The best point-of-sale, or POS, systems do far more than handle customer payments. These systems help you manage sales, track inventory and improve daily business operations by offering numerous hardware options and feature-rich POS software.
Transparent pricing, intuitive flows and access to live support are also important when selecting your POS systems and software. Here are our top picks.
Our Nerdy picks for
Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems and Software
Product | Payment processing fees | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall POS system | 2.6% + 10¢ in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online. | $0 Free plan; $29 Plus plan; Custom plan available. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website |
Toast POS Learn more on Toast POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Restaurants | 2.99% + $0.15 | $0 Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available. | Learn more on Toast POS's secure website |
Lightspeed POS Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Inventory management | 2.6% + 10¢ in-person; 2.6% + 30¢ online. | $69 $89 and up. | Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website |
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Shopify e-commerce users | 2.70% in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online (Basic plan). | $0 POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.) | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website |
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Hardware | 2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢ in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online. | $15 $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website |
PayPal Zettle | 5.0/5 Best for POS software | 2.29% + 9¢ in-person; 3.49% + 49¢ online. | $0 | |
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for International businesses | 2.7% + 5¢ in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online. | $0 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website |
Our pick for
Overall POS system
Square POS
Learn more
on Square POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.6% + 10¢
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0
Free plan; $29 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
Square’s point-of-sale system stands out with its transparent pricing, live support and many useful features. Unlike most systems, Square offers a free POS software option with no monthly charges. Because Square works on iPhones, Androids and iPads, you can make sales on the go — for example, at a farmers market, trade show or music festival.
Pros
- Transparent, flat swipe fees.
- First magstripe credit card reader is free; free plan available.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- Versions available for retail, restaurants or professional services; offers inventory management, table and menu management, multi-location setup, online orders and appointment scheduling.
- Live support available by phone, instant message or email.
- Subscription fees are generally month to month and easy to cancel if needed. You also have the option to pause your subscriptions for up to three months.
Cons
- Loyalty program and email marketing features cost extra; appointment-booking for more than one person is an additional fee.
- Ability to create and print barcodes isn’t available on free version.
Our pick for
Restaurants
Toast POS
Learn more
on Toast POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.99% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
Quick Start Bundle; $69 Core plan; $165 Growth plan. Custom plan also available.
Toast's restaurant-oriented POS system makes it easy to update menus, track table statuses, split checks, add gratuity automatically, apply various discount rules — say, for happy hour — take online orders, manage multiple locations, track employee performance and accept tableside payments.
Pros
- Promises no additional transaction fees or markups.
- Restaurant-friendly features for managing tables, inventory and employee performance.
- Multi-location management and the ability to publish different menus and set different prices at different locations.
- A self-ordering kiosk system that offers contactless order and payment options for customers when paired with Toast Tap.
- Live support available by phone, email or instant message.
- Pay-as-You-Go plan with no monthly fee available.
Cons
- Two-year contract term.
- Some features, like online ordering and the loyalty program, may cost extra based on the package you choose.
- If you close your account before your contract term ends, you’ll have to pay the remaining subscription and software financing fees.
Our pick for
Inventory management
Lightspeed POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.6% + 10¢
in-person; 2.6% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$69
$89 and up.
The Lightspeed POS system’s inventory management capabilities are outstanding at every subscription tier and more comprehensive than those of competitors. When entering items into your system, you can add plenty of information — such as a description, images, cost, manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, your selling price, tax and discount rules, tags, barcodes, SKUs, brands, categories and custom-built fields — which can be used to generate and filter results on reports.
Pros
- Transparent, flat swipe fees; other payment processors are available to use with your POS system if you don’t want to use the in-house option.
- The only unexpected fee you could see on your statement would be $15 for chargeback, if applicable.
- A comprehensive inventory management system to keep detailed records of your products across multiple locations and set automatic reorder points so you don't run out.
- The restaurant POS features an adjustable floor plan, easy-to-edit menus, multi-location management and reports showing peak times and employee performance.
