6 Best Pizza POS Systems for 2023
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
Operating a pizza shop is different from other foodservice businesses, so naturally your point-of-sale (POS) system requires different functionality. An efficient POS system for your business must easily handle customer customization, delivery expectations, differing order volumes, and order combinations.
We scored dozens of popular POS systems for their cost, ease of use, and pizzeria-specific functions like delivery management with integrated GPS tracking, customer order history, and robust marketing tools.
Based on our evaluation, the best food delivery software for restaurants are:
- Toast: Best overall pizza POS for all pizzeria types
- SpeedLine: Best for complex orders and combos
- Revel: Best for 5+ location pizzerias that want a cloud POS
- HungerRush: Best for online and in-app ordering
- Slice Register: Best for quick setup
- Square for Restaurants: Best free POS for slice shops and small shops
Top Pizza POS Systems Compared
Minimum Monthly Software Fee | Hardware Cost | Self-managed Delivery Tools | Custom Pizza-building Module | Pay at Door Card Readers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $0 | $0–$1K+ | Good | Good | ✕ |
 | Custom-quoted | Custom-quoted | Advanced | Advanced | ✓ |
 | $99 | Custom-quoted | Advanced | Advanced | ✕ |
 | $99 | Included with software fee | Good | Advanced | ✓ |
 | $69/month +$2.50/order | Custom-quoted | Good | Good | ✕ |
 | $0 | $0–$1K+ | Good | ✕ | ✕ |
Quiz: Which Pizza POS Is Right for You?
Toast: Best Overall Pizza POS for All Pizzeria Types
Overview
Overall Score:
4.14 / 5
Pros
- No software fees on pay-as-you-go plan
- Pay-as-you-go hardware options reduce your upfront costs
- Affordable marketing and loyalty add-ons
- Options for in-house and third-party delivery
Cons
- Locked into Toast Payments
- Requires two-year contract
- Inventory costs extra
Toast Pricing
- Monthly software subscription fee:
- Quick Start Bundle/Pay-as-you-go – $0
- Core – $69
- Growth – $165
- Custom Pricing – Custom quote
- Hardware costs: $0–$1K+
See hardware section below for detailed pricing
- One-time Installation fees: $0 for self-installation; $250 for guided installation
- Processing fees:
- Standard – 2.49% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
- Pay-as-You-Go – 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
- Pay-as-You-Go with Marketing tools – 3.39% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
What We Like
Toast is a hybrid POS system that operates on industry-grade Toast terminals and handheld devices. This system has long been a high performer in our rankings of best restaurant POS, and it offers several key features—complex nested modifiers, delivery management, driver management, and online ordering—that make it a great fit for pizzerias. It even offers pay-as-you-go options for up to two POS terminals to help small shops get started for no upfront cost. Toast’s industry-grade hardware is also ideal for the often hectic environments pizzerias create.
Toast earned a 4.14 out of 5 in our pizza POS ranking. The system earned points for its free starter software price and ease of use. All of the pizza-supporting functions, like delivery management and pizza combo building tools, are present and accounted for. The system lost some points for locking users into the built-in Toast Payments, requiring a two-year contract, and charging extra for inventory and ordering tools.
Toast’s two-year contract requirements and lack of payment processing choices make it a poor fit for many pizza restaurants. Plus, in Toast, your staff has to manually apply combo deals as discounts. If you’re seeking different options, consider these other pizza POS systems.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Better for: Month-to-month subscriptions that you can cancel anytime (no contract required) | Better for: Multiple payment processor options | Better for: Automated combo discounts based on customer orders |
Countertop Terminal Starter Kit | Self-service Kiosk | Handheld Terminal Starter Kit |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Pay upfront: $875 + $69 per month Or Pay-As-You-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in person transaction | Pay upfront: $1,009 + $99 per month Or Pay-as-you-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction | Pay upfront: $627 + $69 per month Or Pay-as-You-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction |
Countertop Terminal, Toast Tap card reader, Router | Touch-screen kiosk with router and card reader | Toast Go 2 order and payment device, Wireless Access Point, Router |
- Complex modifier and combo building screens: Toast supports a pizza-building screen for ringing in custom pizzas and combo discount options for building complex order combos.
