BND Hamburger Icon

MENU

Close
BND Logo
USAOpen row
Search Icon
Advertising Disclosure
Close
Advertising Disclosure

Business News Daily provides resources, advice and product reviews to drive business growth. Our mission is to equip business owners with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. As part of that, we recommend products and services for their success.

We collaborate with business-to-business vendors, connecting them with potential buyers. In some cases, we earn commissions when sales are made through our referrals. These financial relationships support our content but do not dictate our recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates products based on thousands of hours of research. We are committed to providing trustworthy advice for businesses. Learn more about our full process and see who our partners are here.

Updated Jul 30, 2024

The Best POS Systems of 2024

For a POS system that can manage payments, track inventory, and provide key sales reports, you can’t go wrong with our best picks.

author image
Written By: Jamie JohnsonBusiness Operations Insider and Senior Analyst
Verified Check With BorderEditor Reviewed:
Verified Check With Border
Editor Reviewed
Close
This guide was reviewed by a Business News Daily editor to ensure it provides comprehensive and accurate information to aid your buying decision.
Adam Uzialko
Business Strategy Insider and Senior Editor
Business News Daily earns compensation from some listed companies. Editorial Guidelines.

The best POS systems on the market are equipped with the tools businesses need to process sales quickly, track high-selling products and retain customers with inventive loyalty programs. As a new business, choosing a top POS system can be critical to your success, allowing you to offer things like customer loyalty programs and engage in proactive inventory management. 

Whether you opt for a retail-specific solution like Shopify, a restaurant-focused setup from Toast or a versatile system with Clover or Square, today’s POS programs modernize the selling process to drive revenue and growth. After testing leading POS systems and lesser-known platforms, we determined the best POS platforms that can give small businesses an edge.

Sponsored Partners
Clover POS
Best for Overall Value
Clover company logo
Visit Site
Links to Clover POS
  • Starts at $14.95 per month
  • Cannot use third-party processor
  • 90-day free trial
Toast
Best for Hardware
toast company logo
Visit Site
Links to Toast
  • Offers free version
  • Cannot use third-party processor
  • No free trial
Lightspeed
Best for Retail
lightspeed company logo
Visit Site
Links to Lightspeed
  • Starts at $69 per month 
  • Can use third-party processor
  • 14-day free trial
CAKE
Best for Customer Experience
Cake logo
Visit Site
Links to CAKE
  • Starts at $69 per month
  • Can use third-party processor
  • No free trial
Square POS
Best Mobile POS System
Square company logo
Visit Site
Links to Square POS
  • Offers free version
  • Cannot use third-party processor
  • 30-day free trial
Table Of Contents Icon

Table of Contents

Open row

At Business News Daily, we’ve spent years researching and testing the technology that enables entrepreneurs to accomplish their goals and scale their businesses more efficiently. Our team of small business tech specialists conducts independent evaluations of the best technology platforms to determine which best meet the needs of small business owners. We also regularly consult with technology experts. including IT professionals, developers, implementation specialists and cybersecurity professionals, to stay on top of the latest tech trends impacting small businesses. And every review we publish is evaluated by our editorial staff to ensure objectivity, accuracy and fairness are at the core of our decision-making. Learn more about our editorial guidelines.

How We Decided

When choosing our picks for the best POS systems, our team of small business tech experts attended live demonstrations, conducted firsthand testing and engaged in thorough research to find the most effective platforms on the market. We started by examining pricing and plans to determine which vendors had the best options for small businesses. Then, we examined the most important features in each POS...

Read MoreRead More

When choosing our picks for the best POS systems, our team of small business tech experts attended live demonstrations, conducted firsthand testing and engaged in thorough research to find the most effective platforms on the market. We started by examining pricing and plans to determine which vendors had the best options for small businesses. Then, we examined the most important features in each POS system, including customer payment options, inventory management, customer loyalty programs and sales reports. Finally, we examined customer feedback about each solution we reviewed to get a sense of how users’ real-world experiences lined up with our own testing.

112

considered

14

reviewed

7

selected

When choosing our picks for the best POS systems, our team of small business tech experts attended live demonstrations, conducted firsthand testing and engaged in thorough research to find the most effective platforms on the market. We started by examining pricing and plans to determine which vendors had the best options for small businesses. Then, we examined the most important features in each POS system, including customer payment options, inventory management, customer loyalty programs and sales reports. Finally, we examined customer feedback about each solution we reviewed to get a sense of how users’ real-world experiences lined up with our own testing.

112

considered

14

reviewed

7

selected

Compare Our Best Picks

BND Ribbon
Our Top Picks for 2024
Clover POS
Lightspeed
Square POS
Shopify
TouchBistro
Rating8.9/109.3/109.2/108.9/109.3/108.6/109.4/10
Best use case

Overall Value

Hardware

Retail

Customer Loyalty Programs

Mobile POS System

Ecommerce

Restaurants

Free trial

90 days

Not available

14 days

Not available

30 days

3 days

14 days

Starting price

$14.95 monthly

$0

$69 monthly

$69 monthly

$0

$5 monthly

$69 monthly

Third-party payment processor compatibility

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Industries served

Restaurants, retail, service-based businesses and e-commerce

Restaurants

Retail, restaurants, e-commerce and golf

Restaurants

Restaurants, retail and service-based businesses

E-commerce, retail and hospitality

Restaurants

Third-party integrations

More than 600

More than 80

More than 250

More than 15

More than 300

More than 8,000

More than 25

Review Link
Scroll Table

Reviews

Clover company logo
Editor's Rating: 8.9/10
Visit Site
Links to Clover POS

Clover is a feature-packed, all-in-one POS solution that allows you to manage your business, including sales, payment processing, inventory tracking, employee scheduling and more, from anywhere. We found it to be an excellent option for many businesses, particularly those seeking a wide selection of POS hardware and exceptional overall value. One of the advantages of Clover’s proprietary hardware is how easy it is to set up and begin using the system. The devices are ready to use as soon as you take them out of the box and everything syncs seamlessly with the Clover dashboard.

