Convenience stores have unique needs that cannot always be met by a standard retail point-of-sale (POS) system. Convenience store (c-store) POS software should be able to handle fuel and gas pump monitoring and sales, age verification, and even food orders.
We considered over a dozen POS systems for pricing and setup, sales and checkout features, back office tools, ease of use, user reviews, and the overall value each system provides.
The best convenience store POS systems are:
- POS Nation CAP Retail: Best overall
- KORONA POS: Best budget option
- LS Forecourt: Best for high-traffic stores
- NCR: Best for selling gas
- Toast: Best for ease of use
- IT Retail: Best for self-checkout
Best Convenience Store POS Systems Compared
Our Score (out of 5) | Fuel Sales | Lottery Ticket Sales | Age Verification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.87 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | 4.68 | No | Yes | Yes |
 | 4.57 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | 4.33 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | 4.01 | No | No | No |
 | 3.98 | No | No | Yes |
Why You Can Trust Fit Small Business
I’ve been writing about retail topics—and point-of-sale software in particular—for over two years. I’ve researched, evaluated, and tested dozens of POS systems for a variety of specialized purposes (inventory management, ecommerce, in-person sales, etc.) and industries (retail, restaurant, services, etc).Read more about my methodology when assessing the systems for this guide to c-store POS systems. Whenever possible, I also tested the systems myself to get a feel for their ease of use and functionality.
Are you looking for something different? Check out our rankings of the best POS systems for small businesses and leading retail POS systems. Also see our lists of the best gas stations, grocery stores, vape shops, and liquor store POS systems.
POS Nation: Best Overall Convenience Store POS System
Pros
- Offers month-to-month contracts; you can cancel any time
- Supports fuel, lottery, and fresh food sales
- Subscription fee includes the cost of hardware
Cons
- No free trial
- Steep learning curve
Overview
Who should use it:
Convenience stores that want to offer fuel management, cigarette, liquor, lottery sales, and food service functions
Why we like it:
POS Nation is a locally installed POS with a cloud backup option, giving this system excellent offline functionality. It has a highly customizable interface, with hotkeys and different register layouts for various parts of your c-store.
The software’s age verification includes the ability to ID scan. It has strong inventory features, including tracking for individual items or cases, plus programmable discounts and deli management tools.
In addition, POS Nation has customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track buying patterns and create targeted promotions. Its bundle price includes hardware, and users give it high marks for ease of use.
Pricing
- Starter: $49 per month
- Software and customer support
- 2-year hardware warranty; free PIN pad
- Requires POS Nation processing agreement
- Growth: $69 per month
- Tools for higher sales volume and multiple locations
- Software and customer support
- 2-year hardware warranty; free PIN pad
- Requires POS Nation processing agreement
- Premium: $99 per month
- Premium features and custom tools
- Software and customer support
- 2-year hardware warranty; free PIN pad
- Requires POS Nation processing agreement
- Payment processing: Integrates with Mercury, Swipely, Worldpay, Heartland, and Sterling. Also offers its own payment processing.
- Contract length: Monthly plans can be canceled at any time.
Standout Features
- Flexible payment processing: POS Nation partners with multiple payment processors and accepts EBT. The bundled plans require POS Nation payment processing, however. It’s the most flexible on our list.
- Cash discounting: Offering discounts for cash can save you money spent on merchant fees for credit card processing. On this list, only POS Nation offers a built-in cash discounting module. However, with other systems, you could build a workaround using their general discounting functions.
- Lottery and fuel support: POS Nation accepts payments at the gas pump and supports lottery and Lotto ticket sales. LS Forecourt and NCR also have both these features; KORONA has some lottery sales and payout functions.
- Liquor management features: Along with KORONA and IT Retail, POS Nation offers great features for selling alcohol—ID scan, alcohol-regulation-specific reports, and product variants.
- Free web store: Customers are increasingly interested in ordering ahead or online to pick up; offering this feature can increase your local traffic. POS Nation offers a free web store.
KORONA POS: Best Budget C-store POS
Pros
- Unlimited free trial
- Includes lottery payout functions
- Integrates with all major payment processors
Cons
- Does not support fuel sales
- Food service functions are limited
Overview
Who should use it:
Small convenience stores on a tight budget and looking for a broad feature set at affordable monthly prices (and no long-term contracts) will love KORONA POS. Additionally, with its unlimited free trial option, you can set up a demo account and test the software for as long as you need.
Why we like it:
KORONA offers strong inventory features, including product sales tracking, demand forecasting, and purchase order functions. It’s also on our list of best POS systems, along with IT Retail.
