Best POS Systems for 2026: 10 tools compared for buyers
This page compares the best POS system options for different kinds of shops, from a market stall with a card reader to a restaurant group with kitchen screens. A POS system is where a sale happens: it rings up items, takes the payment and updates your stock. The tools below suit retailers, cafes, restaurants and service businesses of different sizes.
Tools were compared on fit for the business type, hardware choices, inventory and reporting depth, ease of use and how clearly the vendor publishes pricing. Each listing also shows what the vendor states about payment processing and contract terms, which often matter more than the monthly software fee.
Our shortlist at a glance
- Best all-in-one for a single shop
Square POSOne vendor supplies hardware, card processing and a free online store, and the Free plan includes basic inventory tools with unlimited items.
$0/month (Square for Retail Free) - Best for table service and kitchen display
ToastRestaurant-only platform with proprietary terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and online ordering, built for bars, cafes and restaurants.
$0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit; $69/month standard Point of Sale plan (per a Toast article) - Best for multi-location retail reporting
LightspeedSeparate retail and restaurant products, with reviewers highlighting inventory management and reporting, and a fit for SMB through enterprise merchants.
Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party) - Best for one catalog online and in store
Shopify POSThe same Shopify store and catalog run online and in person, and reviewers praise its reporting and easy setup.
POS included in every Shopify plan; Basic from $39/month (third-party), POS Pro $89/location/month - Best for buying through your bank
CloverSold through banks and resellers with bundled hardware, and retail, restaurant and services plans, though processing rates depend on the reseller.
Varies by vertical; Standard bundle $130/month or $849 + $84.95/month (as listed by Clover) - Best for bundled hardware in retail and hospitality
Epos NowSells countertop, handheld and kitchen display hardware with monthly software for retail and hospitality, and reviewers praise ease of use.
$399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page)
What are POS systems?
A POS system, short for point of sale, combines software and hardware to complete a sale and record it. Staff scan or tap items, the system calculates tax and discounts, takes a card, cash or mobile payment and prints or sends a receipt. Behind the counter it keeps stock counts, customer records, staff shifts and sales reports. Cloud-based systems sync several registers and locations and can connect to an online store. Restaurants add table maps, tabs and kitchen displays, while retailers rely on barcodes, variants and purchase orders. Owners, managers and finance staff all use the reports it produces.
POS Systems side by side
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square POS | Best all-in-one for a single shop. | $0/month (Square for Retail Free) | Free plan |
| Toast | Best for table service and kitchen display. | $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit; $69/month standard Point of Sale plan (per a Toast article) | No |
| Lightspeed | Best for multi-location retail reporting. | Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party) | No |
| Shopify POS | Best for one catalog online and in store. | POS included in every Shopify plan; Basic from $39/month (third-party), POS Pro $89/location/month | Free trial |
| Clover | Best for buying through your bank. | Varies by vertical; Standard bundle $130/month or $849 + $84.95/month (as listed by Clover) | No |
| Epos Now | Best for bundled hardware in retail and hospitality. | $399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page) | No |
 Revel Systems | Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform. | Contact sales | No |
 TouchBistro | Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads. | From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra) | No |
 SumUp | Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee. | $0/month POS Lite; $499 bundle (Register + Solo reader) | Free plan |
 Heartland | Merchants who want POS and processing from one provider. | Contact sales | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 10 POS systems tools in detail
Best all-in-one for a single shop
Square POS
Free-to-start POS from Block that bundles its own card processing, with paid per-location plans for retail and restaurants.
Square POS starts at $0 per month and bundles its own hardware, card processing and a free online store. It is easy to set up and strong on reporting, though processing is Square-only and fees and hardware costs add up.
- Best for
- Single-shop retailers and service businesses that want to start at $0 software.
- Company size
- Micro and small businesses; custom Premium for larger.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Square sells its own handheld, terminal, register, stand and kiosk hardware (hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor)
- Payment processing terms
- Square-only processing; 2.6% + 10c in person on Free, 2.5% + 10c on Retail Plus.
- Inventory management
- Free plan includes basic inventory tools and unlimited items; G2 inventory sub-score 8.7/10.
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Free online store included on Retail Free plan.
Pros
- Easy to use and quick to set up.
