Best Retail POS System

Planning to start or upgrade your business's POS system? Learn which POS system best fits your needs! Read on.

Not all retail POS systems are the same. Getting the wrong one can be frustrating and a waste of money.

Some POS systems are best for new retail businesses, while others are made for established ones. Some keep your physical and online stores in sync. Others only focus on physical stores.

So, which one best fits your business needs? Check out our list of the best retail POS systems.

7 Best POS Systems for Retail

You'll want a retail POS system that works with your business' workflow. We're not just talking about finding the right hardware for taking payments with credit cards.

We mean every part of your workflow like inventory management, online store management, customer engagement, etc.

Let's start with an all-in-one option. An easy one.

1. Clover: Best all-in-one retail POS system

Clover is the best all-in-one retail POS system that can work seamlessly with your physical and online store. Choose from a set of hardware with sleek designs and flexible setups. And because it's cloud-based, you can access your data from any device.

Keep in mind that you can only use Clover's POS software with Clover hardware. So you can't use an equipment you already own.

Some of the features you'll get are for inventory management, cash flow, reporting, and managing employees and customers. You can also integrate other apps such as QuickBooks.

Let's get into the nitty-gritty.

• Features:

  When managing your inventory, you can set up notifications as needed, so you can focus on more demanding tasks as a business owner. For example, you can get notified of low inventory, so you can always have the stocks you need. You can also track product expiration dates.

  End-of-day reports such as gross sales, refunds, tips, server totals, and credit card transactions are available. Filter them to spot best-selling items and know your busiest operating schedule.

  To complement those busy schedules, your employees can also get notified of their upcoming shifts. That way, you can avoid no-shows and late employees.

• Hardware:

  There are two register setups available - Station Solo and Station Duo. These options are all-in-one and work best on your store countertops. But if you prefer a smaller countertop terminal, you can go for Clover Mini.

  For smaller retailers or on-the-go vendors, they also have a mobile reader, Clover Go, and Clover Flex, a handheld POS machine.

• Pricing:

  You can choose a monthly plan for hardware and software. Or pay full price for the hardware and go for a monthly software plan.

  The plans are:
  

  • Starter: $60/mo; $799 + $14.95/mo if you purchase the hardware
    
  • Standard:$135/mo; $1,799 + $49.95/mo if you purchase the hardware
    
  • Advanced:$185/mo; $2,398 + $64.90/mo if you purchase the hardware

• Processing Fees:

  Aside from providing a retail POS system, Clover is also a credit card processing company. You can accept credit, debit, NFC, and mobile payments from their devices. Or take gift checks and paper checks.

  Here's how much it'll cost for card-present transactions:^[1]
  

  • Starter: 2.6% + 10¢
    
  • Standard: 2.3% + 10¢
    
  • Advanced: 2.3% + 10¢

  Keyed-in transactions cost 3.5% + 10¢ for all plans.

  Pro tip: If you don't have a POS device, you can still accept payments through the Virtual Terminal. Keyed-in transaction rates will be used.
  

• Contract:

  1 year is the minimum contract with Clover, but you can terminate the contract early if you need to. Just provide a notice 30 days prior.^[2]

2. Square for Retail: Best for new retail stores

CREDIT SQUARE

Square for Retail is great if you're just starting out. It offers a free plan so you can sell without worrying about the costs of a POS. Its online dashboard will let you access your data from any device.

Speaking of devices, you'll get 1 free mobile swipe reader. But there's also a line-up of fully integrated equipment so you can choose what works best for your business.

Already have your own? Square also works with a number of third-party hardware accessories.^[3] And if you plan to sell online, you can even create a free website if you don't have one. Square's got the website builder for that.

Let's get into the details.

• Features:

  Square has limited features compared to its competitors. But it's enough to use as a simple POS system. You can get features on inventory management, reporting, employee management, and checkout. You can also integrate other software through the Square App Marketplace.

  Add GTIN or SKU codes on your products for inventory tracking. You can also set up item categories to look them up easily. In-store and online orders are synced for updates, together with your inventory.

  Also, sales reports let you compare the money you're making to your inventory. Other reports such as vendor sales, profit margins, and category reports are also available.

