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6 Best Thrift Store POS Systems

The best thrift store POS systems are affordable, have no long term contracts, and have special features perfect for owners of secondhand shops. Find out which one is right for you.

    Matt Sherman
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Shannon Vissers
  • REVIEWED BY

    Shannon Vissers

    Lead Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.

Thrift store POS systems allow small business owners to modernize their thrift shops with features such as barcode labels, email receipts, customer tracking, and even an online store. Whether you run a nonprofit thrift store or a for-profit vintage and used clothing store, you need the best point of sale system for your needs as a small business owner.

Thrift store POS systems include thrift store inventory software as well as software functions to reward loyal customers and keep them returning to your store. We looked at dozens of thrift store point of sale systems and came up with this list of the best options for your small business. 

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanyBest ForNext StepsBest For
Square For Retail

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  • Best overall thrift store POS
  • Price (starts at): $0
  • No longterm contract
  • Best overall thrift store POS
  • Price (starts at): $0
  • No longterm contract

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Lightspeed Retail

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  • Best inventory management
  • Price (starts at): $89
  • No longterm contract; early termination fee
  • Best inventory management
  • Price (starts at): $89
  • No longterm contract; early termination fee

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Shopify POS

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  • Best for eCommerce
  • Price (starts at): $29
  • No longterm contract or cancelation fees
  • Best for eCommerce
  • Price (starts at): $29
  • No longterm contract or cancelation fees

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Clover POS

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  • Best POS for hardware options
  • Price (starts at): $15 (without hardware costs)
  • No longterm contract or cancelation fees if you buy directly from Clover
  • Best POS for hardware options
  • Price (starts at): $15 (without hardware costs)
  • No longterm contract or cancelation fees if you buy directly from Clover

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KORONA POS

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  • Best for choice for flexible payment processing
  • Price (starts at): $49
  • No longterm contract
  • Best for choice for flexible payment processing
  • Price (starts at): $49
  • No longterm contract

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Loyverse

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  • Best loyalty program
  • Price (starts at): $0
  • No longterm contract
  • Best loyalty program
  • Price (starts at): $0
  • No longterm contract

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Best Thrift Store POS Software

Thrift store POS software should have affordable monthly pricing, tablet-based hardware, and an intuitive interface. The best POS for your small business should also include features like inventory, eCommerce, and loyalty.

How The Thrift Store POS Systems Compare

Pricing Payment processing Non-profit discount? Hardware cost
Square for Retail $0-$60/month 2.5%-2.6% + $0.10 X $0-$1389
Lightspeed Retail $69/month billed annually 2.6% + $0.10 Contact sales rep Quote-based
Shopify $29-$118/month 2.4%-2.5% + $0.0-$0.30 Discounted plans for non-profits $49-$639
Clover $14.95-$290/month 2.3% + $0.10 Discounts through select processors $0-$1799
Korona $49-$79/month Integrates with processors Discounts through select processors Quote-based
Loyverse $0/month+ Integrates with processors Discounts through select processors A la carte hardware available

Square For Retail: Best Overall Thrift Store POS

Square For Retail

Total Rating 4.7
Pricing4.5

Ease Of Use5.0

Features4.8

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.7

Pricing

$0-$60/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0+

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Free online store
  • No contract
  • Non-profit features

Cons

  • Occasional fund holds
  • Basic inventory

Square for retail with new square stand hardware
Why Square Is The Best Overall Thrift Store POS

With its free plan and affordable "Plus" plan, Square for Retail provides numerous features and an overall great value to thrift stores as one of the best retail POS systems. Using Square is the perfect way to upgrade to a modern POS that has features like email receipts, online sales, and customer management---but without breaking the bank. Square can capture donor information at the POS, and there are also other Square features for nonprofits, including the ability to accept donations online.

Square for Retail has somewhat basic inventory features on the free plan, but then again, some thrift stores have basic inventory needs. Since each item is unique and donors are the vendors, most stores don't need features like vendor management or cost-of-goods (COGS) reporting. However, if you do need those features, both are included on the paid "Plus" plan.

