Point-of-sale (POS) systems help you accept payments, manage sales and track inventory with feature-rich software and a variety of hardware options. Many come with built-in payment processing services, too.
Here are our top choices and why they stand out.
- Square: Best overall POS system.
- Shopify: Best for online businesses.
- Clover: Best for choosing your own payment processor.
- Stripe Terminal: Best for international businesses.
- Lavu: Best cash discount program.
- Helcim: Best for high sales volume.
- Lightspeed Retail: Best for inventory management.
- SpotOn Restaurant: Best for restaurant-specific add-on features.
- Toast: Best for restaurants doing dine-in and online business.
- PayPal Zettle: Best for mobile POS software.
- Payanywhere: Best for managing customer reviews.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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Objective and comprehensive point-of-sale systems ratings rubric. (Learn more about our star ratings.)
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Best POS Systems for Small Businesses
Calculate your monthly cost estimate
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helcim POS Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.6/5 Best for High sales volumes | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website |
Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website | ||
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Online businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | ||
Stripe Terminal Learn more on Stripe Terminal's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for International businesses | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 | Learn more on Stripe Terminal's secure website | ||
Lightspeed Retail POS Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | 4.3/5 Best for Inventory management | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109.00 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Choosing your own payment processor | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.2/5 Best for Restaurants doing dine-in and online business | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0.00 Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | ||
SpotOn Restaurant Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | 4.3/5 Best for Restaurant-specific add-on features | 1.99% + $0.25 For most cards in paid plans. | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | ||
Lavu Learn more on Lavu's secure website | 4.9/5 Best for Cash discount program | N/A Quote-based. | $10.00 and up. | Learn more on Lavu's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.1/5 Best for Mobile POS software | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0.00 | |||
Payanywhere POS | 4.1/5 Best for Managing customer reviews | In-person: 2.69% + $0.00 Online: 3.49% + $0.19 | $0.00 and up. |
Our pick for
High sales volumes
Helcim POS
Learn more
on Helcim POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
As a full-service merchant services provider, Helcim can essentially do it all for a business: payment processing, point of sale, invoicing and business management.
And unlike flat-rate payment processors that charge the same transaction fee across different types of credit cards, Helcim uses an interchange-plus pricing model. This means your business saves when a customer uses a card with low interchange rates.
Helcim also offers volume discounts if you process more than $50,000 monthly, which is a plus for high-volume businesses. And if you need hardware for taking payments in-person, the company sells its own smart terminal and mobile card reader, too.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Our pick for
Overall POS system
Square POS
Learn more
on Square POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Square’s transparent pricing, lack of long-term contracts, strong integrations and free POS software option make it a good fit for a range of industries. One potential exception? Square users who run restaurants, bars and breweries often call out that the POS can’t preauthorize credit cards. This means that to start a tab, you have to keep the customer’s card. If you’re worried about the convenience — or security — of that, you may want to consider alternatives (including Square's restaurant-specific solution).
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Our pick for
Online businesses
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$39.00
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Shopify’s POS system is well equipped to handle all the complexities that come with selling items via an online store. In all subscription tiers, you can set up an online shop and add products almost instantly, sell through multiple channels (including social media), connect with vendors, automatically email customers who abandon their carts, process payments at reasonable rates and make sales in 133 currencies and multiple languages. These features make Shopify one of the best retail POS options.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Our pick for
International businesses
Stripe Terminal
Learn more
on Stripe Terminal's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Stripe Terminal is an integration that allows you to extend your online business to in-person sales. With some coding, it can be connected to your POS app.
Stripe can also accept dozens of payment methods and more than 135 currencies, making it a strong fit for businesses with global reach. And its advanced developer tools allow you to create a checkout flow that feels custom, provided you know how to use them.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Supports more than 135 currencies.
Cons
- Does not include a POS app or standard POS capabilities.
- Likely requires coding and developer expertise.
- No phone or email support.
Our pick for
Inventory management
Lightspeed Retail POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$109.00
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
The Lightspeed POS system’s inventory management capabilities are outstanding at every subscription tier and more comprehensive than those of its competitors. When entering items into your system, you can add plenty of information — such as a description, images, cost, manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), your selling price, tax and discount rules, tags, barcodes, stock-keeping units (SKUs), brands, categories and custom-built fields — which can be used to generate and filter results on reports. The system is especially well suited for businesses with more than one location.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
- Can’t process card payments in offline mode.
