Best Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) 2023 [Expert Ranking]
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
Kitchen display systems (KDS) are digital screens that display incoming orders in restaurant kitchens. KDS screens route orders from the point-of-sale (POS) system to the correct kitchen station. Good kitchen display systems streamline kitchen communication, reduce human errors, and monitor cook times. The best restaurant KDS systems show a dish’s ingredients at the touch of a button and text customers when orders are ready.
The best KDS systems for 2023 are:
- Toast: Best overall KDS for most restaurant types
- Fresh KDS: Best low-cost freestanding KDS
- Square: Best KDS for food trucks and restaurants on a budget
- Revel: Best KDS for drive-thrus
- Epson: Best KDS for integrating with an existing POS
- Lightspeed Kitchen: Best KDS for growing restaurants
What makes our rankings different:
This guide was written by experts who have experience using KDS screens in real-world restaurant settings. The writer and reviewer of this article have combined restaurant and POS experience of over 20 years.
Best Kitchen Display Systems Compared
KDS monthly software fees | Hardware type | Touch screen or bump bar | Integrated automated messaging | Offline functionality | Compatible POS systems | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$25 | Toast HD LCD touch screens | Touch screen* | ✓ | ✓ | Toast | |
$19–$35+ | iPad and Android tablets; PCAP touch-screen terminals | Both | ✓ | ✕ | Square, Clover, Infor, Linga, Talech, Union; developing integrations with Lightspeed, Brink, Toast, Revel, TouchBistro, Aloha, Lavu | |
$0–$20 | iPads, or monitors with bump bars | Touch screen | ✓ | ✕ | Square for Restaurants, Square POS | |
Custom-quoted | iPad or smart display | Both | ✓ | ✓ | Revel Systems | |
Varies by reseller | Viewsonic smart display | Both | ✕ | ✓ | Cake, Focus, Future, Lavu, PosiTouch, Revel, Revention, and more | |
Custom-quoted | iPads | Both | ✓ | ✕ | Lightspeed Restaurant | |
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Toast: Best Overall KDS
Overview
Pros
- Highly customizable ticket layouts and alerts
- Industry-grade hardware withstands hot kitchen environments
- Automated SMS text alerts let customers know their order is ready
Cons
- Inventory and vendor management require third-party integration
- Underlying POS requires two-year contract
What we like:
Toast POS is our top-rated cloud-based restaurant POS system, and its KDS offering is likewise a top performer. Toast’s KDS is the most customizable system on this list. You can highlight individual ingredients and common allergens. Plus, users can choose their font size and how information is arranged on order tickets. This system also sends text messages to customers when their orders are ready, and alerts servers in the POS app when they have food waiting in the kitchen.
Hardware
Flex for Kitchen (wall-mounted) | Flex for Kitchen (on stand) |
---|---|
$499 + $25/ month | |
14-inch HD LCD, IP-54 rated touch-screen kitchen monitor | |
Features
- Highly customizable interface
You can customize alert colors for ticket status, item modifiers, and allergens. Text size and colors are also customizable. You can also route dishes with complex components to multiple prep stations. - All-day count view
Toast’s All-Day count screen shows your all-day counts at a glance, so your kitchen team is never second-guessing what orders they have on deck. - Auto-firing by prep time
Your Toast KDS can organize newly ordered items by their cook time to ensure all dishes on a ticket are ready at the same time. - Automated order-ready messages
Your Toast KDS can send automated messages to customers or servers when you mark an order as complete on the KDS. These alerts help keep your kitchen flowing smoothly and keep cooked food from dying in the window. - Rush button
Toast recently added a Rush order button to the KDS that automatically shifts rush tickets to the front of the order queue, marked with a red RUSH label. As such, your expediters and cooks can quickly get on the same page when plans change.
Pricing
Toast’s KDS software is currently offered at $25 per screen monthly. If you need multiple screens, however, Toast will likely work out a lower per-terminal price for you. To get the best pricing, reach out to the Toast sales team for a custom quote.
The underlying POS ranges from $0 to $165+ per month, with pay-as-you-go options for terminal hardware.
