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Best Retail POS Systems

These popular POS systems for retail offer inventory management, loyalty features, eCommerce options, and more.

    Erica Seppala

  • Last updated onUpdated

    • Matt Sherman

  • REVIEWED BY

    Matt Sherman

    Expert Contributor

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

We compared leading POS systems based on pricing, ease of use, retail POS features, and software contract terms. These are our top picks.

Compare Our Top Picks

ProviderBest ForPOS PricingFree TrialNext Steps
Square For Retail
4.6
Best Low-Cost POS$0 - $149/month
Read ReviewRead More
KORONA POS
4.3
Best For High-Risk Businesses$59 - $69/month
Read ReviewRead More
Shopify POS
4.4
Best For Multichannel Retail$29 - $399+/month
Read ReviewRead More
Clover POS
4.3
Best For Customization$0 - $84.95/month
Read ReviewRead More
Helcim POS
4.2
Best For B2B/B2G$0
Read ReviewRead More
Show More Options
Lightspeed Retail
4.2
Best Inventory Management$109 - $339/month ($89 - $289/month billed annually)
Read ReviewRead More
PayPal Point of Sale
4.4
Best For Mobile Micro-Businesses$0/month
Read ReviewRead More
Show Fewer Options

Square For Retail

Best Overall

Best Low-Cost POS

4.6/5Full Review

Square gives budget-conscious retailers a low-cost POS system with enough built-in tools to sell in person, online, and on social media.

The free plan includes mobile POS access, an online store, invoicing, appointments, gift cards, basic team tools, and unlimited registers. Paid plans add stronger inventory and multi-location features, but retailers must use Square for payment processing.

Payment Processing
Starts at 2.4% - 2.6% + $0.15
Hardware Cost
$0+
Contract
Month-to-month

PROS

  • Free in-app social media selling
  • Affordable POS hardware
  • Free virtual terminal

CONS

  • Occasional fund holds
Read Full Review
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KORONA POS

Best For High-Risk Businesses

4.3/5Full Review

KORONA is a low-cost POS for regulated retailers that need processor flexibility and strong loss-prevention tools.

KORONA works with many payment processors and hardware setups, including options for high-risk businesses. It also includes ID verification, manager approvals, cash drawer controls, shrinkage reporting, inventory tools, RFID support, and add-ons for multi-store inventory and reporting.

Payment Processing
Varies by processor
Hardware Cost
Contact for quote
Contract
Month-to-month

PROS

  • Flexible POS hardware options
  • Loss prevention features
  • Equipped for regulated item sales

CONS

  • No built-in online sales features
  • Expensive POS integration tokens
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Shopify POS

Best For Multichannel Retail

4.4/5Full Review

Shopify is built for retailers that want to sell online, in person, on social media, and across marketplaces from one system.

Shopify POS connects in-store sales with Shopify’s eCommerce platform, inventory tools, customer data, local pickup, local delivery, shipping, gift cards, and multichannel selling features. POS Lite is included with Shopify plans, while POS Pro adds more advanced retail tools.

Payment Processing
2.4% - 2.7%
Hardware Cost
$0 - $459+
Contract
Month-to-month

PROS

  • iOS and Android app
  • Large app store
  • Scalable POS option

CONS

  • No offline payment processing
  • Some features cost extra
Read Full Review
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Clover POS

Best For Customization

4.3/5Full Review

Clover gives retailers more control over their POS setup than most low-cost retail systems.

Businesses can choose from Clover’s retail software plans, hardware options, app marketplace add-ons, and approved merchant services providers. Clover also supports online ordering, discounts, promotions, gift cards, offline payments, and specialized apps for needs such as EBT acceptance or ID scanning.

Payment Processing
2.3% - 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
Hardware Cost
$199 - $1,799
Contract
Custom

PROS

  • Choice of processor
  • Excellent hardware options
  • Quick and easy setup

CONS

  • Expensive startup costs
  • Not all resellers are reputable
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Helcim POS

Best For B2B/B2G

4.2/5Full Review

Helcim is built for B2B, B2G, and custom-order businesses that need strong quote, invoice, and customer account tools.