Our pick for
Choosing your own payment processor
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Unlike some of its competitors, Clover lets you pair its hardware and software with different merchant services providers, such as Wells Fargo, PNC, BBVA or Citi. This is especially ideal for businesses seeking out an interchange-plus payment processing model as opposed to Clover’s in-house flat-rate model. However, Clover hardware can’t be reprogrammed, so you’ll need to purchase it directly from your payment processor of choice and will only be able to use it with that processor.
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Our pick for
Restaurants doing dine-in and online business
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.49% + $0.15
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
Toast makes scalable POS systems for quick-service and full-service restaurants, fine dining establishments, bars, cafes and food trucks. It offers a variety of hardware options including countertop terminals, handheld systems for taking orders tableside, self-serve ordering kiosks and kitchen display screens.
It lets businesses integrate online ordering options with their existing Toast POS system, too. If your restaurant has multiple locations, customers can choose where they’d like to pick up their order.
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Our pick for
Restaurant-specific add-on features
SpotOn Restaurant
4.3
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
Payment processing fees
1.99% + $0.25
For most cards in paid plans.
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
SpotOn’s monthly software fee and payment processing fees along with its ability to integrate with third-party hardware make this system an affordable and appealing option. SpotOn offers customizable add-on features such as a loyalty program and team management software. The company also has a strong reputation for its hands-on approach to customer support, from installation and training to 24/7 availability for assistance. The company’s Restaurant Advisory Council provides regular feedback for continual improvement, too.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Our pick for
Cash discount program
Lavu
Learn more
on Lavu's secure website
Payment processing fees
N/A
Quote-based.
Monthly fee
$10.00
and up.
All of Lavu’s plans let restaurant owners opt for “dual pricing” options that offer customers discounts for paying in cash instead of with a card. This can be a good option for businesses that want to encourage cash transactions or are concerned about payment processing fees adding up. However, Lavu’s payment processing rates are quote-based, which makes it difficult to estimate processing costs in the first place.
Pros
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
- Restaurants can set up timed menu changes, start customers’ tabs on one register and cash them out at another.
- Dual pricing program can help decrease payment processing fees.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot cancel subscription before term is up.
- Does not list payment processing or monthly software fees.
Our pick for
Mobile POS software
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
PayPal's Zettle system stands out for its free software and no-contract business model, which takes some of the risk out of switching to a new POS system. This all-in-one mobile POS and payment processing system is built for quick and easy setup and integrates seamlessly with many big names in business-related software. Businesses only pay for hardware and payment processing.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Our pick for
Managing customer reviews
Payanywhere POS
4.1
NerdWallet rating Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Payanywhere stands out for its reputation management platform that helps you monitor online reviews from Google and social media, and respond to them all from one place. You can also use it to create competitor profiles and stay up to date with how other businesses in your area are performing.
The POS system offers straightforward, competitive in-person processing rates and a range of POS hardware options, from a mobile card reader to a countertop system with a customer-facing screen. You can also access tools for reputation management, reporting, invoicing and employee management.
Pros
- Offers a free software plan for its card reader.
- 24/7 support.
- Reputation management tools help you monitor online reviews about your business.
- Free same-day deposits.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates are expensive.
- Charges setup fee for more robust POS system setups.
- Contract requirements may vary by business.
- Limited integrations outside of QuickBooks Online.
Square
Best overall POS system
Monthly POS software fees:
- $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.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Hardware costs:
- $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).
🛒 Retail.
🍽️ Full-service restaurants.
🌯 Quick-service restaurants.
☕️ Cafes and coffee shops.
✂️ Professional services (beauty, health, repair, etc.).
💻 E-commerce.
The Square POS system is an excellent option for small businesses that are looking for an easy-to-run, cost-effective POS. Square stands out among its competitors by offering a free version of its POS that contains a great deal of functionality, including sales tracking, inventory management and an offline mode to accept transactions without a Wi-Fi connection. One thing that’s missing is preauthorization on credit cards. Posts in the Square seller community indicate this feature is in testing for the more specialized Square for Restaurants, but they don’t include a timetable for when it might be broadly available (if ever). Square offers a free 30-day trial of its paid plan for its restaurant solution (retail, too), so you can determine if that’s a deal breaker for you. This is one of the most generous free trials offered by a POS provider, especially in the restaurant space, where it’s rare to find a free trial offer.
