Blog / October 25, 2026

TouchBistro alternative

A TouchBistro alternative with $0 monthly POS software

Short answer: TouchBistro and Ser.vi both run on the iPad. The difference is the monthly bill. TouchBistro's POS plan starts at $69 a month before hardware and payment processing, the Essentials Bundle with hardware starts at $119 a month, and online ordering, KDS, reservations and loyalty are quoted add-ons. Ser.vi's POS software is $0 a month on your existing iPad. Staff-entered POS orders are 3.0% + 20¢, paid by the restaurant by default, and you can pass that to customers with a cash discount program. Online and QR ordering are included at 0% commission to you; the guest pays 5% at checkout.

Updated October 25, 2026 · TouchBistro prices read from touchbistro.com/pricing on October 25, 2026

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Ser.vi integrated restaurant POS on an iPad, a TouchBistro alternative

Ser.vi vs TouchBistro for restaurants (published prices)

Ser.vi TouchBistro Point of Sale TouchBistro Essentials Bundle
Monthly POS software $0 From $69/mo From $119/mo (software, hardware and integrated payments)
In-person card rate 3.0% + 20¢ per POS transaction, paid by the restaurant by default; pass it on with a cash discount program Not published; "payment processing and additional fees apply" Not published; "payment processing and additional fees apply"
Hardware Runs on your existing iPad, or Ser.vi hardware offered on terms "Hardware required" (bought separately); financing for venues with two or more terminals "Restaurant-grade hardware" included in the bundle
Use your own iPad? Yes, your existing iPad Yes, most iPad models on iPadOS 15 or higher Yes, most iPad models on iPadOS 15 or higher
Online ordering Included: 0% commission to you; guest pays 5% at checkout; no monthly fee Add-on, "Get a Quote" (no commission, per TouchBistro FAQ) Add-on, "Get a Quote"
QR order-and-pay at the table Included, same menu as the POS Not listed on the pricing page Not listed on the pricing page
Kitchen display, reservations, loyalty Orders print to the kitchen; ask us in the demo Add-ons, quoted Add-ons, quoted
Setup 1-week setup guarantee once we have your information Not published Not published

TouchBistro: touchbistro.com/pricing and hardware requirements, read October 25, 2026; supported iPads from TouchBistro's help center, read October 24, 2026. "Starting at" prices and quotes can differ from what you're offered, so check yours. Ser.vi: our pricing page.

What a TouchBistro alternative really costs

Every restaurant POS bill has the same three lines: software, card processing and hardware. Because both systems run on the iPad, the hardware line can be close to zero on either one if your iPads are recent enough. That leaves software and processing.

Software, over a year. TouchBistro's Point of Sale plan at its $69 starting price is $828 a year, and the Essentials Bundle at $119 is $1,428 a year, before any add-ons. Ser.vi POS software is $0.

Card processing. TouchBistro doesn't publish a rate, so we can't put a number next to ours. Ser.vi is 3.0% + 20¢ per staff-entered POS order. On 1,000 tickets a month at $40, that is $1,400 a month if the restaurant absorbs it, or close to $0 on the restaurant's fee line with a cash discount program, which most of our POS restaurants use. Ask TouchBistro for your effective rate on the same volume and compare. How cash discount differs from a surcharge.

Read that honestly: if you absorb card fees yourself and TouchBistro quotes you a rate well under 3.0% + 20¢, the processing savings can outweigh $69 to $119 a month in software. Ser.vi comes out ahead when you pass the POS fee on with a cash discount, when you'd rather not pay a monthly software fee, and when you want online and QR ordering without buying add-ons.

Online orders, same $40 ticket: on Ser.vi the guest pays $2.00 (5%) and the restaurant pays $0 in commission and $0 in card fees. Compare that with a delivery app at 25–30% commission: $10–$12 on the same order. See commission-free online ordering and commission-free online ordering systems compared.

