Key points
- A POS system costs in five parts: monthly software, TSE, hardware, card fees and one-off costs such as activation or registering the POS with the tax office.
- For a restaurant with table service and two devices, software from the big providers costs between €49 and €139.90 a month net.
- On-site card fees range from 0.79 % to 1.39 %. An instant bank transfer via QR code costs no percentage.
- Most costs arise not at purchase but month after month. Calculate with your own revenue and bill.
The five cost blocks
- Software: monthly subscription per venue or per device, often with add-on packages for tables or kitchen.
- TSE: mandatory for electronic POS systems in Germany, as a cloud TSE paid monthly, yearly or once.
- Hardware: tablet or POS device, receipt printer, cash drawer, card terminal.
- Card fees: a percentage of card revenue, sometimes plus a fixed fee per payment.
- One-off costs: activation, setup, training, registering the POS with the tax office.
Software for a restaurant with table service
Example: one POS at the counter and one device for table service, floor plan and kitchen tickets needed. Net prices according to the providers’ websites, as of 23 Oct 2026.
| Provider | per month | TSE |
|---|---|---|
| Keksu | 9,99 € | €79.99 one-off |
| SumUp Plus | 49 € | free |
| ready2order | from €111.60 | included |
| orderbird PRO M | 139,90 € | included |
Keksu: first device free, second €9.99. SumUp: POS Plus, required for table management and ordering devices at the table. ready2order: two POS subscriptions at €35.90 each, gastro package €23.90 and TSE package €15.90, plus €99 activation per POS; ready2order does not say whether the gastro package is charged per device. orderbird: package M with two devices, twelve-month term, price only with orderbird card payment.
Card fees on site
| Provider | Rate |
|---|---|
| SumUp | 1,39 % |
| SumUp with Payments Plus | 0,79 % |
| ready2order readyPay | 1,23 % |
| orderbird PRO | 1,29 % |
| QR bank transfer (Keksu) | 0 % |
SumUp Plus costs €19 a month and applies to EEA consumer cards; business and premium cards 1.39 %. Keksu works with any card terminal; the terminal provider’s fees then apply. More in the card fee comparison.
Hardware
If you already have a tablet, you often only need a receipt printer and card terminal. Some examples (net): SumUp Solo €79, SumUp register with receipt printer €549, ready2order readyTab €649, orderbird Pay Terminal Plus €299, receipt printers around €230 to €270. Keksu runs in the browser and as an Android app on existing devices; a preconfigured starter package is available on request.
Hidden costs to watch out for
- Contract term: a twelve-month commitment or automatic renewal makes switching expensive.
- Tied to card payment: some prices only apply with the provider’s own payment service.
- Packages per device: with most providers each additional device costs extra every month.
- Add-on modules: cash book, DATEV export, kitchen display or QR ordering are sometimes charged separately.
- Setup: activation, training and POS registration are often charged once.
How to calculate correctly
- Count POS devices at the counter and devices for service.
- Check which features you need: tables, kitchen tickets, staff, QR ordering.
- Calculate software for two years including contract term and one-off costs.
- Calculate card fees with your monthly revenue and typical bill.
- Compare in the POS comparison with your own numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What does a POS system cost for a small café?
At a counter without table service, POS software starts at €0 a month, e.g. with SumUp or Keksu. Add the TSE (free at SumUp, one-off €79.99 at Keksu), a card terminal from €34 and card fees from 0.79 %.
What does a POS system cost for a restaurant with table service?
With a floor plan and two devices, software costs between €9.99 (Keksu) and €139.90 (orderbird PRO M) a month net according to the providers’ websites, as of 23 Oct 2026. TSE, hardware and card fees come on top.
What does a TSE cost?
Depending on the provider: free at SumUp, €15.90 a month at ready2order, included in the package at orderbird PRO, a one-off €79.99 at Keksu.
Is there a free POS system for restaurants?
Yes, SumUp and Keksu offer the POS software for free. At SumUp, table features are in the paid Plus plan; at Keksu they are in the free base. TSE and hardware cost extra in both cases.
Sources
Try it at your own pace.
Explore the features in our demo business and see how Keksu fits your day.
Calculate your costs in the POS comparison