Written by Tatiana Lebreton Reviewed by Oliver Simpson Updated on 30 April 2024 On this page 1. Square: Best for Scaling and Growing Your Restaurant 2. Clover: Best Professional Restaurant Hardware 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Driving Customer Loyalty 4. TouchBistro: Easiest EPOS System to Operate 5. Epos Now: Best for Managing Complex Inventories Buying Guide: How to Choose a Restaurant POS System How much do restaurant EPOS systems cost? Our Methodology: How We Test Restaurant POS Systems Verdict FAQs Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. The best EPOS systems allow hospitality businesses to retain customers by improving service times and order accuracy, and help you optimise your menus and ingredient usage so you don’t waste a penny.We’ve tested and researched over 15 EPOS systems designed with restaurants in mind, and assessed them across six main categories that matter most to restaurant businesses. In this guide, we’ll go over our findings, telling you what each system is best at, as well as the features, equipment, and add-ons they offer. We’ll also run you through the transaction fees you’ll have to pay on different plans. Here’s our top five: What are the Best Restaurant EPOS Systems? Square – Best for scaling and growing your restaurantClover – Best professional restaurant hardwareLightspeed Restaurant – Best for driving customer loyaltyTouchBistro – Easiest EPOS system to operateEpos Now – Best for managing complex inventoriesWe ranked these providers using the test results from our 2024 POS research. Click any of the links above to begin comparing price quotes for EPOS systems, and to find out more about how we test POS systems, head over to our methodology.If you’re unsure which system is the best fit for your eatery, you can use our free comparison tool to get custom quotes straight from the providers that can best meet your needs. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Our Top Pick Square for Restaurants Clover Lightspeed TouchBistro Epos Now Score 4.8 Score 4.8 Score 4.5 Score 4.4 Score 4.3 Best for Best for scaling and growing your restaurant Best for Best professional restaurant hardware Best for Best for fostering repeat business and customer loyalty Best for Easiest EPOS system to operate Best for Best for managing complex inventories Pricing From £0/month Pricing Custom Pricing £109/month (Restaurant)£75/month (Retail) Pricing From £56/month Pricing From £225 (flat fee) with a £25/month payments, care, and support subscription. Pros Free POS appDelivery and pick-up integration Pros Sturdy POS systemEasy to useHas a handheld POS systemIntegrated online store Pros Extensive report templatesVery easy to use and ideal for busy bars or restaurantsPowerful and scalable solution Pros Extensive number of restaurant featuresIntegration with delivery appsExtensive marketing features available as add-ons Pros In-depth inventory management toolsCost vs profit analysis toolsNo monthly overheads Cons Transaction fee build-upSupport not available via live chat Cons Limited customer supportReporting could be betterInitial investment is costly Cons Doesn’t work on Android tabletsDoesn’t allow you to integrate third-party payment processorSupport not available via live chat Cons Not a good choice for multi-location restaurantsDoesn’t sell physical terminalsExpensive Cons High upfront feesNot beginner friendlyNo training mode 1. Square: Best for Scaling and Growing Your Restaurant Square 4.8 Pricing From £0 Square Review Suitable for Restaurants who want a low-risk option Chains with no more than three locations Businesses who want to integrate an online store Not suitable for Restaurants that change their table plan a lot Businesses that need cost management tools Restaurants that want to track ingredient usage Pricing See more See less Item typePrice EPOS software Free: £0/month; Plus: £69/month; Premium: custom Card processing fees From 1.75% Card machine £149 + VAT OR £25 + VAT/month for six months iPad stands (iPad not included) £99 + VAT OR £17 + VAT/month Register £599 + VAT KDS £549 + VAT OR £15 + VAT/month per device Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: The Square Terminal is a card machine that doubles as a mini POS device. We found it easy to use during testing, but did find it a little too wide to be held comfortably in one hand. Source: Square Photo: Here's what menu items look like in the Square backend. We were able to edit and add items quite easily. Source: Expert Market Photo: It was simple to add menu items to an order with Square Restaurants, and send them off to the kitchen. Source: Expert Market Square is the best EPOS system for scaling up your restaurant business.Its app-based software has a starting price of £0 per month, making it a good entry point for budding restaurateurs. At the same time, the advanced features of its paid plans (starting