Best Delivery POS Systems for Restaurants in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
A delivery POS is a point-of-sale (POS) system that includes tools for receiving and processing delivery orders. Depending on your restaurant style, your delivery POS might include maps-based driver dispatch, route deliveries to third-party drivers on demand, or organize orders received from third-party platforms. Our restaurant expert evaluated dozens of systems to find the best POS system for a delivery restaurant.
According to our evaluation, the best delivery POS systems are:
- Toast: Best overall restaurant delivery POS system
- SpotOn: Best for remote payments
- TouchBistro: Best for low-volume, self-managed delivery
- Revel Systems: Best for mulitilocation restaurant groups with in-house driver teams
- Square for Restaurants: Best pay-as-you-go delivery POS
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Best POS for ghost or cloud kitchens
- Lavu: Best for loyalty
Top Delivery POS Systems Compared
Minimum Monthly Fee | Contract Length | Payment Processing | Loyalty | Driver Management | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$0 | 2 years | From 2.49% plus 15 cents | $50 per month | Good | |
Custom quote | 1 year | From 1.99% plus 20 cents | Custom quote | Only supports third-party drivers | |
$69 | 1 year | Varies based on processor | $99 per month | Basic | |
$99 | 3 years | Varies based on processor | Custom quote | Best in class | |
$0 | Month to month | From 2.6% plus 10 cents | $45 to $105/ month (30-day free trial) | Good | |
$59 | 1 year | From 2.6% | Custom quote | Only supports third-party drivers | |
$59 | Monthly or annual contracts available | Varies by processor | Included | Only supports third-party drivers | |
Looking for something different? Check out our top picks of the best POS systems for restaurants, food trucks, bars, cafes, pizzerias, bakeries, and quick service restaurants (QSRs).
Toast: Best Overall Delivery POS
Pros
- Robust driver management with GPS integration
- Streamlined third-party platform integrations
- Built-in QR code ordering
- Free Starter POS
Cons
- Locked into Toast payment processing
- Operates on proprietary tablets
- Online ordering and delivery tools cost extra
Toast Deciding Factors
- Software subscription fee:
- Starter Kit: $0
- Point of Sale: $69
- Essentials: $165
- Custom: Custom quote
- One-time Installation fees: Optional, starting at $250
- Processing fees: 2.49% + 15 cents for in-person swiped, dipped, or tapped transactions
- Pay-as-you-go customers pay a higher 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
Toast is an incredibly popular restaurant POS that operates on industry-grade Toast-supplied tablets. With Toast, your delivery options are endless. This system includes GPS-enabled driver management tools for restaurants that want to manage a team of delivery drivers. It also has terrific integrations for restaurants that want to receive third-party orders directly in their POS order stream but prefer to leave the delivery to third-party drivers. Alternatively, you can reduce your third-party order commissions by referring your in-house delivery orders to third-party drivers for a flat, per-delivery fee.
Toast scored the highest overall on our delivery POS scale, earning a solid 4.17 out of 5. This system performed best in ease of use and among our experts. The free Starter Kit POS also earned high marks. The delivery-specific features were a standout but couldn’t be awarded full points because they come at an additional cost. But if $75 per month for the online ordering tools is within your budget, it’s hard to do better than Toast.
Did you know?
Toast regularly tops our ranking of the best restaurant POS systems and best bar POS systems and also ranks well for its online ordering tools. Learn more in our full Toast POS review.
SpotOn: Best for Remote Payments
Pros
- Mobile card readers can process off-site payments
- Dynamic, white-labeled online ordering site
- Built-in QR code ordering
Cons
- Locked into SpotOn payment processing
- Operates on proprietary tablets
- No built-in driver dispatch tools
SpotOn Deciding Factors
- Software subscription fee: Custom quote
- One-time Installation fees: Custom quote
- Processing fees: Starting at 1.99% plus 20 cents per in-person transaction. AMEX and manually keyed cards start at 2.99% plus 20 cents per in-person transaction.
SpotOn is a rapidly growing POS system that gets a lot of love from users. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive across the board. This system includes the most robust tools for mobile payment processing. With an integrated smartphone app, your delivery team can process credit card payments off-site. This converts online payments to in-person payments, which have a much lower risk of chargebacks. So, if you are concerned about credit card fraud, SpotOn is the best delivery POS for you.
SpotOn earned a 4.05 out of 5.00 on our delivery POS scoring criteria. It earned perfect 5s for general and niche POS functions. SpotOn only stumbled because most pricing requires a custom quote, you’re locked into SpotOn Payments, and it does not include an option for maps-based driver dispatch. If you don’t mind using third-party drivers or managing your own drivers manually, then SpotOn is a great option.
See more SpotOn features in our ranking of the best food truck POS systems, where its handheld order and payment terminals shine.
