A multichannel POS system enables businesses to sell in-store, online, and on the go—all from a centralized program. Each of the multichannel POS software mentioned in this guide offers unified inventory, customer, and order management tools. The best systems are those that connect to several online sales channels and other business management software for under $100 per month.
The top multichannel POS systems for 2021 are:
- Shopify: Best overall multichannel POS with native ecommerce and online marketplace sales tools
- Lightspeed Retail: Best POS for retailers with multiple locations or robust inventories
- Square: Best free multichannel POS for small stores and cafes
- Toast: Best multichannel POS for restaurants
How We Chose the Top 4 Multichannel POS Systems
We compared the most popular multichannel POS systems based on what’s important to small businesses, including pricing, general features, multichannel tools, and ease of use. We also took into account our retail and restaurant POS expert’s personal evaluations of each software.
We only considered systems that are affordable for small businesses and are extremely easy to use—requiring no technical expertise to set up and no taxing maintenance processes. Because a multichannel system is a specific type of POS that is meant for selling online and in-person, all of the software in this list also have native ecommerce or online ordering platforms.
Based on our criteria, Shopify is the best multichannel POS. The software received the highest overall score according to our grading system for multichannel software (4.8 out of 5). Click through the tabs in the box below to view our full evaluation criteria.
10% of Overall Score
First, I looked at whether or not the software offers multiple plan options, and if additional POS registers cost under $50. Small businesses are typically looking for an affordable plan that also scales as their needs change and grow. I also checked if the plans allowed unlimited numbers of users, products, and sales turnovers, and whether or not it has an integrated payment processing function (and if it is offered for free or for a fee). Another criterion considered was if it provided discounted packages for volume processing.
20% of Overall Score
Every small business needs to monitor its inventory, manage employees, and accept different types of payments, so I considered these as well. I also examined whether its cloud reporting tools are templated or customizable and if the software provides solutions for customer management.
30% of Overall Score
I examined how expansive each software’s multichannel capabilities are and determine whether or not it offers online ordering and curbside pickup solutions, an online store builder, and delivery. Another important criterion in this evaluation is the types of online sales channels it integrates with (e.g., social media and ecommerce sites).
20% of Overall Score
It is important for small businesses to have an open line of communication with their POS provider, so I included customer service hours in this review. I also looked into if it is cloud-based, offers touch screen solutions, and can continue to function even without an internet connection.
20% of Overall Score
Finally, I considered any other standout features of a POS system and whether or not the software and hardware options provide good value. I also judged each system’s popularity to ensure that it is widely used and reviewed, and then awarded points based on my experience interacting with the software itself and the company’s support team.
Shopify
PROS
- Robust, user-friendly ecommerce platform for online sales
- Has a free POS option
- Sophisticated omnichannel sales features
- Available to use worldwide
- Integrates with many sales channels (e.g., Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram)
CONS
- Complicated pricing scheme (POS and ecommerce apps are purchased separately)
- Limited functionality on its free POS app
- Cash tracking is available only with a Shopify POS Pro plan
- Additional registers are expensive (more than $50)
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Multichannel Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Shopify POS is the best overall for small businesses because it marries a robust online selling platform with a user-friendly and affordable system. The software enables you to perform all the essential tasks that an online and brick-and-mortar seller would need, including retail and ecommerce transactions, inventory management, payment processing, employee management, marketing and promotions, cloud reporting, and customer relationship management.
Shopify’s integrated sales channels, shipping tools, and online store builder earned it perfect scores in our evaluation of its multichannel features. Shopify also earned points for its ease of use, contactless payments feature, and online ordering and delivery capabilities. However, the lack of customizable reporting tools and the high costs of adding additional registers under Shopify Pro prevented Shopify from earning a perfect score.
Shopify Pricing
- Software subscription fees: $0 for basic POS Lite; $89 for POS Pro. Shopify POS Lite is only available with Shopify Ecommerce subscriptions, which cost anywhere from $9 to $299 per month. Meanwhile, POS Pro is free for enterprise users under the Shopify Plus plan.
- Hardware costs: Shopify POS offers several hardware options for in-store selling and mobile sales (iOS and Android devices), though these are purchased separately.
- For US-based payment processing via Shopify Payments, you can purchase the provider’s Bluetooth-enabled chip and swipe card reader ($29) or the tap and chip card reader ($49). Those outside the US will have to contact the Shopify sales team to find out which devices are compatible.
- The Shopify store also sells hardware separately—including cash drawers ($139), receipt printers (starts at $289), and barcode printers and scanners (starts at $229).
- If you want an all-in-one package, the most basic set is the Shopify Retail Kit, which costs $229 and includes a tap and chip reader, a reader dock, a retail stand for iPad, a mounting kit, and a mini dock cable. You will still need to purchase an iPad separately.
