Top 6 Cheapest Restaurant POS Systems in Australia [2026 Guide]

Running a restaurant in Australia can be a costly endeavour, with expenses piling up from rent, ingredients, staff wages, and more. 

One area where you can save money without compromising on quality is your Point of Sale (POS) system. A good POS system can streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and improve overall efficiency. 

In this article, we'll explore the top cheapest restaurant POS systems in Australia that offer great value for money.

Top 6 Cheapest POS Systems for Restaurants in Australia for 2026

1. POSApt

2. Square POS

3. TouchBistro

4. Lightspeed POS

5. Loyverse POS

6. Zeller POS

1. POSApt

Price: No Monthly Payment with 1.6 % Merchant or $66 Monthly

Overview: POSApt POS is one of the most popular and affordable restaurant POS systems available in Australia. POSApt for restaurants is designed to meet the needs of various restaurant types across Australia. With a focus on ease of use and comprehensive features, POSApt provides excellent value for money and is one of the cheapest restaurant POS system providers in Australia. It supports Android devices for table order taking, making it accessible and cost-effective for restaurant owners.

Features:

User-Friendly Interface: 

POSApt’s intuitive interface is designed to be easy for staff to learn and use, reducing the time and cost associated with training.

Fast Response System: 

POSApt features a fast response system that ensures minimal downtime for your business. The system quickly addresses any issues that may arise, allowing restaurant staff to maintain smooth operations without lengthy interruptions. 

Comprehensive Reporting: 

The system offers detailed sales and performance reports, helping restaurant owners make informed business decisions. Reports can be customised to track various metrics, such as daily sales, peak hours, and popular menu items.

Inventory Management: 

POSApt tracks stock levels in real-time and alerts you when it's time to reorder. This feature helps prevent stockouts and reduces waste by ensuring you always have the right amount of inventory on hand.

Customer Support: 

POSApt provides reliable customer service with 24/7 support to assist you whenever needed. The support team is knowledgeable and responsive, ensuring any issues are resolved quickly. Quick troubleshooting and support mean that your team can focus on delivering excellent customer service instead of dealing with technical difficulties.

Seamless Integration with Online Ordering: 

POSApt integrates seamlessly with its own online ordering system, allowing you to see all orders on one interface. This integration helps streamline the order management process, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

Automated Printing: 

If staff forget to check online orders, the system automatically prints the order and notifies them, ensuring no orders are missed. This feature helps maintain a smooth workflow and enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring timely order processing.

2. Square POS

Price: No Monthly Payment with 2.2 % Merchant

Overview: Square POS is another alternative that you can go for if you are looking for a free POS. It's a versatile system that works well for restaurant sizes of small to medium. Square POS offers a free plan that includes essential features like sales tracking, inventory management, and employee management. You only pay transaction fees on every sold product, which makes it another value for money and the cheapest POS system provider in Australia.

Features:

Ease of Use: 

Square POS has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for staff to learn and use, reducing training time and minimising errors during peak hours.

Flexibility: 

Square POS is compatible with various devices, including smartphones and tablets, allowing you to use hardware you already own and reducing initial setup costs.

Comprehensive Reporting: 

The system provides detailed sales reports, including data on sales trends, employee performance, and customer behaviour. These insights can help you make data-driven decisions to optimise your operations.

Customer Support: 

Square is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, Melbourne time for customer support. Their support team is known for being helpful and responsive.

Third-Party Integrations: 

Square POS integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, including accounting software, marketing tools, and online ordering platforms. This flexibility allows you to customise the system to meet your specific needs making it one of the best restaurant POS systems in Australia in 2026.

3. TouchBistro

Price: Starting at $69 per month

Overview: TouchBistro is a POS system built specifically for the restaurant industry. It is an iPad-based system that offers a range of features to help manage front-of-house and back-of-house operations. It is particularly popular among small to medium-sized restaurants.

