Best POS Systems for Breweries 2026: Toast, Square, Arryved and More Compared

\n\nBest POS Systems for Breweries 2026: Toast, Square, Arryved & More Compared

Running a brewery is unlike running any other food and beverage business. You’re managing taproom service, wholesale distribution, online sales, crowler/growler fills, merchandise, and often a full kitchen — all under one roof. The wrong POS system will create inventory chaos and slow down your bartenders. This guide breaks down the best POS systems for breweries in 2026, with real pricing, pros, cons, and a clear recommendation based on your brewery’s size.

What Makes a Brewery POS Different

Before diving into comparisons, here’s why breweries can’t just use any restaurant POS:

• Keg and tap management: Track how much beer is left in each keg, when to rotate taps, and COGS per pour
• Growler and crowler tracking: Fill containers by volume and apply the right pricing
• Tab management: Brewery taprooms run long tabs — your POS needs to handle them without crashing
• To-go sales: 6-packs, 4-packs, mixed cases — retail inventory management is essential
• Merchandise: Glassware, hats, shirts — track separately from beer inventory
• Events and private bookings: Brewery events, tap takeovers, private parties
• Age verification compliance: Some systems prompt staff for ID checks at the POS
• Multiple revenue streams: Taproom, kitchen, retail, online store, wholesale

Top 5 POS Systems for Breweries in 2026

1. Arryved — Best Purpose-Built Brewery POS

Best for: Taproom-first breweries of any size that want a system built for craft beverage

Arryved is the POS system that craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries actually built. Founded by craft beverage industry veterans, it handles everything from keg tracking to tab management to merch — and it’s used by hundreds of well-known craft breweries across the US.

Pricing (2026)

• Software: Starting at $150/month (scales with revenue/location)
• Payment processing: Flat 2.5% per transaction (no tiered pricing, no hidden fees)
• Hardware: iPad-based; Arryved provides or you supply iPads
• No long-term contracts; monthly billing

Pros

• Built specifically for taproom operations — bartenders love it
• Member management and loyalty programs for taproom regulars
• Robust tab management that doesn’t slow down service
• To-go retail and beer-to-go compliance tools
• Open API for integrations with accounting, inventory, and e-commerce
• Flat-rate processing with no surprise fees
• Excellent customer support — actual humans who understand craft beer

Cons

• More expensive than general-purpose systems like Square
• Less robust kitchen display features for brewpubs with busy kitchens
• No built-in online ordering (use a third-party integration)

2. Toast POS — Best for Brewpubs With Full-Service Kitchens

Best for: Brewpubs serving full food menus, high-volume taprooms with complex food and beverage operations

Toast dominates full-service restaurants, and brewpubs are essentially restaurants with a brewing operation attached. If your kitchen generates significant revenue alongside your taproom, Toast’s kitchen display system, online ordering, and restaurant-grade reporting make it a serious contender.

Pricing (2026)

• Software: $0 (Starter Kit), $69/month (Point of Sale), $165/month (Build Your Own)
• Payment processing: 2.49% + $0.15 (Starter); negotiated rates on higher plans
• Hardware: Toast Terminal ($627+), Toast Go 2 handheld ($409), Toast Kiosk ($999+)
• Toast is a closed system — you must use Toast payments

Pros

• Best-in-class kitchen display system for brewpubs with real food menus
• Online ordering built in (great for to-go food + beer pickup)
• Toast Tap handles contactless payments seamlessly
• Strong reporting — break out food vs. beverage revenue easily
• Large add-on ecosystem (catering, events, marketing)

Cons

• Closed payment processing — can’t shop for better rates
• No native keg or tap management (requires third-party integration)
• Hardware-heavy; upfront costs can hit $3,000–$6,000 for a fully equipped taproom
• Complex contracts with early termination fees on some plans

3. Square for Restaurants — Best Budget Option for Small Taprooms

Best for: Nano-breweries, taproom-only operations, breweries just opening their doors

Square for Restaurants is the go-to for breweries that want a capable system without a big upfront investment. It doesn’t have brewery-specific features, but it handles tabs, takeout, online ordering, and basic inventory well. Many small taprooms use Square + a keg management app like Untappd for Business.

