Self-service kiosks are customer-facing devices that allow customers to place orders, make purchases, check in for appointments, and make payments without assistance. The best kiosk software works seamlessly with your point-of-sale (POS) system and payment processor.
Kiosk software should easily handle complex information like food modifiers, event ticketing, or appointment information. The best self-service kiosks also suggest popular add-on sales and collect customer information for marketing purposes.
The best self-service kiosks for small businesses are:
- Square: Best overall self-service kiosk
- Toast: Best overall self-service kiosk for restaurant self-service and reservations
- KORONA POS: Best for ticket-selling kiosks
- IT Retail: Best for grocery and market kiosks
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Best tabletop restaurant kiosk
Best Self-service Kiosks Compared
Our Score (Out of 5) | Monthly POS Software Fee | Monthly Kiosk Fee | Contract Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.42 | $0-$165+ | $50 per device | Month-to-month |
 | 4.38 | $0-$69+ | $0-$609 | 2 years |
 | 4.14 | $59-$69+ | Custom-quoted | Month-to-month |
 | 3.92 | $49-$149 | $49-$149 | Month-to-month |
 | 3.84 | $189-$399+ | Custom-quoted | 1 year |
I’ve been writing about retail topics as well as retail-focused hardware and software for over two years. I’ve researched, evaluated, and tested dozens of systems for a variety of specialized purposes (inventory management, ecommerce, in-person sales, payments, etc.) and industries (retail, restaurant, services, etc).
For this guide to self-service kiosks, I assessed the pricing, standout features, and use cases for each of the providers I recommended. Whenever possible, I also tested the software myself to get a feel for its ease of use and functionality.
Square: Best Overall Self-service Kiosk for Food and Beverage
Pros
- Baseline Square POS includes free subscription for unlimited terminals
- Proprietary tablet stand
- Easy to self-install POS and kiosk
Cons
- Locked into Square payment processor
- Limited or inconsistent customer support
Overview
Who should use it:
Restaurant businesses working on a budget, or who want a kiosk system and POS software that can scale up along with their business, will appreciate Square’s range of features and low pricing.
Why we like it:
Square’s POS systems regularly appear in our POS rankings because they are functional, affordable, and self-installable.
Square offers a completely free baseline POS so you can get started for free, as well as affordable upgraded subscriptions. You can also buy a proprietary Square Kiosk stand and iPad connector for $149, with monthly financing available. For kiosk software, you’ll pay $50 per month for each device, with the first 30 days free.
This user-friendly software is built with a streamlined interface that is less customizable than others on this list. The consumer tablet-based hardware also lacks the extreme customization that competitors provide. But this solution is just the right size for small, independent businesses that are frequently overlooked by bigger software companies.
Note, that Square Kiosk is only compatible with Square POS and Square for Restaurants.
- Monthly POS software fees:
- $0 per month for POS software; $50 per month per device for Square Kiosk software
- Plus: $69 for Square for Restaurants; $89 for Square for Retail
- Premium: $165 for Restaurants; Custom pricing for Retail
- Self-service kiosk fee:
- Hardware (stand): $149 or $14 per month for 12 months
- Software: $50 per month, per device
- In-person payment processing rate: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Contract length: Month-to-month
- Free trial: 30 days
- Square Kiosk: Previously, Square users had to integrate with kiosk apps designed to work with the Square interface. Now Square has developed its own kiosk hardware (a stand and iPad connector) and software, so users can access native kiosk tools without needing to integrate with external software. The kiosk pricing is affordable, and you’ll get the same in-person processing rate as with other Square functions (2.6% + 10 cents).
- Integrated Square loyalty: You can give your restaurant a polished look by offering automated rewards. Every system on this list will track customer rewards; however, some, like Lightspeed, lack the ability to redeem rewards at the kiosk. Rewards redemption at the kiosk is a really great feature offered by this low-cost kiosk.
- Kitchen Display System: With the Square KDS, your front- and back-of-house operations will remain coordinated. You can customize tickets, timers, and notifications as you like. You’ll also have access to reports that allow you to optimize your kitchen procedures for greater speed and efficiency.
Toast: Best Overall Kiosk for Restaurants
Pros
- Baseline POS subscription is free
- Guest self-service kiosk kit with accessories available
- QR-coded receipts direct cash payments to a central cashier
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract
- Kiosk cannot accept cash payments
- Expensive kiosk/self-service kit
Overview
Who should use it:
Restaurants of all sizes and types that want strong features, affordable software, and pay-as-you-go hardware options
Why we like it:
Toast consistently lands at the top of our restaurant software rankings for everything from restaurant POS to kitchen display systems (KDSes). Its self-ordering kiosk includes SMS text alerts and QR-coded receipts that enable customers to quickly settle their payments via card tap, dip, or swipe. Best of all, merchants can get started with Toast at no upfront cost.
