The best retail point-of-sale (POS) systems come with some combination of excellent inventory management capabilities, staff management tools, sales reports and other features, like loyalty programs and customer directories. And since retailers commonly sell their products in different locations, your POS system should support all of your sales channels, whether you need to accept payments on the go, online or at a brick-and-mortar shop.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
95+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
Objective and comprehensive point-of-sale systems ratings rubric. (Learn more about our star ratings.)
NerdWallet's small-business software content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business software, including POS systems, payment processing, accounting and payroll. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, Yahoo Finance and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Here are some of our top picks for retail POS systems, followed by a full list of options.
Best Retail POS Systems
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Retail POS Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall retail POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89, custom. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square Retail POS's secure website |
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Online retail businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Customer loyalty program | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Lightspeed Retail POS Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Retail inventory management | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109.00 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan. | Learn more on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | ||
Helcim POS Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for High sales volume retailers | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Learn more on Helcim POS's secure website | ||
SumUp POS Learn more on SumUp POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Automated marketing toools | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.15 | $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 POS's secure website | ||
PayPal Zettle | 4.0/5 Best for Accepting various payment methods | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Overall retail POS system
Square Retail POS
Learn more
on Square Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89, custom.
Square for Retail stands out for its transparent pricing, live support and wide range of useful features. With a user-friendly interface and free starter tier, it’s an excellent choice for retail businesses looking to get started quickly without a steep learning curve.
Pros
- Transparent, flat fees.
- First magstripe credit card reader is free; free plan available.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- Offers inventory management, multi-location setup 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 the free version.
Our pick for
Online retail businesses
Shopify Retail POS
Learn more
on Shopify POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$39.00
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Shopify’s POS system is a great fit for businesses primarily selling items online. The Shopify e-commerce platform makes it easy for merchants who sell both online and in-person to manage all of their operations in a single place.
Pros
- Transparent, flat-rate payment processing fees.
- 24/7 customer support.
- E-commerce-friendly features, including access to vendors and resources to build an online store from scratch.
- Dropshipping, 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, upgrade or downgrade.
- You can “pause” your store for three months with no subscription fee or “pause and build” for a reduced monthly payment.
Cons
- No free plans available.
- Not ideal for businesses that don’t sell online.
- Additional transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify’s in-house payment processing.
Our pick for
Customer loyalty program
Clover POS
Learn more
on Clover POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Whereas lots of competitors charge extra for customer loyalty programs or only include them in higher-tier plans, Clover builds a loyalty program into all of its retail POS plans. If your customers subscribe to the program, they’ll also be able to download an accompanying mobile app that keeps track of their rewards. And if you’d like to establish a direct line of communication with your customers, you can add a feedback link to their receipts.
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges termination fees, though they may be waived in certain cases.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Popular accounting integrations are only available through third-party apps.
Our pick for
Retail inventory management
Lightspeed Retail POS
Learn more
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$109.00
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $289 for Plus plan.
Lightspeed Retail POS is a strong choice if you're looking to handle a high volume of transactions, a large inventory or operations in multiple locations. The versatile software offers inventory management capabilities and a variety of other features, including employee and customer relationship management tools.
Pros
- Transparent, flat-rate fees.
- 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.
- Offers option to use other payment processors in addition to in-house option.
- 24/7 phone support available in the U.S., plus chat and email support.
Cons
- No free plans available.
- Loyalty, e-commerce, accounting integrations and analytics features included only in more expensive plans.
- Prepaid annual and monthly fees are non-refundable; if you cancel your subscription, you’ll immediately owe the remaining installment fees in your plan, if any apply.
Our pick for
High sales volume retailers
Helcim POS
4.5
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on Helcim POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Unlike other retail POS systems listed here, Helcim uses interchange-plus payment processing as opposed to charging a flat rate, and that can be more cost efficient for higher-volume businesses. The company also offers volume discounts to businesses processing more than $50,000 per month. Helcim doesn’t sell a full POS register setup, but you can run its software on a phone, laptop or tablet and then pair it with a card reader or handheld terminal.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Offers volume discounts for businesses whose monthly credit card volume surpasses $50,000.
- Interchange-plus processing rates can help businesses save money.
Cons
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Our pick for
Automated marketing toools
SumUp POS
Learn more
on SumUp POS's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
SumUp’s automated marketing tool, which is included in its Connect Plus plan and up, takes the guesswork out of your retail business’s marketing strategy by automatically sending personalized promotions to your customers. The system also tracks when customers cash in on those promotions, so that you can gauge what types of discounts or perks work best for your particular audience.
Pros
- Free POS plans for card readers.
- Automated marketing tools for sending customers targeted promotions.
- Available in more than 30 countries.
Cons
- Online transaction rate is more expensive than some competitors.
- Money-back guarantee requires a 12-month subscription.
Our pick for
Accepting various payment methods
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
PayPal Zettle delivers the essentials at a relatively low cost with a small commitment. On top of accepting credit and debit cards (customers can either dip or tap them to the device), Zettle accepts other payment methods like Venmo, PayPal and digital wallets. But consider other options if you want features like customer loyalty and email marketing programs. Although Zettle can expand through hardware, it doesn’t offer plan upgrades or those types of add-ons.Read full review
Pros
- No monthly software fees for accepting in-person payments.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Square for Retail
Best overall retail POS system
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.
FEATURED
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.
- $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).
- 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.
