Revel Systems is a cloud-based iPad POS platform for restaurants and retail, now owned by Shift4. See 2026 pricing, features, contract terms, pros and cons.
Category
Retail, Restaurant & POS
Pricing
Subscription, per-terminal, with contract commitment, from $99/month per terminal (annual billing, minimum 2 terminals, 3-year contract typical)
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia, United States (originally founded in San Francisco, California)
Web AppiOSAPI
Overview
Revel Systems is a cloud-based, iPad-native point-of-sale platform founded in 2010 in San Francisco by Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra, among the first companies to build a POS system specifically for Apple's iPad. The company's headquarters later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, while it maintained a presence in San Francisco as it grew into a multi-location restaurant and retail platform.
In June 2024, payments company Shift4 acquired Revel Systems for approximately 245 million dollars, bringing Revel's POS technology into Shift4's broader payments portfolio.
Key Features
Revel's platform combines point-of-sale software with inventory management, employee scheduling, customer relationship management, and multi-location reporting and analytics, built for both restaurant and retail environments.
It is known for strong offline capabilities, letting locations keep processing sales even when internet connectivity drops, along with support for kitchen display systems and API access for custom integrations.
Pricing
Revel Systems pricing starts at approximately 99 dollars per month per terminal on annual billing, typically requiring a minimum of two terminals and a three-year contract with early-termination fees.
Additional features, such as API access, extra kitchen display screens, advanced inventory counting, and enterprise-level multi-location reporting, are billed as add-ons on top of the base subscription.
Key Features
iPad-native point-of-sale — Built specifically around Apple's iPad for a mobile, touch-friendly checkout experience.
Offline mode — Continues processing sales and transactions even when internet connectivity is lost, then syncs once reconnected.
Multi-location management — Centralizes reporting, inventory, and employee management across multiple restaurant or retail locations.
Employee management — Handles scheduling, time tracking, and permissions for staff across locations.
Kitchen display system support — Integrates with KDS screens for restaurant order routing, available as an add-on.
API access — Offers API connectivity for custom integrations, available as an additional paid feature.
Reporting and analytics — Provides sales, labor, and inventory analytics across single or multiple locations.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Strong offline processing capability, valuable for locations with unreliable internet
Robust multi-location management suited to growing restaurant or retail chains
One of the most established iPad POS platforms with over a decade in the market
Now backed by Shift4's payments infrastructure following the 2024 acquisition
Comprehensive feature set spanning POS, inventory, employee management, and CRM
Cons
Requires a three-year contract with aggressive early-termination fees
Minimum two-terminal requirement raises the effective entry cost
Many features, like API access and extra KDS screens, cost extra on top of the base subscription
Product roadmap uncertainty following the 2024 Shift4 acquisition
Long-term contract structure is less flexible than newer, month-to-month POS competitors
Pricing
Standard $99+ per month per terminal (annual billing)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Revel Systems now?
Shift4 acquired Revel Systems in June 2024 for approximately 245 million dollars.
When was Revel Systems founded?
Revel Systems was founded in 2010 in San Francisco by Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra.
How much does Revel Systems cost?
Pricing starts at roughly 99 dollars per month per terminal on annual billing, typically requiring a minimum of two terminals and a three-year contract.
Does Revel Systems work offline?
Yes, Revel is known for its offline mode, which lets locations keep processing sales when internet connectivity drops.
Is Revel Systems good for multi-location businesses?
Yes, it is commonly used by mid-size and larger restaurant and retail operators specifically for its multi-location management and reporting capabilities.
Are there extra fees beyond the base Revel subscription?
Yes, features like API access, additional kitchen display screens, and enterprise-level reporting are typically billed as add-ons.
Where is Revel Systems headquartered?
Revel Systems is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, after originally being founded in San Francisco, California.