6 Best iPad Restaurant POS for 2022

The iPad is the preferred device for restaurant owners, who are opting to use this tablet-style POS system over traditional methods like cash registers. The devices can be used in a variety of settings and offer retailers more ways to interact with their customers on the go.

The “best ipad for pos system” is a device that allows restaurants to keep track of their orders, inventory and other information. The best iPad POS systems are the 6 that we recommend in 2022.

A point-of-sale system for iPads is not only practical, but also cost-effective and portable. In a world where 77 percent of customers choose contactless dining alternatives, this mobility can make a big impact. iPad POS systems often employ iPads for everything from customer-facing displays to kitchen display systems (KDS) and self-ordering kiosks, in addition to regular POS terminals. An iPad POS also allows you to view your restaurant data from anywhere thanks to cloud-based software.

The finest iPad Restaurant POS POS systems, according to our research, are:

Comparing the Best iPad Restaurant Point-of-Sale Systems

How We Assessed iPad Restaurant Point-of-Sale

Based on what’s vital to independent eateries, we examined a dozen of the most popular iPad POS systems. We evaluated each system based on its pricing, Payment Processing and Mobility capabilities, as well as front-of-house and back-of-house functionality. We also took into account the opinions of our retail and restaurant specialists on each instrument.

Restaurant Lightspeed is the best iPad restaurant POS based on the aforementioned criteria. According to our grading methodology for iPad restaurant POS software, the program obtained the highest overall grade (4.21 out of 5). Restaurant Lightspeed is one of the top POS software we would personally suggest based on our personal experience testing various POS software and working with and with small companies who use POS systems on a daily basis.

Please see the tabs below for a complete list of our assessment criteria:

20%

Payment Processing and Mobility

20%

Back-of-the-house and Office Equipment

20% of the overall score

We sought for low-cost systems with no restriction on the number of users per terminal. We also gave preference to those who had a free plan and were on a month-to-month contract.

20% of the overall score

Integrated payment processing POS systems received bonus points, however all of the POS systems on our list accept credit cards and contactless payments. Most of them included an offline mode that allowed you to record payments that would be processed once you were back online.

20% of the overall score

We created our own ranking based on features and functionality vs. pricing, as well as real-user evaluations from trustworthy sources such as Capterra and G2.

*Percentages based on total score

Overall, Restaurant Lightspeed POS is the best iPad restaurant POS.

Restaurant Lightspeed

AVERAGE RATING: 4.21 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

• Seasonal eateries benefit from the month-to-month subscription option.
• Integrates with PMS (Property Management System) systems in hotels.
• Provides a 14-day free trial.

What Isn’t There

• Some features are charged on a monthly basis.
• Payroll processing is not included in workforce management software.
• Integration is required for vendor management.

Restaurant Lightspeed Pricing

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is:
  • When paid yearly, the cost is $59 each month.
  • When paid on a month-to-month basis, the cost is $69 each month.
  • The cost of extra terminals is $34 per month.
• There are no one-time installation expenses.
• Processing costs vary depending on the processor you choose. Lightspeed Payments, Cayan, Worldpay, or Bridgepay are all options.

Restaurant Lightspeed is a cloud-based, all-in-one iPad POS that regularly lands on our best restaurant POS systems list. With an affordable $59 per month plan, multiple options for integrated payment processing, and a do-it-yourself installation, Restaurant Lightspeed is equipped to support restaurants of all types. All the features you need are present, from complex menu modifiers, ingredient-level inventory, check splitting, offline payments, and an integrated KDS. Though a few of these features come with additional monthly fees.

Restaurant Lightspeed earned a 4.21 out of 5 on our iPad restaurant POS scoring criteria. It scored well for its affordable pricing structure (only free Restaurants have a square. scored higher). Restaurant Lightspeed also scored well for its front-of-house features like its built-in kiosk mode. It could have scored higher if the inventory tools included vendor management (like Lightspeed’s Upserve and Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on do) or more tools in the baseline POS (like Rezku).