If your hardware needs are minimal, you can start with the Clover Go card reader and upgrade to its full POS station as your needs expand. We love that you can use the Clover Go app to create orders, accept payments and text receipts, making it ideal for processing sales wherever your customers are. With a large number of sector-specific packages, you’re sure to find a plan that meets your business’s needs.

Clover card reader

Clover’s portable POS devices are so popular that some rival POS and credit card processing companies rely on the equipment. Source: Clover

PackageFeaturesPrice
Retail StarterItem and category management, stock tracking, itemized order creation, item and order-level discounts, real-time sales tracking, detailed sales reports, tax reporting, dashboard for online and offline sales, existing online store integration, customer database, promotions, loyalty program, gift cards, shift management and Mini touchscreen device$60 monthly
Retail StandardEverything in the Starter package, along with item variants, itemized returns and exchanges, scale integration and cost tracking by item; Station Duo device in place of Mini touchscreen$135 monthly
Retail AdvancedEverything in the Standard package, along with a Flex device$190 monthly
Full-service restaurant StarterTable mapping, open tabs, bill splitting, item and order-level discounts, contactless dining, tipping, online menu, no-fee online ordering, pickup and delivery, item and category management, stock tracking, third-party menu integrations, real-time sales tracking, sales reports, cost tracking by item, shift management, cash drawer, receipt printer and Station Solo device$165 monthly
Full-service restaurant StandardEverything in the Starter package, along with tableside ordering, tap card payments, mobile wallet payments and Flex device$220 monthly
Full-service restaurant AdvancedEverything in the Standard package, along with a Station Duo device$325 monthly
Quick-service restaurant StarterContactless dining, item and order-level discounts, online menu, no-fee online ordering, pickup and delivery, item and category management, stock tracking, third-party menu integrations, real-time sales tracking, sales reports, cost tracking by item, shift management and Mini touchscreen device$105 monthly
Quick-service restaurant Standard Everything in the Starter package, along with customer database, promotions, loyalty program and gift cards; Station Duo device in place of Mini touchscreen$145 monthly
Quick-service restaurant AdvancedEverything in the Standard package, along with line busting and a Flex device$200 monthly
Professional services Starter No-hardware transactions, email invoicing, online payments, automated recurring payments, automated client notifications and receipts, invoice status tracking, client database, real-time sales tracking, detailed sales reports, tax reporting, item and category management, stock tracking, itemized order creation, item or order-level discounts and shift management$14.95 monthly
Professional services StandardEverything in the Starter package, along with tap card payments, mobile wallet payments, gift cards, promotions, loyalty program and Flex device$50 monthly
Professional services AdvancedEverything in the Standard package (excluding tap cards and mobile wallets), along with item variants, itemized returns and exchanges, cost tracking and Station Solo device$125 monthly
Personal services StarterCustomer database, promotions, loyalty program, gift cards, real-time sales tracking, detailed sales reports, tax reporting, item and category management, stock tracking, itemized order creation, item or order-level discounts, shift management and Flex device$50 monthly
Personal services StandardEverything in the Starter package, along with item variants, itemized returns and exchanges, scale integration and cost tracking; Mini touchscreen in place of Flex device$95 monthly
Personal services AdvancedEverything in the Standard package, along with Station Duo device in place of Mini touchscreen$135 monthly
Home & field services StarterNo-hardware transactions, email invoicing, online payments, automated recurring payments, automated client notifications and receipts, invoice status tracking, real-time sales tracking, detailed sales reports, tax reporting, client database, item and category management, stock tracking, itemized order creation, item or order-level discounts and shift management$14.95 monthly
Home & field services StandardEverything in the Starter package, along with tap card payments, digital wallets, gift cards and Go device$49 monthly
Home & field services AdvancedEverything in the Standard package, along with item variants, itemized returns and exchanges; Flex device in place of Go$50 monthly

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Starter Card Not Present: 3.5% plus 10 cents
  • Starter Card Present: 2.6% plus 10 cents
  • Standard & Advanced Card Not Present: 3.5% plus 10 cents
  • Standard & Advanced Card Present: 2.3% plus 10 cents

  • Clover has a wide variety of POS software and hardware options.
  • The vendor is highly regarded for its payment processing abilities and competitive transaction rates.
  • The POS software prioritizes cybersecurity, protecting user and customer data.
  • Clover's numerous plan options can be overwhelming and confusing.
  • You cannot work with a third-party payment processor.
  • You cannot integrate non-Clover hardware.

Trustpilot Score: Clover has a TrustScore of 3.6 stars out of five, indicating “average” reviews. “Three months ago, I was offered Clover from my banking institution. I have been using it since. As a new business owner, it was a very good setup for my business. I will recommend it to those who are beginning their business dream. The transaction fees are low,” reads one testimonial.

toast company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.3/10
Visit Site
Links to Toast

Toast is a food-and-beverage POS system with durable restaurant-grade hardware and accessories. The impressive hardware offerings include the handheld Toast Go, the Toast Flex register and the Toast Kiosk. A variety of card readers and other peripheral devices are also available, making Toast a prime destination for hardware-minded food business owners. Plus, you can get started with two terminals at no cost.