Shopify
Best for online businesses
Monthly POS software fees:
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Hardware costs:
- $49 for Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Tap & Chip countertop kit (iPad not included).
- $349 for Shopify POS terminal.
- $459 and up for POS terminal countertop kits.
🛒 Retail.
💻 E-commerce.
Shopify POS is an ideal system for retailers and e-commerce businesses. The POS options available with Shopify’s e-commerce plans offer a number of valuable features, including customer profiles and history, inventory tracking, automatic sales tax calculations, basic reporting functions and more. Business owners looking for additional functionality can purchase the POS Pro plan, which offers inventory forecasting, alerts when stock is running low and a suite of useful staff-related features, among other capabilities. And with Shopify Payments, which charges flat-rate processing fees, business owners can run their store and accept payments in one unified solution. Retailers will also appreciate Shopify’s transparent pricing as well as its customer support resources.
Clover
Best for choosing your own payment processor
Monthly POS software fees:
- $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 Starter and Standard plans.
- $59.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $79.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $84.95 for Retail Standard and Professional, Personal Services Standard and Advanced, and Home & Field Services Advanced plans.
- $89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $104.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Full-Service and Quick-Service Restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Standard and Advanced plans, Professional and Personal Services Standard and Advanced plans, and the Home and Field Services Advanced plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on the Retail and Personal Services Starter plans and the Home and Field Services Standard plan.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Hardware costs:
- $199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $279 for countertop card reader.
- $649 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer.
- $599 for 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.
🍽️ Full-service restaurants.
🌯 Quick-service restaurants.
☕️ Cafes and coffee shops.
🛻 Food trucks.
🛒 Retail.
🧾 Service-based.
💻 E-commerce.
Clover products are available through a variety of resellers, which gives businesses the freedom to choose their payment processor and merchant account provider. Businesses that prefer an individual merchant account over the aggregated accounts that payment service providers, like Square or Stripe, use will also appreciate this flexibility.
Stripe Terminal
Best for international businesses
Monthly POS software fees:
- $0 for standard services.
- $10 for custom domain.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 4.4% plus 30 cents for international card transactions.
Hardware costs:
- $59 for Stripe Reader M2.
- $249 for BBPOS WisePOS E card reader.
- $349 for Stripe Reader S700.
💻 Open application programming interface and ability to accept more than 135 currencies are primarily relevant to online sales.
Stripe Terminal extends Stripe Payments functionality for online businesses looking to add in-person payment capability. Because Stripe accepts all forms of payment — credit and debit cards, digital wallets, ACH transfers and even buy now, pay later options — in more than 135 currencies, it’s a solid option for online businesses that sell internationally. Stripe has a lot of customization options and some neat features that more tech-savvy business owners, or those with access to developers, may want to take advantage of.
Lavu
Best cash discount program
Monthly POS software fees:
Subscription pricing starts at $9.99 per month.
Payment processing fees:
Quote-based.
Hardware costs:
Lavu's POS terminals use iPads, which can be bought through Lavu or elsewhere. Vault Pro iPad enclosures start at $190. Stands, rotation bases, receipt printers and cash drawers are sold separately.
🍽️ Restaurants.
☕️ Cafes and coffee shops.
🛻 Food trucks.
With so many restaurant POS systems on the market, Lavu stands out for its cash discount program. Customers who pay with cash save, while those who pay with card cover up to 99% of the resulting processing fees themselves. Its POS hardware selection is straightforward and iPad-based — you can add on cash drawers, kitchen display systems, iPad enclosures, card readers and printers to fit your restaurant setup.
Helcim
Best for high sales volumes
Monthly POS software fees:
$0.
Payment processing fees:
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
Hardware costs:
- $99 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
- $329 for a stand-alone terminal with built-in thermal printer (or 12 monthly payments of $30).
🛒 Retail.
🧾 Service-based.
💻 E-commerce.
