Best POS Systems for Small Businesses for 2025

• Forever-free plan: Square is free to sign up, free to use, and doesn’t impose any limits on sales, products, or users.
• User-friendliness: Its touch-screen, app-based software is intuitive for business owners and employees alike, ensuring fast training and smooth transactions.
• Scalability: Square offers an entire ecosystem of business software including payroll, marketing, and more, available as modular add-ons so you can add what you need when you need it.
• Popular and affordable hardware: Square regularly makes our lists of the best credit card readers and leading POS cash registers. Its systems offer great value for what you pay and are widely available from major retailers.

• Monthly software fees: $0 to $165
• Installation fee: $0, installation is do-it-yourself (DIY)
• Contract length: Month to month
• Processing fees:
• In-person: 2.6% + 10 cents
• Online: 2.9% + 30 cents
• Keyed-in: 3.5% + 15 cents
• Custom rates available for businesses processing more than $250,000 annually

Add-ons for marketing, payroll, shift scheduling and team communications, loyalty programs, and more.

Square’s POS solutions are only compatible with Square Payments. When you create a free Square account you’re automatically set up for both POS and payment processing.

However, Square does not work with high-risk businesses other than CBD businesses on a case-by-case basis. So, make sure Square Payments is a good fit before committing to Square POS.

Read more in our Square Payments review.

If you have a high-risk business or want the ability to choose your own processor, consider Lightspeed, Clover, or KORONA.

Square Terminal	Square Register	Square Stand
$299 or $27 per month for 12 months	$799 or $39 per month for 24 months	$149 or $14 per month for 12 months
Stand-alone mobile POS that can take orders, accept card payments and issue receipts.	Full POS with touch-screen monitor, detachable customer-facing display, and credit card machine	All-in-one credit card machine with POS, and built-in card reader

In addition to the hardware options above, you can download the Square app on any iPhone or iPad and key in payments or connect a card reader.

Square has an open API and SDK for creating custom integrations. However, Square has a full app marketplace with hundreds of out-of-the-box integrations, including the following:

• 7Shifts
• Acuity
• Chowly
• DoorDash
• Faire
• GoDaddy
• Homebase
• Jotform
• Mailchimp
• MarginEdge
• MarketMan
• Odeko
• OpenTable
• Printful
• QuickBooks
• Setmore
• Shippo
• ShipStation
• Slice
• Thrive Inventory
• UberEats
• Wix
• WooCommerce
• Xero
• Zapier
• Zoho Books

• Smart inventory: Real-time, cross-channel and location visibility, low stock reports, demand forecasting, inventory analysis, purchase orders and receiving, markdown suggestions, and more.
• Omnichannel sales: One central data center for all sales lets you offer customer experiences like in-store pickup, buy online exchange in-store, local delivery, and more. Plus, you can access ecommerce tools, like order fulfillment, directly from the POS.
• Social media selling: Shopify has partnerships with most social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, making it easy to sync your product catalog and sell to customers directly on those channels.
• Robust register tools: Shopify POS is feature-rich with customizable tiles and layouts, optional checkout validation, buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments, customizable payment types like IOUs, customizable receipts, returns and exchanges, and more.

Of course, one of the best parts of using Shopify POS is that it syncs seamlessly with your Shopify online store.

• Monthly software fees:

• • POS: $5 to $89 per location
  • Ecommerce (optional): $39 to $399
  • If you subscribe to an ecommerce plan, you receive Shopify Lite POS for free. However, if you have a brick-and-mortar location, we recommend upgrading to POS Pro at $89 per month.
• Installation fee: $0, installation is DIY
• Contract length: Options for month-to-month, annual, or multiyear
• Processing fees:

• • In-person: 2.4% + 10 cents to 2.6% + 10 cents
  • Online: 2.5% to 2.9% + 30 cents

Learn more about Shopify’s fees and how much it costs to run your business using Shopify.

