11 Best POS Systems for Small Businesses

Our research found that Square is the best point-of-sale (POS) system for small businesses, thanks to its slick iOS and Android-compatible features and price point that's lower than most of its competitors. However, if you’re not keen on paying 2.75% on non-card transactions, Zettle is another promising contender that offers comparatively low transaction fees.

With the majority of US small businesses currently citing inflation as their top concern, finding a POS system that offers a decent return has never been more important. To help you land on the right decision, this guide compares the leading POS systems on the market, breaking down their feature set, value offering, and more.

We’ve also created a free POS comparison tool that can connect your small business with price quotes from companies that match your needs. It only takes a couple of minutes to fill out, and there’s no obligation to move forwards with any of the providers.

In this guide:

• The Best POS Systems for Small Businesses
• What’s the Best Free POS Software?
• How To Choose the Best POS for Your Small Business
• Need a Quote?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the POS providers who ranked best for small businesses, in our research: 

1. Square POS – Simply the best for small businesses
2. Zettle POS –  A great value Square POS Alternative
3. Toast POS – Best for small restaurants looking beyond iPads
4. Talech POS – Best small business growth features
5. Clover POS –  Great built-in customer loyalty app
6. Lightspeed POS – Best for inventory management
7. SpotOn POS – Most customizable software
8. Vend POS – Best to track and train employees
9. Epos Now – Quickest setup process
10. TouchBistro – Best help and support for eateries
11. Shopify – Best for small ecommerce businesses

The information on this page is based on Tech.co's impartial research and testing of POS systems, taking into account pricing, customer support, features for business management and growth, stock management, and till functions. Check out our research page to learn more.

1. Square – Best for Small Businesses

• Tech.co rating: 4.8/5 
• Price: Free (but transaction fees apply)

Square is one of the leading names in POS technology, and for good reason. Its impressive usability and streamlined features make it a very attractive option for retail and service businesses alike. Combine this with friendly, round-the-clock support and rock-bottom startup costs, and it’s no surprise the solution tops our list for small business compatibility.

Square POS features 

• Advanced reporting and analytics
• Flexible payment options
• Team management
• Inventory management
• Item modifiers
• Returns and refunds
• CRM and customer loyalty
• Access to Square's ‘App Marketplace'
• Batch importing
• Kitchen display systems
• Integrations with its ecommerce platform ‘Square Online'

Square POS pricing 

Unlike many other POS providers, Square doesn’t charge a monthly fee — making it ideal for small businesses looking to cut costs where possible. It does, however, leverage transaction fees that vary depending on the type of payment. The fees are as follows:

• 2.6% + 10 cents for each card-based sale
• 3.5% + 15 cents for each keyed-in transaction
• 2.9% + 30 cents for online sales

For small businesses willing to pay a premium for more comprehensive features, Square does also offer separate Retail Plus and Restaurant Plus plans. Check out Square POS's pricing page to learn more.

2. Zettle – Best Square POS Alternative

• Tech.co rating: 4.2/5 
• Price: Free (but transaction fees apply)

If you’re looking for another cost-effective way to track and manage your sales, Zettle’s POS system is also a safe bet. Formerly known as iZettle, the provider was launched in the US early this year but has been available in Europe since 2011.

While it doesn’t offer as many add-on features or premium options as Square, it provides small businesses with slick free software and charges slightly lower transaction fees than its main competitor. In fact, our research, which evaluates systems based on price, customer support, features for business management and growth, stock management, and till functions, ranked the point of service in second position for both retail stores and restaurants, beaten only narrowly by frontrunners Square and Vend.

Zettle POS features 

• Economical payment features
• Reporting and analytics
• Invoice capability
• Omnichannel selling
• Bulk product imports
• Automatic stock updates
• Full and partial refunds
• Digital receipts

Zettle POS pricing 

Just like Square’s offering, Zettle’s point of sale app currently requires zero setup fees. It does, however, charge per transaction, meaning that costs can add up over time. The provider's transaction fees are as follows:

• 2.29% + 9 cents for each card-based sale
• 3.49% + 9 cents for each manual card entry transaction
• 1.9% + 10 cents for every QR code transaction $10.01 and above
• 2.4% + 5 cents for every QR code transaction $10.00 and below

Zettle also offers card readers at $29, with the price jumping to $79 for each additional reader. Due to the system's free software and affordable transaction rates, our researchers gave it full marks (5/5) for its price — tieing it in first place with our frontrunner Square.

