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Kitchen display system review

Shift4 POS Kitchen Display

The kitchen display of Shift4 POS: a 16-inch or 22-inch screen with an optional bump bar, sold with the POS. Each screen carries the monthly software support fee set in your POS agreement, which Shift4 doesn't publish.

By Shift4Parent company: Shift4 Payments, Inc.

RTC SCORE

4.8

#7 of 7 with enough data

Shift4 also offers: POS systems, Card processing, Online ordering, and 1 more

Our verdict

A capable kitchen display for restaurants already on Shift4 POS, with local-network operation, a bump bar and a Spanish screen. Get the per-screen fee and the screen price in writing, and read the 36-month processing agreement before you sign.

What we like

  • Shift4 documents that the KDS keeps working over your local network when the internet is down.
  • Routing by prep station, a bump bar and a live box score with average ticket times.

What to watch

  • The monthly fee per screen and the screen price aren't published.
  • It only works with Shift4 POS, under a 36-month processing agreement with a 90-day notice to avoid renewal.
  • Leaving early carries liquidated damages per device for each month left.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score4.8out of 10

Methodology v1.0.0

Data completeness62%

We could verify 62% of the scoring data

Strongest points
Keeps working without internet, Routing by station, Kitchen time reports
Weakest point
Published pricing

Score by criterion

  • 12-month cost of 2 kitchen screensWeight 26%No data
  • Keeps working without internetWeight 9%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Routing by stationWeight 8%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Support 24/7Weight 8%No data
  • Kitchen time reportsWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 7%2.5 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • POS systems it works withWeight 6%1.4 out of 10
  • Choice of kitchen screensWeight 6%5.0 out of 10
  • All-day item countsWeight 4%No data
  • Bump bar supportWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 4%2.5 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • 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 screenNot publishedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The fee per screen is in each restaurant's POS Exhibit A; Shift4 doesn't publish it.
How the license is chargedPer screenSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Published pricingQuote onlySource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Kitchen screen from the vendorNot publishedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The KDS hardware page and the online system builder show no price for the kitchen screen.
Installation feeUnconfirmedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The KDS page doesn't mention an installation fee.
POS and hardware
Data pointValue
Type of KDSPart of its own POS (needs that POS)Source: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)Sold as part of the Shift4 POS hardware line and configured from the POS workstation.
Works with these POS systemsShift4 POSSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Kitchen screensOnly the vendor's screensSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Runs onThe vendor's own kitchen screenSource: Shift4 Help Center (opens in a new tab)
In the kitchen
Data pointValue
Routing by stationYesSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)Prep and expo stations, each with its own clear-ticket settings.
If the internet goes downIn-house orders keep reaching the screens over your local networkSource: Shift4 Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Kitchen time reportsYesSource: Shift4 Help Center (opens in a new tab)A live box score with average ticket times on the screen; the page also says the KDS tracks kitchen productivity.
All-day item countsUnconfirmedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The KDS page and the help articles we read don't mention an all-day count of pending items.
Bump bar supportYesSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Order-ready text to the guestYesSource: Shift4 Help Center (opens in a new tab)A help article in the KDS section explains how to turn on guest notifications from the KDS.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial term36 monthsSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The processing agreement the POS requires; agreements signed before December 1, 2025 have a 30-month term.
Notice to avoid renewal90 daysSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Early termination feeLiquidated damages: a base monthly amount per device, set by your estimated monthly card volume ($100 under $10k up to $750 over $250k), times the number of terminal IDs, times the months left in the term.Source: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
How the early termination fee worksAnother formulaSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7UnconfirmedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)The KDS page lists support and sales phone numbers but not their hours.
Language
Data pointValue
Website or help in Spanish for the USUnconfirmedSource: Shift4 (opens in a new tab)We found the KDS page only in English for the US.

More about Shift4 POS Kitchen Display

How we score