Best Shopify POS Alternatives: My Honest Take

As someone who's spent years working with POS systems, I've seen how Shopify POS can be a solid starting point—but it's far from perfect.

If you're managing a busy retail store or juggling multiple locations, you’ve probably hit the same roadblocks I did.

The interface is sleek, but things start to unravel when you need deeper inventory management, offline reliability, or more control over fees and integrations.

In this guide, I'm breaking down the best Shopify POS alternatives worth considering.

Whether you're running a coffee shop, boutique, multi-location franchise, or pop-up retail brand, there’s something better out there for your setup.

Quick Comparison: Best Shopify POS Alternatives

POS System	Best For	Starting Price (Monthly)	Offline Mode	Inventory Tools	Hardware Cost	Free Plan
Square	Small retail, mobile vendors	$0	Yes	Basic	Low	Yes
Lightspeed	Inventory-heavy retail	$109	Yes	Advanced	Medium	No
Vend	Easy-to-use cloud POS	$69	Yes	Intermediate	Medium	No
Clover	Service + retail combos	$14.95	Yes	Moderate	High	No
Toast	Restaurants	$0	Yes	Menu-based	High	Yes (pay-as-you-go)
ShopKeep	Small retail stores	$69	Yes	Moderate	Medium	No
Erply	Custom or international setups	$59	Yes	Advanced	Varies	No
KORONA POS	Niche industries (liquor, events)	$59	Yes	Strong	Medium	No
Zettle	Micro retailers, pop-ups	$0	No	Basic	Low	Yes

1. Square POS – Best for Small Retail and Mobile Sellers

If you're looking for a system that's easy to set up, affordable, and reliable, Square is the first name I’d recommend.

I’ve used Square in both retail and service-based businesses, and the flexibility is impressive.

You can start for free, take payments on your phone or tablet, and scale up to more powerful hardware when you're ready.

Key Features:

• No monthly fees for the basic plan
• Free POS app for iOS and Android
• Integrated payments, marketing, and loyalty
• Real-time analytics and sales reports
• Offline mode for continued sales during outages

Pros:

• Super beginner-friendly
• Free to start, low commitment
• Hardware is affordable and widely available

Cons:

• Limited customization
• Add-ons can become expensive as you scale
• Not ideal for inventory-heavy businesses

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Payment Processing
Free	$0	2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
Plus	$29/month	Same
Premium	Custom	Lower rates

If you’re running a mobile setup like a food truck or market stall, Square is hard to beat.

2. Lightspeed Retail – Best for Inventory Management

Lightspeed is hands-down one of the most robust retail POS systems on the market. It’s designed for growing businesses that need powerful inventory tools and reporting.

I’ve worked with Lightspeed for clients running multi-store setups, and it’s always delivered excellent performance and flexibility.

Key Features:

• Advanced inventory with variants, bundles, and supplier catalogs
• Multi-store capabilities
• Detailed employee tracking and reporting
• eCommerce integration
• Custom workflows and reorder points

Pros:

• Scales easily across locations
• Deep inventory and analytics tools
• Great support and onboarding

Cons:

• Takes time to learn
• More expensive than basic POS systems

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Key Features
Lean	$109	Basic POS features
Standard	$179	Accounting + Ecommerce
Advanced	$289	Loyalty + Analytics

If you're running a fashion boutique, electronics store, or anything with a lot of SKUs, Lightspeed is a major upgrade from Shopify POS.

3. Vend by Lightspeed – Best for Simplicity and Cloud Use

Vend (now part of Lightspeed) is an intuitive cloud-based POS system designed for independent retailers. What I like about Vend is how clean and user-friendly it is, without sacrificing core features.

It runs well on Mac, PC, and iPad, and it doesn't force you to use proprietary hardware.

Key Features:

• Real-time inventory sync across locations
• Works offline (syncs when you're back online)
• Customer loyalty programs
• Open hardware compatibility
• Integrates with Xero, BigCommerce, and more

Pros:

• Clean and simple interface
• Offline mode that actually works
• Great for single-location retailers

Cons:

• Limited advanced features compared to Lightspeed
• Pricing jumps once you scale

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Features
Lean	$69	Core POS features
Standard	$119	Ecommerce + loyalty
Advanced	$199	Advanced analytics

For businesses looking for an easier transition away from Shopify POS, Vend offers a nice middle ground.

4. Clover – Best for Restaurants and Service Businesses

Clover is a flexible POS solution that’s great for food-based businesses, quick-service restaurants, and retail/service hybrids.

You can choose from a variety of hardware options (Station, Mini, Flex), and the platform is customizable with third-party apps.

Key Features:

• Accepts payments via EMV, contactless, gift cards, and mobile wallets
• Preloaded apps for scheduling, payroll, inventory
• Options for tips, tables, split payments
• App marketplace with hundreds of add-ons

Pros:

• Hardware and software under one roof
• Good for multi-functional setups (QSR + retail)
• Easy to learn for staff

Cons:

• Requires contracts through resellers
• Hardware can be expensive if bought outside official channels

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Hardware
Starter	$14.95	Clover Go or Flex
Standard	$49.95	Clover Mini
Advanced	$89.95	Clover Station

Clover makes a lot of sense for service-based businesses where payments, appointments, and staff management need to work together seamlessly.

