Australia is blessed with many point of sale (POS) systems, but few straightforward and affordable ones for a small restaurant or café.
We’ve tested a wide range of hospitality POS to compare their value against each other. We looked at costs and which types of business the features are best for.
One thing we look for is ease of use. Easy POS is one you can set up quickly and has all the hospitality features needed at the register. Even easier is a setup already linked to a payment system.
Contract lock-in is another factor many POS providers like to sneak in – but not all solutions require this.
Let’s compare the best POS systems for restaurants and cafés we recommend specifically for Australia.
| Hospitality POS |
Pricing | Best for | Editor’s view |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
From $79*/mo | Full service, hotels and any restaurant | “All the features you need in an iPad POS, with good help from support” |
 |
$0-$129/mo | Quick-service and cafés with a busy kitchen | “Square doesn’t clutter the POS with too many features – it’s just very efficient” |
 |
From $499*/yr | Stable restaurants that might have a retail area too | “Widest choice of POS equipment and software that caters to retail too” |
 |
From $0/mo | New food and drink venues | “An easy iPad POS to grow with, and many will like it’s an Australian company” |
 |
Custom plans requiring a quote | Larger, multi-venue restaurants | “This is a premium, tailored POS that costs quite a lot – but it’s high quality” |
*Excludes GST
Lightspeed Restaurant – all-in-one POS for most food businesses
Key details
- Plans from $79 + GST/month
- Annual and monthly plans
- Runs on iPad only
- Card payments integrated
- Suits small to multi-location restaurants
Pros
Cons
Lightspeed POS has been through several iterations, but we approve of the latest version for hospitality we tested: Lightspeed Restaurant (K-series).
It’s an iPad point of sale accommodating for full-service restaurants and bigger establishments. Yet even for me as a single user, the system felt user-friendly once I got the hang of it.
“Inventory features are enough for many small table-service restaurants. But I’d say probably the biggest strength of Lightspeed Restaurant is how the team helps to set the system up, so even those with no experience can get an easy start.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
Image: MobileTransaction
The software works with a WiFi connection, but the offline mode enables you to carry on operations during internet outages.
Lightspeed gives all new users a free video onboarding session where you can have any questions answered. Their customer support lines are open 24/7, excluding holiday periods. Emailing and web chatting are also possible, and there’s a help section online.
The cheapest plan, ‘Starter’, is great for cafés, bars and quick-service. It actually has many features like pay-at-table, bar mode, takeaway and restaurant workflows and integrated payments.
Still, we recommend ‘Essential’ for quick- and full-service restaurants in need of inventory, online ordering and multi-location management.
Chains and hotels with more advanced revenue insights or need for integration with property management software should opt for ‘Premium’.
Cost for first register licence
Starter: $79/mo
Essential: $179/mo
Premium: $359/mo
Per extra register: $39/mo
Note: Prices exclude GST.
The POS system has basic inventory features (e.g. purchase orders via email and wastage tracking), but advanced inventory functions require the higher plans. Different add-ons are available, such as a kitchen display system and pickup order screen.
Lightspeed has its very own card payment system, but you must first get the EFTPOS machines from Lightspeed. Transactions are charged as a fixed lump sum per month, but there’s no monthly fee for terminal hire.
No other EFTPOS integrates with Lightspeed any more (Tyro used to), which we think is a problem for business owners looking for the best merchant fees.
The software connects with well-known platforms for accounting, online ordering, marketing and more. We don’t think you’ll feel stuck if you can afford the extra software and add-ons.
How do I learn more?
Contact Lightspeed for a call, download the POS app on iPad and try the free demo (with limited features).
Square for Restaurants – good value, with payment tools
Key details
- Monthly plans from $0
- Runs on iPad and Square hardware
- Card payments integrated
- Suits small, fast-paced restaurants
Pros
Cons
Square for Restaurants is a POS system for fast-paced cafés, small restaurants and quick-services.
It’s my personal favourite for its robust app that’s frequently updated and improved, but I didn’t like how it forced me to customise tons of workflows when I first wanted to test it. Still, that’s a good sign it works around your business rather than dictating how you should process orders.
The software works on iPad and Square’s POS and payment terminals, but you get many extra online payment tools integrated with the front-facing POS system.
Image: MobileTransaction
To sign up, you only need to complete a short online form and connect a bank account. You can then start using the Restaurants Free plan for essential hospitality features or Plus for all the restaurant features.
The software is simple, but sufficient, for a small restaurant where checkouts need to coordinate kitchen orders and table service. It has great syncing between front- and back-of-house.
The Free plan lacks some important features like close-of-day reports, seat and course management, advanced employee management and a Kitchen Display System (KDS). These are all included on the Plus for $129 incl. GST monthly for unlimited registers at one location.
Pricing
Free plan: Free
Plus plan: $129/mo per location
Note: Prices include GST.
The iPad app works with Square Reader or you can use the POS software on Square Register ($1,099 incl. GST) with a touchscreen and attached card terminal. The standalone Square Terminal works well for table service payments. All card transactions cost 1.6% regardless of the type of card.
“Square is excellent for fast access to funds with its instant payout option. And it’s one of the fastest and most clutter-free POS systems we’ve tried, but you first have to spend some time setting up all the workflows and inventory.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
Apart from POS features, you can set up click and collect, integrate with takeaway platforms and accept bookings over the phone. Alternatively, you can use eGift Cards, payment links and QR codes for touch-free ordering.
Overall, Square offers excellent value for money, but we recommend trialling the software in case it lacks something you need.
The Free plan only includes customer support on business days between 9 am and 5 pm, but Plus has 24/7 support to suit social hours.
How do I learn more?
