If you’ve ever faced a throng of caffeine-craving customers from behind the register, you know how important it is to have a reliable point-of-sale (POS) system. The right coffee shop and cafe POS system will keep the line moving, include easy-to-use features and help turn customers into regulars. Look for a system that offers customer-facing displays for tipping, loyalty programs, employee time-tracking features and online ordering options. Jump to our picks for the best coffee shop and cafe POS systems.
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What is a cafe POS system?
A cafe POS system allows cafes and coffee shops to quickly accept payments (plus tips) from customers in line or at the counter, track sales data, spot trends and, in most cases, implement loyalty programs to keep customers coming back. They may also support online or in-app order ahead functions and accommodate cafes that serve food in addition to coffee and other drinks.
Learn more about POS systems
Discover more about the components that make up a POS system and how they can help your business run smoothly. Some POS systems are industry-specific, but others can be used universally.
What to consider when choosing a cafe or coffee shop POS system
Cafe POS system providers often charge a monthly subscription fee for POS software capabilities, though some offer basic plans for free. For each provider you’re considering, find out which plan includes all of the features your cafe needs — like inventory management and employee management, for instance — and make sure that monthly subscription fee fits into your budget for the foreseeable future.
At a minimum, cafes should consider POS systems that include a screen, cash drawer and receipt printer. A customer-facing display is another useful hardware feature that lets customers easily add tips to their totals. You’ll also want to decide whether you need a POS system that has an offline mode for accepting payments when Wi-Fi goes out. This feature may require you to buy a separate router.
If you’d like to be able to accept orders online as well as in person, make sure to check whether that capability costs extra or is included in your POS plan. Payment processing costs are another sticking point. To calculate your fees, plug your average number of monthly transactions and the average total receipt amount into our credit card processing fees calculator. It’s also important to find out whether your POS system lets you work with third-party processors or limits you to using its in-house payment processing services.
Extra features for managing employees and retaining customers can be nice to have, too. Look for the ability to let employees clock in and out and tip out when a shift is over. Additionally, customer loyalty programs can help employees spot regulars and motivate customers to keep coming in to rack up discounts or points.
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Restaurant POS Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall cafe and coffee shop POS | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Free plan; $69 Plus plan; $165 Premium plan. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square Restaurant POS's secure website |
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Using third-party payment processors | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Larger coffee shops that serve food | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0.00 Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Customer relationship management platform | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Lavu Learn more on Lavu's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Cash discount program | N/A Quote-based. | $10.00 and up. | Learn more on Lavu's secure website | ||
SpotOn Restaurant Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Customizable plans | 1.99% + $0.25 For most cards in paid plans. | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | ||
Lightspeed Restaurant POS Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Inventory management | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $189.00 $399 Premium plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website |
Our pick for
Overall cafe and coffee shop POS
Square Restaurant POS
Learn more
on Square Restaurant POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Free plan; $69 Plus plan; $165 Premium plan.
Square is easy to use and built to incorporate customer-facing displays for tipping. The free software plan, which comes with an online ordering page, may be sufficient for smaller cafes and coffee shops. With an array of add-ons, plan tiers and kitchen display system hardware, the product leaves room for growth, too.
Pros
- Free plan available.
- App and card readers are compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- Can pay for hardware in installments.
- No long-term contracts or installation fees.
- In-house payroll software available.
- All plans include a free online ordering page.
Cons
- Free plan doesn’t include 24/7 support.
Our pick for
Using third-party payment processors
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Unlike some of its competitors, which only let businesses use their in-house payment processing services, Clover’s hardware is available through third-party payment processors. This is especially advantageous for cafes and coffee shops that want a popular POS system, but prefer an interchange-plus processor as opposed to Clover’s flat-rate processing fees.