Features:

Menu Management: 

The system makes it easy to update and customise your menu, including adding new items, changing prices, and modifying descriptions. This feature helps keep your menu current and attractive to customers.

Staff Management: 

TouchBistro tracks employee hours and performance, helping you manage schedules and monitor productivity. You can also use the system to handle payroll and other HR tasks.

Customer Engagement: 

The system includes tools for collecting customer feedback and creating marketing campaigns. You can use this data to improve customer service and increase repeat business.

Comprehensive Reporting: 

TouchBistro provides detailed reports on sales, inventory, and staff performance. These insights can help you optimise your operations and make informed business decisions.

4. Lightspeed

Price: Starting at $79 per month

Overview: Lightspeed is a cloud-based system designed specifically for the hospitality industry. It offers a range of features that can help streamline restaurant operations, including table management, order tracking, and customer relationship management.

Features:

Table Management: 

Lightspeed allows you to manage reservations and table layouts efficiently. This feature helps optimise seating arrangements and reduce wait times, enhancing the dining experience for your customers.

Order Tracking: 

The system simplifies order management from the kitchen to the table, ensuring accurate and timely order processing. Staff can easily track orders and update their status, improving communication and reducing errors.

Inventory Management: 

Lightspeed tracks stock levels in real-time and alerts you when it's time to reorder. This feature helps prevent stockouts and overstocking, ensuring you always have the right amount of inventory on hand.

Customer Insights: 

The system collects data on customer preferences and behaviours, allowing you to create personalised marketing campaigns and loyalty programs. This feature helps build strong customer relationships and increase repeat business.

Multi-Location Management: 

If you have multiple restaurant locations, Lightspeed allows you to manage all of them from a single account. This feature helps streamline operations and maintain consistency across all your outlets.

5. Loyverse POS

Price: Free POS software (optional paid add-ons)

Overview: Loyverse POS is a free, cloud-based POS system designed for small restaurants, cafés, food trucks, and takeaway shops. It is popular with new or budget-conscious businesses because there is no monthly software fee. Loyverse works on Android and iOS devices, making it easy to start using without expensive hardware. While it does not offer advanced restaurant features like table management, it covers the basics well and is often chosen as one of the cheapest POS systems for small hospitality venues.

Features:

Easy Setup and Simple Interface:

Loyverse is quick to set up and easy for staff to learn. The interface is straightforward, which helps reduce training time for small teams.

Sales Reporting:

The system provides basic sales reports showing daily sales, best-selling items, and revenue trends. These reports help owners understand performance without complex data.

Inventory Management:

Loyverse tracks stock levels automatically and alerts you when items are running low. This helps small venues manage ingredients and reduce missed sales.

Customer Loyalty Program:

Loyverse includes a built-in loyalty feature that allows customers to collect points and rewards. This is useful for cafés and takeaway shops looking to encourage repeat visits.

Employee Management:

You can assign staff roles and track sales by employee. This helps owners monitor performance and accountability during shifts.

Cloud-Based Access:

All data is stored in the cloud, allowing owners to view sales information remotely from their phone or computer.

6. Zeller POS

Price: No monthly software fee; transaction fees apply for payments

Overview: Zeller POS is an Australian payments-focused POS solution designed for small businesses that want simple, low-cost payment processing combined with basic POS features. It is often chosen by cafés, quick-service restaurants, and takeaway shops that prioritise fast transactions and transparent pricing. Zeller works best as a lightweight POS with strong EFTPOS functionality rather than a full restaurant management system.

Features:

Integrated Payments and POS:

Zeller combines EFTPOS payments and POS functionality into one system. Sales and payments are recorded automatically, reducing reconciliation errors.

Fast and Reliable Transactions:

The system is built for quick payment processing, helping reduce queues during busy periods. This is ideal for takeaway and counter-service venues.

Simple Product Management:

You can create products, set prices, and apply GST easily. This keeps menu management simple without unnecessary complexity.

Sales Reporting:

Zeller provides clear sales summaries and transaction reports, allowing business owners to track revenue and payment activity in real time.