at £69 per month), and its wide range of hardware make Square equally suitable for small chains.However, we wouldn’t recommend it for restaurants with over three locations, because buying or renting Square’s hardware can get expensive if you need to purchase sets for several locations, and its inventory management features aren’t equipped to handle a large number of establishments, since it’s missing cost vs profit management and ingredient tracking. Clover or Lightspeed have both of these features and are good alternatives.Square’s transaction fees are also on the higher side, at 1.75%, but you can get lower ones if you opt for the Premium plan. This plan has custom pricing, and is available for restaurants that process over £200,000 a year. Or, you can opt for a provider that offers competitively low fees to all businesses, such as Clover.What Restaurant Features Are Included in Square’s EPOS System?On Square’s free EPOS plan, you’ll be able to manage orders, do the basics – such as set up your menu and table plan – from both the front and back end, and track which dishes have run out. The free plan also allows you to create an online ordering website, where you can take orders and accept payments.The £69 Plus plan and custom-priced Premium plan will give you access to more advanced features, such as the ability to access the EPOS system via mobile, customise your table plan, and reopen closed bills to make amendments.We found completing the basics quite easy during testing, but we struggled with a few more advanced tasks, like bill splitting, where we couldn’t figure out how to split a bill based on items in the order. This was much easier to do with TouchBistro, since it had a “split by seating” function clearly signposted.Other functions of a Square paid plan include in-depth reporting tools, allowing you to assess how your establishment is performing during different service hours, for example, and advanced employee management functions, such as sales reporting by team member.Here's what Square's floorplan looks like in darkmode. It's not the prettiest display, but but it can be customised. Source: Expert MarketWhat’s Square’s Restaurant Hardware Like?Square’s EPOS system is app-based, and is compatible with both Apple and IOS tablets, although these are not provided by Square.The equipment Square does provide is sleek and modern looking, which is a plus if aesthetics are important to your business. Available hardware includes:Register: A tablet stand and customer-facing touchscreen terminalCard machines: Most can accept contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile paymentsSolo tablet stand: Doubles as a contactless and chip and PIN card reader and the 2nd generation model has a swivel stand to allow for customer-facing transactionsKDS: With a 21.5 inch touchscreenAlso available through Square are a variety of cash drawers, receipt printers, accessories, and replacement parts.Is Square Easy to Use?Square’s EPOS system is relatively easy to use, although we found that setting up the back end was a little easier than dealing with the front end. The main actions we struggled with were locating the floor plan and creating a discount code.Another thing Square has going against it is that it doesn’t have a training mode, which could make teaching your staff how to use it a little tricky. Lightspeed is a good alternative if you require one. That said, Square has a help centre that has a large number of guides, including on how to set up and manage different features, like creating items, and modifying orders. 2. Clover: Best Professional Restaurant Hardware Clover 4.8 Pricing Custom Get Free Quotes Clover Review Suitable for Medium to large restaurants Owners or managers who want to deep dive into their analytics Businesses that want top of the range hardware Not suitable for Small pop ups or simple establishments (food trucks or independent cafes) Businesses who want clear pricing Restaurants who want automated tip sharing tools Pricing See more See less EPOS kit (software and hardware) Custom (based on transaction volume, revenue, and your specific needs) Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: We appreciated that we were able to see reports on Clover in graphs and chart form, since it made interpreting data easy. Source: Expert Market Photo: We like the Clover Flex a lot. It wasn't too heavy to hold, and we could access the full software dashboard directly from it. Source: Expert Market Photo: We could customise all aspects of Clover's floorplan, besides table colour, which is a bit of a shame. Source: Expert Market Clover is the best EPOS system for professional restaurant hardware. Its collection ranges from countertop solutions complete with screens (no need to purchase your tablets separately), to handheld devices that sync with the main EPOS system, and allow you access to all features, from order