Sorted by starting price

6 Cheapest POS Systems for Restaurants of 2026

By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 6, 2026

Among the 9 tools in our best pos systems for restaurants ranking, Square for Restaurants has the lowest verified paid starting price at $49 per location per month. Prices below are quoted from each vendor's US pricing page.

1. 01

   Square for Restaurants

   Cafes, counter-service spots and small full-service restaurants that want a $0 entry plan and rates they can read before signing up.

   Square Free at $0 per month; Plus $49 and Premium $149 per location per month; in-person cards from 2.6% + 15¢ on Free down to 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium

   Full entry, No. 1 overall

   Starts at

   $49

   Score 8.9

2. 02

   SpotOn

   Restaurants that want published processing rates and are comfortable buying the vendor's own hardware.

   All-In plan at $0 per station per month with hardware included (2.79% + 20¢ card present, 2-year term); POS Essentials at $55 per station per month, month to month (2.45% + 15¢ card present)

   Full entry, No. 3 overall

   Starts at

   $55

   Score 8.4

3. 03

   Toast

   Full-service and multi-station restaurants that want POS, online ordering, payroll and inventory from one vendor.

   Starter Kit from $0 per month with an all-in-one processing rate; Point of Sale plan from $69 per month; payroll bundle from $69 per month plus $9 per employee

   Full entry, No. 2 overall

   Starts at

   $69

   Score 8.8

4. 04

   Lightspeed Restaurant

   Busy full-service restaurants, bars and hotel outlets that want detailed reporting and multi-location control.

   Starter $69, Essential $189 and Premium $399 per month; Enterprise by quote; kitchen display $30 per screen per month

   Full entry, No. 5 overall

   Starts at

   $69

   Score 8.2

5. 05

   TouchBistro

   Full-service and family-style restaurants that want floor plans and tableside ordering in the base plan.

   Point of Sale software from $69 per month (hardware and processing extra); Essentials Bundle with hardware from $119 per month (processing extra)

   Full entry, No. 6 overall

   Starts at

   $69

   Score 8.2

6. 06

   Clover

   Restaurants that want to buy or finance a complete hardware bundle at a listed price with flat in-person card rates.

   Starter bundle $1,799 plus $89.95 per month, or $179 per month for 36 months; in-person cards 2.3% + 10¢, keyed 3.5% + 10¢

   Full entry, No. 4 overall

   Starts at

   $89.95

   Score 8.3

Scores and prices come from our Best POS Systems for Restaurants ranking, which uses one method for every tool. Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.com