- Training and support: Toast’s customer hub, Toast Central, contains a wealth of resources to train your managers and staff—in both English and Spanish. The searchable knowledge database can answer any question, and Toast offers 24/7 live support.
- Driver management: You can set a delivery area, assign delivery fees, and assign orders to drivers directly in Toast. Drivers can operate with a tracked cash bank to receive cash payments upon delivery, and you can print shift summaries for drivers just like you do for servers.
- Third-party driver integration: Toast Delivery Services allows pizza shops to dispatch third-party drivers on-demand through a partnership with DoorDash. Toast also integrates with Grubhub to send orders directly to your pizzeria’s POS. Other third-party apps are supported via aggregators ItsaCheckmate and Chowly.
- Inventory by xtraChef: In 2021, Toast purchased the restaurant inventory tool xtraCHEF. As a result, Toast is no longer offering the built-in Toast inventory to new customers; you’ll need to purchase an xtraCHEF subscription to get real-time ingredient tracking and low stock alerts. For a busy pizzeria, the custom-quoted cost may be worth it, though. xtraCHEF syncs with your accounts payable system to ensure you never miss an invoice. It also includes scan-to-enter invoice management and a smartphone app for taking physical inventory counts.
Did you know?
More than 25% of our quiz respondents use a combination of in-house and third-party delivery drivers. Toast is a perfect fit for these types of operations.
Take a deeper look at Toast by exploring these rankings where Toast came out on or near the top:
- Best Bar POS
- Best Online Ordering Systems
- Best Kitchen Display Systems
- Best Quick Service Restaurant POS
SpeedLine: Best for Complex Orders & Combos
Overview
Overall Score:
4.08 / 5
Pros
- Dynamic order screens show ingredients and modifiers at a glance
- In-field credit card payments via long-range card readers reduce fees
- Advanced mapping tools aid driver dispatch and marketing strategies
- Flexible coupons and multiprice offers for peak-time customer engagement
Cons
- Not fully cloud-based
- Some updates can only be made by the SpeedLine support team
- Price requires a custom quote
SpeedLine Pricing
- Subscription fee: Custom-quoted, all-in-one software and hardware price
- One-time installation fees: Custom-quoted
- Processing fees: Custom-quoted from compatible payment gateways (WorldPay, Monetra)
What We Like
SpeedLine is a locally installed POS that has been supporting pizzerias for decades. This system includes all order variations on a single screen and automated promo applications, and even integrates with call center software so you can turn over your phones on busy nights. The order screen highlights ingredients on signature pies so your cashiers don’t waste any time adding and subtracting ingredients and building custom pizzas.
SpeedLine earned a 4.08 out of 5 on our pizza POS scoring criteria. Like Revel, SpeedLine earned a ton of points for its mountain of functions; it even earned a perfect 5 out of 5 for niche pizza functions.
But, also like Revel, SpeedLine’s biggest weakness is the price. With a system that requires on-site installation and custom quotes, the cost can be high, in the $5,000 to $15,000 range. Most of that cost is upfront, with few ongoing monthly fees. But if you don’t have that kind of cash on hand, SpeedLine won’t be a fit.
Did you know?
More than 60% of our quiz respondents are traditional pizzerias, with lots of delivery orders plus on-site dining. These operations are exactly what SpeedLine was designed to support.
SpeedLine might be more machine than small slice shops need, and it’s more expensive than some shops can afford. In these cases, consider these pizza POS systems instead.
 | |
|---|---|
Better for: Less expensive with nearly the same level of functionality as SpeedLine (especially if you prefer your tools with upfront cost) | Better for: Easier-to-use and more affordable for slice shops with less complex orders |
Countertop terminal | Touch Dynamic mPOS | Speedline Pay Mobile Reader |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Stationary touch-screen terminal | Mobile tablet for tableside orders and payments | Tap, dip, and swipe mobile card reader for in-field payments |
- Pay-at-the-door functionality: The “SpeedLine Pay” app allows your drivers to accept card payments at your customers’ doorsteps. This helps your pizza shop avoid higher card-not-present transaction fees and chargebacks. HungerRush is the only other system on this list that supports pay-at-the-door.