- 24/7 phone support is available in the U.S. Chat and email support are also available.
Cons
- No free plans are available.
- Loyalty, e-commerce, accounting integrations and analytics features are included only on more expensive plans.
- If you cancel your subscription, you’ll immediately owe the remaining installment fees in your plan, if any apply. Prepaid annual and monthly fees are nonrefundable.
Our pick for
Shopify e-commerce users
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.70%
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online (Basic plan).
Monthly fee
$0
POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.)
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
- Transparent, flat swipe fees.
- E-commerce-friendly features, including access to vendors and resources to build an online store from scratch using this platform; drop-shipping, curbside pickup and local delivery options.
- Ability to automatically email customers who abandon carts and don’t complete purchases.
- Tracks inventory, hides out-of-stock products and offers inventory analysis.
- Plans are month to month and easy to cancel if needed; you can also upgrade or downgrade them at any time.
- You can “pause” your store for three months with no subscription fee or “pause and build” for a reduced monthly fee.
Cons
- Must pay separately for a Shopify e-commerce plan.
- Live support is available only via chat, not phone.
- Additional transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify’s in-house payment processing.
Our pick for
Hardware
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Payment processing fees
2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢
in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online.
Monthly fee
$15
$14.95 and up.
Clover's POS system stands out with its durable and versatile hardware, with POS terminals that make it easy to accept orders at the counter or on the go. You also have the option to pair the hardware and software with a different merchant account, such as one from Wells Fargo, SunTrust, PNC, BBVA or Citi.
Pros
- Accepts payments when the internet is down and processes them when you are reconnected.
- Offers a rapid deposit option for an additional fee of 1% that provides faster access to the funds from sales transactions.
- Phone support is available 24/7.
- Free customer engagement tools such as discounts and perks are included to help you build relationships.
Cons
- $25 chargeback fee per occurrence.
- No free hardware options.
- A virtual terminal costs $14.95 per month if you don’t purchase a software plan.
Our pick for
POS software
PayPal Zettle
Payment processing fees
2.29% + 9¢
in-person; 3.49% + 49¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0
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. Its hardware POS packages make it easy to set up quickly, and some decent (though limited) accessories are available.
Pros
- Free software and competitive payment processing rates.
- No contracts.
- Phone support, chat and a help library are available.
Cons
- Relatively limited hardware options.
- Can do invoice and recurring payments but only with Zettle Reader and only on the iOS app.
- No monthly payment plan for hardware.
Our pick for
International businesses
Stripe
Learn more
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Payment processing fees
2.7% + 5¢
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0
Stripe Payments can accept dozens of payment methods and more than 135 currencies. And its advanced developer tools allow you to create a checkout flow that feels custom, provided you know how to use them. Stripe users can accept in-person payments by integrating the company’s point-of-sale option, Stripe Terminal. But if you do most of your business in person, there are better options.
Pros
- Flat-rate, transparent pricing with no setup, cancellation or monthly fees.
- Supports a wide variety of payment methods and currencies.
- Highly customizable checkout flow.
- 24/7 customer support via phone, email and live chat.
Cons
- Open API and tools may be difficult to use without software development expertise.
- Limited functionality for in-person retail businesses and restaurants.
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Square: Best overall POS system
Types of businesses supported: Retail, food and beverage, professional services (beauty, health, repair, etc.) and custom-built options.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square POS Plus and Square Appointments Plus plans.
- $60 for Restaurant Plus and Retail Plus plans.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
Hardware:
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $49 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer.
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system.
- $659-$1,479 for various bundles of stands, cash drawers, printers and card readers.
Payment processing: Varies by plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions (2.5% plus 10 cents with Retail Plus plan).
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions or invoices without a card on file.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions or card-on-file invoices.
Why we like it: 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 WiFi connection. Square also is transparent with pricing, doesn’t require contracts or charge hidden fees, and integrates with third-party hardware and software.
