6 Best Retail POS Systems of April 2023
Inventory management, transparent pricing and useful reporting capabilities are a must for retail point-of-sale systems.
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The best retail point-of-sale, or POS, systems come with excellent inventory management capabilities, transparent pricing, valuable reports and other features that help to run your business smoothly. That might include a way to accept payments on the go, maintain an e-commerce store or manage multiple locations.
Here are our top retail point-of-sale picks.
The best retail point-of-sale, or POS, systems come with excellent inventory management capabilities, transparent pricing, valuable reports and other features that help to run your business smoothly. That might include a way to accept payments on the go, maintain an e-commerce store or manage multiple locations.
Here are our top retail point-of-sale picks.
Best Retail POS Systems
| Product | Best for | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Square Retail POS Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website | Best for Overall retail POS | 2.6% + 10¢ in-person (2.5% + 10¢ with Retail Plus plan); 2.9% + 30¢ online. | $0 Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available. | Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website |
 QuickBooks GoPayment | Best for QuickBooks accounting users | 2.9% + 25¢ online; 2.4% + 25¢ in-person. Pricing differs for non-QuickBooks Online users. | $0 Monthly fee in some instances. | Read review |
 Clover Flex Learn more on Clover Flex's secure website | Best for Mobile POS users | 2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢ in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online. | $15 $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover Flex's secure website |
 Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | Best for E-commerce | 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 |
 Lightspeed POS Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website | Best for Inventory management | 2.6% + 10¢ in-person; 2.6% + 30¢ online. | $69 and up. | Learn more on Lightspeed POS's secure website |
 Vend POS Read review on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Reporting | Not offered. Must use third-party processor. | $89 Lean; $149 Standard; $269 Advanced. Prices vary if billed annually. | Read review on NerdWallet's secure website |
Our pick for
Overall retail POS
on Square Retail POS's secure website
Square Retail POS
Payment processing fees
2.6% + 10¢in-person (2.5% + 10¢ with Retail Plus plan); 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$0Free plan; $60 Plus plan; Custom plan available.
on Square Retail POS's secure website
Our pick for
QuickBooks accounting users
QuickBooks GoPayment
Payment processing fees
2.9% + 25¢online; 2.4% + 25¢ in-person. Pricing differs for non-QuickBooks Online users.
Monthly fee
$0Monthly fee in some instances.
Our pick for
Mobile POS users
on Clover Flex's secure website
Clover Flex
Payment processing fees
2.3% + 10¢ or 2.6% + 10¢in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online.
Monthly fee
$15$14.95 and up.
on Clover Flex's secure website
Our pick for
E-commerce
on Shopify POS's secure website
Shopify Retail POS
Payment processing fees
2.70%in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online (Basic plan).
Monthly fee
$0POS Lite; $89 POS Pro. (Paid Shopify plan is required for POS use.)
on Shopify POS's secure website
Our pick for
Inventory management
on Lightspeed POS's secure website
Lightspeed POS
Payment processing fees
2.6% + 10¢in-person; 2.6% + 30¢ online.
Monthly fee
$69and up.
on Lightspeed POS's secure website
Our pick for
Reporting
on NerdWallet's secure website
Vend POS
Payment processing fees
Not offered.Must use third-party processor.
Monthly fee
$89Lean; $149 Standard; $269 Advanced. Prices vary if billed annually.
on NerdWallet's secure website
Our picks for best retail POS systems
Square for Retail
Our pick for: Best overall retail POS
Software: Free and up.
Hardware: Free mobile reader with sign-up; $149 for the Square Stand with built-in swipe/dip/contactless payment reader; $299 for portable Square Terminal that accepts swipe/dip/contactless payment and prints receipts.
Payment processing: Varies by plan. With the free retail plan, it's 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction, 2.9% plus 30 cents per online transaction and 3.5% plus 15 cents per keyed transaction.
Why we like it: Square for Retail has no contract requirements, and with transparent, published prices, you know exactly what you’re signing up for. In addition to an array of retail-specific hardware and accessories, it's also compatible with both iOS and Android phones and tablets, offering flexibility for on-the-go shops making sales at flea markets, trade shows and more.
Once set up, the platform provides a range of reporting tools and customer, inventory and employee management options. There's also a variety of paid add-ons, including a loyalty program and payroll platform, all of which can be customized to match your preferences and business needs. Read our full Square for Retail POS review.
QuickBooks GoPayment
Our pick for: QuickBooks accounting users
Software: Free app.
Hardware: $49 for QuickBooks card reader.
Payment processing: Varies by plan. QuickBooks Online users pay 2.4% plus 25 cents for in-person payments, 2.9% plus 25 cents for online payments and 3.4% plus 25 cents for keyed-in transactions.
Why we like it: QuickBooks GoPayment is a mobile point-of-sale system app that uses QuickBooks Payments to process transactions. QuickBooks GoPayment's card reader can process both magstripe and chip card payments and connect to smart devices through Bluetooth. Even without the credit card reader, retail businesses can process keyed-in transactions through the GoPayment app. And unlike Square’s free reader, GoPayment’s can process chip cards and doesn’t require a jack to connect. However, QuickBooks Payments is only available to businesses that use QuickBooks for accounting. It’s a convenient, compatible low-cost add-on if you already rely on QuickBooks. Read our full QuickBooks GoPayment review.
Clover Flex
Our pick for: Mobile POS users
Software: $14.95 and up per month.
Hardware: $499 for all-inclusive mobile device with printer and barcode scanner.
