TouchBistro vs Square for Restaurants

Square Point of Sale

Clover

Toast POS

SpotOn

Revel Systems

Coolfire Core

Compare TouchBistro and Square for Restaurants based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Restroworks

Restroworks (previously Posist) is a premier cloud-based restaurant management platform, serving over 20,000 restaurants in 50+ countries. It offers comprehensive solutions including POS, and streamlines operations like FOH, BOH, and CRM. Esteemed clients include Taco Bell and Subway. 

Toast POS solution is a cloud-based restaurant management platform for restaurant owners to reduce staff & operational costs and improve customer experience

SpotOn Restaurant is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) solution designed to help small to medium businesses in the hospitality industry streamline online payments, tableside orders, and fraud protection. The labor management module lets users handle employee hours, gratuities, shifts, and more.

TouchBistro’s All-in-One Restaurant Management system offers all the technology you need to run your restaurant on one easy-to-use platform. Designed for and by restaurant service staff, TouchBistro meets the specific needs of the industry with 24/7 expert support.

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting Integration

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Billing & Invoicing

Built-in Accounting

Cash Management

Clock In/Out

Contact Management

Customer Accounts

Customizable Reports

Data Import/Export

Delivery Management

Discount Management

Electronic Payments

Employee Management

Food Delivery Dispatching

For Bars/Clubs

For iPad Devices

For Restaurants

Gift Card Management

Inventory Control

Inventory Management

Inventory Tracking

Item Management

Kitchen/Menu Management

Loyalty Program

Mobile Access

Offline Access

Online Ordering

Online Payments

Order Entry

Order Management

Payment Processing

Point of Sale (POS)

Pricing Management

Promotions Management

Real-Time Analytics

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Real-Time Updates

Receipt Management

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Reservations Management

Restaurant POS

Retail Inventory Management

Returns Management

Sales Order Management

Sales Reports

Sales Tax Management

Separate Checks

Split Checks

SSL Security

Staff Management

Status Tracking

Stock Management

Table Management

Third-Party Integrations

Time Clock

Tips Management

Wait List Management

Some users say TouchBistro offers reasonable pricing for small businesses and appreciate unlimited licenses and free hardware. Some reviewers find the free trial valuable, but some users report recurring fees and hardware costs make it expensive. Some reviewers feel hidden costs for integrations and installation diminish value for money.

Value for money

By industry, TouchBistro reviewers are most commonly professionals in restaurants (57%). The most frequent use case for TouchBistro cited by reviewers is restaurant POS (68% of reviewers).

TouchBistro

Windows

Linux

iPad

Web-based

TouchBistro POS

owner

You have to turn it on before your connection signal goes out meaning you have to deal with manually batching out cc payments. If your internet goes out and you don't have offline mode on you are SCREWED and can't even send an order to kitchen.

Owner

Confusing and time-consuming to program, unstable system (menu items, modifiers, and printer settings randomly disappear or change), frequent glitches and crashes that disrupt service, ;ong wait times for customer support, questionable billing practices (incl.

bookkeeper

I wish I could make changes to the TB numbers after the day is closed, so it refects online what I had to do offline to balance.

General Manager

Constant POS crashes (almost every order), poor customer, expensive integrations and little to no customer or technical support.

Operations Manager

The customer service is non existent and they have new weasel words every time you call them in order to delay your resolution.

As a result, our business suffered a loss of sales exceeding $$$$$ over a 7-month period. Despite our agreement, this company did not deliver the marketing services as promised.

Manager

Occasionally, system updates can also cause brief slowdowns during busy hours.

Used a Moby8500 that would disconnect every single day leaving us with a terminal down.

This lack of communication only added to our frustration and further delayed resolution of the issues we faced.

It is now clear why they are unwilling to take it back—because the devices are old models that are no longer supported.

I feel like they give you too much information even though a lot of information is good a lot of it is also nonsense

I did enjoy using the software, but dealing with tech support and closing my account has been absurd

It is easy to use, helps manage orders efficiently, and works well for daily restaurant operations.

continued charges after cancellation), overall poor communication and a lack of accountability.

Server

It froze and had to restart the point of sale all the time.

None stop calls and harassment about things that went important to the point of me having to block the rep and request a new one.

Also, with each successive update, we lost some degree of functionality.

While TouchBistro is generally easy to use, some advanced features require additional time to set up and learn.

THEN after they do an investigation, they’ll decide whether I get refunded or not…

weeks now I have been trying to cancel our subscription with TouchBistro.

They also charged us for loyalty services and never set it up.

Based on my experience and the consistent feedback from other business owners, I would strongly advise choosing a different POS.