• Hardware:

  Similar to Clover, Square offers beautiful, sleek equipment. The options are:

  • Square Reader for Magstripe: First reader is free; the rest are $10
    
  • Square Reader for Contactless and Chip: $59
    
  • Square Terminal: $299
    
  • Square Register: $799
    
  • Square Stand: $149 (you can use your own iPad or buy one from Square)

  The Square Stand comes with a built-in card reader, so you don't need a separate one. The register, on the other hand, comes with a customer display and built-in reader. You can also purchase docks, receipt printers, barcode scanners, etc.

• Pricing:

  Square offers a free retail POS plan to help you get started. But if you need more features, the paid Retail Plus plan costs $60/mo/location.

  Since it costs you per location instead of per register, it's ideal if you need multiple hardware for a single location.

  There's also a premium plan that lets you set custom pricing. But it's more suitable if you're a large and established business.

• Processing Fees:

  You can only use Square's own payment processing service to accept payments. And transaction fees differ per plan and type of transaction.^[4]

  Free Plan
  

  • In-person payments: 2.6% + 10¢
    
  • Online payments: 2.9% + 30¢

  Plus Plan
  

  • In-person payments: 2.5% + 10¢
    
  • Online payments: 2.9% + 30¢

  For larger retailers, the Premium plan lets you set custom payment processing rates.

  Afterpay is a buy now, pay later option you can give your customers. It's available for all plans for free. It lets your customers pay in installments, but you get paid the full amount immediately. All transactions processed through Afterpay is 6% + 30¢.

• Contract:

  Contracts with Square are month-to-month. There are no termination fees if you cancel. Your contract will also renew every first of the month.^[5]

3. Lightspeed: Best for inventory management

Inventory management is a common and essential feature for a retail POS, and Lightspeed has it best. Aside from low stock alerts, you can reorder stocks easily through the built-in purchase orders. You can also manage product variants, make bulk pricing changes, and create unlimited barcodes.

It's a cloud-based inventory system, so you can manage your store from any device, anywhere. You can even manage multiple locations if you have them. It connects your physical and online stores so you know what's happening from any channel in real-time.

You can purchase hardware from Lightspeed, from third-party providers, or use what you already own. Just make sure the devices you use are supported.^[6]

• Features:

  Aside from inventory management, you can get features on customer engagement, reporting, eCommerce, and delivery. They also integrate with various apps such as BigCommerce and MailChimp.

  Lightspeed has great marketing and loyalty features as well. You can access SEO tools and can advertise on Facebook and Google. You can even set up birthday rewards to give your customers a treat.

  You can track customer purchases to understand their preferences, or you can ask for feedback. That way, you can engage with them for a better shopping experience.

• Hardware:

  Lightspeed offers iPad and desktop hardware kits, which suggests how you can set up your countertops.

  For an iPad kit, you can get:
  

  • Lightspeed iPad stand
    
  • Receipt printer
    
  • Cash drawer
    
  • Bluetooth scanner

  For a desktop kit, you can get:
  

  • USB receipt printer
    
  • Cash drawer
    
  • USB scanner

  Lightspeed doesn't include an iPad or a PC in these kits. You'll have to get your own. You can also purchase hardware individually if you prefer. Other accessories such as barcode scanners, printers, and mobile terminals are also available.

• Pricing:

  Lightspeed Retail offers varying plans per country. You can choose to pay monthly fees or make annual payments.

  Paying annually will help you save more. Additionally, Lightspeed's introductory price includes Retail POS and Lightspeed Payments.

  Here's the U.S. price if you choose to pay annually:^[7]
  

  • Lean: $139/mo
    
  • Standard: $199/mo
    
  • Advanced: $319/mo

  You can go for the Enterprise plan for custom pricing. All plans come with the POS software and 1 register. It's the features you can access that differ.

• Processing Fees:

  You can accept all major credit and debit cards with Lightspeed Payments, their in-house payment processing. You can also take payments from Apple Pay and Google Pay.

  They offer simple rates with no hidden fees which are:^[8]
  

  • Card-present rate: 2.6% + 10¢
    
  • Keyed-in rate: 2.6% + 30¢

• Contract:

  Lightspeed contracts can be month-to-month or per year. If you plan to terminate your contract early, you'll need to provide a notice at least 90 days before. Without an order form, provide the notice at least 30 days prior.^[9]

4. Shopify: Best for omnichannel retail

Shopify is more than an eCommerce store provider. It also offers an all-in-one POS system and has the best omnichannel features. Your Shopify store and POS sync seamlessly.

