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Square Register
20% off hardware
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on Square's website
Best Cash Registers 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 | ||
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Square Register Learn more on Square Register's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall POS-based cash register | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square Register's secure website |
Lightspeed Hardware Kit Read Review | 3.5/5 Best for Businesses 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. | Read Review | ||
Clover Station Duo Learn more on Clover Station Duo's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Interface and hardware quality | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $49.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover Station Duo's secure website |
Our pick for
Overall POS-based cash register
Square Register
on Square Register's secure website
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Pros
- Has two screens.
- Can be mounted to a countertop.
- Has advanced apps and software options.
Cons
- Must be plugged in at all times.
Our pick for
Businesses with multiple locations
Lightspeed Hardware Kit
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
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.
Our pick for
Interface and hardware quality
Clover Station Duo
on Clover Station Duo's secure website
and up.
Pros
- Has fingerprint login.
- Has fast processing speeds.
- Has robust POS software options.
- Has two screens.
Cons
- Doesn't have a free monthly plan option.
- POS-based cash registers. These devices function as accessories or components of a larger, more sophisticated POS hardware kit with built-in software.
- Simple electronic cash registers that ring up sales but do little else.
Square Register: Best overall
- $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.
- $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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Loyalty program and email marketing features cost extra.
- Can’t create and print barcodes in the free version.
Lightspeed Hardware Kit: Best for businesses with multiple locations
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $289 for Plus plan ($239 if billed annually).
- $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.
- Card reader: Available separately.
- Cash drawer: $129 or quote-based if bought with hardware kit.
- Receipt printer: $399 or quote-based if bought with hardware kit.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 24/7 support.
- Robust inventory management.
- Integrations for accounting, marketing, payroll and more.
- Free PCI compliance and fraud prevention.
- 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.
Toast Flex: Best for restaurants
- $0 for Starter Kit plan.
- $69 Point of Sale plan.
- Custom plans available.
- $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).
- Card reader: Included for swipe, dip and contactless payments with Countertop Starter Kit.
- Cash drawer: Available separately for $134.
- Receipt printer: Available separately, starting at $296. It is also compatible with some third-party printers.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Clover Station Duo: Best for interface and hardware quality
- $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.
- $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.
- Card reader: Included for swipe, dip and contactless payments.
- Cash drawer: Included.
- Receipt printer: Included.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
SAM4S ER-900 Series: Best overall
- $489 and up; varies by vendor.
- Card reader: Swipe card reader included.
- Cash drawer: Large cash drawer included.
- Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.
- 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.
- 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.
SAM4S ER-230EJ: Best for mobile businesses
- About $250.
- Card reader: No card reader.
- Cash drawer: Not included, but designated port available.
- Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.
- Small and portable.
- Has a backup-power battery.
- Programmable, moveable keys allow for customization.
- Stores only 90 days of data.
- No card reader.
- Must purchase separate cash drawer.
Royal POS 1500: Best for restaurants
- $700-900; varies by vendor.
- Card reader: Add-on option.
- Cash drawer: Included.
- Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.
- 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.
- Card reader costs extra.
SAM4S ER-180U: Best for low-cost portable register
- $176 and up; varies by vendor.
- Card reader: Not included.
- Cash drawer: Included with register.
- Receipt printer: Built-in thermal printer.
- All-in-one keyboard, cash drawer and receipt printer.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Low cost.
- Minimal features.
- Doesn't have an integrated card reader.
- Customer support varies by vendor.