Point-of-sale (POS) hardware is a crucial component of many businesses’ POS systems, because it allows them to accept in-person payments and move customers through the checkout process. In general, businesses likely need some combination of a POS terminal, credit card reader, cash drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer. The best POS hardware options are compatible with your POS software, within your budget and easy for both your employees and customers to interact with.
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Here are NerdWallet’s picks for the best POS hardware.
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Square
Square Terminal
NerdWallet Rating
5.0
Bonus Amount
20% off hardware
Requirements to qualify
Read Review
Learn more
on Square's website
Best POS Hardware
Best POS Hardware
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Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Has two screens.
- Can be mounted to a countertop.
- Has advanced apps and software options.
Cons
- Must be plugged in at all times.
Square Register
Best for Countertop POS terminals
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Has two screens.
- Can be mounted to a countertop.
- Has advanced apps and software options.
Cons
- Must be plugged in at all times.
Monthly fee
$49.95
and up.
Learn more
on Clover's website
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.
Clover Station Duo
Best for Countertop POS terminals
Monthly fee
$49.95
and up.
Learn more
on Clover's website
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.
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.
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.
Toast Flex
Best for Countertop POS terminals
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.
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.
Pros
- Has volume discounts.
- Includes colored countertop stand, but is also portable enough to use on the go.
Cons
- Processing rates may increase if monthly transaction volume drops.
- No full POS register options to pair with.
Pros
- Has volume discounts.
- Includes colored countertop stand, but is also portable enough to use on the go.
Cons
- Processing rates may increase if monthly transaction volume drops.
- No full POS register options to pair with.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Has a compact design.
- Square Reader for magstripe and POS app are free.
- Magstripe reader doesn’t have to be charged.
Cons
- Free Square Reader only lets you swipe cards; must purchase upgraded Square Reader to accept contactless and chip payments.
- Square Reader for contactless and chip payments takes roughly two to three hours to charge.
Square Reader
Best for Credit card readers
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Has a compact design.
- Square Reader for magstripe and POS app are free.
- Magstripe reader doesn’t have to be charged.
Cons
- Free Square Reader only lets you swipe cards; must purchase upgraded Square Reader to accept contactless and chip payments.
- Square Reader for contactless and chip payments takes roughly two to three hours to charge.
Monthly fee
$0.00
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
Learn more
on SumUp's website
Pros
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
- Has a screen to display transaction details.
- Can complete more than 500 transactions before having to recharge.
Cons
- Has less robust POS software features than other card readers.
SumUp Plus
Best for Credit card readers
Monthly fee
$0.00
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
Learn more
on SumUp's website
Pros
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
- Has a screen to display transaction details.
- Can complete more than 500 transactions before having to recharge.
Cons
- Has less robust POS software features than other card readers.
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.
Pros
- Is designed specifically for restaurants.
- Can opt for higher processing fees to cover the cost of the device.
- Can use it to ask customers for feedback on their experience.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
Cons
- Requires quotes for advanced monthly plans.
- Requires a contract.
Toast Go 2
Best for Mobile POS terminals
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.
Pros
- Is designed specifically for restaurants.
- Can opt for higher processing fees to cover the cost of the device.
- Can use it to ask customers for feedback on their experience.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
Cons
- Requires quotes for advanced monthly plans.
- Requires a contract.
Pros
- Includes built-in receipt printer.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
- Can rent if you don’t want to commit to buying right away.
Cons
- Requires monthly plan for advanced features.
Pros
- Includes built-in receipt printer.
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
- Can rent if you don’t want to commit to buying right away.
Cons
- Requires monthly plan for advanced features.
Pros
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Accepts PayPal, Venmo and QR code payments.
- Can purchase with built-in barcode scanner and receipt printer.
Cons
- POS features offer less functionality than some competitors.
- Limited software integrations.
Pros
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Accepts PayPal, Venmo and QR code payments.
- Can purchase with built-in barcode scanner and receipt printer.
Cons
- POS features offer less functionality than some competitors.
- Limited software integrations.
POS Nation Freedom Hardware Bundle
Best for POS hardware bundles
Payment processing fees
N/A
Monthly fee
$149.00
and up.
Pros
- No long-term contract required with purchase of hardware bundle.
- 24/7 customer support.
Cons
- Less pricing transparency than some competitors.
POS Nation Freedom Hardware Bundle
Best for POS hardware bundles
Payment processing fees
N/A
Monthly fee
$149.00
and up.
Pros
- No long-term contract required with purchase of hardware bundle.
- 24/7 customer support.
Cons
- Less pricing transparency than some competitors.
Monthly fee
$109.00
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.
Lightspeed Hardware Kit
Best for POS hardware bundles
Monthly fee
$109.00
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.