For example, through QR codes, a customer can scan a product in-person, to learn more about it from your online store. If customers ever decide to think about the purchase, they can buy the product online instead.

You can use any mobile device with the Shopify POS. Just download the Shopify Retail POS app on your smartphone or tablet. But they also have hardware available should you choose to purchase one.

Here's what you'll get in more detail:

• Features:

  Shopify POS features essentially revolve around omnichannel selling. But you can also get features on employee management, customer management, reporting, checkout, and marketing.

  You can set up products to be available online, in-person, or both. If you choose both, the sales online and in-person are unified. This gives customers shopping options such as pickups, deliveries, etc. Customer data is also fully synced.

  Plus, you can customize receipts with your website URL, operating hours, or promotions. That way, customers will know how and when to access your services.

• Hardware:

  Shopify offers POS Go as their mobile POS. But they also have card readers, tablet stands, barcode scanners, printers, and other accessories.

  You can go for their kits to make things easier. The retail kit includes a stand, a tap & chip reader, a dock, and a mounting kit.

  Other bundles are also available.

• Pricing:

  There are 2 pricing plans to take note of. There are the POS plans and the Shopify (eCommerce) plans.

  The POS plans include POS Lite and POS Pro. The Lite plan includes a mobile POS, while the Pro plan lets you have unlimited registers and unlimited staff.

  POS Lite is included in all eCommerce plans. Upgrading to POS Pro just costs an additional $89/mo/location.^[10]

  Shopify's eCommerce plans cost (billed yearly):
  

  • Basic: $29/mo
    
  • Shopify: $79/mo
    
  • Advanced: $299/mo

• Processing Fees:

  Shopify's Tap & Chip card reader lets customers pay through Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. But you can also accept contactless payments through an iPhone.

  Shopify Payments processing fees differ per plan, and whether the transaction's done online or in person.^[11]

  In-person payments:
  

  • Basic: 2.7% + 0¢
    
  • Shopify: 2.5% + 0¢
    
  • Advanced: 2.4% + 0¢

  Online payments:
  

  • Basic: 2.9% + 30¢
    
  • Shopify: 2.6% + 30¢
    
  • Advanced: 2.4% + 30¢

  The POS also works with third-party payment providers. Some of them include 2C2P, 2Checkout, Adven, Affirm, and Afterpay.

• Contract:

  You can opt for month-to-month or annually. You could save more if you pay annually instead of monthly.

  Discounts are applied when you pay upfront. You can also cancel your account any time.

5. Vend: Best for retail clothing store

Vend is another POS system by Lightspeed. It's used by over 20,000 stores worldwide and has good multi-outlet functionality, suitable for growing retail stores. Especially for a clothing retail, since you can transfer merchandise from one location to the next depending on demand.

It's a cloud-based POS, so your data is synced online. It's securely stored and backed up every hour. But even if the internet is down, the offline mode lets you keep the business running.

You can actually use your existing hardware with Vend. The software works with either Mac or PC. But you can also purchase hardware from them, including iPad products.

• Features:

  The centralized product catalog will help you manage inventory across different locations. You can make bulk changes to your products easily.

  And if you're looking to retain customers? You can issue store credits to keep them coming back. Brandable gift cards can help increase revenue, and seasonal discounts give your customers something to look forward to.

  If you have multiple branches, it can get confusing to understand what's going on in your business. You can create custom reports to help with that. Create one for sales, inventory, and customers.

  It's typical for a clothing store to also have an online store. If you have one, Vend has eCommerce integrations that will help you fulfill online orders from any location.

• Hardware:

  If you already have an iPad, you can use Vend's Display app to transform it to a customer display. Or just use the tablet as a POS through the Vend Register app.

  The iPad's camera can serve as a barcode scanner. But you can also connect an external one. Then, you'll just need to connect a receipt printer and you're good to go.

  You can purchase POS stands, printers, cash drawers, barcode scanners, and other consumables with Vend. You can even purchase an iPad.

• Pricing:

  Vend may be a flexible option for a POS, but it can get very pricey. The price increases when you have more registers and locations. This is unlike Square, which only charges per location.

  Vend by Lightspeed plans are priced on a monthly or annual basis. You'll save more if you pay annually.