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Our pick for
Larger coffee shops that serve food
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
Toast's restaurant-oriented POS system makes it easy to update menus, track table statuses, split checks, add gratuity automatically, apply various discount rules — say, for happy hour — take online orders, manage multiple locations, track employee performance and accept tableside payments.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 support via web messaging.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Our pick for
Customer relationship management platform
TouchBistro
Learn more
on TouchBistro's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$69.00
and up.
TouchBistro’s loyalty program, which starts at $99 per month, lets cafes and coffee shops customize a web app that shows customers their rewards points and gives them an opportunity to leave feedback. You can also collect in-depth customer data, like how many times a patron has visited your business, their average receipt total and birthday.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Includes restaurant-specific features, like table and menu management.
- Optional profit management system provides tools for improving margins.
- As a hybrid POS system, TouchBistro can operate without the cloud. Offline capabilities include accepting payments, taking orders, editing menus and managing staff.
Cons
- Payment processing rates are quote-based, making them difficult to compare to the competition.
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
- No free plan options and charges setup fee.
- Ability to accept online orders costs extra.
Our pick for
Cash discount program
Lavu
Learn more
on Lavu's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$10.00
and up.
Lavu’s terminals are entirely iPad-based and business owners can piece together their hardware components, all the way down to the rotation bases and brackets. One of the company’s most unique features is its cash discount program that rewards customers for paying in cash and upcharges those who pay with a card.
Pros
- 24/7 phone and chat support.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
- Restaurants can set up timed menu changes, start customers’ tabs on one register and cash them out at another.
- Dual pricing program can help decrease payment processing fees.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot cancel subscription before term is up.
- Does not list payment processing or monthly software fees.
Our pick for
Customizable plans
SpotOn Restaurant
4.0
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25
For most cards in paid plans.
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
SpotOn’s monthly software fee and payment processing fees along with its ability to integrate with third-party hardware make this system an affordable and appealing option. SpotOn offers customizable add-on features such as a loyalty program and team management software. The company also has a strong reputation for its hands-on approach to customer support, from installation and training to 24/7 availability for assistance.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Our pick for
Inventory management
Lightspeed Restaurant POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Restaurant POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$189.00
$399 Premium plan.
Lightspeed Restaurant’s Essential and Premium plans include advanced inventory management features for tracking ingredient waste, calculating recipe costs and automating recurring orders to vendors. Inventory items are automatically deducted as they’re ordered from the menu and in-depth reporting is meant to help business owners improve profit margins. Read full review
Pros
- Offers advanced inventory management and recipe costing tools.
- All plans include CRM and loyalty programs.
- Essential and Premium plans include one-on-one support.
- 24/7 support available.
Cons
- Syncing with accounting software costs extra.
- Some plans may require long-term contracts.
- Lowest-tier plan is more expensive than competitors.
Full details: Best coffee shop and cafe POS systems
Square Restaurant POS
Best overall cafe and coffee shop POS
Why we like it: Square is easy to use and built to incorporate customer-facing displays for tipping. The Square Stand swivels to face the customer, while the Square Register has a separate customer-facing screen. The free software plan, which comes with an online ordering page, may be sufficient for smaller cafes and coffee shops. However, with an array of add-ons, plan tiers and kitchen display system hardware, the product leaves room for growth, too. Read our full Square POS for Restaurants review.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
Clover POS
Best for using third-party payment processors
Why we like it: Clover's core software plan for counter service restaurants like coffee shops includes a loyalty program and no-fee online ordering. In addition, Clover Flex and Mini POS systems are equipped with LTE, a standard for wireless data transmission, which will kick in during Wi-Fi outages and allow cashiers to continue taking orders as usual. And if your coffee shop deals with long lines, the handheld Flex POS system enables staff to take orders anywhere. Read our full Clover POS review.
- $0 for Clover Go Payments, Retail Starter and Personal Services Starter plans.
- $14.95 for Clover Go Essentials, Professional Services Starter, and Standard and Home & Field Services Starter and Standard plans.
- $59.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $79.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $84.95 for Retail Standard and Professional, Personal Services Standard and Advanced, and Home & Field Services Advanced plans.
