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Updated Oct 03, 2024

CAKE Review

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Written By: Jamie JohnsonBusiness Operations Insider and Senior Analyst
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This guide was reviewed by a Business News Daily editor to ensure it provides comprehensive and accurate information to aid your buying decision.
Monica Dyer
Business Operations Insider and Senior Editor
Business News Daily earns compensation from some listed companies. Editorial Guidelines.
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Editors Score:8.9/10
Cake is our pick as the best POS system for customer loyalty thanks to its self-checkout features, online ordering and additional guest-focused options. Cake’s all-in-one restaurant POS system includes intuitive software and top-notch customer service.
Plus Sign Pros
  • Ease of use: Cake's POS system comes with an intuitive interface that's easy to use.
  • 24/7 customer support: The company provides 24/7 customer support via phone, text, email and online chat.
  • Durable hardware: Cake's hardware is durable and designed to hold up in a busy restaurant environment.
Minus Sign Cons
  • Requires a contract: Cake's POS system requires a two-year contract.
  • Charges fees: The company charges an activation fee and a one-time signing fee for its guest management add-on.
  • No free plan: Unlike other POS providers, Cake doesn’t offer a free plan, and there’s no free trial when you’re just getting started.
Cake logo
Editor's Rating8.9/10

Cake by Mad Mobile is an all-in-one restaurant POS system. Its name is both a reference to the culinary market it serves and its user-friendly philosophy — it’s a “piece of cake” to use. That’s a claim which we found to be true during our review. It provides the hardware and software businesses need to run their restaurants, cafes, food trucks and bars with ease.

Business owners can use Cake to accept payments, manage menus and access detailed analytics. We found these tools especially useful for new restaurants who need to devise everything from their menu to their floorplan from the ground up. Cake’s guest-focused features can also help restaurants build customer loyalty, helping new restaurants gain brand recognition and generate repeat business. 

cake POS on a tablet and a computer monitor

Cake helps business owners maximize restaurant operations with intuitive software that connects the front and back of the house. Source: Cake

CAKE Editor's Rating:

8.9 / 10

Affordable pricing
10/10
Free trial
10/10
Robust integrations
10/10
Customer service
7.5/10
Mobile app
7/10

Why Cake Is Best for Customer Loyalty

Cake is our pick as the best POS system for customer loyalty because of its wide array of guest-focused features. Its guest management functions let you accept online reservations, set up a waitlist, and provide waiting guests with real-time status updates. These features are important for any restaurant, but especially those just starting out who need to build a loyal following of regulars.

Cake equips servers with tablets for tableside order-taking and payments to help you boost service speed and turn over tables faster without rushing your customers. This service reduces the likelihood of mistakes as well. Cake also provides restaurants with self-service POS kiosks and helps them accept QR code payments. For restaurants with small teams, these tools can streamline operations and help you do more with less.

Customers can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of ordering and paying independently, further reducing wait times and freeing your staff to focus on other tasks. 

One of Cake’s stand out features is its customer loyalty program, built directly into your POS system. Customers can collect points in-store and online and track them through their phone number or email address. And the data you receive will help you learn more about your customers and create future promotions for them. We found this critical for new restaurants and those who are actively working to develop a group of regular guests.

Did You Know?Did you know
Cake is a cloud-based POS system, which means your data is stored by the company digitally. Cloud-based POS systems tend to be more cost-effective and user-friendly, though you’re relying on the vendor to provide data security and a reliable system uptime.

Usability

Cake’s usability is one of its primary benefits as a POS system. We like how user-friendly the system is and how easy it is to operate and navigate. Cake’s system usability is a huge benefit for restaurants that must quickly and effectively train employees

We were also impressed by how easy it is to edit menu items in Cake’s system. Menu changes happen frequently at restaurants – especially new restaurants that are still testing dishes and tweaking their menu – and Cake’s software lets you make adjustments with just a few clicks. This functionality was more intuitive than many POS system competitors we reviewed. 

And Cake provides robust customer support which will help shorten your learning curve. New customers will receive an onboarding manager and customer success manager to help you customize your settings and learn to navigate the software. 

Cake Features

Hardware

Cake’s durable hardware solutions were created specifically for restaurants.

Online ordering

Cake’s software comes with integrated online ordering and curbside pickup.

Contactless payments

Cake offers contactless payment options like QR code payments and self-service kiosks.

Menu management

Menu-management features make it easy to customize menu items from any device.

Hardware 

Cake’s hardware was designed specifically for the restaurant industry so it’s built to handle everyday wear and tear. The hardware is black with 15-inch touch screens, and the screens are flush with the frames so nothing can get stuck inside the gaps.

Cake provides handheld devices for tableside ordering and self-serve kiosks. It also offers a variety of accessories like a cash drawer, thermal printer and payment cube for contactless payments. 

Cake POS displayed on a desktop, tablet, and a mobile device

Cake’s proprietary hardware is designed to withstand a busy restaurant environment. Source: Cake

Did You Know?Did you know
While Cake has proprietary hardware, it also has an option called the POS Orderpad that allows you to turn an iPad into a POS with an app that mirrors the terminal software.

Online Ordering

Cake’s online ordering features will reduce errors by directly integrating with the restaurant’s POS system. After a customer places an order, it’s sent directly to the kitchen, so orders never have to be entered twice. Cake also prompts customers to upsell their items at checkout, which can boost your average order value (AOV). 

You can personalize the platform to include your company’s logo, custom branding, and images of your most popular menu items. Once customers place their orders, they’ll receive text messages telling them when their items are ready for pickup. We also like that guests can opt for contactless payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

If you want to provide customers with delivery options, you can integrate your POS system with a third-party delivery service. Cake offers third-party app integrations with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and ChowNow, which is ideal for small restaurants that don’t have an in-house delivery driver. 