management to reporting.During testing, we particularly liked Clover’s customer display screens: they’re bright and very reactive to touch, making it easy for customers to use them. Another standout was Clover’s fingerprint login function, making it quicker for staff to access the interface and serve customers.However, since Clover doesn’t disclose its pricing for UK businesses, it’s not the best option for newly started establishments, who might prefer clear pricing to help them budget, as provided by Square or Epos Now.Clover does disclose pricing for US businesses, which ranges from $1,699 + $89.95 per month to $4,097+ $129.85 per month. If those metrics are anything to go buy, Clover isn’t a cheap option. Businesses such as food stalls or cafes, who don’t necessarily need the most advanced hardware on the market, will get a better deal with a supplier like Square.What Restaurant Features Are Included in Clover’s EPOS System?Clover’s EPOS system includes all the basics and more. You can create custom table plans that perfectly match your restaurant’s layout, create customised orders for guests, and even transfer orders from one table to another if customers switch seats.We found the process of adding modifiers to orders particularly easy with Clover. They have to be set ahead of time in the backend, but once that’s done they appear as an option in the frontend when entering an order. Some restaurants, however, might prefer a system of order notes, like the kind Lightspeed Restaurant has, which offers full flexibility to customers requesting modifications.Other functions available with Clover include real-time table statuses, tracking and transferring bar tabs, sending orders straight to the kitchen, splitting bills, managing staff, taking bookings and tracking your sales.When it comes to employee and inventory management, Clover offers a customised approach, which means you can pick the features you want. Additional features include stock alerts and profit tracking, and advanced employee scheduling.There’s also a Clover app store, where you can find a variety of marketing and reporting tools to integrate into your EPOS system.What’s Clover’s Restaurant Hardware Like?Clover has three main pieces of POS hardware: a complete countertop system, a tablet, and a handheld device. All have a sleek design, responsive screens, and fingerprint login for quick access.Here are the options:Clover Station Pro: The most heavy-duty piece of equipment. It’s a countertop station complete with a staff screen on a built-in stand, a customer-facing terminal (complete with screen) and a receipt printer. It’s best suited to large, busy restaurantsClover Mini: A small tablet with a short, built-in stand that doubles as a card terminal. It’s best for mid-sized restaurantsClover Flex: A handheld device that connects to both Wifi and 4G, it doubles as a card machine and EPOS interface. It has a built-in receipt printer, which connects with larger Clover devices via the cloud, making it a great option for table serviceClover also offers two restaurant accessories, an order ticket printer for the kitchen, and a cash drawer.The Clover Station Duo comes with a cash drawer, customer display, and receipt printer (not pictured here). Source: Expert MarketIs Clover Easy to Use?We found Clover much easier to use than the other EPOS systems we tested – with the exception of TouchBistro – because the layout of the front and backend is very straightforward. Everything is nicely spaced out, avoiding clutter, and Clover makes use of different colours to visually separate items from each other.However, Clover doesn’t have a training mode, and its support centre doesn’t have as large a library of guides as competitors like Square. 3. Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Driving Customer Loyalty Lightspeed 4.5 Pricing From £109/month Lightspeed review Suitable for Businesses who want to pay no upfront costs Restaurant owners looking to expand and grow Establishments who have extensive and complex inventories Not suitable for Businesses who want a physical terminal Restaurants that need automated tip management Restaurants that change their floor plan frequently Pricing See more See less Item typePrice Essential plan (EPOS software only) £109/month Premium plan (EPOS software only) £339/month Enterprise plan (includes hardware) Custom Card processing fees with Lightspeed Payments 0.5%-2% (depending on transaction volume) Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: Here's a look at order summaries in Lightspeed 's POS system. We appreciated the level of detail awarded to each order. Source: Expert Market Photo: We were big fans of Lightspeed's floor and table plan, which allowed for complete customisation. Source: Expert Market Photo: We didn't have trouble finding and selecting products for checkout when testing Lightspeed Retail, since we had so few. But we