- Installation fees: There are no setup fees, and most users can set up their POS system independently or with assistance via remote support.
- Processing fees: Transaction fees via Shopify Payments depend on your plan and range from 2.4% + 30 cents to 2.9% + 30 cents for online credit cards and 2.4% to 2.7% for in-person card payments. All subscriptions come with free fraud analysis.
Shopify provides everything you need to manage your business, reach your market, and sell everywhere from a centralized dashboard. (Source: Shopify)
Shopify Standout Features
- Shopify POS: It is a user-friendly, touch-screen app that syncs with ecommerce and has a centralized back office solution. You can create custom payments types, sell and redeem gift cards, manage store credit, and toggle between multiple live checkout screens all at once.
- Shopify POS Pro: Pro has omnichannel selling features, smart inventory management (demand forecasting, sale suggestions, and inventory analysis), cash tracking and sales reports, plus unlimited staff logins with custom permission settings and commission tracking.
- Ecommerce platform: Create an online store with a drag-and-drop store builder with mobile-responsive themes and HTML and CSS edit access, SEO tools, and built-in secure payment processing.
- Inventory and order management: Shopify POS syncs all order, customer, inventory, and sales data across channels. Use built-in shipping tools and order management workflows. However, reporting options are limited.
- Multiple online sales channels: Sell on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. The app also allows you to ship and deliver locally.
- Marketing and customer management: Build customer profiles with purchase histories, automate abandoned cart recovery and other email campaigns, and create targeted Instagram, Facebook, and Google Shopping ads.
- Customer support: Shopify POS provides 24/7 customer support via email, chat, and phone.
What Shopify Is Missing
Shopify POS does not have native employee management tools for scheduling, and it has limited staff management capabilities outside of individual PIN logins. The other POS systems we evaluated have staff reports and time-tracking available in all of their plans. Shopify’s checkout page isn’t adjustable, which makes it challenging to set custom messages.
At the time this review was written (Nov. 6, 2020), the provider has not yet launched a native feature for setting up online orders that can be picked up in-store, though it does allow integrations with many store pickup apps. If this feature is essential to your business, then consider using Square.
Lightspeed
PROS
- Robust centralized management tools
- Built-in payment processing
- Native ecommerce platform
- Free trial and onboarding
CONS
- Expensive for small businesses
- Complex system; steep learning curve
- No built-in local delivery tool (only via third-party integration)
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Multichannel Features | 4 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based POS system that’s functional across multiple retail locations and online. It is recommended for large businesses that have several brick-and-mortar locations and high inventory volumes. It also has an ecommerce platform that allows you to sell your products across your website and social media. Moreover, Lightspeed Retail is suited for specialty shops and boutiques that require detailed inventory tracking solutions.
Lightspeed Retail’s multiple online sales channels, web store builder, and online ordering tools are what earned it a high score in our evaluation of multichannel features. However, unlike Shopify, it fell short on the number of integrated sales channels and shipping tools. On the upside, Lightspeed Retail earned a perfect score for its inventory management, CRM, employee management, and cloud reporting capabilities, which is why it is second to Shopify in this review.
In the News: Lightspeed Supplier Network
On January 12, 2021, Lightspeed launched a supplier network that allows retailers greater efficiency and visibility into their supply chains. With the network, retailers can discover products, submit purchase orders, and track shipments from within Lightspeed POS.
Lightspeed Retail Pricing
- Software subscription fees: Monthly fees for Lightspeed Retail range from $79 to $259 per month, and all plans include one register, one payment terminal, unlimited products and transactions, and POS and payment processing capabilities. Additional registers cost $29 per unit, per month. Enterprise-level customers with high inventory volumes can contact its sales team to negotiate customized pricing.
- Hardware costs: Lightspeed Retail is a browser-based POS software that runs on any computer or iPad. You can use your own hardware, or purchase its proprietary devices from the Lightspeed store separately or as a set. Starter kits range from $500 to $1,000, depending on the inclusions. Individual items for purchase include cash drawers, mobile card readers, barcode scanners, and countertop stands.
- Installation fees: Lightspeed Retail offers guided setup and onboarding remotely and for free.
- Processing fees: Card payments are processed via Lightspeed Payments, which adopts a one-rate pricing model. The provider charges 2.6% + 10 cents for card-present payments and 2.6% + 30 cents for card-not-present transactions.
Lightspeed Retail syncs your ecommerce store with your physical inventory, so you have more time to focus on growing your business. (Source: Lightspeed)
Lightspeed Retail Standout Features
- Web and app-based POS: Lightspeed is the only POS on this list that offers a browser-based register and checkout interface. You also have the option of using Lightspeed’s iPad app. The cloud-based system updates in real time, so reports and data are accessible from anywhere.
