5 Best Cafe POS Systems for 2023
This article is part of a larger series onPOS Systems.
Cafes are a unique niche within the larger hospitality industry—they’re a little bit restaurant and a little bit retail. A strong cafepoint-of-sale (POS) system应该有现金管理功能双重ca吗sh drawer tills and volume-supporting features like drive-thru management. Considering most cafes’ low price point, the best cafe POS system should also be affordable.
Based on our evaluation of over a dozen software, the best cafe POS systems are:
- Toast:Best overall cafe POS system
- Square for Restaurants:Best for small cafes that need a free POS with affordable hardware
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for inventory management
- KORONA POS:Best for flexible payment processing
- Loyverse:Best for customer loyalty features
Top Cafe POS Systems Compared
Minimum Monthly Software Fees |
In-person Processing Fees |
Contract Length |
Free Trial for Paid Plan |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
|
0美元 |
From 2.49% + 15 cents |
2 years |
✕ |
|
0美元 |
2.6% + 10 cents |
Month-to-month |
30 days |
|
$69 |
Varies by processor
Lightspeed Payments: 2.6% + 10 cents |
1 year |
Month-to-month |
|
$59 |
Varies by processor |
Month-to-month |
Unlimited (for up to 30 transactions/day) |
|
0美元 |
Varies by processor |
Month-to-month |
N/A |
Which cafe POS is right for you?
Toast: Best Overall Cafe POS System
Pros
- Baseline subscription is free
- Industry-grade hardware
- Supports basic drive-thru management tools
- Robust features for growing beyond one location into a multi-unit business
Cons
- Locked into Toast for payment processing
- Requires Toast hardware
- 2-year contract
Toast Deciding Factors
每月的软件费用:
- Quick Start Bundle: $0
- Core: $69
- Growth: $165
- Build Your Own: Custom quote
Hardware costs:
- Pay-as-you-go plans include free hardware for up to two terminals (with the Pay-as-you-go processing rates listed below).
- Standard price for a stationary terminal with a router and card reader is $799.
- One-time installation fees: $0–$499 (optional)
Processing Fees:
- In-person fees for standard plan: 2.99% + 15 cents
- In-person fees for Starter Kit plan: 2.49% + 15 cents
Custom rate quotes available for Essentials and Custom subscribers
Contract length:2 years
Toast is an industry leader in point of sale for restaurants and cafes—and for good reason. Its hardware is top-of-the-line, and the interface that works within it is easy for both business owners and their customers. Toast offers invoicing tools that allow you to manage all billing through its POS as well.
Toast’s baseline POS system has built-in features like menu management, real-time data and reporting, and employee management. It also offers a pay-as-you-go Starter subscription option, which allows single-location cafes to access Toast software and hardware without any monthly cost.
烤面包了咖啡馆POS scori 4.13中的5个ng system, earning strong marks for its free Starter POS with pay-as-you-go hardware options. It also scored well for its general POS functions and niche tools like drive-thru management and dual cash drawer tills. But, Toast locks you into its payment processor and requires a two-year service contract.
If you prefer to shop for the best processing rates, check out KORONA. If you need a short-term month-to-month contract, try Square. Be aware that most of those systems operate on iPads, though, so you will be losing some durability.
Hardware Starter Kit |
Handheld Terminal Starter Kit |
Customer-facing Display |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
$799 or pay-as-you-go with 2.99% + 15 cents processing |
$609 + $50 per month or pay-as-you-go with 2.99% + 15 cents |
$200 |
Toast Flex terminal, Toast Tap payment device, PCI-Compliant router |
Toast Go 2 Handheld, Mobile Access Point, PCI-Compliant router |
Customer-facing display for Toast Flex terminal |
The baseline Toast POS supports timeclock functions, custom user permissions for unlimited users, and robust modifier buttons. Cafes can get started with Toast for free and add modules like online ordering, inventory, and marketing as their business grows. Toast offers pay-as-you-go pricing for most add-on modules (all you’ll pay is slightly higher processing fees), or you can request a custom quote from the Toast sales team.
Toast’s standout features include:
- Drive-thru Management
Contactless service continues to be popular, and drive-thrus can offer a level of comfort and security that few other service options provide. Toast’s POS comes with drive-thru management capabilities that allow a cafe to maximize its service options. Drive-thru sales, which have their own workflow through your order screens and kitchen display system (KDS), if you use one, are categorized separately from other sales for reporting purposes, so you can see your sales and costs for your drive-thru alone.
