6 Best Retail POS Systems of 2026 of May 2026
We looked at more than 25 point-of-sale (POS) systems to find the best fits for retailers. Our top picks have inventory management tools and support selling across multiple sales channels.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Square Retail POS
Best for Overall retail POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
For Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
Learn more on Square's website
Pros
- Has a free plan.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- All plans include an online store.
- Inventory tracking, staff management tools and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Free plan has phone support for first 90 days only (just chat and email support after that).
Clover POS
Best for Choosing your own payment processor
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available for card reader.
- Inventory tracking, shift management and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Payroll integrations cost extra.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
Helcim POS
Best for High-volume businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or setup.
- Free website builder and inventory management.
- Interchange-plus pricing can help high-volume retailers save money.
Cons
- No payroll integrations or staff management tools.
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Online retailers
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans; 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
- Must upgrade to POS Pro for staff management tools and in-store inventory management.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- No built-in loyalty program.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Inventory management
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
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 chat support.
- Built-in access to wholesale network.
Cons
- Accounting, e-commerce and marketing integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
- No built-in staff scheduling tools (must use third-party integration).
- Must upgrade to Core plan for loyalty program.
PayPal POS
Best for Accepting variety of payment methods
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No termination, setup or PCI compliance fees.
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Free POS software.
- Includes inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting integrations; no payroll integrations.
- No built-in staff management tools.
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- Default
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Default Square Retail POS
Best for Overall retail POS system
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Online: 3.3% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
For Free plan; $49 Plus plan; $149 Premium plan.
on Square's website
Pros
- Has a free plan.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- All plans include an online store.
- Inventory tracking, staff management tools and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Free plan has phone support for first 90 days only (just chat and email support after that).
Square takes the top spot on our list because of its versatility and low barrier to entry. With three plans — including a free one — it can meet the needs of both solopreneur retailers and operations with multiple employees. Plus, there are no long-term contracts and it’s easy to set up.
All paid plans have key features for retailers. These include a loyalty program, cost of goods sold reporting, inventory tracking and text and email marketing. There are also tools for scheduling shifts and tracking employee time. And all plans, including the free one, include website building tools and an online store.
Pros
- Has a free plan.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- All plans include an online store.
- Inventory tracking, staff management tools and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Free plan has phone support for first 90 days only (just chat and email support after that).
Square takes the top spot on our list because of its versatility and low barrier to entry. With three plans — including a free one — it can meet the needs of both solopreneur retailers and operations with multiple employees. Plus, there are no long-term contracts and it’s easy to set up.
All paid plans have key features for retailers. These include a loyalty program, cost of goods sold reporting, inventory tracking and text and email marketing. There are also tools for scheduling shifts and tracking employee time. And all plans, including the free one, include website building tools and an online store.
Pros
- Has a free plan.
- No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.
- All plans include an online store.
- Inventory tracking, staff management tools and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
Cons
- Free plan processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Free plan has phone support for first 90 days only (just chat and email support after that).
Clover POS
Best for Choosing your own payment processor
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
and up.
on Clover's website
Pros
- Free plan available for card reader.
- Inventory tracking, shift management and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Payroll integrations cost extra.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
Unlike most other options on this list, Clover works with third-party payment processors. It has its own in-house payment processing services if you’d prefer that. But you don’t have to use them if you find better rates. Just make sure to buy Clover hardware from the processor you choose, so that it’s programmed correctly.
Clover’s paid plans also have useful features, like inventory management and a loyalty program. Just know that there are no marketing tools. You’ll have to integrate with a third-party solution to access those. And if you have employees, you’ll need to pay extra to integrate with payroll software.
Pros
- Free plan available for card reader.
- Inventory tracking, shift management and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Payroll integrations cost extra.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
Unlike most other options on this list, Clover works with third-party payment processors. It has its own in-house payment processing services if you’d prefer that. But you don’t have to use them if you find better rates. Just make sure to buy Clover hardware from the processor you choose, so that it’s programmed correctly.
Clover’s paid plans also have useful features, like inventory management and a loyalty program. Just know that there are no marketing tools. You’ll have to integrate with a third-party solution to access those. And if you have employees, you’ll need to pay extra to integrate with payroll software.
Pros
- Free plan available for card reader.
- Inventory tracking, shift management and loyalty programs in all paid plans.
- Can pair POS systems with third-party payment processors.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Payroll integrations cost extra.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- May charge PCI compliance fees.
Helcim POS
Best for High-volume businesses
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
on Helcim's website
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or setup.
- Free website builder and inventory management.
- Interchange-plus pricing can help high-volume retailers save money.
Cons
- No payroll integrations or staff management tools.
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Helcim is a solid POS option for retailers that deal with large transaction amounts. That’s because it uses an interchange-plus processing model instead of a flat-rate one. This pricing structure passes interchange fees straight to the merchant instead of charging a flat percentage. In the long run, this can help businesses save in processing fees.
Helcim also offers volume discounts to businesses processing more than $50,000 per month. Its retail-specific features include website building tools and inventory management. And they’re totally free.