Toast: Best POS for restaurants
Types of businesses supported: Fine dining, casual dining, fast-casual, bar and nightclub, cafe and bakery, and custom-built options.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for Quick Start Bundle.
- $69 for Core plan.
- $110 + $4 per employee for Restaurant Basics plan.
- $165 for Growth plan.
- Custom plans available.
Hardware: Full restaurant setups begin at $799 in the Starter plan.
- $609 for Handheld Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $799 for Countertop Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
- $999 for Guest Self-Service Starter Kit (but $0 if you agree to a higher processing fee).
Payment processing:
- 2.99% plus 15 cents per transaction, if you choose pay-as-you-go option on hardware.
- 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.
Why we like it: Toast POS is built specifically for restaurants and comes with a variety of hardware designed to streamline tableside, countertop and kitchen services. The system includes features that allow restaurant owners to build a customer loyalty program, view sales reports and manage employee scheduling and payroll. Toast POS also integrates with food delivery services and other third-party software. Unlike several of its competitors offering point-of-sale systems, Toast requires a long-term contract. But with a variety of software plan options and 24/7 customer support, Toast is a strong contender for those in the restaurant business.
Lightspeed: Best POS for inventory management
Types of businesses supported: Retail (apparel, bike, CBD, electronics, gift store, health, home decor, jewelry, liquor, pet, sporting goods, toy, vape, other); restaurant (bar, cafe, full-service, hotel, quick-service, other); golf (multicourse, municipal, private, public, resorts, semiprivate, other).
Monthly POS software fee (retail):
- $89 for Lean plan ($69 if billed annually).
- $149 for Standard plan ($119 if billed annually).
- $269 for Advanced plan ($199 if billed annually).
Prices are higher if you don’t use Lightspeed as your payments processor:
- $119 for Lean plan ($99 if billed annually).
- $179 for Standard plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $299 for Advanced plan ($229 if billed annually).
Hardware: Undisclosed/quote only.
Payment processing:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.6% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
Why we like it: Lightspeed 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.
Shopify: Best for Shopify e-commerce users
Types of businesses supported: E-commerce and in-store retail.
Monthly POS software fee:
To use Shopify POS, you also must have a Shopify plan for e-commerce. The following prices reflect the annual billing option, which saves you money:
- $29 for Shopify Basic.
- $79 for regular Shopify.
- $299 for Shopify Advanced.
- $2,000 for Shopify Plus.
Once you have a Shopify plan for e-commerce, add either:
- $0 for Shopify POS Lite (free with all Shopify plans).
- $89 per location for Shopify POS Pro (free with Shopify Plus).
Hardware:
- $49 for Chipper 2X BT card reader or Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Retail Kit.
- $399 for Shopify POS Go mobile device ($429 with case).
Payment processing:
- 2.4%, 2.6% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.7% for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Why we like it: Shopify POS is an ideal system for retailers and e-commerce businesses. The free POS available with any of Shopify’s e-commerce plans offers 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 hardware
Types of businesses supported: Table-service restaurants and cafes; counter-service restaurants, cafes, diners and food trucks; and retail, service and e-commerce businesses.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $14.95 for Retail Starter, Professional Services Starter and Standard, Personal Services Starter and Home & Field Services plans.
- $44.95 for Retail Standard, QSR Starter and Standard, Professional Services Advanced and Personal Services Standard and Advanced plans.
- $54.90 for Retail Advanced and QSR Advanced plans.
- $74.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $84.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $94.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
Payment processing:
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans.
- 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.
Why we like it: Clover offers a lot of flexibility with its merchant processing. Its POS hardware does ring up at a higher price point, but it holds a strong reputation for quality design and dependable function. Add to that competitive flat-rate processing fees and affordable monthly software fees, and Clover makes for a solid choice for small-business owners across every industry.
PayPal Zettle: Best POS software
Types of businesses supported: Retail, service and e-commerce businesses.
Monthly POS software fee: Free.
Hardware:
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $249 for Store Kit Mini (screen terminal with card reader).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $499 for Store Kit Standard (adds printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
Payment processing:
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual entry card transactions.
