Businesses in Ireland have a choice of point of sale (POS) systems, but many are not straightforward, affordable or specific to the hospitality sector. For a restaurant, café or coffee shop, this can be a challenge.
Some of the best-known POS solutions worldwide are not available in Ireland, but several are. We have included five internationally-popular ones and one Ireland-only option here.
Most providers charge a monthly subscription and some have a minimum contract length. Others work on a “pay as you go” basis. Which is most suitable depends on your budget and business needs.
Let’s compare the best POS systems for restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs we can recommend specifically for Ireland:
| Hospitality POS |
Contract | POS cost | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
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24 months | From €90 + VAT/mo |
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Monthly or 12 months | Free or from €49 + VAT/mo |
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No long-term contract | Free or €69 + VAT/mo |
|
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24-36 months | From €90/mo |
|
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Monthly | From €49 + VAT/mo |
|
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Monthly | Included with Business account from €10/mo |
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No contract | Free; optional paid add-ons |
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A good POS system is relatively quick to set up, integrates with different software and hardware, and includes all the hospitality features you and your customers need. This could be table plans, split bills, a kitchen monitor, integrated payments and handheld terminals for tableside orders.
Here’s an overview of the type of hardware they work with and what businesses they would suit, in our opinion:
| POS | Hardware | Suited for | Built-in payments? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epos Now | Custom countertop POS terminals | Hospitality businesses of all sizes, also mixed with retail | Yes |
| SumUp POS | iPad, Android, SumUp devices | Bars, pubs, restaurants cafés and small venues | Yes |
| Square for Restaurants | iPad, Square devices | Small to medium food-and-drink venues | Yes |
| Toast | Custom countertop POS terminals | Restaurants and growing hospitality businesses | Yes |
| Postree | Windows devices | Small to medium food businesses | No |
| Revolut POS | iPad, Android | Small to medium hospitality businesses | Yes |
| Loyverse | iPad, Android | New and small food businesses | No |
Best for: All types of hospitality, especially retail-hospitality combos, needing an adaptable solution with room to grow
Pricing: From €90 + VAT/mo including hardware
Compatibility: iPad, Android tablets, Epos Now touchscreen registers
Pros: Good-value hardware packages, very customisable, integrated payments
Cons: Costs can rack up, contract lock-in, service complaints
Founded in the UK over a decade ago, Epos Now offers POS systems to businesses of all kinds. The company sells hardware packages including touchscreen monitors, receipt printers, cash drawers and more, along with its hospitality POS software and kitchen display system.
Users fundamentally pick between two subscription tiers: Basic and Plus. On both, you can add unlimited products, users and customers, and till software, cloud reporting and security updates are included. Certain inventory features and integrations with other software cost extra.
Contrary to what it may sound like, the Basic package costs a hefty €114 + VAT per month, but it allows you to use your payment provider of choice. The monthly Plus plan includes an integrated Epos Now card machine with a transaction fee of 1.7%.
With both packages, you get a touchscreen register, cash drawer, receipt printer, back office software, one accidental damage repair per year, training, implementation and support. Additional accessories and solutions like kitchen display systems are also available.
Image: Mobile Transaction
The food and drink menu in Epos Now can be organised neatly into Mains, Hot Drinks etc.
Epos Now offers 24/7 customer support on the Plus plan, whereas Basic only includes chat support on weekdays between 9am–6pm and Saturdays between 9am–5pm. The additional charge for 24/7 customer support (i.e. you have to be on Plus) could be a deal-breaker for cash-strapped merchants, considering most other POS systems include phone support at any price level.
To get a custom offer from Epos Now, you need to request a call with the onboarding team.
| Epos Now costs | |
|---|---|
| Contract lock-in | 12-24 months |
| Basic (without payments) | €114 + VAT/mo |
| Plus incl. Epos Now card machine | €90 + VAT/mo |
| Epos Now Payments transaction fee | 1.7% per transaction |
In user reviews and our own tests, we’ve noticed some features being limited, technical issues getting started and usability challenges. Nevertheless, Epos Now offers a good range of essential functions for restaurants and the option to integrate with popular apps for accounting, marketing and customer loyalty.
The Epos Now software is highly customisable, particularly for hospitality businesses that also have a retail element, such as hotels, breweries and any café or restaurant selling foodstuffs from the shelves.