Nearly 10% of readers say that they would switch their POS brand for the right KDS. If you are considering switching, you should know that Toast consistently tops this KDS ranking.
Fresh KDS: Best Low-cost Freestanding KDS
Overview
Pros
- Integrates with several major POS brands, with more in development
- Seven-day free trial
- Multiple hardware configurations
Cons
- Offline mode is limited
- Text message functions require pricier subscription
- Fewer POS integrations than Epson
What we like:
Fresh KDS is a standalone, iPad-based KDS system that integrates with several popular POS systems like Square and Clover. With pricing starting at $19 per month and a seven-day free trial that allows you to test the system before committing, Fresh KDS is a strong choice for restaurants that need a low-cost KDS that integrates with their existing POS system.
Hardware
Fresh KDS operates on iPads running iOS 13 or later and Android 6.0 or later tablets. Simply download the KDS app from Google Play or the Apple App store onto tablets you already own. For industry-grade hardware, Fresh KDS supports projective capacitive (PCAP) touch-screen monitors and offers an optional bump bar.
Features
- Customizable colors
As with Toast, Fresh KDS lets you customize virtually every color on the screen. Choose which colors you want to label your ticket status, order type, and order modifications. You can even choose a light or dark mode for the entire KDS screen. - Customizable screen views
Choose to arrange your Fresh KDS tickets in neat, individual columns or squeeze tickets into all available screen space with the Tile view. Split View allows you to separate your screen into two order streams, helpful for separating eat-in orders from to-go or pickup orders from delivery orders. - Custom text notifications
Like Toast and Revel, Fresh KDS sends automated SMS text alerts when you mark orders as complete. With Fresh KDS, however, you have even more messaging options. You can set messages for when new orders are received and when your team begins preparing orders. You can also set custom messages for different order types—eat-in, curbside, pick-up, or delivery. - Customer-facing order tracking screen
Like Revel, Fresh KDS includes a customer-facing order tracking screen. This is ideal for counter-service restaurants with a high volume of takeout orders. When your kitchen marks a KDS ticket as complete, the order status on the tracking screen automatically updates to show customers their food is ready.
Pricing
Fresh KDS offers three subscription tiers: Basic, Advanced, and Enterprise. Basic starts at $19 per month, Advanced comes in at $35 per month, and Enterprise requires a custom quote. Each subscription includes software for two KDS screens, though the system can support up to 10 screens at a single location.
At the Advanced subscription level, Fresh KDS includes standout features like automated customer SMS text messaging (like Toast and Revel) and a customer-facing order tracking screen (like Revel). You’ll also need the Advanced level if you simply want to print tickets from the KDS screen, Basic subscriptions do not include ticket printing functions.
40% of our readers want a KDS that works right out of the box. FreshKDS gets pretty close. It also integrates with several restaurant POS systems. If you need a POS for your business, see our rankings of the best restaurant POS systems, best quick service POS systems, and best POS systems for delivery.
Square: Best KDS for Restaurants & Food Trucks on a Budget
Overview
Pros
- KDS included for free with higher-tier subscriptions
- Quick setup
- Software for unlimited KDS terminals included in the Plus POS plan
Cons
- Only available on the Square for Restaurants POS
- Only operates on iPads; no industry-grade hardware
- No recipe lookup tools
What we like:
Square for Restaurants is a cloud-based POS system best suited for restaurants on a budget, as the POS software has a forever free plan and an advanced plan that’s just $60 per month. Higher-tier subscriptions include KDS software for free, while Free Square users can add the KDS for just $20 per month. In particular, we recommend Square for Restaurants for food trucks, QSRs, cafes, slice shops, and bakeries.