New Toast users can add the self-service kiosk to a Starter Kit POS for $0 upfront and $0 per month if they commit to higher processing fees (up to 3.69% + 15 cents for in-person transactions). If you prefer to pay upfront, you can expect to pay up to $609 monthly for the kiosk software and $1,339.20 for the self-service hardware kit. You can also get a custom quote for the software.
- Monthly software fees:
- Starter Kit: $0+
- Point of Sale: $69+
- Build Your Own: Custom pricing
- Monthly self-service kiosk fee:
- Upfront payment: $1,339.20 + $99 to $609 per month
- Pay-as-you-Go: $0 upfront
- In-person payment processing rate:
- Standard: 2.49% + 15 cents
- Pay-as-You-Go: 3.09% + 15 cents to 3.69% + 15 cents
- Contract length: 2 years
- Free trial: None
- Free Starter POS: Toast’s baseline Starter Kit POS subscription has no monthly software fees. However, you pay slightly higher processing fees (3.09% + 15 cents vs 2.49% + 15 cents). You can also get up to two terminals—including the self-service kiosk hardware—for $0 upfront with the Starter Kit POS.
- SMS text alerts: The Toast kiosk requests customer phone numbers for kiosk orders and sends them automated alerts when their orders are ready.
- QR-coded receipts: The Toast kiosk cannot process cash payments directly at the kiosk; most affordable restaurant kiosks lack this feature. But, Toast offers a low-cost workaround: QR codes printed at the bottom of receipts. Cash-paying customers present their QR-coded receipt to a central cashier, where it can be scanned and immediately pulled up on the POS terminal.
- Flexible hardware: Your Toast kiosks integrate with barcode scanners and scales. So, if you sell build-your-own salads by weight or packaged ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-drink (RTD) items, your customers can still check themselves out. Since you are not locked into iPads, you can also choose 10”, 15”, or 22” touch screens for your kiosks.
KORONA POS: Best for Ticket-selling Kiosks
Pros
- You can choose your own payment processor
- RFID integration with kiosks for added security
- No long-term contract
Cons
- Does not have strong tools for restaurants
- Back-office functions can take time to learn
- Hardware can be expensive; pricing not transparent
Overview
Who should use it:
Ticket-based businesses like amusement parks, museums, and tourist attractions, (or any establishment where long lines can form quickly) will appreciate the ticketing and kiosk tools in KORONA POS.
Why we like it:
KORONA is a cloud-based POS that supports multiple types of retail, high-risk, and ticket-based businesses. The hardware can get pricey (and pricing for these isn’t always transparent), but ticketed businesses need a lot of functions, so the cost may be worth it in the long run.
In addition to KORONA’s strong POS ticketing functions like time-based ticketing and turnstile integration, the system operates on multiple industry-grade kiosk terminals, so your hardware can withstand high-volume use, no matter your business style. The kiosks support RFID integration for additional security, better loss prevention, and preventing duplicate scanning.
Like top-rated Lightspeed, KORONA offers several subscription tiers to support businesses of any size. However, to get ticketing functions, you’ll need an add-on that costs an extra $50 per gate. However, KORONA does not require long-term contracts, so if the system is not a fit, you won’t be penalized for moving on.
- Monthly software fees:
- Core: $59
- Retail: $69
- Plus: +$20 per terminal
- Food, invoicing, ticketing add-ons: +$10 to $50 per month
- Monthly self-service kiosk fee: Custom-quoted
- In-person payment processing rate: Depends on payment processor
- Contract length: Month-to-month
- Free trial: Unlimited
- Time-based ticketing tools: You can customize the tickets in your KORONA to be tied to specific entry times. This is useful if you need to control traffic flow or if your tickets are for an event with specific start and end times, like a concert.
- Memberships and season passes: Tourist attractions and local parks will love the ability to bill and scan membership cards and season passes. The setup for these ticket types is included in your KORONA POS system; you just have to choose your desired settings. You can further customize memberships by tiers, giving some members access to specific attractions or events.
- Turnstile integration: If your event location or park uses turnstiles, you can set your KORONA-based tickets to integrate with turnstile scanners. This lets you further control traffic flow and manage your entrances.
