1
Lightspeed Restaurant — POS + Payments
Pros
- Multi-location tools, advanced reporting, integrations
- Integrated payments with flat-rate pricing
Cons
- Rates vary by region & card mix
Cost
- In-person: 2.6% + 10¢
- Online: 2.9% + 30¢
Powered by Lightspeed
2
Toast POS — Full-Service Restaurant Stack
Pros
- Integrated online ordering, delivery, loyalty & gift
- Restaurant-grade hardware (KDS, handhelds, terminals)
- Multi-location menus & centralized reporting
Cons
- Higher upfront hardware vs iPad-only
- Processing bundled with Toast
- Early-termination fees may apply
Cost
- In-person: 2.49% + 15¢
- Pay-as-you-go: 3.09% + 15¢
Powered by Toast
3
Clover — Flexible Hardware (Fiserv)
Pros
- Large hardware family (Solo, Duo, Mini, Flex)
- Strong app market; wide processor programs
Cons
- Rates & terms vary by provider/reseller
Cost
- As low as: 2.3% + 10¢
- Register Lite: 2.9% + 30¢
Powered by Clover
4
SpotOn — Restaurant POS
Pros
- Online ordering with DoorDash-powered delivery; flat-rate delivery option via DoorDash Drive.
- Reservations & waitlist with two-way texting (SpotOn Reserve).
- Handhelds, KDS, and 24/7 support; built for multi-location ops.
Cons
- Quote-based pricing; add-ons can raise total cost.
- Smaller third-party app marketplace vs Clover.
Cost
- Software: tiered; commonly quote-based (typical ranges published by software directories).
- Processing: SpotOn Payments (quote-based).
Powered by SpotOn
5
SkyTab — POS + Payments (by Shift4)
Pros
- Online ordering & delivery, loyalty & gift, marketing tools included.
- Reservations & waitlist built in; handhelds for tableside service.
- Widely advertised entry promo around $29.99/workstation/mo; 24/7 support.
Cons
- Runs on Shift4 processing; pricing details are quote-based.
- App marketplace smaller than Clover.
Cost
- Software: promo plans from ~$29.99/workstation/mo (varies by offer).
- Processing: Shift4 (quote-based).
Powered by SkyTab
6
TouchBistro — iPad-based Restaurant POS
Pros
- Fast FOH workflows; tableside iPad ordering
- Menu & floorplan tools included
Cons
- Rates & add-ons vary; multi-year contracts common
Cost
- Card-present: 2.49% + 15¢
- Card-not-present: 3.50% + 15¢
Powered by TouchBistro
POS Comparison Chart
| Features | TouchBistro | SkyTab | Clover | Toast | SpotOn | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Inventory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online ordering | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self ordering | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Handheld | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reservations | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| App marketplace | — | — | ✓ | — | — | ✓ |
| 3rd-party processing | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Loyalty & gift | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| KDS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delivery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| API & webhooks | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Offline mode | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Table mgmt | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Menu mgmt | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced reporting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Curbside & pickup | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What Makes a Good Booking & Reservations System?
Core Capabilities
- Smart waitlisting & pacing with two-way SMS reminders
- Deposit/hold options to cut no-shows
- Marketplace visibility (Google, social) & embeddable widgets
- Guest CRM: notes, tags, visit history, VIP flags
- Integrations: POS sync, vouchers, API/webhooks
Owner Outcomes
- Higher show-up rates and steadier cover counts
- Repeat visits via guest profiles & follow-ups
- Cleaner staffing forecasts
Booking Apps
1
Tock — Reservations, Events & Experiences
Pros
- Prepaid tickets, deposits, and experiences
- Two-way POS sync (Toast & Lightspeed)
- Discovery via Tock marketplace + Google
Cons
- Smaller network than OpenTable/Resy in some markets
Cost
- Premium from: $339/mo + 2% on pre-payments; no cover fees
Powered by Tock
2
SimplyBook.me — Appointment Booking
Pros
- Multi-vertical (beauty, wellness, services)
- Widgets, API/webhooks, payments
Cons
- Not a diner marketplace
Cost
- Free; paid: $11.90–$49.90/mo annual (to $59.90 monthly)
Powered by SimplyBook
3
Appointy — Scheduling & Reminders
Pros
- Reserve with Google; Square payments
- Marketing automations & reminders
Cons
- No native restaurant POS integration
Cost
- Free; paid tiers from $19.99/mo annual (to $99.99 monthly)
Powered by Appointy
4
Setmore — Simple & Affordable
Pros
- Excellent entry-level value; solid free plan
- Google & social booking; easy setup
Cons
- Fewer advanced restaurant features
Cost
- Free (≤4 users); Pro $5/user/mo annual (to $12 monthly)
Powered by Setmore
Booking App Comparison Chart
| Features | Setmore | Appointy | SimplyBook | Tock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online booking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waitlist & reminders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposits & tickets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Guest CRM | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memberships | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| API & webhooks | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketplace | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Google & social booking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lightspeed POS | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Toast POS two-way | — | — | — | ✓ |
| TouchBistro POS | — | — | — | — |
Software
1
Owner.com — Website, App & Commission-Free Ordering
About
- Zero-commission ordering; keep 100% of profits vs 30-40% to third-party apps
- Custom branded website + native iOS/Android mobile apps that drive 85% more repeat orders
- Built-in marketing automation, loyalty rewards program, and Google SEO optimization
- Direct POS integration with Square and Clover, plus connections to other systems through Otter
- 2-4× higher order conversion rate compared to average restaurant websites
- Fast onboarding - most restaurants launch within one week with dedicated support
- Single monthly subscription with no long-term contracts or cancellation fees
- Customers pay 5% fee on orders (vs 15%+ on third-party apps)
- ~$7 flat delivery fee through integrated drivers; no commission on orders
Cost
- Monthly subscription includes website, mobile app, online ordering, and marketing automation
- Contact for pricing details
Powered by Owner.com
Equipment
Equipment — KaTom & More
Why we list equipment partners
- National inventory and fast shipping
- Competitive pricing on back-of-house needs
- Trusted brands and warranty support
