Quick Overview
- 1#1: Toast - Cloud-based POS and restaurant management platform handling orders, payments, inventory, payroll, and analytics.
- 2#2: Lightspeed Restaurant - All-in-one POS system for restaurants with inventory, staff management, online ordering, and multi-location support.
- 3#3: Square for Restaurants - Affordable POS solution with contactless payments, menu management, and reporting for small to mid-sized eateries.
- 4#4: TouchBistro - iPad-native POS designed for full-service restaurants with floor plans, tableside ordering, and loyalty programs.
- 5#5: Revel Systems - Cloud POS platform offering customizable hardware, real-time reporting, and integrations for restaurants and retail.
- 6#6: Restaurant365 - Integrated platform combining accounting, operations, inventory, and scheduling for multi-unit food businesses.
- 7#7: Oracle Hospitality - Enterprise POS and management suite for large-scale hotels, restaurants, and food service operations.
- 8#8: NCR Voyix - Comprehensive POS and back-office solutions for quick-service and full-service restaurants with digital ordering.
- 9#9: MarketMan - Inventory and procurement software automating purchasing, recipe costing, and waste tracking for F&B venues.
- 10#10: 7shifts - Labor management tool for restaurants providing scheduling, time tracking, communication, and tip pooling.
Tools were evaluated based on robust feature sets, intuitive design, consistent performance, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring they cater to diverse operations—from small eateries to large hospitality networks.
Comparison Table
Finding the right food beverage software can streamline operations, and this comparison table breaks down top tools like Toast, Lightspeed Restaurant, Square for Restaurants, TouchBistro, Revel Systems, and more. Readers will discover key features, pricing insights, and usability factors to identify the best fit for their business needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toast Cloud-based POS and restaurant management platform handling orders, payments, inventory, payroll, and analytics. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
| 2 | Lightspeed Restaurant All-in-one POS system for restaurants with inventory, staff management, online ordering, and multi-location support. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Square for Restaurants Affordable POS solution with contactless payments, menu management, and reporting for small to mid-sized eateries. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 4 | TouchBistro iPad-native POS designed for full-service restaurants with floor plans, tableside ordering, and loyalty programs. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 5 | Revel Systems Cloud POS platform offering customizable hardware, real-time reporting, and integrations for restaurants and retail. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 6 | Restaurant365 Integrated platform combining accounting, operations, inventory, and scheduling for multi-unit food businesses. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Oracle Hospitality Enterprise POS and management suite for large-scale hotels, restaurants, and food service operations. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | NCR Voyix Comprehensive POS and back-office solutions for quick-service and full-service restaurants with digital ordering. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | MarketMan Inventory and procurement software automating purchasing, recipe costing, and waste tracking for F&B venues. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | 7shifts Labor management tool for restaurants providing scheduling, time tracking, communication, and tip pooling. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
Cloud-based POS and restaurant management platform handling orders, payments, inventory, payroll, and analytics.
All-in-one POS system for restaurants with inventory, staff management, online ordering, and multi-location support.
Affordable POS solution with contactless payments, menu management, and reporting for small to mid-sized eateries.
iPad-native POS designed for full-service restaurants with floor plans, tableside ordering, and loyalty programs.
Cloud POS platform offering customizable hardware, real-time reporting, and integrations for restaurants and retail.
Integrated platform combining accounting, operations, inventory, and scheduling for multi-unit food businesses.
Enterprise POS and management suite for large-scale hotels, restaurants, and food service operations.
Comprehensive POS and back-office solutions for quick-service and full-service restaurants with digital ordering.
Inventory and procurement software automating purchasing, recipe costing, and waste tracking for F&B venues.
Labor management tool for restaurants providing scheduling, time tracking, communication, and tip pooling.
Toast
specializedCloud-based POS and restaurant management platform handling orders, payments, inventory, payroll, and analytics.
Fully integrated online ordering and delivery management with built-in marketplace access
Toast is a leading cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system tailored for restaurants and food & beverage businesses, offering end-to-end management from order taking to payments and reporting. It includes features like tableside ordering, kitchen display systems, inventory management, employee scheduling, loyalty programs, and online ordering integrations. Designed to handle high-volume operations, Toast provides robust analytics to drive profitability and operational efficiency.
Pros
- Comprehensive restaurant-specific features including offline mode and kitchen displays
- Powerful analytics and reporting for data-driven decisions
- Excellent integrations with delivery apps and third-party services
Cons
- Higher pricing can be steep for very small operations
- Proprietary hardware increases upfront costs
- Occasional reports of slower customer support response times
Best For
Mid-sized to enterprise-level restaurants and bars needing a scalable, all-in-one management platform.
Pricing
Custom pricing starting at ~$165/month per location for core POS, plus ~2.99% + $0.15 transaction fees and hardware costs.
Lightspeed Restaurant
specializedAll-in-one POS system for restaurants with inventory, staff management, online ordering, and multi-location support.
