Best hospitality POS systems in 2024 Want to streamline your bar, restaurant, coffee shop, café or hotel payment process? We’ll run you through the top choices for your next hospitality POS system. Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 1 November 2024 Our Research When judging the best POS systems, our writers work with expert researchers to focus on key features that matter most to small businesses. These include value for money – setup, hardware and transaction fees – help and support, plus the till, stock, and business management tools available. Written and reviewed by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Choosing the right POS system for your business can be a make or break decision, especially in the fast-paced hospitality industry. It’s more complex than just choosing the overall best POS system, as you’ll need it to support your specific needs – a bar, for example, will need different features to a hotel.Our in-depth testing revealed Clover as our top hospitality POS system. It excelled in all the areas crucial to the hospitality industry combining first class hardware with impressive software, bolstered by a wide library of apps.Clover was our overall pick, but another platform might have sector-specific tools that are a better fit your specific needs. Here’s our rundown of the best POS systems for a variety of hospitality businesses: Best Hospitality POS Systems at a glance Clover – Best overallSquare – Best for cafésLightspeed Restaurants – Best for restaurantsTouchbistro – Best for pubs and barsSumUp– Best for takeaway businessesEpos Now – Best for hotelsClick any of the links above to begin comparing costs on a POS system for your own business size and needs How many POS terminals does your business need? Just 1 2-3 Over 3 Unsure Compare Costs Read on to discover our top picks for a whole range of hospitality businesses. In this guide: Hospitality POS systems comparison table 1. Clover: best overall 2. Square: best for cafés 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: best for restaurants 4. TouchBistro: best for pubs and bars 5. SumUp: best for takeaway businesses 6. Epos Now: best for hotels 7. takepayments: best for coffee shops How we test hospitality POS systems Buying guide: how to choose a POS system for your hospitality business Hospitality POS systems – comparison table Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward BEST OVERALL Clover Square Lightspeed Touchbistro SumUp Epos Now takepayments Best for Overall hospitality POS system Best for Cafés Best for Restaurants Best for Pubs and bars Best for Takeaway businesses Best for Restaurants Best for Coffee shops Pricing from Contact Clover for prices Pricing from No monthly cost£16 – Square reader Pricing from From £109 per month Pricing from $69 per month Pricing from Hardware: From £39 plus VATSoftware from: Free Pricing from Hardware: From £225Monthly subscriptions: From £25 per month Pricing from Quote-based Key benefits Exceptional POS hardware and accessoriesFingerprint login on the Clover Terminal Lots of tools to boost the efficiency of your staff Key benefits Powerful customer management softwareReal time in-depth reportsPay team members with team management tools Key benefits 14 day free trial!Grows with your businessCustomisable floor plansCustomer loyalty features Key benefits Staff management softwareUpselling tools to increase salesIn-depth reporting feautures Key benefits Great range of hardware and accessoriesInventory management tools with stock alerts and cost managementMobile and QR code ordering Key benefits Inventory tracking24/7 supportEasily connect to delivery apps Key benefits Realtime reportingEasy inventory managementDedicated account manager 1. Clover: best overall Clover POS 4.7 Starting software price: Quote-based Transaction fees from: Quote-based Customisable customer display that supports contactless payments Great range of apps to help scale your business and support your customers Spread hardware costs out per month Summary Clover is based in California and, as of 2020, processes $133 billion in card transactions annually. It’s owned by Fiserv, the largest merchant acquirer in the world. Show moreless Suitable if: You want in-depth analytics You run a medium- to large-sized restaurant You’re willing to pay upfront for excellent hardware Not suitable if: You’re trying to avoid steep upfront costs You run a small business like a pop-up, or you’re just getting started You’d like to be able to automate tip sharing Clover offers some of the sleekest hardware we tested. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy do we think Clover is the top choice for your business?Clover is our number one choice partly because it offers the most user-friendly POS terminals on the market. When we tested, the touch screen was responsive and access easy with a fingerprint login. In a busy hospitality environment this saves you precious time. You can choose between the compact Mini, the more beefed up Station Solo, or the dual-screen Station Duo.Clover’s software is just as strong. We found both the front and back end exceptionally designed and easy to use. Our testers noted how smooth and intuitive the front was at managing tasks, such as separating out orders by guests, making it suitable for time-poor waiting staff. Meanwhile, the back end is packed with useful features, including stock alerts, profit tracking, and category creation. Its huge library of apps should also have you covered for any specific tools that aren’t already built in.Clover has an extensive app store. Source: Startups.co.ukClover offers all the accessories you’ll need to boot, from cash drawers to its own brand of receipt printers, and Clover Station Duo has a fully customisable customer display screen which you can use to take payments (the only other platform on this list that offers this feature is Square). While Clover knocks pretty much every aspect out the park, it does come with a big price tag, so if you’re a small business on a tight budget, the beginner-friendly Square will be more your speed.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareContact Clover for pricesHardwareClover Mini: £450Clover Station Solo: Contact Clover for pricesClover Station Duo: £1,300Transaction feesContact Clover for ratesFree trial?NoneClover’s fees and prices are quote-based depending on your business size, which makes it tricky to compare against its competitors. We conducted our own research and found the software prices can cover a fairly big range, with plans being potentially under £10 up to more than £50. And again, you need to know that Clover’s hardware is very pricey compared to competitors. What our researchers think The Clover hardware was the most modern and sleek for me, out of all the EPOS systems we tested, I’d liken it to apple in the way it looks with glossy white colours. Using the system was really simple too, it’s laid out with icons and looks similar to an iPad, so there’s no issues with learning to use it – plus the finger print recognition was so useful and meant I could log in quicker than any other system we tested. I was also really impressed with the back-end as it was really extensive and the app store was huge, and had anything extra I might need like loyalty or reservation apps! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 2. Square: best for cafés Square for Restaurants 4.7 Starting software price: Free plan Transaction fees from: From 1.75% Great range of POS hardware as well as an iOS app Excellent mobile ordering features Easy menu creation Summary Square is headed up by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Specifically designed for small to medium sized businesses, it leads the US market for POS systems, currently serving four million clients. Show moreless Suitable if: You want to integrate your POS with an online store You’re on a tight budget You run up to three establishments Not suitable if: You want detailed cost management capabilities You want an ingredient tracking tool You want a training mode to help new users This is how your order screen will look when using Square POS. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy do we think Square is a top choice for your business?A great choice for smaller-sized setups like cafés and coffee shops, Square offers a free plan to help you get started. We also ranked Square the best iPad based POS system. If you’re willing to use an iPad you already own, it’s a good way to save on hardware costs. If you do need to expand, you can upgrade to Square’s paid plan, and graduate to its POS Register.Square stood out in our testing as a refreshingly easy-to-use platform, which can reduce the stress of those busy rush hour mornings. Creating menus proved easy in both the front end and back end, and we loved that it enables mobile ordering. That said, we would have liked to see an ingredient tracking feature to help you plan the stock you should be ordering – we found this very helpful when we tested Clover.We really appreciated how simple and user-friendly the Square POS software was during testing. Source: Startups.co.ukWe would have also liked a dedicated training mode to help get novice users up to speed faster, but Square makes up for this with an exceptional range of help and support channels (everything from a live chat function to a user forum), which our testing showed to be fast and accurate. Despite some missing features, Square’s free POS software plan and user-friendliness make it a great fit for your café.