The restaurant business is known as the most profitable business in 2025, and the food and restaurant industry has spread all over the globe.
Modern technology makes the business make it smoother, just like a POS is a restaurant point of sale system, this technology makes the restaurant business more convenient.
With the help of this POS software, restaurant professionals can manage their inventory, production, stock, sales, supply, kitchen services, and staff through this digital technology.
The POS system not only solves daily tasks as well as also helps to make business-oriented decisions.
In this article, I have explored the top 10 restaurant POS systems, key factors, and their comparative analysis.
So dig into the article, and with the help of this top 10 restaurant POS system, restaurants can boost their business with the help of an automation system.
What to Look for in a Restaurant POS System
- Security – PCI compliance, encryption, and fraud prevention to protect data and payments.
- Functionality – Should handle orders, payments, table management, inventory, reporting, and CRM.
- Scalability – Must grow with your business, supporting more transactions and multiple locations.
- Integration – Connects with accounting, inventory, and delivery apps to reduce manual work.
- Ease of Use – Simple, intuitive design that requires minimal staff training.
- Cost – Balance hardware, subscription fees, and add-ons with overall value.
- Customisation – Adapt menus, pricing, and layouts to match your restaurant’s workflow.
- Customer Support – Reliable 24/7 help with training resources and quick response times.
Comparative Table of 10 Best Restaurant POS Systems in the UK
Here’s a neat and clear comparative table of the top 10 restaurant POS systems based on the provided data:
Toast
Toast is known for its exceptional user-friendliness. The system has a clean, intuitive design that makes order entry and payment processing fast, even during peak hours. One of its strengths lies in customisation, as menus and layouts can be easily adapted to match the restaurant’s workflow.
It integrates seamlessly with essential tools such as payroll and order management platforms, ensuring smooth coordination between the front and back of house. The starting price is similar to competitors’, around £55–60 per month, making it a good value for its features.
Toast is highly scalable, supporting restaurants that operate across multiple locations. The platform offers strong customer support, with phone, email, and live chat options. Security is also robust, with data encryption and compliance measures in place.
Reviews of Toast are generally positive, with restaurant owners praising its reliability and ease of use.
Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a versatile POS system that offers a wide range of features. It allows customers to order and pay at the table, supports takeout and delivery, and provides advanced reporting tools that help owners make data-driven decisions.
Integration is another area where Lightspeed excels. It connects effortlessly with online ordering systems and reservation platforms, creating a seamless experience for both customers and staff.
The monthly cost starts at around £55–60, similar to Toast. It is highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses operating across multiple sites. Lightspeed also delivers strong customer support, including onboarding training.
Security is a priority, with end-to-end encryption protecting sensitive data. User reviews are largely positive, especially highlighting its ease of use and comprehensive feature set.
Square
Square has earned a reputation as one of the most accessible restaurant POS systems. It offers features such as customizable menus, automatic tipping, and flexible discounting options, making it a great choice for smaller restaurants.
Its integrations cover third-party delivery apps, loyalty programmes, and other essential restaurant tools. What sets Square apart is its pricing: the entry-level version is free to use, though advanced features come at a cost.
Square is ideal for small-to-medium businesses. While it is not as powerful as systems like Lightspeed or Toast, its simplicity and affordability make it attractive to many startups. Customer support is available 24/7, and the system uses strong encryption to secure data.
Reviews are mixed: some users love its straightforward design, while others feel limited by its lack of more advanced features.
Revel
Revel is a cloud-based POS system that shines in larger, more complex restaurant environments. It includes useful features such as table ordering, custom reports, and even colour-coded timers for managing service times.
The system integrates easily with kitchen display screens and other restaurant technology, ensuring smooth communication between servers and chefs. Costs vary depending on the scale of the business, but it is generally priced higher than smaller POS systems.
Revel is designed to scale with large or multi-site restaurants, and it provides strong support through dedicated account managers and training. Security measures are industry-standard, keeping customer and business data safe.
Most users review Revel positively, praising its advanced features and support, though smaller restaurants may find it more than they need.
TouchBistro
TouchBistro is built with restaurant operations in mind. It includes individual staff logins, upselling reminders for waiters, and easy bill-splitting options, which makes it a customer-friendly choice. It also handles reservations and table management smoothly.
The system integrates with accounting software, gift card platforms, and loyalty programmes, ensuring all aspects of the restaurant are covered. Starting at around £55–60 per month, it is competitively priced.
TouchBistro is scalable, with the ability to handle growing operations. Its 24/7 customer support is fast and reliable, and its security features protect transactions against fraud.
