7 Best Retail POS Systems of November 2025
Inventory management, transparent pricing and useful reporting capabilities are a must for retail point-of-sale systems.
Learn more 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
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Here are some of our top picks for retail POS systems, followed by a full list of options.
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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
- Free software plan available.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Easy to set up and navigate.
- Clear and transparent pricing.
- Extensive list of features and add-ons.
Cons
- Not a great fit for larger retailers, especially those with high sales volumes.
- Doesn’t accept cross-border card payments.
Square Retail POS
Best for Overall retail POS system
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
- Free software plan available.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Easy to set up and navigate.
- Clear and transparent pricing.
- Extensive list of features and add-ons.
Cons
- Not a great fit for larger retailers, especially those with high sales volumes.
- Doesn’t accept cross-border card payments.
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 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 volume retailers
Best for High sales volume retailers
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 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.
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 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 retail businesses
Best for Online retail businesses
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 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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.3% + $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 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 Customer loyalty program
Best for Customer loyalty program
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.3% + $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 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.
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 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 Retail inventory management
Best for Retail 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 live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Accounting integrations are only available in Core and Plus plans.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
on SumUp's website
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.
- POS system software requires 12-month contract.
SumUp POS
Best for Automated marketing toools
Best for Automated marketing toools
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Online: 3.5% + $0.15
Monthly fee
$0
for card readers only; $99 for Connect Lite plan; $199 for Connect Plus plan; $289 for Connect Pro plan.
on SumUp's website
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.
- POS system software requires 12-month contract.
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 Accepting various payment methods
Best for Accepting various payment methods
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Jump to
Our picks for the best retail POS systems
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
Square
Square Retail POS
NerdWallet Rating
Bonus Amount
30-day free trial
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
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
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
PayPal POS
Best for accepting various payment methods
Why we like it: PayPal POS is a simple in-person payment solution for small retail operations. You can use the POS terminal or card reader (paired with the free POS 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 POS review
Software costs
Hardware costs
Payment processing fees
Didn't find the right solution?
Explore NerdWallet’s more exhaustive list of top POS systems
What is a retail POS system?
A retail POS system is the combination of POS hardware, software and payment processing services
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
» MORE: What is a POS system?
How to choose a POS system for retail
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 - 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 - 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
Separately, watch out for hidden costs, such as PCI compliance 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
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
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.
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’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