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareFree plan: FreeSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: £69/month, per locationPremium plan (for businesses that process more than £200,000 per year): custom pricingHardwareSquare Stand (to turn your iPad into a countertop terminal): £99 plus VATSquare Register: £599 plus VAT Transaction feesFree plan: 1.75% in person, 2.5% for virtual terminal and invoices, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsSquare for Restaurants Plus plan: 1.6% in person, 1.4% + 25p for online transactionsPremium plan: custom ratesFree trial?You can test the system using the free plan on a tabletA big benefit of Square is its transparency around pricing. While other platforms can be coy about costs, Square is upfront about its software plans and transaction fees, so you know what you’re in for. Its in-person transaction fee of 1.75% is on the higher end of average, but you can get a more competitive 1.6% fee if you sign up to the paid Square for Restaurants Plus plan. The Plus plan isn’t cheap, but it’s roughly in line with similar competitor plans, but the free plan is perfect for those just starting out. What our researchers think I’m a huge fan of the Square interface. When we tested it on the an iPad, I found it really easy to navigate as everything was clearly labelled and the interface was really modern and clean looking, which made it even easier to find all the functions I needed. I especially like that I could start with the free plan to try it out for an extended period and then if I’m happy and want more I can upgrade and start paying, it’s mean you’re not under any pressure to purchase it immediately as the free plan still has great features! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: best for restaurants Lightspeed Restaurant 4.5 Starting software price: £109 Transaction fees from: Available on request Offline functionality that syncs automatically when back online Brilliant customer engagement features Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Summary Based in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is a commerce platform that currently serves over 150,000 customer locations. Show moreless Suitable if: You want to avoid upfront costs Your business is scaling, or you plan to scale soon You have a complicated inventory Not suitable if: You want to automate your tip management You run a smaller operation, like a café You don’t want a tablet-based system Creating a floor plan is easy with Lightspeed Restaurant. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy do we think Lightspeed Restaurant is a top choice for your business?Lightspeed’s excellent customer engagement features make it a great option for restaurants. The loyalty tools were some of the best we looked at, and we especially liked the option for email marketing – helpful for driving repeat customers back to your eatery.We found Lightspeed very easy to use, and tasks like creating a floor plan were a breeze. That said, our testers did find the back end more naturally intuitive than the front end, and highlighted some difficulties with functions like order recall. However, we did appreciate the range and the accuracy of the help and support options available to help you out with an issue.This is how the payment page will look when using Lightspeed Restaurant. Source: Startups.co.ukWhile the iPad-based system is easy to carry around, some restaurants might feel more comfortable with the rugged durability of an all-in-one countertop terminal. If that’s you, take a look at Clover’s range of hardware instead.How much does it cost?Pricing SoftwareEssential: £109 per month Premium: £339 per monthEnterprise: Quote-based Lightspeed doesn’t disclose its transaction fees or the prices of its POS hardware or accessories – though, this being an iPad-based system, the key device to be aware of is simply an iPad stand – but its software prices are not cheap. Its starting plan is more expensive than most of the other mid-range options we looked at. But restaurateurs who want advanced tools might consider it worth the money (though it’s possibly too pricey for a café). Lightspeed does offer a product demo for the Restaurant POS, which is worth checking out before you lock into an ongoing contract. What our researchers think Although Lightspeed may start slightly higher in monthly price than some other options, it’s well worth the price. When I tested the front-end I was really impressed with how easy and quick it was to take an order, and the fact that this could all be done through an iPad means that you can be on the go and speed up serving times. The customer management tools were some of the best I’ve seen in any platform and allow you to create email or SMS marketing, loyalty schemes and even customer segmenting! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 4. TouchBistro: best for pubs and bars TouchBistro 4.4 Starting software price: $69 Transaction fees from: Available on request Solid cost management tools Tablet-based system is easy to carry around Floor plans that are easy to edit Summary TouchBistro is based in Toronto, Canada, and in 2013 it partnered with PayPal. It now focuses on its POS software developed specifically for iPad. Show moreless Suitable if: You’re a POS novice who needs an easy system You want to offer your customers targeted promotions You run a chain of pubs or bars Not suitable if: You’d rather have a countertop terminal than a tablet You want to automate tip management You want to take mobile or QR code orders TouchBistro has a user-friendly order screen that can help streamline orders. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy do we think TouchBistro is a top choice for your business?Facing down a long queue of thirsty customers in a busy bar or pub can be daunting, but TouchBistro’s simplicity can help you keep those orders flowing. We found both the front and back end of the system to be extremely user-friendly, and were able to complete orders with exceptional ease during our testing.TouchBistro’s approach to pricing is fairly unique: you pay for the core software, but additional features do come as paid add ons, so it can get expensive. Though the excellent marketing tools, loyalty reward features and reservation system were all stand-out additions for us.We found TouchBistro’s software very easy to use in our testing. Source: Startups.co.ukThe key missing feature is the lack of any automated tip management. Considering the recent tip legislation, making sure your staff get the right tips is absolutely critical. If this is a tool you’ll want, check out Square, which offers extensive tip management.Read more: The best POS systems for pubs and bars.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareFrom $69/month (TouchBistro’s pricing is only available in US dollars)HardwareContact TouchBistro for pricesTransaction feesContact TouchBistro for ratesFree trial?No, but you can get a free demoWhile it doesn’t disclose transaction fees or hardware prices, TouchBistro is very clear about its software prices, with the base software starting at $69 per month and additional features ranging from $19 per month (for a kitchen display system) to a steep $330 per month (for profit management tools). If you only need one or two additional features this could be a fine option, but if you’ll need the full suite of tools offered by TouchBistro, it will end up being pretty costly. You can book a free demo through TouchBistro though, so you can try before you buy. What our researchers think What I love about TouchBistro is the ability to pick and choose what features you want. You don’t have to pay extra for something that you won’t actually need and it means you’re getting a package tailored to you but what’s great is that their pricing is still completely transparent. The EPOS system was simple to use and places you on the floor plan page as soon as you log in which is great for ordering quickly and I also found that the menu and stock customisation was one of the best I’ve seen. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 5. SumUp: best for takeaway businesses SumUp 4.1 Starting software price: £19 Transaction fees from: 1.69% Superb range of hardware and accessories Mobile and QR code ordering Inventory management tools with stock alerts and cost management Summary In 2020, London-based payment service provider SumUp acquired GoodTill, an iPad-based POS software provider. Show moreless Suitable if: You want to prioritise speed and efficiency You want to create a bespoke loyalty programme for your customers You need to be able to take mobile orders Not suitable if: You need to operate while offline You run a larger restaurant chain You need reliable reservation features This is how your payment screen will look when using SumUp POS. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy do we think SumUp is a top choice for your business?SumUp can seamlessly connect with Uber Eats and Deliveroo, making it a good choice for takeaway businesses. You can also build a website through SumUp, and your customers can place orders via mobile or QR code. You can also do everything from an iPad, which is great for simplicity and keeping costs low, but there’s also a solid range of other hardware if you want to upgrade.You can get started for no monthly costs with SumUp’s pay-as-you option. If you want to scale up you can pay for SumUp’s Point of Sale Pro plan, which includes features like being able to send an order straight to your kitchen printer – great for efficiently getting those takeaway orders ready.We did run into some issues while trying to sync up the front and back end, and certain tasks, like splitting bills and adding new customers, left our testers feeling confused – though these capabilities aren’t really necessary for a takeaway business. SumUp keeps things basic and simple, which is a good fit for smaller eateries, but if you’re running a large restaurant, Lightspeed will be better suited to your needsRead more: The best takeaway POS systems for small businesses.How much does it cost?Pricing SoftwarePay-as-you-go: FreeSumUp One: £19/monthPoint of Sale Pro: £49/monthHardwarePOS Lite: One-time cost of £349POS Pro: Starting at £754.80Transaction feesPay-as-you-go: 1.69%SumUp One: 0.99% per transaction, 1.99% for premium cards Free trial?7-day trial for SumUp OneSumUp is upfront about its costs, and they’re also pretty reasonable. SumUp’s transaction fees seem about average, but considering you can get it on a free plan that’s not too bad (though, if you pay for the SumUp One service, you’ll get access to more competitive rates). The cost of SumUp’s POS Pro has about an average monthly cost, but its upfront hardware cost is pretty steep. Just be aware that SumUp also charges extra for additional features. Such as tools to manage your stock and ingredients (£18 per month) or its kitchen display screen (£9 per month). What our researchers think I’m a big fan of how SumUp incorporates multichannel selling into one platform at a very affordable price. You can get your POS system and online store all set up and integrated together. Which is a huge bonus and time saver. I really liked how easily you could set up QR code ordering and customise it to your business, which is great for serving customers more efficiently. On the back-office side they have really great inventory management and analytical tools which make it a breeze when tracking your stock. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 6. Epos Now: best for hotels Epos Now 4.1 Starting software price: £25 You can pay upfront for the software and hardware In-depth inventory management tools High quality terminal with a large 15.6" HD display screen Summary Based out of Norwich, Epos Now is a payment service provider and SaaS company, specifically focusing on providing POS systems to small and medium sized businesses. Show moreless Suitable if: You need to manage a large and complex inventory You want a system specifically for hotels You want a countertop terminal with a large display Not suitable if: You’re new to POS systems and need a simple setup You want to automate tip sharing You want to avoid upfront costs Epos Now provides a sturdy terminal. Source: takepayments.comWhy do we think Epos Now is a top choice for your business?Epos Now is an easy choice for hoteliers because it’s one of the few providers to offer a dedicated system specifically for hotels. Through its POS app store you can access hotel integrations like multi-room booking and room service ordering. You can also pay extra for a handy caller ID function (you plug-in either a landline or VoIP), which helps you store customer contact info. So when your guests call you can greet them by name to give a personal touch.With Epos Now you get access to a wide range of integrations. Source: Startups.co.ukIf high quality hardware for your hotel reception desk is a priority, Epos Now provides an impressive and sturdy terminal with a large 15.6-inch display. The large customer display in particular should really help you to streamline operations like checking in guests and taking orders. When we tested the software, we were impressed by Epos Now’s management functions that a hotel restaurant would benefit from. Like the simple drag-and-drop floor planning, inventory updates, and insightful cost versus profit analysis reports.We did find the front end slightly easier to use than the back end, though, and overall we found TouchBistro more intuitive and user friendly when compared to Epos Now. We would have also preferred to see more extensive tip management options, which Square offers.How much does it cost?PricingSoftwareFrom £25 per monthHardwareFrom £225Transaction feesFrom 1.3%Free trial?NoneEpos Now can offer a range of different packages of software and hardware to suit your specific requirements. It also offers the unique option of paying for all your hardware and software upfront, so you can avoid monthly fees completely. What our researchers think This is a great choice if you want some high quality hardware. Epos Now have recently released a new and updated terminal and it has a huge HD screen, which means you can see everything really clearly and also a crystal clear customer facing screen, which can help speed up orders as they can see what they’re ordering. They have tonnes of features in the back-end to create loyalty programmes and floor plans and being able to access this from the terminal itself is something that only very few platforms actually allow. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 7. takepayments: best for coffee shops takepayments 3.7 Starting software price: Quote-based Transaction fees from: Quote-based Code scanners built into the front and back of the terminal User-friendly and simple front end balanced with a feature-dense back end The terminal comes with a built-in printer Summary takepayments is a UK-based company offering payment solutions including card terminals, online payments, and POS systems. It currently serves over 750,000 customers and is one of the fastest-growing card payment providers in the UK. Show moreless Suitable if: You want support while getting set up You have a simple inventory You need insightful cost management tools Not suitable if: You want to prioritise customer engagement You want to create and sell gift cards You want access to an app store takepayments dual-screen terminal is ideal for coffee shops. Source: Startups.co.ukWhy is takepayments a great choice for a hospitality POS system?The all-in-one terminal provided by takepayments is great for coffee shops as it comes with a built-in printer, barcode scanner, and customer display. This means you can be fully equipped while your countertop stays relatively clutter-free. Our users liked that they could set up separate prices for eating in and taking away, which is also particularly useful for coffee shops.The built-in scanner in the takepayments terminal can really come in handy. Source: Startups.co.ukWe were also impressed by the helpful analytics takepayments provides, especially useful for seeing what items are selling the most at peak times. Combined with the cost versus profit management