- $89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $104.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Full-Service and Quick-Service Restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Standard and Advanced plans, Professional and Personal Services Standard and Advanced plans, and the Home and Field Services Advanced plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on the Retail and Personal Services Starter plans and the Home and Field Services Standard plan.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
- $199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $279 for countertop card reader.
- $649 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer.
- $599 for slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
- $3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
Toast
Best for larger coffee shops that serve food
Why we like it: As NerdWallet's top overall pick for restaurant POS systems, Toast is a solid pick for cafes and coffee shops that sell made-to-order food options and plan to expand. Highlights include an offline mode, in-house delivery service, the Toast TakeOut app for online ordering, a $50-per-month loyalty program and a kitchen display system. Read our full Toast POS review.
- $0 for Starter Kit plan.
- $69 Point of Sale plan.
- Custom plans available.
- 3.09-3.69% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose a pay-as-you-go plan.
- 2.49% plus 15 cents for card-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
- 3.50% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
- $799.20 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,024.20 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,339.20 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
TouchBistro
Best customer relationship management platform
Why we like it: TouchBistro's software is locally installed, meaning it's fully functional in the event of a Wi-Fi outage. Just ensure your payment processor is integrated with the POS or has its own offline mode so you can continue accepting payments. In addition, the company's loyalty program, which starts at $99 per month, doubles as a customer relationship management platform. The program keeps track of customer data like allergies, birthdays and preferences and sends targeted offers to customers, making it easier to recognize repeat customers and their orders. Read our full TouchBistro review.
- $69 for base plan.
- $25 for gift cards feature.
- $50 for online ordering feature.
- $99 for loyalty features or marketing features.
- $229 for reservations feature.
TouchBistro Payments is quote-based and works with third-party payment solutions.
Quote-based.
Lavu
Best cash discount program
Why we like it: Lavu's terminals are entirely iPad-based and business owners can piece their hardware components down to the rotation bases and brackets. One of the company's most unique features is its cash discount program that rewards customers for paying in cash and upcharges those who pay with a card. Read NerdWallet's Lavu POS review.
Subscription pricing starts at $9.99 per month.
Lavu Pay, the system's integrated solution, is quote-based; using a third-party payment processor costs $20 per month per terminal.
Lavu's POS terminals use iPads, which can be bought through Lavu or elsewhere. The Vault Pro iPad enclosure is $219. Stands, rotation bases, receipt printers and cash drawers are sold separately.
SpotOn Restaurant
Best for customizable plans
Why we like it: Similar to Toast and TouchBistro, SpotOn can support full-service restaurants as well as smaller cafes or coffee shops that also serve food. And with its add-ons — like DoorDash delivery, digital menus, gift cards, loyalty programs and reservations — SpotOn gives business owners the flexibility to customize their plans and just pay for what they need.
- $0 for Quick Start plan.
- $99 for Counter-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- $135 for Full-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- Custom pricing available as well.
- 1.99% plus 25 cents for most cards in the Counter-service, Full-service and Customizable plans.
- 2.89% plus 25 cents for Quick Start plan subscribers (this processing rate includes hardware and software costs).
- 2.99% plus 25 cents for reward, international, corporate and keyed-in cards.
- $600 for the KDS.
- $750 for the Station POS.
- $850 for the Counter POS.
- Other hardware devices, like the handheld option, are custom.
Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for inventory management
Why we like it: Lightspeed Restaurant’s focus on detailed inventory management makes it a good option for cafes and coffee shops that are trying to maximize profit margins and see how different menu items are impacting their bottom line. For that reason, it’s most cost-effective for cafes that are working with a large number of ingredients and also serving food. Read NerdWallet's Lightspeed Restaurant review.
- $189 for Essential plan.
- $399 for Premium plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $79 for Mobile Tap V2 card reader.
- $199 for iPad stand or swivel stand.
- $329 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
Last updated on July 10, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