Square For Retail Pricing

Square For Retail Plans Price  When To Use
Free Plan $0/month (2.6% + $0.10 processing fees) You have a retail store with basic inventory and reporting needs
Pro Plan $89/month (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees) You have a small to mid-sized retail establishment with advanced back-end needs
Premium Plan Custom pricing (2.5% + $0.10 processing fees) You sell more than $250,000 a year

Square POS and Square for Retail, which include added inventory features for retail stores like thrift shops, are both free. As a matter of fact, they are among the best free POS systems available. Square for Retail Plus, which includes even more advanced inventory features as well as team management, costs $60/month per location.

Square Thrift Store POS Features

Square For Retail Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards Add-on
Customer Loyalty Add-on
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Square for Retail offers the following thrift store POS features:

  • Track stock: Easily keep tabs on your inventory and set up real-time alerts when inventory gets low
  • Import/export item library: Transfer items easily via a CSV file and have them viewable within minutes
  • Free Square Online store: Set up the ability to sell your items online for free with Square’s eCommerce platform
  • Free gift cards: Set up gift cards for an additional way to sell and promote your products
  • Accept donations online: Individuals can support your business aside from buying products with the ability to take charitable donations easily
  • Local delivery via DoorDash or Postmates: Square integrates with third-party delivery companies so customers can order online and receive items directly
  • Collect donor information at POS: Easily store and track customer information to set up future marketing campaigns
  • Print barcodes (Plus version only): A printer and scanner will allow you to print your own barcodes for individual products in your store
  • Loyalty program (paid add-on): Encourage repeat business by allowing customers to rack up points for each dollar they spend.

Hardware Cost

You can use it on pretty much any tablet, iPad, or even smartphone setup. Square also offers complete hardware kits for countertop retail use, which is what most thrift stores would use. For example, the Square Stand kit includes a Square Stand (proprietary iPad enclosure with built-in payment acceptance), 10.2″ iPad, cash drawer, receipt printer, and paper, for $1,068. Or you can buy a Square Register kit that includes an all-in-one Square Register (includes tablet and payment acceptance), cash drawer, receipt printer, and paper for $1,389.

Payment Processing

All Square accounts come with built-in payment processing. In-person rates are 2.6% + $0.10 on Square POS and Square for Retail Free plans, or 2.5% + $0.10 on Square for Retail Plus plans. Nonprofit thrift stores can indeed use Square, but Square does not offer a reduced processing fee to these organizations—unless you process more than $250,000 per year, in which case you may qualify for a discounted rate. (For more resources about running a nonprofit, please check out our guide.)

Contract Requirements/Warnings

All Square plans, including paid Square for Retail Plus plans, are month-to-month with no contract. One thing to know about Square is that it doesn’t come with your own merchant account. It uses an aggregate merchant account, or payment services provider model, which can lead to account stability issues such as occasional fund holds.

Get Started With Square For Retail

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Lightspeed Retail: Best Inventory Management

Lightspeed Retail

Total Rating 4.1
Pricing3.7

Ease Of Use4.4

Features4.3

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews4.0

Pricing

$89-$269/month ($69-$199/month billed annually)

Contract

Monthly, annual, and custom

Equipment Cost

$199-$329

Pros

  • Multichannel POS
  • Excellent inventory
  • Unlimited 24/7 support

Cons

  • Advanced features are extra
  • Must use in-house processor

lightspeed retail for thrift stores
Why We Chose Lightspeed For Best Inventory Management

Lightspeed is a premium retail POS for iPad that has the best POS inventory options and other advanced features that make it a great fit for any retail business, including ones with specialized needs, such as thrift stores. For stores that sell some vintage items but also sell some new products, Lightspeed has you covered with purchase ordering and vendor management.

While not all thrift stores label all their items in a barcode system offered by a modern POS such as Lightspeed Retail, labeling your inventory with barcodes provides thrift stores with the benefits of automated inventory management, saved time at the register, theft prevention, and the ability to edit prices from your POS -- including bulk price changes. And if you use a multichannel POS like Lightspeed, you'll also need a barcode system if you want to keep your inventory consistent across in-person and online sales.