Interested in learning more about the POSs pricing system? Take a look at our Zettle POS pricing guide for a more detailed summary. 

3. Toast – Best Android-Only HardwareTech.co rating: 4.2/5

• Price from: $0 (starter), $110/month (New Restaurant Basics)

Toast is a respected POS system that has been designed specifically for restaurant use. The POS is made with Android-compatible software, which unfortunately means it's unsuitable for iOS users. 

As far as restaurant POS systems go, Toast is a worthy contender for small businesses. Its stock management and reporting tools are sophisticated and its till is simple to use. Thanks to the recent advancement of these features, the provider has been able to claim our third spot, up from #10 in last year's ranking. 

However, despite its handy features, the system comes at a higher price point than most of its rivals, so buyers should factor this in before they invest in the POS.

Toast POS features 

• Tableside Ordering
• Floor plan and table management
• Online ordering
• Reporting and analytics
• Menu management
• Restaurant inventory management
• Immediate guest feedback
• Digital gift cards
• Loyalty programs and CRM

As you can see, most of these features are catered towards restaurant clients, making the service ideal for hospitality businesses.  Read our Toast POS review to learn more about the restaurant system.

Toast's help and support options, however, are more limited than other providers on this list. So if your small business is looking for round-the-clock customer support, it'd make more sense to opt for solutions like Square or Vend.

Toast POS pricing 

• Toast Starter – This beginner plan is completely free, and offers a cloud-based point of sale software and hardware configuration. Additional features cost extra.
• New Restaurant Basics – Down from its usual price of $140, Toasts Restaurant Basic plan is available at $110 per month, and is perfect for new restaurants looking to bundle the cost of payroll and POS software.
• Toast Essentials – This standard plan is ideal for small and growing restaurants. Prices start at $165 a month, and online ordering, takeout and delivery options are available. 
• Toast Custom – If you’re after Toast’s full suite of features, Toast Custom could be for you. Prices are decided on a case-by-case basis. 

For more clarity on this provider's pricing model, you can read our Toast POS review and pricing guide.

4. Talech – Best Small Business Growth Features

• Tech.co rating: 3.9/5
• Price from: $29/month

Talech is a tablet-based point-of-service solution designed for both hospitality and retail businesses. The POS is solid in all major respects and offers software that is simple to navigate. Its business growth and stock management features are particularly strong — making it great for businesses focused on expanding their bottom lines.

Despite its strengths, however, our research suggests Talech provides businesses with slightly less bang for their buck than other POSs on this list. Therefore, if your business is budget-conscious or requires a system with a permanent POS register, it might make more sense to go with other providers like Square or Zettle.

Talech POS features

• Table management
• Inventory management
• Employee management
• Granular reports
• Appointment booking
• Cash drawer management
• Order management including partial refunds
• Bill split by table position
• Batch editing
• Gift cards
• Tax controls
• Printer management

Talech POS pricing

• Talech Starter plan – Talech's cheapest plan comes in at $29 per month, per device. The plan includes basic inventory tracking, order management, and CRM tools, and is best suited to small retail stores and cafes.
• Tech Standard – Talech Standard is available at $69 per month, per device. It contains all the features included in the Starter plan, with barcode label printing, kitchen printing, clock-in tools, and more advanced reporting functions.
• Talech Premium – Talech premium costs businesses $99 per month, per device. The plan includes everything in the previous tier, with no product limit and additional table management, online ordering, split payment, and automatic gratuity features. These extra tools make the plan especially useful to hospitality businesses.
• Talech Enterprise – Finally, Talech Enterprise includes the provider's full suite of features. It's been designed for businesses with extensive or specific POS requirements, and prices are available on request.

With all Talech plans additional devices are available for $29 per month, per unit.  

5. Clover – Great Customer Loyalty App

• Tech.co Rating: 3.9/5
• Price: $14.95/month

Attracting and retaining customers consistently ranks as a high concern for business owners. Clover's unique loyalty app, Clover Rewards, helps small resolve this problem by offering customers multiple ways to earn parks. If you already have a website and are interested in taking online orders, Clover’s POS system can help you make the switch to ecommerce with ease too. 

Still, Clover's prices exceed that of many other providers, so it may be less suitable for smaller businesses or those with limited turnovers.

The business technology company was acquired by Fiserv in 2019, meaning that when you use Clover's system, you’ll need to use Fiserv to process your payments. The software allows you to use alternative merchant service providers, however, so you won't be restricted to one supplier. 

Clover POS features 

• Staff management
• Customer reward program ‘Clover Rewards'
• Split partial payment
• Menu editing
• Website integration
• Integrated reporting
• Loyalty and CRM
• Role-based permissions
• Real-time reporting
• Ecommerce tools, for businesses with existing sites

Visit our Clover vs Square page to see how the POS compares against our frontrunner.

Clover POS pricing 

Clover's price points are a little complex and monthly costs depend on which industry your working in. Most business specialisms, however, are able to buy the POS with three main plans; Starter, Standard and Advanced.

• Clover Starter – This stripped-back plan contains essential POS software and basic hardware devices. This plan costs $60 per month for retail businesses and includes access to the Essentials software plan, as well as a Clover Mini 8″ touchscreen POS. It costs $90 per month for quick service businesses and includes the Counter Service Restaurant software plan and a Clover Mini, and $150 per month for full-service dining businesses, for the Table Service Restaurant software plan and Clover's Station Solo POS system.
• Clover Standard – Clover Standard offers a slightly more feature-rich software package with more generous hardware options. It costs $130 per month for retail stores, for the Register software plan and the Station Duo POS, and $130 per month for quick service businesses for the Counter Service Restaurant software plan and Station Duo POS. Full-service businesses can also opt for Clover's standard plan. It'll cost them $195 per month for the Table Service Restaurant software plan, Station Solo POS, and Clovers Flex handheld POS.
• Clover Advanced – Finally, Clover's most comprehensive plan is available to retail businesses for $175 per month, for the Register software plan, Station Duo, and Flex POS. Quick service venues can get the plan for the same price, and benefit from the same hardware and the Counter Service Restaurant plan. The package costs $290 per month for full-service businesses and includes the Table Service Restaurant software plan, a Station Solo POS, Station Duo POS, and Clover's Flex POS.

Tailored plans for personal services, professional services, and home & field services are available from $14.95 per month too, which is why we've listed this as its starting price throughout the article.

You can read our deep dive into Clover's pricing strategy here.

6. Lightspeed – Best for Inventory Management

• Tech.co rating: 3.8/5
• Price from: $69/month

Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system with powerful stock tracking tools, making it ideal for larger retail businesses. However, small businesses who want advanced inventory management for a complex range of items, could benefit. There are a few catches that keeps Lightspeed from being ranked higher on this list – the software doesn’t allow users to manage perishable goods, and its payment plans are quite steep. Therefore, the system is less suitable for smaller, industry-specific retailers.

Lightspeed POS features 

• 1Tableside Ordering
• Impressive management tools
• Floor plan and table management
• Reporting and analytics
• Menu management
• Inventory management
• Reporting and analytics
• Loyalty and CRM
• Accounting help
• Workflow and printer management
• Staff management
• Self order menu
• Kitchen display system

Lightspeed POS pricing 

• Lightspeed Lean – Lightspeed’s most affordable plan costs $69 per month. It contains all the basic POS features, like standard reporting and inventory management. 
• Lightspeed Standard – Lightspeed Standard charges $99 per month. The plan contains all the basic features, and allows businesses to sell goods on their ecommerce platform.
• Lightspeed Advanced – Lightspeed Advanced sets businesses back $199 a month and allows them to uncover hidden insights in their data.  
• Lightspeed Enterprise – Lightspeed’s most comprehensive plan has prices available on request.

7. SpotOn – Best Customizable Features

• Tech.co Rating: 3.8/5
• Price: From $65 per month

SpotOn POS is a solid point of service with competitive till and inventory features. Thanks to the software's various specialisms, the point of service can be adapted and customized to fit a wide variety of business needs. Its price point is a little steeper than others on the list, however. Plus, our research suggests its business management and help and support tools are pretty basic. This prevents SpotOn from appearing above industry frontrunners like Square and Zettle.