Toast’s POS solution can help busy restaurant owners quickly accept payments and track sales with ease. We found that the software has everything you need to manage your restaurant, including front-of-house, back-of-house and guest-facing technology. We especially appreciate that Toast serves restaurants of all sizes, including upscale eateries, casual dining establishments, bars, nightclubs, food trucks and cafes. Best of all, you can get started for free with Toast’s Starter Kit. [See our Toast vs. Clover comparison.]

Toast POS interface

Toast’s impressive hardware, built specifically for food and drink businesses, won’t falter under the high temperatures often found in restaurant kitchens. Source: Toast

PackageFeaturesPrice
Starter KitRestaurant-grade hardware, flat-rate payment processing, table and order management, digital menus, mobile payments, guestbook, employee timekeeping, basic scheduling and hardware configuration for one terminal$0
Point of SaleEverything in the Starter Kit package, along with custom hardware configuration and a wider selection of add-ons$69 monthly
Build Your OwnPick the features you wantCustom quote

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Custom flat rates

  • Toast's spill-proof hardware is designed to withstand a busy restaurant environment.
  • The Build Your Own option is great for both new food businesses and established ones that prefer to customize their POS package.
  • User-friendly digital tools facilitate online ordering and contactless delivery.
  • You must use Toast's native payment processor.
  • The vendor may charge cancellation fees.
  • The system isn't compatible with iOS devices.

Trustpilot Score: Toast has a TrustScore of 3.4 stars out of five after more than 1,000 ratings. “Great POS we have so far. Manage daily operations, integrations, menu updates and more in one place,” reads one review.

lightspeed company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.2/10
Visit Site
Links to Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a leading POS provider for businesses in the retail and restaurant industries. It has an especially impressive set of features geared toward retailers, including advanced loyalty and inventory management tools. Plus, with e-commerce capabilities, Lightspeed can enable your company to sell its goods online, whether through a website, marketplace or even social media.

We appreciate how easy it is to sync product catalogs between your brick-and-mortar and online store, monitor stock levels and offer both local pick-up and shipping with the Lightspeed platform. Thanks to customized reports, we like how businesses can gain sales insights and adjust their product offerings, sales strategies and customer engagement tactics accordingly.

Lightspeed e-commerce site

Lightspeed enables businesses to sell products online, in addition to on-premises. Source: Lightspeed

kage, along with in-store loyalty; advanced sales, safe and inventory reports; accounting, e-commerce and marketing integrations and mobile scanner app$149 monthlyRetail PlusEverything in the Core package, along with custom reporting, application programming interface (API) access, workflows, custom user roles and 24/7 phone support$239 monthlyRestaurant StarterCustomizable POS, menu manager, floor plans, advanced insights, takeout and delivery, single-view reconciliation, preauth bar mode, customer relationship management (CRM) and loyalty and integrated payments$69 monthlyRestaurant EssentialEverything in the Starter package, along with online ordering, contactless orders, tableside ordering and payment, Lightspeed Live app, multilocation management and advanced inventory management$189 monthlyRestaurant PremiumEverything in the Essential package, along with raw API access and multiple revenue center support for hotels$399 monthlyGolfTee sheet, online booking, players database, dynamic pricing, event management, promotional engine, short message service (SMS) marketing, monthly updates, Business Intelligence Lite and live supportCustom quote

  • With Lightspeed, you can track inventory across locations easily.
  • The customer loyalty program enables targeted offers and deals for select customers.
  • Even the Basic retail plan includes 24/7 support.
  • Lightspeed doesn't list hardware costs on its website.
  • While the vendor allows third-party payment processing, your preferred processor may not be compatible.
  • Newly launched retailers may find the cost prohibitive compared to Shopify and Square.

Trustpilot Score: Lightspeed boasts nearly 2,000 reviews and a TrustScore of 4.4 stars out of 5. One user says, “Lightspeed is a very easy system to use and has a great support system should you need it.”

Cake logo
Editor's Rating: 8.9/10
Visit Site
Links to CAKE

Cake is our pick for the best POS system for restaurants prioritizing the customer experience because of the wide variety of diner-focused features the company offers. The guest management tools allow you to accept online reservations, set up a waitlist and provide real-time status updates to waiting guests. Meanwhile, we like how you can improve the speed of service by offering tableside ordering, self-checkout and even payments facilitated through QR codes. These functions enable you to provide exceptional service without hurting profits.

Notably, all Cake plans come with complimentary POS hardware, which we find particularly valuable. Similar to Toast, the vendor provides devices that are built to withstand the messy, high-temperature environments common in restaurants.

Cake POS table management

Cake’s POS system digitizes table management, so you no longer have to track seatings with pen and paper. Source: Cake

PackageFeaturesPrice
EssentialsPOS station, menu management, reporting, QR code payments, system health monitoring, remote training, Cake University and unlimited 24/7 support$69 monthly
PlusEverything in the Essentials package, along with commission-free online ordering and gift cards$125 monthly
ProEverything in the Plus package, along with Guest Manager, email marketing and loyalty tools$295 monthly

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Competitive rates

  • Cake's POS system facilitates online ordering and curbside pickup.
  • The software is easy to set up and intuitive to use.
  • The 24/7 customer service includes phone support.
  • There are recurring fees for additional POS devices.
  • The most appealing guest management features and loyalty tools are restricted to the top-level plan unless you pay an add-on fee.
  • Cake has the fewest integrations of all our top recommendations.
Square company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.3/10
Visit Site
Links to Square POS

Square is the best POS option for small businesses thanks to its free plans for a variety of business types. To take advantage of this no-cost platform, you must process payments through Square’s in-house service. The vendor offers free mobile readers for new customers, so you can get started right away, although its other well-regarded POS devices, such as the Square Register and Terminal, are available for purchase.

