Touchbistro

What is touchbistro.com

TouchBistro is a restaurant-focused point-of-sale and operations platform built for iPad and iOS devices. The system centralizes order entry, table management, payment processing, menu configuration, kitchen communication, and reporting in one interface designed specifically for front-of-house and back-of-house workflows. It targets independent restaurants, multi-site operators, bars, cafes, food trucks, and quick-service establishments.

TouchBistro positions itself as a single vendor that includes POS software, payments processing, and optional modules for reservations, online ordering, and loyalty. The platform is optimized for tableside ordering and quick checkout flows, with modules that address labor management, inventory costing, and sales analytics. Because the core application runs on iPad, it emphasizes fast, touch-based workflows and offline resiliency so venues can keep running during internet interruptions.

The company provides an ecosystem of hardware, card readers, kitchen display systems (KDS), printers, and managed payments plus partner integrations. For administrators, TouchBistro offers centralized management tools for multi-location menus, pricing, and reporting. For developers and partners, the company publishes integration endpoints and partner programs to connect third-party ordering, accounting, and loyalty solutions; see the TouchBistro integrations directory at https://www.touchbistro.com/integrations for current connectors.

TouchBistro features

What does touchbistro.com do?

TouchBistro provides a full suite of restaurant operations tools centered on the POS. Core POS features include table mapping and floor plans, tableside ordering, modifier and combo management, split checks, and quick payment processing. The interface supports course management, course timing, modifiers, and custom menu item flows so servers can quickly enter complex orders.

Back-of-house and operations capabilities include inventory tracking and ingredient-level costing, kitchen printing and kitchen display systems, sales and labor reporting, and menu engineering analytics. Managers can set menu item cost targets, track food cost percentage by menu item, and run sales mix reports to identify high- and low-margin items. The platform also includes staff accounts and permissions, tip management, and shift reconciliation tools.

Customer-facing and revenue modules include built-in online ordering, integrated delivery and third-party delivery connectors, reservations and waitlist management, gift card and loyalty programs, and marketing tools for guest engagement. TouchBistro integrates with payment processors and offers its own payments processing option to streamline reconciliation. See the TouchBistro feature overview at https://www.touchbistro.com/features for details on each module.

TouchBistro also supports multi-location management with centralized menu and pricing controls, consolidated reporting across sites, and role-based access for corporate users. Hardware support includes iPad terminals, wireless payment readers, printers, cash drawers, and kitchen display devices. The product supports offline operation so orders and payments can continue locally when connectivity is lost and sync when the connection is restored.

TouchBistro pricing

TouchBistro offers these pricing plans:

• Starter: $69/month per register with core POS features and standard reporting
• Professional: $129/month per register with inventory management, advanced reports, and online ordering
• Enterprise: $249/month per location with multi-location management, advanced security and onboarding services
• Payments processing: variable transaction rates and monthly gateway fees depending on merchant profile

Pricing for additional modules such as reservations, loyalty, and advanced reporting may be charged as add-ons or per-location fees. Hardware kits (iPad, stand, cash drawer, printers, card readers) are sold separately or as bundled packages with setup options. Check the TouchBistro pricing plans at https://www.touchbistro.com/pricing for up-to-date rates, promotions, and enterprise quotes.

TouchBistro often structures contracts with monthly or annual billing and provides enterprise discounts for multi-location rollouts. Payment processing rates depend on your merchant profile, average ticket size, and whether you use TouchBistro Payments or a third-party processor. For larger operators, the company offers implementation services and dedicated onboarding that may affect total cost of ownership.

How much is touchbistro.com per month

TouchBistro starts at $69/month per register on the entry-level plan when billed monthly. That baseline includes the core POS features needed for a single-register setup but may require paid add-ons for online ordering, reservations, or advanced inventory.

Many restaurants deploy multiple registers or add a monthly fee for integrated payments and third-party connector subscriptions. Expect the monthly bill to increase with additional registers, loyalty programs, reservation modules, and integrated ordering or delivery partners.

Larger sites or multi-location businesses typically select higher tiers or enterprise pricing, which increases the monthly per-location cost but adds centralized management and reporting features.

