Best Self-service Kiosks for Small Business in 2023

Unlike the other systems on this list, Toast– which regularly ranks on our list of best POS systems— operates on industry-grade hardware designed to withstand high-volume use. This makes the hardware pricier than a typical iPad (which the other systems use), but Toast offers Pay-as-You-Go options for virtually every available device. So, new users can get started with $0 down.

Guest Self-Service Kit	Countertop Kit	Handheld Kit
$999 + $99/month (Pay-as-You-Go; $0 upfront, $0/ month for software, 2.99% + 15 cents processing)	$799 + $69/month (Pay-as-You-Go; $0 upfront, $0/ month for software, 2.99% + 15 cents processing)	$609 + $69/month (Pay-as-You-Go; $0 upfront, $0/month for software, 2.99% + 15 cents processing)
Toast Self Service terminal, card reader, router, installation support	Toast Flex POS terminal, card reader, router, installation support	Toast Go 2 handheld order and payment device, Wireless Access Point, Router, installation support

• Free Starter POS
  Toast’s baseline Starter Kit POS subscription has $0 monthly software fees. All you pay are slightly higher processing fees (2.99% + 15 cents, versus 2.49% + 15 cents). You can also get up to two terminals—including the 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.

New Toast users can add the self-service kiosk to a Starter Kit POS for $0 upfront and $0 per month when they commit to higher processing fees (2.99% + 15 cents for in-person transactions). If you prefer to pay upfront, you can expect to pay $99 per month for the kiosk software and $999 for the hardware. Subscribers at the Point of Sale level and higher can get a custom quote for the software and hardware.

Lightspeed Restaurant POS operates on iPads and iPhones with iOS 13 or later. You can use iPads you already have, and purchase stands, card readers, printers, and other accessories from Lightspeed for custom-quoted prices.

Vault iPad stand	Verifone 400m	Epson TM-M30II-NT
iPad POS or Kiosk stand	Tap, Swipe, dip, and PIN-enabled mobile card reader	Bluetooth and USB-Network tethered thermal receipt printer

• 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.
• Table mode
  In table mode, the Lightspeed Self-Order tablet is assigned to a specific table. Your service staff assists the guests with placing multiple orders and processes their payment at the end of their meal. Customers can also hail a server through the kiosk and request their bill through the app. Lightspeed is the only kiosk option on this list that features table-service kiosk tools.
• 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.
• Room fees
  Lightspeed is also the only option on our list that integrates with hotel property management software to enable customers to pay with room charges.
• 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 on the same cycle as you do 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. So, you’ll never sell an item you have run out of. 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.

Lightspeed’s kiosk software is offered as an add-on module it calls 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.

The Lightspeed Restaurant POS itself is offered at four subscription tiers:

The DaySmart Salon POS operates on any interconnected device. So, you can run the baseline system on a desktop computer or an iOS or Android tablet. The kiosk is downloadable from the Apple App Store and works best on an iPad. You can run the entire system on hardware you already own or hardware you can purchase from a local office supply store.

• Flexible subscriptions
  DaySmart Salon offers four subscription tiers, so small salons and solopreneurs won’t pay for tools they don’t use. In fact, the baseline subscription, Basic, is designed specifically for solo stylists to manage their own clients and services. Users should note, though, that the Basic tier does not include kiosk functionality. For that, you’ll need a Deluxe, Premier, or Platinum plan.
• Automated setup
  Your DaySmart Salon kiosk will automatically populate your products and services from your DaySmart POS. All you need to do is download the kiosk app from the Apple App Store and connect the kiosk account to your POS account.
• Customizable look
  You can customize the look of your check-in kiosk by changing background images and color schemes. Thus, your kiosk can easily reflect your salon or barber shop’s style.
• Appointment look-u
  Customers can create new appointments or check in for existing appointments via the kiosk. Existing customers look up their appointment record by their phone number, while new customers add their contact information. Users can add their requested services at the kiosk, and you can optionally allow customers to choose their stylist in the kiosk.

The DaySmart Salon POS is offered at four subscription tiers to support wellness businesses of all sizes—from individual stylists and wellness workers to large, multi-booth operations. The kiosk software is included for free in the Deluxe, Premier, and Platinum plans.\

KORONA works with Aures and PartnerTech for kiosk hardware. Kiosks arrive preconfigured with the KORONA POS software pre-installed and tailored to your operational needs.

Aures Mini Komet	PartnerTech K27W	PartnerTech Alfred AD-215-H
17” Touch-screen kiosk with built-in receipt printer and PIN-enabled card reader and indicator light	27” Self-service kiosk with integrated barcode scanner, and EMV card reader	21.5” or 15.6” touch-screen kiosk with built-in barcode scanner and thermal receipt printer

• Time-based ticketing tools
  You can customize the tickets in your KORONA POS to be tied to specific entry times. This is useful if you need to control traffic flow or if your tickets are for a special event 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; 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.
• Durable hardware
  Like Toast, KORONA’s kiosks operate on industry-grade hardware. Unlike Toast, however, KORONA integrates with multiple hardware providers so you can build a truly customized kiosk solution that is tailored to your business.
• 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.

