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These POS companies operate in Canada and provide affordable, feature-rich software for Canadian businesses in various industries.
Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Nicolette KierNicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Expert Contributor
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Matt has been helping small businesses make decisions since 2017. He has written reviews and articles across many different channels but specializes in the point of sale, payroll, and small business insurance categories and has been quoted in articles for Fox Business, Forbes, and other publications. Prior to joining Merchant Maverick, Matt was a journalist and editor for 14 years for a pair of weekly newspapers. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and currently resides in Gladstone, Oregon.
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Matt ShermanMatt has been helping small businesses make decisions since 2017. He has written reviews and articles across many different channels but specializes in the point of sale, payroll, and small business insurance categories and has been quoted in articles for Fox Business, Forbes, and other publications. Prior to joining Merchant Maverick, Matt was a journalist and editor for 14 years for a pair of weekly newspapers. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and currently resides in Gladstone, Oregon.
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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.
The best POS systems in Canada allow you to take digital payment types, manage inventory, track sales history, and manage your customer base. We ranked several Canadian POS systems based on pros, cons, pricing, and features to help you choose the right POS system for your business.
From restaurants to retail businesses, these POS systems offer something for any type of Canadian business. These options include budget-friendly, feature-rich POS systems that are easy to use and have great reputations in the industry. Here are our top picks.
Square is one of our best free POS systems because it includes free in-person POS software, a free website builder, and industry-specific plans for retail, restaurant, and service-based businesses. Paid plans are affordable and offer advanced features. Plus, Square POS works on most devices and offers some of the most affordable card readers and registers.
In-person payment processing rates are 2.5% for major credit card transactions and 0.75% + $0.07 for Interac debit transactions. Online and invoice payment processing costs 2.8% + $0.30 per transaction.
Square hardware costs range from $69 (the Square card reader) to $899 (the Square Register).
Integrate Square with a weight scale to sell food, bulk supplies, etc.
Manage multiple locations
Accept exchanges and returns
Paid plans include industry-specific features such as advanced inventory management for retailers, order course management for restaurants, and cancellation fee charging for service-based businesses.
We like that Clover offers several POS software plans and hardware options, and you can choose your merchant account provider to get the best contract terms and payment processing rates possible.
Since Clover is such a popular system, there is a wide variety of software add-ons for everything from accounting to event ticket management.
Learn More: Read our Clover POS pricing guide for more on how Clover software, hardware, and payment processing are related.
Clover Pricing
Five Canadian POS software plans are available: Payments Plus, Register Lite, Register, Counter Service, and Table Service Restaurant. Pricing is not listed on the Canadian version of Clover’s website.
Clover POS software, hardware, and payment processing costs vary widely among Clover providers. Some Clover providers lease hardware, while others allow you to purchase your hardware upfront.
Some providers include extra fees in the fine print of contracts, which is something to watch out for.
Transaction fees with third-party payment processor
No built-in support or discounts for Canada Post
Why We Picked Shopify For eCommerce Sales
Shopify online store with in-store pickup. (Source: Shopify)
Shopify is one of our best retail POS systems for blended in-person and eCommerce sales because the company offers affordable in-person POS hardware and a beautiful online store builder with in-store pickup and delivery.
Shopify also has automated multichannel inventory and shipping management, social media and online marketplace sales capabilities, and strong built-in international sales management. When you're ready to take your business online, Shopify is the right choice.
Advanced: $517/month ($389/month with annual billing)
Plus: US$2,300/month
POS Pro: $119/month/location (optional add-on)
Payment processing rates range from 2.4%-2.7% for in-person and 2.4%-2.9% for online transactions. Interac debits cost $0.10.
Note: The above payment processing rates are only for businesses that sign up for Shopify Payments. If you do not qualify for Shopify Payments or find a better rate with a third-party payment processor, there’s a 0.2%-2% transaction fee.
Shopify POS hardware costs range from $69 (the WisePad 3 card reader) to the POS countertop kit ($599) to the full countertop bundle ($1,299).
Shopify Features
Shopify is primarily a retail POS system and offers:
Accept major debit and credit cards, digital wallets, PayPal, and Venmo
Mobile POS app on iOS and Android devices
Professional online store builder
Social media and online marketplace sales
Buy online for in-store pickup, local delivery, and shipping
Start exchanges and returns online
Automated inventory sync for all sales channels
Shipping tracking for businesses and customers
Discounts for DHL Express, USPS, and UPS shipping
Automated local currency and language conversion for online stores selling in multiple countries
8,000+ add-on apps on Shopify App Market
Who Should Use Shopify
Retailers looking to sell in-store and online
Businesses that want to sell in several regions
Businesses looking for advanced eCommerce features
We like TouchBistro for restaurants because it is a relatively affordable all-in-one POS system that has seating, table, tipping, menu, and business reporting in every plan. We recommend TouchBistro for food trucks because the POS includes an offline mode to take payments without WiFi.
There are add-ons for both quick service and sit-down restaurants, plus different payment processor options to get the best rate for your business.
TouchBistro monthly pricing plans start at US$69/month.
Add-ons are also available. All pricing is in USD.
TouchBistro Extra Costs
Price
Gift cards
$25/month
Loyalty
$99/month
Marketing
$99/month
Reservations
$229/month
Online ordering
$50/month
TouchBistro works with Chase Merchant Services, Moneris, and Square for payment processing. Get a custom quote from one or more Canadian merchant service providers.
