7 Best POS Systems in 2024

The top POS systems empower your business to process payments swiftly, whether in your physical store or on the move. There's a myriad of options out there, and we've compiled a list of the top 7.

We've evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of each, identified their standout features, and determined which type of business each is best suited for.

Best POS Systems

1. Shopify POS: The Best Overall POS System
2. Square POS – The Most Popular POS System
3. TouchBistro – Best for Restaurants
4. Lightspeed POS – Best for Retail
5. Clover POS – Best for Flexibility
6. Toast POS – Best for Food Service
7. Zettle – Best for Pop-Up Shops
   

The best POS systems are an incredible resource for growing brands. The right tools don’t just allow you to process and manage in-person sales at a brick and mortar store or pop-up shop.

They can also form a crucial part of your omnichannel sales strategy, unifying your online and offline presence.

Leading POS vendors offer access to high-quality software, complete with analytics and reporting tools, payment processing dashboards, and intuitive integrations.

Plus, many also offer a wide range of hardware options to choose from, including credit card readers and cash registers.

The question is, which POS system is best for your growing business?

We’ve examined the functionality and performance of some of the most popular tools in the market, to bring you this list of the leading contenders. Let’s dive in.

What is a POS System?

Before we help you find the best POS system for your company, it’s worth establishing what a “POS” actually is.

A POS, or “Point of Sale” system is a toolkit of devices, software, and payment services merchants and retailers can use to make sales in-person.

POS systems process and manage transactions, direct payments to your bank account, and provide receipts for purchases.

They’re often an essential part of the retail landscape, allowing for the movement of finances between consumers and companies.

As the commerce world has evolved, POS solutions have also become more advanced. The market for innovative cloud-based POS solutions is expected to reach a value of $13.24 billion by 2028, as companies rely on cloud tools to connect ecommerce and in-person transactions.

Powerful POS solutions can also include a host of intuitive features, from tools for managing customer profiles and employees, to analytics and reporting software.

Some even have marketing features that help organizations to increase sales and brand loyalty.

Choosing The Best POS Systems for Your Store

There are numerous POS solutions available in the market today, each with their own pros and cons to consider. The right system for you will depend on a number of factors, from the sales channels you use, to your business model, and even your target audience.

For instance, the POS software and hardware used by small businesses in the retail sector might vary drastically from the tools used by a food service company.

We’ve assessed some of the most highly-rated point-of-sale systems at the market, looking at everything from their software features, to their processing fees, hardware options and ease of use, to bring you this list.

What are the Best POS Systems in 2024?

1. Shopify POS: The Best Overall POS System

Ranking at the very top of our list is Shopify POS, the all-in-one point of sale system created to empower ecommerce merchants to sell effectively in the physical world.

Shopify’s POS software and mobile app integrate directly with the ecommerce platform, syncing your inventory information, sales, customer data and more in real-time across every channel.

Whether you choose the “POS Lite” version that comes with most Shopify subscription packages, or you opt for the Shopify POS Pro alternative, you’ll have access to a huge range of valuable features, including omnichannel sales tools and marketing components.

Key Features

• Omnichannel selling: Create a seamless shopping experience for customers online or in-store, with integrated inventory, local pickup and delivery options.
• Inventory management: Track inventory, transfers, returns and exchanges in one place, with low stock reports, inventory counts, and demand forecasting.
• Staff management: Assign specific roles and permissions to different members of your team, and attribute sales to staff wherever they are.
• Customer management: Create comprehensive customer profiles with purchase history information, contact details, marketing preferences and tags.
• Payment processing: Leverage Shopify Payments to take credit card and debit card payments, as well managing contactless payments and gift cards.

Hardware

Shopify has a range of hardware options to choose from, including dedicated barcode scanners, cash registers, stands for tablets (for an iPad POS), and comprehensive retail kits.

The company also offers the Shopify POS Go system, a mobile point of sale for $399 which includes barcode scanning, receipt printing and payment processing in one solution.

Pricing

Shopify POS comes in two variations, Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro. The Lite service is included with all Shopify plans, starting at $5 per month for the Starter plan, if you don’t need store-building tools, or $39 per month for basic Shopify. There are also transaction fees for each plan.

Shopify POS Pro is included with Shopify Plus, the Enterprise package starting at $2,300 per month, or it can be added to any plan for $89 per month per location.

2. Square POS – The Most Popular POS System

While Shopify stands out as the top POS solution overall, Square is one of the most popular alternatives. Created by the leading payment processing company, Square POS gives companies everything they need to run an effective store.

There are great team management features, powerful inventory tracking tools, and a host of analytical tools included.

Square also allows companies to sell both offline and online at the same time. You can use the Square Online store creator to start building an ecommerce presence for free, and connect it directly to your POS system. Plus, there are tons of customization options to explore.