liked that there was a search bar, which is a godsend when you have a varied inventory. Source: Expert Market Lightspeed Restaurant is the best EPOS system for restaurants looking to drive customer loyalty, thanks to its range of integrated marketing features. These include email and SMS marketing, loyalty programs, and automated marketing, all of which can entice customers to return.There’s also an optional Order Anywhere feature, which allows you to give your customers more ways to order, such as online, or via a QR code. These tools can help create a loyal customer base and contribute to growth.One major downside to Lightspeed is that it doesn’t provide you with the tablets (it only works with Apple iOS) that its system runs on. Buying them separately, if you don’t already have them, can get expensive very quickly. If you want a provider that bundles software and hardware into one payment, Epos Now is your best bet.What Restaurant Features Are Included in Lightspeed Restaurant’s EPOS System?Besides its marketing and loyalty tools, Lightspeed Restaurant also has a robust array of restaurant management features.You’re able to customise your floor plan, menu, and screen, which is especially useful for customer-facing screens and KDSs. Other top features include ingredient usage tracking, cost vs profit breakdowns for menu items, and automated resupply orders.We were a little disappointed in Lightspeed’s team management tools, however, since it doesn’t have a function for sharing tips between employees. If that’s your restaurant’s policy, you might to go with a system that enables this, like Square.Lightspeed’s EPOS system also has an offline function, which means it’ll log data even if you get disconnected from the wifi, and sync everything automatically when the connection returns. Square also has this function, but you have to enable it yourself, whereas Lightspeed’s is automatic.When you open an order tab on Lightspeed it gives you the option of applying a discount, which can encourage customers to return. Source: Expert MarketWhat’s Lightspeed Restaurant’s Hardware Like?Lightspeed’s EPOS software is completely app-based and only operates on iOS tablets, which aren’t available to purchase from Lightspeed.The KDS and customer display screens are also app-based, and Lightspeed doesn’t offer dedicated hardware for these. This means you’ll need to buy additional tablets, which can really drive up costs if you need to buy tablets for multiple locations.A lot of restaurants prefer these types of systems because they offer mobility to staff, but if you want dedicated KDS of customer display hardware, you can get them through providers like Clover, Square, or Epos Now.When it comes to accessories, here’s what Lightspeed can provide your restaurant with:iPad stand: A black, Lightspeed-branded stand for the counterCash drawer: Available in sizes large or small, and connects to the iPad standReceipt printers: A variety of Epson models are available, although the design is slightly clunkyCard machines: Two mobile card machines with built-in receipt printers (Castles S1F2 and Verifone V400m), and one mobile machine with a touchscreen but no receipt printer (Smart Terminal from Adyen)Is Lightspeed Restaurant Easy to Use?Lightspeed Restaurant is quite easy to use. We found the front end slightly more difficult to navigate and initially struggled with adding a note to an order and adding a customer’s details. However, creating and editing menus and table plans in the back end was simple enough.Lightspeed also has a training mode, which is particularly useful if you have a large team, and its help centre contains guides on a range of common topics, such as system setup (for both hardware and software), and how to use features such as table plans and order management. 4. TouchBistro: Easiest EPOS System to Operate TouchBistro 4.4 Pricing From $69 USD/month Suitable for Large and growing restaurant chains Businesses who want to make detailed, targeted promotions Establishments that need seamless KDS integration Not suitable for Businesses that want a physical terminal Restaurants who need mobile or QR code ordering Businesses who want automated tip management tools Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS software From $69 USD/month (£56) KDS $19 USD/month (£15) Advanced reservation management $229 USD/month (£185) Customer loyalty tools $99 USD/month (£80) Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: With TouchBistro, we were able to organize our menu into item groups and pages, set tax rules, and list ingredients. Source: Expert Market Photo: We weren't huge fans of how TouchBistro displays sales history, essentially imitating its receipt format. A list of transactions, or chart and graph would have given us better oversight into how the business was doing. Source: Expert Market Photo: We found it very easy to create clear and