SpotOn features

• Employee management
• Loyalty program
• Table management
• Business profiles
• Advanced reporting
• Barcode and ticket scanning
• Cash management
• Built-in accounting
• Data security
• Customer history

SpotOn pricing

• SponOn Poynt – SpotOn's cheapest plan, SpotOn Ponynt, costs just $15 per month. It can be used by itself or as part of a broader POS system, and features basic stock management and payment features.
• SpotOn Register – Clocking in at $65 per month, SpotOn Register is a versatile plan than catered to a broad range of small businesses. It features employee tracking, inventory management, and customizable receipt features, and also integrates seamlessly with marketing and loyalty tools.
• SpotOn Register Lite – SpotOn Register Lite is the scaled-back version of SpotOn Register. It offers basic POS features, but is available for as little as $45 per month.
• SpotOn Restaurant – SpotOn's restaurant-focused plan is available for $65 per month. It offers a range of useful hospitality features and can be catered to any specialism from pizzerias to local diners.

Loyalty and website tools are also available to businesses for $65 respectively.

Cake’s only pricing plan starts at $69 per month and then increases by $49 per month for every additional terminal needed. This basic package includes Cake’s cloud compatible software, 24/7 customer support, security monitoring, and access to a training portal.

Moreover, customers are able to include a Guest Manager service into their software package for an additional $10 per month.

8. Vend – Best to track and train employees

• Tech.co rating: 3.8/5
• Price from: $69/month

Dealing with staff members that aren't working to their full potential can be an arduous task. Vend helps managers deal with this issue by offering a broad away of employee management and tracking features like performance insights and team communication tools. In fact, our research found that Vend is currently the best POS system for training employees and reviewing their output.

With advanced customer relationship management (CRM) tools and extensive sales and payment features, the provider will be a pretty solid option for small businesses. However, Vend's till and business management features leave a little to be desired. 

Vend POS features 

• Inventory management
• Real-time reporting
• Loyalty program
• CRM integration
• Live chat 24/7
• Accounting add-ons
• Barcoding
• Product management
• Stock ordering

Vend POS Pricing 

Vend offers five unique plans at five different price points.

• Vend Free – Vend’s basic plan is completely free. It lets you use one resister with one user account, and is limited to 10 products and 1,000 customers.
• Vend Lean – This plan costs $69 per month, and offers access to a free cash register and unlimited users. However, transactions are capped at $20,000 and the POS can only be used at a single location.
• Vend Standard – The Standard plan sets customers back $119 a month, and offers extra features including CRM tools and data analytics. 
• Vend Advanced – Vend Advanced costs $199 per month, and features a loyalty program, support for serial number tracking, and advanced analytics.
• Vend Enterprise – Vend’s most robust plan comes with an account manager and customized onboarding packages. The price of the Enterprise plan isn’t fixed, and is tailored to the needs of each business.

For a more detailed summary of Vend’s offerings, you can read our 2023 review on the POS system. 

9. Epos Now – Best for a Quick Setup

• Tech.co rating: 3.7/5
• Price from: $39/month

Epos is a cloud-based POS system that prides itself on its usability. In fact, the system can be set in as little as 15 minutes, according to its own site. This makes it an appealing solution for small businesses with less tech experience.

Epos Now POS features 

• Reporting and analytics
• Inventory management
• Advanced security capabilities
• Customer Relationship Management
• Staff clock in and clock out
• Tableside Ordering
• Floor plan and table management
• Barcoding
• Web and Online Integrations
• Inventory and stock level warning.

Epos Now pricing 

Epos Now offers three main pricing plans. 

• Epsos Now Standard – Epos’ most basic plan comes in at $39 per month and charges an extra $24 a month for each additional register. 
• Epsos Now Premium – If you’re looking for more advanced features, Epos’ premium plan will cost you $69 per month. On top of this, it charges $45 a month for each additional register.
• Epsos Now Enterprise – For larger businesses or those with more complex operations, the Enterprise plan may be more suitable. Prices are decided on a case-by-case basis, so to receive a custom quote, contact Epos Now directly.

On top of these monthly prices, businesses are also able to pay $175 for single training courses, or $35 per month for unlimited sessions.

10. TouchBistro – Best Help and Support

• Tech.co rating: 3.6/5
• Price from: $69/month

Similar to Toast, TouchBistro POS was designed with restaurants in mind. In fact, with over 12,000 users worldwide, the system is one of the most commonly used in the industry. TouchBistro's system boasts strong server and kitchen-specific features that make it an ideal choice for businesses serving food. It also offers top-in-class help and support options, which will be especially useful for small businesses. 

However, since TouchBistro is a software-only provider, users are required to supply their own hardware.