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing transactions.
Why we like it: 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, Shopify and BigCommerce.
Stripe Terminal: Best POS for international businesses
Types of businesses supported: Open application programming interface and ability to accept more than 135 currencies are primarily relevant to online sales.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for standard Stripe Connect.
- $2 per account for Stripe Express (for marketplaces) or Stripe Custom (the white-label option that allows businesses to customize the checkout process).
Hardware:
- $59 for Stripe Reader M2.
- $249 for BBPOS WidePOS E card reader.
Payment processing:
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.9% plus 30 cents for international cards or currency conversion.
Why we like it: Stripe Terminal extends Stripe Payments functionality to become a full POS solution and works particularly well 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.
Last updated on February 16, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet’s point-of-sale systems provider ratings reward companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including cost, system capabilities, contract requirements, customer service and integrations and add-ons. Learn more about how we rate point-of-sale (POS) systems providers.
These ratings are a guide, but services, hardware and pricing can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good POS system should come with features that help you run your business. These can vary by industry. Some examples of features you might want to look for:
- Inventory management. Keep track of how many items you have on hand and when you need to reorder.
- Table or menu management. View the status of tables in your restaurant, see how long it takes to turn tables, update menus and track when you run out of certain items.
- Multi-location management. Track inventory, menus or service in multiple areas, set different prices and tax rules for each location and run reports to see how each location is performing.
- Loyalty program. Reengage your customers with a point- or discount-earning system that gives them a reason to keep coming back; be able to send custom discounts — for example, a discount for a customer’s birthday.
Aside from useful features, you'll also want a system that has:
- Transparent pricing. You can expect to pay a monthly fee, along with payment processing fees and hardware fees. Generally, you want to avoid early termination fees or long contracts that are hard to cancel without penalty. If payment processing comes bundled with your POS, make sure you understand the pricing and can avoid fees such as PCI compliance fees and high chargeback fees.
- Intuitive user flows. You want a system that’s easy to use and understand.
- Robust customer support. While some answers might be easy to find online, it’s nice to be able to talk to someone who can help you troubleshoot when you need it.
- Decide on the features you need. This will depend largely on what type of business you have. It might include items like the ability to manage tables and menus, track inventory or schedule appointments.
- Weigh functionality with upfront and ongoing costs. Once you have a handful of options that fit your needs, consider the costs. How much are the monthly service fees? What does the hardware cost? How much are the payment processing fees? Can you sign up without getting locked into a long contract? You might have to call some providers to collect quotes. Try free demos or watch videos of the software in action to get an idea of the user flows. Are they easy to understand? Would it work well with your specific business?
- Narrow your options. Which systems have the best customer service? Which ones might work with the hardware you have? Which are the fastest and easiest to set up? These details might not be your biggest deciding factors, but they might be important enough to help you make a decision.
Many POS systems are cloud-based software with monthly subscription fees that vary widely. Some basic plans are free or start at $10 per month; other basic plans start at $99 per month. In some cases, setup fees apply. However, to make use of that system, you might also need to pay for:
- Hardware. Some POS systems offer a basic card reader for free, and you may be able to operate it using a phone, tablet or desktop computer you already have. In other cases, you might need proprietary hardware that can cost hundreds. Some POS systems charge monthly fees to use rented terminals.
- Payment processing fees. Usually, a payment processor comes with a POS system. Every time you accept a debit or credit card transaction, you’ll have to pay a transaction fee, usually around 2.5% to 3% of the transaction, plus 10 to 30 cents. Pricing can vary widely. Some processors use flat fees, so you pay the same rate for all in-person transactions, for instance. Others use interchange-plus fees, which means fees can vary depending on factors such as your industry and the type of card your client is using.
- More expensive plans or add-ons. If you want multiple registers or locations or you exceed a certain amount in revenue each month, a basic plan might not cut it. Certain features, such as inventory management features or loyalty program tools, might be add-ons that cost extra.