Written by Dan Barraclough Updated on January 18, 2021 On this page Square: Best Overall POS System Shopify: Best for Retail Stores TouchBistro: Best for Restaurants ShopKeep: Best for Mobile App Users Lightspeed: Best for Bars Next Steps Expand There was a time when finding the best POS system for your business was hard. Then we wrote this review…Investing in the right POS system is like finding the perfect business partner. They help streamline your operations, maximise your profits, and just make your working life a whole lot easier.But how do you find the best POS system for your business? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve conducted extensive research into the world of POS, and selected the five best options available today.Spoiler alert: Square and Shopify POS are the top choices, but read on to see our full shortlist. Or, if really you’re tight on time, simply tell us what you’re looking for via our form to get bespoke POS quotes today.SupplierBest forSoftware starting price (billed annually)SquareBest overall$0/monthShopify POSBest for retail stores$29.99/monthTouchBistroBest for restaurants$69/monthShopKeepBest for inventory management$49/monthLightspeedBest for bars$69/month Eligible for free POS system quotes? Click your state to find out AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY SquareBest Overall POS SystemPricing: Software price plans range from $0 per month to $35 per month In 2020, there were over 340 million customers’ cards that had been used to make purchases through Square. That tells you all you need to know about this robust POS supplier.Suitable for both restaurant and retail businesses, it offers comprehensive inventory management, customer loyalty, payment protection, and tableside ordering features.With software pricing starting from $0, hardware costs ranging from $169 to $799, and a 30-day free trial, Square is powerful and affordable – which is why we rated it the best POS system available today. Pros Powerful analytics and real-time reports Customizable and scalable Free to get started and simple to use Cons No live chat support Shopify POSBest for Retail StoresPricing: Software price plans range from $29.99 per month to $299.99 per month Voted the #1 most innovative retail company in 2020 by Fast Company, Shopify needs little introduction when it comes to discussing ecommerce.If you already run a Shopify online store, then Shopify POS will work like a dream. If you’re using another platform, you won’t find the integration as seamless.That said, it does offer generous in-person credit card rates of just 1.5% + 0 cents. Plus, its software starts at $29.99 per month, which is more expensive than Square. However, it does offer cheaper hardware options, with pricing starting from just $49 as a one-off fee. Pros Zero setup fees Powerful platform ideal for any-sized retail store Affordable hardware options Cons Works best when selling through your own Shopify store, not other ecommerce platforms Get free quotes and save on your POS system today Get Free Quotes TouchBistroBest for RestaurantsPricing: Software price plans range from $69 per month to $499 per month The best POS system for restaurants, TouchBistro was designed by actual restaurateurs, and won the ‘Best Restaurant ICX’ (Integrated Customer Experience) award at the 2020 Elevate Awards.We love the fact that you can integrate your TouchBistro POS with an unlimited number of payment processors, so you can take even more payments than your competitors. It also offers superb restaurant-specific features, including ingredient-level stock and floor plan management.However, TouchBistro lost points in our value for money research. Unlike most other suppliers, TouchBistro requires you to purchase your own hardware separately, and its software pricing ranges from $69 per month to $499 per month. Pros Excellent restaurant-specific features to help increase sales and keep customers happy Fantastic 24/7 support Cons More expensive software than Shopify and Square ShopKeepBest for Mobile App UsersPricing: Software price plans range from $49 per month to $179 per month ShopKeep is easy to use and provides powerful inventory management reports, alongside an excellent iPad app to help you run your store on the go. In other words, it’s a keeper.In terms of POS features, ShopKeep accepts all types of payments, including contactless and mobile payments. It also provides excellent inventory management features to help you keep track of your stock.Its software pricing starts at $49 per month, so it’s not quite as cheap as Shopify POS’ starting price. However, its most expensive plan costs only $179 per month, compared to Shopify’s $299 per month. Pros Very user-friendly Comes with a free credit card reader Awesome mobile app Cons Not the best value for money option on our list Find the right POS system for your business today Get Free Quotes LightspeedBest for BarsPricing: Software price plans range from $69 per month to $289 per month Ever worked at a busy bar? Then you’ll understand the importance of a lightning quick POS system. Lightspeed is just that.Lightspeed’s POS enables you to open tabs and create combos for your most popular items, to help speed up the queue at the bar. It also comes with a self-order menu option and tableside ordering features for your seated customers.Its reporting features could be stronger – there's no previous year comparison on the dashboard, for example – but that’s about all we didn’t like about Lightspeed.There is a 14-day free trial period, and the software pricing starts at $69 per month, which is about the average for the best POS systems. Pros Very easy to use and ideal for busy bars or restaurants Powerful and scalable solution Cons No live chat support Next StepsWe’ve shown you the best POS systems available in the United States. Having compared their features, pricing, customer support, and ease of use, you now know which one is best for you.That said, most POS suppliers provide bespoke pricing, which can make it hard for you to plan your budget. But worry not – the easiest way to get crystal clear pricing is by comparing free quotes, which is where we can help you.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 then be in touch, offering non-obligation quotes for you to compare. It’s quick, easy, and free to get started. Save on your POS system by comparing free quotes today Get Free Quotes Dan Barraclough Dan’s a Senior Writer at Expert Market, specialising in digital marketing, web design, and photocopiers, amongst other topics.