2023 Revel POS Review: Best for High-volume Restaurants & Retailers

Revel Systems offers tools for retail point-of-sale (POS) and restaurant POS systems and serves both business types well. This robust, cloud-based POS scores 4.24 out of 5 on our restaurant POS rankings and 3.74 out of 5 on our overall small business POS rankings. Revel has a bit of a learning curve, but if you have a high-volume business, it will be hard to find a better cloud POS than Revel.

Revel POS

Overall Score: 3.74 / 5

RATING CRITERIA	Pricing and contract		2.13 / 5
	Register features		5.00 / 5
	Management features		4.88 / 5
	Ease of use		4.63 / 5
	Expert score		3.50 / 5

What We Like

• Integrates with multiple payment processors
• Highly customizable
• Operates on iPads
• Tools for both restaurants and retail

What's Missing

• 3-year contract
• Mandatory installation fee
• No free trial or free baseline subscription

When To Use Revel

When you want:

• Multichannel POS tools
• A small grocery POS
• Complex pizza tools
• Dynamic hardware peripherals including excellent kitchen display screens (KDSs), self-service kiosks, and digital menu boards

When To Use an Alternative

• Solopreneurs will be better supported by a mobile POS like Square.
• Service businesses should look at Square Appointments.
• Seasonal businesses need the short-term contracts provided by Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants.

Visit Revel

Revel is great for high-volume restaurants and retailers and those that want marketing and inventory included for no additional cost. It is a strong option for multilocation businesses that want a cloud-based POS system, and those that want the ease of an iPad POS system without shortchanging functionality. Businesses that combine restaurant and retail operations, such as a grocery store with a cafe, are a terrific fit for Revel.

Revel is not the best system for micro-operations like food trucks or small boutiques. It is also not a fit for solopreneurs or service businesses. If your business is on a budget or operates seasonally, Revel is not the best option.

Revel Systems Video Review

Revel Deciding Factors

Revel POS Alternatives

	Best for	Monthly Software Fees	In-person Processing Fees	Learn More
Visit Square for Restaurants	Short-term contracts and using existing hardware	$0 to $60+	2.6% + 10 cents	2022 Square for Restaurants POS review
Visit Lightspeed	A user-friendly iPad POS for retail or restaurants	$69 to $399+	Lightspeed Payments 2.6% + 10 cents; other payment processors available	Lightspeed Restaurant review
Visit Toast	Restaurants that want a low-cost, user-friendly POS	$0 to $165+	From 2.49% + 15 cents	Toast POS review
Visit Shopify	Multichannel retail and online-first businesses	$39 to $89+	Varies; use Shopify Payments or third party*	Shopify POS review

*Shopify adds a service fee of 0.5% to 2.0% when using a third-party processor.

Revel Systems POS starts at $99 per terminal monthly with a required two-terminal minimum. Users typically get a per-terminal price break after more than two terminals, so you’ll want to contact Revel for a custom quote. Revel currently does not offer a free trial of the software, but you can contact Revel for a free demo of the system and a custom price quote based on your needs.

While Revel can accurately be described as a cloud POS, it’s most accurate to think of it as a hybrid POS system. In a hybrid configuration, your POS hardware is networked together on location, which is what gives Revel its excellent offline functionality.

This hybrid installation is also what leads to Revel’s one-time implementation fee, which starts at $674. More complex installations involving multiple checkout stands or terminals across multiple floors will incur higher implementation costs. Revel has options for both in-person and virtual implementation and training. If you are located in or near a major US metropolitan area you can get in-person training and installation.

Revel has on-site installation and training teams based in these US locations. (Source: Revel Systems)

Revel lost some points on pricing and contract requirements. Three-year contracts are standard with this system, which is longer than most cloud-based competitors. The overall price is also high compared to other cloud-based POS systems.

Revel Hardware

Revel’s POS terminals are iOS-based, and the system includes configurations for KDS screens, digital display boards, self-service kiosks, and customer-facing displays. The system also relies on industry-standard cash drawers; barcode scanners; scales; and receipt, barcode label, and kitchen printers.