Restaurant Lightspeed Standout Features

• Free trial: Restaurant Lightspeed is the only POS on this list that offers a free trial. Of course, competitor Restaurants have a square. offers completely Baseline POS for free software, which sidesteps the free trial question. But when you’re only looking at $59 to $69 per month out of pocket, a free trial is an excellent opportunity for small restaurants to test the software before committing.
• Month-to-month subscription option: Restaurant Lightspeed offers a monthly subscription option for small restaurants that operate seasonally. You pay only for the months when your bar or restaurant is active, and your business information is vaulted for you until your next business season.
• Quick Service mode: For bars and counter service restaurants, Restaurant Lightspeed includes a Quick Service ordering mode. This mode keeps ordering and payment buttons on a single screen and reduces button pushes so your team can create orders faster.
• Order Ahead: Restaurant Lightspeed calls their online ordering module Order Ahead. You design your Order Ahead online ordering site from the Restaurant Lightspeed back-office dashboard. The site fully integrates with your POS; online orders appear automatically in your order stream. You can accept orders for in-house pickup, curbside pickup, or delivery. For delivery, you can use a team of in-house drivers or rely on third-party drivers.
• Customer self-ordering tools: Restaurant Lightspeed users have several options for customer self-ordering. You can use QR codes to receive orders and payments from customer smartphones. If proper self-service kiosks are your style, you operate self-ordering tables in table mode (where the tablet is tied to a specific table) or kiosk mode (at a counter).

Visit Restaurant Lightspeed

Restaurants have a square.: The Best Free iPad POS System

Restaurants have a square.

4.03 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Baseline POS for free
• Higher subscription levels have a 30-day free trial.
• There are no long-term contracts.

What Isn’t There

• Pre-authorization of cards for bar tabs is not possible.
• Multiple user rights are not included with the free POS.
• Integrations are required for inventory and staff scheduling.

PricingRestaurants have a square. Pricing

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is:
  • Free – $0 – Free
  • $60 for one terminal, and $40 for each additional terminal
  • Premium — based on a bespoke quotation
• There are no one-time installation expenses.
• Fees for processing:
  • 2.6 percent + 10 cents if a card is present
  • 2.9 percent + 30 cents for online payments

Square is a popular and simple-to-use point-of-sale system for many sorts of businesses. Its free restaurant POS system includes product-level inventory, online ordering, rudimentary reporting, and an unlimited number of terminals. The basic subscription is free, with just a small fee for Square’s integrated payment processing, but Square also provides a more sophisticated version that includes additional features like auto-86ing. It’s ideal for restaurants, tiny cafes, and food trucks on a budget, particularly those with basic menus.

Square received a 4.03 out of 5 star rating. It gets a lot of marks for having a free plan—the it’s only POS on our list that has one. However, it lost some points since several essential features need integrations or an advanced strategy to reach the degree of detail achieved natively by Lightspeed and others. To access to ingredient-level inventories, for example, it requires an integration.

Square, on the other hand, is hard to match if you require a strong iPad POS system at a great pricing. Square’s restaurant POS isn’t at the top of our list, but it does have some of the finest POS software for small companies.

Using Square’s setup tutorial, you may build a free Square Online Store. (Image courtesy of Square)

The KDS from Square is high-contrast and simple to read. (Image courtesy of Square)

You can access Restaurants have a square. reports on the POS or any internet browser. (Image from Square)

Restaurants have a square. Standout Features

• Baseline POS for free: Unlike the other systems on this list, Restaurants have a square. offers free software for its entry-level iPad POS. Users can use iPads they already own and get started using Square for free. With There are no long-term contracts., you can use the POS for as long as you need it, then move to a higher subscription tier or a whole different system if your restaurant’s needs change.
• Free online ordering: All Square users are entitled to a free online ordering portal. Square’s site building wizard makes it simple to get started. In an hour or two, the majority of users may begin taking online sales. You don’t even need a website; you can host your online ordering site for free with a Square URL.
• Square small business suite: Restaurants have a square. POS users also gain access to the full suite of Square’s small business tools. In addition to the Square Online store, you can get their easy-to-use marketing, payroll, and appointment booking.
• Integrations: If you want a feature that Restaurants have a square. lacks, you can probably find an integration for it. Square hosts an app marketplace where you can find several options for email marketing, accounting, ingredient-level inventory, employee scheduling, food delivery, and more.

Visit Restaurants have a square.