Like top-rated Lightspeed, KORONA offers four subscription tiers to support businesses of any size. However, to get ticketing functions, you’ll need an Enterprise level subscription, which requires a custom rate quote. However, KORONA does not require long-term contracts, so if the system is not a fit, you won’t be penalized for moving on.

*Free trial available

• Customizable hardware
  IT Retail offers multiple options for terminal screens, barcode scanners, printers, scales, and more. You can choose pre-built hardware kits in standard configurations to speed your setup or hand-select every hardware component for a completely custom solution.
• Cash payments
  IT Retail kiosks have the option for built-in cash dispensers, giving your independent market the same streamlined look of a larger chain. You can accept cash and make change right at the kiosk.
• Robust inventory
  The underlying IT Retail POS has excellent inventory tools, including expiration date tracking. This feature, along with the industry grade hardware, is one of the reasons we love IT Retail for independent grocers. The inventory syncs in real time, so you always know your on-hand stock.
• Easily scalable
  IT Retail is designed for independent grocers and markets, so whether you need two POS terminals or twenty-two, IT Retail has the hardware and software you need.
• Cloud-based data
  IT Retail stores your reporting data in the cloud so you can access it from anywhere. So you get the offline functionality of a locally networked system and the flexibility of mobile reports.

IT Retail offers two subscription options and three plans. One is a simple monthly fee for both hardware and software. The other is to purchase hardware upfront and pay a lower monthly fee for software.

*Software and technical support will have additional, custom-quoted monthly fees

Both Square POS and the KioskBuddy kiosk operate on iPads. KioskBuddy also works on Android tablets. You can use devices you already own or purchase hardware from Square directly, alongside Square-designed iPad stands with built-in card readers. The Square Stand Mount enables you to mount kiosks to countertops, walls, or poles for freestanding kiosks.

Square Stand	Square Stand Mount
$149, or $14 per month over 12 months (without iPad; with iPad, add $329)
Tap and dip card reader-enabled iPad stand for Square POS (swipe reader optional)	Wall or countertop mount for square stand with incorporated tap and dip card reader (swipe reader optional)

• Unlimited kiosks
  With a single subscription, you can use KioskBuddy on unlimited iPads. The only limiting factor is the included number of transactions—which is why KioskBuddy is an ideal choice for pop-up events and microbusinesses like farm stands and market vendors that want to offer contactless order and payment options only for a limited amount of time.
• Service fee setting
  KioskBuddy’s Service Fee function allows you to charge a set dollar amount or a percentage of the total bill on customer checks. If you go over your monthly limit, you can use this function to offset your KioskBuddy transaction fees or use it to recoup credit card processing fees. But be sure to check local laws first; several states prohibit businesses from passing on credit card fees to customers.
• Integrated Square loyalty
  You can give your restaurant a polished look by offering automated rewards. KioskBuddy will alert returning customers to any accumulated rewards—and opportunities to redeem them—upon checkout. 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.
• KDS integration
  In addition to printing checks to kitchen printers, KioskBuddy also integrates with the Square KDS if you prefer to use screens in your kitchen. With the Square KDS, your customers will receive a text message that their order is ready when your cooks mark the dish as complete in the KDS.

Using KioskBuddy requires both a Square POS subscription and a KioskBuddy subscription. So, you’ll need to account for monthly fees on both.

Square POS Pricing

All KioskBuddy accounts include software for unlimited kiosks and unlimited locations. The only limitations are the number of included transactions.

Kiosk Buddy Pricing

Yelp Guest Manager operates on iPads. Yelp provides a free iPad to all new Guest Manager accounts.

• Automated wait times
  No need for your front desk team to be wait time experts; the Yelp Guest Manager system automatically predicts expected wait times based on your current traffic and past performance. The kiosk will quote an estimated wait to walk-in customers when they sign in and let them know how many parties are ahead of them.
• Supports multiple languages
  Your customers can use the kiosk in their preferred language. So, there is no chance of a misunderstanding or miscommunication at the front desk.
• Collects guest information
  Once entered into the kiosk, customer information is logged and trackable. You can use customer information to track customer behavior for reporting purposes or use customer-provided contact information for marketing campaigns.
• POS integrations
  Unlike every other system on this list, Yelp Kiosk integrates with multiple POS systems (though only with one reservation system; Yelp Guest Manager). Legacy POS systems Oracle MICROS and NCR Aloha are supported, as are touch-screen systems Positouch, Squirrel, Lightspeed, Dinerware, Omnivore, and Xpient.

Yelp offers a 30-day free trial of Guest Manager. After that, agreements last one year. Yelp regularly waives from one to three months of software fees for new customers that sign a year-long contract.