Helcim is best known for payment processing, but its POS software isn’t something to gloss over — especially as it’s one of a few among the competition that works across both desktop and mobile, as well as Mac and Windows devices. Similar to Square, Helcim boasts no monthly or hidden fees and no contract, but it follows the interchange-plus pricing model for payment processing. Helcim offers competitive processing rates and offers discounted rates for businesses with $50,000 or more per month in card transactions, meaning it’s a particularly strong contender for businesses with higher sales volumes.
Lightspeed Retail
Best for inventory management
Monthly POS software fees:
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $339 for Plus plan ($289 if billed annually).
Payment processing fees:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
Hardware costs:
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.
- $329 for WisePOS E countertop reader.
- $429 for Lightspeed Lite Server for data backup and offline mode functionality.
🛒 Retail.
Lightspeed Retail POS stands out for its top-notch inventory management features, which include cataloging and tracking functions that are especially useful for businesses with large inventories and multiple locations. Additional features include customer relationship management and loyalty programs, employee sales and performance tracking, and data analysis and reporting. And if your business requires more, Lightspeed offers an entire marketplace of app integrations.
SpotOn Restaurant
Best for restaurant-specific add-on features
Monthly POS software fees:
- $0 for Quick Start plan.
- $99 for Counter-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- $135 for Full-service plan, plus $3 per employee.
- Custom pricing available as well.
Payment processing fees:
- 1.99% plus 25 cents for most cards in the Counter-service, Full-service and Customizable plans.
- 2.89% plus 25 cents for Quick Start plan subscribers (this processing rate includes hardware and software costs).
- 2.99% plus 25 cents for reward, international, corporate and keyed-in cards.
Hardware costs:
- $600 for the KDS.
- $750 for the Station POS.
- $850 for the Counter POS.
- Other hardware devices, like the handheld option, are custom.
🍽️ Full-service restaurants.
🌯 Quick-service restaurants.
🍸 Bars and clubs.
🛻 Food trucks.
SpotOn’s monthly software fee and payment processing fees along with its ability to integrate with third-party hardware make this system an affordable and appealing option. SpotOn offers customizable add-on features such as a loyalty program and team management software. The company also has a strong reputation for its hands-on approach to customer support, from installation and training to 24/7 availability for assistance.
Toast POS
Best for restaurants doing dine-in and online business
Monthly POS software fees:
- $0 for Starter Kit plan.
- $69 Point of Sale plan.
- Custom plans available.
Payment processing fees:
- 3.09-3.69% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose a pay-as-you-go plan.
- 2.49% plus 15 cents for card-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
- 3.50% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions, if you pay for hardware upfront.
Hardware costs:
- $799.20 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,024.20 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $1,339.20 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
🍽️ Full-service restaurants.
🌯 Quick-service restaurants.
🍸 Bars and clubs.
🛻 Food trucks.
☕️ Cafes and coffee shops.
Toast’s POS systems can accommodate small restaurants and growing ones — especially those that want to build their online presence. Its online ordering add-on is customizable, meaning you can upload photos and change the color schemes and fonts. You can add your business to the Toast Takeout app to gain customers and use Toast Delivery Services to deliver orders. Built specifically for restaurants, Toast also offers spill-proof hardware that’s made to function among high heat and dust.
PayPal Zettle
Best for mobile POS software
Monthly POS software fees:
$0.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Hardware costs:
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $199 for terminal only.
- $239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
- $229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
🛒 Retail.
🧾 Service-based.
💻 E-commerce.
PayPal Zettle’s POS software can be downloaded for free to your mobile device. With a card reader and the creation of a PayPal Business account, you can quickly have a basic POS up and running for your business. Zettle POS includes a payment processing system that accepts all transaction types — cards, digital wallets, QR codes and keyed — along with standard POS functions such as sales tracking and reporting and inventory management. Another plus is the system’s easy integration with popular accounting and e-commerce software including QuickBooks and BigCommerce.
Payanywhere
Best for managing customer reviews
Monthly POS software fees:
- $0 if using only the 3-in-1 reader.
- $14.95 per device if using the Smart Terminal, Smart Terminal Mini or Smart Keypad.
- $24.95 per device if using the Smart PINPad Pro or Smart Flex.
- $44.95 per device if using the Smart POS+.
Payment processing fees:
- 2.69% for in-person transactions.