How much is touchbistro.com per year

TouchBistro costs $828/year per register for the base plan when you multiply the monthly entry price by 12. Annual billing or multi-year contracts may offer discounts on software subscription fees and hardware bundles.

When budgeting annually, include hardware depreciation, payment processing fees, maintenance, and third-party integrations. Annual costs for a fully enabled single-location restaurant with online ordering and loyalty enabled commonly range higher once those add-ons and payment processing are included.

For enterprise deployments the company provides custom annual billing structures; contact TouchBistro sales for consolidated yearly pricing and enterprise-level service agreements.

How much is touchbistro.com in general

TouchBistro pricing ranges from $69/month to $249+/month per location for standard software subscription tiers, excluding payment processing and hardware costs. Add-ons and optional modules raise that baseline.

Total cost of ownership depends heavily on hardware (iPad terminals, KDS, printers), merchant processing fees, the number of POS terminals, and any third-party integrations like delivery marketplaces or accounting connectors. For full-service restaurants with multiple terminals and KDS, the combined monthly cost can be several hundred dollars per location.

Enterprise multi-site rollouts incur higher per-location costs initially but also benefit from centralized management features that reduce manual overhead and provide consolidated reporting.

What is touchbistro.com used for

TouchBistro is used primarily as a restaurant point-of-sale system for front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Staff use it to take orders, manage tables, process payments, and communicate orders to the kitchen. The product is optimized for tableside ordering on iPads and supports both quick-service and full-service workflows.

Beyond basic order entry, managers use TouchBistro for inventory tracking, vendor and ingredient costing, staff scheduling, payroll exports, and sales analytics. The platform is commonly used to control menu items, update pricing across multiple registers, and track profitability per item. This makes it useful for menu engineering and cost control in foodservice operations.

Operators also deploy TouchBistro to manage online ordering, integrate delivery partners, run loyalty and gift card programs, and capture customer data for marketing campaigns. The system’s reporting and integrations with accounting packages make it useful for financial close processes and performance monitoring.

Pros and cons of touchbistro.com

TouchBistro has strengths that suit many independent restaurants: the user interface is designed for speed and clarity on iPad, the product includes restaurant-specific features like course timing and modifier flows, and the vendor provides integrated payment options to reduce reconciliation complexity. The offline-capable architecture and dedicated kitchen integrations are practical for busy, connectivity-constrained environments.

Common advantages include: simplified staff training due to a touch-oriented UI, fast tableside ordering workflows, built-in inventory costing and reporting, and a healthy ecosystem of hardware and partner integrations. Centralized multi-location controls make it feasible for small chains to manage menus and pricing at scale.

Trade-offs to consider include reliance on Apple hardware (iPad/iOS), which can increase upfront costs and lock the environment to Apple’s ecosystem. Some restaurants prefer more modular platforms or lower up-front hardware costs available from Android- or PC-based POS systems. Payment processing rates and add-on module fees can also increase total cost once full service and integrations are enabled.

Implementation for enterprise customers may require professional services for data migration, menu setup, and staff training, which increases initial deployment costs. Finally, while TouchBistro offers a breadth of features, very large multi-national restaurant groups sometimes prefer enterprise-grade platforms with more extensive global payment and compliance features.

TouchBistro free trial

TouchBistro typically offers a trial or demo period to evaluate the product and confirm workflows. Trials are designed to allow operators to run simulated service, test menu configurations, and validate payment flows. Trial availability, duration, and the scope of trial features can vary by region and channel, so contact TouchBistro sales for the current trial program.

A trial is particularly useful for testing hardware compatibility, kitchen printing or KDS behavior, and network resilience in your venue. During the trial, teams should validate staff workflows, check reporting accuracy, and test third-party integrations such as accounting and delivery channels.

If a trial is not published on the public site, TouchBistro’s sales or local reseller network often provides demo installations, in-person onboarding, or livestream demos that mimic a trial environment. For the latest information on product evaluation options, see TouchBistro’s demo and trial information at https://www.touchbistro.com/pricing.

Is touchbistro.com free

No, TouchBistro is not free as a production-grade POS; it is delivered as a subscription-based service with optional paid add-ons and hardware costs. There is no permanent free tier for commercial use, though limited-time demos or trial periods may be offered for evaluation.