The KORONA “accounts” setting lets you track lottery payouts directly in the POS. KORONA, like LS Forecourt, includes gift card functions for no additional charge.
Its cash tracking includes a “blind drop” setting so employees cannot see their tendered cash drop before counting the money in their drawer, which can help prevent employee theft. Customer service is excellent, and users praise the interface and support. You can’t integrate a payment processor, however.
Pricing
- Core: $59 per month
- Unlimited users and transactions
- Product database
- Ecommerce
- Retail: $69 per month
- Inventory management
- Customer management
- Real-time tracking
- Plus: +$20 per month, per terminal
- Advanced inventory management
- Advanced reports
- Multilocation tools
- Enterprise: Custom quote
- Hardware costs: Prices vary depending on the device, from $120 for a cash drawer to $3,000-plus for a complete terminal kit; you can contact KORONA for a detailed price sheet.
- Payment processing: Integrates with all major processors
- Contract length: Month to month; cancel anytime
- Free trial: Unlimited (you can’t integrate a payment processor, and there are low daily transaction limits)
Standout Features
- Anti-theft features: Granular employee permissions and detailed reporting are the cornerstones of KORONA’s anti-theft features. You can set the system to restrict any actions while the cash drawer is open and eliminate the ability to pop the cash drawer using a “no sale” function, for example. KORONA includes the option to require cashiers to blind drop their cash drawers at the end of their shift.
- Sales history: Not only does KORONA track sales history, but it automatically takes the sales history and promotional sales into account when determining when a product needs to be reordered. Other apps like IT Retail can do comparisons in reports, but you need to set the parameters manually.
- Customizability: Like POS Nation, KORONA has a lot of customizability, from the size of the buttons to the layout of the register. It also lets you customize workflows. You can set up quick keys and group hierarchies. It has 100 customizable reports available.
LS Forecourt: Best for High-traffic Stores
Pros
- Inventory includes supply forecasting
- Excellent fuel monitoring features
- Automatic wet stock (fuel) replenishing capability
Cons
- Need LS Retail hardware
- No pricing information online for LS Retail or Forecourt
Overview
Who should use it:
Busy convenience stores that need pump control with easy pricing settings, plus automated stock replenishments
Why we like it:
LS Retail’s Forecourt POS offers fantastic inventory tools, both for fuel and for stock, including foodstuffs. The cashiers have complete control of the pumps as needed, and can easily process discounts, gift cards, and loyalty programs. It has lottery, alcohol sales, loyalty, and other tools to manage transactions quickly and build your local customer base. In addition, it has food service capabilities for your snack bar, deli, or small restaurant.
Its retail tools are strong, too. You can create an online store, track inventory and set up low-stock alerts, and monitor sales. Like KORONA, it can help predict stock levels based on historical sales and business goals. You can pull up sales history by customer, too.
Pricing
- Subscription plans: LS Retail: Custom-quoted (>$99)
- LS Forecourt Controller: $399+
- Hardware costs: Custom-quoted
- One-time installation fees: Custom-quoted
- Payment processing: Custom-quoted
- Free trial: None
Standout Features
- Central pump control: Cashiers can authorize, pause, stop, and lock/unlock pumps. You can log drive-aways and refund money if customers don’t use their full prepay.
- Fuel inventory control: Get automatic readings of tank gauges and manually add data that is not automated, such as tank dip readings or delivery notes. LS Forecourt can automatically replenish wet stock based on sales history and stock levels.
- Full food service: Fuel your customers as well. LS Forecourt includes food service tools for managing the kitchen, creating meal deals, and tracking food to the ingredient level.
- Sales analytics and inventory: Use LS Forecourt’s sales history and forecasting tools to predict optimum stock levels throughout the year. LS Retail says it can decrease stock-outs by up to 85%.
- Loyalty management: You can set up in-store, online, and mobile loyalty schemes and offers with a click of a button.
NCR: Best for Selling Gas
Pros
- Operates on iPads or industry-grade Android touchscreens
- POS package includes installation
- Fuel management tools, self-service kiosks, and ordering from the pump
Cons
- Contract terms vary based on reseller
- All pricing requires a custom quote
Overview
Who should use it:
Convenience stores that want to offer a broad range of services to customers, especially self-checkout and pay-at-pump options
Why we like it:
With NCR you can create a complete end-to-end POS, payment, and technology solution that includes fuel sales, foodservice, and retail. It offers self-checkout, pay-at-the-pump, in-store payments, and a range of supported payment processors. NCR also lets you apply customer rewards points at the POS terminal or the pump. It has customizable video functions that can promote loyalty programs and even let customers order food at the pump.
It also offers an open application programming interface (API), so you can build customized solutions with your preferred third-party apps.
