10 Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems & Software for 2023
Meaghan has provided content and guidance for indie retailers as the editor for a number of retail publications and a speaker at trade shows. She is Fit Small Business’s authority on retail and ecommerce.
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
A point-of-sale (POS) system is a combination of software and hardware that centralizes sales, payment processing, inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM). The best POS systems also include robust tools for omnichannel sales, vendor management, employee management, and customer loyalty. Many POS software are free, though others cost as much as $200 per month for a single terminal.
According to our evaluation of more than 25 POS software across 32 data points, the best point-of-sale systems for small businesses are:
- Best overall and best free: Square
- Best retail and ecommerce POS: Shopify
- Best for inventory: Lightspeed
- Best restaurant POS: Toast
- Best multi-register food and beverage POS: TouchBistro
- Best for high-risk businesses: KORONA
- Best for layaway (lay-pay) sales: Hike
- Best hospitality POS with cash discounting: Lavu
- Best multilocation restaurant POS: Revel Systems
- Best grocery and market POS: IT Retail
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Now through June 30, 2023, receive 20% off your first Square Terminal with the code “FSBSquare”. Visit Square to redeem.
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The software in this article was selected by Meaghan Brophy, Mary King, and Brigitte Hodge. Together, they have more than two decades of hands-on experience working in and managing retail and restaurant businesses. Read more on how we evaluated the POS systems below.
POS Systems Compared
Our Score | Real-world User Scores* | Supported Business Types | Read More With Full Reviews | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.48 out of 5 | 4.77 out of 5 | All-purpose, retail, restaurants, service, and appointment | |
 | 4.47 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | Retail, ecommerce | |
 | 4.47 out of 5 | 4.1 out of 5 | Retail, restaurant, hospitality, and golf | |
 | 4.46 out of 5 | 4.36 out of 5 | Restaurants, quick-service, bars, and delivery | |
 | 4.16 out of 5 | 4.13 out of 5 | Restaurant | |
 | 4.13 out of 5 | 4.2 out of 5 | Retail and niche industries | |
 | 4.01 out of 5 | 4.03 out of 5 | Retail and ecommerce | |
 | 3.91 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 | Restaurants | |
 | 3.74 out of 5 | 3.8 out of 5 | Restaurants, quick-service, retail, and delivery | |
 | 3.61 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | Grocery and markets | |
Quiz: What’s the Best POS System for You?
Square: Best Point-of-Sale System for Small Businesses
Overall Score:
4.48 / 5
Pros
- Free POS
- Easy to use, fast set-up
- Can grow with your business
Cons
- Locked into Square for payment processing
- Limited phone support
- Limited customization options, limited in-depth reporting
What we like:
Square is the best POS system for most small businesses because of its affordable price point, mobile capabilities, and POS tools for retailers, restaurants, and service industries.
All of Square’s POS systems―General, Retail, Restaurants, and Appointments―offer a free subscription plus an online store platform. There are additional premium plans to support growth, all ranging from $29 to $60 per month.
Square also tops our list for:
Square Pricing
- Monthly software fees: $0–$60
- Installation fee: $0, installation is do-it-yourself (DIY)
- Contract length: Month to month
- Processing fees:
- In-person: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Online: 3.5% + 15 cents
- Custom rates available for businesses processing more than $250,000 annually
Square Hardware
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.
Shopify: Best POS for Omnichannel Retail
Overall Score:
4.47 / 5
Pros
- Smart omnichannel and inventory tools
- Social media selling
- Easy to use; intuitive interface
- Best-in-class ecommerce platform
Cons
- Offline mode can be glitchy
- Free POS has limited features
- Pricey; POS requires ecommerce subscription
- Not compatible with high-risk businesses
What we like:
Shopify POS is a great option for retailers that either already use a Shopify ecommerce store or those looking to sell online and in person. With Shopify, you first sign up for an ecommerce account. From there, you can opt for the included free POS or premium POS features at an additional cost.
As this structure suggests, Shopify is known primarily for its online selling tools, with a robust ecommerce platform and integrations for selling on your social channels.
This POS outscored the others on this list for its register features, including a customizable checkout interface, flexible payment options, and offline selling.
Shopify also tops the list in our guides to:
Shopify POS Pricing
- Monthly software fees:
- Ecommerce (required): $29–$299
- POS: $0–$89 per location
- Installation fee: $0, installation is DIY
- Contract length: Options for month to month, annual, or multiyear
- Processing fees:
- In-person: 2.4%–2.7%
- Online: 2.4%–2.9% + 30 cents
Learn more about Shopify’s fees and how much it costs to run your business using Shopify.