- Live visitor count: If your venue must adhere to fire codes or other occupancy restrictions, KORONA has you covered. Your POS gives you a live visitor count, so you go beyond simple sales tracking and know your occupancy in real time.
IT Retail: Best for Grocery and Market Kiosks
Pros
- Affordable plans and custom pricing options
- CRM tools and inventory management
- Offline mode available
Cons
- No free subscription
- Can pay cash at kiosk
- Locked into IT Retail payment processing
Overview
Who should use it:
Groceries, markets, convenience stores, or discount retailers
Why we like it:
Because IT Retail is designed for groceries, markets, and convenience stores, it’s well-suited to self-service kiosk operations. The user interface is designed to be intuitive even for non-tech-savvy cashiers and customers and includes weight verification and internal doors for additional security. Staff members at a central station can also monitor several self-service kiosks simultaneously.
To round out the self-service functions, IT Retail’s software also offers inventory management, reporting tools, and integrations for ecommerce.
- Monthly software fees:
- Starter: $49
- Growth: $99
- Premium: $149
- Potential add-on fees for kiosk
- Kiosk hardware: Custom rates
- In-person payment processing rate: Custom rates; not disclosed
- Contract length: Month-to-month
- Multichannel integration: IT Retail offers tools for selling online such as quick and easy product listing; partnerships for marketing, orders, and deliveries; and integrations with several grocery-specific ecommerce solutions.
- Customer rewards: IT Retail uses a simple, reliable, and customizable loyalty program based on rewards points. When customers earn enough points, they can redeem these for percentage discounts on individual items or entire baskets.
- Security features: The kiosk system includes security features like a remote attendant station for staff to monitor each kiosk, weight verification, internal security doors, and a customizable cashier security level in the POS system settings.
Lightspeed Restaurant: Best Tabletop Restaurant Kiosk
Pros
- Offers kiosk tools for full service and quick service restaurants
- Operates on iPads
- Includes SMS text “order ready” notifications
Cons
- No free baseline POS subscription
- Cannot process card payments or use integrations without internet connection
- Does not currently include tools for handling cash payments for kiosk customers
Overview
Who should use it:
Restaurants wanting robust ingredient-level inventory tools, advanced reporting, and some payment processor flexibility.
Why we like it:
Lightspeed Restaurant is a cloud-based restaurant POS system that operates on iPads. Its comprehensive front- and back-end management features include self-ordering solutions for both table service and counter service features. Complex modifiers, inventory tools, and CRM functions are all included in the software. Hardware devices are available as individual devices or pre-built kits at custom prices.
Lightspeed’s kiosk software is offered as an add-on module called the Self-Order Menu. You can add the Self-Order Menu module to any Lightspeed POS tablet by downloading the app from the Apple App Store. The price will vary based on the number of kiosks you need; Lightspeed offers custom quotes for this add-on. Previously published price lists offered the kiosk for $39 per month.
- Counter service mode: Lightspeed’s Self-Order software supports two order modes: kiosk mode and table mode. In kiosk mode, customers order and pay for their meals in a single transaction before the food is prepared. In table mode, the Lightspeed Self-Order tablet is assigned to a specific table, with your staff assisting guests.
- SMS text alerts: You can set up your Lightspeed kiosk to request customer cell phone numbers. Your team can then send a text alert through the POS when the customer’s order is ready. No calling out names or remembering order numbers.
- Running tabs: Lightspeed supports long-running customer tabs—what you might call “house accounts”—a feature many POS systems lack. This function makes Lightspeed a good fit for social clubs or coworking spaces that mainly serve members accustomed to paying monthly fees. Members don’t need to have their wallets handy if they want to grab a snack. You can simply bill them for their purchases in the same cycle as you do for their membership fees.
- Full inventory functions: Since the Lightspeed kiosk is fully built into your POS, the kiosk will sync with your inventory in real time. Additionally, the system will alert you to low stock. Depending on your subscription level, your Lightspeed POS may even generate a suggested order for you to send to your supplier for efficient restocking.
- Counter service mode: Lightspeed’s Self-Order software supports two order modes: kiosk mode and table mode. In kiosk mode, customers order and pay for their meals in a single transaction before the food is prepared. In table mode, the Lightspeed Self-Order tablet is assigned to a specific table, with your staff assisting guests.
- SMS text alerts: You can set up your Lightspeed kiosk to request customer cell phone numbers. Your team can then send a text alert through the POS when the customer’s order is ready. No calling out names or remembering order numbers.