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
Contact Revel Systems for Pricing

Revel sells all compatible hardware directly. You must purchase your iPads from Revel, as these arrive preconfigured with the Revel POS software. But you may be able to use some preexisting hardware like Epson and Star Micronics printers or cash drawers if you have them. However, you’ll want to check with a Revel representative to ensure compatibility.

You can reduce the upfront cost of your Revel POS by leasing hardware or applying for a payment plan. Revel offers hardware leases and flexible payment plans via Apple Financial Services for qualifying customers.

Revel Payments

Revel Systems is an evolving POS system. Its team is adding large and small innovations constantly to ensure its client business always has the latest tools. For example, since our last update Revel has added the ability to accept split payments in their online ordering system, allowing customers to split checks or pay with a gift card and a credit card.

This insightful innovation isn’t compelling in a press release. But if you’re a small business owner with custom gift cards, you get requests for this sort of update from your customers all the time.

You can customize every aspect of your staff and customer experience with tools for reservations, online ordering, driver dispatch, ingredient-level inventory, and customer rewards. The Revel POS acts as your employee time clock and employee scheduler. The system also has an open application programming interface (API) so that you can build custom integrations.

The insights by Revel app allows you to access real-time reports from a smartphone. (Source: Revel)

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Revel includes employee schedule building in the baseline POS. (Source: Revel)

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You can send payment links directly to customers from your Revel POS. (Source: Revel)

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Revel offers excellent baseline functions, including:

• Reporting: Revel Systems tracks everything from your incoming inventory to employee hours and sales. Detailed cost of goods sold (COGS) and labor reports help you keep your costs in line and prepare more accurate sales forecasts. You can also build custom reports in the back-office dashboard, a feature that some cloud POS systems either lack or charge extra for. You can track reports in real time using the Revel Insights smartphone reporting app.
• Marketing and loyalty: Revel includes loyalty tools in the baseline POS. You can randomly generate loyalty numbers or use customer phone numbers. You can choose to reward dollars spent, number of visits, or the purchase of a specific item. Rewards can be dollar or percentage discounts or a complimentary item.
• Workforce management: The baseline Revel POS includes custom user permissions for unlimited employees and acts as your time clock. You can also build schedules in your Revel back-office dashboard and even track tips and commissions. Revel also includes a training mode so training new employees won’t interfere with normal business operations.
• Customer management: Create customer profiles from sales and include contact information, loyalty number, house account information, and detailed notes. You can also add special discount codes for specific customer categories like students, veterans, or regulars.
• SmartPay: Revel’s built-in SmartPay system enables short message service (SMS) text-to-pay and quick response (QR) code scan-to-pay for purchases made in-store or over the phone. You enter a cellphone number in the POS to send the payment link, or customers can scan a QR code from a printed receipt. All receipts are sent via email for a completely contactless interaction.

Revel has excellent tools for independent retailers and restaurants. This system outscored all the other systems in our POS ranking for management tools. There is virtually nothing Revel can’t do. Click the drop-down sections below to explore Revel’s retail and restaurant features.

Retail Features

Revel includes tools to support all types of retailers, from those that sell a variety of soft and hard-line goods to those that sell perishable food items. You’ll have the hardware and software tools to manage complex transactions and inventory. Integrated barcode scanners and scales can sell goods by barcodes or weight. You can also print custom barcode labels from the POS dashboard.

Revel’s retail features include:

• Complex matrix inventory: Revel’s built-in inventory tools are some of the most robust available in a cloud POS.
• Integrated sales channels: Add sales on Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, X-Cart, Amazon, and eBay.
• Shipping integrations: Revel integrates directly with UPS and FedEx.
• Bottle deposit processing: Groceries and beverage businesses can process bottle deposits and redemptions directly in the POS.
• Age verification tools: prompt ID scans for age-restricted products like tobacco and alcohol.
• Flexible hardware: Supports integrated scales and scanners, self-service kiosks, digital displays, and countersunk scales and scanners for full checkout lanes.