For small operators evaluating costs, consider the total monthly subscription, hardware investment for iPads and peripherals, and payment processing fees when planning deployment. Some third-party resellers may provide promotional credits or bundled hardware financing to reduce the initial cash outlay.

TouchBistro API

TouchBistro provides integration capabilities for common restaurant workflows via partner APIs, webhooks, and an integrations program for accounting, online ordering, and guest engagement services. The platform supports connectors for accounting systems like QuickBooks, third-party loyalty providers, and delivery marketplaces via its integrations directory at https://www.touchbistro.com/integrations.

The API surface generally covers order and receipt data exports, item and menu synchronization, employee and shift data, and sales reporting endpoints. Webhooks allow near-real-time notifications for events such as order creation or payment completion, enabling upstream systems like kitchen display services or analytics engines to act on live data.

For developers, TouchBistro publishes partner onboarding documentation and developer resources through its partner program; third-party developers and integrators typically request partner access to production endpoints and sample data. To evaluate developer capabilities and apply for partner access, review the TouchBistro developer resources and partner information at https://www.touchbistro.com/partners.

10 TouchBistro alternatives

Below are alternatives that restaurants commonly consider when evaluating POS and restaurant management platforms. Each name is followed by a brief description of the compelling use case.

• Toast — Cloud-first restaurant POS with strong payments, delivery, and loyalty features; popular with full-service restaurants and chains.
• Square for Restaurants — Affordable, modular POS with integrated payments and an entry-level free tier for small merchants.
• Lightspeed — Feature-rich POS with advanced inventory and multi-location management; common with hospitality businesses that need detailed inventory control.
• Clover — Flexible hardware options and app marketplace for small to medium-sized restaurants and cafes.
• Revel Systems — iPad-based POS with strong enterprise features and API capabilities for larger operators.
• Upserve — Restaurant management suite with analytics, loyalty, and payments focused on improving server performance and guest retention.
• HungerRush — POS with integrated online ordering, routing, and delivery management for delivery-focused restaurants.
• Square POS — (alternative offering from Square tailored to restaurants) simple setup and strong payment integration.
• Breadcrumb by Upserve — POS focused on seamless front-of-house to back-of-house coordination and analytics.
• ShopKeep — POS solution more oriented to retail and small hospitality venues looking for simplicity and local support.

Paid alternatives to touchbistro.com

• Toast: Full-service restaurant POS with a strong native payments ecosystem, delivery and online ordering, and advanced labor tools. Pricing is typically a monthly subscription plus payments processing fees.
• Square for Restaurants: Lower-cost entry point with modular feature upgrades and simple hardware options. Square offers both free and paid tiers depending on functionality.
• Lightspeed: Strong inventory and multi-location tools that appeal to restaurants with complex supply chains; licensing is subscription-based with per-register fees.
• Revel Systems: Offers robust enterprise features including granular permissioning and APIs for custom integrations; tailored pricing for larger deployments.
• Clover: Hardware and app-driven POS with an app marketplace for specialty functions; costs include hardware, software subscriptions, and transaction fees.

Open source alternatives to touchbistro.com

• Odoo: Open source ERP with a POS module; good for operators who want integrated accounting, inventory, and POS under a single open-source environment.
• Floreant POS: Open source restaurant POS optimized for quick-service and small full-service restaurants with locally hosted deployment options.
• uniCenta: Open source POS that runs on Windows/Linux and can be adapted for hospitality environments with integrations and customizations.
• Chromis POS: A fork of uniCenta with added features and stability for small restaurants and cafes; suitable if you need a no-license-cost POS.
• ERPNext: Open source ERP that includes POS and inventory modules; useful for operators seeking integrated ERP-level reporting with POS functionality.

Frequently asked questions about TouchBistro

What is TouchBistro used for?

TouchBistro is used for restaurant point-of-sale and operations management. It handles tableside ordering, payments, menu and inventory management, and reporting for single-location and multi-location restaurants. Operators use it to manage staff shifts, reconcile payments, and integrate online ordering and delivery channels.

