Software · head to head
Revel Systems vs TouchBistro
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Revel Systems requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
- They diverge on capability: Revel Systems covers Inventory management, TouchBistro covers Table management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Revel Systems and TouchBistro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Revel Systems | TouchBistro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/month | $69/month |
| Platforms | iPad, Web | iPad |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2010).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Revel Systems
- Inventory management
- CRM
- Employee management
- Delivery management
- Multi-location management
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
Only in TouchBistro
- Table management
- Menu management
- Staff scheduling
- Inventory tracking
- Customer relationship management
- MarketMan
Both cover
- iPad POS
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- 7shifts
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Revel Systems
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
TouchBistro
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Revel Systems
- Requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel
- System crashes and glitches frequently, especially at high transaction volumes
- Mandatory payment processing through Revel's Advantage processor with external processors heavily penalized
- Customer support quality is poor with Level 1 support described as ineffective
- Expensive upfront costs and numerous hidden fees for add-on features
TouchBistro
- Requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
- Add-on pricing for features like online ordering, reservations, loyalty programs is not transparent and requires custom quotes
- Limited to iPad hardware, reducing flexibility compared to multi-device systems like Lightspeed or Clover
- Mandatory use of TouchBistro Payments for new customers reduces payment processor options
Pricing, plan by plan
Revel Systems
$99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Revel Systems review.
TouchBistro
$69/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Revel Systems if
- You need inventory management.
- You work on iPad, Web.
- You also want crm.
Choose TouchBistro if
- You need table management.
- You work on iPad.
- You also want menu management.
Questions people ask
- Is Revel Systems or TouchBistro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Revel Systems starts at $99/month and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Revel Systems or TouchBistro?
- Revel Systems starts at $99/month and TouchBistro at $69/month.
- Does Revel Systems or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
- Revel Systems runs on iPad, Web. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
- What is Revel Systems best used for?
- Revel Systems is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can Revel Systems do that TouchBistro cannot?
- Revel Systems covers Inventory management, CRM, Employee management, Delivery management. TouchBistro covers Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling, Inventory tracking. Both handle iPad POS, QuickBooks, Xero, 7shifts.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Revel Systems: What does Revel Systems cost?
Revel pricing starts around $99 per month per terminal with a minimum 3-year contract requirement. Customers also pay for additional features like reporting, workforce management, integrations, and Advantage payment processing which is typically mandatory.
SourceTouchBistro: Can TouchBistro process payments offline?
Yes. TouchBistro has offline payment capabilities where you can accept payments and store credit card information when offline, with transactions processing once Internet is restored. However, you cannot dip or tap the card in offline mode; you must swipe instead.
SourceRevel Systems: How long does implementation take?
Revel implementation typically takes 2-4 weeks, including hardware setup, menu configuration, staff training, and system integration.
SourceTouchBistro: Can I integrate TouchBistro with DoorDash or Uber Eats?
Yes. TouchBistro integrates with delivery platforms through Deliverect and UrbanPiper, which aggregate orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other services directly into your TouchBistro POS, eliminating manual order entry.
SourceRevel Systems: What integrations does Revel support?
Revel integrates with multiple payment processors through Stripe and Square connectors, plus accounting, payroll, and ecommerce solutions. Payment gateways vary by region.
SourceTouchBistro: What are the minimum hardware requirements for TouchBistro?
TouchBistro runs on Apple iPads and works with compatible printers, cash drawers, and payment terminals. The system leverages iPad hardware you may already own, potentially reducing initial hardware costs compared to dedicated POS systems.
SourceRevel Systems: What are Revel's contract terms?
Revel requires a minimum 3-year contract with high early termination fees. Use of Revel's Advantage payment processing is typically mandatory, and using outside processors is heavily penalized or not allowed.
SourceTouchBistro: Do I have to sign a long-term contract with TouchBistro?
Yes. All TouchBistro plans require annual contracts, and the system requires TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase) for payment processing on all new customer accounts.
SourceRelated pages
More on Revel Systems
More on TouchBistro
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Revel Systems vs Toast POS
- Revel Systems vs Square for Restaurants
- Revel Systems vs Lightspeed Restaurant
- Revel Systems vs Clover
- Revel Systems vs DoorDash
- Revel Systems vs Grubhub
- Revel Systems vs Uber Eats
- Revel Systems vs Lavu
- Revel Systems vs Heartland Restaurant
- Revel Systems vs Olo
- Revel Systems vs Aloha POS
- Revel Systems vs BentoBox
- Revel Systems vs Caviar
- Revel Systems vs OpenTable
- Revel Systems vs SpotOn
- Revel Systems vs 7shifts
- Revel Systems vs Apicbase
- TouchBistro vs Toast POS
- TouchBistro vs Square for Restaurants
- TouchBistro vs Lightspeed Restaurant
- TouchBistro vs Clover
- TouchBistro vs DoorDash
- TouchBistro vs Grubhub
- TouchBistro vs Uber Eats
- TouchBistro vs Lavu
- TouchBistro vs Heartland Restaurant
- TouchBistro vs Olo
- TouchBistro vs Aloha POS
- TouchBistro vs BentoBox
- TouchBistro vs Caviar
- TouchBistro vs OpenTable
- TouchBistro vs SpotOn
- TouchBistro vs 7shifts
- TouchBistro vs Apicbase