Companies will appreciate the ability to use Square’s generalized POS solution or the opportunity to choose a POS package geared toward their sector, such as appointment-based businesses. We love that the software is increasing the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) features, such as tools for creating realistic images for your business’s website.

Square card reader

The Square card reader allows customers to tap their phone for contactless payments or insert their credit card for a chip reading. Source: Square

PackageFeaturesPrice
Point of saleEnd-to-end encrypted payments, contactless payments, offline payments, POS mobile app, Square magstripe reader, dispute management, takeover protection, fraud prevention, gift cards, item modifiers, customizable item grid, itemized refunds, digital receipts, customized receipts, custom tips, automatic discounts, customer directory, order notes, online ordering, order manager, online checkout links, Square Analytics, low-stock alerts, multilocation management, Square Team Management and phone support$0
Square for RetailSquare Retail Point of Sale app, online store, social media selling, Google product listings, basic inventory and catalog management tools, payments and invoicing, gift cards, refund management, order management, shipment manager, sales reports, customer profiles, unlimited passcodes and employee time tracking and scheduling$0
Square for Retail PlusEverything in the free package, along with advanced inventory tools, barcode scanning, customer accounts, cross-location returns and additional sales reports$89 monthly
Square for Retail PremiumCustom features, professional website tools and one-on-one onboardingCustom quote
Square for RestaurantsUnlimited countertop POS devices, unlimited locations, open checks, menu management, table management, cash management, auto-gratuity, order manager, advanced discounts, ticket routing, real-time order updates, multidevice sync, kitchen performance reports, offline payments, remote device management, service chart reporting, analytics reports, online ordering, employee time tracking and scheduling and weekday phone support$0
Square for Restaurants PlusEverything in the free package but only one countertop POS device, along with order-ready texts, additional reports, unlimited kitchen display devices and 24/7 phone support$60 monthly
Square for Restaurants Essentials BundleEverything in the Plus package, along with mobile POS, Square Online Ordering Premium, Advanced Access, Square Shifts Plus, Square Team Communication and Square Payroll$153 monthly
Square AppointmentsMobile app, unlimited calendars, custom schedule, text and email reminders, Square Assistant, Square Online booking website, booking integrations, credit cards on file, invoices, Cash App Pay, tap to pay, item search and barcode scanning, discounts, prepayments, offline payments and stock counts and low-stock alerts, item categories, sales reports, customer groups, automated marketing campaigns, Square Go, Square Messages, customer profiles, appointment and sales history, automated contract sends, Square hardware and read access for Bookings API$0
Square Appointments PlusEverything in the free package, along with multilocation management, class booking, waitlist, Google calendar sync, email and text confirmations, custom text notifications, cancellation policy, additional reports and write access for Bookings API$29 monthly
Square Appointments PremiumEverything in the Plus package, along with resource management, unlimited permissions and advanced access tools, employee scheduling and time tracking, service costs tracking and custom contract fields$69 monthly

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Card Not Present: 2.9% plus 30 cents
  • Card Present: 2.6% plus 10 cents
  • Keyed In: 3.5% plus 15 cents

  • Square is one of the few providers that offers free POS solutions.
  • Even the free packages are incredibly comprehensive, with a laundry list of valuable features.
  • There are no chargeback fees.
  • You must use Square's payment processor.
  • Existing users have had challenges contacting customer support and resolving issues.
  • The vendor is quicker to freeze funds or accounts than competitors.

Trustpilot Score: Square has a TrustScore of 4 stars out of 5 and more than 4,500 ratings. Says one review, “I love using Square for my business. It’s very versatile. And all the extra add-ons that are available are super awesome. I utilize a bunch [of] them.”

Editor's Rating: 8.6/10

Shopify is best known for its e-commerce platform, but the company also offers a comprehensive POS system. This solution is an excellent option for businesses that want to unify their online and in-person sales. While Shopify can work for all types of businesses, we found it to be ideal for e-commerce and retail-focused companies. In particular, the software is a good choice for anyone looking to take advantage of omnichannel features. For example, customers can place an order online and pick it up at the store thanks to Shopify’s convenient purchasing and order fulfillment tools.

Although Shopify’s free trial is rather short at only three days, the extremely affordable pricing for the in-person Starter plan means businesses don’t have to make a significant financial investment as they continue to try the system and evaluate whether it’s the right solution for them. Then, the packages are easily scalable if you want to access more robust tools and don’t mind the added expense.

