5 Best Restaurant POS Systems in Australia — 2026

In this guide, I list the five best restaurant POS systems in Australia for 2026, explain what each one does well, why they’re right for Aussie restaurants, and how to pick between them. I’m putting POSApt first as a full-featured, Australian solution with a free plan and human local support. After that come Abacus and OrderMate — two proven Australian systems built for hospitality. Square comes next for its simplicity and wide hardware support, and Lightspeed finishes the list for businesses that need advanced stock, retail and multi-site features.

This article focuses on practical restaurant needs: speed of service, kitchen routing, table management, reporting, hardware options, support, and total cost of ownership. 

Quick takeaway — the short list

• POSApt — Full feature set, free plan (no extra cost), local human support, great for single and multi-site restaurants that want strong support and predictable costs.
• Abacus — Robust hospitality POS with deep table and kitchen tools; great for busy sit-down restaurants and multi-shift operations.
• OrderMate — Long-standing local POS built for Aussie hospitality; strong reporting and stable integrations.
• Square — Best for simple setups, pop-ups and venues that want fast setup and flexible hardware.
• Lightspeed — Powerful inventory and multi-site control; best when you sell retail items or grow to multiple locations.

Why local Australian POS systems matter

Local systems understand local rules, suppliers and business rhythms. They know how Australian hospitality runs: school holiday surges, public holiday trading, morning-rush coffee peaks and local card/eftpos practices. Local providers can also offer on-the-ground installers, local support teams, and integrations with Aussie accounting packages and payment providers.

That’s why many restaurateurs prefer Australian systems for their core operations — better service and fewer surprises.

5 Best Restaurant POS Systems in Australia 2026

1. POSApt — full feature, free plan, local human support

Who it’s for

POSApt is ideal for restaurants that want a genuinely full POS without a big fixed monthly bill — or businesses that value local, human help when things go wrong. It suits small to medium restaurants, bistros, fast casual and growing groups that plan to scale.

Key strengths

• Full restaurant features: table management, course handling, modifiers, course-by-course sending, kitchen display support. CRM and staff management included.
• Free plan with no extra cost: core functions are available on the free plan, so you can run a fully capable restaurant without a monthly software fee (you still pay card processing).
• Local, real human support: 24/7 human support by local staff — answers by phone and real technicians when you need them. This is huge for night service and weekend shifts.
• Device flexibility: supports iPads and Android tablets, plus optional hardware bundles if you need registers, printers and KDS.
• Clear upgrade path: add online ordering, and a branded design website will be provided.

Why restaurants choose POSApt

Restaurants need reliability during service. POSApt’s combination of good restaurant features and true local support minimises downtime. Staff learn fast because the interface is made for hospitality. Owners like that the base software is available without a fixed monthly fee, so early-stage restaurants can invest more in food and staff.

Things to watch

• Card processing is separate — you’ll still pay merchant fees for payments. POSApt’s free plan doesn’t remove payment costs.
• If you want very advanced enterprise reporting, confirm the exact capabilities for multi-site reporting before committing.

Best fit

Single-site restaurants looking to avoid big monthly subscriptions, or larger venues that want Aussie support with a modern cloud POS.

2. Abacus — rugged hospitality POS for busy restaurants

Who it’s for

Abacus is a long-standing hospitality system used by medium to large restaurants, pubs and venues. It suits restaurants with complex floor plans, large menus, and busy kitchen environments.

Key strengths

• Deep table management: seats, splits, transfers, timed seating and course controls.
• Reliable offline mode: keeps working when internet is flaky — essential for busy venues.
• Powerful kitchen integration: dedicated kitchen printers and clear KDS routing so orders reach the right station fast.
• Comprehensive reporting: detailed sales, staff, cost and stock reports for managers and owners.
• Reseller network: local installation and tailored support packages through certified partners.

Why restaurants choose Abacus

Abacus is built for the reality of busy service: noise, rush periods and frequent menu complexity. It handles multi-terminal speed, complex billing scenarios and bulk reporting for managers. Many multi-site operators use Abacus because it scales and integrates well with local EFTPOS solutions.

Things to watch

• Cost: Abacus typically comes with a monthly subscription and setup costs. It’s an investment worth it for busier restaurants, but may be overkill for small venues.
• Setup and training: more features mean more setup work and staff training.

Best fit

Bigger restaurants, venues with heavy dine-in flows and multi-site groups that need depth and reliability.

3. OrderMate — tried and trusted Aussie hospitality POS

Who it’s for

OrderMate is a proven Australian POS that fits restaurants needing reliable day-to-day operations and clear reporting. It is used across cafes, mid-size restaurants, bistros and pubs.