Like most of our recommended POS, Shopify has a built-in payment processor called Shopify Payments, which is the only payment processor compatible with Shopify POS.

Its rates are fairly standard, and it has data encryption and Payment Card Industry (PCI)-compliant servers. Learn more in our Shopify Payments review.

However, if you also have a Shopify online store, you can use third-party processors for ecommerce transactions for an additional fee.

Note that, like Square, Shopify is not compatible with high-risk businesses because the payment services it provides are aggregated, meaning that merchants don’t receive a dedicated merchant account, and therefore Shopify has a low risk tolerance. So, if your business is considered high-risk, choose an option like KORONA, Clover, or Lightspeed that offers a choice of payment processor.

Shopify POS is app-based and works on iOS and Android devices, including iPhone 7 or higher, iPad Air Gen 2 or higher, iPad Gen 5 or higher, iPad mini Gen 4 or higher, all iPad Pro models, and Android devices running version 10.0 or higher.

Card readers, iPad stands, and other accessories like cash drawers and barcode scanners can all be purchased through Shopify, including the following:

Tap and Chip Reader	Countertop Kit	Shopify Terminal
$49	$459 or $114.75 bi-weekly for 2 months	$349 or $87.25 bi-weekly for 2 months
Securely accept tap, chip, and swipe payments, all fully integrated with Shopify POS. Available for iOS only. Dock available for $40 (in-store use)	Tablet stand and card reader terminal for a full countertop setup. Options available for Android and iOS (tablet sold separately).	Customer-facing display and card reader meant to be paired with a tablet POS.

Shopify has over 13,000 apps in its ecosystem, including the following:

• AfterShip
• DSers
• Faire
• Judge.me
• Klaviyo
• Mailchimp
• Pagefly
• Pop Convert
• Printful
• Privy
• QuickBooks
• Shippo
• ShipStation
• Spocket
• Stocky
• UpPromote
• Xero
• Zendrop

• Free POS: Toast offers a free starter plan for $0 upfront and $0 per month that includes both a hardware kit for a single terminal and cloud-based POS software.
• Flexibility: Like Square, Toast has a robust ecosystem of products that can be adapted to fit the needs of almost any food and beverage business (cafes, food trucks, QSRs, ghost kitchens—you name it). However, unlike Square, Toast is purpose-built specifically for restaurants.
• Online ordering and delivery: Toast has outstanding native tools for collecting online orders, managing deliveries, connecting with third-party delivery apps, and setting up a branded website or mobile app.
• Multilingual settings: Certain Toast customers have access to settings to adjust specific users or functions (like kitchen tickets) to English, Spanish, or Chinese.

• Monthly software fee: $0 to $69 or custom quote
• Installation fee: Optional; starting at $250
• Contract length: Two years
• Processing fees:
  • In-person:
    • Pay-as-you-go: 3.09% + 15 cents
    • Standard: 2.49% + 15 cents
  • Online:
    • Pay-as-you-go: 3.09% + 15 cents
    • Standard: 3.50% + 15 cents
  • Custom rates available for high-volume businesses

Modular add-ons for payroll, mobile ordering, employee scheduling and communications, marketing, digital storefront, and accounting tools.

Toast offers built-in payment processing, Toast Payments, which is required for using its POS.

Toast Payments comes with data encryption, fraud monitoring, an offline mode, and rapid payout options. It can also be used to accept payments tableside, online, and via kiosk.

Compared with others on this list, Toast’s processing fees are more expensive. However, the overall value the system offers is still well worth it, in my opinion.

That said, if you want a processor that offers custom rates, consider Square for Restaurants, Lightspeed Restaurant, or Clover via a third party.

All of Toast’s hardware is industry-grade and IP-rated to withstand steam and dust intrusion. Toast handheld terminals, including the popular Toast Go 2, are drop-tested to withstand a restaurant environment.