Shopify sales management

The Shopify POS system lets businesses manage sales across channels and devices seamlessly. Source: Shopify

FeaturesPriceStarter (in-person)Limited online store, POS Lite, one POS login, encrypted payments, unlimited registers, unified inventory, order management and fulfillment network, cash tracking, split payments, gift cards, refunds and returns, analytics, mobile apps and 24/7 chat support$5 monthlyRetail (in-person)Everything in the Starter package, along with POS Pro and unlimited POS logins$79 monthlyBasic (in-person and online)Full-featured online store, POS Lite, unlimited POS logins, encrypted payments, unlimited registers, unified inventory, order management and fulfillment network, cash tracking, split payments, gift cards, refunds and returns, analytics, mobile apps and 24/7 chat support$29 monthlyShopify (in-person and online)Everything in the Basic package, along with five additional staff accounts, discounted USPS rates and shipping insurance$79 monthlyAdvanced (in-person and online)Everything in the Shopify package, along with 15 additional staff accounts, custom reports and analytics, third-party calculated shipping rates, duties and import taxes and enhanced chat support$299 monthly

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Determined based on the chosen plan.

  • Shopify supports multiple sales channels, meeting customers where they are while allowing businesses to manage them through one platform.
  • The mobile app allows users to track sales and inventory while on the go.
  • You can integrate an existing online store with the Shopify platform.
  • Businesses seeking comprehensive e-commerce tools will have to pay for a higher-tier plan.
  • If you opt for third-party payment processing, you may have to pay an additional fee.
  • There is a separate subscription fee for Shopify's POS Pro service.

Trustpilot Score: Shopify has a TrustScore of 1.5 stars out of 5, which Trustpilot understandably categorizes as “bad.” But one user review raves, “Super easy to jump-start your online business! I love all of the integrations and apps!”

TouchBistro company logo
Editor's Rating: 9.4/10

TouchBistro provides a full suite of restaurant-specific POS features, from mobile tableside ordering and self-service to an ingredient-based inventory tracking system. When demoing the platform, we found it simple to monitor table turnover, easily communicate recipe changes and even create customer accounts to store information about your most loyal diners.

We like that you can create an iPad POS system by running this mobile-friendly POS solution on an iPad, iPad mini or iPad Pro. TouchBistro also supports third-party POS hardware, such as barcode scanners, cash drawers and receipt printers. This helps keep your accessory costs down, although you’ll have to contact the company to see if TouchBistro is compatible with your current hardware.

TouchBistro menu tools

When using the TouchBistro menu tools, you can decide whether items are available for online ordering or can only be enjoyed in-house. Source: TouchBistro

PackageFeaturesPrice
Point of saleFloor plan and table management, menu management, staff management, reporting and analytics and tableside ordering$69 monthly
TouchBistro Payments (add-on)Payment processingCustom quote
Customer-Facing Display (add-on)Countertop screenCustom quote
Kitchen Display System (add-on)Order ticket views$19 monthly
Profit Management (add-on)Inventory and finance tools$330 monthly
Online Ordering (add-on)Commission-free ordering$50 monthly
Reservations (add-on)Table reservations and status tracking$229 monthly
Loyalty (add-on)CRM and rewards platform$99 monthly
Marketing (add-on)Marketing platform$99 monthly
Gift cards (add-on)Physical and digital gift cards$25 monthly

Payment Processing Transaction Fees

  • Cost plus pricing model

  • TouchBistro's drag-and-drop tools are ideal for managing and changing your restaurant's seating arrangements.
  • You can use TouchBistro Payments or a third-party processor.
  • The system works with third-party POS hardware, such as barcode scanners and cash drawers.
  • TouchBistro's costs can add up quickly if you opt for the extra features, many of which rivals include in standard packages.
  • There are relatively few integration options compared to a competitor like Clover, which also serves restaurant businesses.
  • The system is only compatible with iOS devices.

Trustpilot Score: Across hundreds of reviews, TouchBistro has earned a TrustScore of 3.9 stars out of five. One person says, “In my prior job, I was a POS technician. I’ve installed many POS systems from TouchBistro. I must say that their POS systems are very reliable and customer care reps are always great to deal with.”

What is a POS System?

A POS system is a combination of software and hardware that supports transactions between a customer and a merchant. A POS system can be used in conjunction with a payment processor to accept debit and credit cards at the point of sale, track sales trends over time, manage inventory and support online transactions.

POS system hardware is varied, including simple tools like mobile credit card readers that plug into a smartphone and more sophisticated setups with countertop terminals and connected cashier drawers. The exact configuration your business requires will depend on where and how most of your business is done; some businesses can get by with just virtual e-commerce tools while others need the complete system.

What are the Benefits of a POS System?

The best POS systems can help new businesses do more without demanding a lot of resources. By helping you create customer loyalty programs drive repeat business and seamlessly sharing data with your accounting software, the right platform can help you get off to a strong start.

Below are some of the key POS system benefits you can expect when choosing the right platform for your small business.

  • All-in-one system: A POS system allows you to manage various aspects of your business from a single platform. You can track sales, inventory, customers and reports from your POS application without needing multiple software programs.
  • Reporting features: The data your POS system collects will give you details on how your business is performing. Along with your general sales data, you can see detailed information about your customers’ buying habits and identify your best-performing employees. These metrics should inform your business decisions.
  • Cloud-based software: Most POS systems are hosted in the cloud, which means you can access your data from anywhere and complete customer transactions on the go. Cloud-hosted systems also bring more reliability and efficiency than on-premises solutions.
  • Advanced features: Many POS systems boast advanced features, such as inventory management, e-commerce functionality and customer loyalty programs. These features allow you to provide better and more personalized service for your customers.
  • Mobile payments: The most advanced POS systems offer mobile compatibility through apps that can be installed on tablets and smartphones, converting them into portable POS terminals. Retailers can utilize these mobile checkout devices to process customer transactions from any location and restaurants can use them to take orders and process payments at diners’ tables.

