TouchBistro Alternative
The all-in-one TouchBistro alternative
Skip TouchBistro's iPad-only setup, annual lock-in and paid add-ons. RestApp gives you 0% commission ordering, your own branded apps and a full cloud EPOS in one monthly plan.
The catch with TouchBistro
A solid iPad POS, but add-on-heavy, iPad-locked and tied to annual contracts
TouchBistro is a capable iPad point-of-sale, and to its credit its online ordering is commission-free. But the core POS starts at $69/month per license and almost everything that makes it an all-in-one platform - online ordering, loyalty, marketing, kitchen display, inventory and reservations - is a separate paid add-on (loyalty and marketing were historically around $99/month each, inventory ~$195/month, reservations ~$229/month, and add-on pricing is now quote-only), so a realistic stack costs far more than the headline price. It also runs iPad-only on a hybrid setup that needs an on-site Mac server rather than being fully cloud-based, it locks you into an annual contract with auto-renewal and no month-to-month option, and new US customers must use TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase). Its online ordering is a web ordering page only - there are no native iOS/Android apps under your own brand.
TouchBistro pricing
TouchBistro's POS starts at $69/month per license (rising to about $129, $249 and $399/month for higher tiers) on a required annual contract, and online ordering, loyalty, marketing, kitchen display, inventory and reservations are separate paid add-ons (historically advertised around $99/month for loyalty or marketing, ~$195/month for inventory and ~$229/month for reservations, now quote-based) on top of mandatory TouchBistro Payments processing fees.
Why switch
Run your whole venue on RestApp
Take orders directly, keep your margin and your customers, and run ordering and your point of sale from one platform.
POS + ordering in one
A cloud EPOS with commission-free online ordering built in, not a bolt-on.
0% commission ordering
Take direct orders from your own site and apps with no per-order cut.
Your own site & apps
Branded website and native iOS & Android apps, included.
E-menu & QR ordering
Let guests scan, order and pay from the table.
Inventory & recipes
Track stock and food cost, with recipes mapped to products.
24/7 free support
Real help with setup, migration and growth, any time.
At a glance
TouchBistro vs RestApp
| Feature | TouchBistro | RestApp |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-based, manage anywhere | Hybrid (iPad + on-site Mac server) | |
| Commission-free online ordering built in | Commission-free, but paid add-on | Included |
| Your own branded customer apps | No (web ordering page only) | Included |
| E-menu / QR table ordering | Yes (QR order/pay add-on) | |
| Kitchen Display System | Paid add-on | |
| Inventory & recipe management | Paid add-on (~$195/mo historically) |
Questions & Answers
Does TouchBistro charge commission on online orders, and how does that compare to RestApp? +
No - TouchBistro Online Ordering is commission-free, so on that point it's similar to RestApp; both let you keep 100% of the order value (card processing fees still apply on either platform). The difference is packaging and cost. With TouchBistro, online ordering is a paid add-on on top of a POS plan that starts at $69/month per license on an annual contract, and other essentials like loyalty, marketing, kitchen display and inventory are separate paid modules too. RestApp also charges 0% commission but bundles your branded website and native apps, cloud EPOS, e-menu/QR ordering, KDS, inventory and loyalty into one simple monthly plan.
Does TouchBistro give my restaurant its own branded mobile apps like RestApp? +
No. TouchBistro Online Ordering provides a web-based ordering page you link from your website or share via a URL, but it does not ship native iOS and Android apps under your own brand - customers order through the web or TouchBistro's own discovery platform. RestApp includes your own branded customer website plus native iOS and Android apps, so your regulars can download your app and order directly from you.
Is TouchBistro fully cloud-based, or do I need hardware on site? +
TouchBistro is a hybrid iPad system, not fully cloud-based. The POS runs locally on iPads for speed and reliability if the internet drops, but it typically relies on an on-site Mac (a Mac Mini or iMac acting as the server) to store and sync data, and it only runs on iPads - not Android tablets or desktops. RestApp is fully cloud-based, so you can run your POS and manage menus, orders and reports from anywhere on a wider range of devices, without a local server.
Am I locked into a contract with TouchBistro? +
Generally yes. TouchBistro requires an annual contract with auto-renewal and does not offer a month-to-month option, and new US customers must use TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase) for processing. Reviewers commonly cite the annual lock-in and add-on pricing as drawbacks. RestApp uses simple monthly plans with 0% commission and 24/7 support, so you aren't tied into a long-term contract to get an all-in-one ordering and EPOS system.
Take orders on your terms
Start a free trial, commission-free ordering, your own apps and EPOS, with free setup and 24/7 support.