Written by Zara Chechi Reviewed by Ruairi Shirlow Updated on September 22, 2023 On this page How Much Do POS Systems Cost? POS Software Subscription Fees POS Hardware Costs Credit Card Fees POS Costs by Industry Restaurant Grocery Salon Bar Expert Verdict 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. POS systems typically cost around $1,250 for an upfront investment and plans tend to range from $20 to $70 per month, but some providers make them available for free.The cost of your POS system will depend on a few factors – namely how feature-rich you want your POS software to be, and how extensive a hardware setup you need. For a relatively cheap payment system, you can combine POS software with a tablet, card reader, and receipt printer. Such a setup will be good enough to meet the needs of most small retail and restaurant businesses. How Much Does Recommended POS Software Cost? Square – from $0/monthLightspeed – from $69/monthLavu – from $59/monthShopify – from $39/monthTouchBistro – from $69/monthNCR Aloha Cloud – from $0/monthEpos Now – quote-by-quote basisToast – from $0/monthWe recommend these providers based on our research. Use our cost comparison tool to find the best value service for your business. How Much Do POS Systems Cost?POS systems cost around $83 per month for software, and $1,250 for the hardware. The hardware cost is typically an upfront investment. Once purchased, you'll need to pay a monthly or annual fee for use of the software. Granted, POS software prices will vary, but can start from as low as $0 for a fairly straightforward system. Here's a snippet breakdown of the costs.The cost of a POS system includes:POS software subscriptionPOS hardwareCredit card processing fees POS Software Subscription FeesPOS software subscription plans are offered at monthly or annual rates. When you choose to pay annually, the monthly price is typically cheaper.When it comes to POS software, providers offer different levels of sophistication, with the lowest-priced plans offering more basic features such as transaction processing, inventory management, and analytics – like those found on Square's free EPOS plan – whereas more advanced plans, like Lightspeed's, are more feature-rich and comprehensive, and include features like loyalty programs, customer insights, and online ordering, which are great for businesses with multiple locations.Some providers do offer free plans – these won't include very advanced features, but are a good starting point for businesses who have straightforward needs.The plan you choose comes down to your business's budget and the features you're after. It will also depend on the industry you're in, for example, a retail business will want a package with features that cater to retailers.We know that finding a POS system for the right price can be a time consuming process, so let our free quote comparison service do the hard work for you. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your business, and we’ll match you with POS suppliers that suit your needs. They'll then be in touch directly to provide tailored, no-obligation quotes. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Square Lavu Shopify TouchBistro NCR Aloha Epos Now Toast 4.8 4.3 4.0 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.7 Price Free: $0/monthPlus: $60/month Price Starter – $59/monthGrowth – $129/monthOptimize – $279/month Price Basic (for individual sellers) – $39/monthShopify (for small retailers) – $105/monthAdvanced (for medium to large businesses) – $399/month Price From $69/month Price Starter: from $0/monthPro: from $65/monthPremium: from $140/month Price Hardware averages $484 (one-off payment)Software starts from $39 (monthly fee) Price From $0/month POS Hardware CostsA step up from traditional cash registers, the great thing about a POS system is that you can make it as basic or as sophisticated as you want. However, to give you an idea of what you’ll need, we’ve created a rough guide on the average POS hardware costs based on the size of your business.Size of businessWhat you’ll needOverall costStart-up retail unit or restaurantTabletCard reader$590SmallTabletCard readerReceipt printerCash drawer$920Medium2x tablet2x card readerPrinterCash drawer$1,400Large3x fixed POS systems$5,000 (includes software)Prices correct as of September 2023 Want to Compare POS Hardware Costs? POS providers are often flexible with their hardware packages, giving you the option to pay for the hardware on a monthly basis, or to purchase it outright. Most suppliers will also offer tablet stands, barcode scanners, and the option to purchase on-going supplies, such as receipt printer paper.POS suppliers may also be able to provide discounts for companies that require a more sophisticated hardware package. Does that sound like your business? You can see whether our suppliers can offer your business some killer deals on hardware using our quick and free quote-finding tool.The new: Modern iPad Cash RegisterThe old: Manual cash register Credit Card Fees A merchant account processes the payments between your terminal and bank. They can either be provided by your bank, or by a POS supplier, and they will charge a fee to process each credit card transaction.As a rough guide, the standard credit card processing fee in the US is usually between 2.3% and 2.5%. However, these are usually higher if customers purchase products through your website. There are other factors that can influence the percentage, but these are best discussed with an expert. Check out our credit card fee comparison table below for some of the most popular POS suppliers… Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Package Vend Package TouchBistro Package Square Package Lightspeed Package Toast Swiped rate transaction fee 2.90% + $0.30 Swiped rate transaction fee 2.99% + $0.15 Swiped rate transaction fee 2.60% + $0.10 Swiped rate transaction fee 2.60% + $0.10 Swiped rate transaction fee 1.8% + $0.15 Keyed in rate transaction fee 3.30% +$0.30 Keyed in rate transaction fee 2.90% + $0.25 Keyed in rate transaction fee 3.50% + $0.15 Keyed in rate transaction fee 2.60% + $0.30 Keyed in rate transaction fee 1.8% + $0.15 Prices correct as of September 2023 POS Costs by IndustryHere’s a breakdown of the costs of a POS system by industry. Bear in mind that the following costs are a rough guide and you should speak to a supplier for more accurate pricing.In this section, we’ll compare some of each industry’s most popular POS system packages, comparing the low, mid, and high-price range packages available. The prices shown are either a monthly subscription, or a one-off fee.Restaurant POS Systems CostAs a restaurateur, customizing menus, running financial reports and managing ingredients are just a few of your regular assignments. Unspecialized POS systems just can’t handle the heat of the kitchen. Luckily, the best restaurant POS systems are designed with you in mind.No two businesses are truly the same, and so some will require fewer features. For example, if you need a POS system for your food truck, you won’t need to spend as much on your hardware. Alternatively, if you're looking for the best hotel POS software, you'll need a hospitality-focused system with the capabilities to manage reservations, bookings, and payments. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Vend Lightspeed Restaurant Price Lean – $69Standard – $119Advanced – $199 Price Starter – $69/monthEssential – $189/monthPremium – $399/month Key Features Cloud-basedGreat stock management toolsLoyalty programs Key Features Offline modeAnalyticsTraining mode Prices correct as of September 2023 Spice up your restaurant with a new POS system get free quotes Grocery POS Systems CostGrocery POS systems are purpose-built to handle large numbers of customers. While you rack up sales, a great grocery POS lets you manage your inventory, set up automatic low stock alerts, and accept gift cards, all with the tap of a touchscreen. The best solutions even use advanced analytics and reporting to shed valuable insight into your best and worst selling products. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Revel Systems Square for Retail Price $99 min. monthly fee (per terminal)On-boarding from $674 Price Free – $0Plus – $60/monthPremium – custom pricing Key Features Barcode scanners,ScalesReceipt printersCustomer-facing displaysSelf-checkout Key Features Add TikTok shopping tabsSales reportsTeam managementIntegrated paymentsSame-day and instant transfers Prices correct as of September 2023 Grow your grocery store with the perfect POS system i'd like a quote Salon POS Systems CostThe more time you spend pampering your customers, the more money you’ll make from their repeat business. But it’s easier said than done when you’ve got lots of payments to process and appointments to manage, especially during peak hours.That’s where salon POS software can help. Bespoke salon solutions help you manage bookings with ease, reschedule appointments, and take requests for new ones. Purchasing a salon POS is a surefire way to boost the efficiency and profitability of your business. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Rosy's Cloud Price From $29/month Key Features One click customer check-insCredit card processing Prices correct as of September 2023 Compare quotes to save money on your next shiny salon POS system get free quotes Bar POS Systems CostAs a bar owner, you no doubt keep close tabs on hourly, daily and seasonal trends that affect drink prices. If you serve food, you probably also juggle ticket orders, food preparation and section seating. But what if your POS system could do all of that for you? The best bar point of sale systems can help with all of these tasks, and more. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Epos Now Zettle Price Hardware averages $750 (one-off payment)Software starts from $23 (monthly fee) Price From $0/month Key Features Accounting software integrationsStreamlined ordering systemConnect to major delivery apps Key Features Card/cash paymentsReportsGift cardsDiscountsStaff management Prices correct as of September 2023 Brighten up your bar with a new POS system get free quotes How Much Do iPad POS Systems Cost?As touched upon already, using iPad-based POS systems is the preferred option of many small businesses. Most suppliers offer some kind of tablet integration for their software.Three big benefits of iPad POS systems are:Easy to set up and train staff to useMobile, helping staff deliver consistent customer care across locationsLower repair and maintenance costs than most desktop-based systems Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward NCR Aloha Cloud Clover Price Starter: from $0/monthPro: from $65/monthPremium: from $140/month Price Payments – $0/monthEssentials – $14.95/monthRegister $49.95/month Key Features ContactlessReal-time alerts and analytics24/7 customer support Key Features Intuitive back officeOffline modeTake payments & refunds over phone, email or mail Prices correct as of September 2023 Expert VerdictBy now, you should have a better idea of the general POS costs. To summarize, POS system costs depend on three things:Industry: From multi-location retail to independent eateries, different POS solutions target different nichesHardware: The amount of hardware you need usually depends on the scale of your businessSoftware features: Software pricing usually depends on the number of features you needBear in mind that POS solutions are no longer one size fits all. It’s now possible to invest in a POS system that is completely tailored to the needs of your business. This means the cost of a POS system should be completely tailored, too.We know that finding a POS for the right price can be a time consuming process, but our quick, easy, and free comparison service does all the hard work for you. To receive tailored quotes from trusted suppliers, simply tell us about your POS desires and they’ll be in touch. 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.