Does TouchBistro integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes, TouchBistro integrates with QuickBooks. The integration exports sales and payment data to QuickBooks for accounting reconciliation and reduces manual entry when preparing financial statements. You can map sales categories and taxes to your QuickBooks chart of accounts in most connector setups.

How much does TouchBistro cost per register?

TouchBistro starts at $69/month per register on the base subscription tier. Costs increase with added modules, payment processing fees, and additional hardware terminals or KDS devices.

Is there a free version of TouchBistro?

No, TouchBistro does not offer a permanent free production tier. The platform is provided as a paid subscription with optional trial or demo periods for evaluation; production use requires a paid plan and appropriate hardware.

Can TouchBistro handle multiple restaurant locations?

Yes, TouchBistro supports multi-location management. The platform provides centralized menu control, consolidated reporting, and role-based access for corporate and location managers to maintain consistency across sites.

Does TouchBistro accept offline orders?

Yes, TouchBistro supports offline operation for core POS functions. The iPad-based system can continue to take orders and print receipts when internet connectivity is interrupted; transactions are queued and synced when connectivity resumes.

What payment options does TouchBistro support?

TouchBistro supports its own TouchBistro Payments and third-party processors. Payment acceptance includes EMV chip, contactless (NFC), and swipe where supported, with integrated tipping and pooled-tip configurations for hospitality teams.

Can I run online ordering through TouchBistro?

Yes, TouchBistro offers online ordering modules and delivery integrations. Restaurants can enable branded online ordering, integrate with third-party delivery marketplaces, and route orders directly into the POS and kitchen displays.

How secure is TouchBistro?

TouchBistro employs industry-standard security practices. Security measures typically include encrypted payment processing, role-based user permissions, and secure data transmission; for specifics on certifications and compliance, review TouchBistro’s security information at https://www.touchbistro.com/security.

Does TouchBistro provide APIs for developers?

Yes, TouchBistro provides integration endpoints and a partner program for developers. The API and webhook capabilities allow exporting orders, sales, and employee data and enable integrations with accounting, analytics, and customer engagement systems; see the TouchBistro integrations and partner pages at https://www.touchbistro.com/integrations for developer access.

touchbistro.com careers

TouchBistro recruits across engineering, sales, customer success, and product teams to support its restaurant-focused software and hardware offerings. Career opportunities include roles in software engineering (iOS and cloud), commercial functions such as sales and partnerships, and customer success specialists who assist restaurants with onboarding and training.

Working at TouchBistro typically involves domain knowledge of hospitality workflows and a focus on user experience for fast-paced, customer-facing applications. Positions in product and design emphasize building intuitive touch-driven interfaces for staff who need quick, reliable tools during service hours.

For current openings, internship programs, and corporate culture information, review TouchBistro’s career listings and recruitment pages at https://www.touchbistro.com/about or the company’s LinkedIn profile.

touchbistro.com affiliate

TouchBistro operates a partner and reseller program that allows hardware vendors, consultants, and software integrators to resell or integrate the platform into broader hospitality solutions. Affiliates and partners can access APIs, co-marketing opportunities, and technical enablement to support joint customers.

The partner program typically includes certification options, partner pricing or referral fees, and technical support channels for certified resellers. If you represent a POS hardware reseller or a restaurant technology integrator, inquire about official partnership terms via the TouchBistro partner page at https://www.touchbistro.com/partners.

For content affiliates or referral partners looking to refer restaurants, TouchBistro may provide marketing collateral, demo access, and a sales contact to help evaluate lead qualification and commission structures.

Where to find touchbistro.com reviews

You can find TouchBistro reviews across software review platforms, hospitality technology publications, and industry forums. Common review sites include G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot where operators rate the POS on ease of use, feature set, reliability, and customer support.

In addition to reviews, look for case studies and customer stories on the TouchBistro website and hospitality trade publications that profile deployments in cafes, bars, and multi-site restaurants. For real-world feedback, check restaurant owner groups and forums where operators discuss integration experiences, payment rates, and hardware compatibility.

When reading reviews, compare comments about onboarding experience, support response times, payment processing clarity, and how well the platform handles peak service hours. For direct references and up-to-date customer testimonials, visit TouchBistro’s customer stories at https://www.touchbistro.com/customers.