Key strengths

• Hospitality-first design: effortless order flow for counter and table service.
• Stable integrations: connects well with local EFTPOS providers, accounting software and loyalty systems.
• Strong reporting and analytics: owner-friendly dashboards and exportable reports for finance teams.
• Local presence: long local history, local resellers and support teams.

Why restaurants choose OrderMate

OrderMate provides a practical balance of features, local support and predictable cost. For restaurateurs who want a solid system without excessive customisation, OrderMate delivers consistent performance and useful management tools.

Things to watch

• Subscription model: OrderMate commonly uses a monthly fee; check the package for included modules and support.
• Hardware & installation: many restaurants buy a packaged hardware and install service, which is good for reliability but costs more up front.

Best fit

Restaurants that want a dependable Australian POS with good reporting, standard features, and local support.

4. Square — simple, fast and flexible (global but common in Australia)

Who it’s for

Square is great for restaurants that prioritise speed, low friction and flexible hardware. It’s a go-to choice for food trucks, quick-service restaurants, and venues that want to get started fast.

Key strengths

• Fast setup: simple sign-up and quick hardware pairing gets you trading quickly.
• Works on phones and tablets: wide hardware support — iPads, Androids and Square’s own terminals.
• Clean interface: staff learn very quickly, and managing the menu is straightforward.
• Integrated payments: everything is in one place — sales, reporting, and payments.

Why restaurants choose Square

Square removes many common headaches at the start. For small restaurants or pop-ups, it’s a near perfect match: minimal setup, no complicated contracts and a solid ecosystem of add-ons.

Things to watch

• Payment processing lock-in: Square requires you to use Square’s payment processing. You cannot bring your own merchant account. That means the processing rate is set by Square and not negotiable. As you scale, this fixed rate may cost more than a negotiated merchant account.
• Advanced features cost extra: if you need enterprise-grade reporting, labour management or advanced kitchen tools, you’ll likely pay for add-on plans.

Best fit

Small to medium quick-service restaurants, pop-ups, and venues that value speed and simplicity over deep customisation.

5. Lightspeed — powerful inventory, good for hybrid retail/restaurant businesses

Who it’s for

Lightspeed is aimed at restaurants and cafes that also sell retail — think coffee beans, merch, take-home meals — or multi-site operators that need strong inventory control and e-commerce integration.

Key strengths

• Advanced inventory control: ingredient and product tracking, vendor management, and stock forecasting.
• Omnichannel features: sells in-store and online with a single source of truth for stock.
• Multi-location management: change menus, prices and promotions centrally across sites.
• Strong analytics: in-depth reporting for owners and HQ teams.

Why restaurants choose Lightspeed

If your restaurant is also a retail outlet or you are growing to multiple sites, Lightspeed’s stock tools and centralised control are valuable. Its e-commerce connections also make it easy to add direct online orders.

Things to watch

• Cost: Lightspeed sits at the higher end of subscription fees. Budget accordingly.
• Complexity: powerful tools mean more setup and training time.

Best fit

Restaurants with a retail arm, multi-site groups, and hospitality businesses that sell online and in store.

Comparing the five — quick feature table (summary)

Feature / Need	POSApt	Abacus	OrderMate	Square	Lightspeed
Restaurant features (tables, courses)	✓✓✓	✓✓✓✓	✓✓✓	✓✓	✓✓✓
Local Australian support	✓✓✓	✓✓✓	✓✓✓	✓	✓
Free base software plan	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗
Offline reliability	✓	✓✓✓	✓✓	✓	✓
Hardware flexibility (iPad/Android)	✓✓	✓	✓	✓✓✓	✓✓
Advanced inventory / retail	✓	✓	✓	✗	✓✓✓
Best for small to medium restaurants	✓✓✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

(Use this as an overview — each restaurant will weigh these items differently.)

Cost of ownership — what to budget for

A restaurant POS system sticker price is only part of the story. Think of total cost of ownership across these buckets:

1. Software subscriptions — monthly fees for the POS itself (Abacus, OrderMate and Lightspeed commonly have these). POSApt and Square offer free core plans but you may upgrade.
2. Payments (merchant fees) — every transaction has a processing cost. Some systems require their own processing (Square). Others let you pick a merchant partner; fees vary with volume.
3. Hardware — tablets, terminals, printers, kitchen displays, cash drawers. One-off buys or finance plans.
4. Installation & training — reseller setup, on-site training, data migration.
5. Add-ons — online ordering, loyalty, payroll or advanced reporting modules.
6. Support contracts — premium SLAs, after-hours support or dedicated account managers.

Real-world budgeting tip: add at least 10–20% extra to your initial hardware and setup estimate to cover cabling, spares and staff training.

