Running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and service—it takes smart, efficient operations. At the heart of those operations is your point-of-sale (POS) system. A modern POS system should do more than process payments; it should streamline orders, manage staff, track inventory, and enhance the overall guest experience.

So, what is the best restaurant POS system? Two of the most widely used and talked-about options are Clover and Toast. Both are powerful, but which one truly delivers the best combination of affordability, features, and flexibility for most restaurant operators?

Let’s compare them side by side.

What Makes a POS System Great for Restaurants?

A restaurant POS system should do more than just handle transactions. Here are the key features that define a great POS solution for restaurants:

• Ease of Use: Staff should be able to learn the system quickly, especially during rush hours.
• Order Management: Send orders to kitchen and bar instantly with real-time tracking.
• Flexible Hardware: Support for handhelds, self-serve kiosks, countertop stations, and kitchen displays.
• Online Ordering Integration: Sync online and in-person orders seamlessly.
• Menu Customization: Update menus on the fly, including modifiers, specials, and upsells.
• Inventory Tracking: Know what’s in stock, what’s selling, and what needs to be reordered.
• Customer Loyalty Programs: Keep guests coming back with points, rewards, or promotions.
• Data and Reporting: View sales by item, employee, shift, and time period.
• Mobile Payment Options: Accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, EMV chip, and contactless payments.

Toast POS Overview

Toast is a restaurant-specific POS platform built to handle the complex workflows of full-service, multi-location dining operations. It comes with a sleek user interface and robust reporting, and is ideal for restaurants that need advanced back-of-house features.

Key Features:

• Restaurant-focused tools: menu costing, ingredient tracking
• Strong integrations with online ordering, third-party delivery
• Enterprise reporting for multi-unit operators
• Built-in loyalty and gift cards (at additional cost)
• Customizable handhelds for tableside service

Downsides:

• Long-term contracts (2+ years)
• Higher pricing for essential features
• Charges $25+/mo/location for 3rd-party integrations
• Reports of inconsistent support
• Installation and hardware costs can be high

Toast is a strong system for enterprise restaurants with larger budgets and the need for in-depth functionality, but may be overkill or too expensive for smaller operations.

Why Clover Is the Best POS System for Restaurants

Clover checks all the boxes for restaurant functionality and adds a few extra advantages that truly set it apart—especially for independent restaurants, quick-service operations, and growing businesses.

1. All-in-One Restaurant Management

Clover isn’t just a POS; it’s a business hub. You can manage everything from sales and staffing to inventory and marketing—all from one platform.

2. Flexible Hardware Options

Whether you’re running a counter-service cafe or a full-service restaurant, Clover has hardware to match your setup:

• Clover Station: Full-feature countertop POS
• Clover Flex: Handheld device for table-side ordering and payment
• Clover Mini: Compact station for quick-service setups
• Kitchen Display Systems (KDS): Streamline communication between front and back of house
• QR Code Ordering: Enable contactless, self-serve dining experiences

3. Seamless Integration with Online Ordering and Delivery Apps

Clover integrates with major platforms for online ordering and delivery without charging a monthly fee to access these tools. That gives restaurants more flexibility and fewer costs.

4. Tableside Ordering & Faster Checkout

Clover Flex allows for fast, wireless tableside service. This improves accuracy, speeds up table turnover, and leads to higher tips and greater customer satisfaction.

5. Built-In Loyalty and Gift Card Programs

Clover includes loyalty and digital gift card features at no additional cost, making it easy to engage customers without paying for third-party apps.

6. Transparent Pricing and No Long-Term Contracts

Through providers like First National Processing, Clover offers flexible, month-to-month pricing with no long-term commitments and no surprise fees.

7. Real-Time Reporting from Anywhere

Monitor performance, track trends, and make informed decisions using real-time reports on your phone or desktop.

8. Local Support and Onboarding

With First National Processing, Clover users get hands-on onboarding and local support, ensuring a smooth rollout and responsive help when it’s needed most.

Clover vs. Toast: Side-by-Side Comparison

Final Thoughts: Choose the POS That Grows With You

Toast may be the right solution for large, enterprise-level restaurants with deep pockets and in-house tech support. But for the majority of restaurants looking for a more flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use solution, Clover stands out as the best restaurant POS system.

With scalable hardware, built-in features, fast setup, and local support through First National Processing, Clover delivers everything you need to grow your restaurant business with confidence.

Get Started with Clover

Interested in seeing what Clover can do for your restaurant? Reach out to First National Processing for a free demo or customized quote.

Visit www.firstnationalprocessing.com to learn more and get started today.