Payment integrations: Epos Now Payments, popular payment processors possible
Can you try before committing? No, but live demos are possible
Best for: Good features for a low overall cost
Pricing: Free or paid versions from €49 (Plus) or €55 (Pro) + VAT/mo
Compatibility: iPad and Android (Plus) or iPad only (Pro)
Pros: Tableside and online ordering features, choice of add-ons, offline mode
Cons: Extra cost for advanced features, 12-month lock-in
SumUp Point of Sale for tablets is ideal for both small and very busy hospitality businesses due to its flexibility and food and drink features.
Getting a handle on what SumUp offers in terms of POS software and hardware can be a bit tricky. While SumUp has a Register for a one-off upfront cost of €399, this is basically just a hardware bundle with a very basic POS app. Those looking for a hospitality system should instead opt for the POS Plus subscription (€49 + VAT monthly) or POS Pro plan (€55 + VAT monthly) with more features, especially with the add-on hospitality module for €19/mo (not compatible with Plus).
For a small quick-service hospitality business, the free software version might suffice. But as soon as you want table management, kitchen orders and staff controls, then Plus or Pro is the answer. We would only recommend POS Pro with the hospitality module for full-service restaurants needing reservations, sophisticated table service, and more advanced kitchen workflows.
Photo: SumUp
The SumUp POS system is advanced enough for restaurants, yet still not complicated to use.
One feature to note for quick-service food and drink: integrations with Uber Eats and Deliveroo are only available with the POS Pro subscription, not Free or Plus. Pro also integrates with Otter, which lets you connect with Just Eat.
You can use any iPad and SumUp card reader and add cash drawers and printers to suit your business. The Pro plan includes multi-order processing, guided onboarding, menu editing, table and floor management, and reservation and delivery features. Reporting features are much more extensive than with the free plan.
A customer display and other add-ons for e.g. stock and promotions are available, and the software integrates with accounting and food delivery apps. The software has an offline mode, so taking orders without internet connectivity is no problem. In addition, support is available 7 days a week.
| SumUp costs | |
|---|---|
| POS plans | POS Plus: €49 + VAT/mo (iOS and Android) POS Pro: €55 + VAT/mo (iPad only) |
| Add-on features for POS Pro | Hospitality Module: €19 + VAT/mo |
| SumUp card transactions | 1.69% per transaction |
We like the friendly look of the till hardware, and the checkout screen has a nice, adaptable interface. For wet and rough environments, though, the Epos Now hardware is more robust.
SumUp Point of Sale works out-of-the-box with SumUp card machines: Solo Lite, Solo or SumUp Terminal (Plus only). The card processing rate is fairly attractive at 1.69%, even for premium cards like American Express, Discover, Diners Club and UnionPay. A lower rate of 0.95% for domestic and EEA cards is possible with a Plus subscription of €19 per month. Businesses accepting more than €20k per month in card processing may apply for custom rates.
Payment integrations: SumUp card machines
Can you try before committing? You can book a demo through SumUp’s website
Best for: From small cafés to multi-location restaurants
Pricing: From €0/mo
Compatibility: iOS, Android, Square terminals and kits
Pros: No commitment, many payment tools included, range of hardware, offline mode
Cons: Can only use Square card machines
Square offers a range of tools for business. Its main POS app has been popular with coffee shops and cafés in several countries for more than a decade. Its specialised system, Square for Restaurants, is for fast-paced cafés and restaurants with more complex needs.
The software is available on iOS and Android devices and works out-of-the-box with Square’s card terminals. As well as ordering and payment capabilities, you get many additional online payment tools integrated with the front-facing POS system.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
Although built for restaurants, Square for Restaurants can suit many cafés.
To sign up, you complete a simple online form and connect your bank account. Then you have several options. The Point of Sale app is suitable for hospitality businesses with simple inventory and customer ordering requirements, such as coffee shops. The Square for Restaurants Free plan has more hospitality features, and the Restaurants Plus plan has the full range of features.
The free Restaurants software is simple, but sufficient for a small restaurant where tills need to coordinate kitchen orders and table service.
You can use unlimited POS devices in as many locations as you like with the Free plan, and only pay Square’s card processing fees. This plan lacks some important features, though, like close-of-day reports, seat and course management, advanced employee management and a kitchen display system for both dine-in and online orders. These are all included on the Plus subscription for €69 + VAT per month.
When we tested this system, it took a bit of time to get a handle of it. The features surprised us, though: it is now among the top systems for hospitality in Ireland, with potential for massive time- and cost savings.
