A good point-of-sale (POS) system is important for restaurants. It helps with transactions, inventory, and customer relationships.

Toast has been a strong player in the restaurant POS industry. However, many business owners are now looking for other options. They are concerned about rising costs, strict contracts, and hardware limits.

This article highlights 10 popular alternatives to Toast in 2025, based on customer feedback and industry trends.

1. Square

Best for Small Businesses

Why Customers Choose Square

Square for Restaurants is a well-known POS option for small cafés, food trucks, and quick-service restaurants. It offers a free plan with essential POS features, making it a great choice for new businesses.

• Simple interface with easy setup

• No monthly fee for basic features

• Integrated online ordering and delivery management

• Customizable hardware options

• Built-in team management tools

While Square is affordable, its higher transaction fees can become costly for larger restaurants with high sales volume.

2. Lightspeed Restaurant

Best for High-End Dining

Why Customers Choose Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a feature-rich POS system designed for fine dining establishments, franchises, and large restaurant groups. It offers powerful tools for managing multiple locations and complex menus.

• Advanced inventory tracking and menu engineering

• Built-in CRM and loyalty programs

• Multi-location support with centralized reporting

• Cloud-based system with an offline mode

• Customizable reporting and analytics

Lightspeed is a high-quality choice, but it can cost more than other options. Also, you may need extra training to get started.

3. Clover

Best for Customizable Hardware and Software

Why Customers Choose Clover

Clover is a flexible POS system that allows restaurants to customize their setup based on their business needs. With modular pricing and add-on applications, it provides a tailored experience.

• Wide range of hardware options, including handheld devices

• App-based system with third-party integrations

• Customizable POS interface for different restaurant types

• Contactless payment and mobile ordering capabilities

• Employee and payroll management tools

Clover’s main downside is that it ties businesses to certain payment processors. This limits their ability to choose cheaper processing options.

4. Peblla

Best for AI-Powered, All-in-one POS Solutions

Why Customers Choose Peblla

Peblla is gaining popularity as a modern, cost-effective, and transparent POS system designed for restaurants of all sizes. Unlike Toast, Peblla offers no hidden fees, flexible hardware options, and AI-powered insights to help restaurants improve operations.

• Transparent pricing with no long-term contracts

• Works with iPads, Android tablets, and mobile pos

• AI-powered analytics for smarter business decisions

• Seamless integrations with third-party apps and kitchen display systems

• Offline mode for easy operations

For restaurants seeking a smart and flexible option instead of Toast, Peblla offers a modern solution.

5. SpotOn

Best for Integrated POS and Marketing Solutions

Why Customers Choose SpotOn

SpotOn provides an all-in-one solution that combines a POS system with marketing, loyalty, and reservation tools. This makes it a great choice for full-service restaurants looking to enhance customer engagement.

• POS with integrated marketing and loyalty programs

• Robust analytics and reporting tools

• Online reservations and waitlist management

• 24/7 customer support with personalized setup

• Flat-rate payment processing

Some users find it hard to adjust when moving from simpler POS systems. The pricing can change based on the size of the business.

6. TouchBistro

Best for iPad-Based POS Systems

Why Customers Choose TouchBistro

TouchBistro is an iPad-based POS system that focuses on restaurant-specific needs. An intuitive, mobile-friendly solution ideal for food trucks, pop-ups, and casual dining restaurants exists.

• Designed specifically for the restaurant industry

• Easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop menu management

• Tableside ordering and payment processing

• Built-in staff scheduling and time tracking

• Pay-as-you-go pricing model

TouchBistro is easy to use. However, it does not have advanced reporting or features for large restaurant groups. This makes it less suitable for them.

7. Revel Systems

Best for Enterprise Restaurants and Chains

Why Customers Choose Revel

Revel is a strong POS system designed for restaurants with multiple locations. It also works well for quick-service chains and busy businesses. It offers a robust set of tools for managing complex restaurant operations.

• Multi-location support with centralized management

• Drive-thru and delivery management features

• Extensive inventory and supply chain tracking

• Advanced reporting with custom analytics

• Flexible payment processing options

Revel is a costly POS solution. Its setup can be complicated for small businesses that lack IT support.

8. Lavu

Best for International Restaurants

Why Customers Choose Lavu

Lavu is a customizable POS system designed for restaurants that need multi-language support and flexible payment processing. Cafés, bars, and international restaurants often use it.

• Multi-language interface for international businesses

• Cloud-based system with offline mode

• Customizable menu management and ordering options

• Compatible with multiple payment processors

• Employee scheduling and time tracking

Some users think Lavu’s interface is not as modern as competitors like Peblla and Lightspeed. They also find that customer support can be slow to respond.

9. HungerRush

Best for Pizza Shops

Why Customers Choose HungerRush

HungerRush is a special POS system made for pizza restaurants and fast food chains. This design serves businesses that depend on delivery orders.

• Integrated delivery and driver tracking

• Custom pizza-building interface for orders

• Automated marketing and loyalty programs

• AI-driven customer insights for repeat orders

• Cloud-based system with offline functionality

HungerRush’s pricing is high. This makes it less attractive for small restaurants that do not depend much on delivery.

10. Harbortouch

Best for No Upfront Cost POS Systems

Why Customers Choose Harbortouch

Harbortouch provides a free POS system with no upfront hardware costs. This makes it appealing for new or budget-friendly restaurants. However, it comes with long-term contracts that may limit flexibility.

• No upfront costs for hardware

• Customizable POS features and reporting

• Free installation and training included

• Cloud-based system with automatic updates

• Built-in tableside ordering and payments

Many users like the low-cost entry point. However, they find that long-term contracts and hidden fees make it hard to switch providers later.

Final Thoughts: The Right Toast Alternative for Your Restaurant

Choosing the right restaurant POS system is an important decision. It impacts order processing, payment transactions, inventory management, and customer experience.

Toast has been a popular choice. However, many restaurant owners are switching to Peblla. They like its clear pricing, smart AI analytics, and flexible hardware options.

For restaurant operators who want to avoid high fees, strict contracts, and old hardware, Peblla is a modern choice that offers:

• No hidden fees or long-term contracts, helping restaurants control costs

• AI-powered insights and predictive analytics to optimize menu pricing, staffing, and customer retention

• Restaurants can use iPads, Android tablets, or their current POS devices. This gives them hardware flexibility. They do not have to buy expensive equipment.

• Seamless third-party integrations, including kitchen display systems (KDS), online ordering platforms, and payment processors

• Offline functionality, ensuring that operations continue even during internet outages

Looking for a smarter, more affordable POS system for your restaurant? Peblla helps modern restaurants grow with ease.