Restaurant and Bar POS System Comparison

This restaurant and bar POS system comparison covers the systems that show up on the statements we review. It is neutral. For each one: what it is, who it fits, and what to check on your statement. No prices, because pricing depends on who sold you the system.

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On statements we review

We review statements from merchants on Clover, Square, Heartland Genius, Dejavoo, PAX, Korona, Union, NMI, Hyfin and more.

We are not an official partner or reseller of any POS brand. Brand names are used only to describe the systems we see on statements.

No. 01

Clover POS

Clover POS monthly fee . Clover cash discount . Clover POS hardware

What it is: Clover is a POS system from Fiserv. It is sold by Fiserv, by banks and by many independent providers, so two Clover accounts can carry very different pricing and terms.
Who it fits: Restaurants, bars, cafes and retail counters that want an all-in-one system with add-on apps.
Check on your statement: Who your actual processor is, the software plan, per-device fees, and whether the hardware is bought, leased or bundled.

Clover POS hardware

Ranges from full countertop stations to compact countertop units and handhelds for table-side and bar service. Check the lease or purchase line for each device.

Clover POS monthly fee

Most accounts pay a monthly software plan, and some providers bill it on the processing statement. Find that line and the number of devices it covers. [PLACEHOLDER: plan details, if Travis wants to list them]

Clover cash discount

Some Clover accounts run a cash discount or surcharge program, depending on the provider and settings. Check how the fee shows on receipts and on your statement. More in cash discount credit card processing.

Clover restaurant POS, in full

No. 02

Square vs Clover POS

Square POS . Square vs Clover

What it is: Square is a POS and payments company owned by Block. It is usually sold directly by Square, with flat-rate processing published on its site. Clover is sold through many providers, so its pricing depends on who sold it.
Who it fits: Square often suits smaller, simpler operations that want to start fast. Clover often suits operators who want a provider relationship and more setup choices. Your volume and card mix decide which costs less.
Check on your statement: On Square, fees usually come out before deposits and show in the Square dashboard. On Clover, read the processing statement from your provider. Compare the effective rate, not the headline rate.

Square vs Clover POS, in full

No. 03

Heartland Genius POS

Heartland Genius . Genius POS

What it is: Genius is the POS platform from Global Payments, which now includes Heartland. Many merchants still know it as Heartland Genius.
Who it fits: Restaurants, bars and retail, from a single location to high-volume venues.
Check on your statement: Software and hardware fees, any promotional pricing and when it ends, and the agreement term.

Genius POS, in full

No. 04

Dejavoo POS

Dejavoo P5 . Dejavoo P12 . Dejavoo QD4

What it is: Dejavoo makes payment terminals. In its Android P line, the P5 is a light mPOS and PIN pad with a large touchscreen, and the P12 is a pocket-sized mobile terminal. The QD4 is a countertop terminal in the Android QD line.
Who it fits: Counter service, table-side payments and mobile merchants. Many Dejavoo terminals can be set up for dual pricing.
Check on your statement: Terminal purchase or lease, gateway fees, and how any dual pricing fee shows on receipts and on the statement.

Dejavoo POS and the Dejavoo P5, in full

No. 05

PAX terminals

PAX A80 . PAX S58 . PAX E800

What it is: PAX makes payment terminals and countertop POS devices. The A80 is an Android countertop terminal with a touchscreen, keypad and printer. The S58 is an older entry-level countertop terminal. The E800 is a large-screen Android countertop POS that PAX now lists as end of life.
Who it fits: Retail counters, quick service and any merchant who wants a common terminal. PAX devices are sold through many processors and providers.
Check on your statement: Lease terms on older devices like the S58 and E800, and whether you are still paying for a terminal that is out of date.

PAX A80 terminal and PAX S58 POS, in full

No. 06

KORONA POS

Korona POS . retail POS

What it is: KORONA POS is cloud-based POS software, used mostly in retail such as liquor stores, wineries and specialty shops. It works with a range of payment terminals rather than one processor.
Who it fits: Retail with real inventory to track, single store or several.
Check on your statement: Your KORONA subscription and your processing are billed apart. Read the processing statement on its own to see what cards really cost you.

KORONA POS, in full

No. 07

Union POS

Union POS . bar POS

What it is: Union is a cloud-based POS built for high-volume bars and restaurants, with tools for large tab counts and guest ordering from a phone.
Who it fits: Busy bars, nightclubs and restaurants with strong bar programs.
Check on your statement: How tabs are pre-authorized and closed, how tips are adjusted, and how processing is priced next to the software.

Union POS, in full

No. 08

NMI virtual terminal

NMI gateway . virtual terminal

What it is: NMI is a payment gateway. Its virtual terminal lets you take card payments in a web browser, including sales, authorizations, refunds and voids, and it can connect to card readers.
Who it fits: Phone orders, catering deposits, invoices and any business that keys in cards.
Check on your statement: Monthly and per-transaction gateway fees, often on top of processing. Keyed-in cards usually cost more than tapped or dipped cards.

NMI payments, in full

No. 09

Hyfin payments

Hyfin . invoicing and payment links

What it is: Hyfin is a payment platform for invoices, payment links, recurring payments and a virtual terminal, with dual pricing and surcharging options.
Who it fits: Service and B2B businesses that bill by invoice and let customers pay by card or bank transfer.
Check on your statement: How any surcharge or dual pricing fee is shown to customers, and what you pay on bank transfers versus cards.

Hyfin payments, in full

Whatever you run, send the statement.

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POS system questions

Are you a Clover, Square or PAX reseller?

No. We are not an official partner or reseller of any POS brand. We review statements from merchants on Clover, Square, Heartland Genius, Dejavoo, PAX, Korona, Union, NMI, Hyfin and more.

Which POS system is best for a restaurant or bar?

It depends on your volume, your service style, and how you handle tips and tabs. We start from your current statement, so any comparison uses what you really pay today.

Is the POS fee the same as the processing fee?

Not always. Many systems bill a software plan or device fee apart from processing. Some put both on one statement. We separate them so you can see each one.

Can I keep my POS and change processors?

Sometimes. Some POS systems work with many processors, and some work with only one. We check what applies to your setup before you decide anything.

Why do you not list POS prices?

Pricing depends on who sold you the system, your plan, and your hardware. Numbers here would be guesswork. Send a statement and we will show what you actually pay.

Whatever POS you run, we will read the statement.

Upload or email your statement through our contact page. Free review, plain English, no obligation.

How our merchant statement analysis works

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What you send: One recent statement
What we read: Every line
What it costs: Nothing
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