Unified omnichannel platform that synchronizes in-store POS, online ordering, and delivery in real-time for a single view of operations.
Lightspeed Restaurant is a robust cloud-based POS system tailored for food and beverage businesses, offering comprehensive tools for order processing, inventory management, and table service. It supports multi-location operations with features like online ordering, delivery integrations, employee management, and advanced reporting. The platform emphasizes omnichannel capabilities, enabling seamless transitions between in-store, takeaway, and delivery sales.
Pros
- Extensive integrations with delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash
- Powerful inventory and analytics tools for multi-location restaurants
- Reliable cloud-based performance with offline mode support
Cons
- Higher pricing may deter very small operations
- Occasional customer support delays reported
- Additional costs for hardware and advanced add-ons
Best For
Mid-sized to enterprise-level restaurants with multiple locations needing advanced omnichannel and inventory management.
Pricing
Starts at $69 per location/month (Restaurant plan), plus payment processing fees (2.6% + $0.10 online) and one-time hardware costs; enterprise plans custom.
Square for Restaurants
specializedAffordable POS solution with contactless payments, menu management, and reporting for small to mid-sized eateries.
Interactive floor plan for real-time table management and server handoffs
Square for Restaurants is a cloud-based POS system tailored for the food and beverage industry, offering tools for order taking, payment processing, kitchen display systems, and online ordering. It integrates inventory management, staff scheduling, and reporting to streamline restaurant operations. Designed for small to mid-sized establishments, it emphasizes simplicity and scalability without requiring long-term contracts.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with minimal setup time
- No monthly software fees, only transaction-based pricing
- Seamless integration with online ordering and delivery apps
Cons
- Higher transaction fees for high-volume restaurants
- Limited advanced analytics compared to enterprise solutions
- Hardware costs can add up for full deployment
Best For
Small to medium-sized restaurants seeking an affordable, user-friendly POS system without contracts.
Pricing
Free POS software; 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction (card-present), hardware from $0-$799.
TouchBistro
specializediPad-native POS designed for full-service restaurants with floor plans, tableside ordering, and loyalty programs.
Offline mode with full POS functionality, ensuring seamless operations without internet connectivity
TouchBistro is an all-in-one iPad-based POS system tailored for full-service restaurants, bars, and quick-service eateries in the food and beverage industry. It streamlines operations with features like tableside ordering, menu management, payment processing, inventory control, staff scheduling, and real-time reporting. The platform supports offline functionality to ensure uninterrupted service during internet outages, and integrates with various third-party apps for online ordering and delivery.
Pros
- Restaurant-specific features like floor plans and table management
- Reliable offline mode for high-volume service
- Robust analytics and reporting for business insights
Cons
- High pricing with additional hardware costs
- Limited to Apple iPads, no Android support
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
Best For
Ideal for independent full-service restaurants and bars seeking a comprehensive, mobile POS with strong offline capabilities.
Pricing
Custom pricing starts at around $69 per terminal/month (billed annually), plus payment processing fees (2.3% + $0.10 per transaction), hardware, and add-ons.
Revel Systems
specializedCloud POS platform offering customizable hardware, real-time reporting, and integrations for restaurants and retail.
Integrated Kitchen Display System (KDS) for efficient order routing and fulfillment
Revel Systems is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) platform designed specifically for restaurants and food & beverage businesses, offering tools for order management, inventory tracking, and payment processing. It supports iPad hardware for countertop, mobile, or self-service kiosks, with features like employee management, customer loyalty programs, and real-time reporting. The system emphasizes scalability for quick-service to full-service operations, including offline capabilities and integrations with delivery apps.
Pros
- Robust restaurant-specific features like KDS and table management
- Excellent inventory and reporting analytics
- Reliable cloud syncing with offline mode support
Cons
- High subscription costs per terminal
- Relies heavily on Apple iOS hardware
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
Best For
Mid-sized restaurants and bars seeking a scalable, feature-rich POS with strong inventory and analytics capabilities.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month per device (Starter), up to $299+/month (Pro); hardware and processing fees extra.
Restaurant365
enterpriseIntegrated platform combining accounting, operations, inventory, and scheduling for multi-unit food businesses.
Real-time profit and loss statements synced with operational data for instant financial visibility
Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one restaurant management platform tailored for the food and beverage industry, integrating accounting, operations, inventory, and payroll functionalities. It automates key back-office tasks like AP/AR, recipe costing, scheduling, and financial reporting, with seamless integrations to popular POS systems such as Toast and Square. The software provides real-time dashboards and analytics to help restaurant operators make data-driven decisions across multi-location enterprises.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of accounting, inventory, and operations in one platform
- Strong POS and vendor integrations for streamlined data flow
- Real-time reporting and recipe costing for precise profitability insights
Cons
- Steep learning curve and lengthy implementation for new users
- Pricing is high, better suited for mid-to-large operations
- Limited front-of-house features compared to dedicated POS systems
Best For
Multi-location restaurant chains and groups needing robust back-office automation and financial management.