Lightspeed Pricing

Lightspeed Retail Plans Price  When To Use
Lean Plan $89/month ($69/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail business looking for strong inventory management and a customizable POS interface
Standard Plan $149/month ($119/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for eCommerce and accounting features
Advanced Plan $269/month ($199/month billed annually) For single/multi-location retail businesses looking for a strong loyalty program and advanced business reporting

Lightspeed pricing starts at $89/month ($69/month with annual billing).

Lightspeed Thrift Store POS Features

Lightspeed Retail Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling Standard plan and up
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty Advanced plan
Marketing Tools Standard plan and up
Online Ordering Standard plan and up
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Lightspeed offers the following thrift store POS features:

  • Create bundles: Easily combine items in bundles to sort and track while managing your inventory
  • Item import: Upload up to 10,000 items in one single import, making the importing process quick and simple
  • Bulk pricing changes
  • Offer discounts: Set up promotions and discounts like BOGO offers and more to draw in customers
  • Generate barcodes: Lightspeed comes with a free barcode tool compatible with all scanners and generates unlimited barcodes
  • Holds and layaway: Allow customers to purchase items and keep them on hold or set up payment plans
  • Integrated in-house eCommerce (on higher plans): Set up your own online store to allow customers to purchase items directly from your website or your social media platform
  • Omnichannel gift cards (on higher plans)

Hardware Cost

You can use Lightspeed Retail with an iPad or Mac desktop setup. You can source your POS hardware yourself or buy a bundle from Lightspeed. Hardware pricing is quote-based.

Note: Lightspeed Retail now requires all new and existing qualified merchants using Lightspeed Retail in the US and Canada to sign up for Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed’s payment processor. If you currently use a card reader from a third-party payment processor, you can’t use it anymore. Since you can’t use any existing payment terminals (card readers) with Lightspeed Payments, Lightspeed is currently running a free terminal replacement promotion for eligible merchants that includes two free Lightspeed POS terminals (card readers) per qualified merchant.

Eligible merchants include business owners who process a minimum of $100/day in credit card payments, as measured by a monthly average. Apple products are not included in this promotion, so you’ll still need to source an iPad to take sales.

Payment Processing

Lightspeed Payments is included on all accounts, with an in-person rate of 2.6% + $0.10.

Note: Lightspeed will buy out payment processing contracts, paying off merchants’ early cancellation fees if you process a minimum of $25,000 in card sales and then submit documentation of your previous payment processing contract that states your early termination fee within six months of meeting this minimum processing amount.

It’s important to note that the “paying off” comes in the form of discounted payment processing fees, not a chunk of cash that goes towards your termination fees when you decide to switch to Lightspeed Payments.

If you are a current Lightspeed user and don’t apply for Lightspeed Payments within 30 days of receiving a notification email, you’ll be charged a fee between $200 and $1,120 per month until you do sign up for Lightspeed Payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Lightspeed has the option to pay monthly or annually. You’ll pay a higher monthly price if you opt for the monthly plan. However, you will be charged an early termination fee if you cancel your plan early, so consider signing up for a monthly plan until you’re sure Lightspeed is a good fit for your thrift store.

You are required to verify that you have received your Lightspeed hardware within five business days of receiving it, or the equipment will not be eligible for Lightspeed’s 30-day warranty (14 days for Apple products).

Get Started With Lightspeed Retail

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Shopify POS: Best For eCommerce

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.4

Pricing

Starts at $29/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0-$500+

Pros

  • Reduced processing fees for non-profits
  • Extensive multichannel selling features
  • Mobile POS module

Cons

  • Limited offline mode

shopify pos mobile pos in clothing store
Why Shopify Is Best For eCommerce

Shopify POS is an excellent POS for nonprofit thrift stores or any thrift store that wants multichannel selling and outstanding retail features. For charity thrift stores specifically, Shopify offers discounted processing and features such as unlimited staff accounts, real-time carrier shipping, and the ability to accept monetary donations through Shopify Payments.