Hardware
Square Stand | Square Stand Mount | Square Register |
---|---|---|
$149 ($14/month for 12 months) | $149 ($14/month for 12 months) | $799 ($39/month over 24 months) |
Countertop iPad POS terminal with built-in card reader* | Countertop or wall mounting bracket for iPad in Square Stand case* | POS terminal with built-in card reader and customer-facing display |
* iPad not included. With iPad, add an additional $329 |
* iPad not included. With iPad, add $329
Features
- Voids on tickets
Every other KDS on this list processes voided items as separate tickets. These tickets will typically be marked with the same ticket or table number as the original ticket, but this can still lead to over-prepped food on a busy night. Square displays voided items in red directly on the original ticket. So, if table 25 cancels their soup order, your cooks will see it in real time. - Customizable views
On each Square KDS, you can individually adjust the text size, the number of tickets displayed per page, and notification settings for new orders. This way, your cooks can view orders the way they prefer. Like others on this list, Square also has an all-day count view. - Free online ordering
All of the systems on this list display online orders in the KDS. But Square for Restaurants is the only POS that includes a free online ordering site. In addition to receiving online orders directly in your KDS order stream, Square users have the comfort of knowing they aren’t paying any extra fees for those orders.
Pricing
If you’re using the Free version of Square for Restaurants, the KDS is just $20 per device. If you’re on Square for Restaurants Plus or Premium, KDS software for unlimited devices is included for free.
The underlying Square for Restaurants POS is available at three subscription levels; Free, Plus, and Premium. Free has no monthly software fees, Plus costs $60 per month for a single terminal (additional terminals are $40 each, monthly), and Premium requires a custom quote. There are no long-term contracts at any level.
Our readers are evenly split between wanting an iPad KDS and wanting industry-grade hardware. If your kitchen needs industry-grade hardware, check out Toast or Epson. If you need text messaging capabilities, any of the other KDS systems on this list are good choices.
Revel: Best KDS for Drive-thru Restaurants
Overview
Pros
- Highly customizable tickets and alerts
- Multiple screen views
- Supports customer-facing “order ready” display
Cons
- Underlying POS requires three-year contract
- Pricey
- Integrated SMS messaging requires a third-party integration
What we like:
Revel Systems is a hybrid POS that operates on iPads. Though, like Toast, Revel users have the option to use a touch-screen KDS or rely on the Epson KDS integration if they need more robust hardware or bump bars. Revel’s KDS only operates on the Revel POS, which has the strongest drive-thru management tools of any cloud POS on the market.
Hardware
ViewSonic VSD243 | Bump bar | ViewSonic wall mount |
---|---|---|
24” smart KDS display | 20-button, sealed bump bar | Full motion tilt arm for KDS display |
Features
- Multiple screen views
Revel Systems’ KDS offers several viewing screens: Expedite, Expedite Tile, Kitchen Screen, Production View, and Order Display, so cooks and expeditors can choose their preferred view. Revel Systems has a customer-facing Order Ready screen that displays orders by customer name to identify which orders are ready for pickup. Orders on this screen can be further color-coded to separate to-go, drive-thru, and curbside pickups. - SMS text integration
Revel integrates with the third-party messaging app Twilio to support automated text messaging from the KDS screen. You can create custom messages for in-house, takeout, curbside, or delivery orders. - Order Ready screen
Revel’s built-in Order Ready screen is customer-facing and shows real-time order status. This is an excellent tool for communicating with delivery drivers or for keeping things organized in a high-volume, quick service environment. Orders can be flagged with order numbers and customer names and will be color-coded by order type. - Drive-thru tools
Revel’s Drive Thru XT module condenses order and payment screens to reduce button presses and logs vehicle information to ensure the correct orders are given to the correct customers. You can also track drive-thru orders separately from in-house orders on the Revel KDS.
Pricing
Revel does not publicly list the cost of its KDS hardware and software. You’ll need to contact Revel for a full-price quote.
The underlying POS starts at $99 per terminal monthly, with an installation fee starting at $674.
If you prefer a lower-priced POS with a KDS, look at Toast, Square, or Lightspeed. If you need a KDS that integrates with your existing POS, try FreshKDS or Epson.
Epson: Best for POS Integrations
Overview
Pros
- Printer-driven screens provide printed tickets labels when needed
- Integrates with several popular POS systems
- Touch-screen and bump bar hardware available
Cons
- Must purchase through a third-party reseller
- Upfront costs can be high
- Setup requires a lot of administrative time
What we like:
Epson’s KDS integrates with practically every restaurant POS. Since the KDS is printer-driven, any POS that supports Epson kitchen printers can connect with the Epson KDS. Those kitchen printers can print paper ticket backups when needed, or even print sticky labels for labeling to-go orders on the fly.