Shopify POS Hardware
Tap and Chip Readers | Shopify Stands | Barcode Scanners | Shopify Go |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
$49 | $149–$185 | $229–$329 | $399 |
Securely accept tap, chip, and swipe payments, all fully integrated with Shopify POS. Available for iOS only. Dock available for $39 (in-store use) | iPad stands with customer-facing displays come in various models. iPad not included. | Scan items with wireless Bluetooth barcode scanners that connect directly to your POS. | All-in-one POS device complete with integrated card reader and barcode scanner. |
Best for: Mobile sales | Best for: Brick-and-mortar stores | Best for: Retailers with large inventory or sales volume | Best for: Mobile and curbside sales |
Did you know?
Cost is the most important consideration for most of our readers according to our quiz data. However, about 25% of readers say that inventory management is the most important POS feature for them. Lightspeed and Shopify are excellent choices for inventory management, while Square offers the best value as a free POS.
Lightspeed: Best for Inventory Management
Overall Score:
4.47 / 5
Pros
- 14-day free trial
- Detailed analytics tools
- Robust, integrated ecommerce platform
- 24/7 customer support and onboarding
- Granular matrix inventory management
Cons
- User interface can take time to learn
- Pricey
- Shipping integrations are limited
What we like:
Lightspeed Retail is the best retail POS system for businesses with large or complex inventories, including specialty shops needing to manage custom orders. The software lets retailers create product bundles, categorize with multiple variants, and manage purchase orders with a built-in catalog. Lightspeed also features one of the most sophisticated analytics platforms for small businesses.
In addition, Lightspeed offers a restaurant POS, which also has robust, automated inventory management including ingredient-level tracking and “1-click” vendor orders that you can place right from the Lightspeed dashboard.
Lightspeed is also our top recommendation for:
Lightspeed POS Pricing
- Monthly software fees:
-
- $69–$269 for retail
- $39–$399 for restaurants
(varies by POS type, payment processor, and payment plan)
Lowest rates available with annual billing -
- Installation fee: $0
- Contract length: 1 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
Lightspeed POS Hardware
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.
In the News: Lightspeed Acquisitions
Over the past several years, Lightspeed has acquired several other POS systems, including ShopKeep, Vend, and Upserve. Lightspeed has baked many of the features from these products into its offerings, and at the time of publication, still offers versions of these products. Lightspeed has also acquired Ecwid, a popular shopping cart platform, to improve its native ecommerce tools, which are free for certain POS plans.
Toast: Best POS for Restaurants
Overall Score:
4.46 / 5
Pros
- Free starter POS
- Pay-as-you-go plans
- Robust workforce management
- Automated tip pool management
- Flexible online ordering and delivery tools
Cons
- Locked into Toast for payment processing
- Two-year contract
- Operates on proprietary hardware
- Many features only available in pricier plans
What we like:
Toast is a powerhouse cloud-based POS built specifically for the restaurant industry. With a free starter POS and pay-as-you-go options for hardware, small restaurants can start with Toast for no upfront cost and increase their POS footprint as their businesses grow.
At the same time, enterprise-level restaurants will feel supported by Toast’s integrated online ordering, delivery management, marketing, and employee management tools. This is why we love Toast for both new and growing restaurants.
Toast is our top choice for:
Toast POS Pricing
- Monthly software fee: $0–$165 or custom quote
- Installation fee: Optional; starting at $250
- Contract length: Two years
- Processing fees:
- In-person:
- Pay-as-you-go: 2.99% + 15 cents
- Standard: 2.49% + 15 cents
- Online: Not disclosed
- Custom rates available for high-volume businesses
- In-person:
Toast POS Hardware
Countertop Terminal Starter Kit | Self-service Kiosk | Handheld Terminal Starter Kit |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Pay upfront: $799 + $69 per month Or Pay-As-You-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in person transaction | Pay upfront: $999 + $99 per month Or Pay-as-you-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction | Pay upfront: $609 + $69 per month Or Pay-as-You-Go: $0 and 2.99% + 15 cents per in-person transaction |
Countertop Terminal, Toast Tap card reader, Router | Touch-screen kiosk with router and card reader | Toast Go 2 order and payment device, Wireless Access Point, Router |
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.