- Advanced Employee Management
In regards to employee management, Toast offers tools such as digital onboarding and mobile employee setup. This makes getting an employee verified and on staff a breeze. It also offers clock-in functionality for time and labor tracking. There is scheduling to relay to your staff when they need to come in and how many hours they have worked. And lastly, Toast has an HR On-Demand feature for HR guidance and suggestions from the pros.
- Robust Features Built for Growth
Toast has every tool that a restaurant could need, from ingredient-level inventory with vendor management to online ordering, payroll management, and tip-pooling tools. For those looking to grow their cafe beyond coffee and pastries, Toast is a perfect choice.
- Online Ordering & Delivery
For an additional custom-quoted fee, Toast users can add integrated online ordering to their POS. Essentials subscribers automatically receive three months of free online ordering; after that, the fees are around $75 per month. Driver management features are included if you want to manage a team of in-house drivers. Alternatively, you can hail third-party delivery drivers on-demand using Toast Delivery Services. You’ll pay a flat rate per-delivery fee that varies based on the distance and the driver service. But, you can pass these fees on to customers as a service charge.
- Advanced Invoicing
This Toast tool allows you to create future orders in your POS and generate an invoice to use as an estimate and final bill. You can email the invoice directly from your POS screen and send reminders if payment lags. Customers can pay the invoice in person or by credit card over the internet.
Hungry to learn more about Toast? Read our fullToast review, which includes a video walk-through of Toast’s software.
Square for Restaurants: Best for Cafes on a Budget
Pros
- Free baseline subscription
- Supports third-party hardware
- No long-term contracts
- Safe and easy introduction into POS systems
Cons
- Locked into Square’s payment processor
- Does not support drive-thru functionality, dual cash drawers, or ingredient-level inventory tracking
- Hardware can lack durability long term
Square Deciding Factors
每月的软件费用:
- Free: $0
- Plus: $60
- Premium: Custom quote
Hardware costs:From $49 for a card reader (though Square will send your first card reader for free) to $1,479 for a complete Square POS kit with an iPad, stand, cash drawer, card reader, receipt printer, and kitchen printer
Processing Fees:2.6% + 10 cents per in-person tapped, dipped, or swiped transaction; 2.9% + 30 cents for online transactions; 3.5% + 15 cents for manually keyed transactions
Contract length:Month-to-month
广场的基线POS订阅完全free. The free level does not include table or course management, but that shouldn’t be a limiting factor for cafes that mostly serve coffees and grab-and-go food. If you need additional features, the Plus package includes table and course management and additional reporting for $60 per month.
Square for Restaurants earned a 4.01 out of 5 on our scoring system. It scored well for its free baseline software price and for supporting software for an unlimited number of POS devices. The free, integrated online store also earned high marks. It lost some points for its lack of niche features like ingredient-level inventory, drive-thru management, and dual cash drawer tills. If your cafe needs these, you’ll be better served by Toast. But, if your operation is small and does not need drive-thru support, Square has everything you need. There’s a reason you see a Square terminal in virtually every small coffee shop around.
Square Stand |
Square Register |
Square Terminal |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Swivel-enabled iPad stand with built-in tap and chip card reader |
Square-built touch-screen terminal with built-in swipe, tap, and dip card reader and customer-facing display |
Handheld order and payment terminal |
Square for Restaurants has most, if not all, the features a small cafe needs. It offers financing for hardware purchases anywhere from $49 to $10,000, and those interested can apply via Square’s website. The app also offers a 30-day free trial to test drive its higher-level POS software subscriptions. Unlike several other POS brands, Square users are not locked into long-term contracts, so you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Here are some the standout features we found from Square:
- Easy Management & Pay Software
On the customer end, Square’s iconic touch to pay and phone magstripe payment processors are very approachable and easy to understand in-store and online. It has an integrated online store with loyalty program capabilities and basic employee management software that includes punching in and out of work.
- Flexible Hardware
It is not necessary to purchase any new equipment to run Square. This POS will run on any iPad. You can bulk up your existing hardware with iPad stands, various types of card readers, cash drawers, barcode scanners, and KDS screens as needed. This makes Square one of the most versatile POSes on our list.
- No Long-term Contracts
Square is not only easy to join but easy to leave. There are no long-term contracts with Square. This makes it one of the most flexible POSes on our list.
- 与广场小企业工具兼容
In addition to free POS software, Square offers many other free tools that all work together, including Square Online store and Online Checkout for pickup and delivery orders, customer feedback tools, and reporting dashboards.