How Much Does a POS System Cost?

Lightspeed terminal

The more advanced your terminal setup is, the more you’ll pay in hardware costs. Source: Lightspeed

When you invest in a POS system, you’ll typically incur three primary costs: a one-time hardware fee, a monthly or annual software fee and a payment processing fee. While it might be tempting for new businesses or those on a tight budget to just pick the cheapest solution, it’s important to consider the value per dollar a system provides and its ability to grow with your business over time.

Here’s an overview of what you can expect to pay for each expense:

  • Hardware: The average cost for POS hardware is $799, but you could spend up to $1,500. The exact price depends on how many registers and accessories you need. If you already own POS hardware, you could save money by choosing a POS provider that allows third-party hardware integrations.
  • Software: Software plan costs range from free to nearly $400 per month. You may have to pay for a higher-priced plan if you have many users, need to track a lot of inventory or want multiple add-on services.
  • Payment processing: The payment processing fees range from 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction. The fees often vary slightly based on whether the transaction is in person or is a card-not-present transaction, such as an online payment.

How to Choose a POS System

When choosing a POS system, there are some key factors to consider. Before jumping in and scheduling a demo or accessing a free trial of just any system, take a moment to consider your business’s needs and create a shortlist of candidates that may suit them.

We talked to business owners and decision-makers who have been through the process of choosing a POS system and asked them how they made their selections, and what they wish they knew beforehand.

Consider setup and implementation

Setting up a POS system can be a big task, and sometimes it can come with an additional price tag. For new businesses trying to get off the ground, the wrong system could cause unnecessary delays. For small businesses on a budget, expensive setup fees may end up turning a cost-effective system into a cost-prohibitive one.

“While the ongoing costs of a good POS system are usually low, the initial setup costs can be higher than you might expect,” said Dimitri Zobnin, owner and managing director of House of Enki. “You’re not just paying for the software; if your chosen POS isn’t compatible with your current hardware, you might end up spending a lot on new cash drawers, barcode scanners, and other equipment.”

Look for training and learning resources

Your staff will be working in your POS system every day, and they need to be proficient at using it. To avoid disrupting operations, it’s critical to choose a user-friendly POS system with plenty of training support and learning resources. Reducing the learning curve as much as possible will ensure your business can operate unhindered by the new system.

“Another crucial factor for us was simple training procedures. Retail often sees high staff turnover, especially around the Christmas season when you might bring on temporary staff to handle the increased demand,” Zobnin said. “I can say that extensive training can really drain company resources, as experienced staff need to take time away from their usual duties to train new team members.”

By selecting a POS system that is relatively intuitive, you can minimize the need for training, which is especially important when getting a startup off the ground or when running a small business with limited staff. Moreover, if the vendor provides a lot of easily understood self-guided help resources, your staff can reference this information to quickly get up to speed on their own.

Check the reporting tools

When a POS system offers in-depth reporting, it can become a valuable asset that helps you make better decisions about how to run your business. However, not all POS system reporting modules are created equal. Make sure you take a look under the hood at the types of reports you can run and whether a system offers custom reporting. You should also consider whether a system allows you to export your data to an outside source, if you need to make use of it elsewhere.

“We needed a POS that would allow us to export our sales data and reports as a CSV,” said Lev Tretyakov, CEO and sales director of Fortador. “We settled for Loyverse in 2017. Their advanced data export features aligned well with our needs. We export the data and use Excel to check for trends, performance, and patterns and make business decisions.”

Analyzing reports in this way is especially important for new businesses that need to establish a baseline understanding of what their customers want and don’t want. Over time, this data can be used to adjust inventory and make sure you’re providing your customers with the right products.

Find out about customization and flexibility

Some POS systems are highly flexible and allow you to customize the software and configure the hardware in whatever way best suits your team. Others are more rigid and what you see is what you get. During demonstrations of any POS system, be sure to ask clear questions about customizability and what can be tailored to your existing workflow.

“If I could do anything differently, I would explore more customizable solutions to fit our specific needs better,” said Valentin Radu, CEO and founder of Omniconvert. “Investing the time to assess our unique requirements before purchasing could have led to an even more tailored solution.”

Ultimately, a properly customized software can boost efficiency and reduce the learning curve associated with any new system. Look for a system that can be tailored to your business’s needs, and a vendor that will help you configure it in such a way.

Opt for responsive customer support

Check out other customers’ reviews about the customer support team before partnering with any vendor. You are bound to run into issues with your POS system sooner or later, and a helpful, responsive customer support team can make all the difference between a minor hiccup and a major nightmare.

“The customer support experience also plays a vital role; having responsive support can make a significant difference when troubleshooting issues,” Radu said.

What are Some Features of POS Systems?

Toast loyalty programs

Today’s POS systems go beyond ringing up sales — the software can also facilitate customer loyalty programs. Source: Toast

What are Some Features of POS Systems?

The right POS features will make it easier to run your business and streamline your operations. Here are some features you should look for when choosing a POS system.

Software Features

When considering POS software, standard requirements include payment processing capabilities for accepting credit cards, inventory management tools and sales reporting. You should also scrutinize the access management features a POS software offers, so you can be confident that only authorized employees can access the system. In addition, when considering any POS software, make sure it can integrate with your existing business tech stack — especially your accounting software. These are the essential elements of any POS software that we looked for first and foremost in our review.

Once you’ve confirmed a POS software offers these critical features, you can look for the nice-to-have tools. These include components like customer loyalty programs and gift card programs, marketing features that allow you to capture customer information, and built-in employee management tools like time clocks and tip management features.