- Strong card payment experience and reporting.
Cons
- Processing fees and upfront hardware costs add up.
- Support access complaints are common across POS vendors, check before buying.
Pricing: $0/month (Square for Retail Free) · Free plan
Best for table service and kitchen display
Toast
Restaurant-only POS and payments platform with its own hardware and tiered software plans, sold mostly on quote.
Toast is a restaurant-only platform with its own terminals, handhelds, kitchen displays and online ordering. It processes payments through Toast Payments only, so check processing rates and contract length before you sign.
- Best for
- Restaurants, bars and cafes needing table service, kitchen display and online ordering.
- Company size
- Single restaurants to multi-location groups.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Proprietary Toast terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and kiosks; tiered hardware bundle around $1,024 (third-party)
- Payment processing terms
- Toast Payments only; rates vary by plan and pay-as-you-go vs traditional.
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Core and Growth add online ordering and loyalty (third-party)
- Industry features
- Restaurant-specific: table service, kitchen display, online ordering.
Pros
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Customer support wait times.
- Transaction and hardware costs.
Pricing: $0/month on pay-as-you-go Starter Kit; $69/month standard Point of Sale plan (per a Toast article)
Best for multi-location retail reporting
Lightspeed
Montreal-based commerce platform with separate retail and restaurant POS products, sold on annual or monthly plans.
Retailers with several categories or locations, who care most about inventory depth and reporting, are the people to pitch this Montreal vendor to, with separate retail and restaurant products. Retail Basic runs $89 monthly on annual billing. Contact the support team before signing, since G2 reviewers call it slow and pricey.
- Best for
- Multi-category retailers needing deeper inventory and reporting.
- Company size
- SMB to enterprise.
Key features
- Payment processing terms
- Lightspeed Payments about 2.6% + 10c (one review); same across plans.
- Inventory management
- Reviewers highlight inventory management.
- Industry features
- Retail and Restaurant (plus Golf, hospitality)
- Reporting and analytics
- Reviewers highlight reporting.
Pros
- Inventory management.
- Reporting.
Cons
- Pricing high for value.
- Slow support, hard to reach account managers.
Pricing: Retail Basic $89/month billed annually or $109 monthly (third-party)
Best for one catalog online and in store
Shopify POS
In-person selling layer for Shopify stores, with a free baseline in every plan and a paid POS Pro add-on per location.
Shopify POS adds in-person selling to a Shopify store, with a baseline in every plan and POS Pro at $89 per location per month. It requires a Shopify plan, and inventory management sits in POS Pro rather than the free baseline.
- Best for
- Merchants already running a Shopify online store who add physical locations.
- Company size
- Small to enterprise (Plus)
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Shopify card readers plus tablet or phone; hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor.
- Payment processing terms
- Shopify Payments; in-person 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 10c by plan (third-party); EU page 1.5%/1.3%/1.2%.
- Inventory management
- Inventory management is in POS Pro, not the free baseline (EU page)
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Native: same Shopify store and catalog online and in store.
Pros
- Intuitive design and strong reporting.
- Easy setup.
Cons
- Support can be slow in busy periods.
- Inventory depth.
- Per-location billing surprises reported.
Pricing: POS included in every Shopify plan; Basic from $39/month (third-party), POS Pro $89/location/month · Free trial
Best for buying through your bank
Clover
Fiserv-owned POS and merchant processing platform sold through banks and resellers, with bundled hardware and software plans.
Clover is a Fiserv-owned platform sold through banks and resellers, with Station Duo, Mini and Flex hardware. It is quick to set up and suits small retailers and restaurants, though phone support and fee clarity draw complaints.
- Best for
- Small restaurants and retailers wanting bundled hardware plus software.
- Company size
- Small businesses.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Clover Station Duo, Mini, Flex; Station Duo about $1,799 to $1,899 (third-party)
- Payment processing terms
- About 2.3% + 10c card-present, 3.5% + 10c keyed (third-party); rate depends on reseller.
- Industry features
- Retail, restaurant and services plans.
Pros
- Easy to use and quick setup.
- Modern hardware.
Cons
- Weak phone support.
- Fees unclear or higher than expected.
- Connectivity problems.
