A POS system is a software and hardware package that centralizes sales, payment processing, and customer engagement (CRM). Inventory monitoring, vendor management, personnel management, and customer loyalty are all included in the finest POS systems for business owners. Many POS systems for small businesses are free, but some might cost up to $200 per month for a single terminal. You’ll pick the ideal solutions in this post.

Based on our research the best retail POS systems are shown below.

Top 6 Best Retail POSSystems

  1. Square: For small enterprises, the best overall POS system
  2. Shopify: For multichannel retailers
  3. Lightspeed: Best for retailer’s inventory
  4. Toast: Best for growing restaurants
  5. Vend by Lightspeed: Best for growing retailers
  6. TouchBistro: Best for small businesses

1. Square: For small enterprises, the best overall POS system

Because of its relatively low price and user-friendly software, Square is the finest POS system for most smaller companies. This self-installed system includes POS options for broad sense, retail, restaurant, and initial consultation businesses. Each service offers a free plan with limitless sales and products as well as an interconnected online store, as well as a $50–$60 monthly plan with additional capabilities. As a result, Square is our highest-rated POS system in every category.

PRICING:

  • Free: $0
  • Premium: $60
  • Enterprise: Custom-quoted

KEY FEATURES:

  • Manage item costs.
  • Print item labels.
  • Issue exchanges.
  • Manage staff.
  • Set different permissions for different users.
  • Transfer inventory to a different location.
  • Create and send purchase orders.
  • Manage vendors.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • There are no monthly membership costs with Baseline POS.
  • There are no long-term contracts, and you can cancel at any moment.
  • Retail, skilled professionals, and restaurants can all benefit from these tools.
  • Free retail site with integration

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • For payment processing, you’re tethered to Square.
  • Phone help is limited.
  • Third-party integrations are required for vendor management.

2. SHOPIFY: For multichannel retailers

Shopify POS is a great tool for cinder block retailers with busy online shops since it is built on the immensely robust Shopify e-commerce website. You must first subscribe to the Shopify e-commerce platform in order to use the POS functionalities.

Each e-commerce subscription includes Lite POS for free, while Pro POS costs $89 per month and usually includes personnel and registers as well as configurable rights. Sales, inventory, and customer data are all saved in one place with all Shopify plans, making Shopify the same best POS for multichannel sellers.

PRICING:

Monthly e-commerce software fee (required):

  • Basic: $29
  • Shopify: $79
  • Advanced: $299

KEY FEATURES:

  • Checkout is simple and quick.
  • Payments that are fully integrated.
  • Hardware for mobile POS.
  • Inventory control that is synchronized in-store and online.
  • Accounts with order history are complete.
  • Permissions for specific employees.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free trial for 14 days
  • Inventory and multichannel tools that are smart

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Best-in-class online marketplace
  • Offline mode might be a pain to use.
  • The functions of a free POS are limited.
  • Ecommerce subscription is required for POS subscription; prices can add up quickly.

3. LIGHT SPEED: Best for retailer’s inventory

Lightspeed is an iPad-based cloud-based point-of-sale system. Both systems are powerful, with effective inventory management tools, but Lightspeed Retail’s POS has some unique inventory management features that set it apart. Retailers can manage vendors and purchases from the POS dashboard, save supplier catalogues, and discover new providers via the included supplier network, making stock management a breeze.

Although the Lightspeed Restaurant POS provides precise constituent level inventories, it falls short of the retail POS’s complete supplier management capabilities. Consider out Toast and Revel if you need these restaurant supplies.

PRICING:

  • Installation fee: $0
  • Contract length: 1 year

KEY FEATURES:

  • Inventory.
  • Reporting and analytics.
  • Mobility and cloud.
  • Multi-store.
  • Integrated payments.
  • Customer management.
  • Onboarding and support.
  • Omnichannel.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Inventory and statistics in great detail
  • 14-day free trial on a robust, comprehensive e-commerce platform with 24/7 customer support and onboarding

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Learning how to use a graphical interface can take some time.
  • For small enterprises, this might be too expensive.
  • The number of shipping integrations is limited.

