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Square is the best overall starting point for most small businesses: it offers a free software tier and supports in-person and online sales, inventory, invoicing, staff, and loyalty. Shopify POS is a stronger fit for retailers already selling online, Toast for restaurant workflows, Lightspeed for complex retail inventory, and Helcim for businesses evaluating interchange-plus processing.
The lowest advertised software price is not necessarily the lowest total cost. Compare processing fees, hardware, add-ons, implementation, contract terms, and offline-payment risks for your business and location before choosing.
Best POS systems for small businesses at a glance
| POS system | Best for | Pricing fact | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | Most small businesses | Free software tier; processing and hardware cost extra | Standard processing may be less competitive at high volume |
| Shopify POS | Retail plus ecommerce | Paid Shopify plan required; POS Pro is $89 per location monthly when billed yearly | In-person selling is tied to the Shopify ecosystem |
| Toast | Restaurants | Full-system hardware and implementation costs vary; get a written quote | Requires approved hardware and careful contract review |
| Lightspeed Retail | Complex inventory and multi-location retail | Higher-cost platform with advanced inventory tools | More involved setup and learning curve |
| Helcim | Businesses evaluating interchange-plus processing | $0 monthly account fee; Smart Terminal listed at $349 one time | Less specialized than a full retail or restaurant platform |
| Clover | Businesses with a favorable bank or reseller offer | Rates and contract terms vary by provider | The device does not guarantee a favorable processing agreement |
1. Square: best overall for most small businesses
Square is a practical starting point for a café, service business, market seller, salon, boutique, or small shop that wants to accept payments without a complicated technology stack. Its standard POS supports tap, chip, swipe, digital wallets, refunds, exchanges, inventory, sales reporting, online selling, invoicing, staff management, and Tap to Pay on compatible iPhone and Android devices. Feature availability can depend on plan and business mode. Square POS pricing
Square’s current U.S. plan structure is Free, Plus, Premium, and Pro. The unified plans list Square Free at $0 per month per location and Square Plus at $49 per month per location; Premium pricing is custom. Square’s retail-specific page lists its paid retail tier at $89 per month per location. These prices come from different plan and business contexts, so check the plan for your business type rather than treating “Square Plus” as one universal price. Square says sellers processing more than $250,000 annually can ask about custom pricing and processing fees. Square’s unified pricing announcement Square POS pricing
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
The free tier does not make the entire POS free: processing, hardware, and paid or vertical-specific features may cost extra. Businesses with greater volume can also compare Square’s standard processing with custom offers from other providers.
2. Shopify POS: best for retail businesses already selling online
Shopify POS makes the most sense when your website is already central to the business. Products, customers, orders, inventory, and online and in-person sales can operate within the Shopify environment. Shopify POS pricing
Basic in-person selling is included with every paid Shopify plan, but Shopify POS is not a free standalone POS. Public monthly plans include Basic at $39, Grow at $105, and Advanced at $399. POS Pro adds advanced retail features for $89 per month per location when billed yearly. Prices and payment availability can vary by country. Shopify POS pricing
POS Pro is worth evaluating if you need unlimited staff logins, detailed permissions, richer customer profiles, returns and exchanges at any location, stronger inventory management, retail reporting, and more developed omnichannel features. Those features may matter to a growing apparel shop or gift retailer but be unnecessary for a weekend vendor.
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3. Toast: best for restaurants
Toast is built around restaurant operations rather than card acceptance alone. Its integrated stack can connect front-of-house ordering, handheld devices, kitchen workflows, online ordering, and restaurant-specific service processes. Toast pricing
Rank #2
- A complete countertop point of sale — Combine dual responsive touchscreens, built-in POS software, and durable hardware for a fast, reliable checkout experience.
- Serve customers faster — Run smoothly through busy shifts, complex menus, and big orders with high-speed processing, memory, and responsive touchscreen displays.
- Accept every way they pay — Take all major cards at one simple rate, with no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Receive funds as soon as the next business day.
- Handle real-world demands — Resist everyday spills, dust, and wear with a durable, IP54-rated design.
- Stay reliable through every rush — Maintain strong connectivity and consistent performance through your busiest hours.