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on: Best for High-Volume Restaurants Interested in In-House Delivery

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on

4.01 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Inventory management software that is robust
• A large number of integrated hardware peripherals are available.
• Payment processing alternatives are many.

What Isn’t There

• Pricey
• A three-year contract is normal.
• There is a one-time installation cost.

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on Pricing

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is: $99 per terminal per month
• Installation costs are one-time and start at $674.
• Fees for processing: Varies based on your chosen processor. Choose from Revel Advantage, First Data, Heartland, TSYS, Worldpay, Chase Paymentech, or Elavon.

Revel is one of the priciest iPad POS systems for restaurants, since it requires an installation cost that most others do not. Revel’s extensive reporting and numerous order modifiers make it an excellent solution for busy restaurants with complicated menus. High-volume restaurants may search for the lowest processing rate from a third-party processor or the built-in Revel Advantage since they can pick their own payment processing option.

Revel is a great iPad POS for restaurants that need peripheral devices such as KDS and self-service kiosks, earning 4.01 out of 5 ratings. Though we believe Revel is best suited for bigger businesses and those with more sophisticated demands due to its pricing, onboarding help, and breadth of features. However, the system lost points in our rating due to its exorbitant price. TouchBistro is a good option if you want a lot of integrated hardware at a reasonable price.

Revel’s self-service kiosk operates on iPads like the rest of the POS system. (Image from Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on)

You can arrange complex order combos on a single screen to speed the order process. (Image from Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on)

You can assign orders directly to drivers from the Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on POS. (Image from Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on)

Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on Standout Features

• Revel’s menu modification panels can handle the most complicated requests, from build-your-own pizzas to all types of meal bundles. To speed up orders, you may usually group various modifier kinds on a single screen.
• Detailed reporting: Unlike Restaurant Lightspeed and Restaurants have a square., Revel includes customized reporting in the baseline POS. You can customize report views and export reports as .csv files for further analysis.
• Delivery management: With Revel’s sophisticated driver management capabilities, you may manage a team of in-house drivers. With Uber-like efficiency, assign deliveries to specific drivers, arrange routes, and follow your drivers in real time.
• Range of peripheral hardware: Like TouchBistro, Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on has software for any type of peripheral POS tool you can dream up. You can manage software for KDS, customer-facing displays, digital menu boards, and self-ordering kiosks from your back office dashboard.
• Ingredient-level inventory with vendor management: Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on ingredient-level inventory is as robust as Lightspeed’s Upserve, if slightly less automated. You’ll get low-stock alerts and can place orders with vendors directly from your back office dashboard.

Revel Systems may be found on the internet. is a software development company that specializes on

TouchBistro: Best for Cafes, Pubs & Breweries

TouchBistro

4.00 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• It’s simple to order at the table.
• A self-ordering kiosk is included inside the integrated internet ordering tool.
• Pubs and bars benefit greatly from speed order screens and pre-authorized bar tabs.
• Suggestions for upselling are included in terminals.

What Isn’t There

• Integrations with third-party online ordering and delivery services need the use of a middleman app.
• There is no free plan or trial available.
• An additional monthly fee is charged for online purchasing.

Pricing at TouchBistro

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is: $69
• There are no one-time installation expenses.
• Fees for processing: Varies based on processor; choose from TouchBistro Payments, TSYS, or Square.

TouchBistro is an iPad POS designed specifically for food and beverage businesses. It includes features for full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, food trucks, and breweries. However, its features for running and organizing tabs and quick order screens make it the best choice for bars, cafes, and breweries. It is also a great option for small restaurants that want affordable hardware peripherals from digital menu boards to KDS screens. Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on also includes these tools, but TouchBistro offers them at a more Price that is reasonable for small, independent restaurants.

TouchBistro received a 4 out of 5 star rating for its mobility and the fact that it accepts both built-in and third-party payments. It lost points because certain capabilities are simple or need integrations, such as ingredient-level inventories and personnel scheduling, but the overall toolset is good.