detailed floorplans using TouchBistro. Source: Expert Market TouchBistro is the easiest EPOS system to operate, thanks to its straightforward front and back-end interface, which accelerates order processing. We found it to be the most intuitive restaurant EPOS platform we tested.Part of what makes it so easy to use is the fact that you can customise which features you have on your system, which not only means you can avoid paying for features you don’t use, but you can also declutter your dashboard.On the downside, a lot of TouchBistro’s best features come as pricey add-ons, with features such as loyalty tools coming in at around £79 per month, and online ordering at £40 per month. This can drive up monthly overheads.What Restaurant Features Are Included in TouchBistro’s EPOS System?TouchBistro comes with all the features you need to successfully run a restaurant.Its table planning tools are particularly good. Floor plans can be edited from the front or back end, and you can even create and remove walls between tables, so that your floor plan exactly matches your restaurant. It allows for the most flexibility for floorplans of all the POS systems we tested.When it comes to preparing orders, TouchBistro has a separate software for KDSs, but it seamlessly integrates with the EPOS system. Your kitchen staff will be able to see tickets appear instantly on screen when an order is put through, and they’ll be able to clear completed orders in just two taps, thanks to the touch screen.For an extra fee, you can get access to marketing and loyalty tools, which allow you to, for example, create a customer app and rewards system. Marketing and loyalty tools cost an extra £79 per month, respectively. If you don’t feel like paying that much for loyalty tools, you could try Lightspeed instead, which has them built-in.There’s also an advanced reservation add-on, which is quite pricey at £185 per month, but it could be worth it for large, fine dining restaurants that need to treat their customers to a personalised service.TouchBistro's system allowed us to view digital receipts before printing them. Source: Expert MarketWhat’s TouchBistro’s Restaurant Hardware Like?TouchBistro’s EPOS software is completely tablet-based and is compatible with iPads – these can be provided to you, or you can use your own.The company doesn’t provide much detail on the other equipment it has in stock, but it does indicate that restaurants have two setup options:A light setup (suitable for small restaurants) that includes an iPad stand, cash drawer, receipt printer, and mobile card machineA complete setup (suitable for large restaurants) with all of the above, plus optional countertop card machines, extra tablets, and a desktop monitorTouchBistro doesn’t disclose the cost of its hardware, nor is any hardware included along with its EPOS software packages, which is a little frustrating. For cleared hardware pricing, look to Square, and for software and hardware packages, go to Epos Now.Is TouchBistro Easy to Use?TouchBistro is the easiest EPOS system to use. Overall, we found it to be exceptionally user-friendly, although we did find the dashboard menu titles to be a little vague at first.If you do encounter trouble, TouchBistro gives you a host of options for contacting customer support, including over the phone, live chat, email, or even social media. There’s also a training mode, which can speed up the learning process, especially if you have a large staff. 5. Epos Now: Best for Managing Complex Inventories Epos Now 4.3 Pricing From £225 (one-off fee) Suitable for All restaurant sizes from small to large Restaurants with extensive and complex inventories Business owners who want to minimise monthly overheads Not suitable for Establishments that want automated tip sharing Users who are unfamiliar with EPOS systems Business owners who want to pay nothing upfront Pricing See more See less Item typePrice EPOS software and basic hardware package From £225 (includes physical terminal, cash drawer, and receipt printer) Payments, care, and support subscription From £25/month KDS From £15/month Card machine From £19/month Receipt printer From £129.99 Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: We were able to generate a wide variety of reports with Epos Now, including by time of day employee, and even drinks vs food sales. Source: Expert Market Photo: Here's what Epos Now's standard terminal looks like from the customer's perspective. There's a customer screen where they can view their transaction. Source: Expert Market Photo: With Epos Now, we were able to create several variants of the same menu item. This is useful if you run several food trucks and have a lot of menu variations. Source: Expert Market Epos Now is the best EPOS system for restaurants that need to manage complex inventories.The software is cloud-based and comes with advanced stock management features, such