Find the Perfect POS System for Your Bar, Nightclub or Restaurant
Not all POS systems are created equal. We specialize in SmartTab and SkyTab, but we've researched the entire landscape to help you make the right choice.
Our commitment: We'll help you find the right fit. Your success matters more and we know Point Of Sale Systems.
Last updated January 2026 • No sales pressure, just honest guidance
Quick Comparison
Based on industry reviews, user feedback, and publicly available information
See detailed breakdowns for all systems in the Deep Dive section below.
Comparisons based on verified user reviews, industry publications, and vendor specifications.Updated January 2026
Find the Best POS for Your Venue Type
Click the tabs to see how each system rates for your specific business type
Works but lacks advanced coursing for fine dining
Built specifically for high-volume nightclubs. Fastest tab management with true offline mode.
Best for: High-volume nightclubs, sports bars, VIP bottle service
Learn more about SmartTab
Strong choice - great coursing, table management, and kitchen routing
Solid restaurant POS with reliable hardware. Excellent for full-service dining but lacks speed for high-volume bar environments.
Best for: Full-service restaurants, casual dining, QSR with delivery focus
Learn more about SkyTab
Enterprise standard - great for chains and multi-location
Legacy system still used by many chains. Reliable but dated interface.
Best for: Multi-location restaurant groups, franchise chains, and established concepts.
Learn more about NCR Aloha
Lacks essential full-service restaurant features
Widely deployed but showing its age. The 'app for everything' approach has lost its appeal as better integrated solutions exist.
Best for: Existing Clover users, simple retail operations
Learn more about Clover
Decent features but watch your statements - billing complaints are common
Marketing-focused POS with loyalty features. Good concept but plagued by billing disputes, handheld issues, and 3-year contracts.
Best for: Marketing-focused restaurants willing to monitor billing closely
Learn more about SpotOn
Good features, but support can be frustrating
Popular system with good features and integrations. Call-center support model.
Best for: Restaurants comfortable with call-center support
Learn more about Toast
You've outgrown this - time for a real restaurant POS
The 'Hobbyist' POS. Great for pop-ups, but fails under the pressure of a real high-volume bar or restaurant.
Best for: Pop-ups, farmers markets, and hobby businesses.
Learn more about Square
Good for retail/restaurant hybrids with inventory focus
Strong for retail-restaurant hybrids, but their direct-only model means less local support.
Best for: Retail-heavy restaurant concepts or hybrid retail/restaurant spaces.
Learn more about Lightspeed
Reliable but dated - better modern options available
Battle-tested stability with 20+ years in the field. Reliable but dated interface.
Best for: Current Focus users upgrading, simple bar operations, budget-conscious operators not focused on growth.
Learn more about Focus POS
Feature-rich but complex - needs tech-savvy team
Proven restaurant POS since 2008. Feature-rich with 100+ integrations but complex setup.
Best for: Multi-concept operations, integration-heavy environments, complex menu management, tech-savvy staff.
Learn more about Rpower POS
Emerging platform - early adopter mindset required
Multi-platform flexibility (Windows, iOS, Android). Building US presence—early adopter phase.
Best for: Tech-forward operators, hardware flexibility seekers
Learn more about Winston POS
Budget pick for small single-location spots - menu setup takes patience
Cloud-based POS for single-location restaurants. Free software with Aldelo Pay, but limited processor flexibility.
Best for: Single-location cafes, pizza shops, quick-casual restaurants, and small bars on a budget.
Learn more about Aldelo Express
Good for casual dining with QR ordering—less suited for fine dining service models
Mobile-first platform with QR ordering and roaming tabs. Built for breweries, food halls, and casual bars—not high-volume nightclubs.
Best for: Breweries, taprooms, food halls, casual bars with tech-savvy guests.
Learn more about GoTab
Limited support for traditional table service—not built for restaurants
Guest-led ordering for high-volume bars. Fast tabs and mobile ordering, but removes the human hospitality touch.
Best for: High-volume bars in major metros wanting guest-led ordering to reduce labor.
Learn more about UnionReady to Make the Switch?
We handle everything: menu migration, staff training, parallel testing, and go-live support.