- Pizza-focused order screens: SpeedLine’s order screens show nutritional information, allergens, and recipes at the touch of a button. You can add pop-up screens for item-specific upsells and coupons, so anyone ringing in an order has all the information at their fingertips.
- Heatmap reporting: One of SpeedLine’s most impressive functions is how the system combines navigational tools with sales tools. For example, you can pull sales reports that show what specific items are selling (or not) in specific areas of your city. This shows you immediately where a game day promotion or discounted delivery offer will have the most impact.
- Auto-send addresses to drivers: SpeedLine adopts an Uber-like feature in which addresses are auto-sent to drivers during their deliveries. This allows for seamless transition from order to order and a quicker delivery experience for customers.
- Integrated caller ID: When customers call your pizzeria, SpeedLine displays their customer profiles on the POS, including any active orders. Your staff never has to leave the POS to give customers updates or make changes to existing orders.
Revel Systems: Best for 5+ Location Pizzerias Wanting a Cloud POS
Overview
Overall Score:
3.95 / 5
Pros
- Map-based driver dispatch with inbuilt smartphone app
- Multiple integrated payment processors
- Combo builders and pizza-building screens support complex orders
- Automated inventory tools with PO management and smartphone counting app
Cons
- No free trial or free baseline subscription
- Hardware requires custom-quote
- 3-year contract
- Doesn’t support pay-at-the-door credit card readers
Revel Pricing
- Software subscription fee: $99 per terminal monthly
- Hardware costs: Custom quote
- One-time installation fees: Starting at $674
- Processing fees: Rates vary by processor. Choose from Revel Advantage, First Data, Heartland, TSYS, Worldpay, Chase Paymentech, and Elavon
What We Like
Revel Systems is a massively functional restaurant POS that operates on iPads. This multifaceted POS includes integrated, maps-based dispatching and staff-facing smartphone apps for delivery drivers. It also supports multiple payment processors, so high-volume pizzerias can shop for the best processing rates. Add in the complex combo-building features, and Revel Systems is a natural fit for pizzerias that want a cloud-based POS.
Revel earned an overall score of 3.95 out of 5 in our pizza POS ranking criteria. It earned the highest score on this list for its general POS functions. Its niche, pizzeria-supporting tools also come right behind SpeedLine and HungerRush (two systems designed specifically for pizzerias)—although it lacks pay-at-the-door capabilities and robust coupon configurations.
Not supporting just one or two locations, however, impacts our final rating on this system. Because of the high upfront cost, two-terminal minimum, and three-year contract (the longest on our list, along with HungerRush), Revel should only be considered by pizzerias with 5+ locations. The scale of its POS only really works for businesses of this size.
Revel’s pricing and contract length can be a real downer on an otherwise strong system. Consider these alternative pizza POS systems if you need other options.
| |
|---|---|
Better for: Shorter contract lengths (with functions that are nearly as good as Revel) | Better for: Month-to-month subscriptions that you can cancel anytime |
Apple iPad | Apple iPad mini | Revel C-stand | Revel L-Stand |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
10.2-inch to 12.9-inch display for POS, KDS, and self-service kiosk screens | 8.3-inch display, ideal for in-store and tableside orders and payments or customer-facing displays | Low-profile iPad stand for POS terminals or self-service kiosks | iPad terminal stand with customer-facing display |
- Comprehensive inventory: Revels’ inventory is semi-automated, allowing you to create purchase orders (POs) in the POS and email the orders directly to vendors. Inventory updates in real time and alerts you to low stock. Other systems—like Toast—charge extra for inventory, but Revel includes it in the baseline POS.
- Streamlined combo and modifier screens: Revel supports multiple modifier screens, and combo options are housed on a single screen (reducing button presses and speeding service). You can set prices for different dish sizes—as in a small, medium, or large pizza—and create prices for individual toppings.
- Online ordering: Revel’s online ordering module creates a custom URL that syncs with your POS and management console. The online ordering login allows customers to connect via Facebook, so they don’t need to create a new username and password.
- Driver management: Revel’s delivery management tools allow you to assign multiple orders to a single driver and generate the speediest route. The system estimates prep and delivery times, and tracks drivers’ delivery histories, giving you a massive amount of data to create reports.