- Modular Add-ons
Square offers plenty of paid add-ons in addition to the ecosystem of free tools, including payroll and team management, loyalty programs, marketing, gift cards, and customer management tools. Businesses can add and remove any of these features at any time.
Square offers a full suite of business management tools. Read abouteverything Square has to offer, or learn more about its POS in ourSquare for Restaurants review, which features a detailed video walkthrough of the POS and management dashboard.
Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Inventory Management
Pros
- Easy to self-install
- Supports more than one payment processor
- Built-in “Order Ahead” tool good for curbside pickup
- 14-day free trial
Cons
- Does not have drive-thru management
- Hardware is not industry-grade
- Training resources are less robust than competitors
Lightspeed Deciding Factors
Monthly software fee:
- Essentials: $69
- Plus: $189
- Pro: $399
- Enterprise: Custom-quoted
Hardware costs:You can bring your own compatible hardware; prices from Lightspeed are custom-quoted
Processing fees:Varies by processor; Lightspeed supports Worldpay, Cayan, BridgePay. Built-in Lightspeed Payments starts at 2.6% + 10 cents for in-person transactions
Contract length:1+ year
Lightspeed is a browser-based cloud POS that operates on iPads. It is the Goldilocks of cafe POS systems, striking just the right balance by providing the features you need without overwhelming you with features you don’t. It is affordable, easy to self-install, and has built-in features like Order Ahead (which is great for curbside pickup), multiple payment processors, and dual cash drawer capability. It also includes the most user-friendly inventory tools of any system on this list.
Also regularly appearing on our list of是st POS for restaurants, Lightspeed Restaurant earned a 3.95 out of 5 in our cafe POS scoring system. With all its features, Lightspeed ticked nearly every box we asked a cafe POS to check. It only falls short when it comes to drive-thru management tools (it offers none at this time); if you need drive-thru management, Toast is an option. And, while the iPad POS is cost-effective, it is not the most durable in a high-volume setting.
iPad POS Hardware Kit |
BBPOS Chipper 2X Card Reader |
Socket 7Ci Barcode Scanner |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
iPad stand, cash drawer, receipt printer, kitchen printer |
Lightning connected tap, dip, and swipe card reader |
Bluetooth-enabled barcode scanner |
The name of the game with Lightspeed is flexibility. Users can choose their payment processor, use existing hardware, and add a multitude of customizations through third-party integrations. Lightspeed Restaurant pricing starts at $69 per month for a single terminal, which may be all a cafe needs.
Here are some of Lightspeed’s standout features:
- High-caliber Inventory Management
Lightspeed’s inventory tool includes low-stock alerts and automated suggested orders. It is more automated than TouchBistro, more user-friendly than Revel, and—unlike Toast—built directly into the POS. This service is only available at the “Pro” tier ($399/mo) but is the most user-friendly inventory available in a cloud POS on the market.
- Easy Self-installation
Lightspeed is quick to set up and easy to install yourself. You can purchase iPads from Lightspeed or bring your own and use Lightspeed cases and stands. You can download the POS software directly from the Apple App Store and get started taking orders in a single afternoon.
- 奥德er Ahead
Contactless service is popular with customers. Lightspeed’s built-in Order Ahead feature allows customers to place pickup orders from any web-enabled device. It is perfect for curbside pickup. While this is notably not the same as a drive-thru feature, it still allows for on-the-go customers to place orders and pay without going indoors.
- Supports Multiple Payment Processors
Lightspeed allows owners to shop around for the best payment processors for their needs while still offering the convenience of built-in payments. Other cafe POS systems on this list (Square and Toast only support built-in processing).
- Dual Cash Drawer Tills
High-volume counter service businesses know the headache of trying to keep a cash till balanced among multiple people, across breaks and between multiple shifts. It is nearly impossible. The dual cash drawer feature allows both managers and staff to keep track of individual cash drawers easily regardless of meal and shift breaks. In a fast-paced cafe, this is vital.
Lightspeed regularly appears on our list of the是st POS systems for small businesses. Want to learn more? Read our fullLightspeed Restaurant reviewand see a full video demo of this POS.