Clover POS
Best customer loyalty program
Why we like it: Clover’s built-in loyalty program, which comes in all of its retail plans, along with its brand familiarity and hardware selection make it a strong contender in the retail POS space. You can use the loyalty program to request customer feedback, send promotions and automatically collect customers’ contact info and preferences. Online stores, however, are considered an add-on in all plans, which is a potential downside for retailers hoping to use more sales channels. Read our full Clover POS review.
- $0 for Retail Starter plan.
- $49.95 for Retail Standard plan.
- $69.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $279 for countertop card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex handheld terminal.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo system.
- 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.
Helcim
Best for high sales volume retailers
Why we like it: Helcim’s interchange-plus payment processing can be a less expensive alternative to flat-rate options, especially for high-volume businesses. Plus, your business will get a volume discount if it processes more than $50,000 in credit card transactions monthly. Helcim doesn’t offer as many hardware options as some of its competitors, but its software is flexible and can be run on a phone, laptop or tablet. Its in-house hardware options include a mobile card reader and handheld terminal. Read our full Helcim review.
$0.
- $99 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
- $329 for a stand-alone terminal with built-in thermal printer (or 12 monthly payments of $30).
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
Shopify POS
Best for online retail businesses
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.
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- $49 for Tap & Chip card reader.
- $219 for Tap & Chip countertop kit (iPad not included).
- $299 for Shopify POS Go mobile device.
- $349 for Shopify POS terminal.
- $459 and up for POS terminal countertop kits.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for retail inventory management
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.
Lightspeed offers three different plans for retail stores:
- $109 for Basic plan ($89 if billed annually).
- $179 for Core plan ($149 if billed annually).
- $289 for Plus plan ($239 if billed annually).
Pricing for Lightspeed's iPad and desktop hardware kits is quote-based. Individual hardware products are listed in Lightspeed's online store:
- $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.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
SumUp
Best for automated marketing tools
Why we like it: If you want to go beyond loyalty programs and send more personalized offers to customers, SumUp’s automated marketing tool can make the process easier. You can use it to test different marketing campaigns and create customer segmentations, too, because a promo for one customer might not make sense for another. This is especially advantageous for newer businesses trying to establish a returning customer base. Read our full SumUp review.
- $0 if using card readers only.
- $99 for Connect Lite POS plan.
- $199 for Connect Plus POS plan.
- $289 for Connect Pro POS plan.
- $54 for SumUp Plus card reader.
- $64 for SumUp Plus cradle bundle.
- $99 for SumUp Solo touchscreen.
- $169 for SumUp Solo Printer Bundle.
- SumUp POS bundle is quote-based.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.90% plus 15 cents for online invoice transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for card-not-present transactions.
PayPal Zettle
Best for accepting various payment methods
Why we like it: PayPal Zettle is a simple in-person payment solution for small retail operations. You can use the Zettle terminal or card reader (paired with the free Zettle app) to accept credit and debit cards, digital wallets, Venmo and PayPal, or allow your customers to pay via payment link or QR code. It isn’t equipped with as many extra features as its competitors, but it can be a low-cost way to accept payments in-store and on the go. Read our full PayPal Zettle review.
$0.
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $199 for terminal only.
- $239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
- $229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Didn't find the right solution?
Explore NerdWallet’s more exhaustive list of top POS systems to compare additional options for your retail business.
A retail POS system is the combination of POS hardware, software and payment processing services — each of which comes with its own separate costs. It lets you record sales, accept customer payments, create receipts and track sales tax.
Retail POS systems often put additional emphasis on features like inventory management, product variations, marketing tools and customer loyalty programs. They may also generate sales reports that identify your retail business’s bestsellers and let you know which products have the highest profit margins. Together, these capabilities help you retain customers, attract new ones and make sure you have the right amount of inventory on-hand.
» MORE: What is a POS system?
Here’s what to take into account while trying to find the best retail POS system for your business:
Retail POS system costs
There are three main costs to consider while choosing a retail POS system:
- Software cost: Generally, you'll have to pay a monthly fee to use POS software, which may cost up to $89 or more per month. In some cases, however, free POS systems and less expensive plans are available.
- Hardware cost: This includes the cost of countertop terminals, handheld terminals, barcode scanners, receipt printers and card readers. Depending on the capabilities of the POS hardware, your costs could range from nothing to over $1,000. Certain retail businesses will be able to do most of their in-person sales through an inexpensive, or even free, mobile card reader.
- 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 and how it’s used (in person, online, etc.). In other cases, processors charge interchange fees — which vary by card — plus a flat fee. The latter method can be less predictable but is more transparent.
Separately, watch out for hidden costs, 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.
Online vs. in-store sales
You should be able to use the same POS system for every retail channel, whether your business has multiple physical storefronts or you sell both in-person and online. But your business’s main sales channels play a role in dictating which retail POS system is ultimately best.
For example, POS systems that come with online stores may be best for e-commerce businesses and storefronts with an online presence. If you’re not as concerned with online sales, choose a POS system with robust countertop POS hardware options that your business’s employees can easily learn to use.
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 POS system may be especially convenient for retail businesses that sell through booths and markets.
Inventory management
Since many retail businesses sell goods to customers, they need to keep track of how many items are on their shelves at any given time. That makes excellent inventory management capabilities 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.
» MORE: Best inventory POS systems
Customer tracking
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 and whether you choose to offer individual discounts or promotions.
Employee management
Consider a retail POS system that can generate reports on employee sales performance. Some systems also include modules that let employees clock in and out from the POS terminal. That way, your business doesn’t have to pay for separate time tracking software.
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 August 22, 2024
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
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.