The system connects with a click-and-collect ordering page and optional QR codes to print for table-side ordering (all included free). Square for Restaurants also integrates with many popular services like Deliverect for online food orders, the Opentable booking system, and Xero and FreshBooks accounting software.
Hardware-wise, there are a few options. Square Register is popular — an all-in-one touchscreen register with an attached card reader-and-display for the customer, costing €599 + VAT.
If you want to use an existing iPad as the checkout system, you could start with the card reader (€19 + VAT) or Square Stand (€119 + VAT) with a built-in card reader. The standalone Square Terminal with its own touchscreen display is also suited for table orders. An offline mode ensures you can accept cards in most circumstances.
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| Square Point of Sale app | Free |
| Square for Restaurants subscription | Free: €0/mo Plus: €69 + VAT/mo |
| Card transaction fee (chip, tap) | 1.75% + VAT (lower fees for high volume) |
While Square Terminal syncs with the system for tableside orders and payments, it has not got access to all the restaurant features available on iPad.
All chip and contactless card transactions cost 1.75% + VAT, including corporate and premium cards like American Express. If you make more than €100k per year, you qualify for reduced rates.
Transactions settle in your bank account within two working days (usually the next working day).
You get 24/7 customer phone support on the Restaurants Plus subscription, and 9am–5pm weekday phone support on all free plans. Live chat support is available on the website and in-app.
Payment integration: Square
Can you try before committing? Yes, a free trial is available
Best for: Revolut Business account holders
Pricing: Free with a business account (from €10/mo)
Compatibility: iPad only
Pros: Easy to use, no monthly fee for POS system, low domestic card rate
Cons: No Android compatibility, few POS features, only works with Revolut’s terminal
Since the launch of Revolut’s first card reader, there was a brief time when it only worked with the Revolut Business app. However, account holders now get a dedicated POS system we’ve tested, Revolut Point of Sale.
The POS app is accessible through the business account, and it only works with Revolut’s payment system and terminals. For some, that’s a limitation, but it’s also one of the biggest advantages of the product if you bank with Revolut.
Photo: Mobile Transaction
Revolut POS is geared to hospitality businesses with kitchen display and table management.
When we first tried the POS software, we thought it was a little basic. The interface looked extremely plain, but it turned out the app can be customised with a range of features relevant to cafés. This includes table and floor plans, different VAT rates, service charges, tipping and food menus with variations, modifiers and categories.
Once your food and drink menu is set up, and a card terminal is connected, it’s a very smooth-running checkout. Contactless and chip card payments reach your Revolut Business account within 24 hours, where you can choose to transfer or spend it with the debit card.
| Revolut costs | |
|---|---|
| Business account subscription | €10-€125 + VAT/mo |
| Revolut POS software | Free through the account |
| Revolut Terminal purchase | €139-€189 + VAT |
| Card transactions | Domestic consumer cards: 0.8% + €0.02 All other cards: 2.6% + €0.02 |
Although the POS system itself is free, you still need to pay a monthly fee for any of the Revolut Business accounts. Then it’s essential to apply for a Merchant Account, which enables you to accept cards online and in person, and order one of Revolut’s card terminals.
Domestic card payments have a very low rate (0.8%), but there is a fixed fee added (€0.02). If you accept many international or commercial cards, the rate is considerably higher (2.6%). The only other payment method accepted is cash, in which case we recommend getting a cash drawer.
Overall, Revolut POS would suit a small food and drink business with one point of sale and few staff. If you’re just looking for a cheap solution and love the many account features in Revolut, you should check it out.
Payment integrations: Revolut Terminal with a receipt printer, or the more basic Lite Terminal
Can you try before committing? You need a Revolut Business Account (€10-€125 monthly) before you can try Revolut POS on iPad for free
Best for: Hospitality businesses that value an Ireland-only service
Pricing: From €49 + VAT/month per location
Compatibility: Windows devices
Pros: Strong local support team, flexible options, offline option
Cons: Reports of buggy software and slow fixes, no iOS or Android compatibility
Postree is an Irish, cloud-based POS provider specialising in hospitality. The company provides tailored POS hardware and software packages with many of the features you would expect: employee, inventory and order management, in-depth reporting, online ordering and payment integration.
The fact that Postree also offers a web design service for your online menus and ordering is probably indicative of this being a service for those who would like a bit more hand-holding and support. Other optional services like CCTV integration are available for a monthly fee.
Postree only works on Windows devices, whether tablets or computers.