You cannot refund exact amounts from in-house, even when it is a TouchBistro error due to the POS and V400m allowing for a bill to be paid in full twice after an error code has been issued, but no credit card authorization is noted on the POS.

It also meant that for 4 days every employee had their worst days ever in the building, hand writing orders, hand delivering order to the kitchen, hand writing CC orders, tax, reciepts, etc (many payments didn't end up going through either)

Restaurant Consultant

Frequent Outages & Forced Updates: Even on Friday nights and busy holidays such as Cinco de MayoCustomer Service & Support: Rarely helpful and requires customers to provide lengthy email summaries of past service calls (that they SHOULD have a record of in their CRM)Weird "hallucinations" appearing on customer facing online ordering platform: Root Beer appearing as a bread option/'As Weapon' & 'Ass Bacon' appearing as modifiersThere's not enough room in this field's character limit to continue

The functionality of the POS with our iPad minis for order taking is great, and saves our staff time that was traditionally reserved for having to go directly to a work station.

Generally I do not have issues, but when I do, help is hard to find.

They are constantly updating and changing how reports are accessed rendering some reports completely inaccessible one day to another. When I decided the close the restaurant due to losses and the interest rates they harassed me for payment, would not negotiate a reasonable cancellation fee.

Support

We are opening a restaurant and wanted a Valentines POS, they wanted $300 a month for hardware and licenses.

You can not lock so they can not delete bills after a bill reopened and then deleted a lot of cash is taken this way and no record once a bill is deleted

We’ve lost thousands of dollars over the months of waiting to have it started.

No response or resolution to most problems.

Made my restaurant not have a POS for 4 days while i waited to find 8 new IPADS, a new Mac Mini, and 8 new IPAD stands.  

They always have the right answers for me and I like how easy their system is to work.

Venue and Events Manager

Very easy product to use and beneficial that it can be easily integrated with other products!

Poor customer service from the beginning.

We signed thinking we could cancel if we didn't get to open.

Director Accounting and Finance

The most impactful feature is the ability to use an IPAD to service guest at their tables.

Any staff can see information as you need admin code and the staff need it for when there is no manager on shift.

Operator

I have nothing positive to say, their product is substandard, but their customer service is the absolute worst I have ever experienced!

The customer service representatives try to be helpful with the insurmountable issues we have had, but they need to consult with their "payments team" or "hardware team", both whom are unavailable on Friday evenings through Sunday.

President

The mobile units do not communicate with the main POS, so we have to had write orders and then type them in.  

The ability to accurately communicate orders to the kitchen and move them to the customer.

They have admitted to me that all the glitches we experience on a DAILY basis are software related and the senior tech support team has been incapable at fixing our issues.

Unfortunately it said >menu item deleted> Showed up correctly on pos, printed correctly, but on KDS, received deleted item message.

When an update about 2 years ago made every IPAD in the building unusable, and there was no way to undo the update.  

Customer Support

Cancellation and Refunds

Technical Support

Updates

Restaurant Operations

Bugs and Issues

Printing Issues

Sales Tracking

Features

Widespread user dissatisfaction

Have been using it for less than 3 weeks and it has been a complete nightmare.

96% of reviewers feel negative about their overall experience with TouchBistro. Reviewers report persistent dissatisfaction, describing their interactions as frustrating, disappointing, and sometimes overwhelming. They indicate that the system fails to meet expectations for reliability and service, with some saying it was the worst product or experience they have encountered in any industry. Many mention that these negative experiences affect their willingness to recommend the product and have led to significant operational challenges.

Slow and ineffective tech support

Then according to their own tech support.. the company took on way too many customers than programmers or tech support could keep up with creating a domino effect of pure frustration and no support.

83% of reviewers feel negative about TouchBistro’s technical support. Reviewers indicate that reaching support is often difficult, with long wait times and inconsistent assistance. They say support staff frequently lack the expertise to resolve issues, and many report unresolved problems persisting for extended periods. Users mention that technical glitches are common, and support is rarely available on-site, compounding their frustration. They feel the lack of timely and knowledgeable support disrupts business operations and erodes trust in the system.

Significant financial impact

This cost us thousands of dollars in new equipment, lost sales/transaction, and man hours.  

82% of reviewers feel negative about TouchBistro’s financial impact. Reviewers report experiencing substantial monetary losses due to system crashes, downtime, and unreliable performance. They say the costs of equipment, contracts, and ongoing fees are excessive, especially when weighed against lost sales and productivity. Many mention being locked into contracts for services that do not deliver, with some describing aggressive sales tactics and difficulties obtaining refunds. Users feel these financial burdens have strained their businesses and led to regret over their investment.