Shopify offers some special features for nonprofits. But even if you run a for-profit thrift store, Shopify POS is a great choice, especially if you want to sell goods online (even to customers in other countries!) as well as in-person. Some of Shopify's expansive features include multichannel inventory management, a mobile selling app to sell your vintage wares at events and popups, and integrations with thousands of other apps that extend your system's functionality even further, including apps to manage consignments or donations, and even apps to create your resale/buyback program.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify POS Plans Price  When To Use
Basic $39/month ($29/month billed annually) If you have a growing eCommerce business with occasional in-person sales
Shopify $105/month ($79/month billed annually) If you want additional reporting and reduced payment processing fees
Advanced $399/month ($299/month billed annually) If you want advanced reporting and additional discounts on processing fees
Shopify Plus $2,000+/month If your high-volume or large business needs an enterprise-level solution

Shopify’s Basic plan starts at $29/month, which also gives you your own website to sell online. Adding Shopify POS Pro package for an additional $89/month gives you access to even more features.

Shopify also has special plans for nonprofits and monthly pricing correlates closely with Shopify’s other plans (i.e., there’s no monthly discount), you will get discounted payment processing on these plans and some added features. Nonprofit pricing is as follows:

  • NPO Lite With Shop: $29/month (Same as Shopify Basic plan)
  • NPO Full (No Online Shop): $79/month (Same as Shopify plan)
  • NPO Full: $99/month (More than Shopify plan but lower transaction fees)

Shopify Thrift Store POS Features

Shopify POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support Supports multiple inventory locations
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Shopify POS has the following features for thrift stores, plus many others:

  • Reduced transaction fees for nonprofits: Shopify is one of the few POS companies that offer a break for nonprofits with its credit card fees, giving users instant savings
  • Integrates with resale & consignment apps: Shopify integrates with hundreds of other companies, including software specifically for consignment and thrift stores
  • Generate & print barcodes: Shopify makes creating barcodes easy and allows you to print them out in-home or in-store to help track inventory
  • Custom discounts: You can set up your own promotions and discounts to reach specific demographics and encourage repeat spending
  • Accept custom payment methods: Shopify allows for multiple payment methods, including partial payments, and deposits.
  • Sell at events with your smartphone using Shopify Lite (included in all plans)
  • Categorize products in almost any way: You can choose how you organize your inventory, including by category, type, season, sale, etc.
  • Domestic & international shipping options

Hardware Cost

Shopify POS runs on iOS and Android devices (and is one of the best POS for Android), and you can purchase optional POS equipment, such as scanners and cash registers, on your own or on Shopify’s website. At the very least, you will need to purchase a $49 Shopify Bluetooth payment reader. Shopify also sells hardware bundles such as a $639 Star Micronics mPOP bundle that includes a tablet stand, cash drawer, receipt printer, and hand scanner (iPad not included).

Payment Processing

Payment processing fees depend on your Shopify plan. On regular plans for for-profit thrift stores, fees for in-person transactions range from 2.4% to 2.7% using Shopify Payments. For example, Shopify Lite and Basic plan users will pay 2.7%, while Shopify plan users will pay 2.5%. If you use a third-party processor other than Shopify Payments you’ll be charged an additional transaction fee ranging from 0.5% to 2%.

Notably, thrift stores on a nonprofit plan will receive reduced nonprofit payment processing fees through Shopify Payments: 2.5% on the NGO Lite plan or 2.4% on the NGO Full plan. If your store is nonprofit, but you want to use a third-party payment processor like PayPal, you’ll be charged an additional 1% per in-person transaction if you use an outside processor like PayPal—on the NPO Lite plan. On the NPO Full plan, you will not be charged any additional transaction fees even if you use a third-party processor.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

All Shopify plans are month-to-month with no contract or cancelation fees. However, you will save 10% if you pay annually instead of monthly.

Note that Shopify Payments is a PSP like Square or PayPal, which means you will not receive your own merchant account but rather an aggregate merchant account. This type of account will have more sensitive security checks, and may be prone to issues like fund holds for transactions that the system deems as “suspicious” (rightly or not).