TouchBistro: Best for Low-volume, Self-managed Delivery
Pros
- Operates on iPads
- Detailed receipts support manual delivery systems
- Easy to self-install
- Pricing is transparent
Cons
- Third-party delivery requires a middleman app like Deliverect or Ordermark
- Reporting has limitations
- Inventory is less automated than other systems
TouchBistro Deciding Factors
- Software subscription fee: $69 per terminal monthly
- One-time Installation fees: None
- Processing fees: Rates vary based on your chosen processor; choose from TouchBistro Pay, Chase, Worldpay, TSYS, and Square
TouchBistro is an iPad POS—like Revel, Lavu, and Square for Restaurants. The user interface reflects the Apple iOS style more than any other system on this list, which makes TouchBistro incredibly easy to learn. Anyone who has used an iPhone can learn TouchBistro in no time. This affordable system also includes tons of tools for self-managed delivery. You can set delivery areas and affiliated fees and print detailed customer contact information like name, address, and phone number on delivery receipts.
The only delivery function missing is built-in, maps-based driver management. But if your delivery volume is low or your restaurant is small, you likely don’t need such a granular tool. If you prefer to self-manage delivery without a full dispatch dashboard, TouchBistro is an excellent choice.
TouchBistro earned a score of 3.93 out of 5 in our delivery POS scoring system. This user-friendly system scored well for delivery features and ease of use. It could have scored higher if it offered a free trial or included dispatch tools.
You can take a deeper look at this system in our full TouchBistro review.
Revel Systems: Best for Multilocation Delivery Restaurants In-house Drivers
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Complex combo ordering and modifier screens
- Robust dispatch functions with GPS integration
- Optional driver app
Cons
- 3-year service contract
- Can have a steep learning curve
- Pricey
Revel Systems Pricing
- Software subscription fee: $99 per terminal monthly
- One-time Installation fees: $674
- Processing fees: Varies based on payment processor; choose from Revel Integrates with Revel Advantage, First Data, Heartland, TSYS, Worldpay, Chase Paymentech, Elavon
Revel Systems pairs the functionality of a locally installed POS with the convenience of a cloud POS. This robust iPad POS includes maps-based driver management and even an affiliated smartphone app for your drivers. These tools combined with Revel’s complex combo-ordering and menu modification screens make Revel an excellent fit for high-volume restaurants managing an in-house driver team. though the relatively higher upfront cost and minimum three-year contract make this system a more worthwhile investment for multi-location restaurant groups looking to switch POS providers.
In this ranking, Revel Systems earned a 3.74 out of 5. The system scored well for general POS functions, which is no surprise since Revel is almost infinitely customizable. It also performed well for delivery-specific functions like built-in driver management. However, like Toast, it couldn’t earn the highest possible score because the delivery tools come at an extra cost.
The system would have scored higher if the price were lower and the contract term were shorter. Revel requires a three-year contract, so users should be sure the system is an ideal fit before committing.
For more on Revel, see our full Revel POS review, or see the system in action in our Revel POS video review.
Square for Restaurants: Best Pay-as-You-Go POS
Pros
- Baseline POS is free
- Online ordering site is free
- No long-term contracts
- Can use hardware you already own
Cons
- Free POS only includes one set of user permissions
- In-house deliveries have a per-delivery fee
- Square is the only available payment processor
Square for Restaurants Pricing
- Software subscription fee:
- Free – $0
- Premium – $60
- Plus – Custom-quoted
- One-time Installation fees: None
- Processing fees:
- In-person swiped, dipped, or tapped transactions: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Online transactions: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Manually-keyed transactions: 3.5% + 15 cents
Square for Restaurants is a top-ranking free to low-cost POS app with built-in payment processing that offers useful basic functionality for small restaurants. The baseline subscription—which Square handily calls “Free”—is, well, free. This tier includes an online store function that can enable online ordering. Our overall winner Toast also offers pay-as-you-go options, but we consider Square the best in this category because Toast limits the number of terminals available for pay-as-you-go users; with Square you can pay-as-you-go on unlimited terminals.
Square includes in-house delivery management tools that you can use with a pay-per-delivery fee of 50 cents, and you can route deliveries to the third-party drivers, again for a flat per-delivery fee of $1.50. With no long-term contacts and free baseline subscription, you’ll only pay for what you use.
Square for Restaurants earned a score of 3.63 out of 5 as a food delivery POS. It scored incredibly well for price and popularity among users, although it would have scored higher if its offline functions were stronger. The price, combined with Square’s centralized third-party delivery dashboard and newly added KDS, also makes Square an excellent choice for ghost kitchens (although Lightspeed Restaurant is our top choice for that use case).
See more of Square’s features in our full Square for Restaurants POS review and watch our restaurants expert’s Square for Restaurants video walkthrough.
Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Ghost Kitchens
Pros
- Offers a 14-day free trial
- Operates on iPads
- Streamlined third-party delivery integrations
Cons
- Driver management requires a third-party integration
- Does not offer a platform website to drive new business
Lightspeed Restaurant Pricing
- Software subscription fee: $59 per month for a single terminal; additional terminals $34 each
- One-time Installation fees: None
- Processing fees: Varies based on processor; choose from Lightspeed Payments, Worldpay, Cayan, or Bridgepay
Lightspeed Restaurant is a super-streamlined, all-in-one cloud POS for restaurants. Like TouchBistro, Revel, Square, and Lavu, Lightspeed operates on iPads. Lightspeed organizes third-party platform orders on an easy-to-read order screen. With the addition of the Lightspeed-integrated KDS, which happens to be one of our favorites, this becomes an excellent POS system for a ghost or cloud kitchen that needs to operate at a fast pace.
