Running a coffee shop or restaurant is already a lot of work. The last thing you need is a payment system that slows you down, confuses your team, or makes customers wait.
In 2025, your POS (point of sale) system does way more than take payments. It helps you manage orders, track tips, handle online orders, and run your business better.
In this blog, we’ll compare the 3 most popular POS systems for food businesses:
- Clover
- Square
- Toast
Let’s find out which one is right for your business.
What Coffee Shops and Restaurants Really Need from a POS
Not all POS systems are built the same, and choosing the right one starts with knowing what actually matters day to day. Here’s what most owners and managers look for in a POS system:
- Fast and easy setup
- Low or fair pricing
- Easy for staff to learn
- Fast checkouts with tip options
- Online ordering and delivery tools
- Loyalty rewards for customers
- Simple reports to track sales
- Inventory tracking (for stock and ingredients)
- Good support when things go wrong
Now that we know what matters, let’s compare the top 3 POS systems most restaurants are choosing in 2025.
Clover vs. Square vs. Toast: Pros and Cons
Clover is a strong choice for restaurants or cafés that are growing fast and need more advanced tools.
It’s especially good if you have a larger team to manage, because it offers extra features for inventory, loyalty programs, and employee tracking.
However, it does come at a higher cost than some of the other options, and depending on how you buy it, certain plans can lock you into contracts.
Best for: Full‑service restaurants or busy cafés with complex needs and higher volume.
Square is known for being extremely easy to set up and free to start.
It’s perfect for smaller setups like coffee shops, pop‑ups, or food trucks that want something simple and affordable.
On the downside, it’s not as strong for high‑volume or full‑service restaurants, and its reporting tools are more basic compared to Clover or Toast.
Best for: Small cafés and businesses that want low‑cost tools and a quick start.
Toast is built specifically for restaurants, so it shines with mobile ordering tools and kitchen‑friendly features.
Strong when it comes to handling online orders and delivery, making it a great fit for fast‑casual and full‑service restaurants doing takeout.
The trade‑off is that you have to use Toast’s own hardware, and pricing and fees can run higher than Square.
Best for: Restaurants that rely heavily on delivery or online ordering and want restaurant‑first software.
Clover vs. Square vs. Toast: Comparison Table
| Feature | Clover | Square | Toast |
| Starting Price | $$ | Free | $$ |
| Best For | Full-service | Cafés, QSR | Restaurants |
| Hardware Options | Clover-only | Any device | Toast-only |
| Inventory Management | Strong | Basic | Strong |
| Loyalty Programs | Add-on | Free | Built-in |
| Online Ordering | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | Advanced | Basic | Advanced |
| Ease of Setup | Medium | Very Easy | Medium |
| Support Quality | Good | Good | Excellent |
Final Thoughts
There’s no “perfect” POS system. But there is a best fit for your business.
If you’re running a small café, cart, or food truck and want something quick, easy, and free to get started, choose Square. It’s simple, reliable, and perfect for new or low-volume businesses.
If your restaurant offers online ordering, delivery, or needs mobile service options, choose Toast. It’s built for food service from the ground up and gives you powerful tools for both front-of-house and kitchen operations.
If your business is growing fast and you need advanced features to manage inventory, staff, and customer loyalty, choose Clover. It’s made for busy, full-service restaurants that need more control and customization.
P.S. Once you’ve got the right POS in place, there’s one more thing to think about: getting more people through the door.
If you’re a local business owner looking for more customers, without running ads or hiring a marketing agency, check out Jumper Local.
It helps local businesses get into the Top 3 on Google Maps in under a week.
Click here to try Jumper Local free.