Pricing: Varies by vertical; Standard bundle $130/month or $849 + $84.95/month (as listed by Clover)
Best for bundled hardware in retail and hospitality
Epos Now
UK-origin POS vendor selling bundled hardware plus monthly software in retail and hospitality.
Epos Now is a UK-origin vendor selling bundled hardware with monthly software for small retail and hospitality shops. It offers many terminal types and kitchen displays, but reviewers call pricing high and customization limited.
- Best for
- Small retail and hospitality shops wanting bundled hardware.
- Company size
- Small business.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- Countertop, Countertop 2, Duo, Air, Link, Pro+, Kitchen Display; printers, scanners, cash drawers.
- Industry features
- Retail and hospitality.
Pros
- Ease of use.
- Support (G2 reviewers)
Cons
- Pricing high.
- Customization limited.
Pricing: $399 + $84/month (Epos Now US page)
Revel Systems
Cloud iPad POS for restaurants that is now owned by Shift4, with the old vendor site redirecting to Shift4's food and beverage pages.
Rebranded: Acquired by Shift4 (deal announced May 2024, reported at $250M cash). revelsystems.com now redirects to shift4.com/food-beverage; a competitor blog says Revel is being folded into SkyTab, which is unconfirmed.
Restaurant groups already on this iPad system, or willing to accept Shift4 as their processor, can keep going, though the old vendor site now redirects to Shift4. New buyers should ask for a written roadmap, terminal pricing and processor terms. Reviewers mention high fees, weak support and connectivity trouble.
- Best for
- Existing Revel restaurant operators already on the platform.
- Company size
- Multi-location restaurants and chains.
Key features
- Payment processing terms
- Shift4 plans to sell its payments product to Revel customers (Restaurant Business)
- Industry features
- Restaurant focus, 18,000+ locations at time of deal (Restaurant Business)
Pros
- Setup is described as easy in aggregated reviews.
Cons
- High fees for basic features.
- Weak customer support.
- Connectivity problems.
- Unclear pricing disclosure.
Pricing: Contact sales
TouchBistro
IPad-based restaurant point of sale with table service features, sold as software-only or as a bundle with hardware and integrated payments.
Full-service restaurants wanting floor plans, table management and tableside ordering on iPads can begin at $69 monthly, with 24/7 support in the subscription. Hardware and processing cost extra. Inventory, online ordering and the kitchen display are paid add-ons, so request a full quote before comparing.
- Best for
- Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads.
- Company size
- Restaurants, from single venue to multi-terminal venues.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- POS plan requires own hardware; Essentials Bundle and Custom Setup include restaurant-grade hardware; financing for 2+ terminals.
- Payment processing terms
- Integrated payments bundled in Essentials and Custom plans; rates not published on pricing page.
- Inventory management
- Paid add-on, price not published.
- Online and omnichannel sales
- Online ordering is a paid add-on, no commission on online orders per vendor FAQ.
Best for
- Full-service restaurants that want floor plan and tableside ordering on iPads.
- Venues that want 24/7 support included in the subscription.
Not ideal for
- Retail stores needing SKU-level inventory (inventory is a paid add-on and the product is restaurant-focused)
- Buyers who want fully published all-in pricing: add-on prices and hardware are quote-based.
Pricing: From $69/month (Point of Sale, hardware and payment processing extra)
Market stalls and micro-merchants who refuse a monthly fee can use POS Lite at $0, with in-person card rates of 2.6% plus 10 cents. A Register plus Solo reader bundle costs $499. Shops needing real inventory control, several locations or table service will outgrow it fast.
- Best for
- Micro-merchants and market stalls wanting no monthly fee.
- Company size
- Micro and small.
Key features
- Hardware and terminals
- POS Lite Register plus Solo reader $499 bundle.
- Payment processing terms
- 2.6% + 10c in person; 3.5% + 15c eCommerce.
Pros
- Fast, simple payments.
- Friendly interface.
Cons
- Customer service.
Pricing: $0/month POS Lite; $499 bundle (Register + Solo reader) · Free plan
Heartland
Payment processor owned by Global Payments that also sells restaurant and retail POS systems.
Restaurants and retailers already processing payments with Heartland, a Global Payments company, can buy POS from the same provider. Pricing comes only by quote, and public reviews are sparse, with some customer service complaints. Ask for a rate sheet and test whether you can choose another processor.
