9 Best POS Systems for Retail of 2026

This list is for shop owners comparing retail point of sale subscriptions, hardware bundles and card processing fees before they sign up. We ranked each system by value first, then features, then ease of use, using the vendor's own pricing and product pages. The price shown is the cheapest paid software plan in USD on the check date; where a vendor shows no USD price to us, the price is marked pending. Retail needs differ from restaurants: barcode scanning, variants, purchase orders, stock counts and returns matter more than tables or kitchen tickets, so we weighted those features. We compared documented features and published prices.

1. 01Top value

   

   Square for Retail

   9.0/10

   Square's retail POS, sold as Free, Plus and Premium plans that add inventory, vendor and multi-location tools at each step.

   Price

   $49per location per month

   Square Free at $0 per month; Plus $49 and Premium $149 per location per month; in-person cards 2.6% + 15¢ on Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus, 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium

   “With Square Plus and Square Premium, the monthly fee applies to each location you run. $0/mo. per location $49/mo. per location $149/mo. per location” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   9.2

   Features (35%)

   8.7

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forIndependent shops that want a $0 start, published card rates and purchase orders once stock grows.

   Square for Retail ranks first because it is the cheapest way to start with a full retail POS and every fee is printed on its pricing page. Square Free costs $0 a month, Plus is $49 and Premium is $149 per location, and in-person card payments fall from 2.6% + 15¢ to 2.5% + 15¢ and 2.4% + 15¢ as you move up. The free tier already scans GTIN barcodes to build the catalog, generates SKUs and handles discounts and refunds. Plus adds the tools a stocked shop leans on: inventory management, stock intake, vendor and purchase order management, and cost of goods and sell-through reports. Premium adds transfer orders, returns at any location and 24/7 phone support. Square sells its hardware separately, with options starting at $59, so you can begin on a phone and add a register later. Businesses processing over $250,000 a year can ask for custom rates. The main cost to watch is keyed-in payments at 3.5% + 15¢.

   • ✓A permanent $0 plan with no locked-in contract
   • ✓Card rates published for every tier, from 2.6% + 15¢ down to 2.4% + 15¢ in person
   • ✓Plus and Premium include a free 30-day trial

   • ✕Purchase orders and cost of goods reports need the $49 Plus plan
   • ✕Keyed-in and card-on-file payments cost 3.5% + 15¢
   • ✕Transfer orders between stores are a Premium feature at $149 per location

   Monthly fee:

   $0, $49 or $149 per location

   In-person card rate:

   2.6% + 15¢ (Free) to 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)

   Free trial:

   30 days on Plus and Premium

   Custom pricing:

   Over $250,000 a year in processing

   Bottom line: Square for Retail gives a small shop the most retail features for the least fixed cost. Move to Plus once you need purchase orders and margin reports.

   Visit squareup.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Shopify POS

   8.6/10

   Shopify's point of sale app, included with every Shopify plan and upgraded per store with a POS Pro subscription.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   3 days

   Value (40%)

   8.0

   Features (35%)

   9.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forBrands that sell online and in store and want one catalog, one inventory count and one customer list.

   Shopify POS takes second place because no other system on this list ties a physical store so closely to an online one. Every paid Shopify plan, from Basic through Grow, Advanced and Plus, includes casual in-person selling: card payments, simple customer profiles and returns at the store where an item was bought. Retail shops with staff and real stock will want POS Pro, a per-location add-on that unlocks unlimited staff logins, roles and permissions, inventory counts, purchase orders, low stock alerts, returns at any location and professional retail reports. The pricing page also lists buy online pick up in store and endless aisle selling, and a back office that supports more than 1,000 locations. Its pricing page showed us local currency rather than USD, so we mark the price as pending. Budget for a Shopify card reader and accessories, and note that using a payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a transaction fee on each sale.

   • ✓Online store and POS share one catalog and inventory
   • ✓Every paid plan includes casual in-person selling
   • ✓Large app store and low-code customization options

   • ✕Inventory, staff permissions and returns at any location need POS Pro, billed per location
   • ✕Selling in person needs a Shopify card reader plus a phone or tablet
   • ✕Payment providers other than Shopify Payments carry an extra transaction fee

   Plans:

   Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus

   Store upgrade:

   POS Pro, billed per location

   Free trial:

   3 days

   Locations supported:

   1,000+

   Bottom line: Shopify POS is the best choice for a retailer whose online store matters as much as the shop floor. Add POS Pro for any location with staff and a large catalog.

   Visit shopify.com ↗

3. 03

   

   KORONA POS

   8.4/10

   A cloud retail POS billed per terminal that works with any card processor you choose.