- Third-party delivery: Revel integrates with several aggregators—like Chowly—that feed third-party platform orders directly into your POS. The system also has a “passthrough fee” function that can pass on third-party fees to customers.
- CRM and marketing: You can prompt customers to enroll in your loyalty program at checkout or via email and SMS. Create unique customer groups like “Local Soccer Parents” to create targeted deals, like a post-practice pizza pick-up package.
HungerRush: Best for Multichannel Ordering
Overview
Overall Score:
3.94 / 5
Pros
- Accepts orders through in-person, online, phone, app, and text channels
- Includes long-range card readers for at-the-door payments
- Dynamic order screens display ingredients and modifiers
- Customer loyalty and rewards system
Cons
- Systems can be pricey
- 3-year contract
- More machine than small pizza shops need
HungerRush Pricing
- Subscription plans (1-5 units)
- Starter – $99 per month
- Advanced – $199 per month
- Subscription for 5+ units – Custom quote
- Hardware costs: Included with software subscription
- One-time installation fee: Custom quote
- Payment processing: Varies by processor
- Contract length: Three years
What We Like
HungerRush is a cloud POS reinvention of the former legacy POS, Revention. The system was initially developed specifically for pizza shops. The updated cloud-enabled HungerRush includes a ton of the insightful tools developed by its grandaddy system, like speed screens that include build-your-own pizza and payment options on a single screen. It includes built-in tools for ordering via multiple channels—online, mobile app, and text.
HungerRush earned a score of 3.94 out of a possible 5 on our pizza POS criteria. It earned top marks for niche pizza functions like complex order modifiers and delivery management. In fact, it tied with SpeedLine, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category. But like SpeedLine and Revel, HungerRush lost points on cost. At $99 to $199 per month, HungerRush is midpriced on this list but requires a three-year contract.
HungerRush is a strong system, but its prices and contract lengths are steeper than many competitors. Consider these alternative pizza POS systems for friendlier terms.
| |
|---|---|
Better for: More affordable pricing (with nearly the same functionality as HungerRush) | Better for: Month-to-month subscriptions with no contract required |
Stationary Terminal | Epson Kitchen Display | Call Management Switch |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Countertop POS terminal with built-in card reader | Bump bar-enabled Kitchen Display System | Caller ID Ethernet Interface |
Hardware is included in monthly subscription fee | ||
- Hardware replacement: All HungerRush hardware is covered by a service agreement. If your hardware breaks down or needs repairs, HungerRush will service or replace it.
- Pay-at-the-door payments: Like SpeedLine, HungerRush allows your drivers to accept card and mobile wallet payments when a delivery is completed. This function allows you to get the card-present transaction rate rather than the higher card-not-present transaction rate that usually comes with online payments.
- Text ordering: HungerRush’s TextAI allows users to accept orders via text message. The text ordering functions sync with HungerRush’s marketing and loyalty features, enabling you to alert loyal customers to special offers and promotions.
- Driver management: HungerRush’s driver management integrates with Google Maps, which provides real-time mapping updates. The system will also alert you if a driver is late returning from a delivery round, so you can get a head start on accidents or handling a disappointed customer.
- Pizza-style order screens: HungerRush’s order screen highlights each pizza’s ingredients with red lights and green lights, so it is easy to make modifications at a glance.
Slice Register: Best for Quick Setup
Overview
Overall Score:
3.80 / 5
Pros
- Easy-to-use system; takes no time to learn
- Integrated driver app supports in-house delivery teams
- Integrated Slice platform showcases your shop to new customers
- Advanced features for AI monitoring and self-managed delivery via app
Cons
- Only supports one payment processor (Ayden) so you can’t shop for better rates
- Doesn’t include inventory tools
- Doesn’t support pay-at-the-door credit card readers
Slice Pricing
- Subscription plans: From $69 per month + $2.50 per online order
- Hardware costs: Custom quote
- One-time Installation fees: Custom quote
- Payment processing: From 2.5% per in-person transaction
- Contract length: 1+ years
What We Like
Slice Register is a POS built by the popular Slice online pizzeria marketplace, which has more than 18,000 independent pizza shop members. Slice Register’s software and hardware offer the simplest plug-and-play solution of all the pizza POS systems on this list.
Small shops can plug in the Slice terminal, add menu items, and start accepting in-person and online orders in a single afternoon. Slice Register also has a ton of options for brand management and customer marketing. It allows you to customize your website to showcase your business. It offers SEO assistance with search engines, reputation monitoring for online reviews, and boosted search results on Google.
On our ranking criteria, Slice Register earned a 3.80 out of 5. The software scored incredibly well for its niche pizza functions like maps-based driver management and user-friendly ordering screens. Slice Register could have scored higher overall if the system received better customer reviews and supported pay-at-the-door card payments. Slice also charges $2.50 per online order over $10, which can add up if you do a lot of online business.
Since our Last Update:
Slice recently added integration capabilities with Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and more, enabling users to accept online orders from these third-party platforms. The feature costs an additional $75/month.
Slice Register is a relative newcomer to the POS space, and some restaurants prefer to use a system with a more trusted, time-tested reputation. It also ties you to Slice Register for payment processing, while other systems allow for comparison shopping for better rates. Consider these alternatives.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Better for: Well-established industry reputation | Better for: Multiple payment processor options | Better for: Multiple payment processor options |
Stationary Terminal | Card Reader | Receipt Printer |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Countertop, touch-screen POS terminal | Handheld, PIN-enabled swipe, dip, and tap card reader | Thermal receipt printer |
- Built-in Slice platform integration: Naturally, Slice Register comes with the Slice platform integration built in—so, you can showcase your independent pizza shop to customers nearby.
- Driver management with driver app: Like Revel and SpeedLine, Slice Register includes driver dispatch tools with a connected driver app. So, you can dispatch your drivers with Uber-like efficiency and assign deliveries with a few swipes and clicks.
- Marketing support: The Slice Register team supports your marketing efforts by sending email and SMS messages to customers on your behalf. The system is designed to encourage customers to return to your pizzeria for their future orders.
- Rewards platform: The Slice platform includes a built-in customer rewards program. Customers earn reward points for purchases from any participating Slice restaurant. Pizza lovers using the Slice app will be more likely to see your shop on the platform, driving new customers to your business.
- AI phone assistant: Slice includes the Slice Assist Line (SAL), an automated phone attendant that can answer your phones. SAL converts customer phone orders to digital orders that print in your restaurant, just like an online ordering ticket. Slice is the only POS on this list that offers a voice assistant.
Square: Best Free POS for Slice Shops
Overview
Overall Score:
3.58 / 5
Pros
- No long-term contracts
- Free baseline POS for unlimited terminals
- Free 30-day trial for higher-tier software subscriptions
- Can use hardware you already own
Cons
- In-house driver management requires a third-party integration
- No pizza-builder functions and limited combo ordering tools
- Square is the only supported payment processor
Square Pricing
- Three subscription tiers:
- Free – $0 per month
- Plus – $60 per month
- Premium – Custom-quoted
- Hardware costs: From $49 for a contactless card reader to $1,439 for a full restaurant POS station kit
- One-time installation fee: $0; Square is self-installed, but you can request on-site installation assistance for $600
- Processing fees: 2.6% + 10 cents for in-person transactions, 2.9% + 30 cents for online or invoice transactions; 3.5% + 15 cents per transaction for manually keying in a credit card
What We Like
Square for Restaurants is the food and beverage POS built by the popular payment brand Square. This cloud-based POS operates on iPads, and the baseline software subscription is free to use on unlimited terminals. You can use hardware you already own, and there are no long-term contracts. Slice shops—which don’t need complex order modifiers—will be well supported by this user-friendly system.
Square for Restaurants earned a 3.58 out of 5 on our pizza POS criteria. It earned the highest marks on our list for overall price. The free integrated online ordering site and excellent user reviews also gained points. But, Square for Restaurants lacks the pizza-specific tools that others on this list support.
Did you know?
Square is our top pick for the best POS system for small businesses. It also has retail, appointment, and general-purpose POS solutions.
Square only works with one payment processor, and it doesn’t offer a pizza-building module to speedily handle custom pizza orders or baked-in driver dispatching tools. Consider these alternative pizza POS systems if you’re looking for more options.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Better for: More pizza-supporting functions on a free POS | Better for: Pizza-first POS functions with affordable pricing | Better for: Multiple payment processor options |
Chip and Contactless Reader | Square Terminal | Square Stand | Square Register |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
$59 | $299 ($27/month with financing) | $149 ($14/month with financing) | $799 ($39/month with financing) |
Wireless card reader that accepts in-person payments | All-in-one POS and terminal for payment processing, taking orders, printing receipts, and viewing reports | iPad swivel stand with built-in chip and contactless card reader | All-in-one terminal with integrated card reader and customer-facing display |
- Month-to-month plans: Square for Restaurants users are not locked into long-term contracts, making the system an excellent fit for seasonal pizza shops in vacation destinations.
- Free online ordering: As a Square for Restaurants customer, you can build an online ordering website that ties directly to your pizzeria’s POS, and your online ordering site will sync with Facebook and Instagram. Online orders can be pickup only, or use online orders to develop an in-house delivery team.
- Integrations: Square for Restaurants POS users can customize their systems by adding integrated apps. Pizza shops that want to add maps-based driver dispatch can do so via the Shipday integration, which—like Square—includes a free baseline subscription.
Square POS users will also find integrations for QuickBooks (accounting), MarketMan (inventory), Chowly (third-party ordering), and Homebase (employee scheduling). Complex online menus are available via Menufy, though currently, Square does not have a pizza builder integration.
- Pay-as-you-go marketing: Square for Restaurants POS plugs directly into high-functioning Square tools like Square’s marketing software. For an additional monthly fee ($15 to $35 per month; available 30-day free trial), you can create customized marketing campaigns to reach your guests with deals that appeal to them. Real-time reporting lets you measure the success of each promotion so that you can drive more sales.
Dig deeper into the Square ecosystem of small business tools by reading:
- How to Set Up a Free Square Online Store in 10 Steps
- The Ultimate Square POS Setup Guide
- Square Fees & Pricing: The Ultimate Guide
- Square Payroll Review
Methodology: How We Evaluated Pizza POS Systems
We compared dozens of the most popular POS systems based on vital pizzeria functions, including cost, ease of use, underlying POS functions, and niche pizzeria tools. We also considered our resident restaurant expert’s personal experience with each system.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
10%
Pricing
25%
General POS Features
30%
Niche Pizza Functions
15%
Ease of Use
20%
Expert Score
10% of Overall Score
Pizzerias have a lot of tech needs and tend to have a slightly higher software budget than other restaurant types. Still, we looked at whether or not each software offers a free plan, free trial, and a plan option under $75 monthly. Because most shops are high-volume, we also looked for systems that allow you to shop around for best payment processing rates. Since shop needs can fluctuate over time, we awarded points to systems that have service contracts that are one year or less.
25% of Overall Score
30% of Overall Score
This category was the real battleground. We looked for everything from driver management to robust coupon support and automated ingredient-level inventory with vendor management. Because pizzas are so highly modified, we specifically looked for pizza-building modules and robust combo-building functions. We also gave the highest marks to systems that support pay-at-the-door card readers so you can save money on card-not-present transaction fees.
15% of Overall Score
Here, we looked for systems that come with 24/7 customer support, guided installation (with bonus points if it is free), and comprehensive training materials. We also awarded points to cloud-based systems that free you from your back office and have strong offline functions so your operation doesn’t crash if your internet does.
20% of Overall Score
*Percentages of overall score
What to Look for in a Pizza POS System
Your POS system should provide you with features that can cater to the unique demands of a pizzeria while streamlining your daily operations. Here are the most important features to look for when considering a pizza POS system:
- Online ordering functionality: As more customers seek contactless transactions, having an efficient online ordering feature is crucial. Your POS should enable customers to place orders from the comfort of their homes, either through your website or a convenient mobile app.
- Integrated order management: The best pizza POS systems should seamlessly merge various types of orders—dine-in, online, or phone-in—into one easy-to-manage platform. This kind of order management integration ensures operational efficiency and order accuracy.