- Best for
- Merchants who want POS and processing from one provider.
Key features
- Payment processing terms
- Integrated Heartland processing with end-to-end encryption and tokenization (Wikipedia)
- Online and omnichannel sales
- ECommerce offered (Wikipedia)
- Industry features
- Restaurant and retail POS products.
Pros
- A G2 reviewer liked seeing processed transactions easily.
Cons
- Customer service issues in Payments+ reviews.
- Low G2 score for the POS product on very few reviews.
Pricing: Contact sales
What to look for in POS systems
The best POS system depends on what you sell and how you take orders. Start with your business type, since table service, retail barcodes and appointments need different features. Then look at the hardware you must buy, how payments are processed, how stock is tracked and whether the system connects to an online store. The criteria below follow that order. Ask each vendor for a full quote that includes software, hardware and processing before you compare.
Hardware and terminals
Hardware decides how much you spend upfront and how easily you can switch later. Some vendors sell only their own terminals, readers and printers, while others let you run the software on tablets or hardware you already own. Check whether the terminals work offline, which peripherals are supported and what replacement costs. In a demo, ring up a sale on the exact device you would receive.
- Square POS: Square sells its own handheld, terminal, register, stand and kiosk hardware (hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor)
- Toast: Proprietary Toast terminals, handhelds, kitchen display and kiosks; tiered hardware bundle around $1,024 (third-party)
- Shopify POS: Shopify card readers plus tablet or phone; hardware prices not confirmed by the vendor.
- Clover: Clover Station Duo, Mini, Flex; Station Duo about $1,799 to $1,899 (third-party)
- Epos Now: Countertop, Countertop 2, Duo, Air, Link, Pro+, Kitchen Display; printers, scanners, cash drawers.
Payment processing terms
Many POS systems require you to use their own payment processor, so the processing rate and contract terms matter as much as the software. Strong offers show flat or interchange-based rates in writing and let you leave without penalty. Weak ones tie hardware to a multi-year term. Ask whether you can bring your own processor and what happens to your data if you leave.
- Square POS: Square-only processing; 2.6% + 10c in person on Free, 2.5% + 10c on Retail Plus.
- Toast: Toast Payments only; rates vary by plan and pay-as-you-go vs traditional.
- Lightspeed: Lightspeed Payments about 2.6% + 10c (one review); same across plans.
- Shopify POS: Shopify Payments; in-person 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 10c by plan (third-party); EU page 1.5%/1.3%/1.2%.
- Clover: About 2.3% + 10c card-present, 3.5% + 10c keyed (third-party); rate depends on reseller.
Inventory management
Inventory features keep stock counts accurate across items, variants and locations. Retailers need SKUs, barcodes, low-stock alerts and purchase orders, while restaurants may only need ingredient or menu-item tracking. Some vendors include basic inventory in free plans and put deeper tools in paid tiers or add-ons. Test importing a sample of your real product list.
- Square POS: Free plan includes basic inventory tools and unlimited items; G2 inventory sub-score 8.7/10.
- Lightspeed: Reviewers highlight inventory management.
- Shopify POS: Inventory management is in POS Pro, not the free baseline (EU page)
- TouchBistro: Paid add-on, price not published.
Online and omnichannel sales
Omnichannel features connect your counter with an online store, online ordering or marketplaces so stock and customers stay in one place. A strong system updates inventory in real time when an order comes in anywhere, which avoids overselling. Check which online tools are included, which are paid add-ons and whether you must use the vendor's own store.
- Square POS: Free online store included on Retail Free plan.
- Toast: Core and Growth add online ordering and loyalty (third-party)
- Shopify POS: Native: same Shopify store and catalog online and in store.
- TouchBistro: Online ordering is a paid add-on, no commission on online orders per vendor FAQ.
- Heartland: ECommerce offered (Wikipedia)
Industry features
Industry features are the tools built for how your business works. Restaurants need floor plans, tabs, tableside ordering and kitchen displays, while retailers need barcode scanning, variants and returns, and service businesses need appointments. A tool made for another industry forces workarounds. Ask the vendor for a customer of your type and walk through a typical day in the demo.
- Square POS: Separate Retail, Restaurants and Appointments products.
- Toast: Restaurant-specific: table service, kitchen display, online ordering.
- Lightspeed: Retail and Restaurant (plus Golf, hospitality)
- Shopify POS: Retail focused.
- Clover: Retail, restaurant and services plans.
Reporting and analytics
Reporting turns daily sales into decisions about purchasing, pricing and scheduling. Look for sales by item, category, staff member and location, plus export options for your accountant. Weak tools show only totals, or hide detailed reports in higher plans. Ask to see a live dashboard with data similar to yours, and check how far back history goes.
- Square POS: Reviewers on G2 praise reporting (G2 summary)
- Toast: G2 reviewers flag missing reporting features.
- Lightspeed: Reviewers highlight reporting.
- Shopify POS: G2 reviewers praise reporting.
- TouchBistro: Reporting and analytics included in POS and Essentials plans.
Pricing model
POS costs have three parts: a monthly software fee, a processing percentage on card sales and the hardware. A vendor with a low monthly fee may earn more through processing or terminals. Ask for a quote that adds all three for your expected sales volume, and ask about add-ons, per-location charges and annual billing discounts.
- Square POS: Monthly plan per location plus flat-rate processing plus hardware.
- Toast: Software tier plus processing percentage plus hardware.
- Lightspeed: Plan per location plus processing.
- Shopify POS: Shopify plan + POS Pro per location + processing.
- Clover: Software plan plus processing plus hardware or financing.
Target company size
Single-shop tools, multi-location platforms and enterprise systems differ in permissions, reporting and support. A micro-merchant product can feel limiting once you open a second location, while an enterprise system can overwhelm a small team. Match the vendor's stated company size to your plans for the next two years, and ask how accounts and stock are managed across locations.
- Square POS: Micro and small businesses; custom Premium for larger.
- Toast: Single restaurants to multi-location groups.
- Lightspeed: SMB to enterprise.
- Shopify POS: Small to enterprise (Plus)
- Clover: Small businesses.
Buying POS systems: security, admin and vendor checks
Once a tool fits the team, the purchase depends on what the vendor commits to in writing: single sign-on, user provisioning, audit logs, where data lives and the contract. The checks below use each vendor's public pages, so a blank means "ask", not "no".
- Try before you buy
- 3 of 10
- Publish SAML SSO
- 0 of 10
- Publish SCIM provisioning
- 0 of 10
- Publish a DPA
- 0 of 10
1 free trials, 2 free plans
ask the rest in writing
ask every vendor in writing
request it before signing
Must-haves and what each vendor publishes
A blank is not a no, but it is work for your security review. Clover publishes the most (0 of 5); Clover, Epos Now, Heartland and Lightspeed and 6 more publish none of these controls, so every question goes to their sales team. Tick what your team requires; vendors that drop out show why, and the budget check prices the plan that actually includes single sign-on when you require it.
All 10 vendors shown. Tick a must-have to filter. ● published with the plan, ◐ mentioned without plan or details, ○ not on the vendor's public pages.
| Vendor | SAML SSO | SCIM | Audit logs | Data residency | DPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Epos Now0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Heartland0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Lightspeed0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Revel Systems0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Shopify POS0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Square POS0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| SumUp0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| Toast0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
| TouchBistro0 of 5 published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published | ○ Not published |
How to evaluate POS systems before you commit
The best way to compare POS systems is to test the same situations in each one: a busy checkout, a refund, a stock update and a day-end report. Product pages describe features, but a demo shows how fast staff can work and where a workflow breaks. Each criterion below includes a practical test and the questions to take to the vendor, so your shortlist is judged on how it handles your actual operations.
Hardware and terminals
Ask for a list of supported hardware, including card readers, printers, scanners and cash drawers, and whether you can use your own devices. In the demo, check that the hardware pairs reliably and what happens when the connection drops. Ask about replacement terms, warranty and who supports the hardware.
Payment processing terms
Ask whether the POS works only with the vendor's processor or lets you bring your own. Request the full rate sheet in writing, including chargeback and refund handling. Check the contract for early termination fees, since processing terms often matter more than the software itself.
