How much does a restaurant POS system cost per month?

Restaurant POS software ranges from $0/month (JET POS, Square Free, Toast Starter Kit) to $69–$399/month for full-featured plans (Toast core, Lightspeed Restaurant). Card processing is the larger cost: most restaurant systems charge 2.49%–3.09% + 15¢ per card-present transaction. A restaurant doing $40,000/month in card sales pays roughly $12,000–$15,000 a year in processing alone — more than any software fee.

Do I need a POS with kitchen display and online ordering?

Full-service and busy quick-service restaurants benefit most from an integrated kitchen display system (KDS) and online ordering — Toast and Lightspeed build these in (often as paid add-ons). Small cafés and counter-service spots can run efficiently on kitchen printing alone, which keeps systems like JET and Square far cheaper.

WHICHpos › Best POS for restaurants

Best POS systems for restaurants (2026)

Q: What is the best POS system for a restaurant in 2026?

For full-service restaurants, Toast is the most capable — online ordering, kitchen display, coursing, and payroll in one platform — though it requires a 2-year contract and Toast Payments. For counter-service and cafés that want the lowest cost, JET POS ($0/month, pay-once hardware, any processor) and Square's free plan are the strongest picks. For bars and multi-location groups with heavy inventory, Lightspeed is the deepest. There is no single best — it depends on service style and budget.

Q: Which restaurant POS has no monthly fee?

JET POS ($0/month permanently, software included with the hardware) and Square's Free plan ($0/month but locked to Square processing). Toast's $0 Starter Kit has no monthly fee but charges a higher 3.09% + 15¢ processing rate and still carries a 2-year agreement.

By Ari FeldmanSenior POS reviewer·Pricing verified June 12, 2026·How we score

TL;DR: the short answer

For full-service restaurants, Toast (8.1/10) is the most capable, but it locks you into a 2-year contract and Toast Payments. For counter-service and cafés on a budget, JET POS (8.7/10) wins on cost ($0/month, pay-once hardware, any processor) and Square (8.4/10) is the easiest free start. For bars and multi-location groups, Lightspeed (7.3/10) has the deepest inventory tools. In every case, processing fees cost more than the software.

Best for full-service

Toast8.1/10

Coursing, KDS, online ordering and payroll in one platform, at the cost of a 2-year contract.

Read the review → Best value

JET POS8.7/10

$0/month, pay-once hardware, any processor. Best for cafés & counter-service.

Read the review → Best free start

Square8.4/10

A free plan and fast setup, good for new cafés and quick-service.

Read the review → Best for bars & multi-site

Lightspeed7.3/10

Serious inventory and multi-location reporting; watch the $400/mo third-party-processor fee.

Read the review →

Restaurant POS systems compared

The systems most restaurants shortlist, with the figures that matter for food service. Published US rates, June 12, 2026.

System	Best for	Software /mo	Card-present fee	Online order + KDS	Contract	Score
JET POS	Cafés & counter-service value	$0	Any processor	Kitchen printing; basic	None	8.7/10
Square	Free start, cafés & QSR	$0–$149	2.6% + 15¢	Add-on (KDS $30/mo)	Month-to-month	8.4/10
Toast	Full-service restaurants	$0–$69+	2.49% + 15¢	Native (paid add-ons)	2-year	8.1/10
Clover	All-in-one hardware	$0–$135	2.3–2.6% + 10¢	Via App Market	Device-locked	7.4/10
Lightspeed	Bars & multi-location	$69–$399	From 2.4% + 10¢	Native	Annual	7.3/10
TouchBistro Review soon	iPad full-service	From $69	Not published	Native (add-ons)	Annual	7.0/10

Scores follow our public methodology. See the full 9-system comparison for retail systems too.

What matters in a restaurant POS?

Four things decide whether a restaurant POS earns its keep:

The payment processing rate is the biggest number by far. At $40,000/month in card sales, the difference between a 2.49% and a 3.09% rate is about $2,900 a year. Systems that lock you to their processor (Toast, Square) take away your ability to negotiate it; systems that don't (JET) let you shop around.

Kitchen display and online ordering matter for full-service and high-volume quick-service kitchens, which run smoother with an integrated KDS and first-party online ordering. Toast and Lightspeed build these in (usually as paid add-ons). Small cafés often do fine on kitchen printing alone, which keeps cheaper systems viable.

Contract length and exit cost: a 2-year auto-renewing agreement (Toast's standard) is a real commitment, while month-to-month (Square) or no contract (JET) keeps you flexible. Always read the early-termination terms before signing.

Offline mode: card networks and Wi-Fi drop. A POS that keeps taking orders offline, and an owned, on-premise setup like JET's, avoids a dead register during a rush.

Full-service vs. quick-service: which should you pick?

Full-service restaurants (table service, coursing, tabs, tipping) get the most from Toast or, for iPad-based floors, TouchBistro; the depth pays for the contract. Quick-service, cafés, food trucks and bakeries rarely need that depth: Square starts free, and JET POS removes the subscription entirely while letting you keep your own payment processor. You can verify JET's restaurant pricing and the $0/month claim directly at jetpos.ai.

Restaurant POS FAQ

What is the best POS system for a restaurant in 2026?

Full-service: Toast (deepest features, 2-year contract). Counter-service and cafés on a budget: JET ($0/month, any processor) and Square (free start). Bars and multi-location: Lightspeed. It depends on service style and budget.

How much does a restaurant POS cost per month?

$0 (JET, Square Free, Toast Starter Kit) up to $69 to $399 for full-featured plans. Card processing (2.49% to 3.09% + 15¢) is the bigger cost: roughly $12,000 to $15,000/year at $40,000/month in sales.

Which restaurant POS has no monthly fee?

JET POS ($0 forever, software included with hardware) and Square's Free plan (locked to Square processing). Toast's $0 Starter Kit has no monthly fee but a higher 3.09% + 15¢ rate and a 2-year agreement.

Do I need kitchen display and online ordering?

Full-service and busy QSR: yes, and Toast and Lightspeed build these in. Small cafés and counter-service: kitchen printing alone is usually enough, which keeps JET and Square much cheaper.

Not sure which fits your restaurant?

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