TouchBistro features 

• Tableside Ordering
• Mobile payment and processing
• Floor plan and table management
• Customer relationship management
• Staff management and scheduling
• 40+ reporting options
• Menu management
• Restaurant inventory management
• Ingredient tracking

TouchBistro pricing 

TouchBistro offers a slightly unconventional pricing model wherein prices are dictated by number of users rather than software features. The prices of the plans are as follows: 

• TouchBistro Solo – TouchBistro's most basic plan costs $69 a month and is only available to one user.
• TouchBistro Dual – As the name suggests, the provider's dual plan offers two licenses. It clocks in at $129 a month.
• TouchBistro Team – TouchBistro Team is available for up to five users, and it costs $249 a month.
• TouchBistro Unlimited – The provider's most expensive plan comes in at $399 a month, and provides an unlimited number of licenses. 

All TouchBistro plans charge extra for loyalty programs and reservation and online ordering features.

11. Shopify POS – Best for Ecommerce Businesses

• Tech.co rating: 3.6/5
• Price from: $29/month

Shopify is one of the biggest sales platforms in the game. After dominating the ecommerce market for over a decade, the platform developed its first POS system in 2013. Shopify's POS system may be less strong than some of its rivals, but if your business is looking to sell online as well as in-store, it’s likely to be a solid option for you. 

Shopify POS features 

• Tableside Ordering
• Floor plan and table management
• Reporting and analytics
• Menu management
• Inventory management
• Advanced omnichannel selling tools
• Loyalty and CRM
• Financial reports
• Demand forecasting
• Staff management
• Kitchen display system

Shopify POS pricing 

Shopify offers two core pricing plans, Lite and Pro. 

• Shopify Lite – Shopify Lite will set you back $29 a month. The plan will give you access to custom discounts, customizable checkouts, and Shopify's own payment processing tool. 
• Pro Plan – Shopify’s more advanced plan comes in at $89 a month, and offers users a greater range of features. These features allow businesses to select click-and-collect options and apply automatic discounts.

You can find more information about Shopify plans and costs in our full Shopify pricing overview.

How Much Is a POS System for a Small Business?

The price of a POS can vary wildly. However, as a general rule of thumb, small businesses can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $100 per month for a single registered system. 

Typically, systems at this price point will contain a suite of basic tools and services but may charge extra for card transactions. There are, however, loads of promising POS solutions available within this price range, so if you run a small or growing business rest assured that you can find a reliable, feature-rich system without breaking the bank.  

If you're after slightly more premium options, some more advanced POS systems could easily exceed $100 per month. For this price, you can expect customizable features, strong CRM and analytics tools, and multiple licenses. While these systems may not be available to those with smaller budgets, their ability to improve return on investment (ROI) means that they often pay for themselves over time. 

What’s the Best Free POS Software?

As an economic recession looms and consumer spending takes a dip, lots of small businesses are dealing with margins that are tighter than ever. But fortunately, if you're looking to scale back your costs, there are lots of quality POS systems available for free. 

According to our own research, the best free POS software for small businesses is Square POS and Zettle by PayPal. Both systems are completely free and offer useful tools like sales and analytics tracking and CRM software. It should be noted, however, that while Zettle and Square’s POS solution is free to set up, they do charge transaction fees for every sale. 

Free POS software can provide a lifeline to small businesses on tight budgets. Despite this, users should be aware that complementary options often feature many limitations and may not be able to keep up with the demands of growing businesses. What’s more, lots of providers offer free services with the hope that customers will eventually move on to paid models. 

With this in mind, if your small business is in a position to spend a little on POS software, it may be worth pursuing options that are more flexible and feature-rich to begin with.

How To Choose the Best POS for Your Small Business

While some POS options rank higher overall, no system will be suitable for every business. There are, however, a couple of important things to bear in mind when you’re searching for your best fit.

• Your budget – If you have limited means, don’t search for POS systems that risk putting you out of pocket. Instead, explore some free or cheap options or test out a more advanced system with a free trial.  
• Your size – If your business is spread out over more than one location or is looking to expand in the future, you need to find a POS system to reflect this. Whether this means finding a solution with multiple terminals, handy communication features, or flexible plans, it's an important factor to consider when searching for your perfect system. 
• Your industry – A retail store won’t rely on the same features as a fast food restaurant. Therefore, to make sure you’re getting the most out of your POS system, we recommend you select options that were designed with your industry specialism in mind. 

Completely new to the technology? Don't sweat it. You can read our small business guide to work out how to use a POS system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)