- 3.49% plus 19 cents for online, keyed and virtual terminal transactions.
Hardware costs:
- $59.95 for the 3-in-1 reader.
- $249.95 for the Smart Keypad.
- $299.95 for the Smart Terminal Mini.
- $349.95 for the Smart Terminal.
- $449.95 plus one-time setup fee of $49.95 for the Smart PINPad Pro.
- $549.95 plus one-time setup fee of $49.95 for the Smart Flex.
- $949.95 plus one-time setup fee of $99.95 for the Smart POS+.
🛒 Retail.
🌯 Quick-service restaurants.
🍸 Bars and clubs.
📝 Consulting.
📱 Mobile businesses.
🛻 Food trucks.
Payanywhere’s reputation management platform is especially useful for new businesses that are trying to cultivate a strong online presence to attract foot traffic. The platform alerts you when customers leave reviews on Google and social media and lets you choose between a custom response or quick-reply option. The dash displays your overall customer satisfaction score, number of positive vs. negative reviews and week-over-week reputation changes.
A POS system makes it possible for your business to accept payments from customers during the checkout process. It can take the form of a countertop register with a cash drawer or a handheld device with a credit card reader, depending on whether you need to complete sales on the go. The system includes the POS hardware itself and the software you use to enter item prices and collect data on your sales, inventory, returns, etc. Strictly online businesses usually do not need hardware.
Providers may offer their own hardware options, like POS terminals with customer displays, receipt printers and cash drawers. Or, in some cases, you can simply download POS software to an iPad or tablet for a simpler, more portable solution. Similar to POS hardware, POS software varies in complexity and may include features specific to your industry.
» Learn more about what a POS system does: What is a point-of-sale system?
How much does a POS system cost?
The total cost of a POS system is made up of multiple components that vary in price. You can expect to pay monthly software, payment processing and hardware fees. Beyond those, look out for PCI compliance costs, high chargeback fees and early termination fees.
» MORE: How much does a POS system cost?
Ultimately, the POS features you need depend largely on your industry. Here are several universal software and hardware features to look for in a POS system, as well as some industry-specific capabilities you might consider.
POS software features
POS hardware features
Do you need a full countertop POS terminal, a pocket-sized card reader or something in between? Maybe your business sells items mostly online but occasionally needs to process transactions at a pop-up event. A simple card reader may be sufficient in that situation. However, a brick-and-mortar retail POS system probably needs a countertop terminal, while restaurants might need a handheld touchscreen device that lets employees take orders and process payments tableside.
Common POS accessories include cash drawers, receipt printers and barcode scanners. Some POS system providers offer hardware bundles that include everything you need, while others function in a more a-la-carte manner.
Depending on your business, you’ll want to see whether the POS hardware you’re considering is spill-proof and/or heat-proof. This is especially advantageous for busy restaurant settings.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you’re trying to decide between two or three different POS systems, ask local business owners in your industry what they use. Pairing our product comparisons with those business owners’ real-life experiences may help you tip the scale. Chances are, local business owners’ day-to-day interactions with a POS will provide insight into a system’s overall ease of use and its unforeseen downsides, as well as how easy it is to get a hold of customer service in your area.Finding the right POS system for your business comes down to these key considerations.
This will depend largely on what type of business you have, since many POS software plans are industry-specific. For example, restaurants may need table management and inventory management, while service-based businesses can benefit from the ability to schedule appointments. Decide which features are nonnegotiable for your business to help narrow your search.
Common hardware options include card readers, countertop terminals, handheld terminals, receipt printers and barcode scanners. Service-based businesses, cafes and restaurants that accept tips might also want a customer-facing screen with preset gratuity options. Not all hardware and software products are compatible with each other, so the easiest way to ensure compatibility is to find a POS provider with everything your business needs.
Hardware will likely be your biggest upfront POS cost, and you’ll want to factor in per-transaction payment processing costs, too. Some monthly POS software subscriptions are free, but if you want a more robust feature set, expect to pay a fee. You’ll also want to look out for additional costs, such as setup and PCI compliance fees.
Not all POS providers require you to sign a contract, which gives you the flexibility to switch systems at any time. However, some companies require you to commit for at least a year. While that isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, you’ll want to be sure that the product will work for your business in the long term. Read the “terms and conditions” carefully and seek out product demos so you can test functionality before committing.