TouchBistro’s kiosk mode turns an iPad into a self-service kiosk in no time. (Photo courtesy of TouchBistro)

Color-coded statuses and an easy-to-navigate ticket bar at the bottom of TouchBistro’s KDS interface. (Photo courtesy of TouchBistro)

You can control digital menu displays from your back office dashboard using TouchBistro. (Photo courtesy of TouchBistro)

The tableside ordering tablet style used by TouchBistro makes ordering almost error-free. (Photo courtesy of TouchBistro)

Highlights of TouchBistro

• Integrated Online ordering: For an additional $50 per month TouchBistro users can add integrated online ordering. You can accept online orders for pickup, curbside pickup, or delivery. Like Restaurants have a square., Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on, and Lightspeed’s Upserve, TouchBistro includes map-based delivery tools to help you manage a team of on-staff drivers. If you prefer to use third-party ordering and delivery apps you can integrate them into your TouchBistro POS via middleman plug-ins Deliverect or Ordermark.
• Flexible hardware: Like competitor Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on, TouchBistro includes integrated digital menu boards, customer-facing displays, KDS screens, self-ordering kiosks, and tableside ordering tablets. You can manage all of these peripherals from your TouchBistro management dashboard. TouchBistro beats Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on in the price department, though, offering software for these tools with transparent monthly pricing from $20 to $69 per month. KDS screens and customer-facing displays have no monthly software costs; you only need to purchase hardware. Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on requires a custom quote.
• Bar features: Like Restaurant Lightspeed, TouchBistro offers a condensed quick-order screen to help your bartenders speed through orders. With TouchBistro, you can also pre-authorize bar tabs with a card swipe, customize tab names, and quickly transfer bar tabs to tables.
• Ease of Use: TouchBistro’s user interface is the most similar to that of an iPhone of any system on our list. TouchBistro is thus simple to learn for both you and your team. Anyone who has used an iPhone before will have no trouble navigating TouchBistro. Many users have remarked on how fast new employees pick up the system.

TouchBistro is a great place to start.

Rezku is ideal for small restaurants looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one POS system.

Rezku

3.93 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• All functionalities are included in the standard POS.
• Gift vouchers are included at no additional cost.
• Price that is reasonable

What Isn’t There

• There are restrictions to reporting.
• Third-party integration is required for vendor management.
• Customer service is not yet available. 24/7

Pricing at Rezku

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is: $49 per terminal
• There are no one-time installation expenses.
• Fees for processing: Custom-quoted

Rezku, like TouchBistro and Upserve, is an iPad POS designed exclusively for the food and beverage industry. Unlike the other systems on this list, however, Rezku tries to integrate all feature that an independent restaurant need in its standard point-of-sale system. And when I say I’ll do anything, I really mean it. For $49 per terminal, every month, Rezku provides everything from gift cards to online purchasing, delivery management, and marketing capabilities.

On our iPad POS grading system, Rezku received a 3.93 out of 5 rating. It received high marks in practically every area, with the exception of certain incorporated features that have limited utility and the lack of a free membership (like Square) or free trial (like Lightspeed). Rezku, on the other hand, is a terrific option if you want an all-in-one POS without a bunch of complex add-on costs.

Rezku’s Unique Qualities

• Rezku’s all-in-one POS provides a comprehensive variety of software solutions as part of its standard offering. With a single monthly membership price, you receive ingredient-level inventory monitoring with low-stock alerts, online ordering with delivery management, points or dollar-based loyalty and incentives, gift cards, and more.
• Setting for cash discounts: Rezku has a feature that automatically calculates a discount for clients who pay with cash. The amount of the discount will be equal to the amount of your credit card processing costs. Your processing expenses are paid if clients pay with a credit or debit card. This is a creative technique to get around rules barring small companies from passing card processing costs on to their consumers in ten states. If the cost of credit card processing has deterred you from adopting a POS, Rezku might be the answer.
• Gift cards are included: Every other system on this list, as well as almost every POS system in general, levies a fee for gift cards. Rezku, on the other hand, incorporates them as part of the standard POS system.
• Regularly updated with new features: Rezku is a system that is always changing. It has built complete online ordering and delivery management systems in the last year. One of the best things about an iPad POS is that once you subscribe, you’ll obtain the most up-to-date tools the day they’re released, rather than being stuck with an out-of-date system.

Pay a visit to Rezku.

Lightspeed’s Upserve is the best for inventory management.

Lightspeed’s Upserve

3.75 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

What We Enjoy

• Inventory management software includes vendor management and one-click reordering
• App for reporting on your smartphone
• Marketing features are provided in the standard POS.

