Eatsy iPad Menu and Order Management both support a range of standard thermal receipt printers. We don't sell hardware — buy from Amazon, B&H, or your existing restaurant supplier. This page tells you exactly what works.
What we test against
We officially test against ESC/POS-compatible thermal receipt printers. ESC/POS is the de facto standard for receipt printing in restaurants — the same format Square, Toast, and Clover use. If your printer says "ESC/POS compatible" on the spec sheet, it almost certainly works.
Officially supported models
| Model | Connection | Paper width | Approx. price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Micronics TSP100 (TSP143IIIU) | USB | 80mm | $215 | Officially supported |
| Star Micronics TSP100 (TSP143IIIBI) | Bluetooth | 80mm | $280 | Officially supported |
| Star Micronics TSP100 (TSP143IIIW) | Wi-Fi / Ethernet | 80mm | $320 | Officially supported |
| Star Micronics TSP650II | USB / Ethernet / Bluetooth | 80mm | $320 | Officially supported |
| Star Micronics SP742 (impact, kitchen) | USB / Ethernet | 76mm | $330 | Officially supported (kitchen impact printer) |
| Epson TM-m30III | USB / Ethernet / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi | 80mm | $300 | Officially supported |
| Epson TM-T20III | USB / Ethernet | 80mm | $220 | Officially supported |
| Epson TM-T88VI | USB / Ethernet | 80mm | $420 | Officially supported |
| Generic ESC/POS over USB | USB | 58mm or 80mm | varies | Best effort (no support guarantee) |
| Generic Bluetooth ESC/POS | Bluetooth | varies | varies | Best effort (Bluetooth pairing varies) |
Recommended buys by use case
Counter receipt printer (high volume): Star Micronics TSP100 USB (TSP143IIIU). $215 on Amazon. Plug into your iPad via USB-to-Lightning or USB-C adapter. Reliable, fast, 80mm paper that fits most cash drawers.
Bluetooth (no cable to the iPad): Star Micronics TSP100 Bluetooth (TSP143IIIBI). $280. Connect once via Bluetooth pairing in iPadOS, then it's wireless. Pair with one iPad at a time.
Kitchen impact printer (heat-resistant for cookline): Star Micronics SP742. $330. Impact printers (not thermal) survive kitchen heat better. Ethernet preferred over USB so it can be wall-mounted away from the iPad.
Multi-station kitchen with networked printers: Epson TM-m30III with Wi-Fi or Ethernet. $300. Can print from multiple iPads to the same printer over the network.
Cash drawer integration
Cash drawers connect to the printer (not the iPad directly). They open via a cable port on the back of the printer. Star and Epson both support standard RJ11/RJ12 cash drawer cables.
Recommended cash drawers:
- APG Vasario 1416 — $130, fits TSP100 series
- MMF Val-u Line VL-EE-1 — $90, budget-friendly
- Star Micronics CD3-1313 — $115, designed for Star printers
What doesn't work
- AirPrint-only printers (most home office printers). They don't speak ESC/POS for receipt formatting.
- Inkjet printers, period.
- Printers connected only to a desktop computer's print server. Eatsy iPad app needs direct connection (USB, Bluetooth, or networked IP).
- Some no-brand "ESC/POS" printers from low-end Amazon listings. They sometimes implement only partial ESC/POS. Stick to Star or Epson.
Important
If you buy a printer not on the supported list, test it before relying on it for production. We can usually help debug, but support is best-effort, not guaranteed.
Configuring the printer in admin
Once the printer is paired to the iPad, enable it in admin.eatsyorders.com under Account → Settings → Printers, then assign which order types and stations route to which device. Kitchen printers usually want only "in-prep" tickets, while front-of-house printers usually want customer receipts.