Payment processing: 2.3% plus 10 cents per transaction for Standard and Advanced plans; 2.6% plus 10 cents for Starter plan.
Why we like it: One of the most notable perks of the Clover Flex is that it doesn’t rely on a smart device to be fully functional; unlike many other mobile POS systems for retail, it’s a standalone system. This makes the Clover Flex’s considerable price of $499 easier to understand, especially if your retail store doesn’t already have a dedicated smart device. Read our full Clover POS review.
Shopify POS
Our pick for: E-commerce
Software: $29 up to $299 and more per month.
Hardware: $49 for card reader; $149 for a tablet stand (tablet not included).
Payment processing: Varies by plan; fees start at 2.4% for in-person transactions and 2.4% plus 30 cents for online transactions. Additional fees apply if you use a different payment processor.
Why we like it: Each of Shopify’s POS system plans offers a dedicated POS and e-commerce website, with the higher-priced plans featuring lower credit card processing rates and more tools. (Note that you have to use Shopify Payments as your payment processor to lock in these rates.)
As an online-first POS, Shopify can host checkout, accept discounts, integrate with third-party applications, save customer information in a database, organize product catalogs and generate reports on your sales performance. You can also sell through multiple channels, including social media, and in multiple languages and dozens of currencies. Read our full Shopify POS review.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Our pick for: Inventory management
Software: $69 to $199 per month (billed annually).
Hardware: Quote-based.
Payment processing: Swipe, dip and contactless payments for 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction; keyed-in transactions for 2.6% plus 30 cents per transaction.
Why we like it: Lightspeed Retail POS offers a selection of third-party applications that can extend the functionality of your store, as well as loyalty programs and e-commerce integrations included in its higher-priced plans. The company uses an in-house payment processor, Lightspeed Payments, to process transactions, but you have the option to use a third-party payment processor as well. Merchants processing a high annual volume can get cheaper quote-based pricing, making it a great choice for fast-growing businesses. Read our full Lightspeed Retail POS review.
Vend by Lightspeed
Our pick for: Reporting
Software: $69 per month (billed annually) and up.
Hardware: Starter Hardware Kit for iOS available for $760; compatible with other industry-standard hardware.
Payment processing: Not included; must be added separately.
Why we like it: You can create and customize your product catalog and sync data through the cloud across locations and sales channels. You can also use Vend’s automated inventory management tools to track your stock, adjust levels and fill orders. With the Vend scanner mobile app, you can remotely conduct inventory counts and product lookups.
Vend stands out for its advanced reporting and analytics tools, including sales summaries, register closures and inventory levels. It also has tools for customer relationship management and a customizable checkout, including the option to use the Vend Display app to turn your iPad into a customer-facing display. Upgrading to the Advanced plan also gives you access to e-commerce, loyalty programs, gift cards and multi-store management tools. Read our full Vend POS review.
What is a retail POS?
POS stands for point of sale, and it is where customers make purchases. A retail POS can be in a physical store, or it can be online. In addition to accepting payments, many business owners use POS systems to record sales, create receipts, track sales tax and more.
How to choose a retail POS system
Here’s what to take into account while trying to find the best retail POS system for your business:
Hardware cost
Hardware costs could include the cost of registers, barcode scanners, printers and card readers. Depending on the capabilities of the POS hardware, it could range in price from free to over $1,000.
Software cost
Generally, you'll have to pay a monthly fee to use POS software. However, in some cases, free versions are available.
Payment processing fees
Often, but not always, a POS system comes bundled with payment processing services. Sometimes, processing rates are the same regardless of what type of card is used. In other cases, processors charge interchange rates — which vary by card — plus a fee. The latter method can be less predictable. In addition to these processing fees, other fees might apply, such as PCI compliance fees or chargeback fees for charges returned to payment cards.
It's best to have a processor with transparent, easy-to-understand rates and minimal fees.
POS mobility
If you want your retail POS system to be as mobile as you and your employees are, then you should consider either supplementing your desktop POS system or replacing it with a handheld retail POS system. A more mobile retail POS may be especially convenient for retail businesses that sell through booths and markets.
Inventory management capabilities
Excellent inventory management capabilities are a must for retail POS systems. If you’re working with multiple locations, find a retail POS system that can help you keep track of inventory from location to location. If you handle large stocks of goods that you’re having trouble keeping up with, get a retail POS software that allows you to track purchase orders through it.
Customer tracking capabilities
High-performing retail POS systems also allow business owners and employees to keep track of a customer’s history with their business. Knowing what specific purchases a given customer has made can inform future sales.
Employee management
Consider a retail POS system that can generate reports on employee sales performance.
A version of this article was first published on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet. Claire Tsosie and Lisa Anthony, authors at NerdWallet, contributed to this article.
Last updated on March 9, 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.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Retail POS Systems of April 2023
- Square Retail POS: Best for Overall retail POS
- QuickBooks GoPayment: Best for QuickBooks accounting users
- Clover Flex: Best for Mobile POS users
- Shopify Retail POS: Best for E-commerce
- Lightspeed POS: Best for Inventory management
- Vend POS: Best for Reporting
Frequently asked questions
This will depend on the type of business you run, as well as your business’s specific needs. Square for Retail POS tops our list due to its transparent pricing, lack of contract and wide range of features.
The cost of a retail POS system can vary. If you are a brick-and-mortar retailer you will likely have some hardware costs — which can cost up to $1,000 — but you may opt to find a free software. If you need a more high-performing software, or something that provides more tracking functions, you may end up paying up to a few thousand dollars per year.