Unresponsive communication channels

80% of reviewers feel negative about TouchBistro’s phone and email support. Reviewers indicate that contacting support is often frustrating, with calls going unanswered, long hold times, and delayed or absent callbacks. They say email responses are slow or nonexistent, leaving urgent issues unresolved during critical business hours. Users report repeated attempts to reach support without resolution, and many feel ignored or dismissed by the company’s communication practices. This lack of timely assistance is a major source of dissatisfaction.

Frequent system glitches

There is some kind of bug or glitch that crashes the system at some point almost every day.  

77% of reviewers feel negative about TouchBistro’s reliability due to bugs and issues. Reviewers report regular crashes, glitches, and connectivity problems that disrupt daily operations. They say the system often goes offline, displays vague error messages, and fails to recover quickly after outages. Users mention that these technical problems are persistent and rarely addressed effectively by support. Many feel that the instability of the software undermines confidence in the product and creates ongoing operational headaches.

Customizable and visual interface

78% of reviewers feel positive about TouchBistro’s user interface. Reviewers indicate the interface is visually appealing, intuitive, and customizable, which helps staff locate items quickly and tailor screens to their workflow. They appreciate the familiar iOS environment, which makes navigation simple for both staff and management. Users mention that the interface’s clarity and flexibility aid in training and daily operations, while the visual elements enhance the overall user experience. Many feel that the interface balances robust functionality with ease of use, making it accessible for all experience levels.

Streamlined restaurant management

76% of reviewers feel positive about TouchBistro’s impact on restaurant operations. Reviewers say the system supports a wide range of restaurant types, from small cafes to large full-service establishments. They appreciate features that speed up order processing, improve communication between front and back of house, and provide detailed reporting for better management. Users find the system’s adaptability to different service styles valuable, and many note that it helps streamline workflows, manage inventory, and enhance customer service. They highlight the ability to customize for specific restaurant needs as a key benefit.

Quick staff onboarding

85% of reviewers feel positive about TouchBistro’s training and learning curve. Reviewers appreciate that minimal training is required, allowing new staff to become proficient in a short time, sometimes within minutes or hours. They say the familiar iOS-based interface is especially helpful for younger employees and those with varying tech backgrounds. Users find that efficient onboarding is crucial for high-turnover environments, and the straightforward system enables even seasonal or temporary staff to perform confidently. Many highlight that the ease of training reduces operational disruptions and supports business growth.

Intuitive and accessible design

93% of reviewers feel positive about TouchBistro’s ease of use. Reviewers indicate the system is intuitive, with a simple interface that allows both new and experienced users to navigate quickly. They appreciate the visual layout, colorful design, and resemblance to familiar Apple products, which make onboarding straightforward. Users say setup is uncomplicated, and the system’s user-friendly nature helps staff adapt rapidly. They find video tutorials and hands-on learning resources valuable for getting up to speed. Many mention that the ease of use contributes to smoother daily operations and encourages adoption across multiple locations.

11-50

201-500

501-1000

Self-Employed

Some users say TouchBistro offers reasonable pricing for small businesses and appreciate features like unlimited licenses and free hardware. Some reviewers find the price point fair compared to competitors and mention the free trial as a benefit. However, some users report that required hardware purchases and recurring fees add up, making the system feel expensive over time. Some reviewers feel that hidden or additional costs for integrations and installation diminish the value for money. Users think the affordability is offset by ongoing expenses and question whether the overall cost justifies the benefits.

KickFin

Kickfin is a tip distribution software designed to help hospitality businesses deposit tips into employees’ bank accounts in real-time. It enables managers to track return on investments (ROIs), validate and approve tip amounts for staff members, and add or remove employees from tip groups.

Square for Restaurants powers front and back of house operations for your full-service, quick-service, or fast-casual restaurant, bar or brewery.

Cost Management

Credit Card Processing

Labor Cost Reporting

Mobile Payments

Multi-Location

Order Processing

Order Tracking

Purchasing & Receiving

Sales Trend Analysis

Square for Restaurants

Square Free

Square Plus

Square Premium

Multi-Unit Manager

My 2 big caveats are the nature of cloud based kitchen display system.   If the internet goes down you not only lose the tickets, but the printers won't print from the kds.  

The system does a great job automating text and email sending, but I wish it had a bit more depth on the reporting side.

Lower upfront cost, often making updates to improve the product

TouchBistro vs Square for Restaurants Comparison (2026)

TouchBistro

Square for Restaurants

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives