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Expert Reviewed
The best point-of-sale (POS) systems do more than process transactions. These systems can also streamline your daily workflow by combining tools such as employee scheduling, customer loyalty programs and inventory tracking into one sleek platform. Granted, choosing the right system can be a challenge. That’s why we analyzed leading providers across 40 metrics to bring you this list of the best POS systems for small business in 2024.
Featured Partners
1
Shopify POS
$29 per month
Yes, 3 days
In-person and mobile POS, order management, customer profiles
2
Clover
$14.95 per month (plus hardware)
90 days
Versatile POS, invoicing, employee management
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Price starts at | Free trial | Key features | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square POS |  |
5.0 |  |
Free; $29 per month (plus processing fees) | No | Easy to use, free reader, create customer loyalty programs | Learn More | Via partner site | |
| Clover |  |
5.0 | |
$14.95 per month (plus hardware) | 90 days | Versatile POS, invoicing, employee management | Learn More | On Clover's Website | |
| Shopify POS |  |
4.6 |  |
$29 per month | 3 days | In-person and mobile POS, order management, customer profiles | Learn More | On Shopify's Website | |
| Lightspeed POS |  |
4.5 | |
$69 per month | 14 days | 2.6% plus 10-cent processing fee, dedicated account manager, integrated payments | Learn More | On Lightspeed's Website | |
| eHopper POS |  |
4.2 |  |
Free; $29.99 per month | No | Unlimited transactions, pre-authorization, cash discount, tip management | Learn More | Via partner site | |
| Aloha Cloud |  |
4.1 |  |
Free; $175 per month | No, demo only | Next business day payments, email marketing, loyalty | Learn More | Via partner site | |
| Erply |  |
4.1 | |
Free; $39 per month | 60 days | CRM, mobile app, API access | View More | ||
| Revel Systems |  |
3.9 | |
$99 per month (per terminal, two-terminal minimum) | No | In-house payment processing, kiosk and mobile orders, delivery orders, multi-location management | View More | ||
| KORONA POS |  |
3.8 | |
$59 per month | Unlimited | No transaction fees, API access, e-commerce store | Learn More | Via partner site | |
| PayPal POS |  |
3.8 | |
Free ($29 for your first card reader) | No | No monthly fee, inventory management, daily performance reports | Learn More | Via partner site |
A POS system, also known as a point-of-sale system, is a hardware and software solution used to conduct transactions. This could be anything from selling a product to managing inventory or tracking customer data. A POS system can be as straightforward as a card reader or as complex as an all-in-one solution that includes features such as loyalty, scheduling, front of house, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce.
POS systems are used by businesses of all sizes in a variety of industries, including retail, restaurants, hospitality and services. If you’re running a business that relies on transactions of any kind, then a POS system is likely a good fit for you.
To choose the best POS system, first consider whether or not the system offers the tools and features your business needs—now and in the future. Ideally, a POS system should make it easy and affordable to accept payments no matter where you are selling or how customers are paying. Additionally, look at the bigger picture in terms of pricing. Depending on your sales volume, it may or may not be worth opting for a POS system with a higher monthly rate if it comes with the benefit of lower transaction costs.
Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a POS system:
When choosing a POS system, the first step is to consider what features you need. Do you need basic transaction processing or do you need more advanced features such as loyalty, appointment scheduling, inventory management or email marketing?
Here are some common POS software features to look for:
In addition to software, you’ll also need to consider hardware when choosing a POS system. The type of hardware you need will depend on the type of business you have and the features you’re looking for.
Here are some common POS hardware features to look for:
There are many types of POS systems on the market, from simple card readers to all-in-one solutions. The best POS system for your business will depend on your specific needs.
Here’s a rundown of the different types you might encounter:
The cost of a POS system will vary depending on the type and features you need. Generally, the more features you want, the more you can expect to pay. Some companies lend you a POS system in exchange for a monthly fee, while others require that you purchase the system outright.
More expensive POS features include:
To reduce costs, you can look for a POS system that comes with a free trial period. This will allow you to test out the system before committing to a long-term contract. You can also look for discounts, such as seasonal promotions or referral programs. However, the easiest way to pare down costs is to only pay for the services you need.
When considering the cost of a POS system, you’ll also need to factor in the costs of hardware, such as receipt printers and barcode scanners. These can range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the quality and features you need.
After paying for hardware and software, you usually have to pay processing or transaction fees. These are typically a percentage of the total sale, plus a small per-transaction fee. For example, if you’re paying 2.5% plus 10 cents per transaction, and you make a sale for $100, your total fee would be $2.60.
| POS System | Monthly Fee Starts At | Transaction Fee Starts At |
|---|---|---|
|
PayPal Zettle
|
$0
|
2.29% + $0.09 per transaction
|
|
Shopify POS
|
$29
|
2.4% + $0 per transaction
|
|
Square POS
|
$0
|
2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
|
|
eHopper POS
|
$0
|
$0
|
When you’re choosing an option, you’ll need to decide whether you want a point-of-sale (POS) system or a cash register. Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs.
POS systems are typically more expensive than cash registers, but they offer more features and functionality. Cash registers only track sales and print receipts, while POS systems can track inventory, customers, employees and sales. POS systems also typically offer features such as loyalty programs, gift cards and reporting, while cash registers typically do not.
POS systems are a good choice for businesses that want to track inventory, customers and sales. They’re also a good choice for businesses that want to offer loyalty programs, gift cards and reporting. However, they’re unnecessary for businesses that only need to track sales.
The cost of a cash register is less than a POS system, but offers fewer features. Cash registers can track sales, but they typically cannot track inventory, customers or sales tax. Cash registers also rarely offer features such as loyalty programs, gift cards and reporting. However, they are a good choice for businesses that only need to track sales. They’re also a good choice for businesses that cannot afford a POS system.
Read more: Point-of-Sale Systems vs. Cash Registers
Featured Partners
1
Shopify POS
$29 per month
Yes, 3 days
In-person and mobile POS, order management, customer profiles
2
Clover
$14.95 per month (plus hardware)
90 days
Versatile POS, invoicing, employee management
Once you’ve chosen a POS system, you’ll need to learn how to use it. Luckily, most POS systems are easy to use and come with training materials or customer support.
If you’re using a cloud-based POS system, you’ll need to create an account and log in. Then, you can start adding products, customers and employees. Most cloud-based POS systems come with a built-in tutorial to help you get started.
If you’re using a self-hosted POS system, you’ll need to install the software on a computer. Once it’s installed, you can start adding products, customers and employees. A built-in tutorial is included with most self-hosted POS systems to assist you in getting started.
A POS system involving hardware will require you to set up the hardware, such as receipt printers and barcode scanners. This is a more complex process, and in some cases, even requires an onboarding specialist on-site or to walk you through the process over the phone. Once the hardware is set up, you can start adding products, customers and employees.
Once you’ve added all your products, customers and employees, you’re ready to start using your POS system. To make a sale, you’ll need to add the items to the order and then process the payment. Most POS systems can process payments by credit card, debit card, cash or check.
After the payment is processed, you can print or email a receipt to the customer. Some POS systems also allow you to send text or email receipts.
Reporting is an important feature of most POS systems. With reporting, you can track sales, inventory and employees. This information can help you make informed decisions about your business. Most POS systems offer a variety of reports, such as sales reports, inventory reports and employee reports. Some POS systems also offer custom reporting. This is the key to getting the most out of your POS system—use your reports to gather insights into your business and make changes accordingly.
| Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Pricing
|
10%
|
In this category, we scrutinize the cost of each system, including monthly fees, transaction costs and hardware prices. We also evaluate whether there’s a free trial or free version available, the pricing of initial and additional card readers and the potential for hidden charges.
|
|
General Features
|
30%
|
POS systems were analyzed based on which of the core features it offers, such as payment processing, hardware options, inventory management, customer management and more.
|
|
Unique Features
|
20%
|
We looked at whether the POS system supports features beyond the core POS features, such as employee scheduling, industry-specific features, customer management, funding and more.
|
|
Ratings and Reviews
|
10%
|
To gain a deeper understanding of user experience, we analyzed third-party ratings in terms of average score and number of reviews.
|
|
Expert Analysis
|
30%
|
We incorporated our own first-hand experience with qualitative factors such as value for price, ease of use, features and popularity.
|
The eHopper POS is Forbes Advisor’s selection for the best POS system for small business of 2024. It takes our top pick because of its free processing, free hardware and e-commerce integrations, making it ideal for omnichannel businesses, or for those on a budget.
Lightspeed POS takes our second top pick for best POS systems because of its customer loyalty program. Customers are more likely to stay loyal and spend money if they feel important. Offer your members access to exclusive deals and discounts, as well as monthly boxes filled with products they will love.
Clover’s massive amount of third-party integrations makes it our third top pick for best POS systems. It integrates with apps such as DocuSign, Xero, Mailchimp and WooCommerce to expand the functionality of your POS.
A POS system is a software and hardware system that businesses use to take payments, track sales, manage inventory and connect to other business systems. With its reports and analytics, business owners can also make informed decisions about their business.
The best POS system for your business depends on a variety of factors, including the type of business you have, your budget and the features you need. For many situations, it makes sense to invest in the best system you can afford, and preferably, the system can grow with your business.
The cost of a POS system depends on the features you need and the size of your business. Some systems are free, while others can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month.
If you have a brick-and-mortar store, then a POS system can be a valuable tool for managing inventory, processing payments and tracking sales data. Even if you don’t have a physical store, a POS system can be helpful for managing online orders and shipping.
Most POS systems come with onboarding documentation that walks you through the process of setting up your system. Typically, the process involves creating an account, adding products, customers and employees, and then connecting hardware such as receipt printers and barcode scanners.
Yes, you can use a POS with an e-commerce store. In fact, many POS systems integrate with popular e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and WooCommerce. Inventory syncs between your POS system and e-commerce store, so you can keep track of stock levels in real time.
The four types of POS systems include Legacy (traditional, on-premises hardware systems), Tablet-based (use tablets as the main interface), Mobile (operates on smartphones and mobile devices) and Cloud-based (hosted on the internet, allowing data access from anywhere).