TouchBistro: Best Multi-register Food & Beverage POS
Overall Score:
4.16 / 5
Pros
- Self-installable iPad POS system
- Easy to use
- Simple delivery tools
- Supports multiple payment processors
- Affordable
Cons
- Requires one-year contract
- Loyalty and online ordering cost extra
- Inventory requires regular manual entry to stay updated
- Best for high-volume, multi-register operations
What we like:
TouchBistro is an incredibly easy-to-use iPad-based POS that, like the competing system Toast, is designed specifically for food and beverage businesses. However, unlike Toast and Square, TouchBistro is compatible with multiple payment processors, so businesses can shop around for the lowest processing fees or keep their current processor when switching to TouchBistro.
Because TouchBistro is easy to use and has an interface that’s similar to operating an iPhone, it’s ideal for businesses with lots of employees—and even high turnover.
A low price point, user-friendly interface, and templated mobile reporting make TouchBistro ideal for high-volume food and beverage businesses like food trucks, coffee shops, and restaurants with multiple registers.
TouchBistro Pricing
- Monthly software fee: $69 per terminal
- Installation fee: $0
- Contract length: One year
- Add-ons available for online ordering, loyalty programs, gift cards, marketing, and online reservations
- Processing fees:
- In-person processing: Varies by processor
- Online processing: Varies by processor
- TouchBistro offers built-in TouchBistro payments powered by Chase. It also integrates with TB Payments, Square, Worldpay, TSYS, and more
TouchBistro Hardware
Countertop Terminal Kit | Tableside Terminal | Kitchen Display Screen |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
iPad stand, cash drawer, card reader, and receipt printer | iPad-based handheld order and payment terminal | iPad-based kitchen display system screen |
KORONA: Best for High-risk & Specialized Retailers
Overall Score:
4.13 / 5
Pros
- Choice of payment processor
- Affordable; no long-term contract
- Supports event and ticketing sales
- Loss prevention features
Cons
- Ecommerce site requires WooCommerce integration
- Reporting module has a learning curve
- Limited integrations
- Dated interface
What we like:
KORONA is a cloud-based POS with tools that can support high-risk businesses like liquor stores, convenience stores, cannabis dispensaries, and vape shops. It is equipped with ID scanning, is compatible with high-risk payment processors, and includes loss prevention tools.
Additionally, this affordable and flexible POS comes with excellent customer support and operates on a variety of desktop and mobile devices, so you likely can use some hardware you already own.
In our evaluation, KORONA earned high marks for the sheer number of business types it supports, from small retail shops to high-risk businesses and ticketed venues. Its ability to integrate with virtually any payment processor also earned it points.
KORONA is a top choice for:
KORONA Pricing
- Monthly software fee: $59–$89
- 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
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 Hardware
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.
Hike: Best for Lay-pay Sales
Overall Score:
4.01 / 5
Pros
- Mobile-first app design
- Advanced inventory and order management tools
- Compatible with a variety of hardware
- Highly customizable
Cons
- Limited payment processor integrations
- No ecommerce integration in base plan
- No application programming interface (API) access in base plan
What we like:
Hike is a cloud-based POS system that is great for furniture and appliance stores or other big-ticket retailers that need to utilize layaway payment features.
With Hike, customers can pay via layaway, starting with a deposit and then tracking subsequent payments on the layaway item until that purchase is complete. Hike will also automatically post outstanding sales data to your Xero or QuickBooks Online accounting system.
Hike also has excellent customization features, a wide variety of payment options, and mobile capabilities for sales on the go.
Hike POS Pricing
- Monthly software fee: $69–$119 per month
- Installation fee: $0 (DIY)
- Contract length: Month to month
- Processing fees: Varies with payment processor
- Lower software fees available with annual billing
Hike POS Hardware
This POS works on PC and Mac computers as well as iPads. Hike POS also works with popular retail hardware brands such as Star Micronics, Epson, and Socket Mobile. Bundles and starter kits are available through Hike, though iPads and computers are purchased separately.
Lavu: Best Hospitality POS With Cash Discounting
Overall Score:
3.91 / 5
Pros
- Cash discount settings defray processing costs
- Operates on iPads
- Transparent, a la carte pricing
Cons
- Lower than average customer reviews
- No free trial
- Pricey add-ons & hardware
What we like:
Lavu is a cloud-based iPad POS designed for food and beverage businesses. It is the only system in this guide that offers a cash discount setting, which allows you to offer a discount for cash payments that will offset your credit card processing fees. This feature helps small restaurants that are switching from a cash-only operation to accept digital payments without incurring additional costs.
This POS has an easy self-installation process, like Square. It also has a unique invoice management add-on called Sourcery, which automates accounts payable functions.
