Guides / Running a restaurant
Best POS for small restaurants: Square vs Clover vs Toast
For small restaurants, Square is easiest to start with because its pricing is published: $0, $49 or $149 a month with card rates from 2.4% to 2.6% plus 15 cents. Clover and Toast are sold through quotes, with hardware bundles and custom rates. Pick based on service style, hardware needs and how much you value posted pricing.
- Square: posted pricing, $0 to $149 a month per location.
- Square in-person card rates: 2.6%, 2.5% or 2.4% plus 15 cents.
- Toast: starts at $0 a month, priced by quote.
- Clover: sold by Clover and resellers, priced by quote.
- Ask every vendor for total monthly cost, not just software.
Quick comparison
| Square for Restaurants | Clover | Toast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software price | $0, $49 or $149 a month per location | Quote. Restaurant plans sold by Clover and resellers | Starts at $0 a month. Quote |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% / 2.5% / 2.4% + 15¢ by plan | Quote | Quote |
| Pricing posted publicly | Yes | Partly | Partly |
| Online ordering | Yes | Yes, commission-free page on restaurant plans | Yes |
From each company's public pages as of October 1, 2026. A Clover reseller lists the restaurant Growth plan at about $84.95 a month per device.
Which one fits your restaurant?
- Counter service, coffee, food truck: Square is quick to set up and lets you start at $0.
- Full-service dining room: all three offer table management. Compare quotes, since hardware and processing make up most of the cost.
- High volume or multiple locations: ask for custom processing rates from all three.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is my total monthly cost, including software, hardware and processing?
- Is there a contract, and what does early cancellation cost?
- Do I own the hardware, or lease it?
- Can I keep my processing rate if volume drops?
- Which online ordering and marketing tools integrate?
- Can I export my customer and sales data if I leave?
Disclosure
Forkrado integrates with Square and Clover so online orders print on your POS. [CONFIRM: note any Clover partner or reseller relationship here.] We don't recommend one system for every restaurant. The right choice depends on your service style and quotes.
Questions owners ask
Which POS is cheapest for a small restaurant?
Square's free plan has no monthly fee, but you pay 2.6% plus 15 cents on in-person cards. Compare total monthly cost with real quotes.
Is Toast free?
Toast lists plans starting at $0 a month. Hardware and processing are quoted separately.
Can I switch POS later?
Yes, but plan for new hardware, staff training and moving your menu and data.
Does Forkrado work with my POS?
Forkrado sends online orders to Square and Clover, or to our kitchen tablet for other systems.
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