Countertop Terminal	Handheld Mobile POS	Guest Self-service Kiosk
Pay upfront: $1,024.20 + $69 per month Or Pay-as-You-Go: $0 and 3.09% + 15 cents per in-person transaction	Pay upfront: $799.20 + $69 per month Or Pay-as-You-Go: $0 and 3.09% + 15 cents per in-person transaction	Pay upfront: $1,339.20 + $99 per month or Pay-as-You-Go: $0 and 3.09% + 15 cents per in-person transaction
Countertop Terminal, Toast Tap card reader, Router	Toast Go 2 order and payment device, Wireless Access Point, Router	22” touch-screen kiosk with router and card reader

In addition to its native add-on modules, Toast has dozens of integrations available via its API program, including the following:

• 7 Shifts
• BackBar
• Butter
• Chowly
• DoorDash
• Grubhub
• Homebase
• Klaviyo
• MarginEdge
• MarketMan
• NEXT
• OpenTable
• Resy
• Restaurant365
• Shipday
• TapMango
• Tock
• Uber Eats
• xtraCHEF
• Yelp

• Popular, reliable card readers: Choose from a variety of highly rated mobile and countertop hardware.
• Payment processing tools: Virtual terminal, invoicing, scan-to-pay, store credits, layaways, gift cards, and BNPL options.
• CRM and marketing: Set up customer profiles, create a data-driven rewards program, prompt customers who haven’t returned in a while with a promotion, collect customer feedback, and more.
• Easy to use software: Overall, the software is intuitive, easy to use, and highly customizable to suit different businesses.

Clover fees are more complex than other providers on this list. In addition to separate pricing tiers for retailers and restaurants, Clover also offers subscriptions that combine the cost of hardware and software into a single monthly fee. You can see an even more detailed breakdown of Clover pricing in our Clover POS review.

Here is the current pricing if you purchase Clover through its website:

• Monthly software fees: $0 to $129.85
• In-person processing fees: 2.3% to 2.6% + 10 cents
• Online processing fee: 3.5% + 10 cents

As mentioned earlier, Clover is owned by Fiserv. In addition, while you can purchase the system directly from the Clover website, you can also purchase the system from any reseller on the Fiserv network.

In other words, you can shop around to find your preferred payment processor and purchase Clover from them. Instead of all of the other systems on this list (except KORONA), where you purchase the software and that dictates the processor.

Just take care with your contract terms; the various resellers can have widely varying terms of service for their customer support, contract length, and processing fees.

Clover Go	Clover Flex	Clover Compact
$49	$599	$279
Cellular-enabled mobile tap, dip, and chip card reader that integrates with most smartphones	Wi-Fi and LTE-compatible handheld POS Terminal	Accepts swipe (MSR), chip (EMV + signature), and contactless (NFC) payments with built-in receipt printer
Clover Mini	Clover Station Solo	Clover Station Duo
$799	$1,699	$1,799
Low profile, all-in-one POS display, payment terminal, and receipt printer	Contactless card reader, single screen, receipt printer, cash drawer, camera & scanner	Contactless card reader, dual screen, receipt printer, cash drawer, camera & scanner

Each device after your first one adds an additional monthly fee, except for Go readers. The specific rate varies by your software plan.

Like Square, Clover has an entire app ecosystem with solutions including the following:

• 7Shifts
• Gusto
• Menufy
• Paychex
• QuickBooks
• Shopify
• Thrive Inventory
• WooCommerce
• Yelp

Clover also has native add-ons for features like shift scheduling and time off management, customer loyalty and rewards programs, promotions, customer management, and more.

• Inventory management: Granular, matrix, inventory management with many variant options, built-in purchase ordering, kitting/bundling, and serial and SKU tracking.
• Robust analytics: Over 50 preset reports, including data visualizations and tips on actionable insights.
• B2B catalog and supplier management: More than 3,000 preloaded vendor catalogs, vendor tracking, automated vendor returns, and integrated supplier network.
• Marketing and loyalty: Auto customer segmentation, flexible point-based loyalty programs, integrated email marketing, customer habit tracking, and more
• Native ecommerce: Over 30 themes to choose from, able to sync your online and in-store products and sales, integrated SEO and shipping tools.