Postree’s minimum contract length used to be 12 months, but that’s been removed now so you can cancel any time. Pricing is based on the complexity of your setup. One checkout location starts at €49 + VAT, but there are custom plans for more locations based on tailored features agreed to during onboarding.
The company offers its hardware and software on a for-lease basis, with costs determined after a call to assess your needs. It is also possible to purchase equipment through Postree upon request.
When signing up, you’ll have the option to enrol on one of two support plans. The Software Support plan includes access to the support team 7 days a week between 9am–10pm, remote support, email support, remote team training, software updates and on-demand encrypted data backups. The Hardware and Software Support plan adds replacements or repair of faulty hardware.
| Postree costs | |
|---|---|
| Subscription | Starter: €49 + VAT/mo per location Growth: €49 + VAT/mo for first location, €25 + VAT/mo per extra location Enterprise: Custom pricing |
Although Postree is not a big market player, swift and personal customer service is what you should expect. That being said, the user base of the company appears to be small, and buggy software with slow fix times have been reported as issues, so you should definitely request a trial or demo before committing to a package.
Payment integrations: Major payment processors
Can you try before committing? Yes, a 14-day free trial is available
Best for: Businesses looking for a cheap, simple POS solution
Pricing: Free with optional add-ons
Compatibility: Android, iOS
Pros: Low cost, adaptable, works offline
Cons: Live support requires subscription, limited card reader options, costs can add up
Loyverse – short for Loyalty Universe – is run by a Cyprus-founded company now based in London. The product is a mobile POS application available on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
Based on a freemium model, Loyverse’s Point of Sale app is free to use, with no monthly cost or contractual commitment. However, there are paid add-ons for employee management, inventory features and integrations. These are charged monthly or annually upfront, but note that any costs cannot be refunded.
Loyverse point of sale menu for a café.
If you require lots of app integrations, costs could really add up. We therefore give a word of caution for restaurants and more complex cafés. Loyverse is fairly popular among smaller businesses like food trucks and places without table service.
The paid add-ons start with a free 14-day trial that does not require your card details. If you choose to continue with a paid subscription, you are free to cancel it any time from your web dashboard.
The POS system is basic, but extremely adaptable so it can be used for both retail and hospitality. The browser-based Dashboard/Back Office has detailed reports and general features for managing POS operations. There is also a free kitchen display app for communicating with the kitchen and a free customer display app.
Any hardware is purchased outside of Loyverse, and your payment provider charges for card processing. The software works with different hardware like receipt printers and cash drawers, a list of which is available on the website. In Ireland, the only card readers that integrate are from SumUp.
| Loyverse costs | |
|---|---|
| Loyverse POS and Dashboard | Free |
| Loyverse Kitchen Display | Free |
| Employee management | €20 + VAT/mo per store |
| Advanced inventory | €20 + VAT/mo per store |
| Unlimited sales history | €5 + VAT/mo per store |
Live support is only available for subscribers to one of Loyverse’s paid add-ons. If you’re just using the free software without a paid subscription, you just have an online help section with step-by-step guides and a peer support forum where you can post questions publicly.
There is an email address that anyone can contact for help, but you’re likely going to get a slow response to that. Only on a paid plan do you have a prompt live chat.
Payment integration: SumUp card reader
Can you try before committing? Yes, a 14-day free trial is available
Verdict
Coffee shops and restaurants in Ireland have several POS options, but ultimately, the right choice depends on your business needs.
In our tests, we’ve found Square to be a reliable, intuitive and adaptable solution that works for most hospitality businesses. The low costs, complimentary payment tools and commitment-free setup make Square one of our top choices overall.
Businesses looking for more flexibility in hardware and payment processing options might prefer a more tailored solution from Epos Now or Postree. The latter only works with Windows devices, though, whereas Epos Now offers POS for hardwearing touchscreen registers, Android tablets and iPad alike.
The potentially free Loyverse is interesting if your business is just starting out and you’re still figuring out which features are important to you.
SumUp POS Pro would be a significant step up from that, with modern-looking hardware bundles and hospitality integrations that are better long-term. It’s improved quite a bit in the past 2 years with a better user experience, exceeding Square in our ranking for small food and drink.
Revolut POS is a promising alternative for small food and drink venues on a budget. It doesn’t pack in the same amount of features as Epos Now, SumUp or Square, but it’s ideal for linking with Revolut’s wide-ranging services.
Another popular alternative in Ireland is Clover with its hospitality package. Their hardware looks sleek, but the company tends to require long contracts, many fees and expensive add-ons.