Inventory management
Import a sample of your products with variants and test a stock count, a transfer and a low-stock alert. For multiple locations, check whether stock is shared or separate. Ask about barcode support, supplier orders and how the system handles items sold in different units.
Online and omnichannel sales
If you sell online, connect your store in the trial and sell one item in each channel to see whether stock syncs. Ask how fast the sync is, which store platforms are supported natively and whether online orders appear in the same reports as in-store sales.
Industry features
Run the workflow that is specific to your business. For a restaurant, that means opening a table, splitting a bill and sending an order to the kitchen. For retail, it means a barcode sale, a gift card and a return. If a vendor is built for a different industry, the gaps will show up fast.
Reporting and analytics
Ask for a sample day-end report and check that it matches your cash count. Test reports by item, staff member and location, and confirm you can export data. Ask where the data is stored and whether you can connect it to your accounting tool.
Pricing model
Ask for a written quote that lists software, hardware, processing, add-on devices and support. Confirm what is billed per location, per device or per terminal bundle. Several vendors in this list quote only through sales, so you need that document to compare them fairly.
Target company size
Check whether the vendor serves businesses of your size and whether it offers multi-location management, user roles and permissions. Ask what support is included and how quickly you get help during opening hours. Some tools suit micro-merchants only, so confirm there is a growth path.
Questions to ask POS vendors
The sales call is your chance to surface terms that rarely appear on a pricing page. Use the same questions with every vendor and record the answers in one table. The focus below is on processing, contracts, support and data, since these are the areas where POS vendors differ most and where mistakes are costly to undo after you have installed hardware and trained staff.
Can we use our own payment processor?
The answer tells you whether you are tied to the vendor's rates. It also affects your negotiating power and the cost of switching later.
What is the contract term and the exit cost?
Ask for the term length, auto-renewal rules and any early termination fee. At least one vendor in this list is reported to use a long term, so get it in writing.
What happens when the internet goes down?
Ask about offline mode, how payments are processed and how the system syncs afterwards. Outages during opening hours are costly.
What support do you provide and when?
Ask about phone support, hours and response times, especially for evenings and weekends. Some vendors draw complaints about support, so ask for references.
Who owns our data and how can we export it?
Ask which data you can export, in what format and what happens to it after cancellation. This protects you from lock-in.
What is excluded from the quote?
Ask about extra devices, onboarding, training and any feature that needs a higher plan. This avoids surprise charges after installation.
How to run the decision
Run the decision as a structured trial. Write down your requirements, shortlist three or four systems and test a real shift in each. Send every vendor the same question list covering processing, contract terms, support and data export, and keep the answers in one table. Involve finance before signing, and pick the system that fits your workflow and risk, not the one with the lowest advertised fee.
Our recommendation
Choose the POS system that matches how you actually sell, then check hardware and payment terms before you commit. A single shop can start with a simple all-in-one, while restaurants and multi-location retailers should shortlist vendors built for their industry. Ask each finalist for a written quote covering software, hardware and processing, and confirm the contract exit terms before anyone signs or installs a terminal.
POS Systems: frequently asked questions
What is a POS system?
A point of sale system combines software and hardware so a shop or restaurant can ring up sales, accept card payments and keep stock counts current. Cloud versions go further, handling staff, customer records, online orders and reports across several locations.
What is the best POS system for a small business?
For a single shop, Square POS is the easiest place to start because it begins at $0 per month and includes hardware, payments and an online store. Shopify POS suits Shopify merchants adding a store, and SumUp suits micro-merchants who want flat rates.
What is the best POS for restaurants?
Toast and TouchBistro are the two restaurant-focused options here. Toast covers table service, kitchen displays and online ordering, while TouchBistro offers floor plans and tableside ordering on iPads from $69 per month, with extras sold as add-ons.
Do POS systems lock you into their payment processor?
Often they do. Toast uses Toast Payments only, Square processes through Square, and Revel customers are expected to move to Shift4. Ask whether you can use another processor, what the contract term is and what leaving costs.
How much does a POS system cost per month?
Software ranges from $0 on plans such as Square and SumUp POS Lite to about $69 to $89 per month on TouchBistro, Toast and Lightspeed plans, plus processing fees and hardware. The true cost depends on your sales volume and equipment, so request a full quote.