Cake online ordering on a mobile device

Cake offers integrated online ordering and curbside pickup. Source: Cake

Contactless Payments

We appreciated the wide variety of contactless payment options Cake lets you offer customers. For example, you can include QR code payments on every receipt. Customers will scan the QR codes on their phones and pay from their devices. 

You can also provide self-service kiosks to reduce wait times and increase the average order value (AOV). Cake’s self-service kiosks let customers choose between dine-in and takeout options — another perk customers will appreciate. 

Cake QR code payments

With QR code payments, customers can pay their bills from their own mobile devices. Source: Cake

Menu Management

We were impressed by Cake’s menu management features that make it easy to customize menu items. You can edit your menu from any device, and changes will appear online and in your restaurant. Real-time menu management ensures your staff is always on the same page — and you’re not selling menu items that are no longer available. These features give restaurants of any size the polished, buttoned up appearance of larger businesses, supporting their ability to adapt on the fly to changes in inventory.

Cake also provides POS inventory management features that help you track inventory and adjust prices as needed. We particularly liked its ingredient-tracking option, which makes ordering easier for customers who have dietary issues.

Cake POS inventory tracking

Use Cake to track your inventory and edit your menu in real time.  Source: Cake

Did You Know?Did you know
Cake also provides live POS reporting features, including POS sales reports that help you compare data across various periods.

Cake Costs

We found Cake’s pricing to be relatively straightforward, especially when compared to other POS providers. The company offers three different pricing plans, so it’s an affordable option whether you’re just starting a restaurant or running an established eatery. 

Costs start at $69 monthly and include the following features:

  • Online ordering
  • Menu management
  • Secure payment processing
  • 24/7 customer support
  • QR code payments
  • Reporting and analytics tools
  • Smart chargeback assistance
  • Offline mode
  • Access to the Cake University training portal

If you run a large restaurant or operate multiple business locations, you may need a more customized POS solution for your business. For example, you’ll have to upgrade to one of the more advanced plans to take advantage of online ordering, gift cards and customer loyalty programs. 

Cake Setup

We were impressed that setting up your POS system with Cake is easy and seamless. Its onboarding resources surpass many of its competitors. As a Cake customer, you’ll have access to an onboarding team that will schedule training for you and your staff. During our demo with the Cake team, they specified that new customers have access to the onboarding team for the first few months. You’ll also have access to Cake University training, which will walk you through installing and activating your POS system

Cake University learning resources

Cake University provides detailed resources for implementing and managing your Cake POS system.  Source: Cake

Cake Customer Service

We were pleased with Cake’s customer service options. When you sign up for the Cake POS system, you’ll have access to Cake’s excellent customer support. The company is available 24/7 via phone, text, email or chat. This is especially important for restaurant owners, who often have emergencies outside 9-to-5 business hours. 

The company also provides a resource center filled with white papers, e-books, case studies and videos. You should always be able to get your questions answered. 

Cake Drawbacks

There’s a lot to like about Cake’s POS system, but there are a few drawbacks to consider. 

  • Fees: Cake charges an activation fee and a one-time signing fee for its guest management add-on. The additional charges may not make much of a difference to established restaurants but could be prohibitive for new business owners.
  • Contract required: We were also disappointed to learn that the software comes with a two-year contract. That means you must be sure Cake is the right POS system for your business before you sign up. 

Methodology

When researching the best POS systems for customer experience, we looked at self-service features, online reservations, online ordering, mobile ordering and other guest-focused functions. We attended an hour-long demo with the Cake team to see Cake’s software and hardware in action and ask questions. Our in-depth process included comparing Cake to over a dozen competing POS systems. Our research helped us understand where Cake stands out and where it falls short compared to competitors. 

CAKE FAQs

Yes, Cake is an excellent option for restaurants looking for a customizable POS solution. The software is intuitive and easy to use. It offers tons of guest-focused features, like customer loyalty programs.
Cake was launched by Sysco in 2011 and acquired by Mad Mobile in 2020. The company has become a standout POS provider for restaurants of all sizes.
Cake's full-service POS system starts at $69 monthly. This includes features like online ordering, menu management, payment processing and QR code payments, as well as 24/7 support and an offline mode.

Overall Value

We recommend Cake for …

  • Restaurants of all sizes looking for an easy-to-use POS system. 
  • Eateries in need of durable hardware options. 
  • Restaurants looking for ways to improve the guest experience.

We don’t recommend Cake for …

  • Restaurants looking to avoid lengthy contracts.
  • Restaurants that want to avoid activation fees. 
Did you find this content helpful?
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Written By: Jamie JohnsonBusiness Operations Insider and Senior Analyst
For more than five years, Jamie Johnson has been guiding business owners on financial matters both big and small. This includes investment advice, insights on business loans and funding options, recommendations on insurance and more. Johnson excels at delivering easy-to-understand direction so entrepreneurs can make the best financial decisions for their businesses and, as a solopreneur herself, she regularly tests business strategies and services. At Business News Daily, Johnson covers financial services like payroll processing and credit card processing, as well as topics like business liabilities, peer-to-peer lending, accounting standards and more. Johnson's expertise can also be found in a variety of finance publications, including InvestorPlace, Credit Karma, Insurify and Rocket Mortgage. She has also demonstrated a deep understanding of other B2B topics — including sales, payroll, marketing and social media — for the likes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. News & World Report, CNN, USA Today and Business Insider.
Cake logo
Editor's Rating8.9/10
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