- Running tabs: Lightspeed supports long-running customer tabs—what you might call “house accounts”—a feature many POS systems lack. This function makes Lightspeed a good fit for social clubs or coworking spaces that mainly serve members accustomed to paying monthly fees. Members don’t need to have their wallets handy if they want to grab a snack. You can simply bill them for their purchases in the same cycle as you do for their membership fees.
- Full inventory functions: Since the Lightspeed kiosk is fully built into your POS, the kiosk will sync with your inventory in real time. Additionally, the system will alert you to low stock. Depending on your subscription level, your Lightspeed POS may even generate a suggested order for you to send to your supplier for efficient restocking.
Why Invest in Self-service Kiosks?
Even for small, lean businesses that are trying to keep costs down, there are advantages to investing in self-service kiosks. I say “investing,” but these kiosks don’t have to break the bank: several options are available for less than $100 per month. Others are included in a POS provider’s subscription plans or can be obtained for custom-quoted prices, giving you a chance to negotiate good deals.
Here are some benefits that a self-service kiosk can provide for your small business:
Reduced Labor Costs & Employee Workload
Perhaps the most direct and tangible benefit of self-service kiosks is that they reduce the workload required from store staff, allowing you to reduce hiring costs and simplify processes for employees. Kiosks may take some time and training to fully set up, but once they are up and running, staff will have less work to do handling customer checkouts.
This has the added bonus of reducing the chance for errors, as there can be no possible miscommunication or misunderstanding between a store employee and a customer purchasing items. If a customer needs help operating the kiosk or would prefer a traditional checkout, they can always call over a store employee for assistance.
Small Physical Footprint
Self-service kiosks tend to be compact, taking up less space than a traditional countertop POS system or checkout counter. This means that you can achieve a cleaner and less crowded store environment, and free up more room for display cabinets, shelves, signage and marketing materials, or additional kiosks.
Alternatives to Self-service Kiosks
The drive toward contactless self-service solutions has led to a surge in business tools that use customer smartphones as self-service kiosks. The benefit of using customer smartphones is that you don’t need to purchase or maintain additional hardware. There are two main ways to use customer smartphones for self-service: QR codes and apps.
QR Codes for Self-service
Quick response (QR) codes are not expensive. Many POS systems now include a QR code generator, which allows you to print a scannable QR code that directs customers to your online store, online ordering site, reservations and waitlist page, or self-check-in site. Understaffed restaurants can even use QR codes to accept customer orders and payments from individual tables.
All you need to make a QR code-based self-service system work is a web page that has your desired functions, a QR code generator, and a high-quality printer. If your business sees a lot of customer traffic, you may want to add lamination to your printed QR codes so they last longer.
Use a QR code for self-service when you already have a website that performs the function you need. When you don’t have a website where you can easily direct orders and process payments, a self-service app would be better.
Self-service Apps
Many POS systems and third-party software providers offer custom apps at prices that many small businesses can afford. You can find an app to support practically any function your business performs. You can add or develop white-labeled customer or employee-facing self-service apps to help you manage everything from digital orders and loyalty to employee payroll and tip distribution.
What is “white-labeling?”
White-labeling allows you to use your business branding on a preconfigured software tool so all your customers see is your business information, not the information of the underlying app. White-labeled apps give small businesses the polish and appearance of much larger operations.
You don’t have to break the bank to add a self-service app. Many are built into affordable, cloud-based POS systems, or offered at prices starting from $0 per month.
How to Choose the Best Self-service Kiosk
To choose the right self-ordering kiosk for your business, first, consider your business’s specific needs, and weigh the available options according to pricing, functionality, and setup. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Decide on Your Hardware & Software Preferences
Some self-service kiosks are stand-alone hardware devices that you can set up for customers to use. Examples include Toast and Lightspeed Restaurant’s hardware kits and accessories. Other kiosks are really just software programs that you download onto a tablet, which customers then use as a de facto kiosk; DaySmart Salon works this way.
Square used to require app integrations to access kiosk functions, but now it offers proprietary kiosk hardware and software.
The optimal hardware and software for your business will depend on how you want your shop to be set up. If you’re running a busy restaurant and you need robust hardware that can survive constant customer usage, go with larger stand-alone kiosks or hardware kits that you can set up on your floor. If your budget is tighter or you are just running a quiet cafe, then tablet-based de facto kiosks may be enough for your needs.
Step 2: Look for Robust Hardware
While you may not need the sturdiest hardware in all cases—this may be necessary in a bustling restaurant, but not so much in a laid-back salon, for example—getting the most durable equipment possible is never a bad idea, especially if you’re dealing with high traffic volumes.
