Liquor store POS systems should have inventory management features, loyalty program add-ons and ID scanning, among other capabilities. Many times, general POS systems check enough boxes to help you efficiently run your liquor store.
Those options typically come from recognizable brands and offer a range of plans and pricing options. While industry-specific POS systems don't always have those perks, they may be a better choice if you need niche features like the ability to categorize items, such as wine bottles, by their region or grape varietal. The list below includes both types of systems.
Here are our top picks for liquor store POS systems:
- POS Nation: Best overall liquor store POS system.
- Square Retail: Best free liquor store POS system.
- mPower Beverage: Best for industry-specific features.
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Best POS Systems for Liquor Stores
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Retail POS Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Free liquor store POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89, custom. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website |
Lightspeed Retail POS Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Liquor stores with multiple locations | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109.00 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | ||
mPower Beverage | Best for Industry-specific features | N/A Varies by processor. | $120.00 for one register + one-time upfront fee of $1,000. Additional fees for each new register. | |||
POS Nation | Best for Overall liquor store POS system | 2% + $0.00 to 2.5% | $49.00 and up. | |||
IT Retail | 3.0/5 Best for Grocery stores that sell liquor | N/A Quote-based. | $49.00 and up. | |||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Free loyalty program | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website |
Our pick for
Free liquor store POS system
Square Retail POS
Learn more
on Square Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89, custom.
Square’s POS system for retail stores can also be a good fit for small liquor stores. The product’s free POS software plan lets you set up low stock alerts, create an e-commerce website for online orders, make customer profiles and run sales reports. If you find that your liquor store requires more robust inventory tracking and reporting capabilities, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
Pros
- Free software plan available.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Easy to set up and navigate.
- Clear and transparent pricing.
- Extensive list of features and add-ons.
Cons
- Not a great fit for larger retailers, especially those with high sales volumes.
- Doesn’t accept cross-border card payments.
Our pick for
Liquor stores with multiple locations
Lightspeed Retail POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$109.00
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
Similar to Square for Retail, Lightspeed Retail doubles as a solution for liquor stores. The POS system stands out for its inventory management capabilities — like the option to import product details from supplier catalogs and make bulk pricing changes — and is scalable enough to accommodate liquor stores with multiple locations. Just be aware that software subscription prices rise as soon as you add a second location or register.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- Free one-on-one onboarding session for all new merchants.
- 24/7 phone and live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include e-commerce features.
- Charges termination fee and may require annual contract.
- Does not include a virtual terminal or offline mode.
Our pick for
Industry-specific features
mPower Beverage
Payment processing fees
N/A
Varies by processor.
Monthly fee
$120.00
for one register + one-time upfront fee of $1,000. Additional fees for each new register.
Unlike other options on the list, mPower Beverage is made exclusively for liquor stores. Some of its industry-specific features include shelf label customization and printing, alerts that let you know when to transfer inventory to a separate location that’s running low and the ability to sell an item as an individual bottle, pack or case without having to create separate SKUs for each. As an added perk, there’s email and phone support 365 days per year with an on-call team available on weekends and holidays.
Pros
- Hands-on customer service.
- Industry-specific details.
- Can be integrated with current hardware.
Cons
- Expensive.
Our pick for
Overall liquor store POS system
POS Nation
Payment processing fees
2% + $0.00
to 2.5%
Monthly fee
$49.00
and up.
POS Nation provides POS systems for a variety of overlapping industries, including liquor, grocery and convenience stores. It’s our top overall pick, in part, thanks to its flexibility: You can choose one of three pre-built plans or customize your own, so that you’re able to pick and choose the features you need. Plus, pre-built plans come with a two-year hardware warranty in case something goes wrong. Standout features include the ability to see which items should be discounted and options for bundling products.
Pros
- Long list of POS features.
- 24/7 tech support and training.
- Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
- Lack of pricing transparency.
- Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
Our pick for
Grocery stores that sell liquor
IT Retail
3.0
NerdWallet rating Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$49.00
and up.
IT Retail is made primarily for grocery stores and can also support ones that sell liquor, among other items like produce, meat or snack foods. Some highlights include its ability to use past sales data to help you predict how much of a certain item you need to have on hand during specific times of the year and busy holidays. Additionally, it offers tools to protect your store against employee theft.
Pros
- System and features specifically designed for grocery stores.
- Accepts all payment types, including EBT, checks and gift cards.
- 24/7 tech support and training.
- Supports sales of regulated items like alcohol and tobacco.
Cons
- Lack of pricing transparency.
- Prices that are disclosed run higher than some competitors.
Our pick for
Free loyalty program
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Clover offers POS system options for a variety of industries, but its retail plans are the best fit for liquor stores. Unlike some of its competitors, each of Clover’s retail tiers automatically includes a customer loyalty plan, on top of a customer database and the ability to create promotions. Another perk is Clover’s payment processing flexibility — you can choose to purchase Clover’s hardware from a reseller if you’d like to use a third-party payment processing company.
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges termination fees, though they may be waived in certain cases.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Popular accounting integrations are only available through third-party apps.
