Best overall POS system4.6From Free software, hardware from $49Square POS
Best for: Best overall POS system
Simple, flexible POS for small businesses with in-person and online payments, inventory, and reporting.
Square POS is our top pick for most small businesses. It offers free software, straightforward pricing, and a range of hardware so you can start small and scale. Payments, basic inventory, and reporting are all in one place. If you want a POS that is easy to set up and doesn’t lock you into long-term contracts, Square is a strong default.
Pros
- Free software tier and transparent pricing
- Wide range of hardware (terminals, stands, registers)
- In-person and online payments in one system
- Simple reporting and inventory for small operations
Cons
- Advanced retail or restaurant features require higher tiers
- Payment processing rates can add up at high volume
- Less depth than purpose-built retail or restaurant POS
Pricing: Square offers free POS software; hardware starts around $49. Payment processing is per transaction. Paid add-ons and advanced features are available for growing businesses.
Best POS for ecommerce stores4.5From From $39/mo (with Shopify plan)Shopify POS
Best for: Best POS for ecommerce stores
Unified POS for stores that sell online and in-person, with inventory sync and Shopify’s ecommerce ecosystem.
Shopify POS is the best fit when your primary sales channel is (or will be) a Shopify store. It keeps online and in-person sales, orders, and inventory in one place. If you already use Shopify for ecommerce or plan to, adding POS gives you a single system for both channels. The trade-off is the requirement to be on a Shopify plan.
Pros
- Single system for ecommerce and in-person sales
- Unified inventory and order management
- Strong ecosystem of apps and themes
- Good for brands building an online presence
Cons
- Requires a Shopify subscription
- Can be more than you need if you only sell in-person
- Hardware and pricing scale with plan tier
Pricing: Shopify POS is included with Shopify plans, which start around $39/month. Hardware is sold separately. Payment processing and add-ons vary by plan.
Best POS for retail businesses4.4From From ~$69/moLightspeed POS
Best for: Best POS for retail businesses
Retail-focused POS with robust inventory, multi-location support, and advanced retail workflows.
Lightspeed POS is built for retail. It offers deep inventory management, multi-location support, and reporting that fits stores with more complex operations. If you have (or plan to have) multiple locations, lots of SKUs, or need stronger purchasing and vendor management, Lightspeed is a strong choice. It’s more capable—and more involved—than general-purpose POS tools.
Pros
- Retail-focused inventory and reporting
- Multi-location and multi-store support
- Advanced retail workflows and integrations
- Scalable for growing retail operations
Cons
- Higher starting price than Square or simple tools
- Setup and training can take more time
- Overkill for very small or single-location shops
Pricing: Lightspeed typically starts around $69/month and scales with locations and features. Hardware and payment processing are separate. Quote-based for larger deployments.
Best POS for restaurants4.5From Quote (restaurant-focused)Toast POS
Best for: Best POS for restaurants
Restaurant-specific POS with table management, kitchen display, online ordering, and hospitality reporting.
Toast is purpose-built for restaurants. It handles tables, courses, kitchen display systems, online ordering, and tips in a way general-purpose POS systems don’t. If you run a full-service or quick-service restaurant and want one system for front and back of house, Toast is a top pick. Pricing is quote-based and scales with location size and features.
Pros
- Designed for restaurants and hospitality
- Table management and kitchen display
- Integrated online ordering and delivery
- Restaurant-specific reporting and labor tools
Cons
- Pricing is quote-based and can be high for very small operations
- Focused on restaurants—not ideal for retail-only
- Contract and hardware commitments may apply
Pricing: Toast pricing is custom and typically includes software, hardware, and payment processing. Expect quote-based pricing that scales with your restaurant size and needs.
Best POS hardware ecosystem4.3From From ~$69/mo (with hardware)Clover POS
Best for: Best POS hardware ecosystem
Flexible POS with a wide range of terminals, registers, and add-ons for various business types.
Clover stands out for hardware choice. You can run a simple counter setup, a full register, or a mobile station, with a large app market to extend functionality. If you want more say in terminals and peripherals and don’t mind a monthly hardware-related fee, Clover is a strong option. It works for retail, restaurants, and services.
Pros
- Wide variety of hardware (terminals, registers, handhelds)
- App market for added features
- Works for retail, restaurant, and service businesses
- Flexible configuration and add-ons
Cons
- Monthly costs typically include hardware
- Can feel fragmented compared to all-in-one platforms
- Some features require paid apps
Pricing: Clover often bundles software and hardware starting around $69/month. Payment processing and apps add to the cost. Plans vary by device and feature set.
Revel Systems
Vend POS (Lightspeed Retail)
TouchBistro
Epos Now