as stock alerts, bulk inventory uploads, and cost vs. profit analysis. The system lets you track ingredients and automates restock orders, and is capable of tracking activity across multiple locations. Tools like these can help your restaurant cut down on waste and identify profitable menu items, increasing your profits in the long run.Advanced features are great, but unfortunately, they do mean that Epos Now isn’t the easiest EPOS system to use. We found it to be one of the least intuitive systems. One example is when we tried to set up price scheduling, so prices would change depending on the time if service. It was difficult to find these functions since there were so many tabs and buttons to sift through. We had a much easier time finding this on Square.Overall, it’s not a good option for novices, who will fare better with TouchBistro, the easiest system we tested, or Lightspeed, which has a training mode.What Restaurant Features Are Included in Epos Now’s EPOS System?As we’ve mentioned, Epos Now’s inventory management tools are its standout features, allowing you to track ingredient usage in real-time, across multiple locations.When it comes to more essential restaurant features, Epos Now lets you customise and change table plans, so there’s no disconnect between what your staff see on screen and what they see in reality. The KDS syncs quickly with the EPOS system, so that last-minute order changes don’t get overlooked.Quite uniquely, Epos Now takes a hybrid approach when it comes to how its software is accessed. It can be used on a traditional EPOS terminal, and also accessed via an app on an iPad or Android tablet, or even via desktop, giving restaurant owners a lot of flexibility as to when and where they can use their system.What’s Epos Now’s EPOS Hardware Like?Epos Now’s basic restaurant hardware package includes a 15.6 HD touchscreen, a large customer display, a built-in receipt printer, a card machine, and a metal cash drawer from £225.The terminal itself is quite large, and the screen sits quite high up from the counter. This meant that it wasn’t the easiest touchscreen to type on, compared to say Clover or Square’s terminals. It’s definitely not suited to cramped counters.If that’s you, the tablet package is a better option. You’ll get a tablet (iPad or Android), with a rotating stand, receipt printer, and card machine. It costs £149 for an Android package and £349 for an iPad package.Other available hardware includes:Card machines: Three different mobile card machines, including one with EPOS softwareReceipt printers: Three different printers, including one that syncs orders with the kitchen or barKDS: one model, a large, black touchscreen monitorThere are a few other accessories available, including employee swipe cards (for fast sign-in) and kitchen scales.Epos Now’s hardware and software can be purchased as part of a package, with the company giving you the choice between one upfront payment or monthly payments for most items.Here's a look at Epos Now's physical terminal, which you'll get as part of a hardware/software package. It's pretty imposing, so it's not a good option for stores with limited counter space. Source: Expert MarketIs Epos Now Easy to Use?Epos Now isn’t the easiest system to use, mainly because the more advanced a system’s features are, the less intuitive it tends to be.During testing, we found that the front end was slightly easier to use than the back end, although we had no issue with basic tasks such as creating floor plans and assigning ingredients to menu items facilitated stock tracking. However, sifting through all the reporting and tracking options was a little overwhelming.Since Epos Now can be tricky, and it doesn’t have a training mode, it’s not a system we’d recommend to restaurants that have inexperienced teams. For a more beginner-friendly option, we’d recommend TouchBistro or Clover. Buying Guide: How to Choose a Restaurant POS SystemWhen choosing a restaurant POS system, you should first define your specific needs, which will vary depending on the size of your restaurant, how you serve your food (for example, counter ordering, table service, or QR code), and the number of locations you have.Here’s what to consider when evaluating your choices:PricingConsider upfront costs and monthly fees, as well as what’s included in them. Is it both software and hardware, or one and not the other? Make sure to include the added cost of integration, training, and transaction fees in your budgeting.Realistically plan for any projected growth as well. Choosing a system that can accommodate your expected future needs will prevent you from having to switch systems later down the line.SoftwareMake a list of must-have and nice-to-have features based on your restaurant’s operations to get a clear picture of what kind of system you genuinely need.These could include:Inventory management: To help you keep on