When TouchBistro still fits, and when Ser.vi is the better pick

Stay with (or pick) TouchBistro when

  • You absorb card fees yourself and your TouchBistro quote has a clearly lower processing rate.
  • You want TouchBistro's own add-ons (inventory, labor, profit management, reservations, gift cards) from one vendor.
  • You're inside a TouchBistro agreement or still paying off financed hardware.

Pick Ser.vi when

  • You want to keep your iPad and stop paying a monthly POS software fee.
  • You want to pass POS card fees to customers with a cash discount program.
  • You want commission-free online ordering and QR order-and-pay on the same menu as your POS, included rather than quoted, with the guest paying the 5% online fee.
  • You want a published card rate you can check before the demo.
  • You want optional marketing help (SEO website, Google Ads, SMS ordering link) from the same team; plans start at $249/mo and are never required.

Switching from TouchBistro to Ser.vi

  1. Read your TouchBistro agreement first. Find the end date, any early-termination terms, and whether you still owe on financed hardware.
  2. Export your menu and sales reports from TouchBistro's cloud reporting so you have your items, modifiers and history.
  3. Book a 20-minute demo. We walk through POS, online ordering and QR ordering on one menu, check that your iPads are ready to run the POS, cover optional hardware and terms, and include a free marketing report.
  4. Go live. We guarantee a 1-week setup from the time we receive all required information from you.
  5. Turn on direct online ordering and point your Google Business Profile and website "Order" button at your own storefront.

Questions restaurants ask

How much does TouchBistro cost?
On touchbistro.com/pricing (October 25, 2026), the Point of Sale plan starts at $69 a month, with the footnote "Hardware, payment processing, and additional fees apply." The Essentials Bundle, which adds integrated payments and restaurant-grade hardware, starts at $119 a month, with "Payment processing and additional fees apply." A Custom setup is quoted. TouchBistro does not publish its card processing rate on that page.
Is online ordering included with TouchBistro?
No. TouchBistro lists Online Ordering as an add-on with "Get a Quote", alongside Kitchen Display System, Inventory, Reservations, Loyalty, Marketing and Gift Cards. Its FAQ says it charges no commission on TouchBistro Online Ordering. On Ser.vi, online ordering and QR ordering come with the POS at no monthly fee and 0% commission to the restaurant; the guest pays 5% at checkout.
Can I use my own iPad with TouchBistro?
Yes. TouchBistro says it is compatible with the majority of iPad models, except some older generations, and its help center asks for iPadOS 15 or higher. Ser.vi POS also runs on your existing iPad, with Ser.vi hardware optional and offered on terms. Keeping your iPad is possible with both; the difference is the monthly software fee.
Is TouchBistro cheaper than Ser.vi?
On software, no: TouchBistro starts at $69 a month and Ser.vi POS software is $0 a month. On card processing, TouchBistro doesn't publish a rate, so compare your TouchBistro quote with Ser.vi's 3.0% + 20¢ on staff-entered POS orders. Most Ser.vi POS restaurants pass that fee to customers with a cash discount program.
Is Ser.vi POS really free?
The software is: $0 a month, no subscription, no software contract. Card processing on staff-entered POS orders is 3.0% + 20¢, paid by the restaurant by default or passed to customers with a cash discount program. The POS runs on your existing iPad; Ser.vi hardware is optional and offered on terms. Is a free restaurant POS really free?
How do I switch from TouchBistro to Ser.vi?
Check your TouchBistro agreement and any hardware financing balance, export your menu and sales reports, then book a 20-minute Ser.vi demo. We check that your iPads are ready to run the POS and guarantee a 1-week setup from the time we receive all required information from you.

See if Ser.vi fits your restaurant

Bring your TouchBistro statement to a free 20-minute demo. We'll put your ticket count and average check next to Ser.vi's fees and show POS, online ordering and QR ordering on one menu, on your iPad. No credit card, no obligation.

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