Best POS Systems 2026: Top 10 for Small Business

Point of Sale (POS) systems do more than process paymentsβ€”they manage inventory, track sales, and run your business.

Quick Comparison

POSBest ForMonthly FeeProcessing
SquareOverallFree2.6% + 10Β’
ShopifyOmnichannel$29+2.7%
CloverRestaurants$14.95+2.3% + 10Β’
ToastRestaurants$0+Custom
LightspeedRetail$69+2.6% + 10Β’

1. Square β€” Best Overall

Monthly: Free (hardware extra)

Square offers the easiest setup with no monthly fees.

Features

  • βœ… Free POS software
  • βœ… Payments processing
  • βœ… Inventory management
  • βœ… Employee management
  • βœ… Customer loyalty
  • βœ… E-commerce included
  • βœ… Invoicing

Hardware

  • Square Reader: Free
  • Square Stand: $149
  • Square Terminal: $299
  • Square Register: $799

Best For: Small businesses, pop-ups, mobile sellers.


2. Shopify POS β€” Best Omnichannel

Monthly: $29-299 (Shopify subscription)

Shopify POS syncs perfectly with online stores.

Features

  • βœ… Online + in-store sync
  • βœ… Unified inventory
  • βœ… Customer profiles
  • βœ… Staff management
  • βœ… Analytics
  • βœ… Buy online, pick up in store

Best For: Retailers with online + physical stores.

πŸ‘‰ Related: Shopify vs WooCommerce


3. Clover β€” Best for Restaurants

Monthly: $14.95-94.85

Clover offers industry-specific solutions.

Features

  • βœ… Table management
  • βœ… Menu customization
  • βœ… Employee scheduling
  • βœ… Tipping
  • βœ… Inventory
  • βœ… Loyalty programs

Best For: Restaurants, quick service.


4. Toast β€” Restaurant Specialist

Monthly: $0+ (hardware required)

Toast is built specifically for restaurants.

Features

  • βœ… Restaurant-specific
  • βœ… Online ordering
  • βœ… Kitchen display
  • βœ… Payroll integration
  • βœ… Delivery management
  • βœ… Menu management

Best For: Full-service restaurants.


5. Lightspeed β€” Best for Retail

Monthly: $69-199

Lightspeed offers robust retail management.

Features

  • βœ… Advanced inventory
  • βœ… Multi-location
  • βœ… Purchase orders
  • βœ… Customer management
  • βœ… Reporting
  • βœ… E-commerce

Best For: Specialty retail, multi-location.


Feature Comparison

FeatureSquareShopifyCloverToast
Free planβœ…βŒβŒβœ…
Inventoryβœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…
E-commerceβœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…
Multi-locationPaidβœ…βœ…βœ…
RestaurantBasicβŒβœ…βœ…

Our Recommendations

Business TypeChoose
GeneralSquare
Online + StoreShopify POS
RestaurantToast
Quick ServiceClover
Large RetailLightspeed


Last updated: January 2026