Get Started With Shopify POS

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Clover POS: Best POS For Hardware Options

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use4.8

Features4.5

Customer Service4.4

User Reviews4.1

Pricing

Starts at $0/month

Contract

Depends on merchant services provider

Equipment Cost

$49-$1,799 per device

Pros

  • Sleek, sturdy hardware
  • Fast, easy setup
  • Discounted processing for nonprofits

Cons

  • Poor processing customer service

Clover Flex scanning thrift store inventory
Why Clover Has The Best POS Hardware Options

There's a lot to like about Clover POS systems. They are excellent for first-time POS users, as they are super easy to set up, train your employees on, and start selling with. Even calling customer support is as easy as pressing a button on the screen. But where Clover really shines is its sleek, purpose-built hardware. Rather than using a consumer tablet like an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab, Clover's POS systems are specifically designed for POS.

As a result, these devices are incredibly fast and sturdy, not to mention good-looking. If you're looking for a modern and time-saving yet affordable upgrade to your thrift store POS, Clover could be a perfect choice. Clover's capabilities are modern, letting you accept virtually any form of payment, from QR codes to mobile wallets to PayPal. You can also scan barcodes and take payments from the same device. However, Clover hardware also has some interesting "old school" features that thrift stores may be able to benefit from. For example, you can accept checks using your Clover, and you can also sell items by weight, which would be useful if your thrift store sells clothes by weight.

Clover Pricing

Clover POS Plans Price  When To Use
Clover Payments $0/month If you only need to process payments and don’t need any POS hardware
Clover Essentials $14.95/month If you have a small retail/service-based business and don’t take returns
Clover Register $49.95/month If you have a small to mid-size retail/service-based business and need more POS features
Clover Counter Service Restaurant $54.95/month If you have a quick-serve restaurant, cafeteria, or mobile food service business
Clover Table Service Restaurant $84.95/month If you have a full-service restaurant or bar

When you purchase a plan from Clover.com, you can opt to purchase your hardware outright and pay a monthly fee for your POS software, or you can lease your hardware for an additional monthly cost. If you buy your equipment upfront, software plans range from $14.95 to $94.85 per month. If you lease your equipment, your hardware and software payment will range from $50 to $290 per month.

Clover Thrift Store POS Features

Clover POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments Depends on hardware choice
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering Depends on software plan
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance Add-on app
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Clover offers the following thrift store POS features:

  • Advanced inventory with variants
  • Sell by weight: For non-profits that often sell products in bulk or by weight, this is an easy feature to activate and utilize
  • Easy item exchanges: Clover makes it easy to offer exchanges and for customers to either swap products or receive store credit
  • Built-in loyalty program: Clover comes with its own loyalty program that helps you store customer information and allows them to earn points depending on how much they spend
  • Generate & print sales reports on built-in receipt printer
  • Employee management: Set up individual permissions for employees and easily set up calendars and track hours
  • Free Ecwid online store or integrate with an existing e-store
  • Mobile & traditional gift cards: You can create both digital or physical gift cards to help increase your business’s branding
  • Expandable functionality with apps: Clover is app-based software, and you can bulk up your system by downloading tailor-made apps for your establishment

Hardware Cost

Clover hardware options include the $499 Clover Flex smart terminal, the $799 Clover Mini countertop POS, or the all-in-one Clover Station, which is either $1,349 or $1,799, depending on whether you want a customer-facing screen. You can also mix and match, adding a handheld Clover Flex to a Clover Station setup, for example.

Payment Processing

Plans purchased through Clover.com offer flat-rate processing. Rates for in-person processing start at 2.3% + $0.10.

Nonprofits may be able to get discounted Clover payment processing by using Clover with a processor that offers discounts to nonprofits, such as Dharma Merchant Services or National Processing. Rather than flat-rate pricing, both of these processors have an interchange-plus payment processing model.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Clover.com plans are month-to-month, and you can cancel anytime if you purchase your equipment outright. However, many other merchant services providers, banks, credit unions, and even retailers like Sam’s Club sell Clover systems. Clover POS hardware is always sold with a First Data merchant account, but these accounts can be structured in various ways, including with expensive, long-term processing contracts and equipment leases. Quality of customer service also depends on where you purchase your Clover system from.

