Top 5 POS Systems for Restaurants (2026)
We compared the 5 most popular restaurant POS systems available in the UK. Here's how they stack up on features, pricing, and suitability for different types of restaurants.
The top 5 POS systems for restaurants in the UK (2026):
- Posso One — Best overall for restaurants & takeaways (from £499)
- Square for Restaurants — Best free option for small cafes
- Lightspeed Restaurant — Best for fine dining & analytics
- Zettle by PayPal — Best for pop-ups & market stalls
- TouchBistro — Best iPad-based system (US-focused)
Posso One
Best for: Restaurants, takeaways, and multi-site operations
Hardware From
£499 + VAT
Monthly Software
Included with hardware
Pros
- Built-in pizza builder, KDS, kiosk mode, and online ordering
- Works offline — take orders without internet
- Just Eat, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo integration
- Caller ID for phone orders with customer history
- 5 languages, delivery zone management, driver app
- Free setup, training, and UK-based support
Cons
- Smaller brand compared to Square or Lightspeed
- Currently UK-only
Verdict: The most feature-rich option for UK restaurants and takeaways. Ideal if you need kiosks, online ordering, delivery integration, and a pizza builder — all in one system with no monthly software fees.
Square for Restaurants
Best for: Small cafes and single-location restaurants
Hardware From
£0 (iPad required)
Monthly Software
Free plan / £69/mo Plus
Pros
- Free basic plan with no monthly fees
- Easy to set up — runs on iPad
- Built-in payment processing
- Good reporting and analytics
Cons
- Limited takeaway/delivery features on free plan
- No built-in kitchen display on free plan
- Transaction fees higher than dedicated providers
- No offline ordering capability
Verdict: A solid choice for small cafes that want a free starting point. However, growing restaurants will quickly hit feature limits and need to upgrade to the paid plan.
Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for: Fine dining and full-service restaurants
Hardware From
£59/month
Monthly Software
£59–£289/month
Pros
- Excellent table management and floor plan
- Advanced reporting and inventory
- Multi-location support
- Good integration ecosystem
Cons
- Most expensive monthly fees
- Complex setup — steep learning curve
- Hardware purchased separately
- No built-in self-order kiosks
Verdict: Best for upmarket restaurants that need deep analytics and inventory management. The monthly cost is high, making it less suitable for takeaways or small operations.
Zettle by PayPal
Best for: Pop-ups, market stalls, and micro-businesses
Hardware From
£29 (card reader)
Monthly Software
Free
Pros
- Cheapest entry point — card reader from £29
- No monthly fees
- PayPal integration
- Simple and intuitive
Cons
- Very basic — no KDS, no kiosks, no delivery
- No table management or floor plan
- Limited menu management
- Not suitable for busy restaurants
Verdict: Perfect for market stalls and pop-ups that just need to take card payments. Not a real restaurant POS — it lacks kitchen display, table management, and delivery features.
TouchBistro
Best for: iPad-based restaurants in North America
Hardware From
£55/month
Monthly Software
£55–£399/month
Pros
- Purpose-built for restaurants
- Good table management
- Staff scheduling built in
- Offline mode on iPad
Cons
- Limited UK support — primarily North American
- iPad-only — no Windows or kiosk support
- Add-on pricing for online ordering, reservations
- No self-order kiosk option
Verdict: A capable restaurant POS but primarily designed for the North American market. UK restaurants may find better local support and features with UK-based providers.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Posso | Square | Lightspeed | Zettle | TouchBistro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Order Kiosks | |||||
| Kitchen Display System | |||||
| Online Ordering Website | |||||
| Offline Operation | |||||
| Just Eat / Uber Eats / Deliveroo | |||||
| Caller ID Integration | |||||
| Pizza Builder | |||||
| Delivery Driver App | |||||
| Split-Sided Customisation | |||||
| Multi-Language (5 Languages) | |||||
| Free Setup & Training | |||||
| UK-Based Support |
Restaurant POS — FAQs
Get Your Free ePOS Demo Today
See how Posso can transform your restaurant or venue. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our team and get a personalised demo of our ePOS systems, self-order kiosks, and more.
Free call — available Monday to Friday, 9am–5:30pm. Or email us anytime at info@posso.co.uk