User feedback is mixed: while many appreciate the features, others wish for even more flexibility in customisation.
Upserve
Upserve is a feature-rich POS system offering online ordering, advanced menu management, kitchen display functions, and multi-location management tools. This makes it especially appealing for restaurants planning to expand.
It integrates with payroll and loyalty systems, creating a unified workflow across departments. Pricing starts at around £47–50 per month, slightly lower than some of its competitors.
Scalability is one of Upserve’s strong points, as it is designed to manage multiple sites effectively. Customer support is reliable, with plenty of training resources available to help new staff get up to speed quickly.
Upserve uses tokenisation and encryption to secure customer data. Overall, reviews are positive, with many restaurants praising its advanced functionality.
Clover
Clover offers a highly customizable interface that allows restaurant owners to tailor workflows to their needs. Its integration capabilities cover analytics, inventory management, and online ordering platforms, making it a well-rounded option.
Costs start at around £45 per month, which is competitive. Clover can also scale to support enterprise-level businesses, making it suitable for restaurants of all sizes.
The company provides 24/7 customer support and prioritises strong security, including advanced reporting tools that help managers spot potential issues quickly.
User reviews are typically positive, with customers noting its flexibility and reliability.
MarginEdge
MarginEdge is designed for restaurants that need more advanced management features. It goes beyond typical POS systems by offering built-in accounting, food cost tracking, and detailed inventory management.
It integrates with a wide range of third-party platforms, and its multi-location access makes it suitable for larger organisations. However, it comes at a higher price point, averaging around £230–240 per month.
MarginEdge is well-suited for mid-to large-sized businesses that require deep operational insights. It offers 24/7 customer support, and its end-to-end encryption ensures data is secure.
Customer reviews are largely positive, especially from operators who value its focus on cost management.
Shopify POS
Shopify POS is a strong option for medium to large restaurants that are growing quickly. Known for its user-friendly design, it supports inventory management, multi-location setups, and online-to-offline sales integration.
Its monthly subscription starts at around £60–65, making it a mid-range option. The system is scalable, supporting restaurants as they expand into new locations.
Shopify provides dedicated customer support and includes standard security features to protect transactions and customer information.
Reviews are positive, particularly from users who already run their businesses on Shopify’s e-commerce platform and want smooth integration.
Lavu
Lavu is a POS system tailored to small and medium restaurants. Its standout features include dual pricing options, an advanced kitchen display system, and automated inventory management.
It integrates with a range of supporting tools, making it versatile despite its focus on smaller operations. The starting cost is around £47–50 per month, which makes it affordable compared to some of the more enterprise-oriented options.
Lavu is designed for scalability up to a certain level but is best suited for independent restaurants rather than large chains. Its 24/7 support is backed by training resources, and it uses modern encryption to secure transactions.
Users give it strong reviews, particularly for its affordability and ease of use.
FAQs
1. What is the best POS system for small restaurants in the UK?
For small and independent restaurants, Square and Lavu are excellent choices. They are affordable, easy to set up, and provide the essential tools needed without overwhelming smaller teams.
2. Which POS system is best for multi-location or chain restaurants?
Revel, Lightspeed, and MarginEdge are designed to handle multiple locations. They offer advanced inventory management, centralised reporting, and scalability that larger businesses need.
3. How much does a restaurant POS system cost in the UK?
The cost varies depending on the provider and features. Entry-level systems like Square can start free (with transaction fees), while others like Toast, TouchBistro, or Lightspeed typically begin around £50–65 per month. Premium systems such as MarginEdge can cost £200+ monthly.
4. Do restaurant POS systems integrate with online ordering and delivery apps?
Yes, most modern POS systems integrate with popular delivery apps and online ordering platforms. Lightspeed, Square, and Toast are especially strong in this area, making it easier to manage dine-in and delivery orders in one place.
5. What security features should I look for in a POS system?
A reliable POS system should offer end-to-end encryption, PCI compliance, fraud detection tools, and secure data storage. Providers like Toast, Clover, and Upserve are known for prioritising payment security and protecting customer information.
Conclusion
The best restaurant POS system depends on your business size, budget, and operational needs. Smaller restaurants may benefit from Square or Lavu for their affordability and simplicity, while larger operations may prefer Revel, MarginEdge, or Lightspeed for their scalability and advanced features.
If you’re just starting out, choose a POS that balances affordability with essential functionality. For growing businesses, prioritise scalability and integrations. With the right system in place, you can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver a better dining experience for your customers.