Our picks for the best liquor store POS systems
POS Nation
Best for overall liquor store POS system
Why we like it: POS Nation is built specifically for grocery and convenience stores but checks many of the boxes that are ideal for liquor stores as well. You can track individual sales from cases or packs, scan IDs for age-restricted items and manage, report and order inventory across locations. The system has robust employee-monitoring features designed specifically to help with loss prevention. These allow you to flag returns that have been damaged, for example, and to set employee permission at an individual level so new employees don’t have the same access to returns or refunds as experienced managers. POS Nation also offers 24/7 technical support.
Much of POS Nation’s pricing is quote-based, but what it makes readily available is comparable to competitors. You can also add upgrades to your plan like liquor licensing and tobacco POS software. All plans are contract free.
For most industries:
- $69 for Starter plan.
- $99 for Growth plan.
- $149 for Premium plan.
For convenience stores:
- $49 for Starter plan.
- $69 for Growth plan.
- $99 for Premium plan.
Fees are quote-based but range from 2% to 2.5% of your business’s total monthly sales volume.
- $1,349 for the POS hardware bundle, which includes a terminal, receipt printer, barcode scanner, cash drawer and mini keyboard.
- $99.99 to $269 for add-on barcode scanners.
mPower Beverage
Best for industry-specific features
Why we like it: MPower Beverage is a POS system built specifically for liquor store operations and draws from the input of liquor store owners and operators, which shows through the level of detail in many of its features. Its inventory management features allow you to track items across locations, set low stock alerts and sell and track by the case, pack or individual bottle or can without creating a separate stock-keeping unit, or SKU. You can create custom beverage-specific attributes, such as region, flavor profile and age. You can also add details like food pairings and reviews to each product that will show up as your customers browse online or in the store.
MPower Beverage is fairly transparent in its pricing, and though its prices are on the higher end — especially for multiple locations — you get a unique level of detail and hands-on customer service. For instance, when you sign up, there is an in-person installation process to help you get set up and integrate existing data into the system. One register is included in the upfront price, and there is a fee and additional monthly cost for any additional register. POS hardware includes an ID-scanning feature for age-restricted items.
$120 for one register plus a one-time upfront fee of $1,000. Additional registers are $250 upfront plus $120 more monthly. To qualify for monthly pricing, you are required to use integrated processing with one of mPower’s direct partners.
Varies by provider.
Quote-based.
IT Retail
Best for grocery stores that sell liquor
Why we like it: IT Retail specializes in grocery store POS systems and offers custom plans for several types of grocers, like butcher shops and fish markets. Its corner store option includes features that are also well suited for a liquor store, such as ID scanning, customer loyalty programs and inventory management that works for beverage sales.
Additional features include cash discount capabilities, offline mode and a customizable touch screen. Although not all of IT Retail’s pricing is transparent, you can build customized plans that include different types of hardware specific to your needs. All plans require you to enter a processing agreement but don’t include long-term contracts.
- $49 for Starter plan.
- $99 for Growth plan.
- $149 for Premium plan.
Fees are undisclosed; you need to sign a processing agreement.
Quote-based.
Square Retail
Best for free liquor store POS system
Why we like it: Square for Retail POS is an all-around great option for inventory-heavy businesses, especially for those seeking a cost-effective option. Its retail POS software has an option that is marketed specifically to wine shops, breweries and liquor stores and focuses on inventory management, customer rewards and multichannel sales. Square is transparent on its pricing, and it’s easy to upgrade your plan to a paid version, making it a good option for businesses that may want to scale up. Read our full Square for Retail POS review.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents (Free plan) or 2.5% plus 10 cents (Plus plan) for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions or card-on-file invoices.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
» MORE: Best free POS software
Lightspeed Retail
Best for liquor stores with multiple locations
Why we like it: Lightspeed Retail stands out as an option for many retailers for its robust inventory management features, particularly across multiple locations. The system can be integrated with a host of external partners, and the plans include e-commerce if you plan to expand online. It also offers features to support customer loyalty online or in store, loyalty tracking from the POS and customer tracking. Customer support is available through various channels 24/7, which could come in handy if you operate outside standard business hours. Read our full Lightspeed Retail POS review.
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $289 for Plus plan ($239 if billed annually).
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $79 for Mobile Tap V2 card reader.
- $199 for iPad stand or swivel stand.
- $299 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
Clover
Best for free loyalty program
Why we like it: Each of Clover’s retail POS software plans, which can support liquor stores, includes a customer loyalty plan at no added cost. You can use it to ask for feedback on receipts, implement a rewards program, create customer profiles and send promotions through text, email or social media. Combined, these abilities can be a powerful tool for retaining customers and building brand loyalty. Read our full Clover POS review.
- $0 for Clover Go Payments, Retail Starter and Personal Services Starter plans.
- $14.95 for Clover Go Essentials, Professional Services Starter and Standard and Home & Field Services plans.
- $49.95 for Retail Standard, Personal Services Standard and Advanced and Professional Services Advanced plans.
- $59.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $69.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $79.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans, though rates may also vary by hardware type.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter and Professional Services Standard plans, as well as Home & Field Services Standard and Advanced plans.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
- $199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $279 for countertop card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer and slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
- $3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.
Looking for more liquor store POS options?
For more POS systems and accessories that might work for your liquor store business, try exploring these additional product roundups:
Last updated on August 8, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
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