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Restaurant POS

Best POS for quick service (2026)

Only POS systems built for quick service are ranked here, with weights adjusted for this type of restaurant. The overall ranking is always available too.

Updated Sep 30, 2026Methodology v0.5.0

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Counter service and fast casual, where order speed, kitchen screens and online ordering matter most.

What matters in quick service

Quick service runs on speed. The lunch line doesn't wait for a screen to load. Tickets are small and there are a lot of them, and more and more orders come in from kiosks, apps and delivery.

What to look for

  • Speed at the counter. Fast order entry, simple modifiers and quick card payments.
  • Cost per transaction. With small tickets, the fixed cents on every card payment weigh more. Two rates that look alike on paper can end up far apart after thousands of orders.
  • Kitchen flow. A kitchen display (KDS) that sends each order to the right station and tracks ticket times.
  • Every channel in one place. Kiosk, online and delivery orders that land in the same queue as counter orders, without retyping.
  • What online ordering costs. Whether it's built in, and whether it charges a commission per order or a flat fee.
  • Offline mode. Whether you can keep taking orders and cards when the internet goes down.

How this ranking works

This ranking only includes POS systems that serve quick service and fast casual restaurants. They're scored with our public model and any adjustments for this type of business, listed in our methodology.

Not everything on this list counts toward the score yet: we only score what we can research for most vendors. For the rest, like kiosks and kitchen displays, check the data we show for each POS and ask about it in the demo.

Weigh more here than in the overall ranking: own online ordering.

POS systems with enough verified data to be ranked: 13 of 20.20 POS systems for quick service: 13 ranked · 7 listed apart. Ranked: enough verified data. Listed apart: not enough data to score. Below 60% completeness, a POS isn't ranked. The score sets the order, with the same rules for every POS.Only what we couldverify gets rankedThe score sets the order, withthe same rules for every POS.20POS systems forquick service13 ranked ·7 listed apart60%Below 60% completeness,a POS isn't ranked.#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10#11#12#1313Ranked:enough verified data7Listed apart:not enoughdata to score
POS systems with enough verified data to be ranked: 13 of 20.20 POS systems for quick service: 13 ranked · 7 listed apart. Ranked: enough verified data. Listed apart: not enough data to score. Below 60% completeness, a POS isn't ranked. The score sets the order, with the same rules for every POS.Only what we couldverify gets rankedThe score sets the order, with thesame rules for every POS.20POS systems for quick service13 ranked · 7 listed apart60%Below 60% completeness, aPOS isn't ranked.#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10#11#12#1313Ranked:enough verified data7Listed apart:not enough data to score
Data as of Sep 30, 2026 · How we score

POS systems with enough verified data to be ranked: 13 of 20. 20 POS systems for quick service: 13 ranked · 7 listed apart. Ranked: enough verified data. Listed apart: not enough data to score. Below 60% completeness, a POS isn't ranked. The score sets the order, with the same rules for every POS.