top of your ingredients and prevent you from running out of something unexpectedlyReservation management: To help you book out tables in advance and gather customer dataStaff management: So you can reward your best employees and identify those that need further trainingOnline ordering functionality: So you can offer your food to takeaway customers or accept online pre-ordersAnalytics: So you can learn which meals are most popular, which staff members are processing the most transactions, and moreCustomer loyalty programs: So you can offer benefits that entice customers back to your restaurant as repeat visitorsIt’s worth being aware that if you prioritise features that help automate your workflows and prevent manual work, you may be able to reduce your labour costs.HardwareThink about the important pieces of hardware that your business needs, and how many of them you need – from POS terminals and card machines to receipt printers, kitchen printers, and cash drawers.Not all providers automatically provide you with card machines, for example. They’re sometimes replaced with a tablet or terminal that can take payments. However, if you need your staff to do table service, you’ll need an EPOS provider that can supply you with mobile card readers.If you have existing hardware, and want to save yourself having to buy everything new, find an EPOS system that’s compatible with your existing equipment. Most EPOS providers appreciate that you might be switching to them from another supplier, and that you won’t necessarily want a complete overhaul of all your hardware.Add-ons and integrationsYou should also pay attention to the software that your chosen EPOS system can integrate with.If you already use software, such as accounting software, make sure the EPOS system you choose has a ready-made integration for it, as this will help you streamline operations.It’s also a good idea to check what other add-ons or apps are available via an EPOS system. Some providers offer advanced marketing or reporting features as add-ons, usually for an extra fee – but if these seem particularly valuable to your business, they could be worth the extra spend.Customer supportMake sure you check how available the EPOS provider’s customer support team is, and how easily reachable they are.An EPOS provider should have a customer support phone line that’s open on weekdays, at the very least. Live chat support and community forums you can go to in a pinch are a welcome addition.You should also check the training resources, onboarding support, and post-implementation support terms provided by the EPOS provider to ensure your team will get the support they need to learn the new system. How much do restaurant EPOS systems cost?When budgeting for an EPOS system for your pub or restaurant, there are a few categories to consider.Monthly software fees and upfront paymentsEPOS system providers typically charge a monthly fee for their software, although there are a few that charge a one-off upfront payment, which usually includes the cost of hardware as well.You should expect to pay between £60-£300 per month to use EPOS software depending on your needs, and this fee usually also covers the cost of renting basic hardware. Some providers, like Square, offer their software for no cost, but you’ll buy their hardware upfront.Hardware costsEPOS system hardware can either be bought for an upfront, one-time cost, or paid monthly as part of one ongoing fee that covers software and hardware.Upfront fees for card machines range from £15 to £150, while terminals can cost up to £400. Monthly fees for renting hardware are usually combined with the cost of the software.Transaction feesTransaction fees are a separate charge from the monthly software and hardware fees you pay. They can range from 0.2% to 1.8% per transaction, depending on your provider.Some EPOS providers are also payment service providers, which means you can negotiate transaction fees with them. Typically, the higher your transaction volume is, the lower the fees will be – if they operate on negotiable fees.An EPOS system such as Square, on the other hand, has fixed-rate fees, which means you pay the same rate, no matter how many orders you take.You also have the option of going with a different company to your EPOS provider for payment processing, in which case they, and not your EPOS provider, will determine your fees. Our Methodology: How We Test Restaurant POS SystemsThe Expert Market team tested and assessed 15 different POS systems to bring you this list. We spend around 160 hours researching EPOS platforms, and over 20 hours testing them. During that time, we used our learnings to evaluate how each EPOS system fared in six categories that are important to businesses, broken down into up to 12 subcategories, in order to get an impartial ranking.Here’s what we looked at:EPOS software: the breadth of features included in the