Best Bar, Nightclub & Pub POS Systems in 2023: Pros, Cons, Pricing
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
A bar point-of-sale (POS) system should collect speedy payments and track inventory. The best POS systems for bars also pre-authorize bar tabs and help with physical stock counting. If you need specialized tools like quick cocktail recipe lookup, live keg tracking, and cash management, read on; our bar and POS experts have ranked the best bar POS systems and software for bars, nightclubs, pubs, and breweries.
Our expert evaluation found that the best POS systems for bars are:
- Toast: Best overall bar POS
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for craft cocktail bars and inventory management
- Oracle MICROS Simphony: Best for nightclubs and cash management
- Revel Systems: Best iPad POS for high-volume bars that need three or more terminals
- TouchBistro: Best for breweries and high staff turnover
- Square for Restaurants: Best for wine bars and for quick setup
Top Bar POS Systems Compared
Which Bar POS Is Right for You?
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Toast: Best Overall Bar POS
If you want the functionality of Toast, but prefer to shop for more processors, try Lightspeed Restaurant or Revel. Those are both great options if you want built-in inventory too. If you only need one or two terminals, go with Lightspeed. For three or more terminals, Revel may be a better bet.
Lightspeed Restaurant: Best for Inventory
If you want all of Lightspeed’s functions but need more robust hardware, try Toast. If you don’t need quite as many functions, and need a lower upfront cost, Toast is also a great choice—assuming you don’t mind proprietary hardware. If iPads are more your speed, you should take a look at Square.
Oracle MICROS Simphony: Best for Cash Management
If built-in inventory is a must-have in your bar POS, you’ll be better off with Lightspeed, Revel, or TouchBistro. If you need a lower upfront cost, Square or Toast are better bets. If you prefer iPad terminals, check out Square, Revel, Lightspeed, or TouchBistro.
Revel: Best for High-volume Bars
If you want a system with nearly as many tools, but with a shorter contract, try Toast. If you absolutely need something month-to-month, Square for Restaurants is your best bet (though you’ll sacrifice pre-authorized bar tabs). For close to the same level of built-in functions and the ability to shop for multiple processors, try Lightspeed Restaurant.
TouchBistro: Best for Breweries & High Staff Turnover
If you only need a single POS terminal for your bar, Toast or Square are better deals. If you need more advanced, automated inventory management with physical counting tools and automated ordering, check out Lightspeed or Revel.
Square for Restaurants: Best for Wine Bars & Small Bars
If you want to shop for processing rates, check out Lightspeed, Revel, or TouchBistro. If you prefer built-in inventory with more advanced features, check out Lightspeed or Revel. And if card pre-authorizations are a must-have, try any of the other systems on this list.
How We Evaluated Bar POS Systems
We compared more than a dozen popular POS systems based on what’s important to bars, nightclubs, pubs, and other beverage operations. Ease of use, niche bar functions, general POS functionality, and price were our main considerations. We also considered our POS and bar experts’ personal evaluations of each software, alongside real-world user reviews.
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First, we looked at whether or not each software offers a free plan and a plan option under $75 monthly because bars need to save money wherever they can. Then, we made sure those plans include unlimited user logins and custom user roles. We considered whether the system runs on proprietary hardware or lets users bring compatible hardware they already own. Finally, we awarded bonus points to systems with shorter service contracts and multiple options for payment processing
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Meet our Experts
Mary King has managed bars and restaurants and used several POS systems in real-world bar environments. With over 14 years of industry experience, she has worked in food service businesses from coffee shops and food trucks to quick service and full-service restaurants and bars. | |
Meaghan Brophy has 10-plus years of retail experience, during which she has operated a variety of cash registers and POS systems in different settings and applications. Since working in retail, Meaghan has 7-plus years of experience writing for retailers and 4-plus years of experience evaluating POS systems. |
Bar POS System Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best POS system for a bar?
The best POS system for your bar will depend on your business type and sales volume. But, overall, our expert evaluation found that Toast is the best POS for most types of bar businesses. For a detailed breakdown of alternative POS options, see our list of the best bar POS systems above.
What does a bar POS system do?
At the most basic level, bar POS systems manage orders and process payments. High-functioning systems also track inventory in real time, act as an employee timeclock, and include detailed cash-tracking tools. All of these tools help reduce costs and opportunities for theft while growing sales and increasing your speed of service.
How much does a POS system for a bar cost?
The cost of a bar POS system ranges from $0 to more than $100 per month for software and from $0 to over $1,000 for hardware. The total costs for your bar will vary based on your hardware and software needs.
A small bar can run a cloud-based POS app on an iPad and get started with no money down.
A high-volume operation that handles a lot of cash, however, would be better served by a stronger system with cash management tools. In that case, you should expect to pay around $100 per month for software and around $800 for each countertop terminal.
Bottom Line
Toast outscored the competition for best overall bar POS. This flexible system is available at three different pricing tiers to support beverage operations of any size, from draft houses to wine bars, and pubs to cocktail lounges.
With user-friendly speed screens, pre-authorized bar tabs, and employee and customer management tools, alongside dynamic tableside tablets and in-app staff communication, this massively functional system has every tool you need.
If cost is a concern, small bars can start with Toast’s hardware and software for free and be confident that the system will grow with their business. See if Toast is a fit for your bar by scheduling a demo.