How to Choose Restaurant POS Software in India (2026 Checklist)

By the DeskoPOS team · Updated 29 October 2026

Short answer: Pick a restaurant POS that handles dine-in, takeaway and delivery as separate flows, sends only new items to the kitchen as KOTs, prints GST-compliant bills with the CGST/SGST split, accepts cash, card and UPI, runs on hardware you already own, and lets you export your data. Test it during a real rush hour before you commit.

Why the choice matters more than the price

A POS is the one screen every order, kitchen ticket and payment passes through. If it is slow, staff work around it with paper chits; if it is confusing, bills go out wrong. The monthly fee is rarely the expensive part. Lost orders, duplicate kitchen tickets and end-of-day cash gaps are.

The 12-point checklist

Separate flows for dine-in, takeaway and delivery. Dine-in needs a floor plan and table status. Takeaway needs a queue. Delivery needs address, phone and a delivery fee. One generic "new order" screen forces staff to improvise.
KOTs that only send what is new. When a table adds a dessert, the kitchen should get a ticket for the dessert, not the whole order again. Read our KOT guide for why this matters.
Item notes on the ticket. "Less spicy", "no onion", "Jain" must reach the kitchen printed on the KOT, not shouted across the pass.
GST-ready bills. The bill should show taxable value, the CGST and SGST split, and round-off, and should carry your GSTIN. See GST on restaurant bills.
Charges handled automatically. Packing charges on takeaway, delivery fees on delivery, and an optional, clearly-labelled service charge on dine-in.
All the ways Indians pay. Cash, card, UPI and wallets, including split payments, with the method recorded so the day-end report balances.
Instant menu control. Marking a dish out of stock should grey it out on every counter immediately. Price edits should take seconds, not a support ticket.
QR table ordering. Guests scan a sticker, browse and order; the order lands in the POS for staff to confirm. Useful when floor staff are stretched. See QR table ordering.
No hardware lock-in. A browser-based POS runs on the tablet, laptop or desktop you already have. Avoid systems that only work on their own terminal.
A day-end report you can trust. Total sales, bill count, average bill and the split by payment mode. See the day-end closing checklist.
Clear pricing per outlet or counter. You should be able to work out next year's bill today. Watch for setup fees, per-terminal charges and paid add-ons for basics like KOT printing.
Your data, exportable. Menu, sales and customer data should come out in a spreadsheet-friendly format if you ever switch.

How to test a POS before you sign

Ask for a live demo you can click yourself, not a video. Then run three scripted orders: a dine-in table of four that adds items twice, a takeaway with a packing charge, and a delivery split between UPI and cash. Time each one and check the kitchen tickets and the final bill. If any step needs a workaround, it will be worse on a Saturday night.

Cloud POS vs installed POS

An installed (desktop) POS keeps working without internet but ties you to one machine and manual updates. A cloud or browser-based POS updates itself, works across devices and lets owners check sales remotely, but depends on a stable connection. For most cafés and casual-dining outlets in Indian cities with reliable broadband plus a mobile hotspot as backup, browser-based is the simpler choice.

Where DeskoPOS fits

DeskoPOS was built around this checklist: separate dine-in, takeaway and delivery flows, a live floor plan, KOTs that send only new items, GST-ready bills, cash/card/UPI/wallet payments, QR table ordering and a day-end summary, all in the browser on any tablet. Starter is free (1 counter, dine-in and takeaway, cash and UPI). Growth is ₹499 per outlet per month (International: $7 per month) with 3 counters, all order types, all payment modes and QR table ordering. Chain is custom-priced. You can open the live demo without signing up.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important feature in a restaurant POS?

Reliable KOTs. If kitchen tickets are duplicated, missing or lack item notes, every other feature suffers. Check that only new items are sent when a table adds to an order.

Do I need special hardware for a restaurant POS?

Not with a browser-based POS. It runs on an ordinary tablet, laptop or desktop. You only add a receipt or KOT printer if you want printed tickets.

How much does restaurant POS software cost in India?

Pricing varies widely by vendor. DeskoPOS has a free Starter plan and a Growth plan at ₹499 per outlet per month. Always ask about setup fees and per-terminal charges.