To ensure a smooth setup process, your POS software should also integrate with your accounting software, so that your books are always up to date. For more options, see NerdWallet’s choices for the best POS systems that integrate with QuickBooks.
Compared to traditional cash registers, POS systems typically have greater flexibility and include more business management features. Here are some of the advantages of going with the more modern POS option:
- Portability: Tablet-based POS systems can sit on the countertop, accommodate mobile businesses that make sales on the go, or let employees ring customers up from anywhere in the store.
- Robust feature sets: Many POS systems’ software plans go beyond basic sales tracking. They may include additional features like inventory management, employee time tracking and management, scheduling tools and customer loyalty programs.
- Seamless integrations: You can sync POS software to your accounting software to minimize manual data entry.
There’s no shortage of options when you’re comparing POS systems, and identifying main differentiating factors can help you determine which is best for your business.
- Free vs. paid POS software. Multiple POS system providers offer free POS software that includes the basics and can help keep costs down. However, you will still need to factor in payment processing fees and hardware costs, if you plan to accept payments in person.
- Online vs. in-store POS systems. Different POS systems accommodate different types of sales channels. Some specialize in e-commerce sales and even double as e-commerce platforms, while others focus more on in-person sales.
- Industry-specific vs. universal POS systems. Certain POS systems are made for a particular type of industry, usually restaurants or retail, and offer specialized features. Providers’ websites typically let you know which industries they target.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzes small-business POS systems across six key categories and more than 30 subcategories by gathering data from company websites, speaking with company representatives and testing out user interfaces ourselves when possible. We fact-check these data points regularly to ensure accuracy.
The category breakdown:
We seek out POS systems that can process a wide variety of payment types (e.g., online, in-person, invoice, virtual), function offline and include a range of software features and hardware options. We also take industry-specific components into account.
To evaluate overall cost, we consider payment processing rates (both online and in-person fees should be competitive), setup and termination fees, and monthly software subscription pricing. Our top picks typically include a free software plan option.
Our most highly rated POS system providers list hardware costs on their websites and openly disclose additional fees for setup, contract termination, PCI compliance and chargebacks.
Since most, if not all, of your sales will be going through your POS system, it’s important that it integrates with your accounting software. That way, you can generate accurate reports. Ideally, these integrations are direct as opposed to being facilitated by a third-party that charges extra.
POS system providers should offer phone, chat or email support at the very least. Providers with 24/7 assistance get extra points.
NerdWallet’s evaluation system favors POS systems with no contract requirements and free trial periods. Products’ ratings get dinged for not having one or the other.
What our star ratings mean
POS systems that receive 5 stars are exceptional and work for a variety of different businesses that sell both online and in person. They have competitive processing rates and typically offer a free software plan that’s packed with useful features.
POS systems with 4.0 to 4.9 stars are great to excellent. They usually have competitive processing rates for both online and in-person transactions, are transparent and can be an especially good value for businesses in specific industries.
POS systems with 3.0 to 3.9 stars are good, but fall short compared to competitors. They may be more expensive or come with a limited set of features.
POS systems with 2.9 stars or fewer are far from optimal and usually not recommended by NerdWallet.
If you’d like to shop for POS systems by industry or hardware preference, check out NerdWallet’s picks for:
A POS system is a combination of hardware and software that enables a business to accept payment for a transaction. Many POS systems, however, often do much more than process payments. They may have the capability to track inventory, manage employees, sync with popular payroll and accounting software, build customer profiles, offer loyalty programs and additional features.
An example of a simple POS system that’s quite common these days would be a credit card reader attached to a smartphone; this mobile POS system allows a transaction to be completed with the swipe of a card through a card reader and payment software accessed through the phone. An example of a more complex, feature-rich POS system would be a full set of POS hardware that includes a terminal, cash drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer with accompanying software that enables business management.
A POS payment is taken at the time of a sales transaction. Payment may be made in person, using cash, a credit or debit card or a digital wallet, or online, depending on the specific setup of the business. If a card is used for payment, whether in person or online, the merchant will be charged a processing fee based on the card used, the issuing bank of the card and the payment processor’s own fee.
Last updated on February 14, 2025
