Best POS Systems for Restaurants 2024

A Point of Sale (POS) system is an integrated software and hardware solution that streamlines the operations of a restaurant. Essentially, it functions as the nerve centre of your establishment, managing everything from taking orders and processing payments to inventory control and data analytics.

For restaurant owners striving for operational efficiency, a robust POS system is not merely a convenience but an absolute necessity. But which POS system is the best?

In this article, I’ll examine the top restaurant POS systems available in the UK market, dissecting their features, pricing structures, and respective advantages and disadvantages.

 Best Restaurant POS Systems of 2024

7 Best Restaurant POS Systems in the UK

The following top POS systems are the best I’ve found from a huge shortlist. They represent different ranges on a spectrum of price and complexity. Of course, there is no single ‘best’: you’ll have to find which meets the needs of your particular business.

Square is a popular entry point for pop-ups who don’t want the hassle of a contract. Eposnow captures a large part of the mid market in the UK with their popular all-in-one solutions and fair pricing. Lightspeed is perhaps the most specialist offering with its complex software package that works with Apple Devices.

Square: Best POS for Pop Up Restaurants

Square is a popular simple POS system for small restaurants and Pop-Ups, known for its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing. It offers features that can help you streamline operations, increase sales, and improve customer loyalty. You’ll pay 1.75% in transaction fees for in person sales.

• Ideal for startup and quick-service restaurants
• User-friendly interface
• Affordable pricing plans
• Table management and online ordering capabilities
• Limited advanced reporting features

Square offers a free plan for businesses that are just getting started, and its paid plans are extremely price-competitive. Square also offers a variety of well-priced hardware options, including mobile card readers and countertop POS systems.

The Square for Restaurants software has a great set of features which include table management, online ordering, and loyalty programs. Square also offers a variety of integrations with popular third-party apps, such as delivery services and accounting software..

Square for Restaurants POS Pricing

Square’s pricing includes hardware costs, with prices starting from £169 for a basic stand and card reader, and up to £399 for an advanced terminal. Monthly fees begin at £0, increasing with additional features. Transaction fees are 1.75% for card-present and 2.5% for keyed-in or online transactions.

YumaPOS: Best Priced Restaurant POS System

YumaPOS, established in 2015 in the UK, specializes in payment and POS systems for the retail and hospitality sectors, boasting a presence in over 3,000 stores across 13 countries. The system stands out for its competitive pricing and inclusive package, offering a comprehensive POS solution without hidden costs.

With a single subscription of £49.99, businesses receive a full EPOS system, including hardware, making YumaPOS one of the most cost-effective providers in the UK market. It’s particularly designed for retail and hospitality, featuring custom floor plans, kitchen notes, and supports scalable business growth without insisting on in-house payment processing.

YumaPOS Pricing

• Subscription Fee: £49.99/month (includes hardware)
• Additional Costs: None for hardware; optional for payment processing and online ordering
• Contract Length: Minimum 24 months

Takepayments: Best Entry-Level Restaurant POS System

Takepayments is a UK-based payments specialist offering their own card machines and POS systems. They are someone you want to consider if you’re too big for something like Square but perhaps not ready for something like Lightspeed, with its advanced functionalty.

The system’s simple EPOS functionality and intuitive design ensure that even those with minimal technical expertise can operate it efficiently. Integrated card payments further streamline the process by allowing automatic transfer of totals to the card machine, reducing the chance of errors.

• Integrates sales, stock, and employee performance management.
• Provides comprehensive insights into sales trends and stock efficiency.
• Offers dedicated assistance for setup and ongoing operational support.
• Includes order and pay at table, payment app, pay by link, and phone payments for improved customer service.
• Allows integration with peripherals like mobile card machines, cash drawers, and barcode scanners.

Takepayments POS Pricing

The TPOS system for hospitality businesses includes an initial setup fee of £250 + VAT and a monthly fee of £55. Transaction fees are customised between 0.3% to 2.5%, allowing room for negotiation on more favourable rates for businesses with high-volume transactions.

Zettle: Best POS for Paypal Integration

Zettle, owned by Paypal, is another simple contract free option which you could compare to Square. It’s useful for a pop up or market stall, but not for a full service restaurant.

• Simple to set up and user-friendly
• Portable card reader ideal for mobile service
• Real-time sales insights for data-driven decisions
• Seamlessly integrates with specialist POS systems
• Lacks advanced features for complex operations

After testing Zettle by PayPal as a point-of-sale option for food and drink businesses, I find it simple and user-friendly. Its core strengths lie in its ease of setup and its efficient inventory management, both of which could be particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Zettle streamlines the onboarding process; one can add prices, VAT, and start selling in a relatively short span of time. This simplicity extends to employee training, allowing quick account switches and enabling checkout processes that take mere seconds. If you’re running a busy venue, the speed and ease could be quite advantageous.