  Here's how much it cost (billed annually):^[12]
  

  • Lean: $69/mo
    
  • Standard: $119/mo
    
  • Advanced: $199/mo

  The price per location is the same as the base price. Each additional register costs $59. The Enterprise plan will let you set custom pricing.

• Processing Fees:

  Vend can integrate with a third-party payment processor. It's especially useful if you're coming from a different POS and already use a specific processor. That said, you'll likely be using your current processing rates.

  If you opt for Lightspeed Payments, you'll be getting a free contactless payment terminal per location. The transaction fees are:^[13]
  

  • Card-present rates: 2.6% + $0.10
    
  • Card-not-present rates: 2.6% + $0.30

  You can accept payments from major credit and debit cards, and contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

  Keep in mind that you can only use Lightspeed payment terminals with Lightspeed Payments.

• Contract:

  The terms for Vend are the same as Lightspeed's. Contracts are either month-to-month or annual. To end your contract, you'll need to send a notice at least 90 days before.^[14]

  Without an order form, you can provide the notice at least 30 days before.

6. POS Nation: Best for small-scale retail businesses

POS Nation is not as big as the rest as it's used by over 10,000 customers. It's still one of the best, nonetheless, especially for small-scale retail businesses.

When you subscribe to the paid plan, you'll receive a complete set of hardware that's suitable for a single location. This can save you a lot on upfront costs.

You can also build your own system from scratch. This hybrid POS is fully customizable. And given that data is synced in the cloud, you can manage your store from anywhere you are.

• Features:

  What's great about POS Nation is that it uses AI in managing your inventory. It shows you which products make sales and earn you profits, and which are dead stock. You can make better decisions on which you should purchase more off, and which products need to go.

  You can also use hotkeys to customize the POS. You can sort products and navigate them quickly which reduces transaction time. It can also make it easier for your staff to operate.

  There are other features for customer engagement, marketing, reporting, and label and barcode printing.

• Hardware:

  The hardware bundle comes with both POS Nation pricing plans. That means you don't need to get your own. It includes a touch PC, receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, mini keyboard, and pinpads.

  You can also purchase other accessories you need. There's a handheld inventory device, a barcode printer, a tablet, etc.

• Pricing:

  POS Nation offers a monthly plan and another full-priced plan. You can also custom-build a plan to only pay for what you need.^[15]

  • Flex Monthly: $99/mo
    
  • Freedom: $999 upfront
    
  • Custom build: custom quote

  The Freedom option gives you the POS software for free with no fees. That way, you get to own the hardware without tying your business to a monthly fee.

  The Flex Monthly plan comes with POS software and hardware. You'll have to return the equipment once you cancel your subscription.

  Keep in mind that a WorldPay processing agreement is required for both.

  POS Nation charges a fee for monthly support. This can be a bummer given that other POS vendors provide unlimited support with the plan. Monthly support for POS Nation costs $39.99 per month which is a requirement.^[16]

• Processing Fees:

  Unfortunately, POS Nation doesn't disclose its processing fees. But it did mention that the rate is generally between 2% to 2.5%.^[17]

  However, you have more freedom with POS Nation. You might not need to leave your current payment processing provider if you already have one.

  They work with many third-party payment processors such as Heartland, Sterling Payment Technologies, and Worldpay.

  Pro tip: If you want to avoid processing fees, POS Nation makes it possible through Cash Discounting. It's a feature that comes with the POS and lets you pass the fees to your customers.

• Contract:

  POS Nation has no long-term contracts. You'll just need to return the devices once you cancel your subscription. They also don't take returns or refunds.^[18]

7. National Retail Solutions: Best for mid-sized to large businesses

National Retail Solutions or NRS is a little more popular than POS Nation, with over 19,000 businesses using it throughout the U.S. If you're a growing or established business, you can take advantage of NRS' flexibility and vast utility features.

For instance, preloaded UPCs and pricing options could optimize workflows. It also integrates with Boss Revolution which lets you expand your reach internationally. You can perform mobile top-ups, money transfers, pay bills, and make pinless calls.

It's a cloud-based POS that runs on Elmer software. Your POS won't easily get outdated since the software updates are done automatically. But the software only works with NRS hardware, so you can't use your own.

• Features:

  NRS has extra features that its competitors don't have which gives it an edge. You can add and manage your list of vendors through the "Vendors" feature. Or see an overview of how much you spend on each of them.

  If there's a power outage, your POS can still function for a few extra hours through the UPS battery backup. This keeps the business going and keeps the sales coming in.

  Generally, you'll get features on managing inventory, reporting, marketing, customer and employee management, and integrations. But premium features are available when you upgrade. You can get security camera integration, panic alarm button, etc.

• Hardware:

  NRS offers a POS bundle for a complete setup. It includes a retailer touch screen, customer-facing screen, credit card reader, barcode scanner, cash drawer, and receipt printer.

  You can purchase individual hardware if you don't need the complete setup. And if you opt for their in-house processing, you'll get a free card reader.

• Pricing:

  NRS has a complex pricing system. But that's also because there are a lot of upgrades to choose from, and the price differs depending on the processing agreement.

  It can get really confusing if you're choosing a plan, but here's a summary of how much their starting costs are. Discounts are applicable for the first year.

  The regular price for the hardware for all plans is $1,299. But you can get discounted prices which are:^[19]

  • POS w/ Buster Rate: $599
    
  • POS w/ Clean Rate: $699
    
  • POS w/o NRS Pay: $999
  With an in-house processing agreement, each additional POS terminal costs $19.95/mo. Without it, the terminal costs $24.95/mo.
  

  The Buster Rate and Clean Rate are the plans you can choose from regarding the processing agreement.

  The cost for the software is also affected by your payment processor.

  • Basic: $19.95/mo; $24.95/mo w/o NRS Pay
    
  • Pro: $29.95/ mo (for the first 12 months); $49.95/mo w/o NRS Pay
    
  • Advanced: $44.95/ mo (for the first 12 months); $69.95/mo w/o NRS Pay

• Processing Fees:

  NRS Pay is the in-house payment processing of NRS. You can accept credit and debit cards, contactless payments, EBT, and online transactions with it. It comes with 2 plans to choose from, each with its own transaction fees.^[20]

  • Clean rate: $10/mo per account; 2.49% + 10¢ fee for card-present transactions and 3.49% + 10¢ for card not present transactions

  • Buster rate: $49.95/mo for if you process less than $18,000 monthly. This option lets you pass the transaction fee to customers so you pay $0 out of pocket.

  The credit card reader requires a credit card processing agreement. But you can also integrate third-party processing which costs $29.95/mo/location.^[21]

  To avoid the additional monthly cost, you'll have to use NRS Pay for payment processing.

• Contract:

  Unfortunately, NRS requires a contract for your equipment with a minimum of 4 years. That means you'll have to stick it out whether or not it's best suited for your business.

  Your contract will also be renewed for periods of 4 years. If you wish to cancel your subscription, you'll need to provide a notice within 90 days.^[22]

Our Methodology

We first gathered information on what retailers or business owners need in their daily operations. We also took note of what they typically look for in a POS.

Then, we evaluated popular Retail POS providers to understand which among them were the best options. We also identified what they're best for (i.e., for inventory management).

Most POS providers offer similar features, so it's best to compare them side-by-side. We made sure that your options are flexible, scalable, and have the necessary features for retail.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What POS system do most retailers use?
  Clover is one of the most popular retail POS systems used by over 125,000 retailers. You can manage your physical and online store through it. It's customizable, has hundreds of integrations, and has sleek hardware options.

• Which POS system is the best?
  Square is one of the best retail POS systems for new stores. It comes with a free plan, so you can sell without spending upfront on your POS. You can use it with your own iOS device through its app. You can also build an online store for free.

• What is the best POS system for online retail store?
  Shopify is one of the best retail POS systems for online stores. It has omnichannel features that allow you also to integrate your physical store if you have one. You can personalize the features according to your needs.

• What is the best POS software for groceries and supermarkets?
  Lightspeed is best for groceries and supermarkets because it has the best inventory management features. You can make bulk pricing changes, use price books, or get notified of low stocks.

The Bottom Line

The best POS systems for retail offer bulk inventory support, scalability for growing businesses, and customizable pricing.

This system enables you to effectively manage your team and interact with customers for greater loyalty.

Certain POS vendors offer omnichannel features, allowing you to sync your online and physical stores to serve customers in different channels.

References