Pricing
Quote-based pricing, typically $300-$600 per location per month depending on modules, users, and scale.
Oracle Hospitality
enterpriseEnterprise POS and management suite for large-scale hotels, restaurants, and food service operations.
Seamless integration of Simphony POS with OPERA Cloud PMS for unified front- and back-of-house operations across entire hospitality portfolios.
Oracle Hospitality offers enterprise-grade food and beverage software solutions, primarily through its Simphony POS and OPERA Cloud platforms, enabling point-of-sale transactions, inventory management, menu engineering, and labor scheduling for restaurants, bars, and hotel F&B outlets. It integrates seamlessly with broader property management systems for unified operations across hospitality venues. The suite leverages Oracle's cloud infrastructure for scalability, real-time analytics, and mobile ordering capabilities tailored to high-volume environments.
Pros
- Highly scalable for large chains and multi-property operations
- Deep integrations with PMS, CRM, and Oracle ecosystem
- Advanced analytics and reporting for data-driven decisions
Cons
- Complex implementation and customization process
- High upfront and ongoing costs
- Steep learning curve for non-technical staff
Best For
Large hospitality chains and hotel groups needing enterprise-scale F&B management with full property integration.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; subscription model typically $3,000–$10,000+ per month per property, plus hardware and implementation fees.
NCR Voyix
enterpriseComprehensive POS and back-office solutions for quick-service and full-service restaurants with digital ordering.
Unified Commerce Platform providing real-time, centralized data insights across all sales channels and locations
NCR Voyix offers a robust, enterprise-grade point-of-sale (POS) and management platform designed for food and beverage operations, including quick-service restaurants, full-service dining, and hospitality venues. Key capabilities include cloud-based order management, inventory tracking, kitchen display systems (KDS), loyalty programs, and omnichannel ordering for in-store, online, and delivery. It emphasizes scalability, real-time analytics, and integration with third-party delivery services, making it suitable for multi-location chains.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set with strong omnichannel support
- Highly scalable for enterprise and multi-location operations
- Reliable integrations with payments, delivery apps, and ERP systems
Cons
- High implementation costs and complexity
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
Ideal for mid-to-large restaurant chains and enterprises needing scalable, feature-rich POS with advanced reporting and global payment processing.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at $100-$250 per month per location, plus hardware, setup fees, and transaction-based costs.
MarketMan
specializedInventory and procurement software automating purchasing, recipe costing, and waste tracking for F&B venues.
AI-powered invoice processing that automatically matches deliveries to POs and flags discrepancies
MarketMan is an inventory management platform tailored for restaurants, bars, hotels, and foodservice operations, automating purchasing, real-time stock tracking, and cost control. It integrates with POS systems, vendors, and accounting software to streamline operations from order to invoice reconciliation. Key tools include recipe costing, waste tracking, and production planning to minimize food costs and improve profitability.
Pros
- Robust real-time inventory tracking with barcode scanning and mobile app
- Automated purchasing and vendor invoice matching to reduce manual errors
- Strong integrations with POS, accounting, and major suppliers
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small single-location businesses
- Initial setup and learning curve for complex features
- Reporting and analytics lack depth compared to top competitors
Best For
Mid-sized restaurants, chains, and foodservice businesses seeking comprehensive inventory and purchasing automation.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting around $150-$300 per location/month, with tiers for basic to enterprise needs including add-ons for advanced features.
7shifts
specializedLabor management tool for restaurants providing scheduling, time tracking, communication, and tip pooling.
AI-driven Auto Scheduler that uses historical sales data and POS integrations for predictive, optimized shift planning.
7shifts is a robust workforce management platform tailored for restaurants and food & beverage operations, focusing on employee scheduling, time tracking, and labor cost control. It integrates seamlessly with popular POS systems like Toast and Square to enable sales-driven forecasting and automated scheduling. The software also supports shift trading, team messaging, and performance insights to streamline daily operations and reduce overtime expenses.
Pros
- Powerful scheduling tools with auto-fill and forecasting based on POS data
- Strong mobile app for employee self-service and communication
- Comprehensive labor cost tracking and reporting to optimize profitability
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for multi-location businesses
- Advanced reporting and custom integrations often require higher tiers
- Steep learning curve for complex forecasting features
Best For
Multi-location restaurants and chains seeking efficient scheduling and labor management integrated with POS systems.
Pricing
Starts at $29.99 per location/month (Essentials), $49.99 (Pro), and $130+ (Enterprise), billed annually with a free trial.
Conclusion
The review underscores top-tier tools that redefine efficiency in food and beverage operations, with Toast emerging as the unanimous leader due to its versatile all-in-one suite covering POS, inventory, and analytics. Lightspeed Restaurant and Square for Restaurants stand out as strong alternatives—Lightspeed for multi-location and online ordering, Square for affordability—ensuring there’s a fit for diverse business needs.
Don’t miss out on optimizing your business; start with Toast, the best-in-class solution to streamline workflows and boost performance.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison