Written by Zara Chechi Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on 28 June 2024 On this page Best POS Systems for 2024: Comparison Table 1. Square 2. Toast 3. Clover 4. SpotOn 5. Lightspeed 6. Shopify Buying Guide: How to Choose a POS System Next Steps How We Test POS Systems FAQs Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. Modern POS systems aren’t just for taking payments, they’re a digital hub where you can track inventory, orders, and staff shifts, as well as access reports. These days, they come with industry-specific features too – retail POS systems often come with built-in marketing and loyalty tools, while bar POS systems will usually contain better tab management and dynamic pricing features, for example.Coupling a free software plan, sleek hardware, and features to meet the needs of a wide range of businesses, Square is the best POS system we’ve tested. That said, it might not be perfect for every business, which is why we’ve included five other research-backed picks in our list.Whether you’re getting a POS system for the first time, or looking to switch from your current provider, we’re confident your perfect system is somewhere on this page. What are the top 6 POS systems? Square – Best for scaling and growing your businessToast – Best for established restaurants with complex operationsClover – Best for professional hardwareSpotOn – Best for simplifying staff scheduling and communicationLightspeed – Best in driving repeat business and loyaltyShopify – Best for managing in-store and online salesThese are the providers we recommend based on our research. Click on any of the links above to use our cost comparison tool, and find the best POS system for your business. Why you can trust our recommendations? Here at Expert Market, we’ve been researching and testing POS systems for nearly 15 years, in order to provide businesses with up-to-date, impartial reviews. During our most recent research project, we took a closer look at 20 top POS systems available in the US.This project has involved getting hands-on with both POS hardware and software providers and assessing their range of features, as well as how easy they are to use. We then used the results from these assessments to grade the providers against a range of criteria, including value for money and hardware quality. Find out more in our methodology section. Best POS Systems for 2024: Comparison Table Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Square Toast Clover SpotOn Lightspeed Shopify 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.5 4.5 Price From $0/month Price From $120/month Price Custom Price From $0/month Price From $89/month Price $119/month/location + Shopify online store ($51-$517/month) Best Best for scaling and growing your business Best Established restaurants with complex operations Best Best for professional hardware Best Simplifying staff scheduling Best Driving repeat business and loyalty Best Best for managing in-store and online sales Pros Free POS softwareAffordable paid plansCheap hardware Pros Designed for the hospitality industryStock and profit management toolsIngredient usage tracking Pros Handheld POS systemEasy to useOffline mode Pros Free software and hardware packageNative app for staff scheduling and payrollAutomated tip sharing Pros Advanced inventory managementGift cards and loyalty programsSMS & email marketing Pros Powerful platform ideal for any-sized retail storeAffordable hardware options Cons No advanced cost vs profit management tools Cons Best features comes as paid add-ons Cons Hardware is expensive Cons Limited range of hardware Cons Only available through iPad or Android app Cons Requires you to sell through and pay monthly fees for your own Shopify store 1. Square: Best for Scaling and Growing Your Business Square 4.8 Pricing From $0/month Square Review Suitable for Businesses seeking a low-risk option (zero-contract) Small to medium-sized businesses with 1-3 locations Businesses that want to integrate an online store Not suitable for Businesses that require cost and profit management tools Restaurants who need to track ingredient usage Businesses that want low processing fees Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS software $0-$85/month Card processing fees 0.75% + 7¢ to 2.65% Card machines $69-$399 iPad stand (iPad not included) $249 Countertop kits and terminals $899-$2,179 KDS $899 (if on free plan, +$20/month/device) Why We Like ItSquare is the best POS system for businesses looking to scale and grow, thanks to its affordable price point, advanced features, and range of POS solutions designed to suit different types of businesses.Square has three POS systems, one for restaurants, one for retail stores, and one for appointment-based businesses like salons. This makes it one of the most versatile providers, matched only by Clover.Whatever POS solution you choose, you’ll be able to start on a free software plan, which is a great value option for small businesses, or ones just starting out. Square’s free retail POS software comes with multi-site stock and employee management, and customizable gift card creation, while its free restaurant software comes with menu and table management.As your business grows, you can upgrade your Square plan, for a monthly fee of $35 to $85, depending on the solution you choose. This gives you access to more advanced features. For example, Square’s paid plan for retail businesses, which starts at $79 per month, per location, gives you access to more advanced inventory and reporting tools.Square isn’t perfect, however. It’s missing advanced cost and profit management tools, available at competitors like Lightspeed Restaurant and Shopify, and doesn’t support ingredient tracking, unlike Clover. Its card processing fees, starting at 2.65% on the free plan, are also on the high side (you can get significantly lower ones with SpotOn or Clover).Listing an item in Square is pretty straightforward. You enter a type, name, and description, and select at what location it's sold. Source: Expert MarketHow Easy is it to Use?We found Square generally very easy to use. The backend was quite intuitive, and we had no trouble creating menus or listing items. We did struggle a little with more complex tasks like applying discounts to an order, or splitting a bill.Who’s Square for?Square’s free plan is good for small, single-location businesses, such as cafes, independent boutiques, or salons. It’s on of the best POS systems for small businesses in general.The paid plans will suit businesses with up to three locations, such as budding chain restaurants. Businesses with more than three locations might find Square’s reporting tools a little limiting, as they aren’t designed to handle very large operations, unless you opt for a custom plan. Did You Know? You can build a free online store with Square, and integrate it with your POS system. This makes it easy to keep track of profit made from both in-person and online orders. Square’s online store is one of the best ecommerce platforms for small businesses. 2. Toast: Best for Established Restaurants with Complex Operations Toast 4.8 Pricing From $120/month Suitable for Medium to large restaurant establishments Restaurants with complex and large inventories Businesses looking to build a customer community Not suitable for Businesses that have iPads and require an iOS solution Small cafes or restaurants with simple inventories Owners who want a knowledge center for support Pricing See more See less Item typePrice Starter plan $120/month Essentials plan $220/month Custom plan Custom pricing Card processing fees On request Why we like itToast is the best POS system for established restaurants with complex operations, whose owners are looking to optimize efficiency. It offers a large array of inventory and profit management tools, as well as some neat customer engagement features.The provider specializes in creating POS systems for the food service industry, so all its features are specifically designed to meet of restaurants of various sizes.You’ll get the most out of Toast by opting for one of its many add-on features, which, unfortunately, do come at an extra cost. The one that most impressed us was the inventory management add-on, which give you access to food and recipe cost management, as well as low stock alerts.Our main issue with Toast is that a lot of its best features aren’t included in its basic software packages (you even have to pay extra for tip management), and Toast doesn’t even tell you how much each add-on costs. If clear pricing is what you need, Square is extremely transparent with its add-on costsWhen you arrive on the homescreen in Toast's backend, you'll see an overview of the day's sales and order history. Source: Expert MarketHow Easy is it to Use?Toast was easy to use, especially when completing basic tasks such as creating floorplans and menus. We even had little trouble with more complex tasks like splitting bills and applying discounts. The main action we found difficult was setting up tip sharing policies for employees.Who is Toast for?Toast is best suited to well-established restaurants that either have one large capacity location or several locations. You’ll benefit the most from its advanced management tools.It’s not, however, a good option for small or new restaurants, who’ll do better with a simple solution like Square. 3. Clover: Best for Professional Hardware Clover 4.7 Pricing Custom Clover Review Suitable for Busy establishments experiencing rapid growth Businesses who want to deep dive into their analytics Owners who want cheap processing fees Not suitable for Small pop ups or establishments with small inventories Owners who want to avoid hefty upfront costs Users who want automated tip sharing tools Pricing See more See less Price Custom Why we like itClover is the best POS system for businesses that need top-range, professional hardware that can handle fast-paced environments. Like Square, the provider offers POS systems for a variety of businesses, from retail, to restaurants, to personal services, making it a versatile choice.Where it really shines is its extensive hardware offering. Its most popular item is the Clover Station Pro, a countertop kit with an employee and customer-facing screen, and a card machine. It’s a touchscreen device with a fingerprint login, so employees can quickly log on, and not waste customers’ time entering in a password.Here’s what one of Clover’s terminals looks like when you first open it up. In the top right corner you can see a camera and a finger-pad for logging in. Source: Expert MarketThe Clover POS system’s software capabilities are pretty great too. You’ll be able to track inventory, profits, and employee performance across multiple locations, and access advanced tools such as advanced features such as stock alerts and profit tracking. On top of that, the Clover system was one of the most intuitive ones we tested, an advantage if you need to train multiple employees.Where Clover fumbles is mainly in the price. Although Clover doesn’t disclose its pricing in Canada, it does do so for the US market. Based on those figures, we can tell you that you’ll pay a premium for great hardware, with Clover’s handheld POS device typically costing double what you’d pay for the equivalent at SpotOn, Square, or Shopify. For fussy restaurant owners, you might not like that Clover’s food service POS doesn’t have automated tip sharing, unlike Toast.How Easy is it to Use?Clover was very easy to use. No task was particularly difficult, from creating floorplans to categorizing items. The only thing that was slightly more challenging was printing receipt for a split bill.Who is Clover for?We recommend Clover’s POS system to establishments with multiple locations and several staff members. Its advanced features and easy-to-use platform make it especially well-suited to fast-paced restaurants.It’s also good solution for retail stores, although we’d say it’s slightly more catered to food and beverage businesses, thanks to extra features such as QR code ordering. 4. SpotOn: Best for Simplifying Staff Scheduling and Communication SpotOn 4.7 Pricing From $0/month Suitable for Businesses seeking a low-risk option Restaurant owners who need seamless staff management Small to mid-sized restaurants with 1-3 locations Not suitable for Restaurants that change their floor plan frequently Businesses that want to purchase additional accessories Restaurants owners who want a tablet-based system Pricing See more See less Plan costsHardware costsTransaction fees Quickstart plan (hardware + software) $0/month (pay in transaction fees) 10 inch SpotOn Counter, stand (with cash drawer and receipt printer) $850 one-off fee On Quickstart plan 2.89% + 25¢ Counter-service plan (software only) $99/mo +$3 per employee/month 15 inch SpotOn Station, stand (with cash drawer and receipt printer) $750 one-off fee On all other plans 1.99% + 25¢ Full-service plan (software only) $135/mo +$3 per employee/month KDS $600 one-off fee Why we like itSpotOn is the best POS system for businesses looking to simplify their staff scheduling.The provider offers two types of POS, one for retail, and one for restaurants. However, we rate SpotOn’s restaurant POS system much higher than we do its retail one, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on here.The system comes with the basic features necessary for restaurants, including menu and table plan management, payment processing, and reporting tools.However, SpotOn’s crowning jewel is its proprietary “Teamwork” app, which handles shift management and payroll, and can even create cost projections based on employee salaries. Plus, it includes automatic tip sharing.Unfortunately, these features aren’t all available on SpotOn’s amazing free plan, which includes both free POS software and hardware (on Square’s free plan you still have to pay for hardware). They are included at no extra cost in SpotOn’s paid software plans, and are available as a paid add-on on the free plan.If we’re being picky, we also don’t love the fact that SpotOn doesn’t have wide a range of POS hardware and accessories, especially when compared to competitors like Square or Clover. There’s also no app version of the software, for use on iPad or Android tablets, making SpotOn a slightly less accessible choice.SpotOn's POS system only comes in a dark mode, which might not be to everyone's taste. However, if you're a bar or evening service restaurant, this might work to your advantage. Source: Expert MarketHow Easy is it to Use?SpotOn falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to ease-of-use. Most tasks weren’t challenging, but it wasn’t as much of a breeze to use as Square or Clover. The main task we struggled with was adding gratuity to a bill.Who is SpotOn for?SpotOn’s free POS software and hardware plan is a great option for new restaurants, allowing you to set up from scratch and pay for your system overtime with 2.89% + 25¢ card processing fees.The $99 per month and $135 per month paid plans are perfect for slightly larger restaurants, that have a variety of staff roles, from hosts, to servers and runners. 5. Lightspeed: Best for Driving Repeat Business and Loyalty Lightspeed 4.5 Pricing From $89/month Suitable for Businesses who want to create a loyal community Establishments with complex inventories or multiple locations Users who want to pay no upfront costs Not suitable for Businesses who want a cheap starting plan Owners who want a range of hardware, such as a physical terminal Businesses who change their floor plan frequently, or require automated tip management Pricing See more See less Item typePrice Retail software $119-$269/month Restaurant software $89-$499/month Card processing fees 2.6% + 10¢ to custom Why we like itLightspeed is one of the best POS systems for driving customer loyalty, thanks to its array of marketing and loyalty tools.The provider offers two types of POS systems, one for retail and one for restaurants, with the latter also earning a spot in our list of best restaurant POS.Lightspeed’s restaurant POS system comes with gift card creation, loyalty and points programs, and customer tabs, so you have a history of all previous orders. The retail system has email and SMS marketing tools, loyalty programs, and automated marketing features.Lightspeed gave us the option of creating customer profiles, which contain purchase history and make tailored marketing much easier. Source: Expert MarketLightspeed’s customer loyalty features also include access to an app store (on both Restaurant and Retail plans) that includes tools such as customer birthday mailers. Features like these let you stay connected to your customers and give them incentives to return again and again.However, we should warn you that Lightspeed’s POS software is completely tablet-based. You can get access to tablet stands and card machines through the provider, but not a physical countertop terminal. If that’s something you’d prefer, we’d recommend looking into Clover, or Toast. Lightspeed also isn’t the cheapest solution on the market, with its cheapest plans costing as much as Square’s most expensive ones.How Easy is it to Use?Lightspeed was a little more challenging to use compared to the other POS systems we tested. We mainly struggled with the frontend while trying to complete tasks such as adding a note to an order or adding a customer’s details.Who is Lightspeed for?Both of Lightspeed POS solutions, restaurant and retail, are best for medium-sized establishments, or ones with multiple locations.Price is a major reason why, Lightspeed is just too expensive for most small or new businesses. But you do get your money’s worth. The Lightspeed POS system is equipped to handle complex inventories and help established businesses maintain their reputation by driving repeat sales. 6. Shopify: Best for Managing In-store and Online Sales Shopify 4.5 Pricing $119/month/location Suitable for Businesses who want to integrate in-store and online sales Businesses with extensive and varied inventories Those interested in integrating a lot of apps into their EPOS system Not suitable for Businesses not interested in paying for an online store Those who want cheap processing fees Businesses that need a training mode for staff Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS software $119/month/location + Shopify online store subscription ($51-$517/month) Card machines $69-$459 Countertop terminal kit $599 Card processing fees 2.4% + 0¢ to 2.9% + 30¢ Why we like itShopify is the best POS system for managing both in-store and online sales, thanks to its dual offering of ecommerce and POS software.The provider might be better known as an online store builder, but over the years it has become a destination for omnichannel selling.Shopify’s POS system is specifically designed for retail, and has a unified dashboard that integrates both ecommerce and POS functions. From there, you’ll be able to manage inventory across channels to prevent any discrepancies in sales reports.When you list a product on Shopify, you can decide whether to make it available online, in-store, or both. Source: Expert MarketUseful features include the ability to accept in-store returns for online purchases, and low-stock reports that take both online and in-person sales into account. You can also create customer profiles that sync in-person and online purchase history, making it easier to reward customer loyalty.It’s not without its downsides however, Using Shopify POS requires you to have a Shopify online store, adding $51 to $517 to your monthly overheads, on top of the $119 per month you’ll be paying for the POS (more if you plan on using it at more than one location). And, if you’re not using Shopify Payments to process card transactions, Shopify adds on an extra 0.6%-2% on top of third-party processing fees.How Easy is it to Use?Shopify was quite easy to use. The unified system for online and in-store sales meant that we didn’t have much trouble locating and sorting items. Even splitting a payment between cash and card was relatively simple.Who is it for?Shopify’s POS system is tailored to retail stores that already sell online, and want to open a brick-and-mortar location store. We wouldn’t recommend it to smaller businesses, or ones that don’t have high online sales, since its ecommerce plans are expensive, and you have to pay for one to access POS features. Did You Know? You can sell on Shopify for less with its $7 per month Starter plan. Small startups or casual sellers looking to sell online and in-person get access to a basic version of the Shopify POS app, accessible on smartphones and tablets. The Starter plan also lets you accept in-person payments via smartphone with tap-to-pay, no card machine required. Buying Guide: How to Choose a POS SystemIf you’ve read all the reviews, and still don’t quite know what POS system is best for your business, don’t sweat it.Here are some of the things you should consider before making a decision:Cost and Pricing StructureYou know your budget better than we do, and it goes without saying that you shouldn’t choose a POS system that you can’t afford. We recommend that you look closely at the pricing structure, and assess what’s included for free, and what comes at an added cost, to get the best deal.For example, Square charges zero fees for using its POS software, but you’ll have to pay upfront for each card machine, till, or other piece of equipment you need. This can really add up if you have multiple stores.A provider like SpotOn, on the other hand, doesn’t charge for software or hardware but compensates for this with high transaction fees. If business is booming, this could be