Cloud Dashboard:

Business owners can access sales data, settlements, and reports online from anywhere. This is useful for monitoring performance outside business hours.

Australian-Based Support:

Zeller offers local support and is designed specifically for Australian businesses, which helps with compliance and local payment standards.

Best Restaurant POS System Australia Comparison Table

How to Choose an Affordable POS System for Your Restaurant

1. Ease of Use

User-Friendly Interface: 

A clean, simple design allows staff to operate the system with minimal training.

Mobile Compatibility: 

Look for systems that offer mobile capabilities, allowing staff to take orders and process payments from anywhere in the restaurant.

2. Scalability

Multi-Location Support: 

If you plan to expand, choose a POS with features to handle multiple locations seamlessly.

User Management: 

The ability to add and manage multiple users with different permission levels can be critical as your staff grows.

3. Customer Support

24/7 Availability: 

A provider that offers round-the-clock support can be a lifesaver during busy hours or unexpected issues.

Training Resources: 

Access to tutorials, webinars, and documentation can enhance your team’s familiarity with the system.

4. Integration

Accounting Software: 

Integration with tools like Xero or QuickBooks helps streamline financial management.

Payment Processors: 

Ensure that the POS can work with various payment methods, including contactless payments and digital wallets.

5. Security Features

Data Encryption: 

Protect customer payment information and sensitive business data with robust encryption.

Access Controls: 

Implement user access levels to restrict sensitive information based on staff roles.

6. Customisability

Tailored Features: 

Look for a POS that allows you to customise features and workflows to fit your specific operational needs.

Summing Up

Investing in the right affordable restaurant POS in Australia can significantly impact your store's efficiency and profitability. The systems mentioned in this article offer affordable options for Australian restaurant owners, each with its own set of features and benefits. By carefully considering your restaurant's needs and budget, you can choose the best restaurant POS system that will help streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and ultimately boost your bottom line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the cheapest POS system for restaurants in Australia?

Several POS systems are considered the cheapest because they can be used without a monthly fee. These include POSApt, Square, and Loyverse. Among them, POSApt is often one of the cheapest options because it offers a free plan designed specifically for hospitality businesses.

2. Is POSApt really free to use?

Yes. POSApt can be used without a monthly software fee under its transaction-based pricing model.
A paid monthly plan is optional and usually only needed for advanced features. This makes POSApt one of the lowest-cost POS systems for restaurants in Australia.

4. Do cheap restaurant POS systems still support online ordering?

Some do, but not all:

• POSApt supports online ordering through optional integrations.
• Square POS includes its own online ordering system.
• TouchBistro and Lightspeed POS usually require paid add-ons or higher plans.
• Loyverse and Zeller POS rely on third-party tools or manual handling.

Online ordering often involves extra costs, even with low-cost POS systems.

5. Are there hidden costs with low-cost restaurant POS systems?

Low-cost POS systems usually have optional costs, not hidden ones.
Extra charges may apply for:

• Online ordering
• Table management
• Kitchen display systems
• Advanced reports
• Additional integrations

It’s important to check what is included in the base plan before choosing a system.

6. Which POS system for a restaurant is easiest for staff to learn?

Systems known for simplicity include:

• Square POS
• POSApt

These systems have clean interfaces and are quick for staff to learn, which is helpful for restaurants with high staff turnover.

7. Which cheap POS is best for cafés and takeaway shops?

For cafés and takeaway businesses, good low-cost options include:

• POSApt
• Square POS
• Loyverse POS
• Zeller POS

These systems work well for counter service and don’t require expensive monthly plans.

8. Which is the best pos system for full-service restaurants?

Full-service restaurants often need table management, advanced reporting, and kitchen workflows.
In these cases:

• POSApt
• Lightspeed POS

They are better suited, even though they usually cost more than entry-level POS systems.

More Resources:

How to Use POS Loyalty Programs

How to Manage Cash Flow with a POS System