Best Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Systems Compared & Reviewed

According to our vigorous research, PioneerRx is the best pharmacy point of sale (POS) system, due to its useful industry-specific features and its top-notch patient safeguarding. It also offers advanced financial reporting tools, which makes it particularly attractive for independent pharmacies keen on expansion and comes at a reasonable cost for a POS system. Plus, it’s the only provider we’ve analyzed that offers a full pharmacy management system alongside its point-of-sale service.

Other great pharmacy POS systems to consider include Square, a popular POS with plenty of features and a great free plan, as well as PrimeRx, which offers stellar automation features to help any pharmacy boost its efficiency.

Unlike lots of retail stores, today’s pharmacies don’t need a one-size-fits-all POS solution. Instead, specific tools like age verification, usage-based ordering, expiry management, integrations with key third-party software, and pricing that fits their budget are among their top priorities.

Here, we’ve selected the top seven best POS systems for pharmacies, along with their core features, pricing, and support. Ready to choose one now? Check out our POS comparison form.

In this guide:

• What’s the Best Pharmacy POS System?
• What Should You Look for in a Pharmacy POS System?
• Rating Methodology: How Did We Review Pharmacy POS Systems?
• Conclusion and Next Steps

What’s the Best Pharmacy POS System?

Take a look at how the best POS systems for pharmacies compare side-by-side on pricing, features, and more:

Our team has poured hours into comparing the best POS systems, while prioritizing factors that matter the most to pharmacies, like inventory management and usability. You can opt for a pharmacy-specific system or a standard retail POS system that fits your needs: Either way, these are the providers that came out on top:

1. PioneerRx: Best overall pharmacy POS
2. Square: Best overall POS system
3. PrimeRx: Best for chain pharmacies
4. Best POS by BestRx: Best for mail-order pharmacies
5. Clover: Best for employee efficiency
6. EPOS Now: Best for complex inventory
7. SumUp: Best for mobile orders

1. PioneerRx

• Best overall pharmacy POS
• Pricing from: Custom pricing 

PioneerRx is a popular all-in-one pharmacy management and POS system that offers just about any feature a pharmacist would require – from patient safeguarding and workflow automation to more advanced capabilities like multiple wholesale ordering and customizable financial reporting.

PioneerRx’s integrated, capable toolkit makes it an asset for most types of pharmacies. However, as part of its mission to ‘save and revitalize independent pharmacies’ the POS offers a number of unique perks for budding independent pharmacies. Learning tools include the video-based “Pioneer University” training portal, which includes separate courses for pharmacists, techs, and clerks. The software’s integrations and capabilities make it a good hub for handling tasks including IVR, refill automation, and inventory management, among others.

The POS allows pharmacists to deliver exceptionally high standards to their patients too, making it a safe bet for businesses looking to grow their base. For example, PioneerRx’s software refills maintenance medications automatically so patients never miss out on their prescriptions. The system also lets pharmacists identify high-risk patients, so they’re able to make the necessary interventions.

However, while PioneerRx offers a number of stand-out stock handling features like multiple wholesaler ordering, usage-based ordering, and shelf labels, its multi-venue inventory tools aren’t quite as capable as rivals like Prime Rx. This suggests PioneerRx may be a slightly poorer fit for chain pharmacies or businesses that keep stock across multiple locations.

PioneerRx pricing

Unfortunately, PioneerRx doesn’t make its pricing public. Hardware and software costs are determined by each pharmacy’s distinct needs but if you’re looking for an estimate, you can contact the sales team directly for quotes.

2. Square

• Best range of features for the lowest prices
• Pricing from: Free (but transaction fees apply)

Square is the best general-purpose POS on the market, according to our latest round of research: It offers powerful features, an easy-to-operate interface, and great hardware — all of which you can access with a free plan.

We ranked PioneerRx first for its pharmacy-specific toolset, but Square offers everything a pharmacy needs, and with some of the lowest starting costs on the market to boot.

First, it’s simple to use: The front end and back end are intuitive, with clear menu headings and core features prominently located. When we tested the retail POS out, we were particularly impressed with how simple it was to log orders and save customer information, with one tester claiming that carrying out the second task was “as easy as it could have been”.