Average setup: 2-4 weeks • Zero downtime guarantee
Deep Dive: System by System
Click each system for detailed breakdowns based on industry research and user reviews
⭐ = Systems we personally install and support
Looking for alternatives? Compare: SmartTab vs SkyTab for bars • Aloha alternative for nightclubs • Clover vs SpotOn for restaurants • Best Toast alternative • Square replacement for full-service
✅ Key Strengths
- • Handles 20,000+ tabs per night with no lag
- • True offline mode (works without internet)
- • Sub-second tab lookup during peak hours
- • Pre-configured bottle service packages
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Limited advanced coursing for fine dining
💡 Perfect For:
High-volume nightclubs, sports bars, VIP bottle service
✓ We install and support SmartTab
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend SmartTab:
High-volume bars, nightclubs, sports bars, breweries.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Fine dining with intricate multi-course timing → SkyTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Exceptional uptime and reliability
- • Dedicated partner support (not call center)
- • Excellent coursing and table management for restaurants
- • Strong online ordering and delivery integrations
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Must use Shift4 processing (no processor choice)
- • Tab management slower than SmartTab for high-volume bars
- • Not optimized for nightclub speed or bottle service
💡 Perfect For:
Full-service restaurants, casual dining, QSR with delivery focus
✓ We install and support SkyTab
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend SkyTab:
Full-service restaurants, casual dining, QSR concepts.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
High-volume bars or nightclubs → SmartTab. Simple counter-service → Clover.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Industry standard with decades of proven reliability
- • Massive third-party integration ecosystem
- • Can run on your own payment processor
- • Advanced enterprise scheduling
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Older interface feels dated compared to cloud systems
- • Complex setup—requires expert configuration
💡 Perfect For:
Multi-location restaurant groups, franchise chains, and established concepts.
✓ We install and support NCR Aloha
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend NCR Aloha:
Multi-location chains, existing Aloha infrastructure, need processor flexibility.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
New single-location setup → SmartTab or SkyTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Flexible hardware options
- • Large installed base
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • App marketplace model feels dated
- • Better options exist for most operations
💡 Perfect For:
Existing Clover users, simple retail operations
✓ We install and support Clover
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend Clover:
Existing Clover users, simple retail operations.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Most modern restaurant/bar operations → SkyTab or SmartTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Strong loyalty and marketing automation
- • Good customer database for VIP tracking
- • QR ordering option for busy periods
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Frequent billing discrepancies - check statements monthly
- • 3-year contracts with expensive early termination
- • Handheld connectivity issues during peak times
- • Tabs reported disappearing randomly
- • Support can be slow - appointments instead of immediate help
💡 Perfect For:
Marketing-focused restaurants willing to monitor billing closely
✓ We install and support SpotOn
We've seen too many billing complaints to recommend SpotOn without warning. If you go this route, review your statements every single month.
🎯 When we recommend SpotOn:
Marketing and loyalty are your top priority AND you'll watch your statements.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Most operations → SmartTab or SkyTab. Simpler needs → Clover.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Offline mode for internet outages
- • Extensive integration ecosystem
- • Strong online ordering and delivery integrations
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Call-center support (not dedicated rep)
- • Can be challenging to reach live support
- • Contract lock-ins with early termination fees
💡 Perfect For:
Restaurants comfortable with call-center support
✓ We provide dedicated support for Toast
Get the personal attention and expertise you deserve — menu changes, troubleshooting, training, and optimization without the hold times.
🎯 When we recommend Toast:
You're already on Toast and need better support, or need deep restaurant features.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
New setup with personal support priority → SmartTab or SkyTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Zero barrier to entry (anyone can sign up)
- • Good for hobbyists and side-hustles
- • Familiar interface for customers
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Processing fees are significantly higher than industry standard
- • Customer support is non-existent (email only)
- • Lacks basic server banking and bar tab features
💡 Perfect For:
Pop-ups, farmers markets, and hobby businesses.
✓ We do not sell or support Square
If you have more than 3 employees, you have already outgrown Square. Let's get you on a professional system.
🎯 When we recommend Square:
You are processing less than $10k/month.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Any serious hospitality operation → SmartTab or SkyTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Strong for retail/restaurant hybrid concepts
- • Cloud-based with good inventory management
- • Multi-location management capabilities
- • Decent reporting and analytics
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Lightspeed brought all partnerships in-house — no dealers
- • You buy direct from Lightspeed now
- • This means less personalized local support
- • Can be more expensive than competitors
💡 Perfect For:
Retail-heavy restaurant concepts or hybrid retail/restaurant spaces.
✓ Lightspeed sells direct only - we can help evaluate Lightspeed
We can help you evaluate whether Lightspeed is right for your concept, but you'll purchase directly from them.
🎯 When we recommend Lightspeed:
Retail/restaurant hybrids, multi-location management needs.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Pure hospitality with hands-on support → SmartTab or SkyTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Battle-tested stability with 20+ years in the field
- • Good for existing Focus users upgrading hardware
- • Local dealer network with hands-on support
- • Shift4 payment integration
- • Modular system—build your own tech stack
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Outdated user interface—staff training takes longer
- • Limited modern integrations with third-party apps
- • Better options available at similar price points
- • Mobile and cloud capabilities behind competitors
💡 Perfect For:
Current Focus users upgrading, simple bar operations, budget-conscious operators not focused on growth.