Revel users can build purchase orders directly from the POS. (Source: Revel)

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With a few button presses, you can configure your Revel POS to prompt for age verification. (Source: Revel)

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Revel integrates with UPS and FedEx for shipping, and you can begin the shipping process directly from the POS. (Source: Revel)

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Restaurant Features

Revel originated as a restaurant POS, so it’s no surprise that its restaurant features are comprehensive. All the bases are covered from complex menu-building to custom user permissions, tip tracking, seat and course management, and easy check splitting.

Revel has a ton of standout restaurant features, including:

• Ingredient-level inventory: Track ingredients as items sell, count stock with a built-in smartphone app, and place orders from your back-office dashboard.
• Combo-building and modifiers: Build complex combos and set up complex modifiers for heavily customized dishes like build-your-own pizzas.
• Online ordering and delivery: Built-in online ordering and delivery tools include detailed, maps-based driver management.
• Built-in KDS: Color-coded KDS screens keep your kitchen on the same page and track productivity.
• Drive-thru management: Manage drive-thru orders seamlessly with vehicle descriptions and a dedicated drive-thru order stream.
• Waitlist and reservations: Built-in waitlist and reservation management tracks customer wait times and includes SMS text integration.

Revel’s Stocktake smartphone app lets you count inventory on iOS smartphones. (Source: Revel)

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You can build complex combos quickly in Revel’s column-segmented combo screens. (Source: Revel)

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Your Revel dispatch dashboard shows driver locations and real-time order status. (Source: Revel)

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Revel’s color-coded KDS tracks order status and order type. (Source: Revel)

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Revel’s drive-thru screen prompts for vehicle type to keep your window attendants on the same page. (Source: Revel)

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You can access Revel’s waitlist and reservation functions directly from the POS. (Source: Revel)

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• 24/7 customer support: Via phone, email, and chat
• One-on-one training: Implementation includes one-on-one guided installation either virtually or in person.
• Digital resources: Revel Support and Revel University websites contain a wealth of information you can access anytime.
• Bulk import data: Large menus or product lists, vendor invoices, and staff schedules can be bulk imported into Revel from Excel or comma-separated values (CSV) files.

Revel is a powerhouse POS in a convenient iPad package. The baseline POS includes a lot of features such as loyalty, employee scheduling, and inventory, which others charge extra for. It is one of the most expensive cloud POS systems on the market, though.

Revel was launched in 2010 to be a cloud-based alternative to legacy systems like MICROS and Aloha, both of which can cost $10,000 to $15,000. But it has been a long time since 2010, and the POS market has changed dramatically. We’d love to see a Revel subscription at a lower cost or with a shorter contract term.

Revel User Reviews

Revel users and industry experts give this POS high marks for flexibility and high-volume functionality. Revel is mostly well-reviewed by users.

• Capterra: Listed as an Established Player software, earning a rating of 3.7 out of 5 based on about 300 user reviews.
• G2: Listed as a Leader system for spring 2022, earning a ranking of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 130+ user reviews.
• FinancesOnline: Gave Revel Systems a 98% user satisfaction rating. Users on the site give the system a 4.6 out of 5, based on about 15 user reviews.

Most negative reviews say Revel takes time to learn―especially the back office―and mention occasional software glitches. We hear about occasional software glitches in nearly every POS we review. It’s part of the technology landscape when you use tools that are developing new solutions constantly. But Revel’s back office does have a learning curve. If you don’t have the time to commit to learning it, you’ll likely be happier with a simpler system.

Methodology―How We Evaluated Revel Systems

To evaluate Revel and other POS systems, we consider more than 20 criteria that are important to small, independent businesses. We look for overall value for money. To determine that, we consider cost, functionality, and ease of use. To round out the scores we also consider our retail and restaurant experts’ evaluations of each software.

Click through the tabs below to see our full criteria:

Revel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who should use Revel?

When should I use an alternative?

Bottom Line

Revel Systems POS has every function that a retail or restaurant business could need. It is developing new tools constantly to address the changing business landscape. With one-on-one training and installation, users get a lot of support to set up and learn this robust POS system. Although the higher price point and lengthy three-year contract make Revel the best for established businesses making the switch to a higher functioning POS or multilocation concepts that are built for growth. Get a free demo of this dynamic system by visiting Revel Systems.

Visit Revel

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