5. Toast POS – Best for Restaurants

If you’re in the restaurant space and using Shopify POS, you’re probably suffering.

Toast is built from the ground up for food businesses—everything from quick-serve to full-service restaurants. It’s Android-based, fast, and extremely reliable.

Key Features:

• Custom menu building with modifiers
• Tableside ordering and kitchen display systems
• Delivery and online ordering tools
• Integrated payroll and staff scheduling
• Guest data, loyalty, and gift card systems

Pros:

• Built specifically for restaurants
• Excellent hardware and durability
• Customizable to fit most workflows

Cons:

• Not made for traditional retail
• Must use Toast’s payment processor

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Hardware	Payment Processing
Starter	$0	Pay-as-you-go hardware	2.99% + 15¢
Essentials	$165	Custom bundle	Custom
Custom	Custom	Full hardware suite	Custom

I wouldn't recommend Toast if you're selling clothing or electronics. But for food service? It's one of the best tools available.

6. ShopKeep – Best for Smaller Retailers

ShopKeep (also under Lightspeed now) is ideal for small businesses looking for a simple, no-fuss solution.

I’ve seen it used successfully in coffee shops, salons, small retail, and quick-service setups.

Key Features:

• iPad-based POS system
• Staff and inventory management
• Integrated payments
• Easy back-office dashboard
• Offline transactions

Pros:

• Intuitive interface
• Quick onboarding
• Good customer support

Cons:

• Not as scalable as Lightspeed or Square
• Limited in features if you’re growing fast

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Best For
Basic	$69	Single-location shops
Standard	$99	Multi-location
Advanced	$199	Chains and franchises

For smaller operations needing fast setup and minimal hassle, ShopKeep is still a contender.

7. Erply – Best for Custom Retail Setups

Erply is a hidden gem. It’s highly customizable, works great offline, and has deep features for inventory, CRM, and reporting.

The interface isn’t the prettiest, but for retailers who need flexibility, Erply delivers.

Key Features:

• Offline POS support
• Centralized multi-store inventory
• Loyalty program integration
• Custom reports and dashboards
• Supports multiple tax rules and currencies

Pros:

• Works in any industry
• Advanced backend features
• Great for international businesses

Cons:

• Learning curve is steeper
• UI can feel outdated

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Features
Basic	$59	POS + inventory
Standard	$99	CRM + multi-location
Premium	$159	Advanced reports

If Shopify POS isn’t cutting it for your unique setup or international operation, Erply is a solid switch.

8. KORONA POS – Best for Niche and High-Speed Retail

KORONA is a POS system built for high-volume businesses. If you’re running a liquor store, vape shop, museum, or amusement park, this one’s worth checking out.

What sets it apart is its speed, niche integrations, and ticketing capabilities.

Key Features:

• Inventory automation
• Custom receipts and labels
• Ticketing and membership tools
• Fast transaction handling
• Employee tracking

Pros:

• Very fast checkout
• Handles unique use cases
• Affordable monthly pricing

Cons:

• Limited marketing features
• Not ideal for cafes or restaurants

Pricing (as of 2025):

Plan	Monthly Fee	Best For
Core	$59	Standard retail
Retail	$69	Inventory-heavy setups
Enterprise	Custom	Chains and special use

KORONA shines in specialty niches where Shopify POS just can't keep up.

9. PayPal Zettle – Best for Micro Retailers and Pop-ups

If you need a low-commitment, portable POS system that works seamlessly with PayPal, Zettle is a simple and effective choice.

Key Features:

• Mobile POS with no monthly fees
• Bluetooth card reader
• Quick PayPal integration
• Inventory and basic reporting
• Works on iOS and Android

Pros:

• No monthly fees
• Easy to set up
• Great for side hustles or part-time sales

Cons:

• Limited features
• Not built for full-time retail stores

Pricing (as of 2025):

Feature	Cost
Monthly Fee	$0
Card Reader	$29
Processing Fee	2.29% + 9¢

If Shopify POS feels like overkill, Zettle could be the simple solution you need.

Final Thoughts

There are dozens of Shopify POS alternatives, but not all of them are a fit for every business.

Here’s a quick comparison chart:

POS System	Best For	Starting Price	Offline Support
Square	Mobile retail	Free	Yes
Lightspeed	Inventory-heavy	$109	Yes
Vend	Cloud-first simplicity	$69	Yes
Clover	Mixed retail/service	$14.95	Yes
Toast	Restaurants	$0	Yes
ShopKeep	Small shops	$69	Yes
Erply	Custom setups	$59	Yes
KORONA	Niche/high-volume	$59	Yes
Zettle	Pop-ups/micro	$0	No

If you're scaling or just tired of Shopify POS limitations, switching might be the best move.

Start by mapping your top priorities: Do you need better inventory control? Faster checkouts? Cheaper fees?

Choose the system that meets your needs today, not just what works out of the box.