KORONA: Best for Flexible Payment Processing
Pros
- Ecommerce store included
- Flexible payment processing
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- Detailed inventory tools require advanced subscription service
- Limited offline mode
- No scheduling capability
KORONA Deciding Factors
每月的软件费用:
- Core: $59
- Advanced: $69
- Plus: $89
- Enterprise: Custom quote
Hardware costs:Can use compatible existing hardware or purchase from KORONA for custom-quoted prices
Processing Fees:Bring your own processor; KORONA integrates with all major processors
Contract length:Month-to-month
KORONA’S cafe POS system is a strong choice due to the flexible payment options it offers. The ability to shop around for different pricing on payment processing is what makes this system a great option for those with saving in mind. You can test the software with an unlimited free trial; use KORONA for up to 30 transactions a day for absolutely no charge for as long as you like. The free trial version includes all of KORONA’s baseline features except for integrated payments.
For cafes, KORONA offers a great coffee shop loyalty program to bring customers coming back for more. The speed in checkouts makes it ideal for long morning lines. KORONA also offers advanced cash and sales tracking to manage any mistakes or theft that could occur during operations.
排队了3.74的5在我们评估due to its payment processing flexibility. It offers an excellent ecommerce store for selling your products and you will not be tied down with any long-term contracts. What holds back KORONA is a limited offline mode and an extra subscription service that is needed for in-depth inventory tools.
Insert
Mobile POS Tablet |
Countertop POS with PIN-reader |
Countertop POS with handheld scanner |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Handheld, Wi-Fi enabled mobile POS tablet |
Countertop POS with touch-screen terminal, cash drawer, receipt printer, and PIN-enabled card reader |
Countertop POS with touch-screen terminal, handheld barcode scanner, and receipt printer |
Unlike others on this list, KORONA does not specialize in food service businesses. But it still has a lot of cafe supporting features, specifically for cafes that do not need table service features. The flexible payment processing and month-to-month subscription help small cafes stay on a budget.
- Flexible Processing
KORONA integrates with every major credit card processor. Users can shop for the best processing rates and use whichever processor they like. You can also change processors down the line if you find a better rate after a couple of years in business. For busy cafes with check averages below $10, this feature can have a huge impact on the bottom line.
- Month-to-Month Contracts
Users can cancel their service at any time without penalties. So, it is easy to update your POS plan as your business grows or your needs change. This is unusual for POS systems in general, though on this list, Square for Restaurants and Loyverse also require no long-term commitment.
- Inventory With Vendor Management
The built-in inventory management software allows you to track stock levels and manage supply orders directly from your back-office dashboard. Your KORONA inventory module will consider current coupons and promotions when advising on reordering levels. You can also use the inventory settings to print custom price tags for individual boxes of pastries or custom orders. Accessing these inventory features requires an Advanced or higher subscription, however.
- 24/7 Customer Service
One perk we enjoy with this service is the free 24/7 support in case your system ever goes down. Having that access is key for bakeries, where most work is done outside of the normal 9-5 workday.
Check out ourfull KORONA reviewto get a deeper dive into its tools and features.
Loyverse: Best for Customer Loyalty Features
Pros
- Choice of merchant processors
- Great customer loyalty options
- Offline mode
Cons
- Integrations incur monthly fees
- Lacks some basic cafe features
- Limited inventory management and reporting tools in free plan
Loyverse Deciding Factors
每月的软件费用:
- POS account and dashboard: Free
- POS customer display (CDS): Free
- POS kitchen display (KDS): Free
- Employe Management: $25 permonth
- Advanced inventory: $25 per month
- Integrations: $9 per month
Hardware costs:Loyverse operates on IOS and Android POS tablets, by Sunmi, Bematech, and iMin. You can bring your preferred hardware
Processing Fees:Varies by processor
Contract length:Month to month
Loyverse is a free-to-use POS software system that has a large focus on customer loyalty. With some effective add-ons, Loyverse is a great option for those on a budget who want to build their customer base. Loyverse focuses heavily on customer visits, a points rewards program, loyalty cards, and detailed customer profile to set up a database that helps you understand who is buying what at your cafe.
Loyverse earned a 3.66 out of 5 in our evaluation. While it is free-to-use and has great customer loyalty features, it lacks some cafe features others in this guide have such as dual cash drawer tills and drive-thru management features. Inventory is rudimentary at best and the add-on services cause you to spend more to access a better product.
Loyverse does not sell hardware itself. The system works in iPads and Android tablets designed by Bematech, Sunmi, and iMin. Loyverse includes alist of recommended Loyverse POS hardwareon their website. You’ll need to purchase your preferred hardware from a third-party, so you can shop for the best prices.
Loyverse was developed to give small businesses cost effective tools. Like KORONA, Loyverse doesn’t specialize in food businesses, but it includes a lot of great cafe-supporting features, especially loyalty.