Lavu Pricing
- Monthly software fee: $59–$299
- Prices are for a single terminal; additional terminals are $50 each
- Lowest monthly fees are for businesses that opt into the cash discounting program.
- Installation fee: $0
- Contract length: One year, though Lavu offers interest-free financing on hardware for users who sign a three-year agreement
- Payment processing fees:
- In-person: Varies by processor; Lavu Pay pricing is not publicly disclosed
- Online: Varies by processor; Lavu Pay pricing is not publicly disclosed
Lavu Hardware
Windfall iPad Stand | Magtek iDynamo Card Reader | Epson TM-U220B Printer |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
$149 | $140 | $389 |
Low profile stand for 12.9” iPad Pro | Lightning Port-enabled card reader for iPads and iPhones | Two-color impact kitchen printer |
Revel Systems: Best for Multilocation Restaurants
Overall Score:
3.74 / 5
Pros
- Built-in delivery management supports an in-house delivery fleet
- Integrates with multiple processors
- Highly customizable
- Designed for for high-volume and multistore operations
- Hybrid hardware setup
Cons
- Three-year service agreement
- Hardware pricing is custom-quoted
- Accepting EBT payments requires a non-integrated card reader
- Not a good fit for single-location businesses
- No free trial
What we like:
Revel Systems is a multichannel iPad POS system that can support a wide variety of businesses due to its extreme customizability. With tons of integrations and an open API, Revel lets you design your POS system from the ground up, so it can include the tools you need and remove the fluff. As your business grows, you can add new tools and features to support you―you are not locked into your initial selections.
In our evaluation, Revel earned a perfect 5 for register features (as did Shopify) and outscored the competition in the management tools category. It also offers on-site installation and employee training. Advanced tools like matrix and ingredient-level inventory and built-in employee scheduling along with a high degree of personalization make Revel best suited for multilocation businesses.
Revel Systems Pricing
- Monthly software fee: Starting at $99 per terminal
- Installation fee: Starting at $674
- Contract length: Three years
- Processing fees: Varies by processor; Revel Advantage pricing is not publicly listed
Revel Systems Hardware
Apple iPad | Apple iPad mini | Revel C-stand | Revel L-Stand |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
10.2-inch to 12.9-inch display for POS, KDS, and self-service kiosk screens | 8.3-inch display, ideal for in-store and tableside orders and payments or customer-facing displays | Low-profile iPad stand for POS terminals or self-service kiosks | iPad terminal stand with customer-facing display |
Did you know?
Over 10% of our quiz respondents own multilocation businesses. Revel is an ideal fit for fast-paced restaurants like quick-service restaurants (QSRs) with multiple locations.
IT Retail: Best POS for Grocery, Markets & Specialty Food Stores
Overall Score:
3.61 / 5
Pros
- Scale integration and industry-grade hardware
- Works with multiple payment processors
- Strong loyalty features
Cons
- Pricey hardware; requires custom quote
- No fuel pump or deli/cafe features
- No free trial
What we like:
IT Retail is a robust POS system designed by grocers specifically to support independent food markets. The system comes packed with the rugged hardware necessary in a grocery environment, such as scale integration for selling goods by weight, bottle deposit management, automated rewards, and self-checkout options.
The system and its native payment processor can also handle EBT, SNAP, and eWIC payments. None of the other systems on this list can process all of these payment types.
Additionally, IT Retail includes ecommerce integrations like Mercato and Instacart for online ordering and delivery services. The software also supports the widest variety of self-checkout hardware on this list, including a contactless mobile self-checkout system through FutureProof.
All of these industry-specific features make IT Retail the best POS for grocery stores, markets, and specialty food shops.
IT Retail Pricing
- Monthly software & hardware fee: From $199, can also purchase upfront with a one-time fee
- Installation fee: Optional; custom quoted
- Contract length: Varies depending on plan, multiple plans have no long term contracts
- Payment processing: Varies by processor; choose from IT Retail Payments or Fiserv
IT Retail Hardware
All IT Retail plans include a touch-screen PC, thermal receipt printer, barcode scanner, PIN pad, and customer-facing display.
IT Retail also sells cash drawers, scanners (including scanner scales), self-checkout kiosks, and more. You can also use its mobile app to manage inventory through your smartphone.
Packages and plans are customized to each retailer, however there is a feature on the IT Retail website where you can build and price your plan based on your business type, number of registers, and the hardware and features you need.