Hardware
Basic KDS Kit | Bump Bar | OmniLink TM-L90 Plus-i Intelligent Printer |
---|---|---|
KDS screen, wall mounting bracket, bump bar, KDS driver-enabled impact kitchen printer | Bump bar navigation panel | Prices vary by resellerLinerless label printer with built-in KDS driver |
Prices vary by reseller |
Features
- Strong offline functionality
Epson’s KDS does not need the Cloud to operate; it uses ethernet connections. If you lose internet connectivity, your KDS will still function fully. - Commercial-grade hardware
Like Toast, Epson’s KDS operates on commercial-grade hardware. Epson monitors are rated IP-54, the same level of water and dust protection as Toast’s hardware. - Label printing
Epson’s KDS screens are driven by the printers they are attached to. You can print paper tickets on demand, or even linerless sticker labels—which are ideal for labeling takeout and delivery orders. - Touch-screen and bump bar options
Epson’s black-and-white, grid-based user interface is a little old-school. Plus, some cooks find bump bar navigation a bit dated. However, others prefer bump bars because they are easier to operate with gloved hands or damp fingertips. Epson includes options for both bump bar enabled and touch-screen monitors. - Recipe lookup from KDS
Like Lightspeed and Toast, Epson allows your staff to access recipe information directly from the KDS screen, so there are never any mistakes from the kitchen. You just need to be sure to attach a recipe to each dish.
Pricing
You cannot purchase the Epson KDS directly from Epson; you’ll need to go through a third-party reseller. This might be one of the many POS brands that integrate with the Epson KDS, or it might be a standalone POS hardware seller like POS Guys. Pricing and terms will vary from seller to seller, but you can typically expect to pay between $1,400 and $2,500 upfront. There may be additional monthly service or software fees.
About two-thirds of our readers say they are looking for a KDS that integrates with their existing POS. Epson is a great fit for those readers. If you prefer a self-installable tablet-based KDS system, look at any of the POS-built KDS systems on this list: Toast, Lightspeed, Revel, or Square.
Lightspeed Kitchen: Best KDS for Growth
Overview
Pros
- 14-day free trial
- Quick setup
- Show and Tell function displays images and ingredients
Cons
- Less customizable than competitors
- No “order ready” text messaging
- No “all-day” count
What we like:
Lightspeed POS is a cloud-based POS that operates on iPads. Like the underlying POS, Lightspeed’s KDS module—called Lightspeed Kitchen—also runs on iPads. Pricing for Lightspeed Restaurant’s POS starts at $69 per month. The KDS software is an additional custom-quoted price (we’ve previously been quoted $12 per screen, monthly). With four available subscription tiers, Lightspeed offers the widest range of tools. So small restaurants won’t pay for tools they don’t use, and growing restaurants can get a system that expands along with their business.
Hardware
iPad KDS | Bump bar |
---|---|
Touch-screen iPad KDS terminal | Optional 23-button bump bar for KDS navigation |
Features
- Free trial
Lightspeed offers a 14-day free trial of the underlying POS so you can test the POS before you commit to the system. Unfortunately, the KDS is not included in the free trial—you’ll need to contact Lightspeed for a KDS demo. - Color-coded order status
Tickets in different stages of the preparation pipeline appear with pre-configured colors: gray for New or Archived, orange for Preparing, green for Done, and red for Voided. Unlike Toast, Revel, and Epson, however, you cannot customize these colors; they are programmed into the KDS. - Order tags
Lightspeed labels online orders with the name of the referring platform. And—via a Deliverect integration—Lightspeed integrates with virtually every third-party platform you can imagine. - Show and Tell function
Lightspeed Kitchen’s KDS includes a Show and Tell function that shows a detailed image and item description on the KDS screen when a cook clicks on the menu item. This stops short of the recipe look-up function supported by Epson and Toast, but ensures your cooks are reminded how to plate a dish and review a list of its ingredients.