How to choose the right POS system for your restaurant — practical checklist

1. Map your service flow — counter service? full table service? kitchen routing? Pick a POS that matches.
2. Estimate card sales — merchant fees matter. If card sales are high, prioritise low processing costs or negotiable merchant deals.
3. Decide hardware approach — reuse tablets or buy dedicated terminals? Consider durability and kitchen-proof devices.
4. Ask about real support — who answers at 7pm on a Saturday? Test the support before signing.
5. Test the system in a real rush — don’t rely on demo mode; run staff through a busy service trial.
6. Check data export and integration — can you export sales to your accountant? Does it sync with your payroll and inventory tools?
7. Plan for expansion — make sure the system scales without expensive rip-outs.

Common switching mistakes — how to avoid them

• Not migrating menus cleanly: rebuilt menus must match real life — check modifiers and combos.
• Skipping staff training: a day of training saves weeks of errors.
• Only comparing monthly fees: evaluate processing costs and hardware.
• Not testing connectivity and backups: restaurants must operate even when the internet drops.
• Choosing a vendor with poor local support: a local voice at the other end of the phone saves time and money.

Restaurant POS software Pricing Comparison — Australia (2026)

Important note: Prices below are indicative and based on publicly stated ranges or standard industry practice. Actual costs may vary depending on venue size, number of terminals, and selected features.

POS Software Pricing Overview

POS System	Software Cost (Guide)	What This Means for Restaurants
POSApt	$0 per month (free plan)	Core restaurant POS features available with no ongoing software fee. No extra charge for standard features or support. Optional paid online order upgrades available if needed.
Abacus	From ~$60–$80 per month per terminal	Monthly subscription applies. Cost increases with additional registers and advanced modules.
OrderMate	Quote required	Pricing depends on restaurant size, terminals, and setup. Usually includes monthly software fees.
Square for Restaurants	$0 per month (Free) or ~$129 per month (Plus)	Free plan covers basics. Plus plan adds advanced restaurant features such as course management and more reporting.
Lightspeed Restaurant	From ~$40 up to $300+ per month	Tiered pricing. Higher tiers needed for advanced reporting, inventory, and multi-site management.

Payment & Merchant Fee Structure (High-Level)

POS System	Payment Setup	Key Payment Notes
POSApt	Integrated or partner-based	Merchant fee around 1.6% is common. Businesses can usually pass card fees to customers.
Abacus	External EFTPOS providers	Merchant fees depend on your chosen payment provider and agreement.
OrderMate	External EFTPOS providers	Flexible merchant choice. Fees depend on negotiated provider rates.
Square	Square-only processing	Must use Square as merchant provider. Rate is fixed and not negotiable.
Lightspeed	External payment partners	Merchant fees vary depending on processor used.

Typical Monthly Cost Scenarios (Realistic)

Small Restaurant (1–2 terminals)

Cost Type	Typical Range
POS software	$0 – $150/month
Card processing	Based on sales volume
Hardware (one-off)	$800 – $2,000
Optional add-ons	$0 – $100/month

Medium Restaurant (3–5 terminals)

Cost Type	Typical Range
POS software	$150 – $500+/month
Card processing	Based on sales volume
Hardware (one-off)	$2,000 – $5,000
Optional add-ons	$50 – $200+/month

💡 How to Read These Prices Correctly

• Free plan does not mean free business — you still pay card processing fees.
• Monthly software fees are predictable but add up over time.
• Merchant fees matter more than software fees for high-volume restaurants; however, the business must still pay even if it’s not integrated with a POS system.
• Local support is not always included — some systems charge extra for priority or after-hours help.
• Hardware is usually a one-off cost, but proprietary systems tend to be more expensive long term.

🏆 Cost Position Summary

• Lowest fixed software cost: POSApt, Square (free tier)
• Most predictable restaurant setup: Abacus, OrderMate
• Best for scaling and complex reporting: Lightspeed
• Most flexible merchant choice: POSApt, Abacus, OrderMate
• Most restrictive payments: Square

Final thoughts — what matters most in 2026

In 2026 the best restaurant POS system is reliable, fast and backed by support you can reach when things go wrong. Australian restaurants benefit from local POS providers who understand the market and can deliver fast support — that’s why POSApt, Abacus and OrderMate rank highly here.

If you want a no-nonsense, full-feature system with local human support and a free entry option — POSApt for your restaurant is the smart starting point. If you need rock-solid restaurant workflows and don’t mind paying for premium support and setup, Abacus or OrderMate are proven choices. Square is perfect for fast, simple deployments and Lightspeed serves restaurants that combine retail and hospitality.

Whichever restaurant POS you choose, test it under real kitchen pressure before you switch over for good. A POS should remove friction and let you serve great food and great service — not become another thing to worry about.