Best Cash Registers for Small Businesses of June 2023

Types of cash registers

For this list, we looked at two types of cash registers:

• POS-based cash registers. These devices function as accessories or components of a larger, more sophisticated POS system.

• Simple electronic cash registers that ring up sales but do little else.

You can purchase a basic electronic cash register online or at an office supply store for a few hundred bucks, but a POS-based cash register with all the features and accessories can cost thousands of dollars. What you pay depends on what you need; for example, with both types of cash registers, you might want to buy bar-code scanners and separate credit card readers in addition to a base setup.

» MORE: How to know whether to use a POS or a cash register

Best POS-based cash registers

POS-based cash registers may be a better choice for businesses with multiple locations or that also sell online or on the go. These systems can match all the features of an ECR but also often offer more add-ons and have credit card processing built in. (Payment processing fees apply.) This type of cash register can be a more sophisticated, flexible way to process payments.

Square Register: Best overall

Monthly fee:

Hardware:

Card reader: Magnetic strip, chip card and contactless payments reader. Square also offers Tap to Pay on iPhone, which lets merchants accept card payments using only a regular iPhone with the Square POS app. Customers hold their cards or their own iPhone wallets near the merchant's phone to pay.

Cash drawer: Available separately, starting at $129.

Receipt printer: Available separately, starting at $299.

Payment processing:

Pros:

• The first magstripe credit card reader is free; a free POS plan is available.

• Offline mode allows you to accept payments without internet access.

• Live support by phone, chat or email.

Cons:

• Loyalty program and email marketing features cost extra.

• Can’t create and print barcodes in the free version.

Why we like it: Square’s point-of-sale system stands out with its transparent pricing, live support, absence of monthly fees (unless you have add-ons) and many valuable features.  Because Square works on iPhones, Androids and iPads, you can ring up sales on a brick-and-mortar-store cash register and mobile devices, which might be handy if you do pop-ups at farmers markets, trade shows or music festivals.

The Square Register includes a built-in touch screen for you and a smaller, customer-facing touch screen. Purchase of this terminal comes with Square’s free software, which is NerdWallet’s pick as the best overall POS system. The software includes payment processing, as well as an array of features like sales tracking, tips, gift cards and online store capabilities.

Square’s plans for retail and restaurants — with both free and pay-per-month tiers — come with industry-specific features, including bar-code printing, table tracking and product modifiers. Any of these plans can be used as the software with a Square Register.

You can purchase separately and connect all the accessories you need to the Square Register, including a contactless and chip card reader, dock, cash drawer, receipt printer, kitchen printer and paper.

Lightspeed Hardware Kit: Best for businesses with multiple locations

Monthly fee:

Hardware:

Card reader: Available separately.

Cash drawer: Included in hardware kit.

Receipt printer: Included in hardware kit.

Payment processing:

Pros:

• 24/7 support.

• Robust inventory management.

• Integrations for accounting, marketing, payroll and more.

• Free PCI compliance and fraud prevention.

Cons:

• IPad or desktop not included.

• Higher cost for software, and no transparency on hardware cost.

• Annual contracts required for lower pricing.

• More expensive plans if you don’t use Lightspeed Payments.

Why we like it: Lightspeed offers an iPad or desktop hardware kit for both retail and restaurants. iPads and desktops must be purchased separately. You can purchase add-ons such as a label printer and card reader as well.

The company offers paid software plans for download on your device, which integrate with Lightspeed Payments for credit card processing. Features include advanced inventory, customer and employee management, e-commerce options and a variety of third-party integrations. The software is ideal for managing inventory across multiple locations; additional registers cost extra per month.

Toast Flex: Best for restaurants

Monthly fees:

Hardware:

Card reader: Included for swipe, dip and contactless payments with Countertop Starter Kit.

Cash drawer: Available separately, starting at $119.

Receipt printer: Available separately, starting at $209.

Payment processing:

Pros:

• Free plan available for restaurants with one POS terminal.

• Live support is available by phone, email or chat.

• Offers 0% interest financing, subject to approval.

Cons:

• Some features, like online ordering and the loyalty program, may cost extra based on the package.

• Cash drawer not included.

• Primarily for restaurants.

• One- to three-year contracts.

Why we like it: Toast's POS system makes it easy to change menus, track tables, split checks, add tips and apply discounts. It also lets you take online orders, manage multiple locations, track employee sales and accept payments at the table.

The Quick Start Bundle comes with the Toast Flex POS terminal, a tap-to-pay device and router, plus built-in software. You can add on additional hardware including a cash drawer, kitchen display screen and order printer.

This register bundle is available for purchase with a pay-per-month software plan, though Toast offers a free plan that can be used with one or two terminals. Payment processing is also built in and may come at lower rates with higher-priced plans. Delivery services can be added to any plan.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best small-business apps

Clover Station Duo: Best for interface and hardware quality

Monthly fees:

Hardware:

Card reader: Included for swipe, dip and contactless payments.