more expensive in the long run.Find out more about pricing structures in our POS System Costs Guide.POS Functions and Available HardwareAssess your business needs, and choose a provider that meets them closely. Some POS systems are designed with certain types of businesses in mind (eg. pubs and restaurants vs retail stores), which makes locating the right fit easier.It’s also important to look at the features included in the POS software. Are you a pub or fast-food establishment that requires QR code ordering? Providers such as Clover and Lightspeed have this, while SpotOn doesn’t.You should also look at the physical equipment that’s available to buy or rent from each POS system provider. If your staff needs to take orders at tables, for example, a tablet-based POS system will be beneficial. If you accept cash as well as card, look for an POS provider that has a till setup.Some POS systems are compatible with third-party hardware, but it’s always best to check if your existing equipment or the equipment you plan on buying can easily integrate with your chosen POS system.Ease of UseAs a rule of thumb, the easier a POS system is to use, the better. This will speed up training and service times, and reduce room for error.This doesn’t mean you need to go with the absolute easiest system to use. If you and your employees are experienced with POS systems, you could compromise on ease of use in favor of advanced features.POS systems like Clover and Square are particularly easy to operate, while Lightspeed has a training mode for new employees.Customer SupportGood customer support shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to POS systems. In an ideal world, you’d never have to contact customer support but, let’s face it, no system is ever perfect.We’d recommend choosing a POS system that has a customer support phone line, since calling is usually the fastest way to get an issue resolved. Live chat channels, help centers, and community forums, if the POS system has them, can also be great for quick troubleshooting.Don’t forget to look at opening times. Most POS customer support teams operate during the week, but a few are also available at weekends and holidays, which could be really valuable if those are your busiest times. Next Steps To recap, the top three POS systems in the United States are Square, Toast, and Clover.Square and Clover are very transparent about their fees, so you’ll know right away if they fit your budget. Toast is a little murkier, only advertising the cost of its software plans.This is pretty typical for POS providers, but we’ve got a solution. Simply tell us what you need from your next POS system using our quick form, and we’ll match your business with the best POS suppliers for your unique needs.They’ll be in touch with no-obligation, tailored quotes. It’s quick, easy, and free to get started. How We Test POS SystemsWe tested and compared over 10 POS system providers, evaluating them against each other on how well they cater to the specific needs of different business types. We rated each provider according to how it performed in six key areas of interest, which were:POS software: the breadth of features included in the POS software, and how valuable they are to the average restaurant.Hardware/equipment: the variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as KDSs, portable card machines, and cash drawers.Ease-of-use: how easy the system is to use, navigate, and customize.Help and support: how effective and reachable the customer support team is, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centers and training modes.Cost: the price of the system, how it compares to competitors, and whether it’s good value for money.User experience: whether everyday restaurant owners know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviewsThe score of each of these areas was combined to create an overall score for each POS system. FAQs Which POS system is the cheapest? The cheapest POS system is SpotOn, since it has a completely free software package that includes basic hardware as well. A close second is Square, which also has a free software plan, but charges for hardware, with its handheld POS device retailing for $399, and its card reader for $69. What is the best POS system for food trucks? For a small food truck, you’re better off with a simple solution like Square or SumUp. They come with basic hospitality-specific features and affordable card readers.See the full list in our best POS for food trucks guide. Written by: Zara Chechi Business Services Expert Zara is a Payments Expert, specialising in writing about Point of Sale systems. With a Law Degree from City University of London, she has used her legally-honed research and analytical skills to develop expertise in the Business Services world. Featured in FinTech Magazine, she quickly became an expert in payroll, POS systems, and merchant accounts. Reviewed by: Ruairi Shirlow Business Services Researcher Ruairi uses his 3+ years of research experience to uncover insights which can help Expert Market provide the best business solutions for their users. He has done this by meeting with business owners to find out what is important to them and what challenges they face on a daily basis. Ruairi specialises in tools that can be used to grow your business and has done research for a wide range of categories on Expert Market, such as EPOS, Website Builders, and Merchant Accounts.