What type of POS hardware do you need?
The types of POS hardware you’ll need depend on the nature of your business. Although not every business requires all these hardware options, most businesses will need at least some of the following.
POS terminal
A POS terminal will have an interface that the merchant uses to manage transactions. Some merchants use a desktop computer as their POS terminal, but it is much more common nowadays for an iPad or tablet to be used as the POS terminal. These are often paired with a stand to turn them into a countertop device. Keep in mind that some POS providers build their own proprietary POS terminals, such as the Square Register and Clover Station.
The POS terminal is often one of the most expensive components of a POS hardware kit. You’ll either have to pay the price of an iPad or tablet or the more expensive price tag on a proprietary terminal.
Credit card reader
There are three different ways a credit card reader can take payment:
Consider how your customers like to pay when selecting a credit card reader. Most people have a card with a magstripe, but many customers now more commonly prefer the more secure EMV payment method. Others don’t carry a credit card at all and use only a digital wallet to pay for products.
There are other features to consider when picking out your credit card reader, such as the ability to print or email receipts, suggest tip amounts or key in customers’ card info manually. You may also want a credit card reader that works in conjunction with your mobile device in order to accept payments from anywhere.
» MORE: Best mobile POS systems
Some POS providers sell their own proprietary credit card readers (such as Square and PayPal); others are compatible with third-party hardware or may require you to buy one from your credit card processing company.
Cash drawer
Most businesses still need to accept cash payments, which means they need a cash drawer. The main thing to consider with a cash drawer is the locking mechanism, as you’ll want something that can’t be broken into. You’ll also want to find a cash drawer that is compatible with your POS software, as it should open every time you complete a cash transaction via a USB or Bluetooth connection. Other considerations are the size of the cash drawer and the number of slots and coin trays.
Barcode scanner
Businesses that carry lots of inventory need a barcode scanner to help them keep track of stock and expedite the checkout process. Similar to cash drawers, you can have a USB-enabled barcode scanner or a Bluetooth barcode scanner — just make sure it is compatible with your POS software. Popular barcode scanner brands include Zebra, Motorola and Socket Mobile.
Receipt printer
Although many POS providers now offer software that can send a text or email receipt to customers, it’s still necessary to offer a printed receipt option. Like barcode scanners and cash drawers, receipt printers can be connected to compatible POS software via USB or Bluetooth. Most receipt printers use thermal or ink printing. If you operate a food-service business, you may also want to invest in a kitchen printer, which syncs with your POS software to print tickets in the kitchen whenever an order is placed. Popular brands include Star Micronics and Epson.
Other POS accessories
Some additional products are specific to certain types of businesses. If you operate a restaurant, for example, you may also want to invest in a user-facing kiosk, digital menu board or kitchen display system. Other products that can be considered POS hardware include digital scales, kitchen buzzers, digital menu boards and customer-facing display systems. Most restaurant POS providers sell these items.
Explore more POS hardware options
For a deeper dive into specific types of POS hardware, see NerdWallet’s picks for:
How to choose POS hardware
When shopping for POS hardware, there are a variety of factors to keep in mind to ensure you get equipment that makes sense for your business.
POS system compatibility
POS hardware works in conjunction with POS software to allow your business to run transactions. But POS hardware does not work with all POS software. Typically, POS companies make software that is only compatible with certain types of hardware.
When shopping around for hardware, make sure you confirm which software it can integrate with. Your POS provider will normally sell all the hardware that is compatible with its POS software, but if you decide to buy from third-party vendors, you may run into some issues.
Price
The type of POS hardware your business needs will determine how much you pay. For instance, a basic credit card reader may be free or inexpensive, while a terminal with all the accessories could be several thousand dollars. If you need several pieces of POS hardware, look at bundling options to save money and always shop around — at both direct providers and third-party vendors — to make sure you’re getting the most competitive price.
» MORE: Best free POS systems
Usability
You’re going to be using your POS hardware a lot, so you need to find something that is easy to use and responsive to your business’s needs. For example, if you sell your wares primarily from events, pop-up shops or conventions, it might make sense to use a cloud-based POS system so you never risk losing your data. Other things to consider are whether the POS system can operate offline, the kind of Wi-Fi router the POS software needs to operate and the durability of the hardware (make sure your hardware comes with a warranty).
Many POS providers offer a money-back guarantee on their POS hardware products — so you should feel empowered to try out their hardware risk-free. Also check to see what level of support they offer (ideally you want free 24/7 support). Some POS providers also offer on-site installation and training on how to use their products.
Learn more about industry-specific POS systems
Businesses in the following industries may need more specialized POS equipment. Here are NerdWallet’s top picks for industry-specific POS systems.
Last updated on April 23, 2024