In our scoring for delivery POS systems, Lightspeed Restaurants earned a 3.62 out of 5. A lower-priced option than Revel or SpotOn, Lightspeed earned high marks for pricing and overall value for money. Lightspeed would have scored higher overall if it included built-in fleet management tools (currently this requires an integration), supported credit card payments in the field, or offered a central ordering site to feature member restaurants, such as Toast and TouchBistro do.
Learn more about Lightspeed by reading our full Lightspeed Restaurant review.
Lavu: Best for Loyalty
Pros
- Includes loyalty in baseline POS
- Includes employee scheduling in baseline POS
- Operates on iPads; users can bring their own compatible hardware
- Multiple options for integrated payment processing
Cons
- Online ordering costs extra
- Marketing costs extra
- Reporting has some limitations
Lavu Pricing
- Software subscription fee: $69 per month for a single terminal
- One-time Installation fees: Not listed
- Processing fees: Varies based on your processor; choose between Lavu Pay, Vantiv, Moneris, or Heartland
Lavu is a cloud-based restaurant POS that includes several features in the baseline POS, including workforce management with automated tip pooling and customer loyalty. For online ordering and delivery, Lavu relies on the Menudrive system, which it purchased in 2020. Though Menudrive comes with additional monthly fees (starting at $149 per month), it includes an easy-to-use menu builder and group ordering functions.
Lavu earned a 3.59 out of 5 on our delivery POS scoring system. This POS earned high marks for ease of use and general POS functions. And though it doesn’t loudly promote the option, you can get a month-to-month, short-term subscription to the Lavu POS software (though rates will vary). Lavu lost some points, however, for charging fees for niche delivery tools like online ordering and not including live driver tracking.
Learn more about Lavu by reading our full Lavu POS review.
How We Evaluated Delivery POS Systems
Our restaurant and POS experts considered more than a dozen popular restaurant POS systems and evaluated their delivery-specific features like driver management, delivery channel options, and online ordering tools. We also considered price, ease of use, general POS functionality, and user reviews.
Click through the table below for an overview of our criteria for delivery POS systems:
20% of Overall Score
Delivery adds to a restaurant’s costs, so we looked closely at price and value for money. In particular, we rewarded POS systems that offer free software or free trials and gave high marks to POS systems that offer a software subscription below $75 per month.
20% of Overall Score
A POS for food delivery needs to be a high-functioning POS first. Since delivery operations rely on repeat customers, we paid particular attention to customer relationship management and loyalty functions, robust reporting, and tip management.
20% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
We weighed how easy each system is to use in a busy service environment and the ease of the customer interface when ordering online or via an app. We considered cloud-based versus non-cloud-based services. We also noted how easy it is to contact customer support and access training resources.
20% of Overall Score
Finally, we relied on our retail and restaurant experts’ real-world experience working with POS systems and restaurant delivery operations. Since users offer valuable insights, we also considered the popularity of each system among delivery restaurants and user reviews.
Delivery POS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A delivery POS is a POS system that includes delivery management tools. Depending on the system, the delivery management tools might include maps-based driver dispatch, the ability to hail third-party drivers on demand, or the ability to organize orders from multiple third-party delivery platforms. Many delivery POS systems include all three options. These days, many delivery orders come from online sources―either your restaurant website or a third-party platform―so virtually every delivery POS also includes online ordering tools.
A POS helps with online ordering by providing a user-friendly interface for customers to place orders and a convenient way for you to accept digital payments. Most restaurant POS systems have online ordering built into the POS. Some, such as Square for Restaurants, include online ordering for free. Using the built-in online ordering tools sends online orders directly into your POS order stream. As such, you can save money by reducing the labor required to process phone orders.
Nowadays, most restaurants use a POS as opposed to an electronic cash register. POS systems allow restaurants to process the card and digital payments that customers prefer easily and provide detailed reports that help restaurants remain profitable. With the development of cloud POS systems, some systems, such as Toast and Square, even offer a free baseline POS. So, even the smallest restaurants can benefit from POS software.
DoorDash and other third-party delivery platforms don’t offer a full-spectrum POS. If you need POS functions like employee timekeeping, inventory tracking, and reporting, you’ll need an additional system. If you rely on third-party platforms for online ordering and delivery, you’ll want a POS that integrates with your preferred platforms. DoorDash, for example, integrates with 15 popular restaurant POS systems, including Toast and Square for Restaurants.
Bottom Line
The best combination of built-in and third-party delivery POS functions is Toast. Underlying Toast’s robust options for online ordering, contactless ordering, delivery integrations, and driver management is an incredibly intuitive all-in-one POS. It is also consistently one of our top POS picks for restaurants of all styles. With subscription tiers at all price points—including free—Toast is a great delivery POS for any size restaurant. To see if it is a fit for you, visit Toast to get started today.