NCR POS lost some ground when it came to price. It requires a custom quote to determine your overall cost. It also uses a reseller system to sell its POS. Price and contract terms can vary by reseller, so it is hard to tell if you’re getting the best deal.
Pricing
- Subscription plans: Custom-quoted
- Hardware costs: Custom-quoted
- One-time installation fees: Custom-quoted
- Payment processing: Custom-quoted
- Contract length: Varies based on reseller
- Free trial: None
Standout Features
- Tamper-evident pay-at-the-pump: NCR’s OPTIC payment terminal processes payments at the fuel pump. It syncs with your loyalty program and features a dynamic touchscreen to display discounts and promotions. The OPTIC terminal is tamper-evident with a real-time remote tamper alert and supports E2EE data encryption to secure customer payment information. The terminals are weatherproof and waterproof to withstand the harshest weather and come in two different sizes—12 inches and 5 inches—to fit most major pumps.
- FastLane SelfServ checkout: Like IT Retail, NCR supports multiple self-checkout configurations. You can choose self-checkout stands with small or large footprints to fit any type of convenience store layout.
- AI-supported theft detection: NCR’s SmartAssist module combines smart cameras with artificial intelligence to detect intentionally missed scans at self-checkout kiosks and other types of consumer fraud. It can alert you before the customer has completed their transaction and left the store, decreasing shrinkage due to theft at the checkout counter. NCR is currently the only option on this list with such an advanced anti-theft solution.
- Loyalty rewards program: NCR’s loyalty program awards dividends to members, as a distribution of the store’s earnings. Customers can choose to use the dividends they earn as a form of payment during transactions or even cash out during a sale or after a dividend balance inquiry.
Toast: Best for Ease of Use
Pros
- Pay-as-you-go hardware option
- Full set of back-office features
- Easy to operate and well-liked by users
Cons
- No fuel management or lottery sales functions
- 2-year contract
- Locked into Toast payment processing
Overview
Who should use it:
Convenience stores that want affordable POS subscriptions and a pay-as-you-go hardware plan; stores that want comprehensive and easy-to-use back office tools.
Why we like it:
Though primarily known as a restaurant POS system (it’s our top choice in this category, in fact), Toast has begun expanding into different business types such as hybrid restaurant-and-retail businesses. As a convenience store POS, it offers features for cash management and tracking, stock replenishment and purchase ordering, and age verification (via integration). It’s also quite easy to use, with strong user reviews, an offline mode, mobile hardware solutions, and 24/7 support.
However, Toast does not offer fuel management or lottery sales tools. You will also need to commit to a two-year contract if you want to use this POS.
Pricing
- Starter Kit: $0+ per month
- Table and order management
- Digital menus
- Basic staff management
- Point of Sale: $69+ per month
- Toast Mobile Order & Pay add-on
- Toast Retail add-on
- Advanced staff management and reporting add-ons
- Build Your Own: Custom pricing
- Hardware:
- Upfront costs: $799.20 to $1,339.20 plus $69 to $99 per month; processing at 2.49% + 15 cents
- Pay-as-you-go option: $0 upfront and $0 per month; processing at 3.09% + 15 cents
Standout Features
- Toast Retail: Toast can manage both food service businesses and retail businesses. You can track stock-keeping units, keep tabs on inventory, view unified reports and analytics, and generate and print barcodes, all on a centralized platform—regardless of your business type. These tools will be handy in a convenience store that sells food and beverages as well as retail items such as personal care products.
- Robust reports and analytics: Toast’s reporting capabilities are both detailed and flexible; you can view granular data in real time from anywhere, on a desktop or mobile device. Check sales, menu, and labor data; compare performance between different store branches; and filter data based on day of the week, specific item, and more.
- Pay-as-you-go hardware option: Toast gives you two options for obtaining hardware: upfront and pay-as-you-go. With the former, you’ll pay an upfront cost as well as a smaller monthly fee, plus standard payment processing rates. With the latter, you won’t pay any upfront costs or recurring fees at all, but you must commit to a higher processing rate. For both options, you own the hardware immediately. As far as hardware options, Toast offers countertop and mobile POS terminals, plus you can connect scanners and scales for a full set-up.
IT Retail: Best for Self-checkout
Pros
- Excellent self-checkout options
- Theft monitoring
- Multiple ecommerce integrations
Cons
- No fuel management tools
- No free trial
- Hardware and higher-tier subscriptions require custom price quotes
Overview
Who should use it:
Convenience stores that want to offer or emphasize self-checkout and don’t need fuel management tools
Why we like it:
While, like KORONA, it lacks fuel management tools, IT Retail nonetheless is a very complete convenience store POS. Because it was designed for grocery stores, it has expiration-date inventory as well as ID verification for alcohol sales and lottery ticket sales. It tracks cashier performance like KORONA, too, and offers a strong loyalty program. IT Retail scored well for its anti-theft features, strong inventory tools, and extensive checkout options.