That said, Helcim’s not the best fit for retailers who are also looking for staff management tools and payroll software. It doesn’t offer either (or integrate with third-party solutions for them).
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or setup.
- Free website builder and inventory management.
- Interchange-plus pricing can help high-volume retailers save money.
Cons
- No payroll integrations or staff management tools.
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Helcim is a solid POS option for retailers that deal with large transaction amounts. That’s because it uses an interchange-plus processing model instead of a flat-rate one. This pricing structure passes interchange fees straight to the merchant instead of charging a flat percentage. In the long run, this can help businesses save in processing fees.
Helcim also offers volume discounts to businesses processing more than $50,000 per month. Its retail-specific features include website building tools and inventory management. And they’re totally free.
That said, Helcim’s not the best fit for retailers who are also looking for staff management tools and payroll software. It doesn’t offer either (or integrate with third-party solutions for them).
Pros
- No monthly software fees.
- No fees for termination, PCI compliance or setup.
- Free website builder and inventory management.
- Interchange-plus pricing can help high-volume retailers save money.
Cons
- No payroll integrations or staff management tools.
- Some hardware, like barcode scanners and cash drawers, are only available through a third-party provider.
- No full POS register options.
Shopify Retail POS
Best for Online retailers
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$39
and up for e-commerce plans; 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
- Must upgrade to POS Pro for staff management tools and in-store inventory management.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- No built-in loyalty program.
With hundreds of website templates and a variety of online selling tools, Shopify is made for online retailers. All plans are capable of managing up to 10 inventory locations.
Each e-commerce plan also lets you sell on social media and other online marketplaces (in addition to your Shopify website). Being able to manage all your sales channels from one software product is a big plus. There are shipping discounts (up to 87% off), shipping insurance and marketing tools in all plans too.
Businesses that have a brick-and-mortar location will benefit from Shopify’s POS Pro add-on. The add-on gives you access to staff management tools and in-store inventory management. But it’ll cost an extra $89 per month.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- Must upgrade to POS Pro for staff management tools and in-store inventory management.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- No built-in loyalty program.
With hundreds of website templates and a variety of online selling tools, Shopify is made for online retailers. All plans are capable of managing up to 10 inventory locations.
Each e-commerce plan also lets you sell on social media and other online marketplaces (in addition to your Shopify website). Being able to manage all your sales channels from one software product is a big plus. There are shipping discounts (up to 87% off), shipping insurance and marketing tools in all plans too.
Businesses that have a brick-and-mortar location will benefit from Shopify’s POS Pro add-on. The add-on gives you access to staff management tools and in-store inventory management. But it’ll cost an extra $89 per month.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- Must upgrade to POS Pro for staff management tools and in-store inventory management.
- Business and American Express cards carry higher online rates (3.5% plus 30 cents in the Basic plan).
- Phone support only available for Plus plan subscribers.
- No built-in loyalty program.
Lightspeed Retail POS
Best for Inventory management
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$109
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 chat support.
- Built-in access to wholesale network.
Cons
- Accounting, e-commerce and marketing integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
- No built-in staff scheduling tools (must use third-party integration).
- Must upgrade to Core plan for loyalty program.
If your retail business handles a lot of inventory, Lightspeed Retail likely has you covered. It includes comprehensive inventory management capabilities at every subscription tier. You can add descriptions, images, discount rules, categories and custom-built fields to each item. Then you can use the fields to generate more granular reports.
Lightspeed’s retail POS system also comes with built-in access to the NuORDER wholesale catalog. Adding your brand to the catalog can help buyers notice you. And it gives you direct access to wholesale vendors. This can streamline your purchase order process.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Built-in access to wholesale network.
Cons
- Accounting, e-commerce and marketing integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
- No built-in staff scheduling tools (must use third-party integration).
- Must upgrade to Core plan for loyalty program.
If your retail business handles a lot of inventory, Lightspeed Retail likely has you covered. It includes comprehensive inventory management capabilities at every subscription tier. You can add descriptions, images, discount rules, categories and custom-built fields to each item. Then you can use the fields to generate more granular reports.
Lightspeed’s retail POS system also comes with built-in access to the NuORDER wholesale catalog. Adding your brand to the catalog can help buyers notice you. And it gives you direct access to wholesale vendors. This can streamline your purchase order process.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- No long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Built-in access to wholesale network.
Cons
- Accounting, e-commerce and marketing integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
- No built-in staff scheduling tools (must use third-party integration).
- Must upgrade to Core plan for loyalty program.
PayPal POS
Best for Accepting variety of payment methods
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Online: 2.99% + $0.49
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- No termination, setup or PCI compliance fees.
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Free POS software.
- Includes inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting integrations; no payroll integrations.
- No built-in staff management tools.
PayPal POS gives customers lots of flexibility when it comes to payment methods. You can use it to accept credit and debit cards, PayPal, Venmo and QR code payments. This is especially helpful when you’re selling at a pop-up event or farmers market. People tend to trust PayPal as a brand because they recognize the name.
That said, PayPal POS isn’t ideal for businesses with employees. It doesn’t have staff management tools. And it doesn’t integrate with payroll software. It’s better for one-person retail businesses that need just the basics.
Pros
- No termination, setup or PCI compliance fees.
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Free POS software.
- Includes inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting integrations; no payroll integrations.
- No built-in staff management tools.
PayPal POS gives customers lots of flexibility when it comes to payment methods. You can use it to accept credit and debit cards, PayPal, Venmo and QR code payments. This is especially helpful when you’re selling at a pop-up event or farmers market. People tend to trust PayPal as a brand because they recognize the name.
That said, PayPal POS isn’t ideal for businesses with employees. It doesn’t have staff management tools. And it doesn’t integrate with payroll software. It’s better for one-person retail businesses that need just the basics.
Pros
- No termination, setup or PCI compliance fees.
- Low in-person processing rates.
- Free POS software.
- Includes inventory tracking and loyalty vouchers.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates can be difficult to navigate.
- Limited accounting integrations; no payroll integrations.
- No built-in staff management tools.
Jump to
How we select the best retail POS systems
What features do the best retail POS systems have?
How to choose the best retail POS system
Didn't find the right solution?
Explore NerdWallet’s more exhaustive list of top POS systems to compare additional options for your retail business.
How we select the best retail POS systems
Our writers and editors cover more than 25 POS systems for small businesses. We started with that pool of products. From there, to find the best fit for retailers, we honed in on what industry-specific capabilities benefit them most.
We landed on the following features:
- Inventory management. When you’re selling physical items to customers, you have to keep track of your inventory. You don’t want to miss a sale because you ran out of a popular product. Inventory management tools often include low-stock alerts that let you know when it’s time to re-order. They also deduct items from your inventory counts as soon as they’re sold. All of our top picks have some sort of inventory management tools.
- Staff management. Some retail businesses have employees. That necessitates tools for employee scheduling and clocking in/out. You’ll also need to integrate with payroll software to avoid manual data entry and help you deduct payroll taxes. Products like Square have in-house options for payroll. Most others allow you to integrate with a third-party payroll product.
- Online selling tools. Even brick-and-mortar shops often have an online storefront these days. Your POS system for in-person sales should integrate with your e-commerce website or provide website building tools. Each of our picks supports online selling.
- POS hardware selection. Unless your retail business is entirely online, you’ll need a way to accept payments in-person. All of our picks offer card readers at the very least. Brick-and-mortar establishments will likely need a countertop POS register.
Additionally, all of the products we selected scored at least 4 stars in our POS systems rubric.
What features do the best retail POS systems have?
The table below lists a handful of important features we look for in retail POS systems. You can use it to compare products and find one with all your must-have capabilities.
| Square | Clover | Helcim | Shopify | Lightspeed | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory tracking | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ | ✔️ (must upgrade to POS pro for in-store inventory management, though) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Shift management | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ (paid plans only) | X | X (through third-party integration only) | X (through third-party integration only) | X |
| Online selling | ✔️ | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ (via integrations or payment links only) |
| Loyalty program | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ (paid plans only) | X | X | ✔️ (Core plan and up only) | ✔️ |
| Barcode printing/scanning | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ (paid plans only) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Free POS plan | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | X | X | ✔️ |
| Hardware options | Card reader, handheld terminal and POS registers. | Card reader, handheld terminal and POS registers. | Card reader and handheld terminal. | Card reader, handheld terminal and tablet register. | Card reader and POS register. | Card reader, handheld terminal and iPad register. |
| Marketing tools | ✔️ (paid plans only) | X (third-party integrations only) | X | ✔️ | X (through integrations with Core plan and up only) | X |
How to choose the best retail POS system
To find the best POS system for your retail business, follow these steps:
- Consider your sales channels. Where do you make most of your sales? If it’s online, you’ll want a solution like Shopify. If it’s at a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll probably need an option with staff management tools. You should also make sure your POS system can sync all of your sales channels. That way, you can centralize your inventory and sales info.
- Set a budget. There’s no shortage of free POS systems. But if you want a variety of retail-specific features, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan. Also consider integrations for accounting, e-commerce and marketing. Some products, like Lightspeed Retail, only give you access to these integrations in higher-tier plans. Other factors include credit card processing fees and the upfront cost of hardware.
- Determine which features you need. On top of inventory management, are you also looking for automated marketing tools? How about shift scheduling capabilities? You can use the table above to find the product that checks the right boxes.
- Check out POS hardware lineups. Make sure your system has the right POS hardware options to keep your lines moving. Some good options include handheld terminals and a POS register with a customer-facing screen. Online retailers don’t need to worry so much about this. But they may want a mobile card reader for the occasional popup.
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.
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews point-of-sale (POS) system providers before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we added a payroll integration category to our POS systems rubric. It’s important that POS systems can sync up with payroll software to minimize manual data entry and keep track of employee hours.
NerdWallet’s POS system 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 POS system 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.