- Ecommerce: Lightspeed Ecommerce syncs with the POS data for centralized reporting. It also comes with over 50 themes, marketing, CRM, and SEO features, and integrated shipping and order management tools. It does not offer local delivery, though, but this can easily be addressed by integrating with a third-party app.
- Inventory management: Lightspeed’s inventory management is high-end—with options to bulk upload up to 10,000 SKUs at once. You can also manage purchase orders with an integrated product catalog (Lightspeed has over 3,000 built-in), set low stock alerts, and account for product variants, bundles, and unit costs.
- Analytics: Lightspeed Analytics is a powerful yet user-friendly reporting platform with over 40 built-in reports. It also offers customized report builders, options to view data in graphs and other visualization styles, and guides on how to use each report to grow your business.
- Management tools: Lightspeed Accounting integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage with automatic updates. The software also tracks employee performance KPIs and integrates with over 45 other third-party programs, including solutions for scheduling, customer service, and subscription management.
- Online sales channels: Lightspeed allows you to sell on Facebook.
- Customer support: 24/7 support is available via phone, chat, and email.
What Lightspeed Retail is Missing
The most glaring omission in Lightspeed is its inability to sell products on Instagram via Lightspeed Ecommerce. This is odd because you can sell your wares on Facebook and list them on Instagram—just not sell them. Otherwise, the software’s biggest flaw is that it can be a pricey solution if you opt for the plans that have the analytics add-on (which is one of its best features). Finally, because Lightspeed Retail offers highly granular control options, it’s also much more complicated to use than a straightforward inventory solution.
Square
PROS
- Free POS and online store
- User-friendly interface
- Can accept payments anywhere
- Has native scheduling and time-tracking features
CONS
- Limited native CRM and inventory management features
- Large companies could outgrow the platform
- Account stability issues
- Customer support limited to business hours only
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Multichannel Features | 3.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Square is arguably the biggest name in mobile payment processing. Square POS is free to use and packs sophisticated features into a very sleek and user-friendly interface. In addition, the app lets users create an online store for free to sell items for shipping, pickup, or local delivery. All data from in-person and online orders sync in Square’s Dashboard.
Square POS comes third in the ranking because although it earned a perfect score for pricing, its multichannel features—specifically integrated sales channels and online store building tools—are not as expansive as the first two software. Square also does not offer 24/7 customer support, which is crucial for small and growing businesses.
Square Pricing
- Software subscription fees: The Square POS app is free. The only costs are for hardware, processing card payments, and availing add-on features—such as loyalty ($25 per month), team management ($5 per employee, per month), and payroll ($29 per month, plus $5 per employee).
- Hardware costs:
- All new Square accounts come with one free magstripe reader for accepting credit card payments (additional readers cost $10 each). This device connects to an iOS or Android device. For more secure transactions, you can purchase its EMV/chip card reader for $49.
- If you want a desk-based POS setup, you can buy the stand for contactless and chip payments at $169 (also payable in 12 months at zero interest).
- For those who want an all-in-one package, Square offers two full POS systems: Square Terminal ($299 or $27 per month for 12 months) and Square Register ($799 or $39 per month for 24 months).
- Installation fees: There are no installation and startup fees for Square POS, and assistance for hardware setups is provided remotely.
- Processing fees: Square POS charges 2.6% + 10 cents per tap, dip, or swipe of a card. Businesses that process over $250,000 in card sales monthly and have an average transaction value of at least $15 can contact its sales team for customized pricing packages.
Square offers all-in-one hardware packages at zero-interest installments. (Source: Square)
Square Standout Features
- Square POS: Free POS app with built-in payment processing, inventory tracking, offline mode, reports, and customer management, including feedback collection.
- Square Online: Your account comes with free Square Online access, which lets you create an online store or set up a checkout page. This account auto-syncs with Square POS, so you are always updated with counts and never over-sell. Square Online includes a drag-and-drop online store builder, flexible integrated delivery and pickup settings, detailed product pages, and connected shoppable Instagram posts.
- Square Dashboard: View sales, inventory, and customer data; access your online store; manage orders; and manage add-ons/upgrades.
- Order management: Easily enable and configure built-in shipping, pickup, and local delivery fulfillment options.
Inventory management: Add items to your inventory one at a time or import all data in one go using a CSV file. You can also monitor your stocks via your mobile device while connected to the internet, and the app can be configured to send you daily alerts whenever an item starts to run low or is already out of stock. - Customer relationship management (CRM): Square POS gives you access to a customer directory, where you can save data and payment information for further purchases. You can also add new clients directly from the POS screen and input their phone numbers, email addresses, payment methods used, and other data.