In addition, users can access helpful customer growth tools including customizable gift card support, easy email marketing, and great integrations with online stores. These perks all make Square POS particularly attractive to small operations, since they need to grow but can’t afford to pay extra for these tools.

Square also offers multi-site stock management, which makes it useful for larger operations that need to coordinate between more than one location. You’ll have to do without an employee training mode, however, as Square doesn’t offer one.

The Square App Marketplace includes an integration with BestRx, a management software for pharmacies that also offers a POS that we’ve included in this guide. Plus, the main POS can process HSA and FSA cards, as long as the user is a licensed health care provider.

Square POS pricing

Square is the only provider on this list that offers a free plan — only charging a fee of 2.6% + 10 cents per sale. However, Square’s retail-specific system also offers a Plus and Premium package which unlocks a number of advanced features for pharmacies including specialist inventory tools and exchange functions.

For a full breakdown of Square’s pricing plans, read our Square pricing guide, and check out how they compare at a glance below:

3. PrimeRx

• Best POS for chain pharmacies
• Custom pricing

PrimeRx is an adept POS system that’s ideal for pharmacies with multiple franchises due to its muli-pharmacy support tool, PrimeCENTRAL, and its advanced stock tracking features that let you manage inventories across different locations.

PrimeRx POS should also be a top choice for businesses looking to drive up efficiency, as the point-of-sale offers a number of unique tools like automatic reordering and wholesale integrations, automated refill management, and patient record management.

As of our July 2024 research update, PrimeRx has joined PioneerRx in bundling together two services, its pharmacy management system and its POS. This makes PrimeRx ideal for new pharmacies or those looking for a combined system.

In addition to basic capabilities like federal legal compliance and stock tracking, PrimeRx’s pharmacy management also lets you view cost comparisons between wholesalers to help you price products competitively. The system lets pharmacists prioritize the health of their patients too, with a medication conflict management tool that identifies and flags potentially unsafe combinations of prescription medicine.

If your pharmacy accepts online or telephone orders, PrimeRx’s MobilePOS tool lets you accept payments upon delivery or through a text ahead of time. Unlike general POS systems like Lightspeed, PrimeRx also offers remote signature capture, enabling you to keep up with HIPAA compliance while accepting curbside payments. Customers in 2024 expect ever faster payment acceptance, making these functions more important than ever.

PrimeRx provides powerful capabilities for pharmacy chains and large independent retailers. However, to unlock its full toolkit, pharmacists will need to purchase the provider’s PrimeRx pharmacy management system alongside its POS. This bumps up the price of the overall service, which may put it out of reach of smaller pharmacists.

PrimeRx customer testimonial

PrimeRx pricing

Like our pharmacy POS frontrunner, PioneerRx, PrimeRx isn’t transparent about its pricing structure.

According to POSQuote.com, its monthly prices start at $150. However, pharmacists can expect to pay an initial fee on top, and certain advanced features, like multi-location management, also come at a premium.

4. Best POS by BestRx

• Best POS for mail-order pharmacies 
• Custom pricing 

Best POS by BestRx is a pharmacy-focused point-of-sale system with robust payment and delivery features, making it a match for mail-order pharmacies, which may find their fulfilment services aren’t as well supported by more traditional systems.b

Like PrimeRx, BestRx’s service offers a text-to-pay option, allowing patients to pay online instead of in-store. The system will also let pharmacy owners streamline the delivery process with integrations with FedEx, UPS, and EasyPost, its very own mobile delivery app, and electronic delivery notifications.

However, to gain access to these features, and to manage other processes like prescription management and over-the-counter sales, you will need to integrate Best POS by Best Rx with its pharmacy management system, BestRx.

Alongside its impressive delivery toolkit, BestPOS accepts a wide range of payment options – including credit cards, credit cards, EBT, and gift cards – letting patients pay in whichever way suits them.

BestRx’s POS is also a great tool for attracting and nurturing loyal customers. Its user-friendly customer loyalty program lets pharmacy owners reward repeat buying, issue custom perks, set reward values, and establish expiration guidelines.

However, unlike some providers on this list (such as Square), BestRx doesn’t offer any online integrations, making it a poor fit for omnichannel sellers and pharmacies with a preexisting online presence.

Best POS by BestRx pricing

BestRx doesn’t list prices for its pharmacy management system or POS on its website. However, according to businesses currently using the services, prices for its POS system start at $90 a month, while its BestRx pharmacy management system starts at a steeper $210.

On top of these monthly fees, you will also need to pay an initial installation fee. Contact members of BestRx’s sales team for pricing estimates. Or, if you’re not looking for a point-of-sale to use alongside a pharmacy management system, use our free comparison form to receive quick quotes from leading POS providers.

5. Clover – Best for employee efficiency

• Great hardware
• Great reporting and analysis tools
• Pricing from: $13/month (for retail)

Clover offers sturdy and sleek hardware with responsive display screens, and the software is just as straightforward to use as the hardware. It’s particularly adept at streamlining back-end employee tasks: Busywork like creating new products, product categories, and modifiers is made simple, which can free up more employee time to handle other areas of business.

Learn more about the user friendly system in our Clover POS review.

If you require more than the basics, Clover’s software and hardware packages are a slight investment. However, we think its price point is justified, as not only is the POS extremely feature-rich, it’s very easy to use. When we tested out Clover’s retail system we found it super simple to get started on. From managing simple tasks like logging orders and adding discounts to handling slightly more complex processes like splitting payments, everything was straightforward with Clover.

The Clover Terminal comes with a fingerprint log-in option, potentially boosting staff efficiency even further. Employees can also refill stock on time with stock alerts, and track profits with granular analytics.

The Clover POS hardware range is a variety of sleek white devices. Image: Tech.co

It should help customers speed through their pharmacy experience as well, since the front-end system offers an efficient interface that’s great for fast-paced services such as a crowded or popular pharmacy location.

Clover’s Reporting section comes with a customizable “Sales Overview” dashboard. Image: Tech.co

Clover Pricing

Clover offers a wide range of pricing, with exact costs depending on the industry and whether users choose to pay an upfront cost in order to bring down their monthly charges.

Pharmacies will likely need the retail-specific system, which starts at $13 per month for 36 months, plus a 2.6% + 10¢ transaction fee for card sales. If you require a more established POS hardware set-up, Clover’s Retail Standard plan will cost $170 per month for the first 36 months, while its most comprehensive retail tier – Retail Advanced – comes in at $230 per month for 36 months.

Check out our Clover POS pricing guide for more information. Or you can compare all three retail plans, alongside several other Clover POS packages, at a glance in our table below:

6. Epos Now – Best for complex inventory

• Software works on tablets and on custom hardware
• Pricing from: $299/year

Epos Now offers great inventory tools and big physical displays for faster transactions, alongside helpful profit analysis functions. The software operates well on tablets as well as on the service’s custom hardware.

Like Clover, Epos Now has great hardware: The terminal has a 14-inch HD screen for easy visibility, with a large customer-facing display.

We loved the back office management tools, particularly the ease with which users can make inventory updates. Not every pharmacy has a complex inventory, but the industry typically needs to fulfill prescriptions on short notice. Epos now’s functionality to quickly match products to prescriptions can go a long way towards speeding up those fulfillments.

The service’s great analytics tools include a cost vs profit analysis that can help business managers keep an eye on their profit margins, and the software comes with 24/7 phone support for all users.

Learn more about the provider’s features in our Epos Now review.

This terminal is one example of Epos Now’s durable hardware. Image: Tech.co

Epos Now Pricing

Epos Now’s pharmacy-specific system starts at $229 for a year, although you’ll have to get in touch with them for a specific quote and list of included features. Its pricing is not public, beyond a few examples of starting costs.

7. SumUp – Best for mobile orders

• Accepts mobile and QR code orders
• Pricing from: $99/month

Mobile orders are an increasingly common way for millennials and Gen Zers to seek out prescription fulfillments. If your pharmacy has a younger customer demographic, SumUp might be the POS system for you: Not only is it built to accept mobile orders, but it can process QR codes as well.