Sign up on Square’s website to start a 30-day free trial of Plus, or just use the Free plan indefinitely.
Epos Now – custom packages for any hardware setup
Key details
- Annual plans from $499 + GST/year
- Runs on iPad, Android and Windows
- Card payments integrated
- Ideal for any size restaurant
Pros
Cons
Epos Now is a scalable system that works on most devices – iPad, Windows and Android tablets. Based on my tests, I think it’s suitable for small businesses and large restaurant chains alike.
The Epos Now software is fundamentally the same for hospitality and retail, with customisations specifically for food and drink included. The company also sells hardware bundles with touchscreen monitors, receipt printers, cash drawers and more.
It has its own payment system (Epos Now Payments) with a fixed 1.7% Visa and Mastercard rate, but the EFTPOS terminals cost extra.
Image: MobileTransaction
There are three subscription tiers: Standard, Premium and Enterprise. In all of them, you can add unlimited products, users and customers, and software and security updates are included. The Standard and Premium plans both have cloud reporting, while the Enterprise plan has more advanced reporting.
Epos Now offers 24/7 customer support – but only on Premium. You just get email support and initial help to set up on the Standard plan, so you’re mainly left to your own devices.
The Enterprise plan provides onsite support.
POS pricing
Annual plans from $499* upfront
* GST is added to prices.
We think it’s a stretch to charge extra for customer support (with Premium) – it’s be a deal-breaker for certain cash-strapped merchants. Most other POS systems include phone support at any price level.
“Epos Now doesn’t have the most appealing app interface – the text is small and the blue colour scheme is not for everyone. I still think it’s a good POS system with useful integrations like card payments and affordable hardware.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
While there have been reports of limited features, technical issues getting started and usability challenges, Epos Now offers many essential functions for restaurants and the option to integrate with popular apps for accounting, marketing and customer loyalty.
You can also rent touchscreen PC terminals in equipment bundles if you can’t afford to purchase them upfront.
How do I learn more?
On the website, you can request a callback for more information.
Abacus – modern, frequently updated iPad app
Key details
- Monthly plans from $0/month
- Runs on iPad
- Integrates with Tyro, Smartpay, NAB, Westpac or Stripe for payments
- Best for small restaurants
Pros
Cons
Abacus is an easy-to-use POS system for iPad. The app is very frequently updated, which we know is a good sign.
In 2023, Abacus was acquired by Liven, a hospitality tech company, so the POS system now forms part of this wider software platform. Still, Abacus POS works similarly to before, but may be offered along with other software or hardware.
Photo: Abacus
Abacus offers custom packages to suit your physical setup, but its POS app is available in App Store for those who just need a simple, perhaps portable, POS register.
The software is cloud-based and works with an ongoing internet connection or offline.
The free ‘Access’ Abacus subscription includes one register licence free. This is great for trying out the system or if you just have a straightforward setup.
For more POS features and registers, you pay $49 per extra tablet. With 4 total licences, your subscription is called ‘Grow’, whereas ‘Enterprise’ is for more than 4 registers. The higher than plan, the more advantages you get, like accounting integrations and “restaurant mode”.
POS pricing
Access plan, 1 register: $0/mo
Grow and Enterprise plans: Custom pricing
* GST is added to prices.
The POS app includes essential restaurant features like floor plans, menu, course and staff management. You can add discounts, tips, surcharges and check your business remotely via an Android or iPhone app.
Advanced functions are available as add-ons for inventory management, online ordering, loyalty tools, a kitchen display system, waiter tablets, and more.
“Abacus is under rapid development since Liven’s acquisition of the company, so we expect to see changes in the product. That’s not bad – but make sure you know what you’re buying into when signing up.”
– Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor, MobileTransaction
You get some decent reporting tools to analyse sales and staff performance, as well as end-of-day reports. The software connects with popular EFTPOS machines from Tyro, Westpac, Stripe and Smartpay.
Customer support is available via live chat or email between 7 am and 11 pm Melbourne time. If you provide a phone number, a team member can call you right away during this time, but there is no helpline to dial directly.
Impos – personalised setup for established venues
Key details
- Custom pricing
- Runs on Windows and iPad
- Payments integrated
- Best for large restaurants
Pros
Cons
Impos is a premium POS system for medium-to-large food and drink venues, with tailored packages only. It offers everything a restaurant needs to run a professional business, but certain shortfalls mean it doesn’t suit many small businesses.
The main issue is a lack of transparency about features and pricing, which means you’ll likely pay several $100s per month just for the software and a lock-in contract. Although the website says you can use it with any operating system, there is no iPad or Android app available publicly. If requested, Impos can set up a portable iPad register, but it does not have all the POS features available on a computer.
Photo: Impos
Instead, it is encouraged you buy or rent an industry-grade touchscreen register through Impos. These POS terminals are made to withstand liquid splashes and dirty environments – important for many coffee shops and dining venues.
The POS interface in the register software is colourful and highly customisable. It has in-depth reporting, inventory, rostering, table and staff management functions. Waiters can even log into the software with their fingerprint, if not swiping a staff card on the commercial-grade touchscreen till.
POS pricing
Custom quote only
The extent of available customer service depends on your support plan, which is separate from the POS subscription. The basic support package includes business-hours support, whereas premium plans include dedicated 24/7 support that cannot be cancelled until after 12 months.
Impos has its own EFTPOS payment system now: ImposPay. Although the company is eager for you to use that, it still connects with Tyro EFTPOS machines as an alternative.
The POS system mainly stores information on your local hardware, as opposed to the cloud, which makes it fast in offline mode. As a downside, integrations with online software may not work as well as Impos’ own features installed on your premises.