- Custom pizza builder: A pizza builder tool that accommodates custom orders is key for many pizza restaurants. Most of these features allow for the creation of half-and-half pizzas, specific topping combinations, and other customizations.
- Loyalty program integration: Implementing a loyalty program helps stimulate repeat business, so it’s important that your POS supports it. Loyalty programs typically act as a POS add-on that reward customers with points leading to perks (like a free pizza).
- Ingredient-level inventory management: The ability to automatically track ingredients used per order and update your inventory in real time is another essential feature. Some advanced systems may also allow for ingredient reordering directly from the app.
- Delivery management capabilities: If your restaurant offers in-house delivery, choose a POS system equipped with robust delivery features, including tools like delivery mapping and at-the-door payment processing.
- Third-party delivery integration: Pizza POS systems that integrate with third-party delivery services (like GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats) can help broaden your delivery range and efficiency while outsourcing the logistics.
- Comprehensive customer management: A POS with a robust customer management system is essential. It should store key information like customer contact details and preferences. Some advanced systems even have the ability to record dislikes and other notes for personalized service.
- Payment processing: Your pizza POS should offer diverse and efficient payment options, from chip cards to mobile and contactless methods, all at affordable rates. Some providers only support their own proprietary payment processors, while others integrate with multiple processors (offering you the flexibility to seek better rates).
- Reporting and analytics: A successful pizza POS system should provide comprehensive reporting and analytics. This feature allows you to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), informing strategic planning based on sales data, inventory levels, and customer behavior insights.
- Manageable pricing and terms: One of the most important pizza POS system features is a price that fits into your budget. Many systems also require one- to three-year contracts, so be sure to seek a provider with terms that fit your future plans.
- Tailored features: Additional features may be required depending on your unique business needs. For instance, an intuitive POS system that requires minimal training could be vital in a high staff turnover environment. Or, If your pizzeria also serves alcoholic beverages, consider a POS that caters to specific liquor service needs. A sit-down restaurant will likely benefit from table management, pre-auth for bar tabs, and tableside ordering capabilities.
By considering these attributes in your search for a pizza POS system, you can find a solution that is not only reliable and easy to use, but also tailored to the specific operational needs of your pizzeria.
 | Ray Delucci has 10 years of experience in the food industry. Early in his career, he worked in an on-campus pizzeria at the Culinary Institute of America. He’s also managed pizza creation in full-service restaurants and even wood-fired catering events in the Napa Valley. It is this experience of pizza-specific cooking he brings to this guide. |
 | Mary King has worked in every type of food service business from coffee shops and pizzerias to full-service fine dining restaurants. With over 14 years of industry experience, she has used many POS systems in real-world food service businesses. |
 | 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. |
 | Katie-Jay Simmons has over 10 years of experience in retail and hospitality settings, with a significant portion dedicated to working in pizzerias. In addition to her hands-on expertise, she has been reviewing retail and restaurant software for 2+ years. |
Pizza POS Systems Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
According to our ranking criteria, the best POS for most pizzerias is Toast. However, there are several types of pizza shops—from slice shops that do mainly small cash sales to high-volume, delivery-heavy spots—that have different needs. For those smaller slice shops, we recommend Square, and for high-volume pizzerias, Revel or SpeedLine may be better.
It’s hard to determine the most popular pizzeria POS since many pizza shops have different needs.
Choose a pizza POS system by assessing your pizzeria’s needs and budget and finding a system that fits both. Schedule demos of a few different systems to make sure you’ve got the right fit before committing. Many pizza POS systems don’t offer free trials or short-term contracts, so take the time to research the software before you sign a two- to three-year contract.
Bottom Line
Pizza POS systems should be easy to use, enable customizable orders, and integrate seamlessly with delivery apps. In short, it should create an efficient experience for your customers and employees.
With this in mind, we found that Toast is the best overall pizza POS system. With user-friendly, industry-grade hardware, a pizza-building module, and built-in options for driver management and third-party delivery, Toast can expand to fit any operation. Pay-as-you-go hardware options also make it easy for new pizzerias and slice shops to get started for no upfront cost. See if Toast is right for you by getting a full demo.