Zettle Pricing

Zettle charges a per-transaction fee without contracts or recurring fees, offering a consistent 1.75% rate for card transactions and mobile wallets, including American Express. Other transaction types such as PayPal QR Codes are also charged at 1.75%, while Payment Links and Zettle Invoices incur a 2.5% fee. The latter options are only available to sellers who registered with Zettle before 8 May 2023.

Epos Now Restaurant POS System

If you’re a medium to larger restaurant or a chain of premises, Eposnow is definitely one to shortlist. This UK-based company, founded in Norwich, now covers 64 countries and supplies over 65,000 businesses. They are the largest supplier of EPOS for the UK’s SMB sector.

Their restaurant POS:

• Is built to scale across multiple locations
• Offers Front and back-of-house synchronization
• Has Automated monthly performance reporting
• Promotes table turnover and inventory efficiency
• Easily connects to major ordering and delivery apps

Epos Now make systems with a lot of power and flexibility. You’ll get front and back-of-house synchronisation as standard, kitchen management capabilities, and an integrated workplace management system known as Deputy. Integrate with delivery apps like Deliveroo, utilise a clocking in/out feature for staff, and generate automated monthly reports for employee performance.

Epos Now Payments lets you take up to 650 at-table payments on a single charge, an incredibly handy function when things get busy. If you add in Epos Now Bill Pay, you can also speed up table turnover by 20%, which is essential for those peak hours.

Stock management is yet another area where Epos Now shines. With low-stock warnings and the ability to automate purchase orders, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of inventory management. I could see this being invaluable in managing multiple restaurant locations.

Epos Now Pricing

Epos Now offers its system at a reduced price of £325, down from £899, with the requirement that customers use their card payments processing, typically charged at a 1.6% transaction rate.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS System

Lightspeed Hospitality is a powerful specialist ePOS system specifically aimed at the restaurant industry. It’s highly customisable, built to scale, and best suited for an established brand with multiple premises. There’s a reason over 160 Michelin-starred restaurants rely on Lightspeed.

• Highly customizable with scalable pricing tiers
• Unified online, takeout and dine-in ordering
• Robust inventory management and accounting integration
• Accepts wide range of payment types
• Expensive hardware and addon costs

It offers a holistic approach, covering everything from payment processing to inventory management, unlike some competing platforms that focus primarily on transactional capabilities.

One distinguishing feature is its versatility in payment options. While systems like Square emphasize the ease of credit and debit card transactions, Lightspeed goes a step further by accommodating a variety of payment forms, including QR codes, thereby offering an edge in payment flexibility.

Lightspeed goes further than systems like Zettle by PayPal in terms of inventory management. Both offer real-time stock counts and wastage logs, but Lightspeed adds an extra layer by providing menu pricing suggestions. This functionality could make it a more comprehensive choice for restaurant owners keen on optimizing their supply chain along with their menu.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS Pricing

Clover Dining: Best POS for Quick-Service Restaurants

Clover is a POS solution with good hardware, a 30-day trial, and 24/7 phone and email support. As one of the biggest names in the POS industry, they offer all-in-one systems which are designed to get you up and running quickly.

• Robust all-in-one POS hardware options
• Customisable software with app marketplace
• Layered security features
• Real-time sales and analytics reporting
• Proprietary hardware limits flexibility

Their POS solutions look great and are functionally robust, which is useful in a busy catering environment. Their two primary offerings—Clover Station Pro and Clover Mini—are aimed at both full-scale restaurants and smaller environments like cafes

Clover Station Pro is the more comprehensive solution, aiming to be an all-in-one business management system. It not only handles payments locally, internationally, and online, but also offers an intuitive dashboard that allows for efficient inventory tracking, staff scheduling, and more. The device itself is built with a 14-inch high-resolution anti-microbial touchscreen and offers a wide array of hardware, software, and accessories. One standout feature which I like is its shift and staff rota management, making it an excellent choice for businesses with complex staffing needs.

Clover POS Pricing

The upfront cost of Clover hardware varies depending on the model you choose.

The Clover Station Pro is the more advanced and comprehensive system, and it costs around £1,000 to £1,300. The Clover Mini is designed for smaller operations and costs around £400 to £600. These costs can fluctuate based on any additional accessories or features you need.

Clover charges a transaction fee of 2.3% + £0.08 per sale.

You won’t find much pricing information on their website, though. Like many POS companies, they have multiple pricing tiers and prefer to quote on a case-by-case basis.

What are POS Systems for Restaurants?

Point-of-sale (POS) systems for restaurants are much more than simply a way to take payments. They encompass both software and hardware solutions designed to optimise the management and operation of hospitality businesses.

These systems offer an integrated approach to key aspects of restaurant management, delivering a single user interface for tasks such as order management, payment processing, inventory oversight, and reporting.

Any POS system should include:

• Order Management: Efficiently handles customer orders, both in-house and online.
• Payment Processing: Manages a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, cash, and mobile wallets.
• Inventory Management: Monitors stock levels and assists in automatic reordering.
• Reporting: Generates detailed reports on sales, inventory, and other key metrics.

Additional Features

• Table Management: Assigns tables to customers and tracks orders at each table.
• Online Ordering: Enables customers to place orders for pickup or delivery.
• Loyalty Programs: Manages customer loyalty programs to encourage repeat business.
• Staff Management: Tracks employee hours, manages payroll, and generates employee reports.

The Benefits of a Restaurant POS System

Here are the primary benefits that you can expect when integrating a POS system into your hospitality operations:

• Increased efficiency: POS systems streamline order management and payment processing, significantly reducing the time taken for these essential functions. Quick and accurate transactions enable staff to serve more customers in less time, optimizing both resource allocation and revenue generation.
• Reduced errors: POS systems automate key processes such as order-taking and inventory management, reducing the likelihood of human errors. This enhances operational accuracy and improves customer satisfaction by minimizing errors in orders or billing.
• Improved customer service: POS systems offer features such as table management and online ordering, making it easier to provide a personalized and convenient dining experience. This improves customer satisfaction and encourages repeat visits.
• Better insights for decision-making: POS systems generate comprehensive reports on various performance metrics, including sales trends and inventory levels. This analytical capability enables restaurant owners to make informed decisions aligned with their business objectives.
• Enhanced staff management: Features such as time-tracking and payroll management simplify administrative tasks and enable better performance assessment.
• Versatility and scalability: POS systems are highly adaptable, catering to the specific needs of a restaurant. Whether integrating with online delivery platforms or accommodating multi-location operations, POS systems can evolve in line with business growth.

Price for POS System for Restaurants

The cost of a POS system for restaurants can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, including features, scalability, and pricing model. Here is a breakdown of the key components that contribute to the overall price:

• Hardware: The hardware required for a POS system can include touch-screen terminals, receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners. The cost of hardware can range significantly, depending on the specifications and the number of terminals required.
• Software: POS software is often priced through a licensing model, which could be either a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription. Subscription models may offer more flexibility and are generally updated more frequently, but they can incur ongoing costs.
• Customization: Depending on the restaurant’s specific requirements, additional customization may be necessary. This could involve programming for special features or integrations with existing systems. Customization typically comes at an additional cost.
• Implementation and training: The process of setting up the POS system and training staff to use it effectively can also be costly. Some vendors offer free initial training and installation, but others may charge separately for these services.
• Maintenance and support: Post-implementation, there may be costs associated with maintaining the system, including software updates and hardware repairs. Many vendors offer maintenance and support packages, which can be a wise investment to ensure uninterrupted service.
• Additional modules: As the business grows, the need for additional modules like advanced reporting, inventory management, or multi-location support may arise. These modules usually come at an extra cost but can offer significant advantages in terms of operational efficiency and data insights.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

It is important for restaurant owners to consider the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which includes not only the initial investment but also the ongoing costs such as maintenance, software updates, and any additional modules that may be required in the future.

Choosing a Multi-location Restaurant POS System

Choosing a POS system for a multi-location restaurant can be complicated, as the system must be scalable, consistent, and efficient across multiple sites. Here are key considerations to bear in mind:

• Centralized management: The POS system should allow for a unified view and control of all locations from a single dashboard.
• Data aggregation and reporting: The POS system should be able to aggregate data from multiple locations into consolidated reports, providing a macro-level view of performance metrics.
• Inventory management: The POS system should facilitate centralized inventory management, with features such as automated reordering, supply chain tracking, and real-time stock updates accessible for all locations.
• Scalability: The POS system should be able to scale with your business, accommodating the addition of new locations with ease.
• Integration capabilities: The POS system should seamlessly integrate with existing software solutions, such as accounting, CRM, and online ordering platforms.
• Staff training and usability: The POS system should have a user-friendly interface that requires minimal training.
• Reliability and support: The POS system should be reliable and offer robust customer support, including 24/7 assistance and regular software updates.
• Compliance and data security: The POS system should be able to handle cross-jurisdictional complexities and maintain stringent data security measures.

Restaurant POS systems vs. Traditional Cash Registers

Traditional cash registers have been the cornerstone of retail and restaurant transactions for decades. They are simple to use, focusing on basic cash handling and sales recording.

In contrast, Restaurant POS systems are comprehensive solutions that integrate sales, customer management, inventory tracking, and analytics into one platform. These systems are designed to handle the complex needs of the modern restaurant business, offering features such as table management, order tracking, kitchen communication, and detailed reporting. POS systems also support various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, mobile payments, and online orders, enhancing the customer experience.

Restaurant and Hospitality POS Systems: FAQs