• Monthly software fees:

• • $109 to $339 ($89 to $289 paid annually) for retail
  • $189 to $399 for restaurants

(varies by POS type, payment processor, and payment plan)

Lowest rates available with annual billing

• Installation fee: $0
• Contract length: One year

Processing fees:

• In-person: Lightspeed Payments: 2.6% + 10 cents; other processors vary
• Online: Lightspeed Payments: 2.6% + 30 cents; other processors vary
• Custom processing rates available with certain plans and sales volumes

Like Square, Shopify, and Toast, Lightspeed has built-in payment processing that is the default option when you choose Lightspeed POS. However, certain versions of Lightspeed are compatible with third-party payment processors, meaning it is possible to choose your own payment processor with Lightspeed, especially if your business is considered high-risk.

However, note that Lightspeed may charge higher monthly fees if you use a third-party processor.

Lightspeed runs on iPads and desktop computers. All Lightspeed hardware is quote-based. You can purchase the terminals, card readers, and other accessories you need directly from Lightspeed.

Lightspeed has dozens of integrations. Lightspeed also has several different versions of its retail and restaurant POS. Not all integrations are compatible with each version, so make sure to do your due diligence.

Some available options include the following:

• 7Shifts
• BigCommerce
• BrightPearl
• Drizzly
• Gusto
• Homebase
• Klaviyo
• Mailchimp
• MarketMan
• OpenTable
• Podium
• QuickBooks
• Resy
• Restaurant365
• ShipStation
• ShippingEasy
• Shopify
• SkuVault
• TapMango
• Tock
• Xero

• Robust inventory management: Calculate ideal reorder levels, automate counting schedules, set up or manage multiple product code systems, easily scan or receive products, and print labels and tags.
• Front-end and reporting customizations: Customize your dashboard interface and customer display screen, process returns, schedule promotions, track customers, and more.
• Ticket sales and membership management: Sell and track tickets for individual events, groups, series, seasons, and more, all from the POS.
• Loss prevention tools: Customizable authorization settings for tools like price changes and allowed balance differences, forced cash drawer close, no-sale tenders, and more.

Of course, another standout feature of KORONA POS is its payment processor-agnostic setup, which we discuss below.

• Monthly software fee: $59 to $69
• Installation fee: $0; guided installation and training are included with your KORONA account
• Contract length: Month to month
• Payment processing fees: Varies by processor; KORONA is processor agnostic, so you can use whatever processor you prefer
• Modules available for food and beverage businesses offering tableside service, retailers needing advanced inventory, invoicing, ticketing, franchise management tools, and custom integrations. Additional monthly fees range from $10 to $50 per add-on.

Uniquely, KORONA has an unlimited free trial option. While you can’t integrate a payment processor, and there are low daily transaction limits during the trial, you can take your time with customizations and save all of your data for later.

KORONA is unique on this list because it doesn’t offer any built-in payment solutions. It’s payment processor agnostic. After signing up for the software, KORONA will help you connect your preferred processor.

That means you can shop around for the best rates and contract terms. So, KORONA is a good fit if your business doesn’t qualify for a traditional merchant account or isn’t compatible with a processor like Square, as you can find one that works for you and bring it to KORONA.

KORONA offers a variety of countertop and mobile POS tablets, along with peripherals, including tickets and inventory scanners, cash drawers, and receipt printers. All pricing is custom-quoted. Leasing plans are available, as are payment plans for outright purchases.

KORONA has a few dozen prebuilt integrations, including the following:

• BlockChyp
• CostPlus Processing
• Eagle Processing
• Global Payments
• Sekure
• WooCommerce

You can also submit a request for a new integration.