✓ We install and support Focus POS
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend Focus POS:
Already on Focus and upgrading, simple operations, getting steep discount.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
New openings or tech-forward operations → SkyTab or SmartTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Proven track record since 2008 with major clients like Hooters
- • 100+ integrations including Grubhub and major processors
- • Versatile platform—table service, quick service, bars, delivery
- • Strong offline mode when internet drops
- • Real-time 360-degree sales analytics
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Interface feels dated compared to SkyTab or Toast
- • Hybrid cloud/local architecture complicates troubleshooting
- • More complex setup than newer, simpler systems
- • Support quality varies by rep
💡 Perfect For:
Multi-concept operations, integration-heavy environments, complex menu management, tech-savvy staff.
✓ We install and support Rpower POS
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend Rpower POS:
Multi-concept, 100+ integrations needed, complex menus, tech-savvy team.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Simple operations, high turnover staff → SkyTab or SmartTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Runs on existing hardware (any platform)
- • Offline payment processing capability
- • No hardware lock-in—use existing devices
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Building US market share—fewer reference sites
- • Limited US reference sites
- • Support: 9-5 weekdays (not 24/7)
💡 Perfect For:
Tech-forward operators, hardware flexibility seekers
✓ We install and support Winston POS
Direct access to our team for setup, training, menu builds, and ongoing optimization.
🎯 When we recommend Winston POS:
Tech-forward, straightforward needs, willing to grow with platform.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
High-volume, complex integrations, risk-averse → SkyTab or SmartTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Free unlimited software licenses with Aldelo Pay
- • Device-agnostic - runs on iPad and Android tablets
- • 24/7 tech support included
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Limited to only 4 payment processors
- • Menu setup can be complex
💡 Perfect For:
Single-location cafes, pizza shops, quick-casual restaurants, and small bars on a budget.
✓ We install and support Aldelo Express
We can assess whether Aldelo fits your operation, but recommend stronger options for growing businesses.
🎯 When we recommend Aldelo Express:
Budget-conscious single location, simple menu, quick-casual concept.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Multi-location, high-volume bar, or growth-focused → SkyTab or SmartTab.
✅ Key Strengths
- • QR code ordering reduces labor costs
- • Device-agnostic (iOS, Android, web)
- • Built-in walkout protection with fund locking
- • Excellent for multi-vendor food halls
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Learning curve for guests unfamiliar with QR ordering
- • Integration issues reported with delivery platforms
- • Still maturing—occasional bugs reported
💡 Perfect For:
Breweries, taprooms, food halls, casual bars with tech-savvy guests.
✓ We install and support GoTab
GoTab offers 24/7 support via phone, SMS, and in-app chat.
🎯 When we recommend GoTab:
Breweries, taprooms, food halls, casual bars wanting to reduce labor with guest self-ordering.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
High-volume nightclub → SmartTab. Full-service restaurant → SkyTab. Simple counter service → Clover.
✅ Key Strengths
- • Handles 1,000+ tabs with no lag
- • Offline mode captures funds during outages
- • One-button close all tabs at end of night
- • Guest mobile ordering reduces wait times
⚠️ Potential Drawbacks
- • Guest-led ordering removes hospitality experience
- • Hardware reliability issues reported
- • Performance slowdowns during peak times reported
- • Limited to major metro markets only
💡 Perfect For:
High-volume bars in major metros wanting guest-led ordering to reduce labor.
✓ We install and support Union
Union offers 24/7 US-based support and dedicated account managers in each city.
🎯 When we recommend Union:
High-volume bars in Union's metro markets wanting guest self-ordering.
🔄 When we recommend something else:
Traditional bar experience → SmartTab. Full-service restaurant → SkyTab. Outside major metros → other options.
Bottom line: Toast has the features but terrible support. Square is too basic for real restaurants. Lightspeed went direct-only. If you want a powerful system with dedicated personal support, SmartTab and SkyTab are where we'd steer you.
Which One Fits Your Concept?
Every venue is different. Take our 2-minute fit quiz or schedule a free consultation.
No pressure, no sales pitch—just honest guidance.
Common Questions
Can I bring my own payment processor?
Aloha: Yes. SmartTab, SkyTab, Clover, SpotOn: No—processing is bundled. These days, having integrated payments with the provided processors offers significantly more functionality than having a third-party processor.
How long does a typical migration take?
Typically 2–4 weeks from kickoff to go-live. This includes menu build, hardware install, staff training, and parallel testing. We work around your schedule to minimize disruption.
What if I'm mid-contract with my current POS?
We help you review your contract for early termination clauses and buyout costs. In many cases, the savings from a better system (lower fees, higher efficiency) offset any exit fees within a few months.
Do you offer ongoing support after install?
Absolutely. Unlike corporate support lines with 2-hour hold times, you get direct access to us. Menu changes, troubleshooting, staff turnover training—we're here. That's the Pass difference.
Can I test a system before committing?
Yes—we can arrange demos and trial periods for most systems. We'd rather you test-drive it and feel confident than rush into the wrong decision.