tools, this can really help café owners keep an eye on their profit margins.However, while we found the back end straightforward to use and packed with management tools, we did run into more difficulty using the front end. Our users had trouble with tasks like adding customer details and applying discounts, and we found the process of adding products frustratingly complicated. You also can’t use takepayments to create, sell, and accept bespoke gift cards – you should look at Clover instead if this is a must-have for you.How much does it cost?PricingSoftware/HardwaretPOS Counter: £55/month plus £250 setup feetPOS Complete: £65/month plus £250 setup feeTransaction feesTailored to your business, contact takepaymentsFree trial?Nonetakepayments isn’t the cheapest option available. There’s no option for a free plan or trial, which might not be ideal for those just starting out. Its transaction fees will be specific to your business so you’ll need to contact takepayments a full idea of what you’ll be paying. The cost for the paid plans, either the tPOS Counter or tPOS Complete, is about average but both have the same expensive setup fee, so just be wary of that. Though both tiers come with the terminal, portable card reader and the software. What our researchers think I loved how simple and easy to use the takepayments POS system was. The layout was really clearly divided into each section which minimised any confusion or mistakes when adding an order. I was also really impressed by their onboarding and support as they have someone to take you through the processes and they can also remotely log in (with your permission of course) so when you have a problem they can see exactly what is happening and fix it 10x quicker! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive How we test hospitality POS systemsWe are both impartial and rigorous.Having surveyed over 500 respondents to gain insight into their POS needs, we determined the six most important decision factors for our readers – and broke these down into further subcategories to ensure all bases were covered – then tested 15 POS systems on these categories to narrow them down to the top options for the hospitality sector.Our main six scoring categories were:Hardware: What features are included with the terminal, such as display quality, portability, and variety of accessories.Software: We assessed what we felt were the most crucial features of a POS system, including – but not limited to – table/floor management, app store variety, reservation options, and customer engagement capabilities.Help and support: The avenues of customer support that are available, and the responsiveness and accuracy of the answers.Customer score: How likely our testers would be to recommend the platform.Pricing: Are you getting a good deal? We compare upfront costs, monthly costs, and transaction fees.Usability: We judge how easy the system is to use based on how easy it is to navigate and how often our testers made errors. Buying guide: how to choose a POS system for your hospitality businessWhat makes for a perfect retail POS system will be different to what the ideal hospitality POS system needs. To successfully choose the best POS for your business, you should understand the industry-specific factors worth considering:Cost: There’s a lot that goes into the cost of a POS system. It’s not just the actual price of the terminal, there’s also software subscription costs, setup fees, transaction fees, and the price of any additional accessories you might need.Features: You’ll need to make sure the system you choose has all the essential features you need to run your hospitality business. For example, a takeaway service might need mobile and QR code ordering, whereas a larger restaurant will need extensive floor planning abilities.Hardware: What hardware is right for you? Are you running a small café that could use the portability of an iPad? Or are you running a busy hotel that needs a more sturdy, large-screen countertop terminal?Free trials: Many hospitality POS systems offer a free demo. It’s always worth getting hands on and testing it out yourself before you make any financial commitments.Accessories: You may not necessarily want to stop at a tablet or dedicated terminal for your POS setup. You might also need additional hardware, like a cash drawer or a barcode scanner. Crucially, make sure these are compatible with your system before you buy them.Security: This is non-negotiable. You’re being entrusted with your customers’ sensitive information. Look for systems that offer data encryption and regular security checks and updates.Help and support: Inevitably, things go wrong and issues happen, especially in the high pressure world of hospitality. Make sure you’ll have access to the help and support you’ll need, via the contact channels you prefer to use. We can help you find your perfect POS system Tell us what you're looking for and compare leading providers Get free quotes It only takes a minute Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Business software guide Written by: Eddie Harris Reviews Writer Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.