Businesses can create quotes, convert them to invoices, accept deposits, charge cards on file, manage wholesale customer accounts, and use Level 2/3 data tools to help lower qualifying B2B/B2G processing rates.

Payment Processing
Custom
Hardware Cost
$199 or $349
Contract
Month-to-month

PROS

  • Free POS and online store builder
  • Retail/service subscription manager
  • Works with all devices

CONS

  • No built-in loyalty program
  • Few integrations
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Lightspeed Retail

Best Inventory Management

4.2/5Full Review

Lightspeed Retail is built for retailers with large catalogs, multiple locations, or more complex inventory needs.

Retailers can manage variants, departments, vendors, purchase orders, stock transfers, custom price lists, low-stock alerts, bulk discounts, layaway, returns, rental items, and detailed inventory reporting. There are also plenty of add-ons for additional customization.

Payment Processing
2.6% + $0.10
Hardware Cost
$199 - $329
Contract
Month-to-month, custom

PROS

  • Excellent inventory management
  • B2B/B2C retail product sales
  • Integrated eCommerce

CONS

  • Advanced features cost extra
  • Must use Lightspeed Payments
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PayPal Point of Sale

Best For Mobile Micro-Businesses

4.4/5Full Review

PayPal Point of Sale is a low-cost retail POS option for microbusinesses and sellers with small average tickets.

PayPal offers affordable card readers, QR code payments, tap-to-pay options, barcode inventory tools, item discounts, receipts, reporting, and connections to PayPal invoicing and eCommerce tools. Its Dynamic Micropayments program may also help eligible small-ticket sellers lower processing costs.

Payment Processing
2.29% + $0.09 (including QR code transactions)
Hardware Cost
$29+
Contract
Month-to-month

PROS

  • Lower rates for small ticket sales
  • Affordable card readers
  • Connects with other PayPal tools

CONS

  • Basic inventory management
  • No native online store builder
  • Potential fund holds
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Our Rating Methodology

Each provider gets 10–15 hours of research, is scored by a subject-matter expert, and is reviewed by a second expert before publication. Ratings are not influenced by our referral partnerships.

Pricing
35%
Features
30%
Ease Of Use
20%
Customer Service
10%
User Reviews
5%
Read our complete rating methodology

Don't Choose the Wrong Retail POS System

Frequently Asked Questions

What features should a retail POS system have?

A retail POS system should include inventory management, barcode scanning, low-stock alerts, purchase orders, vendor management, and sales reports.

If you sell online or have more than one location, look for eCommerce integrations and multi-location inventory syncing. Loyalty tools, customer profiles, and employee permissions can also be helpful. It should also fit within your budget, but still offer the features your business needs to run more efficiently.

What is the best POS system for a retail store?

Choose a POS system based on your store’s needs. Lightspeed Retail is a strong choice for established retailers that need advanced inventory tools, purchase orders, and multi-location support.

Square for Retail is a good free option for smaller stores, while Shopify POS is best for businesses that sell both online and in person. Clover is also worth considering if you want flexible hardware options.

Does a retail POS system support eCommerce?

Many retail POS systems support eCommerce through built-in online stores or integrations with platforms like Shopify, Square Online, and Lightspeed eCom.

This lets you sync inventory between in-store and online sales, avoid overselling, and give customers a more consistent shopping experience.

How do retail POS loyalty programs work?

Retail POS loyalty programs track customer purchases and reward shoppers with points, discounts, or special offers. More advanced programs may support customer profiles, purchase history, tiered rewards, referrals, and personalized marketing.

Many POS systems include built-in loyalty tools or offer them as paid add-ons.

What hardware does a retail POS system require?

Basic retail POS hardware usually includes a tablet or monitor, card reader or payment terminal, receipt printer, barcode scanner, and cash drawer.

Smaller stores may only need a simple tablet-based setup, while larger retailers may need multiple registers, scanners, printers, and other accessories.

Erica Seppala

Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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