Hardware Features

When considering POS hardware features, first identify the hardware you’ll need. If you’re running a brick-and-mortar retail store, you’ll likely opt for countertop terminals, cashier drawers and sizable monitors. If you’re often on the go and need a lightweight setup, you may instead consider mobile hardware like a mobile credit card reader or tablet terminal. Ecommerce businesses, on the other hand, can operate with a virtual system and won’t require any hardware at all.

What are Some Alternative POS System Options?

While we’re confident our top recommendations above can meet your company’s POS needs, we understand you may want to know what else is out there. We tested and evaluated a number of other solutions and found some notable strengths in the POS systems highlighted below.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy may be best known for offering custom domains and websites, but it’s also a great POS solution for those who want to set up a site, accept customer payments and track sales. Every plan includes a website builder, custom domain and detailed website and marketing analytics. If you purchase one of the advanced packages, you can also access gift cards, discounted shipping and promotional features. Note that the system doesn’t integrate with third-party payment processors, so you’ll have to use GoDaddy Payments.

Learn more in our GoDaddy POS review.

ePOSNow

Epos Now is one of the best POS systems for businesses concerned about ease of use. The software is intuitive. It should take your staff less than 15 minutes to learn how to use the platform, meaning you’ll save on employee training costs. Plus, you’ll receive one-on-one onboarding when getting started. Epos Now offers excellent hardware options, including a touchscreen POS system, a handheld POS option, receipt printers and cash drawers. You can add the hardware you need to create a custom solution for your business. Epos Now also integrates with various third-party products, giving you many options to adjust the system’s functionality to your liking.

Learn more in our ePOSNow review.

Brilliant POS

Brilliant POS is a Clover reseller that provides additional inventory management features for a wide range of businesses. With Brilliant POS, you can track products at the item level and receive automated alerts when your stock is running low. You can also upload an unlimited number of stock keeping units and leverage your sales data to optimize your reordering from suppliers; that way, you’ll never run out of inventory but you won’t keep too much on hand either. We found Brilliant POS to be highly user-friendly, especially its straightforward dashboard that displays all the most important data a business needs at a glance.

Learn more in our Brilliant POS review.

Wix

Wix is best known for its website building tools, but it also offers POS software that’s particularly suitable for e-commerce businesses. Wix POS comes with flat-rate payment processing powered by Square and is packaged in intuitive software that takes little to no time to learn how to use. We found Wix to be useful for businesses with both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar elements to their business, blending the software and hardware needs that both types of businesses demand. It supports adept inventory management and enables customers to select flexible delivery or pickup options, allowing you to use it in the way that best suits your business and customers.

Revel

The Revel POS system is ideal for retail and restaurant businesses wanting to focus on multilocation growth. With an open API, you can customize and scale the cloud-based software to serve multiple sales channels as your company expands. Thanks to the “Always On” mode, we love that this solution can process sales even if your internet is out, while the vendor’s “payments agnostic” approach gives you the freedom to work with the payment processor of your choosing. You’ll also find tools for inventory management, employee time tracking and loyalty programs.

CardConnect

CardConnect is a merchant services provider that offers virtual terminals for a browser-based POS system, as well as a mobile credit card app, CardPointe retail terminals and Clover hardware for a robust physical setup. With this combination of tools, businesses can ring up sales anywhere and feel secure knowing CardConnect has built-in features for fraud protection, PCI compliance and other security measures. Payment processing costs are based on interchange rates that are optimized with each transaction. We especially appreciate the integration with QuickBooks, allowing you to streamline financial recordkeeping and accounting processes.

Lavu

Similar to Toast, Cake and TouchBistro, Lavu is another restaurant-specific POS solution suitable for food and beverage businesses, ranging from fine-dining establishments to nightclubs to ice cream shops. This cloud-based iPad system can include terminals, self-order kiosks, a kitchen display system and more. We’re particularly fond of the software’s dual pricing feature, which allows businesses to set one price for customers paying by cash and another price for those using credit cards. Cash discounts can incentivize diners while offsetting your credit card processing fees, so this is a smart tool to have.

Helcim

Helcim provides credit card processing services while also offering POS features and tools through its integrated app, terminal and card reader. We love that Helcim doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee, giving businesses free access to its POS software. As a payment processor, Helcim also eschews monthly fees. Instead, you’ll only pay for interchange-plus processing rates. With a virtual terminal, online checkout and invoicing in addition to the in-person POS hardware, you can accept payments in a multitude of ways.

Methodology

At Business News Daily, our team of small business sales and technology experts have been researching and testing POS systems for years, comparing some of the leading solutions across more than 25 key metrics.

We considered 112 POS systems as part of our initial pool of candidates. To determine which to test further, we examined pricing plans, core features, reporting tools and the availability of customer support. We also considered setup fees, available integrations with leading accounting software and available training resources. Finally, we weighed reviews from real-world customers to see what business owners who have actually used each platform had to say.

After narrowing down our initial list, we closely reviewed and tested 14 POS systems before selecting our seven best picks above. Our testing began with live demonstrations of each platform, during which we asked pointed questions of company representatives. We also accessed free trial software to get a firsthand sense of what it’s like to set up and use each system. We put ourselves in the shoes of a brand new user starting from scratch and went searching for training resources to see how easy it would be to get up to speed with each system.

Below are the factors we examined when deciding our top recommendations. Each is weighted according to how much the criteria typically influence business owners’ buying decisions.