The dedicated Square Kiosk stand (with an iPad inserted) and Toast Self-Service Kit are the most likely to stand up to heavy use; kiosk software downloaded onto tablets like what DaySmart Salon uses will probably be slightly less robust (but more convenient and portable).
Step 3: Check the Kiosk’s Possible Payment Types
The most versatile kiosks can accept cash at the kiosk; for others, customers must pay cash at a central cashier. Contactless payments, digital wallets, and card payments are other possibilities; this will depend on the limitations of software, hardware, and what the provider programs into their systems.
Providers are always tweaking and upgrading their systems, so it’s a good idea to call in order to learn exactly what payment types a given kiosk is capable of receiving.
Step 4: Check Pricing & Plans
Last but definitely not least, you’ll need to ensure that the kiosk you want actually fits within your budget. If you’re looking for decent functionality at bargain prices, Square is your best bet: this provider is known for its free plans and affordable subscriptions, plus almost all of its hardware comes with a monthly financing option.
If you want more advanced equipment and are willing to pay for it, go with the hardware offered by providers like Toast and Lightspeed; you’ll get full kits and lots of accessories but will need to pay much more. Custom pricing is available in some cases, so give your chosen provider a call and prepare to negotiate; you never know what kind of good deals you might land.
Methodology: How We Evaluated Self-service Kiosks
We compared over a dozen popular self-service kiosk systems based on what’s important to independent business owners, including overall cost, purchasing functions, POS and payment integrations, and ease of use for customers and staff. We also considered our retail and restaurant experts’ personal evaluations of each software.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
25% of Overall Score
First, we looked at whether or not each software offers a free plan, free trial, and a software option under $75 per month. We also considered hardware costs and looked for kiosk systems that operate on readily available hardware like iPads. We awarded points to systems that integrate with more than one payment processor so restaurant owners can shop around for the best processing rates. And, we also considered how each kiosk handles cash payments.
10% of Overall Score
We awarded points to systems that support multiple hardware configurations or multiple software workflows to support different business types.
20% of Overall Score
Kiosks need to support complex orders with modifications and meal combos. We also looked for systems that upsell onscreen to increase check averages. Since customer preferences vary, we looked for systems that accept a wide range of payment types, from credit cards to mobile wallets and cash. We also looked for kiosks that collect customer information to support your marketing and loyalty solutions to encourage return business. To keep your business running smoothly, we looked for kiosks that integrate directly with restaurant POS systems.
20% of Overall Score
Kiosks need to be easy for customers to navigate without guidance. They also should be easy for owners and managers to update when prices or menu items change. We looked for systems that are easy to self-install or include professional installation at no additional charge. We also awarded points to systems that offer 24/7 customer support. Then we considered how the system notifies customers that their order is ready, giving high marks to kiosks that support integrated SMS text messaging.
25% of Overall Score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Self-ordering kiosks have a lot of different functions. These are the most common questions I hear about self-service kiosks.
A self-service kiosk is a hardware device or software add-on that allows customers to select their own items for purchase and pay for them without needing to interact with store employees.
Typically, you’ll pay anywhere from $0 to over $600 for monthly kiosk functionality. Sometimes this just means specialized kiosk software that you can install on an iPad and mount onto a stand; sometimes you’ll have the option to purchase a standalone kiosk device. For the latter case, prepare to pay $3,000 or more per standalone kiosk.
Self-service kiosks allow a store to have reduced labor costs, make their physical space more efficient and less cluttered, prioritize other elements like additional shelves and displays, and offer social distancing or self-checkout to customers who want it.
Look for automated order alerts, barcode and QR code scanning, customization options, integration with smartphones and other devices, and cloud-based operation with real-time updating.
Some kiosks can accept cash payments directly, others require you to make any cash payments at a central register, and others do not accept cash payments at all. The majority of self-service kiosks take only card payments, digital wallet payments, or contactless payments.
They are generally very secure, especially if cash payments are disabled. Some kiosks have additional security features such as RFID protection, security doors, weight verification, and monitoring from store staff.
Bottom Line
There are affordable self-service kiosk options for virtually every business type. In this evaluation, Square outscored the competition by providing the most comprehensive, user-friendly tools for the businesses they serve—restaurants and service businesses.
With affordable proprietary hardware, a full suite of business management tools, and dedicated features for multiple industries, small businesses can get a strong head start with Square’s software and kiosk. With a free subscription, you can get started for no money down.