Small restaurants don't need enterprise-level POS systems. You need something reliable, affordable, and easy to use — without the complexity and cost of solutions designed for multi-location chains.

Here are the best POS systems for small restaurants in 2025, ranked by value and simplicity.

What Small Restaurants Actually Need

Small restaurants need simple, affordable POS systems without enterprise complexity

Essential Features

• Order entry and checkout
• Basic inventory tracking
• Simple reporting
• Payment processing
• Receipt printing

Nice-to-Have Features

• Online ordering
• Basic employee management
• Customer database
• Loyalty program

What You Don't Need

• Multi-location management
• Advanced labor analytics
• Complex inventory forecasting
• API integrations
• Enterprise reporting

Top POS Systems for Small Restaurants

1. Square for Restaurants — Best Free Option

Square's free tier is genuinely usable for small restaurant operations

Starting Price: Free (no monthly fee)
Processing: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction

Square offers the best free POS for small restaurants. Unlike other "free" options with severe limitations, Square's free tier is actually usable for ongoing operations.

What's Included Free:

• Unlimited items and transactions
• Basic reporting
• Payment processing
• Online ordering (basic)
• Works on iOS and Android
• No long-term contract

Paid Upgrade (Plus: $60/month):

• Table management
• Course management
• Advanced employee features
• Team Plus management

Hardware:

• Use your own iPad/tablet (free)
• Square Stand: $149
• Square Reader (contactless): $49
• Kitchen printer: ~$300

Total Starter Cost: As low as $49 (reader only with your device)

Best for: Very small restaurants, cafés, food trucks, owners on tight budgets

Read our Toast vs Square comparison

2. Toast Starter Kit — Best Free Full-Service

Starting Price: Free (Starter Kit)
Processing: 2.99% + $0.15 (higher than paid plans)

Toast's Starter Kit offers a free entry point for restaurants wanting their ecosystem without upfront costs.

What's Included Free:

• Basic POS software
• Toast hardware provided
• Payment processing
• Online ordering
• Basic menu management

The Catch:

• Higher processing rates (2.99% vs 2.49%)
• Toast-proprietary hardware only
• Limited features
• Paid upgrades needed for most restaurants

Best for: Restaurants who want Toast but can't afford upfront costs

3. Clover — Best Local Support

Clover is sold through local resellers who can provide hands-on support

Starting Price: $0-60/month (varies by reseller)
Processing: 2.3-3.5% (varies by reseller)

Clover works through local resellers, which can be an advantage for small restaurants wanting local, hands-on support.

Key Features:

• Professional hardware
• Flexible software
• Local reseller support
• Restaurant apps available

Important Warning:

• Always buy hardware outright (never lease)
• Get multiple quotes from different resellers
• Watch out for hidden fees

Best for: Restaurants wanting local, in-person support

Read our Clover review

4. TouchBistro — Best Reliability

Starting Price: $69/month
Processing: Varies (flexible processor choice)

TouchBistro's hybrid architecture means your POS keeps working even when internet goes down — critical for small restaurants that can't afford outages.

Key Features:

• Works offline (hybrid mode)
• iPad-based
• Payment processor flexibility
• Built-in reservations
• Good for full-service

Hardware Requirement:

• Mac Mini server (~$700 one-time)
• iPad(s)
• Card reader

Best for: Full-service restaurants prioritizing reliability

Read our TouchBistro review

5. SpotOn — Best Value Overall

Starting Price: $25/month
Processing: 1.99% + $0.20

SpotOn offers competitive pricing with lower processing rates than Square or Toast.

Key Features:

• Lower processing fees
• Restaurant-focused features
• Online ordering included
• Marketing tools
• Loyalty built-in

Best for: Small restaurants doing high transaction volume

Quick Comparison

Total Cost Examples

Smallest Setup (Café/Counter)

A simple café can start with just a tablet and card reader

Square Free + BYOD:

• Monthly: $0
• Hardware: $49 (Square Reader)
• First year: $49 + processing

Estimated monthly (at $10,000 revenue):

• Processing: ~$270
• Total: ~$270/month

Small Full-Service Restaurant

Square Plus:

• Monthly: $60
• Hardware: $500-800 (register + KDS + printer)
• First year: $1,220-1,520 + processing

Estimated monthly (at $30,000 revenue):

• Software: $60
• Processing: ~$810
• Total: ~$870/month

Comparison: Small Restaurant Annual Costs

Estimates assume $30,000/month in card transactions

What About "Free" POS Scams?

Be cautious of "free" offers that hide costs in processing or leases

Red Flags

1. Hardware leases — Never lease POS hardware. You'll pay 2-3x the cost and can't keep it.

2. Extremely low monthly fees — If software is cheap, processing rates are likely high.

3. Long contracts — Avoid multi-year commitments, especially for new restaurants.

4. "Free" terminals — Often tied to unfavorable processing agreements.

Questions to Ask

• What are the total monthly costs including processing?
• Can I buy hardware outright?
• What are the cancellation terms?
• Are there hidden fees (batch fees, statement fees, PCI fees)?

Do You Even Need a POS?

For the simplest operations, you might not need a full POS:

QR Ordering Alternative

Fuudey and similar QR ordering solutions let customers:

• View menu on their phone
• Place orders
• Pay directly

When it works:

• Very simple operations
• Limited menu
• Tech-savvy customers
• Want to avoid POS hardware costs

See our QR menu guide

Square's Basic App

Square's basic (non-restaurant) app is free and handles:

• Card payments
• Basic item library
• Simple reporting

For very simple needs, you might not need the restaurant-specific version.

Implementation Tips

1. Start Simple

Don't overbuild. Start with the basics and add features as needed.

2. Use Your Own Hardware

If possible, use your own iPad/tablet instead of buying proprietary hardware. Saves money and adds flexibility.

3. Skip Add-Ons Initially

Loyalty programs, advanced analytics, and integrations can wait. Focus on core functionality first.

4. Test During Slow Hours

Don't go live during Friday dinner rush. Practice during slow periods first.

5. Keep Paper Backup

Have a plan for when technology fails. A simple paper backup prevents complete shutdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest restaurant POS?

Square for Restaurants Free is the cheapest viable option — $0/month with processing at 2.6% + $0.10.

Can I use my own tablet?

With Square, yes. With Toast and some others, no — you must use their hardware.

Do I need a kitchen display system?

Not necessarily. Many small restaurants work fine with printed tickets. KDS is a nice-to-have, not essential.

What about cash-only restaurants?

Square and most POS systems still help with order management. But if you're truly cash-only with no cards, you might just need a cash register.

How long does setup take?

For a simple Square setup: 1-2 hours. For more complex systems: 1-2 days.

Conclusion

Small restaurants thrive with simple, affordable POS solutions

Small restaurants don't need expensive, complex POS systems. The best choice depends on your specific situation:

Our recommendations:

• Tightest budget: Square for Restaurants (Free)
• Full-service on budget: Square Plus ($60/month)
• Want local support: Clover (with research)
• Reliability priority: TouchBistro
• High volume: SpotOn (lower processing)

For the simplest operations, consider QR ordering without a traditional POS.

Start simple, grow as needed, and don't get locked into expensive contracts. Your POS should make your life easier, not drain your budget.