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Kitchen display system review

Fresh KDS

A kitchen display app for iPad and Android tablets that connects to more than 30 POS and ordering platforms, including Square, Clover, Lightspeed K-Series, SpotOn and TouchBistro. It is billed per screen, month to month, and you bring the tablet.

By Fresh TechnologyParent company: Fresh Technology, Inc.

RTC SCORE

8.9

#1 of 7 with enough data

Our verdict

The option to add a kitchen display without switching POS: published prices per screen, month to month, on a tablet you bring. Check first that your POS is on its list and whether its connection keeps working without internet.

What we like

  • Works with more than 30 POS and ordering platforms, so you can add it without changing your POS.
  • Published per-screen prices, $20 a month on Essentials, month to month, with a 7-day trial of Premium.
  • Runs on an iPad or Android tablet you may already own, and supports USB bump bars.
  • Live kitchen reports by station and location are included in every plan, with 24/7 support.

What to watch

  • Toast and Shift4 POS aren't on its integrations list.
  • Whether it keeps working without internet depends on how it connects to your POS.
  • Order-ready texts and ticket printing need Premium, at $27 per screen a month.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score8.9out of 10

Methodology v1.0.0

Data completeness97%

We could verify 97% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month cost of 2 kitchen screens, Routing by station, Support 24/7
Weakest point
Keeps working without internet

Score by criterion

  • 12-month cost of 2 kitchen screensWeight 26%Strongest9.3 out of 10

    $1,378 over 12 months

  • Keeps working without internetWeight 9%Weakest5.0 out of 10
  • Routing by stationWeight 8%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Support 24/7Weight 8%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Kitchen time reportsWeight 7%10.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 7%10.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 6%10.0 out of 10
  • POS systems it works withWeight 6%7.1 out of 10
  • Choice of kitchen screensWeight 6%8.0 out of 10
  • All-day item countsWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Bump bar supportWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 3%No data
  • Order-ready text to the guestWeight 2%10.0 out of 10

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
KDS license per screen$20/mo per deviceSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)Essentials, billed monthly. Premium (ticket printing, order-ready texts, ingredient counts) is $27. Paying a year up front lowers them to $16 and $22, with no refund if you cancel.
How the license is chargedPer screenSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Published pricingPublishedSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)Essentials and Premium are published; only the Enterprise plan for restaurant groups is by quote.
Kitchen screen from the vendorN/ASource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)Fresh doesn't sell screens with the KDS: it runs on your iPad or Android tablet and lists recommended third-party devices. The cost calculator uses the cheapest iPad on apple.com as the screen.
Installation fee$0 one-timeSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)You set it up yourself; Fresh publishes no installation fee.
POS and hardware
Data pointValue
Type of KDSWorks with several POS systemsSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Works with these POS systemsSquare, Clover, Lightspeed, SpotOn, TouchBistro, Other POS systemsSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)The integrations page lists Square, Clover, Lightspeed K-Series, SpotOn and TouchBistro among others (Qu, Oracle Restaurants, Olo, Otter). Toast and Shift4 POS aren't listed.
Kitchen screensA compatible tablet or screen you bringSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Runs oniPad, Android tablets and screensSource: Apple App Store (Fresh Technology listing) (opens in a new tab)iPadOS 15 or later on the App Store listing (the website still says iOS 13) and Android 7 or later.
In the kitchen
Data pointValue
Routing by stationYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
If the internet goes downDepends on how it connects to your POSSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)It depends on the POS integration: a cloud connection needs the internet, a local printer-style connection doesn't. Ask Fresh which one your POS uses.
Kitchen time reportsYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)On The Fly reports are included with every plan.
All-day item countsYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Bump bar supportYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Order-ready text to the guestYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)On the Premium plan ($27 per screen a month).
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)Month to month on monthly billing. A yearly plan renews for another year unless you turn off auto-renewal.
Notice to avoid renewalNo data
Early termination feeNo early termination fee. You can cancel from your account; payments already made aren't refunded, including a prepaid year.Source: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
How the early termination fee worksNo early termination feeSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7YesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)Live chat, a help center and scheduled calls; email answers take 24 to 48 hours.
Language
Data pointValue
Website or help in Spanish for the USYesSource: Fresh Technology (opens in a new tab)The website has a Spanish version with the same prices in dollars.

More about Fresh KDS

How we score