- Robust Loyalty
This is where Loyverse gets its name (an abbreviation of Loyalty Universe) and where it stands out. The customer relationship and loyalty program included in the free POS has a customer database for keeping information like contact information, purchase history, and customer notes. The built-in program also offers scannable loyalty cards to reward customers. Square charges extra for its loyalty program.
- Flexible Payment Processing
喜欢排队,Loyverse允许你选择你的付款方式provider, though Loyverse’s integrated payment processors are more limited than KORONA’s. Loyverse works with SumUp, Zettle, Worldpay, CardConnect, Tyro, Smartpay, Yoco, STORES Payment, PAYGATE, SB payments, KICC, and NICE. Many of these are only available for iOS, and some are limited to specific countries.
- Cloud-based with Offline Mode
Loyverse boasts its features through a cloud-based program. They also have an offline mode designed for poor wifi signals, sharing that information will be restored once an internet connection is reestablished. This feature makes for a genuine feeling of ease knowing that your data is backed up.
Learn more about its loyalty and other features with ourfull Loyverse review.
How We Evaluated Cafe POS Systems
Our evaluation of leading cafe POS systems used a scoring system that highlighted cafe-specific functionalities—like sticky label printing, dual cash drawer tills, and drive-thru management. We considered basic POS functions like inventory management, online ordering, and customized reporting. We also looked at the durability of the hardware to make sure it can withstand coffee spills and espresso steam. And, as always, we looked at pricing, user reviews, overall functionality, and customer support.
Based on the above criteria, Toast emerged as the best cafe POS. The software received the highest overall score according to our grading system (4.13 out of 5).
30% of Overall Score
Because small cafes are usually on a budget, we looked at whether or not each software offers a free plan and a plan option under $75 monthly. Then, we made sure those plans include unlimited user logins, product listings, and transactions. Finally, we gave points to systems with integrated payment processing because we find it’s more user-friendly and gave bonus points to systems that support more than one integrated processor so you can shop for the best rates.
10% of Overall Score
Every small business needs to track inventory, sell and accept gift card payments, and easily access reporting tools, like daily sales totals, from anywhere. Because of how businesses are currently operating—and the innate on-the-go style of cafes—we also prioritized contactless payments options, online ordering, and order-ahead features.
20% of Overall Score
We evaluated features particularly important to cafes including cash tracking and management, which is crucial for high-volume businesses. Busy cafes also benefit from templatized reporting dashboards for easy viewing, barcode scanning for ringing up pre-packaged goods and merchandise, and low-stock alerts so you never run out of ingredients. We also required each system to have tip tracking tools.
20% of Overall Score
Cafes typically open early in the morning and operate on weekends, so we prioritized solutions that offer 24/7 customer support. We also awarded points to POS systems with hybrid installation or an offline mode so they are operational if your internet goes out. Here, we also considered the available training materials and installation support.
20% of Overall Score
Finally, we considered any standout features of each individual system and whether or not the software and hardware options offer a good overall value for the price. We also judged each system’s popularity with small cafe businesses and noted each system’s customer review scores. Lastly, we considered our retail and restaurant expert’s experience interacting with each system and support team.
Cafe POS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After reviewing these products, we determined Toast to be the best overall POS for cafes. Its many built-in functions like menu management, real-time data and reporting, and employee management make it ideal. Toast also has top-of-the-line hardware and an easy-to-use interface. Our guide breaks down specific cafe scenarios to help you find the best one for you.
The price range of a POS system for a cafe can vary based on your needs, number of locations, and volume of business, often costing between $0–$99. That said, it is important to understand the needs of your cafe and its stage in the business life cycle before determining how much POS you need.
Cafes can be small operations, so you ask why you even need a POS system in the first place. POS systems track crucial information such as:
- Sales
- Inventory
- Labor management
- Customer buying habits
- Item performance
These are just a few of the key functions of a POS. Without one, a business will not know how they are doing financially. It also will lack basic managerial practices that will keep it operating in good standing. This is why the POS system is integral for the cafe.
Bottom Line
There are a handful of good POS systems that offer the features cafes require. Toast carries the day due to its functionality with drive-thru management and large volumes of customer orders. Toast’s industry-tested hardware holds up in the busiest cafes, and its employee management and inventory makes operating a cafe that much easier. This, plus the abilities it gives cafe owners to expand and grow their business, is why we rated Toast as the best cafe POS in this guide.