What Isn’t There

• Pricey
• Custom reporting comes at an additional expense.
• Only higher-priced memberships come with inventory features.

Lightspeed’s Upserve Pricing

• The cost of a monthly software subscription is:
  • $59 + $60 per terminal for the core
  • $199 + $50 per terminal for Pro
  • $359 + $40 per terminal for Pro Plus
• Fees for one-time installation: Quoted on a case-by-case basis
• Fees for processing: Custom-quoted

Lightspeed’s Upserve, like TouchBistro and Rezku, is designed specifically for food and beverage businesses. Unlike others on this list, Lightspeed’s Upserve also has POS options for Android tablets, including a purpose-built, pocket-sized ordering and payment device. But the real ace up its sleeve is the incredibly easy-to-use inventory tools. The system tracks your inventory in real time, sending low stock alerts, generating suggested orders from your vendors, and organizing suggested orders that you can send to all your vendors with one click.

Lightspeed’s Upserve earned a 3.75 out of 5 on our scoring system. This seems like a low score for a system that offers such robust tools and tied with Revel Systems is a software development company that specializes on for the highest score in Back-of-the-house and Office Equipment. The only real issue with Lightspeed’s Upserve is the price. With a monthly price per terminal in addition to the monthly software fee, Lightspeed’s Upserve is one of the priciest iPad POS systems on the market. With typical contracts written for 36 months, you’ll need to be sure that Lightspeed’s Upserve is your perfect fit before signing up.

Lightspeed’s Upserve includes robust reporting, a mobile reporting app, and handheld ordering and payment devices. (Image from Lightspeed’s Upserve)

Lightspeed’s Upserve’s online ordering module is easy to set up. (Image from Lightspeed’s Upserve)

Lightspeed’s Upserve Standout Features

• One-click re-ordering: Lightspeed’s Upserve has the most user-friendly inventory management tools available. While most systems on this list—aside from Restaurants have a square.—include built-in ingredient-level inventory tracking, Lightspeed’s Upserve includes automated tools like the ability to place all your re-stocking orders with a single click.
• Upserve captures 25 data points from every transaction to provide thorough and easy-to-understand insights on labor expenses, scheduling, sales trends, and performance, among other things. Data on menu and server performance is linked so you can notice patterns in your staff’s performance and training possibilities.
• Reputation management: Lightspeed’s Upserve alerts you to new customer reviews when they appear on social media sites or Yelp. You can monitor and respond to customer reviews directly from your management dashboard. The reputation management tool further lets you compare your online reviews with competitors to see how you stack up.
• Full offline mode: In offline mode, Lightspeed’s Upserve users can still send orders to the kitchen, take payments, and print receipts. You can also spool credit card payments to be run when you regain internet access.
• Workforce management: From the management dashboard, you can generate and distribute employee schedules straight from the POS. Using integrated scheduling, you can avoid early clock-ins and save money on labor.
• Live mobile reporting app: With a live mobile reporting app, you can have your restaurant statistics in your pocket. For real-time reporting, you won’t need to log in to a browser-based dashboard—just launch the always-on app.

Visit Lightspeed’s Upserve

Conclusion

When you’re looking for an iPad restaurant POS, Restaurant Lightspeed is the best combination of Price that is reasonable and robust functions. You can bring your compatible hardware and, for $59, get easy-to-use tools for managing orders and payments. You can add tools for loyalty, online ordering, delivery, and KDS for transparent, Price that is reasonables. To see if Restaurant Lightspeed is a fit for your restaurant, contact Lightspeed for a demo.

Visit Restaurant Lightspeed

The “best free pos app for ipad” is a great option for anyone looking to open up their own restaurant. The 6 best iPad POS systems are listed below with pros and cons of each.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular POS system for restaurants?

A: The most popular point of sale system among restaurants is a computer terminal with integrated bar code scanner.

How much is an iPad POS system?

A: An iPad POS system is a type of point-of-sale (POS) terminal. It can be used to register customer purchases and collect payment, but it might not accept credit cards or cash bills.

Does Apple have a POS?

Related Tags

• square pos
• pos system for ipad no monthly fee
• ipad ordering system for restaurant
• ipad pos system for small business
• ipad pos hardware