offers powerful features for growing restaurants, with strong inventory management and multi-location support.

Pros:

• Strong inventory management
• Good multi-location support
• Modern interface
• Strong analytics

Cons:

• Expensive for small restaurants
• Complex feature set
• Annual contract for best pricing
• Add-ons increase cost

Best For: Growing restaurants, franchises, multi-location operators

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6. Revel Systems

Best For: High-volume restaurants needing customization Price: $99+/month (3-year contract typical) Processing: 2.49%+ (varies)

Overview: Revel is enterprise-grade but serves restaurants of all sizes. Highly customizable but comes with complexity.

Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Enterprise features
• Strong for high-volume
• Good integration options

Cons:

• Expensive for small restaurants
• 3-year contracts typical
• Complex setup
• Steep learning curve

Best For: High-volume restaurants needing customization

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7. Lavu POS

Best For: International restaurants, iPad users Price: $59-$299/month Processing: Varies

Overview: Lavu is an iPad-based POS with good international support and multi-language capabilities.

Pros:

• Multi-language support
• iPad-based
• Good for bars and nightclubs
• Reasonable pricing

Cons:

• Less feature-rich than competitors
• Customer support mixed reviews
• Limited integrations

Best For: International restaurants, bars, nightclubs

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8. SpotOn

Best For: Restaurants wanting marketing features Price: $0-$195/month Processing: 1.99% + 25¢ (varies)

Overview: SpotOn combines POS with marketing tools, offering competitive processing rates.

Pros:

• Low processing rates possible
• Built-in marketing tools
• Good customer support
• Flexible pricing

Cons:

• Newer company
• Hardware costs apply
• Full features require higher tiers

Best For: Restaurants wanting integrated marketing

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9. Upserve (now Lightspeed U-Series)

Best For: Data-driven restaurant operators Price: $59-$199/month Processing: Varies

Overview: Now part of Lightspeed, Upserve focuses on data and analytics to help restaurants understand their business.

Pros:

• Excellent analytics
• Server performance tracking
• Menu intelligence
• Good reporting

Cons:

• Now part of Lightspeed (transition period)
• Higher price point
• Annual contracts

Best For: Data-focused operators

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10. Talech

Best For: Small restaurants on tight budgets Price: $0-$99/month Processing: 2.6% + 10¢ (varies)

Overview: Talech offers a free tier and works with various hardware, making it accessible for budget-conscious restaurants.

Pros:

• Free tier available
• Works with existing hardware
• Simple to use
• Good for small operations

Cons:

• Limited features on free tier
• Less restaurant-specific
• Basic reporting

Best For: Very small restaurants, startups

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POS Comparison Table

*Toast's free tier has 2.99% processing—significantly higher than paid tiers

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How to Choose the Right POS

Step 1: Assess Your Budget

Startup Budget (Under $1,000):

• Square (free tier + iPad)
• Talech (free tier + existing hardware)

Small Restaurant Budget ($1,000-$3,000):

• Square Plus
• Clover Mini setup
• SpotOn

Established Restaurant Budget ($3,000+):

• Toast (with hardware)
• TouchBistro
• Lightspeed

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features

Step 3: Consider Total Cost of Ownership

Don't just look at monthly fees. Calculate:

1. Monthly software fee
2. Payment processing (on your volume)
3. Hardware costs (amortized over 3 years)
4. Add-ons (online ordering, loyalty, etc.)
5. Contract terms (early termination fees)

Example: $20,000/month in card sales

*Assumes better processing rate through third-party

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The Missing Piece: Online Ordering & More

Here's what most POS comparisons don't tell you: the POS is just the beginning.

Modern restaurants also need:

• Online ordering (0% commission preferred)
• Phone order management
• Loyalty program
• Customer database
• Marketing tools

What POS Add-Ons Cost

The RestauNax Solution

Instead of paying $200-500/month for POS add-ons, RestauNax provides:

• ✅ Online ordering — 0% commission (saves $500-2,000+/month vs. apps)
• ✅ AI phone ordering — Answers calls 24/7, takes orders automatically
• ✅ Loyalty program — Points, rewards, automated marketing
• ✅ Customer database — Full ownership, SMS & email marketing
• ✅ QR code ordering — Contactless ordering for dine-in
• ✅ White-label mobile app — Your own branded app for customers

All for less than what Toast charges for online ordering alone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best free POS for restaurants?

Square for Restaurants (Free tier) offers the best free POS. You get a complete POS system with no monthly fees—you only pay 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction. For restaurants doing under $10,000/month, this is often the most cost-effective option.

Is Toast really free?

No. Toast's "Starter Kit" has no monthly software fee, but charges 2.99% + 15¢ per transaction—significantly higher than their paid tiers (2.49% + 15¢). On $20,000/month in sales, you'd pay ~$640/month in processing vs. ~$515/month on their paid plan. Plus, hardware is required ($799+).

What's the cheapest POS for a small restaurant?

For pure software costs, Square Free or Talech Free have no monthly fees. But consider total cost: a "free" POS with 2.9% processing costs more than a $60/month POS with 2.3% processing if you do significant volume.

Do I need a restaurant-specific POS?

For full-service restaurants with table service—yes, you'll want restaurant-specific features like table management, coursing, and split checks. For quick-service, food trucks, or cafes, a general retail POS like Square often works fine.

Can I use any POS with RestauNax?

Yes. RestauNax works alongside any POS system. Your POS handles in-store payments while RestauNax handles online orders, phone orders, and loyalty. Orders flow to your existing workflow, and you can process payments through your POS or RestauNax's integrated payments.

What's the best POS for a food truck?

Square is the go-to for food trucks because:

• No monthly fee on free tier
• Works on iPhone/iPad
• Cellular connectivity
• Small, portable hardware
• Easy setup anywhere

Should I buy or lease POS hardware?

Buy if: You have capital, want flexibility, no long-term commitment. Lease if: Limited startup capital, want included support/replacement.

Generally, buying is cheaper long-term. Leasing often locks you into contracts.

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The Bottom Line

Choosing a POS for your small restaurant comes down to:

1. Your budget — Free options exist, but calculate total cost
2. Your restaurant type — Full-service needs different features than QSR
3. Your growth plans — Consider scalability
4. Your digital needs — Don't forget online ordering, loyalty, phone orders

Our recommendation for most small restaurants:

1. Start with Square Free or SpotOn for your core POS
2. Add RestauNax for online ordering, AI phone ordering, and loyalty
3. Upgrade POS tiers as you grow and need features

This combo gives you:

• Modern POS with low/no monthly fees
• 0% commission online ordering
• AI phone ordering (unique to RestauNax)
• Built-in loyalty program
• Full customer data ownership

Total cost: Often less than a single premium POS with add-ons.

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