4. TOAST: Best for growing restaurants

Toast is a robust cloud-based point-of-sale system designed exclusively for the fast-food industry. This enormously comprehensive POS is the top-ranking restaurant-only POS on this list, and it constantly ranks at the top of our reviews of the best restaurant Pos solutions.

Small restaurants may start with Toast for no upfront cost and expand their POS presence as their operations develop, thanks to a free Starter POS and pay-as-you-go hardware choices. Meanwhile, Toast’s integrated online ordering, delivery management, inventories, marketing, and workforce management features will benefit enterprise-level eateries. This is why we recommend Toast to eateries hoping to grow.

PRICING:

  • Monthly software fee:
  • Starter (pay-as-you-go): $0
  • Starter (standard): $69
  • Essentials: $165
  • Custom: Custom quote

KEY FEATURES:

  • A loyalty program for customers.
  • Food delivery services are available.
  • Email marketing is a type of marketing that involves sending emails to
  • Payroll and scheduling.
  • REASONS TO BUY
  • Starter kit provided for free Pay-as-you-go POS plans Allow small businesses to purchase two POS terminals with no upfront charges.
  • Goods receipt administration and a robust restaurant inventory
  • Online ordering and delivery technologies that are adaptable

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Toast is locked in for payment processing.
  • Contract for two years
  • It is powered by proprietary hardware.

5. VEND BY LIGHTSPEED:Best for growing retailers

Vend by Lightspeed is a point-of-sale system created specifically for brick-and-mortar businesses. This browser-based system works on any web-enabled computer or tablet, allowing small businesses to get started with the equipment they currently have. Vend by Lightspeed, like Toast, has different subscription options that scale as your business expands, making it a perfect system for small businesses looking to expand.

Built-in store credit, layaway options, offline processing, and simple product catalog management are all included. Vend interacts with a variety of payment processors, allowing businesses to compare rates. Enrolling in Lightspeed Transactions, on the other hand, will bring you the cheapest software expenses.

PRICING:

  • Installation fee: $0
  • Contract length:1 year

KEY FEATURES:

  • Fast & Easy, Cloud-Based POS POS.
  • Inventory.
  • Multi-Outlet.
  • Reporting.
  • Ecommerce.
  • Expert Advice & Support.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Free trial for 14 days
  • You have the option of using built-in or third-party payroll processing.
  • Checkout options include built-in loyalty, store credit, and layaway.
  • Some higher-risk organizations benefit from techniques and differentiated services.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Integration is required for e-commerce functions.
  • Reporting is a fundamental skill.
  • Doesn’t have a built-in email marketing system.

6. TOUCHBISTRO: Best for small businesses

TouchBistro is an iPad POS that, like Toast, is tailored to the needs of food and beverage establishments. However, unlike Toast, it runs on iPads and is simple to set up. Its user experience is the most similar to the normal iOS of any option on this list. If you (or your employees) have ever used an iPhone, you’ll be able to use TouchBistro right away.

TouchBistro is the greatest suited for small food and beverage enterprises like food trucks and coffee shops because of its ease of use, low cost, and ability to shop for significant processing rates.

It received a 4.16 out of 5 rating in our review. This POS was praised for its ease of use, low cost, and quick customer service.

PRICING:

  • Monthly software fee: $69 per terminal
  • Installation fee: $0
  • Contract length:1 year

KEY FEATURES:

  • Payment Processing.
  • Tableside Ordering.
  • Floor Plan & Table Management.
  • Menu Management.
  • Staff Management.
  • Inventory Management.
  • Reporting & Analytics.
  • Integrations.

REASONS TO BUY:

  • iPad POS system that you may set up yourself
  • KDS and interactive menu boards are examples of expandable hardware.
  • Tools for simple distribution
  • Multiple payment methods are supported.

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • One-year contract is required. Loyalty and online purchases are additional.
  • To keep inventory up to current, it must be manually entered on a regular basis.

References and Links:

  • https://www.quicksprout.com/best-point-of-sales-systems-pos/
  • https://www.expertmarket.com/pos/best-retail-pos-system-examples