Best Future POS Alternatives in 2026
The top Future POS alternatives are Lightspeed Restaurant, Toast and Aloha Cloud: 15 POS software our editors would look at instead of Future POS, in our ranking order.
Future POS: A Windows restaurant POS focused on keeping card transactions moving during outages. Where it falls short: limited to windows PC workstations.
Switching from Future POS? For most pos software buyers the best Future POS alternative is Lightspeed Restaurant, built for restaurants needing a mature, full-service POS. On a budget, Shopify starts at $29/mo. Square Online has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Future POS Alternative
- Limited to Windows PC workstations
- Focused on in-person restaurant sales rather than broad sales channels
- Pricing is handled through sales contact rather than published plans
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallLightspeed Restaurant9.3
Restaurants needing a mature, full-service POS
Visit Lightspeed Restaurant - Lowest priceShopify7.9
Paid plans from $29/mo
Visit Shopify - Best free optionSquare Online7.9
Has a free plan
Visit Square Online
All 15 Future POS Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forRestaurants needing a mature, full-service POS
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 6.2
A full-service restaurant POS covering ordering, tables, inventory, staff, and multi-location operations.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Lightspeed -
Best forRestaurants seeking an integrated operating toolkit
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.2
An integrated restaurant toolkit spanning POS, online orders, reservations, and staff operations.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Toast -
Best forRestaurants managing multiple sites and service styles
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.2
Aloha Cloud connects restaurant ordering, table management, and back-office controls, with custom pricing.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Aloha Cloud -
Best forRestaurants needing broad features at a clear entry price
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.2
A broad restaurant POS with table, kitchen, menu, inventory, and online-ordering tools.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Epos Now -
Best forRestaurants centralizing service across locations
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.2
A restaurant-focused POS spanning service, kitchen, labor, and multi-location operations.
8.7/10★★★★☆Try Squirrel Systems -
Best forRestaurants managing orders, tables, and payments
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.2
A broad restaurant POS combining payments, ordering, reservations, and staff tools.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SpotOn -
Best forSmall and midsize restaurants needing flexible service
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.2
A restaurant POS with flexible service options, but sales-led pricing makes costs harder to compare.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Clover -
Best forRetail chains coordinating stores and online sales
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A broad retail POS suite for connecting store, inventory, and online-channel operations.
- Offline mode
- Inventory management
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Cegid Retail -
Best forMerchants combining online and in-person sales
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A broad omnichannel commerce suite for merchants joining online and physical sales.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Shopify -
Best forBusinesses needing a free online storefront with POS link
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A free way to sell online with Square POS links, but not a POS-operations tool.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Square Online -
Best forRestaurant groups analyzing POS sales performance
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
Restaurant sales and operations analytics for teams that already have a POS.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Oracle -
Best forEnterprises configuring products and generating quotes
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A cloud CPQ tool for complex B2B sales—not a point-of-sale checkout system.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit SAP CPQ -
Best forRestaurants connecting POS and back-office operations
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A connected restaurant POS with ordering, operations, reporting, and Marty AI.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Lavu -
Best forRestaurants managing dine-in and online orders
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.2
Restaurant POS with offline sales, ingredient inventory, and varied ordering tools.
- Offline mode
- Inventory management
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit LINGA POS -
Best forRestaurants wanting broad cloud POS capabilities
- Better than Future POS:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.2
A cloud POS toolkit spanning restaurant operations, online orders and reporting.
- Inventory management
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Focus POS
Future POS Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Future POS?
Lightspeed Restaurant: #1 in our POS Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A full-service restaurant POS covering ordering, tables, inventory, staff, and multi-location operations.
Is there a free alternative to Future POS?
Yes. Square Online has a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Future POS?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Shopify starts lowest, at $29/mo.
Why do people look for Future POS alternatives?
Limited to Windows PC workstations; Focused on in-person restaurant sales rather than broad sales channels; Pricing is handled through sales contact rather than published plans.
How do I switch from Future POS?
Export your data from Future POS (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Future POS.
How to Switch from Future POS
- Export your data from Future POS (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Future POS.
Future POS vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Future POS | 6.2 | ||
| 1 | Lightspeed Restaurant | No | $69/mo | 9.3 |
| 2 | Toast | No | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Aloha Cloud | No | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Epos Now | No | $84/mo | 8.9 |
| 5 | Squirrel Systems | No | $90/mo | 8.7 |
| 6 | SpotOn Restaurant | No | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Clover POS | 8.5 | ||
| 8 | Cegid Retail | 7.9 | ||
| 9 | Shopify | No | $29/mo | 7.9 |
| 10 | Square Online | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 11 | Oracle Restaurant Analytics | 7.9 | ||
| 12 | SAP CPQ | No | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Lavu | No | 7.9 | |
| 14 | LINGA POS | No | 7.8 | |
| 15 | Focus POS | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update