Key Features

• Payment processing: Square POS can accept all kinds of payments, from credit and debit card transactions, to contactless payments and gift cards, as well as custom voucher codes.
• Checkout: The customizable checkout solution on Square POS makes it easy to transform the customer experience with a straightforward dashboard.
• Inventory management: Square POS users can manage their stock and inventory from one centralized location, no matter how many sales channels they use. You can even track stock changes when selling over social media.
• Team management: With Square, companies can track employee hours, monitor their breaks and performance levels, and even reward team members based on their results.
• Customer profiles: With in-depth customer profiles, Square users can track everything they need to know about their target audience, from which products they prefer, to how often they return to a specific store or location.

Hardware

Square offers a range of hardware options to choose from, ranging from the Square Register, which includes all of the tools you need at the point of purchase, to simple credit card readers.

There’s also the Square Terminal, and the Square Stand, for turning your iPad into a POS.

Pricing

The Square POS software is free to use with no monthly or setup fees. You only pay a transaction fee when processing payments, starting at 1.75% for chip and pin transactions, and 2.5% for online orders and invoice-based transactions.

3. TouchBistro – Best for Restaurants

TouchBistro stands out as one of the most popular point of sale solutions for restaurants worldwide. The all-in-one cloud-based system supports companies with front of house and back of house operations, as well as staff management and customer engagement.

TouchBistro helps companies find ways to save time and money, with real-time dashboards and analytics, easy-to-use tools, and a host of valuable ways to deliver a standout guest experience. Plus, the customer service is excellent.

Key Features

• Restaurant management: TouchBistro offers a variety of restaurant management tools, including tableside ordering options, services for dine-in and take-out customers, menu management, and kitchen management.
• Employee management: The employee management tools included in TouchBistro’s software are excellent, offering behind the scenes insight into staff performance and crucial metrics. There are even tools for communicating with team members.
• Guest engagement: With TouchBistro, companies have a variety of ways to engage guests. You can set reservations for customers, leverage marketing tools, and create gift cards and loyalty programs for consumers.
• Analytics: With real-time dashboards and customizable reports, you can keep track of all the most important KPIs, and metrics connected to your business. It’s easy to monitor inventory and payments in one interface too.

Hardware

TouchBistro’s hardware options are excellent for the restaurant landscape. You can access customer facing kiosks and displays, simple cash registers, card readers, kitchen display systems, and accessories like receipt printers, all for an affordable price.

Pricing

Plans for the TouchBistro POS start at $69 per month, with full access to all of the cloud-based software features. However, if you need extra hardware, you’ll need to pay for that separately. There are transaction fees to consider too.

4. Lightspeed POS – Best for Retail

Retail businesses are sure to love the incredible functionality and features of Lightspeed POS. The powerful toolkit serves a range of business needs, combining customer relationship management (CRM) tools, with payment processor options, inventory management and more.

With Lightspeed, companies benefit from a single intuitive platform where they can track transactions and information across multiple locations and channels.

What really sets Lightspeed apart is it’s fantastic range of analytical tools, and it’s approach to delivering exceptional personalized support. You can even get onboarding and one-on-one account guidance.

Key Features

• Unified commerce: Lightspeed makes it easy to unify your commerce channels both online and offline. You can connect your ecommerce store to the system, and see everything at once with real-time dashboards and updates.
• Advanced reports: The reporting tools available with Lightspeed are excellent. You can create customized reports, spot trends over time, or leverage real-time insights into your performance levels and sales.
• Marketing tools: With advanced marketing features built into Lightspeed POS, companies can communicate with customers across channels, and even automate campaigns.
• Inventory tracking: In-depth inventory tracking tools make it easy to manage all kinds of orders and eliminate the risk of stock-outs.
• Open API: With LightSpeed’s Open AI, companies can create highly customized workflows to suit their unique business needs.

Hardware

Lightspeed offers a range of hardware options from some of the world’s leading equipment vendors. You can access receipt printers, mobile POS kits, and stands for your Point of Sale tablet. There are also Bluetooth powered and USB barcode scanners available.

Pricing

Pricing for LightSpeed starts at $69 per month for the Essentials package, or $119 per month for the omnichannel “Standard” package.

There’s an “Advanced” option for $199 per month if need more sales and marketing tools, as well as advanced reporting. Plus, an Enterprise plan is available with unlimited advanced support and API consultation.

5. Clover POS – Best for Flexibility

Whether you’re running a quick-service business, a retail company, or any other kind of physical store, Clover POS has you covered.

As one of the most reputable POS providers in the world, Clover makes it easy to integrate sales information and inventory across a variety of channels.

You can connect your system to QuickBooks, as well as various ecommerce platforms. Plus, there are tons of reporting and analytical tools available, so you can keep track of your performance over time.

As an added bonus, Clover is extremely easy to use with one-touch transaction features, simple solutions for tipping, and refund management capabilities.

