Restaurant POS + scheduling: pick by your concept and team size
TouchBistro, Toast, and Square cover the POS layer. 7shifts handles staff scheduling. Match by concept, then add scheduling.
Concept-fit matrix
| Concept | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| iPad-based mid-size FSR | TouchBistro | iPad-first table-side ordering. $1,000 per sale TRUE-AUTO affiliate. |
| Full-service restaurant $30k+/mo | Toast | Deepest FSR workflow + integrated payroll. Toast Advocates program pays $1,000-$1,500 per referred merchant + $500 per extra location. |
| QSR / single-location / under $30k/mo | Square for Restaurants | Lowest fixed cost, fast setup, $200 affiliate signup via Impact. |
| Already have POS, need staff scheduling | 7shifts | Industry-standard scheduling for 10,000+ restaurants. $50/paid subscription, 120-day cookie. |
Most restaurants need a POS AND a scheduling tool. 7shifts integrates with TouchBistro, Toast, Square, and Lightspeed. Pick your POS by concept; add 7shifts for scheduling regardless.
Don't waste a demo on the wrong POS
- iPad shops, mid-size FSR -> TouchBistro
- Full-service $30k+/mo (especially multi-location) -> Toast
- Single-location QSR or counter service -> Square for Restaurants
- Bar / late-night with cash-heavy ops -> ask about Clover (we don't list as it's channel-partner only)
FAQ
- TouchBistro vs Toast?
- TouchBistro is iPad-first with strong table-side ordering. Toast is the full-stack FSR platform with payroll, online ordering, and loyalty bundled. TouchBistro for boutique/casual; Toast for full-service over $30k/mo.
- Why is Toast on this page if you mentioned it being sales-led before?
- Toast launched a new "Toast Advocates" referral program in March 2026 with flat-fee payouts ($1,000-$1,500 per referral + $500 per location). It's not their old channel-only program; this is a real referral structure with public application.
- What about SpotOn / Clover / Lightspeed?
- We don't list software without a verified public affiliate program. SpotOn has no public affiliate. Clover runs an ISO/channel partner program. Lightspeed has affiliate but with unclear region-by-region payouts. We only route you to vendors with clean tracked attribution.