  • Pricing (30%): To determine which vendor provides the most value per dollar, we analyzed not just the base costs of the hardware and software used in each POS system but also the number of pricing plans available, the payment processing rates and any add-on fees.
  • Features (25%): In particular, we evaluated the sales dashboards and tested each system’s payment processing, inventory management options and customer engagement tools. We also considered access management settings to ensure only authorized employees could access the system.
  • Usability (20%): We paid close attention to the ease with which the hardware and software could be set up, how intuitive we found the platform’s navigation and use of key features, and the training and informational resources available to new users. We also investigated whether the point-of-sale hardware was portable and if the software had a responsive mobile app or mobile browser.
  • Customer Support (15%): We examined the different ways customers could contact the vendor’s customer service team if in need of help. We also reviewed customer feedback to assess how well each company’s customer support representatives meet the needs of existing customers.
  • Integrations (5%): We considered the third-party integrations each POS system includes, as well as whether the vendor offers an open API or would build new integrations upon request. While every business’s tech stack is different, we prioritized vendors that offered pre-built integrations with leading accounting software platforms and those that extended open APIs to their customers.

In addition to evaluating each POS system based on these criteria, we also determined the best use-case scenarios for each. No two businesses are exactly alike, so we put ourselves in the shoes of different types of small business owners to identify the best POS systems for a variety of needs.

To learn more about how we review and test sales technology products and services for small businesses, read about our editorial process

POS System FAQs

All kinds of businesses use POS systems. After all, virtually every business needs some way to accept and process customer payments and POS systems help them do that. Brick-and-mortar retailers and restaurants typically require POS hardware, such as handheld terminals and cash registers. Online and e-commerce businesses usually need little more than a virtual terminal to accept payments. Some may prefer POS solutions with invoicing tools to bill vendors and suppliers.

For another example of a type of business that uses POS solutions, see our roundup of the best POS systems for grocery stores.

A business needs a POS system as soon as it begins selling goods or services, no matter how small your operation is. It enables your business to accept payments and makes the checkout experience easier for you and your customers, reducing errors and the time it takes to ring up a sale.

A POS system is a stationary system composed of hardware and software, while a mobile POS (mPOS) is a system designed to be lightweight and easy to transport. A mPOS system may include smartphone or tablet compatible credit card readers in addition to cloud-based software, but generally will eschew the countertop terminals and cashier’s drawers that conventional POS systems may employ.

You may be able to avoid using POS hardware if you run a wholly digital ecommerce business. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to use a credit card reader along with your POS software at bare minimum. Some businesses may need additional hardware too, such as barcode scanners, countertop terminals and cashier’s drawers.

When determining the hardware you need, consider your business’s needs both today and as you grow. Review the available hardware a vendor offers and picture how your business will use it. We also recommend speaking with other business owners in your field to see how they approached configuring a POS system for their business.

We chose Square as the best free POS system because of its versatility and ease of use. However, there are other great free POS systems out there that may suit your needs. For example, Toast is an exceptional restaurant POS system with a free plan. When researching POS systems, test out multiple free plans and free trials to get a sense of which platform works best for you.

What to Expect in 2024

POS systems have come a long way since the early days of retail. No longer is a POS system just a register, cash drawer and credit card swiper. These days, they are multifaceted solutions that enable you to manage various aspects of your business from one platform. In 2024, POS systems will likely offer advanced AI-driven features and provide tools that help businesses optimize operations and gain data about their customers.

As POS systems change, we expect to see expanded automation abilities. Vendors are regularly rolling out software features that let you set up automated workflows for inventory management, payroll, reservations, orders and payments, freeing your staff to focus on other areas that may require more attention. Automation can be an effective solution for streamlining processes and maximizing efficiency.

We’re also noticing more POS systems offering self-service options for customers, especially restaurants. Customers can order online and pick up their food without ever leaving their vehicles. They can also use self-serve kiosks to order and pay and even pay their bill right from their phone. Meanwhile, POS systems that cater to e-commerce companies are offering more ways for businesses to sell their products online via social media and this trend will continue in 2024 and beyond.

For both online and brick-and-mortar businesses, we expect AI to play an increasingly important role in POS software. Predictive AI can perform functions that include flagging suspicious transactions and recommending products to stock. Another valuable feature is AI-controlled dynamic pricing that adjusts product prices in real time based on supply and demand.

Did you find this content helpful?
Verified CheckThank you for your feedback!
author image
Written By: Jamie JohnsonBusiness Operations Insider and Senior Analyst
For more than five years, Jamie Johnson has been guiding business owners on financial matters both big and small. This includes investment advice, insights on business loans and funding options, recommendations on insurance and more. Johnson excels at delivering easy-to-understand direction so entrepreneurs can make the best financial decisions for their businesses and, as a solopreneur herself, she regularly tests business strategies and services. At Business News Daily, Johnson covers financial services like payroll processing and credit card processing, as well as topics like business liabilities, peer-to-peer lending, accounting standards and more. Johnson's expertise can also be found in a variety of finance publications, including InvestorPlace, Credit Karma, Insurify and Rocket Mortgage. She has also demonstrated a deep understanding of other B2B topics — including sales, payroll, marketing and social media — for the likes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. News & World Report, CNN, USA Today and Business Insider.
Back to top
Desktop background imageMobile background image
In partnership with BDCBND presents the b. newsletter:

Building Better Businesses

Insights on business strategy and culture, right to your inbox.
Part of the business.com network.