Key Features

• Payment processing: Clover doesn’t just support credit card processing, it allows customers to check out using virtually any payment method they choose, with minimal effort.
• Sales data: The analytics tools in Clover make it simple to track your sales information, store performance, and various other factors in one convenient location.
• Customer engagement: With Clover, you can set up loyalty programs and use a range of other strategies, like email and social media to engage customers.
• Ecommerce integration: Clover makes it simple to take your business online, with online ordering, integrations with food delivery apps, and online invoicing.
• Customization: With Clover, you can customize your POS experience to your needs, taking payments from anywhere with the virtual terminal, mobile app, or dashboard.

Hardware

Clover offers a variety of different hardware options, including simple card readers, and specialist kiosks and registers for food service restaurants. You can access everything from tableside ordering tools, to barcode scanners and handheld card readers.

Pricing

Though Clover promises a transparent and straightforward price for all of its services, there are no packages listed on the website.

You’ll build your POS solution with Clover from scratch, selecting the features you need and your hardware options at the same time. This means each price is customized to the exact needs of your business.

6. Toast POS – Best for Food Service

Like TouchBistro, Toast POS is a user-friendly point of sale solution specially design for the food service industry.

The solution sets itself apart from other competitors in the market with a huge range of tools for different business types. No matter what kind of food company you run, you can adapt your system to suit your needs.

Toast is accessible from anywhere, thanks to its cloud-based technology, and it also works in offline mode.

Plus, the software is brimming with advanced features, such as payroll and team management tools, kitchen display systems, and online ordering tools.

Key Features

• Specialist features for restaurants: Toast is packed with great features for restaurants, including menu management tools, takeout apps, delivery service management, kitchen display systems, and invoicing tools.
• Omnichannel sales: Companies can use Toast to sell online and in-person, as well as through food delivery apps and channels. There are even multi-location management tools available for larger companies.
• Customer engagement: Toast comes packed with features to boost customer engagement, such as integrated email marketing automation, loyalty programs, gift cards, and kiosk options for customer self-service.
• Employee management: Toast has excellent employee management tools, including features for payroll tracking, and performance monitoring.
• Insights and analytics: There are tons of reports and analytics available within the Toast POS software, with custom reports to show all of your most important metrics.

Hardware

Toast offers a wide variety of hardware options, specially created for food service companies. Options range from the Toast Flex solution for payment processing, as well as the Toast Flex Duo which showcases a branded screen to your customers.

You can also access hand-held card readers, kitchen display systems, self-service kiosks, and a wide range of restaurant-grade accessories.

Pricing

Users can get started with Toast for free with the “Quick Start” bundle, which includes hardware setup and complete access to the cloud point of sale.

Premium packages start at $69 per month for the core plan, with simple flat rate payment processing and mobile dining solutions. You can also build your own bundle with included software and hardware.

7. Zettle – Best for Pop-Up Shops

Powered by PayPal, Zettle is one of the most straightforward point of sale solutions for companies in search of a full mobile POS system. If you don’t need a full-service register and checkout system at your store, Zettle could be the perfect option.

Zettle syncs inventory and purchase information across multiple channels for small business owners, and helps you manage every transaction seamlessly.

You can even use Zettle to transform your existing smartphone or device into a payment system with a convenient app.

Key Features

• Specialist solutions: Zettle offers dedicated point of sale solutions for different types of business, including food and drink vendors, and retail stores.
• Payment processing: Taking payments is easy with Zettle. You can even give customers the option to checkout with PayPal, using a QR code. Alternatively, you can send text links to your PayPal account to your customers.
• Funding: Zettle customers can take advantage of the funding options offered by PayPal Business. You can even request a PayPal Business MasterCard for quick access to your funds, as well as cashback benefits.
• Integrations: Zettle integrates with a wide range of tools, including Lightspeed, Shopify, Xero, QuickBooks, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and more.
• Convenient mobile app: Turn any device into a POS terminal with Zettle’s free POS app. The easy to use app is great for pop-up stores and simple transactions

Hardware

You don’t necessarily need hardware to run your business with Zettle, as you can simply use the Zettle app on your existing device.

However, there are various POS hardware options available. Solutions include the straightforward Zettle card reader, and the Zettle terminal for $149. Companies can also create their own customized store kit from scratch, with cash drawers, registers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners.

Pricing

The Zettle software is free to use, with no cancellation or set-up fees. Additionally, the transaction fees are relatively low, starting at just 1% for PayPal transactions, and 1.75% for card transactions.

This makes Zettle one of the more affordable options out there.

Choosing the Best Point-of-Sale Solution

Now you’ve seen all of our top picks for the best POS systems on the market, all that’s left to do is make your choice.

There are tons of great options out there, but the right POS for you will depend on the kind of business you run and the features you need.

For a comprehensive retail POS system which combines in-person and online selling, we recommend Shopify POS as the go-to choice.

However, you can always consider Square if you want a budget-friendly solution with a free plan and low payment processing fees.

If you’re looking for restaurant POS systems, Toast and Clover may be excellent options. Remember, when choosing your solution, look at all the POS features available, from customer loyalty programs to analytics and reporting tools.

It’s also worth checking out any add-ons and integrations that might be available for your toolkit, so you can unify more of your business software.