To avoid getting stuck with a predatory contract with a shady Clover MSP, be sure to buy your system from Clover directly or from another recommended Clover reseller provider.

Get Started With Clover POS

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KORONA POS: Best For Payment Processing Options

Total Rating 4.4
Pricing4.9

Ease Of Use4.1

Features3.7

Customer Service5.0

User Reviews4.4

Pricing

$59-$69/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

Contact for quote

Pros

  • Budget-friendly pricing
  • Gift cards included in base plan
  • Customizable UI

Cons

  • Some features lacking

korona pos hardware
Why We Chose Korona For Best Processor

Korona is a somewhat basic but excellently priced budget retail POS. Since most thrift stores don't track each inventory item individually or sell online, you may not need a POS with advanced inventory or built-in eCommerce (Korona does allow you to integrate with third-party eCom software, however). And like most cloud POS systems, Korona lets you receive, track, and price items by category, which is all the inventory features many thrift stores will need.

One area in which Korona may appeal to a lot of small businesses, including thrift stores, is that the POS is processor agnostic. Since Korona doesn't require you to enter a payment processing contract, you can use any payment processor you want. This makes Korona a good POS choice for a thrift store that wants to have payment processing options and not be locked into using a particular processor.

Korona POS Pricing

KORONA POS Plans Price  When To Use
KORONA POS Core $59/month Basic business operations
KORONA POS Retail $69/month Advanced inventory needs

Korona POS plans range from $49 to $79/month. Plans are month-to-month, but you will receive a free month of service if you opt to pay annually.

Korona POS Thrift Store POS Features

KORONA POS Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling With integration
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering With integration
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Korona has these features for thrift stores:

  • Points-based loyalty program: Korona comes with its own loyalty plan that is easy to set up and is point-based, so it is simple for customers to understand
  • Track items by price category: You can sort your inventory in a number of ways, including by item cost
  • Customizable dashboard: Customization is a strength of Korona, and you can easily set up or change your interface to meet your needs
  • Theft-prevention features
  • Handheld inventory scanner app: Download this unique app to easily sort your items or scan them into your system
  • Special pricing & promotions: Set up quick discounts, coupons, and promotions for various items or create events with sales to drive selling
  • Highly rated customer service: Korona features customer service with excellent reviews and has a knowledgeable support staff
  • eCommerce integration: If you’re looking to sell online, Korona integrates with easy-to-use platforms

Hardware Cost

Korona can run on most POS hardware, including Android and iPad options. Korona sells hardware and also offers leases, though the company does not list pricing on its website.

Payment Processing

Korona POS does not offer in-house processing; rather, the POS integrates with all major payment processors. Some of Korona’s processing options include high-risk processors, as well as cash discount processors for thrift stores that want to pass along their credit card processing charges to customers by offering a “discount” for paying in cash.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Korona does not have a contract or long-term commitment. However, it’s possible that whatever payment processor you choose to integrate with Korona may have a long-term contract, so be sure to choose your merchant services producer wisely.

Get Started With KORONA POS

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Loyverse: Best Loyalty Program

Total Rating 4.5
Pricing4.3

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.4

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews4.9

Pricing

$0/month

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$0

Pros

  • Free POS system
  • Built-in loyalty
  • iOS and Android compatible

Cons

  • Feature set is limited

loyverse pos for retail hardware

Why Loyverse Has The Best Loyalty Program For Thrift Stores

There are several free retail POS systems out there, but Loyverse is the only one with a free loyalty program. Simply set a reward percentage for each purchase and enroll your customer at the POS. Return loyalty customers will accrue points with each purchase that they can redeem for discounts at any of your stores. Optionally, you can issue a loyalty card with a barcode to easily look up customers and add them to a ticket.

The overall functionality of the POS is somewhat basic and doesn't include many integrations, but again, many thrift stores don't need advanced functions.