You may purchase your own iPads and card readers to use with TouchBistro.
Note: TouchBistro software plans are billed annually.
TouchBistro Features
TouchBistro’s best restaurant features include:
Accept all payment types with a mobile card reader
Offline mode to accept payments on-location
Seat, table, and tip management
Server upsell prompts
Build catering menus, time-based menus, etc.
Kitchen display screen add-on
Web-based online ordering app add-on
Accept orders for curbside pickup and delivery
Deliver through your own fleet or DoorDash drive
Create added fees for farther delivery locations
Schedule and require deposits for catering and events
Waitlist and reservation management add-on
Advanced inventory and profit management add-on
Who Should Use TouchBistro
Single-location restaurants and food trucks
Restaurants looking for great reservation and waitlist software
Restaurants looking for good online ordering features
Businesses that provide catering and event services
Helcim is a great choice for service-based businesses, especially B2B (business-to-business) and B2G (business-to-government), because of its excellent custom invoice builder, virtual terminal, and discounts on qualified B2B/B2G transactions. Helcim POS, invoicing, online store, and payment page builder software are free and the company's POS hardware is very affordable.
All businesses get a custom interchange-plus payment processing rate, making Helcim the most affordable option for most service businesses.
ACH/eCheck Payments: 0.25% + $0.05 (fee capped at $6 per transaction)
Fee Saver: 0% (all fees passed onto customers)
Level 2/3 Interchange Optimization: Save up to 1%+ on interchange fees on qualifying Level 2/3 payments from B2B and B2G customers
Expert Tip: The company offers a transparent payment processing rate calculator on its website. Enter your business’s industry, average monthly sales volumes, average transaction size, and percentage of in-person and online sales, and you’ll get an idea of your expected payment processing rate.
Lightspeed Retail is one of the best POS systems for retail inventory management because the inventory manager is highly customizable and easy to use. Department stores, wholesale businesses, and even stores that offer rental items can easily upload and categorize items.
The inventory manager also helps identify shrinkage across multiple locations. Plus, you can also create purchase orders and automatically complete them across multiple vendors, which will help midsize to large retailers save a lot of time on ordering.
Lots of restaurant hardware and software integrations
Cons
Expensive for very small businesses
May require a long-term contract
Early termination fee
Why We Picked Revel Systems For Chain & Franchise Restaurants
Revel Systems is excellent for chain and franchise restaurants because the iPad-based POS offers a customizable business management solution, enterprise-level multi-location reporting, strong kitchen display system software, and several third-party integrations including drive-thru software/hardware options.
Restaurant owners can also set royalty payments and location-specific franchise management features.
Revel requires restaurant owners to get a custom software pricing quote. Revel is for midsize and larger businesses that should expect to pay more than the other POS options on this list. Some of Revel’s biggest clients include Lazeez Shawarma (225 locations) and Chatime (97 locations in Canada alone).
Payment processing and POS hardware also require a custom quote.
Note: Revel’s standard three-year contract has a substantial termination fee, so be sure Revel is the right option for you before committing.
Revel Systems Features
Revel’s best features include:
Drive-thru headset, order confirmation display, and digital signage integration
Kitchen display and expo screens to manage all order types, including drive-thru orders
Order status display screens to update the status of takeout and delivery orders
Third-party delivery service integrations
Customizable self-ordering kiosk screens
Royalty payment management
Centralized and franchise location-specific reporting
Smart reporting tools to figure out which menu items perform the best, what’s draining money, and forecast your business’s performance
Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing POS providers since 2012. Our writers have tested over 100 different point of sale systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate POS providers.
Weighted Rating Breakdown
Pricing 40%
Features 30%
Ease Of Use 15%
Customer Service 10%
User Reviews 5%
When comparing different POS software systems, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the depth of niche features offered, the price of hardware, and any associated payment processing fees. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points. The POS vendors we pick share qualities such as widespread availability, accessibility, user-friendliness, and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at niche features, such as check-splitting, inventory management, eCommerce, loyalty programs, gift cards, and more.
We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.
80+
Vendors evaluated
65+
Attributes assessed per vendor
20+
Features weighed
30+
Combined years of experience
What Is A POS System?
A POS system is software and hardware that, when combined, allows businesses to take orders on a screen, accept digital payment types with a card reader, manage inventory, and view sales reports.
Yes, Moneris has a POS system. There are solutions for retail, restaurant, professional services, trades, not-for-profits, and enterprise-level businesses.
Nicolette began writing on small business topics in 2020. After hundreds of hours researching, testing, and assisting small business owners with web building and point of sale software, she is now an expert on all things eCommerce and point of sale. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
View Nicolette Kier's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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We Recommend Square POS For Your Business 🏆User-friendly & feature-rich point of sale system with affordable pricing.Square POS is an intuitive and simple point of sale platform. It offers customizable tools and a variety of add-ons to fit your business needs and reach your goals.Get StartedNo credit card required
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The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
We Recommend Square POS For Your Business 🏆User-friendly & feature-rich point of sale system with affordable pricing.Square POS is an intuitive and simple point of sale platform. It offers customizable tools and a variety of add-ons to fit your business needs and reach your goals.Get StartedNo credit card required