EPOS software, and how valuable they are to the average business, including inventory management, menu/product creation, customer engagement tools and table management.Hardware/equipment: the variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as physical terminals, customer displays, and accessories.Ease-of-use: how easy each system is to use, based on feedback from several average users who were assigned basic tasks to complete on each system, such as menu/item creation, accessing reports, or applying a discount.Help and support: how effective and reachable the customer support teams are, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centres and training modes.Costs: the price of the system, how it compares to competitors, and whether it's good value for money.User experience: whether everyday users know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviews.We gave each EPOS system a score in each of the above testing and research categories and combined them to produce an overall score, which was used to rank them.This axis graph shows the number of features vs usability of restaurant EPOS systems we tested. It's visual representation of the results of our research process. Source: Expert Market Verdict Square, Clover, and Lightspeed Restaurant are the top three best EPOS systems for restaurants.Square is an affordable, scalable option for single location restaurants looking to open new branches, while Clover has the best equipment on the market, capable of handling busy establishments.Lightspeed Restaurant is great for customer engagement, and can help you foster a loyal base that’ll keep coming back to dine with you.If any of the EPOS systems on this list tickle your fancy, you can use our free quote tool to be matched up with the best restaurant EPOS systems for you. Just give us a few brief details about your restaurant business and we’ll do the hard work. You’ll then be contacted by trusted suppliers with obligation-free quotes for you to compare. FAQs Do I need an EPOS system specifically designed for restaurants? An EPOS system that’s specifically designed for restaurants will have features targeted towards your business’s specific needs. An EPOS system for a retailer will have different functions and features than a system for a restaurant, so choosing a specialised system will make it much easier to run a smoother operation. How do you set up a restaurant EPOS system? The setup procedure will vary by EPOS system, and you should receive full instructions from your provider. In general, these are the steps you’ll need to follow:Set up user permissions and credentials for managers, cashiers, and servers based on their roles.Install EPOS hardware like terminals, receipt printers, cash drawers, kitchen printers, and barcode scanners.Configure menu, table plans, tax rates, payment methods, loyalty programs, and interface settings in the back end of your software.Integrate additional software, such as accounting software, ecommerce channels, or other tools you use to consolidate data and workflows.Train your staff thoroughly on using the new EPOS system What's the process for switching EPOS providers? If you’re switching from one EPOS system to another, the process will vary slightly depending on your provider and the details of your contract. This is what you should expect to do:Migrate your data, including menus and any customer databases, to your new systemEnsure that your payment processor is compatible with the new systemIntegrate your third-party apps with your new softwareAdapt your existing hardware or arrange to obtain new hardware if necessaryTrain your staff to successfully use the new system What should I do if my EPOS system goes down? If your EPOS system goes down, your priority should be restoring service rapidly while minimising disruption. Firstly, troubleshoot basic issues such as checking your wifi connection, rebooting your systems, and ensuring everything is plugged in correctly.If the issue persists, get in touch with your EPOS provider’s customer support. Many offer 24/7 help to get you back up and running. In the meantime, take manual orders on paper to keep a record of sales, and once the system is operational again, identify the root cause of the issue to avoid recurrence. Written by: Tatiana Lebreton Senior Grow Online & Business Software Expert Tatiana is Expert Market's resident payments and online growth expert, specialising in (E)POS and merchant accounts, as well as website builders. Reviewed by: Oliver Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years in operational B2B data analysis, Oliver became a business insight specialist in 2022 and now focuses full-time on understanding small business preferences and needs. He blends his quantitative skills, forged by his experience working as a law enforcement researcher, with qualitative exploration, to ensure robust and nuanced results.