You can still use Loyverse to do things like scan barcodes (currently iOS only) or create and print new barcodes if you subscribe to the advanced inventory add-on. Otherwise, you can sort your thrift store inventory by category without a barcode system.

Loyverse POS Pricing

Loyverse Plans Price  When To Use

Loyverse includes all of its core functionality, including its built-in loyalty program, for free. Loyverse also has a few affordable add-ons available for purchase, including employee management and advanced inventory ($25/month each) and integrations with third-party software like QuickBooks and Xero ($9/month), both good accounting software solutions for nonprofits.

Loyverse Thrift Store POS Features

Loyverse Features Availability
Multi-Store Support
Contactless Payments
Multi-Channel Selling
Gift Cards
Customer Loyalty
Marketing Tools
Online Ordering
Inventory Management
Reporting
Menu Management
Delivery Management With integration
EBT Acceptance
Employee Management
Text Messaging

Loyverse offers these thrift store POS features:

  • 24/7 live chat support
  • Works with multiple processors: Loyverse integrates with multiple processors, including Worldpay, SumUp, and Zettle
  • Free points-based loyalty program: Loyverse comes with free loyalty for customers that includes scannable barcode cards
  • Free customer display screen functionality: Allow customers to make their own payments and search for products on their own
  • Easy discounts & returns: Loyverse makes it easy for customers to return products or receive store credit
  • Organize goods by category: Included in Loyverse’s inventory management is the ability to sort your products in a number of ways depending on how your business is set up
  • Works offline
  • Multistore capability

Hardware Cost

You can source your own Apple or Android POS hardware to use with Loyverse, and you can also buy various hardware components on Loyverse’s website to put together a new system. Some examples of POS hardware items for sale on Loyverse’s website include Heckler iPad stands ($109) and APG Vassario cash drawers ($124.99), and 2D SocketScan barcode scanners ($299.99).

Payment Processing

Loyverse integrates with various payment processors but does not offer its own payment processing services. Some processing options for US merchants include:

Note that you can accept donations in person using PayPal Zettle, but PayPal’s discounted fees for nonprofits only apply to online payments.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

You can sign up for Loyverse for free with no contract. Paid add-on services are also month-to-month with no contract, but you do receive a discount if you sign on for a full year.

Get Started With Loyverse

Read our in-depth review

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Methodology

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.

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


Why We Don’t Recommend These 2 Options For Thrift Stores

Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop (formerly 3Dcart) is shopping cart software that some thrift stores can use to sell online. However, for thrift stores that sell in person with a POS, Shift4Shop isn’t the best choice. For its retail POS, Shift4Shop uses Harbortouch, a system we do not recommend due to numerous public complaints. The main issue is that Shift4Shop’s parent company and payment processor, Shift4 Payments, uses deceptive sales tactics and charges a lot of hidden transaction fees, as well as early termination fees if you want to end your contract early.

Vend

Vend is an excellent retail POS that works great in many thrift stores. However, Vend POS has been acquired by and absorbed into Lightspeed. Vend is now Lightspeed Retail POS (X-Series).

Which Thrift Store POS System Is Right For Your Business?

There are multiple excellent thrift store POS systems to choose from, but the best thrift store POS software for your business might not be the best system for another store.

The main factors you should consider when choosing a POS system for your thrift store are your budget and your business’s unique needs, including whether your store qualifies for discounted nonprofit credit card processing, and the type of inventory system you want to use. If you are replacing another POS system, you might want a system that can use your existing POS hardware and/or can import inventory from your previous system.

Is your thrift store a nonprofit organization? You might be able to fund some of your business expenses using nonprofit credit cards or loans for nonprofits.

FAQs: Thrift Store POS Systems

What is the best thrift POS software for fundraising?

There are multiple high-quality and affordable POS systems with fundraising capabilities. For example, Square POS and Shopify POS allow you to accept monetary donations online, and Korona POS lets you input donated inventory items at your POS. Clover POS and Shopify POS both offer discounted payment processing to nonprofits.

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Matt Sherman

Matt Sherman

Lead Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
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.
Matt Sherman
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