Pricing
Lightspeed Kitchen is a paid add-on to the Lightspeed Restaurant POS. The add-on is offered at a custom-quoted price from Lightspeed. Previously, it was priced at $12 per screen monthly. Contact Lightspeed’s sales department for full, current KDS pricing.
The Lightspeed Restaurant POS varies in price from $69 to $399+ per month, depending on your subscription level.
Nearly two-thirds of our readers are unsure if their teams prefer touch-screen or bump-bar KDS systems. Lightspeed is a great fit for those that might need to switch hardware since it works with either setup. But if you need more customization options in a POS-built KDS system, try Toast or Revel. They also support both configuration types.
Methodology—How We Evaluated Kitchen Display Systems
We compared nearly a dozen of the most popular kitchen monitoring systems based on the most frequently cited kitchen pain points. We weighed each KDS’s available hardware, offline functionality, ticket layout, and customization options. We also considered each system’s overall price.
Click through the tabs below for our full restaurant KDS evaluation criteria:
25% of Overall Score
We rewarded KDS systems that are included in the cost of your restaurant POS. For systems that operate with more than one POS, we looked for free trials, free baseline subscriptions, or a monthly cost of $20 or less for the KDS software.
30% of Overall Score
We considered how much each KDS can be customized, and looked for systems that accept in-person, online, and third-party orders. We awarded points for systems that allow you to recall whole tickets and individual menu items, as well as systems that track all-day counts.
20% of Overall Score
We prioritized tools that send automated text updates to customers when their orders are ready or support multiple hardware types. We also looked for kitchen monitoring systems that include recipe lookups and menu images at the click of a button.
25% of Overall Score
Finally, we considered our restaurant expert’s evaluation of each system’s overall features, value for money, and ease of use.
Kitchen Display System Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does a kitchen display system cost?
KDS system costs range widely; some are available for $20–$40 per month for the software, while others require a custom quote. If you use a cloud POS, you can typically operate your KDS on iPads that you may already own.
The biggest costs will be your KDS screens. A tablet-based system that runs on iPads or Android tablets will run you $400 to $600 per screen, depending on the tablet model you choose. Industry-grade touch screens can run from $800 to $2,000 apiece.
How does a KDS system work?
A KDS system works just like a kitchen printer system. In fact, most KDS screens work by merely displaying the same data stream that your POS sends to your printers. Rather than print a paper ticket, the order information is displayed on a screen, reducing paper consumption, and giving you a lot more data about how orders move through your kitchen.
As menu items are completed, your cooks mark them as done on their KDS screen. Your staff can track each ticket from a central expediting screen so that they know when a full order is complete. Many KDS systems will send text alerts to customers or to your staff when orders are ready for pick up, so your food never expires under the heat lamps.
What is a KDS expeditor?
A KDS expeditor is a central KDS screen that faces the dining room side of your kitchen’s pick-up window. The expeditor screen shows all active orders. This screen provides a bird’s eye view of all your current orders and keeps your food runners and expeditors (if you have them) organized. If you don’t staff expeditors and food runners, it is still a good idea to purchase a KDS expeditor screen. It reduces back-and-forth questions with the cooks during the heat of service.
Why use a kitchen display system?
A kitchen display system reduces paper waste and gives you a trove of information about your kitchen productivity. With a KDS, there is no fudging how long a dish takes to prepare, and you can quickly see training opportunities or ways to make your kitchen more efficient. You can pull reports that show how many orders are sent to certain cook stations through a shift, which might indicate that you need to spread your prep more evenly through the kitchen line. Or you might notice that a certain cook is slower than others, so you can train them to bring them up to speed.
Bottom Line
Toast POS has our favorite KDS module. With options like text message notifications, customizable alerts, and kitchen-specific features like all-day counts, Toast’s KDS supports the widest range of restaurant styles. Combined with Toast’s excellent online ordering, delivery management, team management, and reporting functions, the Toast KDS creates a full spectrum restaurant management solution at a competitive price. Visit Toast for a demo, or to get started for free today.