Pricing (2026)

• Software: $0 (Free plan), $69/month (Plus), $165/month (Premium)
• Payment processing: 2.6% + $0.10 (card present)
• Hardware: Square Terminal ($299), Square Stand ($149), Square Register ($799)
• No contracts, cancel anytime

Pros

• Free to start — no monthly software cost on basic plan
• Easy to set up; your staff will learn it in an hour
• Integrates with Untappd for Business for tap list and keg management
• Square Online for e-commerce and beer shipping (where legal)
• No long-term contracts

Cons

• Not designed for breweries — tab management is workable but not elegant
• Account stability issues for high-ticket or unusual transaction patterns
• Reporting lacks the depth of Arryved or Toast for multi-stream revenue

4. Lightspeed Restaurant — Best for Breweries With Complex Menus and Retail

Best for: Breweries with significant retail (bottles, cans, merchandise) alongside taproom service

Lightspeed’s restaurant platform is particularly strong at handling complex menus and multi-department operations. If you’re running a taproom, a kitchen, and a retail shop — and you need detailed reporting across all three — Lightspeed’s analytics stand out.

Pricing (2026)

• Software: $189/month (Starter), $289/month (Essential), $399/month (Premium) — annual billing
• Payment processing: 2.6% + $0.10 (Lightspeed Payments)
• Hardware: Various; iPad-based with Lightspeed-supplied peripherals
• Annual contracts typical; month-to-month available at premium

Pros

• Unified retail + restaurant POS in one system
• Advanced reporting for multi-revenue-stream operations
• Strong inventory management for packaged products
• eCommerce integration for online beer sales

Cons

• Expensive compared to Arryved or Square
• Annual contracts can feel restrictive
• Not brewery-specific; requires workarounds for keg management

5. Revel Systems — Best for Large Multi-Location Breweries

Best for: Brewery chains, multi-taproom operations, breweries with 3+ locations

Revel is enterprise-grade POS that handles multi-location complexity well. If you have multiple taprooms or are planning to expand, Revel’s centralized management and franchise tools give you visibility across your entire operation from one dashboard.

Pricing (2026)

• Software: $99/month per terminal (minimum 2 terminals)
• Payment processing: Custom rates negotiated based on volume
• Hardware: iPad-based with Revel-supplied peripherals
• Minimum 3-year contract required

Pros

• Excellent multi-location management from a central dashboard
• Highly customizable for complex operations
• Strong enterprise integrations (QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle)
• Reliable and battle-tested at scale

Cons

• 3-year contracts make it a serious commitment
• Not suitable for single-location operations — too complex and expensive
• Onboarding requires significant time and training investment

Brewery POS Comparison: At a Glance

Must-Have Brewery POS Add-Ons

Untappd for Business ($149/month)

The gold standard for digital tap lists. Integrates with Square, Toast, and most major POS systems. Updates your tap list across your website, social media, and in-taproom screens in real time. Includes keg tracking with pour cost calculations. Essential for any serious taproom.

OrchestratedBEER (ERP for Production)

If you’re producing more than 500 barrels annually, you need a brewery ERP to track production costs, batch records, compliance (TTB reporting), and inventory separately from your POS. OrchestratedBEER integrates with major POS systems and handles the production side your taproom POS doesn’t.

DrinksCraft or CraftCellr (Beer Clubs and Wine Clubs)

Running a beer club or mug club? These platforms handle member management, recurring billing, and club-exclusive releases — and connect to your POS for in-person redemptions.

How to Choose the Right POS for Your Brewery

Step 1: Map Your Revenue Streams

List all the ways you make money: taproom pours, growler fills, to-go retail, merchandise, food, events, private parties, wholesale. Systems with strong multi-stream revenue reporting (Lightspeed, Arryved) justify their higher cost if you have 4+ revenue streams.

Step 2: Assess Your Kitchen Complexity

Taproom snacks only (pretzels, charcuterie boards)? Any decent POS works. Full restaurant menu with multiple courses and ticket management? Toast or Lightspeed with KDS (kitchen display system) is worth the investment.

Step 3: Calculate Your Monthly Transaction Volume

On flat-rate processing (Arryved at 2.5%), a $50,000/month taproom pays $1,250 in processing fees. On tiered pricing with hidden fees, you might pay $1,500–$2,000 for the same volume. Always calculate total cost of processing, not just the percentage rate advertised.

Bottom Line: Best Brewery POS in 2026

• Opening a taproom or nano-brewery: Start with Square (free, no risk)
• Established taproom, beer-focused: Arryved is the craft brewery community’s choice
• Brewpub with serious kitchen: Toast POS for restaurant-grade operations
• Heavy retail + taproom: Lightspeed for unified reporting
• Multiple taproom locations: Revel for enterprise control

Ready to find the best POS system for your brewery? Every brewery is different — your taproom layout, kitchen setup, and revenue mix all affect which system saves you the most money. Get free quotes from top brewery POS vendors — answer 3 quick questions and compare personalized pricing from vetted providers. Takes 2 minutes. No obligation.

Related Reading: See our complete guide to the Square vs Toast Restaurant 2026.