The touch screen is customizable to speed sales transactions, and users praise the program for its ease of use. IT Retail also has the most comprehensive options for self-checkout terminals of any system on this list.
Lack of fuel monitoring is a downside, though. This system can also get pretty pricey since the hardware starts at $2,000 per lane. However, the system operates on a lot of popular third-party hardware—like Epson receipt printers—so you may be able to reuse some of your existing hardware.
Pricing
- Starter: $69 per month
- Software and customer support
- Lifetime warranty
- Requires IT Retail processing agreement
- Growth: $99 per month
- Tools for higher sales volume and multiple locations
- Software and customer support
- Hardware included, plus a 2-year hardware warranty
- Requires IT Retail processing agreement
- Premium: $149 per month
- Premium features and custom tools
- Software and customer support
- 2-year hardware warranty
- Requires IT Retail processing agreement
- Contract length: Monthly plans can be canceled at any time.
Standout Features
- Grocery-strength Inventory: IT Retail has a lot of special functions for produce and other types of food items. For example, it has shrink inventory for tracking food used in-store or that expires and bottle deposit functions. It is our best grocery POS system (POS Nation is also on the list).
- Dynamic Ecommerce Integrations: Like POS Nation, IT Retail can provide an online store, plus, it integrates with several grocery-related ecommerce solutions such as Mercato, Freshop, My Cloud Grocer, and Instacart. You can get discounts on some of these. (KORONA integrates with WooCommerce only).
- Line-free Checkout and Order Ahead: IT Retail has partnered with FutureProof to provide special apps that let customers order ahead and check out through their mobile devices. No other software on our list offers this. Even more, you can get the line-free mobile checkout program free. It also has a self-checkout register if you prefer.
How We Evaluated C-store POS Systems
We examined a dozen of the leading retail and convenience POS systems in detail. To make the cut, we looked for fuel sales, lottery ticket sales management, age verification (for tobacco and liquor sales), and robust cash management tools. POS systems need at least two of the four to compete in our evaluation. Next, we examined the checkout, inventory, and employee management features.
Overall, POS Nation proved to be the best POS system for convenience stores. With a score of 4.87 out of 5, it excelled in every category. It offers age-verification tools, anti-theft protection, and robust inventory functions such as tracking for perishables, case breaks, and carton packs. Plus, the system has employee management functions designed for high-volume businesses like blind and forced cash drawer counts.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria:
10% of Overall Score
In addition to overall affordability, we looked at features like setting up discounts, integrated payment processing, and the number of allowed transactions for the plan.
35% of Overall Score
The ability to take contactless payments was a must. Here, we also looked for fuel and lotto sales, age verification, and online ordering.
20% of Overall Score
We looked at how well the system could track cash, inventory, and employee activity, with features from time tracking to automatic reordering.
15% of Overall Score
POS systems are bound to break at the oddest times, so we favored 24/7 live support. This is especially important for c-stores, which often operate extended hours if not 24/7. We also looked for offline modes.
20% of Overall Score
In addition to our expert evaluation of the features, we looked at the experts in the field—people who use the software—by reading reviews from reputable sites like Capterra, G2, and Software Advice, as well as our own readers’ reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click through the sections below to learn more about what convenience store POS systems can do and what to look for in one.
A convenience store POS system is a POS system that can handle the ring-ups of the average c-store. This usually means food and non-food products, fuel sales, restricted products like alcohol and tobacco, and sometimes even self-service stations or snack bars.
The best POS systems for convenience stores offer a combination of retail, food sales, and fuel. They are easy to use and have strong security features, plus they offer strong inventory tools including expiration date tracking and wet inventory for gas or diesel.
Our evaluation determined that POS Nation is the best POS System for most convenience stores—though stores that sell gas will be better served by NCR Silver or LS Forecourt.
Convenience store POS systems can be pricey compared to other types of POS. Expect to spend at least $60-$150 per month per terminal. You will also need to pay upfront for hardware and budget for credit card processing fees which average 2-3% of your sales.
Bottom Line
POS Nation is the best POS for all types of convenience stores. Whether you own a grab-and-go corner store in a city center or a suburban fuel stop, POS Nation has the tools you need. With the ability to purchase the software month-to-month or with one upfront payment, this system fits any budget. To see if POS Nation is a fit for your c-store, contact them for a demo.