Methodology – How We Evaluated POS Systems
We started with a list of over 25 POS systems. We then evaluated them by price, POS functions like check and order management, payment processing, and inventory management. We also looked at user reviews and, in many cases, demoed and tested the products ourselves.
Meaghan, Mary, and Brigitte also have experience using several of these POS systems in retail and restaurant environments, so we considered our first-hand experiences operating these systems along with our knowledge of what small businesses need to manage day-to-day operations.
Click through the tabs below to see the full evaluation criteria:
30%
Pricing
15%
Register Features
15%
Management tools
20%
Ease of Use
20%
Expert Score
30% of Overall Score
15% of Overall Score
15% of Overall Score
The most important feature we considered was inventory tracking. We also considered how sophisticated and user-friendly the reporting dashboard of each system is and what marketing and employee management tools are available.
20% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
*Percentages of overall score
Meet the Experts
 | Mary King With more than 14 years of hospitality experience, Mary has used POS systems in coffee shops, food trucks, full-service restaurants, quick-service restaurants, bars, hotels, co-working spaces, event spaces, and retail stores. She has several years of experience advising bar and restaurant owners, and three-plus years evaluating POS systems. |
 | Brigitte Hodge is a retail specialist with several years of retail management experience. Before joining Fit Small Business, Brigitte worked on a variety of POS systems to run a store in downtown Denver. Brigitte has since been writing as a retail expert, evaluating POS systems and working with them firsthand to learn their ins and outs. |
 | Meaghan Brophy has 10-plus years of retail experience, during which she has operated a variety of cash registers and POS systems in different settings and applications. Since working in retail, Meaghan has seven-plus years of experience writing for retailers and four-plus years of experience evaluating POS systems. |
POS System & Software Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A point-of-sale (POS) system is the combination of software and hardware businesses use to ring up purchases and manage transactions. POS systems replaced cash registers, so they are sometimes also referred to as the “register” or “checkout”.
Learn more: What is a POS System? Guide for Small Businesses
If you are accepting payments in person, you likely need a POS system. POS systems can range from a simple smartphone app and connected card reader to a full-blown countertop touchscreen register.
Related:
The best POS system for you depends on your business type and what functions you need the machine to perform. However, the best POS systems for small businesses offer decent functionality at a low price and can grow with your business.
According to our evaluations, the best POS systems are:
- Square: Best overall
- Shopify: Best for ecommerce and multichannel retail
- Lightspeed: Best for complex inventories
- Toast: Best for restaurants
The cheapest POS systems tend to be those that offer their POS software for only the cost of payment processing. Popular systems that follow this model include Square and Toast—though you can also find systems that offer free POS software without any integrated payment processing, like Loyverse.
However, software and processing fees won’t be your only POS costs. You’ll also need to consider hardware like touch screens and card readers. If you’re on a budget, iPad-based POS systems like Lightspeed and TouchBistro are good options.
There are types of POS systems for different business types and industries, and different hardware and tech configurations within each industry POS.
For example, retailers, restaurants, cafes, and salons all need different functionality within their POS systems, so there is POS software designed for each.
You can also opt for POS apps and other mobile POS systems, a touchscreen vs desktop system, whether your POS is cloud-based, locally stored, or hybrid, and whether or not it is open sourced.
Most popular POS systems are cloud-based and can operate on a variety of mobile, touch screen hardware, and sometimes desktop computers.
Learn more: Types of POS Systems: A Guide for Small Businesses
There are two major costs when buying a POS system: hardware fees and software fees.
Software fees are typically billed on a monthly or annual basis and can range from $0–$300 per month per terminal.
Hardware is typically an upfront cost of $250–$1,000 per terminal, though some POS systems, like Toast and Square, offer financing and payment plan options.
You will also want to consider payment processing fees and whether you will be using a processor that is built-into your POS system or a third-party.
Finally, though most popular POS systems offer free DIY installation, more complex setups will require professional installation which costs at least $500.
Continue reading: How Much Does a POS System Cost?
Bottom Line
The best POS systems provide business owners more than simply a way to accept payments. POS trends such as mobile-first technology mean businesses can sell products and services anywhere, anytime. Artificial intelligence (AI) developments in POS software mean that instead of telling businesses how much product they have on-hand, POS systems can tell businesses exactly what they need to order and in what quantities.
The best POS software combines analytics and ease of use at a price point that is accessible for small businesses.
Square POS is free to use, and its core features are powerful enough on their own that you may not even need the optional add-ons to build out the POS system. If you do opt to upgrade, you’ll still likely pay less than some other POS systems. Get a free account today.
