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Best POS Systems for Small Businesses
Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
on Helcim POS's secure website | High sales volumes | 4.6
/5
| In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim POS's secure website |
on Square POS's secure website | Overall POS system | In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 and up. | on Square POS's secure website | |
on Stripe Terminal's secure website | International businesses | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | on Stripe Terminal's secure website | |
on Shopify POS's secure website | Online businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | on Shopify POS's secure website | |
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | Inventory management | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $109 for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan. | on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website | |
on Clover POS's secure website | Choosing your own payment processor | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0 and up. | on Clover POS's secure website | |
on Toast POS's secure website | Restaurants doing dine-in and online business | 2.49% + $0.15 if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option. | $0 Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan. | on Toast POS's secure website | |
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website | Restaurant-specific add-on features | 4.3
/5
| 1.99% + $0.25 For most cards in paid plans. | $0 and up. | on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website |
on Lavu's secure website | Cash discount program | N/A Quote-based. | $10 and up. | on Lavu's secure website | |
Mobile POS software | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0 | |||
Managing customer reviews | In-person: 2.69% + $0.00 Online: 3.49% + $0.19 | $0 and up. |
Best POS Systems for Small Businesses
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
on Helcim's website
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.
Helcim POS
Best for High sales volumes
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
on Helcim's website
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.
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up.
on Square's website
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Square POS
Best for Overall POS system
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up.
on Square's website
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Supports more than 135 currencies.
Cons
- Does not include a POS app or standard POS capabilities.
- Likely requires coding and developer expertise.
- No phone or email support.
Stripe Terminal
Best for International businesses
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
on Stripe's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Supports more than 135 currencies.
Cons
- Does not include a POS app or standard POS capabilities.
- Likely requires coding and developer expertise.
- No phone or email support.
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Online businesses
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
on Shopify's website
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Inventory management
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
for Basic plan, $179 for Core plan, $339 for Plus plan.
on Lightspeed's website
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
Clover POS
Best for Choosing your own payment processor
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
- Offers a variety of plans tailored to six specific types of businesses.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May be subject to early termination fees if you use Clover as your payment processor.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
Toast POS
Best for Restaurants doing dine-in and online business
if you buy hardware upfront; 3.09% + $0.15 for pay-as-you-go option.
Starter Kit; $69 Point of Sale plan; custom Build Your Own plan.
on Toast's website
Pros
- Free plan available for restaurants with up to two POS terminals.
- 24/7 phone and web messaging support.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll and team management software, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- Built specifically for restaurants with in-house delivery platform available, among other industry-specific features.
Cons
- Requires a two-year contract and charges early termination fees.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Charges setup fee, and offline mode includes hidden cost of backup router.
- Online ordering and accounting integrations cost extra.
For most cards in paid plans.
and up.
on SpotOn's website
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
SpotOn Restaurant
Best for Restaurant-specific add-on features
For most cards in paid plans.
and up.
on SpotOn's website
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Pros
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
- Restaurants can set up timed menu changes, start customers’ tabs on one register and cash them out at another.
- Dual pricing program can help decrease payment processing fees.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot cancel subscription before term is up.
- Does not list payment processing or monthly software fees.
Lavu
Best for Cash discount program
Quote-based.
and up.
on Lavu's website
Pros
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- Highly customizable POS platform for those with programming skills.
- Restaurants can set up timed menu changes, start customers’ tabs on one register and cash them out at another.
- Dual pricing program can help decrease payment processing fees.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot cancel subscription before term is up.
- Does not list payment processing or monthly software fees.
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
PayPal POS
Best for Mobile POS software
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Pros
- 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.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Pros
- Offers a free software plan for its card reader.
- 24/7 support.
- Reputation management tools help you monitor online reviews about your business.
- Free same-day deposits.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates are expensive.
- Charges setup fee for more robust POS system setups.
- Contract requirements may vary by business.
- Limited integrations outside of QuickBooks Online.
Payanywhere POS
Best for Managing customer reviews
Online: 3.49% + $0.19
and up.
Pros
- Offers a free software plan for its card reader.
- 24/7 support.
- Reputation management tools help you monitor online reviews about your business.
- Free same-day deposits.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates are expensive.
- Charges setup fee for more robust POS system setups.
- Contract requirements may vary by business.
- Limited integrations outside of QuickBooks Online.
Our picks for best POS systems
Square
Shopify
Clover
Stripe Terminal
Lavu
Helcim
Lightspeed Retail
SpotOn Restaurant
Toast POS
PayPal Zettle
Payanywhere
What is a POS system?
How much does a POS system cost?




POS system features
POS software features
POS hardware features
How to choose a POS system
Benefits of using a POS system
- Portability: Tablet-based POS systems can sit on the countertop, accommodate mobile businesses that make sales on the go, or let employees ring customers up from anywhere in the store.
- Robust feature sets : Many POS systems’ software plans go beyond basic sales tracking. They may include additional features like inventory management, employee time tracking and management, scheduling tools and customer loyalty programs.
- Seamless integrations: You can sync POS software to your accounting software to minimize manual data entry.
Types of POS systems
- Free vs. paid POS software. Multiple POS system providers offer
that includes the basics and can help keep costs down. However, you will still need to factor in payment processing fees and hardware costs, if you plan to accept payments in person.free POS software - Online vs. in-store POS systems. Different POS systems accommodate different types of sales channels. Some specialize in e-commerce sales and even double as
, while others focus more on in-person sales.e-commerce platforms - Industry-specific vs. universal POS systems. Certain POS systems are made for a particular type of industry, usually restaurants or retail, and offer specialized features. Providers’ websites typically let you know which industries they target.