- Online sales channels: Square POS lets you sell on Facebook and Instagram.
Reporting: Its data analytics feature lets you view a wide range of templated reports on your sales, inventory, and customers. You can easily see your average sales for a certain period, which hours are the busiest, how many of your customers are new or repeats, and more. - Customer support: You can speak to a live customer service representative from Monday to Friday during business hours.
What Square is Missing
Because Square POS is free, the app is missing certain features that other multichannel POS systems provide—like robust inventory management. For example, Square POS’ free version does not cover barcode generation, profitability reports, and purchase order management. However, you will likely find these apps in the Square App Marketplace as paid add-ons.
Toast
PROS
- Detailed restaurant-specific features
- Built-in online ordering and delivery
- Centralized payroll, reporting, and inventory management
- Customizable and easy to use
CONS
- Pricey add-ons
- Android-only operating system
- No free trial
- Mandatory installation fees
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Multichannel Features | 3 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Toast is a cloud-based restaurant POS system that offers online ordering and delivery tools, self-order kiosk options, traditional POS terminals, and handheld mobile terminals for tableside ordering. This software is customizable and is well-reviewed as very easy to use. It also offers robust back-office and team management tools.
Although still packed with solid POS features, Toast POS ranks last in this evaluation because of its limited integrated sales channels and store builder tools. Other areas where it fell short include CRM (which is offered as a paid add-on) and employee management (basic settings only). In addition, extra registers cost over $50. On the upside, Toast POS scored well for its inventory management, cloud reporting, and online ordering features, which are most important to restaurants.
Toast Pricing
- Software subscription fees: Toast POS’ monthly fees for all-in-one plans range from $90 to $290 per month, with the cloud-based POS app, payment processing tools, and customer care services as basic features. Other key capabilities—like online ordering and delivery, gifts cards and loyalty, and the Toast Takeout app—are offered as add-ons.
- Hardware costs: The cost of hardware is separate from your monthly plan for the POS software, and Toast sells devices separately or as a customized package. To give you an idea, the Toast Starter Kit costs $1,525 (plus $200 if you want to add a guest-facing display). This includes the POS software, Toast Flex, Toast Tap, and a router.
- Installation fees: Mandatory one-time upfront fees—which start at $499—are for installation and hardware, depending on your business’ setup requirements and your preferred hardware packages. You can also apply for zero-interest financing for such costs, subject to credit approval.
- Processing fees: All Toast plans allow you to process card payments, and the provider charges a flat rate for all transactions. This flat fee is customized and is based on the types and numbers of cards that your business handles.
Toast offers a wide range of solutions for mobile, countertop, kiosk, and online checkout. (Source: Toast)
Toast Standout Features
- All-in-one software: Toast bundles POS, payment processing, payroll, team management, online ordering and delivery, and restaurant management tools (like menu creating and recipe costing) all under one system.
- Restaurant POS: Handle front-of-house operations with menu management, table mapping and order tracking, tableside ordering, and payment and customer feedback collection tools. Back-of-house management tools include digital kitchen displays that automatically show dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders.
- Online ordering: Most restaurant POS systems connect with third-party delivery services, but Toast has a native system that includes options for creating a website and menus that are automatically updated. This way, you can avoid the fees associated with delivery apps.
- Restaurant-ready hardware: Toast’s spill-proof rated hardware are guaranteed to withstand the rigors of a busy restaurant environment. They are also designed to accept all types of payments, including tap, dip, and swipe.
- Payroll and team management: Although offered as a paid add-on, Toast has its own payroll and staff tracking tool that syncs with your POS system. This tool can perform time and attendance tracking, overtime monitoring, and compliance and labor reporting and insights.
- Online sales channels: Toast POS lets you sell on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
- Customer support: 24/7 support is offered via phone, chat, and email.
What Toast is Missing
Toast POS does not offer a free trial, though it provides a demo. You also have to purchase its proprietary hardware and use its built-in payment processing tools. While this makes Toast a convenient, all-in-one package, it also means that you can’t save on costs by shopping around for better pricing options. In addition, if you prefer iOS operating systems, then you’re out of luck with Toast, as it only supports Android devices.
Bottom Line
Of all the multichannel POS systems we evaluated, Shopify offers the most robust features at an affordable price. It combines a popular, top-rated ecommerce platform with a user-friendly and free POS app, as well as native integrations to social media and online marketplaces. That’s on top of a centralized dashboard to manage orders and inventories small and large, all in real time. Shopify also offers a 90-day free trial, so you can explore whether it’s the right POS system for you.
Vanessa Doctor contributed to this article
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