We found the system great for avoiding unneeded fees while still offering customization options that make it more flexible for users. Even loyalty programs can be personalized.

However, it comes with a few drawbacks as well. The biggest was its lack of an offline mode, which may prove a setback for businesses that suffer internet outages during operating hours. Quick adjustments might be difficult as well, since the system didn’t always sync the front and back ends during our tests.

The SumUp interface lets users easily view their recent sales and transaction history. Image: Tech.co

Overall, the service’s fast ordering system and support for modern ordering methods makes it well worth considering as a pharmacy POS.

SumUp Pricing

SumUp offers three plans. The starting software and hardware package costs $99 per month, which includes basic features. Next up is a $199 per month plan that includes customer loyalty tools and automated marketing features. Finally, a $289 per month plan adds extra growth tools such as unlimited  marketing promotions.

Learn more with our full SumUp POS review.

What Should You Look for in a Pharmacy POS System?

Due to the responsibility that comes with handling prescriptions, storing medical information, and serving patients, pharmacies can’t choose just any POS system. Instead, they require a system that’s either stacked with a full range of industry features or fully compatible with a pharmacy management system that can take care of these functions for them.

Here are some stand-out features to look out for when searching for your ideal point-of-sale system:

• Compliance management — Legal compliance should be a top concern for pharmacies. To adhere to federal and state laws, you’ll need a POS that offers tools like ID and signature capture, HIPAA compliance, pharmacist counseling, and child safety caps.
• Wholesale distribution — If your pharmacy purchases medication directly from manufacturers, you should make sure your POS can facilitate wholesale distribution – either as an in-app function or through an add-on.
• Advanced inventory management — In order for US pharmacies to comply with legal regulations, their stock management tools need to be capable of a number of duties including tracing drugs as they move through the supply chain, recording accurate stock records and storing them for a minimum of two years, and calculating the presence of hazardous waste.
• Expiry control — Since lots of medications have a shelf life, pharmacies should also opt for POS systems with built-in expiry management software. This system should keep a record of every perishable drug in stock, and notify the business owner when its expiry date is approaching.
• Analytics and reporting — To gain valuable insights into your business’s performance, solid reporting software is a must. Some top reports for pharmacies include daily cash, sales analysis, methods of payments, and tax breakdown reports.
• Customer loyalty — Retaining loyal customers is instrumental to a pharmacy’s success. Therefore, to drive up prescriptions and over-the-counter sales, it’s important for pharmacists to select a POS with a high-performing customer loyalty program.
• Software integrations — Unless your POS system was designed with pharmacies in mind, it’s likely you’ll need to integrate it with your store’s pharmacy management and medical billing system. Not all POS systems offer this compatibility, so it’s important to check for these add-ons before securing a solution.

How Much Does a Pharmacy POS System Cost?

If you need a point-of-sale system for selling over-the-counter goods, and don’t require pharmacy management software, the price may run anywhere between $29 to over $100 per month, depending on your practice’s hardware and software needs. Free POS solutions, like Square and Zettle, are available too, but they do take a percentage of each sale.

However, if you looking industry-specific POS system to manage pharmaceutical sales, or a POS and pharmacy management combined system, you can expect anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 upfront, alongside monthly expenses of $100 to $500.

For more clarity on how much a point-of-sale system costs, read our detailed guide to POS pricing.

How Did We Compare Pharmacy POS Systems?

When comparing the top pharmacy POS systems, we collected data from the leading POS systems and scored them on a number of factors including inventory management, price, and till features, to determine how capable they are overall.

On top of researching retail-focused POS systems that would work for a range of stores, we included point-of-sale systems that have specifically been designed for pharmacies, and accounted for pharmacy-specific features like age verification and healthcare integrations, to assess their suitability.

After narrowing down the best options on the market, we compared them against a number of factors including the quantity and quality of their industry-specific features, their value offering, and whether or not they included a pharmacy management system.

This data helped us to compare them against multi-use POS systems, like Talech and Vend, and conclude which systems are the most well-equipped for pharmacies. We rank and review every product and service slightly differently at Tech.co, but it’s always based on impartial analysis. You can learn more about our research.