POS systems ranked by RTC Score, highest score first: 13.#1 Shift4 POS, 8.7; #2 SpotOn, 6.0; #3 Lavu, 5.9; #4 HungerRush, 5.8; #5 CAKE, 5.3; #6 Clover, 5.0; #7 Rezku, 4.9; #8 Square for Restaurants, 4.7; #9 TouchBistro, 4.5; #10 Lightspeed Restaurant, 4.2; #11 GoTab, 4.0; #12 Epos Now, 3.7; #13 Toast, 3.5. Not enough data to score: Eats365, Heartland Restaurant, Loyverse POS, NCR Voyix Aloha, PAR POS, Qu POS, and Revel Systems. Methodology v0.5.0.Methodology v0.5.0The ranking at a glanceQuick service · RTC Score ·13 POS systems with enough verified dataRTC Score, out of 100246810#1Shift4 POS8.7#2SpotOn6.0#3Lavu5.9#4HungerRush5.8#5CAKE5.3#6Clover5.0#7Rezku4.9#8Square for Restaurants4.7#9TouchBistro4.5#10Lightspeed Restaurant4.2#11GoTab4.0#12Epos Now3.7#13Toast3.5Listed apart, unrankedNot enough data to scoreEats365Heartland RestaurantLoyverse POSNCR Voyix AlohaPAR POSQu POSRevel Systems
POS systems ranked by RTC Score, highest score first: 13.#1 Shift4 POS, 8.7; #2 SpotOn, 6.0; #3 Lavu, 5.9; #4 HungerRush, 5.8; #5 CAKE, 5.3; #6 Clover, 5.0; #7 Rezku, 4.9; #8 Square for Restaurants, 4.7; #9 TouchBistro, 4.5; #10 Lightspeed Restaurant, 4.2; #11 GoTab, 4.0; #12 Epos Now, 3.7; #13 Toast, 3.5. Not enough data to score: Eats365, Heartland Restaurant, Loyverse POS, NCR Voyix Aloha, PAR POS, Qu POS, and Revel Systems. Methodology v0.5.0.The ranking at a glanceQuick service · RTC Score · 13 POS systems with enough verified dataMethodology v0.5.0RTC Score, out of 100246810#1Shift4 POS8.7#2SpotOn6.0#3Lavu5.9#4HungerRush5.8#5CAKE5.3#6Clover5.0#7Rezku4.9#8Square for Restaurants4.7#9TouchBistro4.5#10Lightspeed Restaurant4.2#11GoTab4.0#12Epos Now3.7#13Toast3.5Listed apart, unrankedNot enough data to scoreEats365Heartland RestaurantLoyverse POSNCR Voyix AlohaPAR POSQu POSRevel Systems
Data as of Sep 30, 2026 · Methodology v0.5.0 · How we score

The ranking

  1. Shift4 POS

    By Shift4

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.
    • Longest equipment warranty (tied). Among 17 POS systems with a published warranty on the main terminal.

    Restaurant POS from Shift4 Payments that requires Shift4 payment processing. Software starts at $29.99 a month with loaned hardware and no upfront cost; the processing agreement runs 36 months and its early termination fee is a per-device amount for each month left.

    RTC SCORE

    8.7

    #1 for Quick service

    Pros

    • No upfront cost for software and hardware.
    • 24/7 support, per its pricing page.
    • Defects on the loaned hardware are covered for as long as your agreement is active (Shift4 calls it a lifetime warranty); accidents and theft are not. Shift4's billing glossary says its yearly fees per device ($250 plus $189.99, or the maintenance fee that replaces them) are what pay for those replacements.

    Cons

    • 36-month term with exclusive Shift4 processing and 1-year automatic renewals unless you give 90 days' notice.
    • The early termination fee is charged per device for every month left, so it grows with your volume and number of devices.
    • The standard card rate (2.75% + 15¢) appears only in Shift4's online checkout, not on its pricing page or in the contracts, and annual fees per device apply on top.
    Initial term
    36 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant), and 36-month total cost (reference restaurant). Weakest on own online ordering.

  2. SpotOn

    By SpotOn

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.

    Restaurant POS with two published plans. All-In costs $0 per station with hardware included and a 2-year minimum; POS Essentials costs $55 per station a month with month-to-month software and lower card rates. Payments run through SpotOn under a processing agreement with a 3-year initial term.

    RTC SCORE

    6.0

    #2 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Plan prices and card rates are published, including a plan with month-to-month software.
    • 24/7 support included, per its pricing page.

    Cons

    • The $0 All-In plan has a 2-year minimum, processing minimums and higher card rates.
    • The processing agreement is exclusive, has a 3-year initial term on both plans, and its Account Closure Fee is not published.
    • Receipts are always in English on SpotOn Express.
    Initial term
    36 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), 36-month total cost (reference restaurant), and own online ordering. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  3. Lavu

    By Lavu

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.
    • Longest equipment warranty (tied). Among 17 POS systems with a published warranty on the main terminal.

    iPad restaurant POS for bars, quick service and food trucks, sold on a 36-month contract that renews for the same length. Lavu quotes its monthly price and doesn't publish its card rates or what it costs to leave early; the signer is a personal guarantor.

    RTC SCORE

    5.9

    #3 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Its current offer prices the terminal at $9.99 a month with zero upfront fees and setup included, on a 36-month contract; the software plan is quoted on top.
    • 24/7 support, per Lavu's help center.
    • Its offer page says your equipment is under warranty for as long as you're with Lavu; its terms bill that replacement coverage (LavuCare) at $199 a year by default, plus shipping on each replacement, and exclude loss, theft and natural disasters.