That specialization can justify added complexity for a full-service restaurant, busy counter-service operation, or business that needs a kitchen display system. Toast Care is advertised as available 24/7/365 by phone or web messaging. Toast pricing
Toast does not publish one universal full-system price. Hardware and implementation costs vary by package and installation requirements; pricing terms should be confirmed for your specific business. Toast is a payment facilitator that partners with processors, so obtain a written quote showing terminals, subscriptions, implementation fees, payment terms, contract length, renewal, and cancellation obligations. Toast pricing
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Toast requires approved compatible hardware; it is not a general-purpose app that works with any tablet or card reader. Toast pricing
4. Lightspeed Retail: best for complex inventory
Lightspeed Retail is aimed at merchants who need more than a basic product list and stock count. Its tools support purchase orders, supplier management, weighted-average cost, customer-specific pricing, and location-based pricing. Lightspeed Retail
Its average-cost system calculates cost of goods sold and stock value using a weighted average of received supply prices. Editing a product’s supply price does not directly change average cost; inventory transactions update the calculation. This matters when reviewing margins or importing a large catalog. Lightspeed average cost documentation
Lightspeed’s customer-specific pricing has limitations: price books using start and end times or product-quantity requirements are unavailable for customer-specific pricing. Lightspeed customer-specific pricing documentation
Rank #3
- Windows 11 PROFESSIONAL POS TERMINAL - Equipped with Intel Core i5 High-Performance CPU, 4 GB Memory, and 128 GB Hard Disk. It also offers versatile connectivity options, including two serial ports, four USB ports, an HDMI output, an audio input, a DC 12V power input, and an Ethernet port.
- SLEEK & COMPACT DESIGN - Volcora POS Terminal is designed to take up as little space as possible so you can focus on better utilization of the counter space. Our sleek yet heavy-duty metal base ensures the terminal is well-stabled while taking orders with style. Suitable for any business such as retail stores, quick service restaurants, dine-in restaurants, cafes, bars, and more.
- DUAL WIDE TOUCHSCREEN - Terminal comes with one 15.6" capacitive LCD touchscreen and one 11.6” capacitive LCD touchscreen for customer display, combined with 1366x768 high-resolution, makes it easy to read and touch with minimal effort. Our POS Terminals can also withstand over 15000 hours of screen time with little to no quality sacrifice.
- IN THE BOX - Volcora 15.6" & 11.6” Dual-TouchScreen Windows 11 Professional POS Terminal, Power Adapter, Registration Card, and User Manual.
- LIFETIME WARRANTY & SUPPORT - Simply unbox, and set up your POS terminal like a Windows tablet with ease. We do understand that additional support might be needed for non-tech-savvy users and our US Based Customer Service team is committed to help. Plus, all Volcora products come with a limited lifetime warranty so you can purchase with peace of mind.
Expect a higher software bill and a longer setup than with a basic POS. The added cost may be worthwhile for a specialty retailer or multi-location store with varied suppliers and demanding purchasing controls, but less so for a single seller with a small catalog.
Lightspeed also offers a separate restaurant product. Its public pricing lists Starter at $69 per month, Essential at $189 per month, Enterprise as quote-based, and a kitchen display system at $30 per screen per month. Do not confuse these Lightspeed Restaurant prices with Lightspeed Retail pricing. Lightspeed Restaurant pricing
5. Helcim: best for interchange-plus processing
Helcim merits attention when payment-processing cost is a priority. It advertises no monthly account fee, no contract, no cancellation fee, and hardware purchased outright rather than leased. Its Smart Terminal is listed at $349 one time or $32 per month for 12 months. Helcim pricing
Helcim’s U.S. in-person example is interchange plus 0.40% + 8¢. This is not one flat rate: the interchange portion changes with card network, card type, transaction method, and qualification. Recurring payments are listed with an additional 0.4% per transaction, and a chargeback lost by the merchant is listed at $15. Helcim processing pricing Helcim pricing
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHelcim is less specialized than Square, Shopify, Toast, or Lightspeed. It may suit a service company, wholesaler, or established seller with workable order and inventory processes, but may not meet needs such as restaurant kitchen routing or sophisticated retail merchandising.
6. Clover: choose the contract, not just the hardware
Clover devices are sold directly by Clover as well as by banks and other financial partners. Similar-looking terminals can come with different processing rates, subscription prices, contract terms, termination fees, and support arrangements. Clover pricing
Rank #4
Read the merchant agreement before signing. Clover says some subscriptions can be non-cancelable unless bought out or upgraded. Devices purchased from third parties may also be restricted from moving to another processor. Compare the complete agreement against alternatives rather than assuming the brand or bank relationship determines the price. Clover pricing
How to calculate the real cost of a POS system
Do not compare only the monthly software subscription. Use this worksheet with your expected monthly sales and transaction count:
- Software: record the base subscription for each location.
- Devices: include terminals, registers, tablets, card readers, scanners, printers, and cash drawers. Separate purchases from leases.
- Processing: calculate both the percentage and per-transaction fee. Include card-present and online rates.
- Add-ons: price KDS screens, kiosks, loyalty, payroll, ecommerce, delivery, online ordering, extra registers, and additional locations.
- Implementation: include installation, onboarding, data migration, menu setup, and training.
- Contract exposure: note the term, auto-renewal, cancellation fee, equipment ownership, and whether the device can move to another processor.
- Downtime risk: document what can be sold offline, how long payments remain pending, and who absorbs a later decline.
A simple annual estimate is:
annual cost = 12 × software and add-ons + hardware and setup + annual processing fees + expected contract or cancellation costs
For example, a provider charging $89 monthly costs $1,068 per year before processing. A provider with no monthly fee can still cost more if its processing margin is higher—or less if interchange-plus savings outweigh the missing features.
What happens when the internet goes down?
Offline mode is useful, but it does not guarantee every payment will succeed. Offline card payments can later be declined, expire, or be disputed, and the merchant may bear the loss. Check each provider’s limits and train staff before relying on the feature.
- Square: some hardware supports offline payments for up to 24 hours. Pending payments generally need to be uploaded within 72 hours. Signing out, deleting the app, switching modes or locations, or factory-resetting hardware can permanently lose pending payments. To check service status, go to issquareup.com, select your country, and look under “System status” for an X beside “Payment Acceptance.” Square offline payments
- Shopify POS: in Shopify Admin, go to Point of Sale → Settings → POS app → Checkout, activate “Allow offline payments,” set device daily and transaction limits, and save. Staff also need the “Accept offline credit and debit payments” permission under Settings → Users → Roles → POS role → Permissions → Checkout. Offline payments require POS app version 9.14.0 or later and compatible hardware. Do not sign out or turn off the device while offline. Shopify offline payments
- Toast: it enters Offline Mode after approximately 40 seconds without connectivity. Staff can continue taking orders and may accept cards if background card processing is enabled. Online ordering, Mobile Order & Pay KDS tickets, normal reporting, and new pre-authorizations are limited. During a confirmed service disruption, do not unplug, restart, or reset equipment; do not uninstall the app while offline. Toast offline mode
How to choose in 15 minutes
- If you sell meals and need kitchen routing, handheld ordering, or restaurant offline workflows, compare Toast with Square for Restaurants.
- If your online store drives sales, start with Shopify POS and price POS Pro only for locations that need its advanced tools.
- If purchasing, suppliers, weighted-average cost, or location-specific pricing are central, investigate Lightspeed Retail.
- If you want a low-commitment launch, test Square Free, remembering that processing and hardware are not free.
- If you process enough volume to care about interchange-plus pricing, request a written comparison from Helcim and ask Square or other providers about custom rates.
- If considering Clover, compare the reseller’s agreement—not just the terminal, advertised monthly price, or bank relationship.
FAQ
What is the best POS system for a small business?
Square is the best overall starting point for most small businesses because it offers a free software tier and covers payments, inventory, invoices, staff, reporting, and online selling. Shopify, Toast, Lightspeed, or Helcim may be better for specific business models.
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
Is Square POS really free?
Square has a $0 software tier, but payment processing, hardware, and paid features cost money. The applicable plan price depends on the business type and plan context.
Is Shopify POS free?
No. Basic in-person selling is included with a paid Shopify commerce plan. Advanced retail functions require POS Pro, listed at $89 per location per month when billed yearly.
Which POS system is best for a restaurant?
Toast is the more restaurant-specialized option for kitchen workflows, handhelds, online ordering, and offline operations. Square for Restaurants may be easier to start with and publishes more transparent pricing.
Is interchange-plus pricing always cheaper?
No. Interchange-plus makes the processor’s margin clearer, but interchange varies by card type, network, transaction method, and qualification. Compare your actual card mix and transaction size rather than assuming an advertised example is your rate.
What should I ask before signing a POS contract?
Ask for total monthly cost, processing rates, per-transaction fees, hardware ownership, implementation charges, contract term, automatic renewal, cancellation or buyout fees, add-on prices, support terms, and whether the hardware can be used with another processor.
The Bottom Line
Choose Square for a balance of cost, simplicity, and small-business features. Choose Shopify POS when ecommerce is central to your retail business. Choose Toast for restaurant operations, Lightspeed Retail for complex inventory, and Helcim when transaction volume makes interchange-plus pricing worth evaluating.
Do not sign based on a $0 software tier or a cheap terminal. Price the complete system—including processing, hardware, add-ons, contract exposure, and offline-payment risk—against your actual sales and operating needs.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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