   Price

   $59per terminal per month

   Core $59, Retail $79 and Plus $99 per terminal per month; no setup fees or forced contracts; processing agnostic

   “A KORONA POS subscription costs $59, $79, or $99 per terminal per month.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forStocked shops such as liquor, convenience or garden stores that want deep inventory tools and their own processor.

   KORONA POS ranks third because its prices are flat and public and it does not tie you to a payment processor. Core costs $59, Retail $79 and Plus $99 per terminal per month, with no setup fees and no forced contract; annual plans are discounted. Core covers checkout, the product database, sales reports, gift cards and open API access. Retail is the plan most shops will need, adding inventory counts, real-time stock tracking, barcode automations, shelf and price labels, supplier ordering and customer management. Plus adds ABC analysis, top and slow seller reports, per-store pricing and multi-location inventory tools. KORONA says it is processing agnostic and never takes a percentage of sales, so a shop with a good existing rate can keep it. Every plan includes unlimited users and 24/7 in-house support, and the vendor offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on software. The trade-off is cost per register: a three-till store on Retail pays $237 a month before processing.

   • ✓Works with any card processor and takes no percentage of sales
   • ✓No setup fees and month-to-month terms, with discounted annual plans
   • ✓24/7 in-house support on every plan

   • ✕Inventory counts and supplier ordering need the $79 Retail plan
   • ✕No free plan, and each extra terminal adds a full subscription
   • ✕Invoicing and franchise tools are paid modules

   Monthly fee:

   $59, $79 or $99 per terminal

   Contract:

   Month to month, annual plans discounted

   Processing:

   Use any processor

   Software guarantee:

   60-day money back

   Bottom line: KORONA POS is the best pick for a well-stocked shop that wants strong inventory tools and freedom to choose a card processor. Expect to pay per terminal, so multi-till stores should price it out.

   Visit koronapos.com ↗

4. 04

   

   Loyverse

   8.4/10

   A free POS app for phones and tablets with optional paid add-ons and built-in card payments in the US.

   Price

   Freeper store per month for add-ons

   Free POS; Employee management and Advanced inventory add-ons at $25 per store per month each; Loyverse Payments at 1.99% + 15¢ debit and 2.49% + 15¢ credit

   “Loyverse is free to use, with optional paid add-ons.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Free trial

   14 days

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   6.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forVery small shops and new sellers that want to run a store on a phone or tablet they already own.

   Loyverse places fourth because it gives a small shop a working POS for $0 and charges only for the extras it actually uses. The free plan covers the POS app, sales reports for the last 31 days, essential inventory with low-stock alerts, a loyalty program, a customer display and multi-store management. Retail shops that buy from suppliers will likely add Advanced inventory, which costs $25 per store a month, or $250 a year, and adds purchase orders, stock transfers and deeper inventory reports. Employee management is a separate add-on at the same price. Loyverse Payments charges 1.99% + 15¢ on debit and 2.49% + 15¢ on credit cards in person, with no monthly fees or contracts, and cards issued outside the United States add 1.5%. You can take payments with Tap to Pay on a phone, or buy a $59 mobile reader or a $269 smart reader. It suits a single small store well, but larger catalogs will outgrow it.

   • ✓The POS, loyalty program and multi-store management are free
   • ✓No monthly fees, minimums or contracts on Loyverse Payments
   • ✓Runs on a phone or tablet you already own, with Tap to Pay

   • ✕Free sales reports only cover the last 31 days
   • ✕Purchase orders, transfers and counts need the $25 per store Advanced inventory add-on
   • ✕Cards issued outside the United States add 1.5% to the rate

   POS software:

   Free

   Card rate:

   1.99% + 15¢ debit, 2.49% + 15¢ credit

   Add-on trial:

   14 days

   Card readers:

   $59 mobile, $269 smart reader

   Bottom line: Loyverse is the lowest cost way to run a small shop on a tablet. Add Advanced inventory when supplier orders become routine.

   Visit loyverse.com ↗

5. 05

   

   Lightspeed Retail

   8.3/10

   A cloud retail POS with deep inventory, purchasing and wholesale catalog tools for established stores.

   Price

   $89per month, one register included

   Basic $89, Core $149 and Plus $289 per month billed annually, one register included; extra locations and registers cost more; card-present rate 1.5% with Lightspeed Payments

   “Basic Designed for essential day-to-day needs for independent retailers. 89 USD /mo” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   9.3

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forEstablished retailers with large catalogs, variants and supplier ordering, such as bike, apparel or sporting goods stores.

   Lightspeed Retail has the deepest inventory and purchasing toolkit on this list, but it places fifth because it is also the most expensive way in. On annual billing, Basic costs $89 a month, Core $149 and Plus $289, each with one register included; extra locations and registers add to the bill, and monthly billing costs more than annual. Every plan includes integrated payments, inventory management for products and variants, purchase orders, Lightspeed Wholesale and the NuORDER catalog of over 5 million products for faster product setup. Higher plans add fuller built-in eCommerce, landed costs, forecasting and order recommendations, API access, workflows and custom user roles. The US pricing page shows a 1.5% card-present rate for Lightspeed Payments. A Mobile Scanner app turns a phone into a counting and fulfillment tool. For a large store with many variants and regular supplier orders, the features justify the price; for a small gift shop, Square or KORONA covers the basics for less.

   • ✓Strong purchasing tools, including access to a catalog of over 5 million products
   • ✓One register and integrated payments included on every plan
   • ✓24/7 chat and phone support

   • ✕The cheapest plan is $89 a month billed annually, the highest entry price here
   • ✕Extra locations and registers are billed on top of the base plan
   • ✕API access, custom user roles and workflows need higher plans

   Monthly fee:

   $89, $149 or $289, billed annually

   Registers included:

   1

   Card-present rate:

   1.5% with Lightspeed Payments

   Annual saving:

   Up to 18%

   Bottom line: Lightspeed Retail is the right choice for a large, inventory-heavy store that orders from many suppliers. Smaller shops will pay for depth they do not use.

   Visit lightspeedhq.com ↗

6. 06

   

   eHopper

   8.1/10

   A low-cost POS for retail and quick service that runs on Android tablets, Windows PCs and eHopper terminals.

   Price

   $10per month, one license

   Essential Plus $10 per month billed at $120 a year (1,000 products and transactions); Freedom $20.99 per month billed yearly; monthly billing from $14.99

   “Essential Plus Software plan for basic operations and lower transaction volume SAVE 30%! 10.00 month Billed at $120.00 /1yr.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.8

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forBudget-minded small shops that want a cheap paid plan and the choice of processor.

   eHopper ranks sixth on value: its Essential Plus plan costs $10 a month billed at $120 a year, or $14.99 month to month, the lowest paid entry price here. That plan is limited to one license, 1,000 products and 1,000 transactions a month, so most shops will look at Freedom, which eHopper describes as its plan for retail, quick service and professional services, at $20.99 a month billed yearly or $24.99 monthly. Freedom removes the product and transaction caps and adds loyalty, a barcode manager, low stock alerts, an inventory matrix, store transfers, PO receiving, exchanges, cash discount and surcharge options, and a QuickBooks integration. eHopper runs on its own all-in-one terminals, Android tablets and Windows PCs, and you can process cards through eHopper or another provider. The interface and support are more basic than Square's, and phone support is limited to the OmniChannel plan, but for a single small shop on a tight budget the price is hard to beat.

   • ✓The cheapest paid plan on this list at $10 a month billed yearly
   • ✓Card processing through eHopper or other providers
   • ✓Runs on eHopper all-in-one devices, Android tablets and Windows PCs

   • ✕Essential Plus caps you at 1,000 products and 1,000 transactions a month
   • ✕Barcode manager, PO receiving and store transfers need the Freedom plan
   • ✕Gift cards cost $10 per account on lower plans

   Entry plan:

   $10 a month billed yearly, or $14.99 monthly

   Retail plan:

   Freedom, $20.99 a month billed yearly

   Guarantee:

   30-day money back

   Devices:

   eHopper all-in-one, Android, Windows

   Bottom line: eHopper is the cheapest paid retail POS here, and Freedom is the plan most shops need. Pick it when price matters more than polish.

   Visit ehopper.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Helcim POS

   8.0/10

   Free POS software from a payment processor that charges interchange plus rates with no monthly fees.

   Price

   Freeprocessing fees only

   Free POS software with no monthly, contract or cancellation fees; interchange plus card processing; card reader $199, Smart Terminal $349

   “No minimums, software fees, or statement fees.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   8.9

   Features (35%)

   6.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forSmall shops that care most about card fees and want free POS software with basic inventory.

   Helcim POS ranks seventh. It is a payment processor first, and its POS software is free: the pricing page lists no monthly fees, no minimums, no software or statement fees, and no contracts, leases or cancellation fees. Instead of a flat card rate, Helcim charges interchange plus pricing with volume discounts, which passes on what card networks charge plus a stated margin and tends to favor shops with higher volumes or many debit payments. The POS covers card, debit and contactless payments, split payments, partial refunds and tipping, and its inventory tools handle SKUs, prices, stock levels, images, variants and brands with low inventory alerts and best-seller reports. Hardware is a $199 card reader or a $349 Smart Terminal with a built-in printer and 4G, which can also be paid at $32 a month for 12 months. Helcim does not list purchase orders or supplier tools, so it fits simpler shops better than heavily stocked ones.

   • ✓No monthly fees, contracts, leases or cancellation fees
   • ✓Interchange plus pricing with volume discounts
   • ✓Free next business day deposits

   • ✕No published flat card rate, so costs vary by card type
   • ✕Fewer retail tools than Square or KORONA, with no purchase orders listed
   • ✕You must use Helcim for processing

   Software fee:

   $0

   Pricing model:

   Interchange plus

   Hardware:

   Card reader $199, Smart Terminal $349 or $32 a month for 12 months

   Chargeback fee:

   $15 if lost, $0 if won

   Bottom line: Helcim POS is a good fit for a simple shop that wants free software and lower card fees. Stores that reorder often will want a deeper inventory system.

   Visit helcim.com ↗

8. 08

   

   Clover

   7.9/10

   Clover's POS system, sold as hardware and software bundles with built-in card processing.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.4

   Features (35%)

   8.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forShops that want a ready-made countertop setup with hardware, software and processing from one vendor.

   Clover places eighth because its bundles are convenient but cost more up front than the software-first systems ranked above it. Clover sells three retail bundles. Basic is a compact countertop terminal on the Starter Retail plan, while Standard pairs a 14 inch Station Duo with an 8 inch customer display, receipt printer and cash drawer on Retail Growth, and Advanced adds the Flex handheld. Item and category inventory, detailed sales reports, item-level discounts, itemized returns and exchanges, scale integration for goods sold by weight and a branded website all start at Standard, so Basic suits only very simple counters. Every bundle includes a customer database and individual staff logins, and Clover gift cards start at Standard. Clover's retail pricing page loads its bundle prices with scripts that our checker could not read, so we mark the price as pending; check the page for current hardware and monthly costs. Processing runs through Clover, and Rapid Deposit for funds within minutes costs a 1.75% fee.

   • ✓Hardware, software and processing come in one package
   • ✓Standard bundle includes a 14 inch station, 8 inch customer display and cash drawer
   • ✓Branded website and single dashboard for online and in-store sales

   • ✕Inventory and detailed sales reports are not included in the Basic bundle
   • ✕Processing runs through Clover, so you cannot shop for a rate
   • ✕Rapid Deposit for same-day funds costs a 1.75% fee

   Bundles:

   Basic, Standard, Advanced

   Software plans:

   Starter Retail, Retail Growth

   Rapid Deposit:

   1.75% fee

   Barcode scanner:

   Available on Standard and Advanced

   Bottom line: Clover is a sensible pick for a shop that wants one vendor for hardware, software and processing. Choose Standard or above, since Basic leaves out inventory.

   Visit clover.com ↗

9. 09

   

   SpotOn Retail

   7.4/10

   A wireless all-in-one terminal for small retail shops with flat software and hardware pricing.

   Price

   $25per month plus $200 hardware

   Terminal plan $25 per month plus $200 hardware; Terminal + Website $90 per month plus $175 website setup; card-present 2.45% + $0.15

   “Software : $25 /month Hardware : $200 Card present: 2.45% + $0.15” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.8

   Features (35%)

   5.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forSmall shops with a short product list that do not scan barcodes or track stock.

   SpotOn Retail ranks last because it is built for simple counters rather than stocked stores. The Terminal plan costs $25 a month in software plus $200 for the device, with card-present payments at 2.45% + $0.15, Amex at 3.19% + $0.15 and keyed cards at 3.45% + $0.15. The Terminal + Website plan is $90 a month and adds a website that SpotOn builds for a $175 setup fee. The wireless terminal prints receipts, shows reports on the device and in an online dashboard, works offline with transaction limits, and supports cash discount or surcharge programs. A virtual terminal handles phone orders and invoices, and loyalty rewards are optional. The catch for most retailers is in SpotOn's own FAQ: the Terminal does not work with barcode scanners or barcode labels, and shops that need inventory tracking are told to talk to sales. That makes it a clean, cheap setup for a service-style shop or market stall, but not for a store with a real catalog.

   • ✓Low, published software and hardware prices
   • ✓Card rate published: 2.45% + $0.15 card present
   • ✓Works offline and at pop-up shops

   • ✕SpotOn says the Terminal does not work with barcode scanners or barcode labels
   • ✕No inventory tracking on the Terminal plan
   • ✕Amex costs 3.19% + $0.15 and keyed cards 3.45% + $0.15

   Software:

   $25 a month

   Hardware:

   $200 terminal

   Card-present rate:

   2.45% + $0.15 (Amex 3.19% + $0.15)

   Website plan:

   $90 a month plus $175 setup

   Bottom line: SpotOn Retail is a low-cost terminal for shops that sell a handful of items. Any store that scans barcodes or counts stock should look higher on this list.

   Visit spoton.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.