    Cons

    • The monthly price, card rates and the fee to leave early are not published.
    • A 36-month contract that renews for another 36 months unless you cancel before the renewal date, and the signer is a personal guarantor.
    Initial term
    36 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes, or pay a fee to use another

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and hardware warranty included. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

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  1. HungerRush

    By HungerRush

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.
    • Longest equipment warranty (tied). Among 17 POS systems with a published warranty on the main terminal.

    POS for pizza and delivery restaurants sold as a $149-a-month all-in package with leased hardware, online ordering and flat-rate processing. The package is a 36-month agreement and the signer is a personal guarantor.

    RTC SCORE

    5.8

    #4 for Quick service

    Pros

    • One monthly price that includes hardware, online ordering and delivery management, with $0 down.
    • Price locked for the 36 months, per its pricing page.
    • Its pricing page says the hardware leased in its $149-a-month package stays under full warranty for the length of the agreement; its terms give 12 months unless your signed quote says more, and exclude damage you or others cause.

    Cons

    • Leaving early costs the subscription for the full term plus 90% of the processor fees left.
    • Renews for 3-year periods, and the signer is a personal guarantor.
    • The card rate is not published.
    Initial term
    36 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and hardware warranty included. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  2. CAKE

    By CAKE (Mad Mobile)

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.
    • Longest equipment warranty (tied). Among 17 POS systems with a published warranty on the main terminal.

    Restaurant POS with no monthly software, hardware or add-on fees; its cost is built into a locked-in card processing rate that is not published. The term is set in your order and the early termination fee counts software and processing for the months left.

    RTC SCORE

    5.3

    #5 for Quick service

    Pros

    • No monthly software, add-on or hardware leasing fees.
    • 24/7 US-based support, per CAKE.
    • Publishes its early termination formula.

    Cons

    • The card rate that carries the cost is not published.
    • The early termination fee includes future processing, and renewals run 2 years.
    • Online ordering is not in the entry plan.
    Initial term
    Quote only
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and hardware warranty included. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  3. Clover

    By Clover

    • Longest equipment warranty (tied). Among 17 POS systems with a published warranty on the main terminal.

    Fiserv's POS, sold directly and through banks and resellers. The Restaurant Growth software plan starts at $89.95 a month plus a hardware bundle, the hardware only works with Clover processing, and the contract and early termination fee depend on who boards you.

    RTC SCORE

    5.0

    #6 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Publishes its card rates on its own site, 2.3% + 10¢ in person on its restaurant bundles.
    • Restaurant bundles include online ordering with no per-order fee.
    • With a hardware subscription, defects, accidental damage, theft and loss are covered for as long as the subscription runs, including its month-to-month extension; for Station Solo that subscription costs $1,406.80 more over 36 months than buying it. Hardware bought outright has one year against defects.

    Cons

    • The hardware only works with Clover processing.
    • The hardware promotion requires a 3-year contract, hardware subscriptions can't be canceled, and the early termination fee depends on the bank or reseller.
    Initial term
    36 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on 36-month total cost (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and hardware warranty included. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  4. Rezku

    By Rezku

    • Shortest term (tied). Among 15 POS systems with a published term.

    iPad restaurant POS at $99 a month for up to 3 stations, with hardware rented per station and a third-party card processor. Billing is monthly with no early termination fee.

    RTC SCORE

    4.9

    #7 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Monthly billing with no early termination fee.
    • Online ordering and 24/7 US-based support included.

    Cons

    • Card processing runs through a separate processor with its own terms and a monthly minimum.
    Initial term
    Month to month
    Must use their processing
    No

    Strongest on 36-month total cost (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it). Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  5. Square for Restaurants

    By Square

    • Shortest term (tied). Among 15 POS systems with a published term.
    • Longest trial at no charge. Among 21 POS systems. Only trials with no software charges, or with your money back, count.

    Restaurant POS from Square with a $0 plan and Plus and Premium plans billed per location. Card payments run through Square, and there is no term or early termination fee.

    RTC SCORE

    4.7

    #8 for Quick service

    Pros

    • No term and no early termination fee.
    • Card rates and plan prices are published.
    • A $0 plan that includes online ordering.