Cash drawer: Included.

Receipt printer: Included.

Payment processing:

Pros:

• Cash drawer and receipt printer included.

• Accepts payments when the internet is down and processes them when you're reconnected.

• Free 30-day trial.

• Phone and email support.

Cons:

• Payment processing through Fiserv, not in-house.

• No free hardware options.

• Pricing can be vague and can require contacting a salesperson.

• A virtual terminal costs $14.95 per month if you don’t purchase a software plan.

Why we like it: Clover's POS system stands out with its durable and versatile hardware, making it easy to accept orders at the counter and on the go. You also can pair the hardware and software with a different merchant account, such as from Wells Fargo, SunTrust, PNC, BBVA or Citi. Payment processing is built in, and the software can be customized for restaurants, service or retail businesses. The Standard plan — which pairs with the Station Duo register — has features including inventory management, discounts and coupons, sales tracking and refund processing.

The Station Duo is Clover’s most powerful register. It can process payments, scan barcodes and print receipts like Clover’s Mini — but it also includes a second, customer-facing touch-screen display as well as a cash drawer and receipt printer. The terminal can be paid for monthly or bought outright plus a monthly software subscription.

» MORE: Best POS hardware

Best simple electronic cash registers, or ECRs

A traditional cash register may be a good choice if you don’t need many features or don’t want or aren’t comfortable with a tech-forward checkout system. Many are easy to use and have simple, essential features for ringing up sales.

The best options may let you calculate sales tax, tips and discounts; process returns and exchanges; print daily sales totals; connect with external bar-code scanners (purchased separately); and/or track employee use. Here are some ECRs to consider:

SAM4S ER-900 Series: Best overall

Hardware: $490-$800; varies by vendor.

Card reader: Swipe card reader included.

Cash drawer: Large cash drawer included.

Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.

Payment processing: Price varies depending on the credit card processor you use.

Pros:

• Handles sales tax and value-added tax.

• Works with up to 20,000 price look-up codes, or PLUs.

• Comes with a magnetic stripe reader.

• Different keyboard layouts to suit your needs.

Cons:

• Stores only 90 days of data.

• Must back up sales data to an SD card.

• Includes a swipe-only card reader, but additional hardware is required to process contactless payments and mobile payments.

• Can’t track inventory at the ingredient level.

Why we like it: The ER-900 series, made by South Korean firm SAM4S, is a reasonably beefy cash register with a large cash drawer and an attached card reader. It can handle sales tax and up to 20,000 PLUs (those five-digit numbers often spotted on produce stickers). You can track up to 99 different clerks. Also, you can add scanners, remote printers, scales, coin dispensers and other peripherals. Again, factor in the cost of a separate merchant account for credit card processing.

SAM4S ER-230EJ: Best for mobile businesses

Hardware: About $260.

Card reader: No card reader.

Cash drawer: Not included, but designated port available.

Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.

Payment processing: Price varies depending on the processor you use.

Pros:

• Small and portable.

• Has a backup-power battery.

• Programmable, moveable keys allow for customization.

Cons:

• Stores only 90 days of data.

• No card reader.

• Must purchase separate cash drawer.

Why we like it: If you’re running a food truck, selling at fairs or operating some other pop-up-type business, this portable, battery-powered cash register could come in handy. But if you want to take credit cards, debit cards or mobile wallets, you’ll need to get additional hardware and use the device’s ethernet and UBS ports to devise a workaround, which could be a headache.

Royal POS 1500: Best for restaurants

Hardware: $700-900; varies by vendor.

Card reader: Add-on option.

Cash drawer: Available as an accessory for $129.95.

Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.

Payment processing: Price varies depending on the processor you use.

Pros:

• Can split tickets, give discounts, suggest tips and print cooking instructions.

• Works with card readers, bar-code scanners, scales and kitchen printers.

• Can create some reports; must be exported to Microsoft Excel or PDF.

• Touch screen.

Cons:

• Tailored to restaurants but could work in retail environments.

Why we like it: The Royal POS 1500’s touch-screen design gives it a streamlined look and allows users to customize their checkout processes more easily. It also works in 17 languages and can be programmed for use by specific staff members. In addition, you can customize how receipts look. But, at 22 pounds, it’s hefty.

SAM4S ER-180U: Best for low-cost portable register

Hardware: $176-$400; varies by vendor.

Card reader: Not included.

Cash drawer: Included with register.

Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.

Payment processing: Price varies depending on the processor you use.

Pros:

• All-in-one keyboard, cash drawer and receipt printer.

• Lightweight and portable.

• Low cost.

Cons:

• Minimal features.

• Doesn't have an integrated card reader.

• Customer support varies by vendor.

Why we like it: This small, lightweight register is a good option for businesses on the go — though it’s still bulkier than a mobile POS app or card reader. The device has 16 keyboard designations for specific departments and up to 500 price look-ups, with sales tracking for up to 10 employees. It has a small built-in cash drawer and can print receipts.