    Cons

    • Card payments run only through Square.
    • The kitchen display is a paid add-on and is not available on the free plan.
    • You buy the hardware up front.
    Initial term
    Month to month
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and hardware warranty included. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  6. TouchBistro

    By TouchBistro

    • Lowest cost to get started (tied). Among 12 POS systems whose upfront prices are published, for our reference restaurant.

    iPad-based restaurant POS with software from $69 a month and an Essentials Bundle with hardware and integrated payments. It works with a range of processors, and its early termination amount includes the processing fees left in the term.

    RTC SCORE

    4.5

    #9 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Works with a range of payment processors.
    • No per-order commission on its own online ordering.
    • 24/7 support, holidays included, per its pricing page.

    Cons

    • You cannot end the agreement early, and the Default Amount includes the processing fees left in the term.
    • Renews for a period equal to your initial term.
    • Card rates are not published and its own pages list two different bundle prices.
    Initial term
    Quote only
    Must use their processing
    No

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it). Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  7. Lightspeed Restaurant

    By Lightspeed

    Restaurant POS with Starter, Essential and Premium plans from $69 a month. Lightspeed Payments is required by default; using another processor needs Lightspeed's written approval and carries a monthly fee. The term is set in your order form.

    RTC SCORE

    4.2

    #10 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Plan and hardware prices are published, and online ordering is included from the Essential plan up.
    • 24/7 support, per its pricing page.

    Cons

    • Card rates are only published as an example in its blog, and using another processor needs approval and a monthly fee.
    • Renews for a period equal to your initial term, at the then-current prices and without your first-order discounts, with 90 days' notice on longer terms.
    • The early termination fee includes the recurring fees left plus any discounts you received.
    Initial term
    Quote only
    Must use their processing
    Yes, or pay a fee to use another

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it). Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  8. GoTab

    By GoTab

    • Shortest term (tied). Among 15 POS systems with a published term.

    POS and ordering platform for bars, breweries and food halls with plans at $15, $99 and $229 per location a month. It runs on your own devices, includes QR and online ordering, and GoTab says there is no long-term commitment.

    RTC SCORE

    4.0

    #11 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Low published entry price per location, with QR and online ordering included.
    • Runs on your own devices, and GoTab publishes its hardware prices in its own store (a countertop station with a payment terminal from $759).
    • 24/7 support from the Pro plan up, per its pricing page.

    Cons

    • The published card rate is a starting rate for qualifying locations.
    Initial term
    Month to month
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and initial term. Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  9. Epos Now

    By Epos Now

    General small-business POS with restaurant features, a $84-a-month subscription and hardware from $399 on promotion. You can use another processor, but a monthly Payment Premium applies if you don't process enough with its partners.

    RTC SCORE

    3.7

    #12 for Quick service

    Pros

    • You can use another processor.
    • Publishes its card rate, 2.6% + 10¢ per card payment.

    Cons

    • A monthly Payment Premium applies if you don't process enough with its partners.
    • Hardware prices shown are promotional, under countdown offers.
    • Its published US terms date from 2021.
    Initial term
    12 months
    Must use their processing
    Yes, or pay a fee to use another

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and 36-month total cost (reference restaurant). Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

  10. Toast

    By Toast

    All-in-one restaurant POS that runs card payments through Toast. The Point of Sale plan costs $69 a month; the Starter Kit has no monthly software fee but higher pay-as-you-go card rates. The term is set in your order form.

    RTC SCORE

    3.5

    #13 for Quick service

    Pros

    • Its own online ordering charges no per-order commission and connects with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub.
    • 24/7 support included in every software subscription, per its pricing page.
    • Two years against defects on the countertop terminal (one year on handhelds), included with the purchase; drops and liquid damage are billed at the full replacement price. Hardware bought from Toast can be returned within 90 days.

    Cons

    • The term is set in your order form and renews automatically for a year unless you give 30 days' notice.
    • You must process cards with Toast, and Toast doesn't publish its rates on its own site.
    • Each device after the first costs extra, and Toast doesn't publish how much.
    Initial term
    Quote only
    Must use their processing
    Yes

    Strongest on cost to get started (reference restaurant), own online ordering, and support 24/7 (as the vendor publishes it). Weakest on switching or signing bonus you qualify for (reference restaurant).

This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.

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