Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems for Retail of 2021

POS systems are not all made equal, and deciding what system is right for your business requires research and depends on specific details, such as what kind of business you run. Our Best Retail Point of Sale Systems of 2021 list rates different POS systems for their effectiveness in retail settings. Some of the companies on this list also offer POS systems for restaurants, golf courses, and other types of businesses as well.

The Best Retail POS Systems of 2021

Square

Square POS is both a retail and restaurant POS system, and it scored a 4.3 out of 5 in our ratings. It topped our lists of the Best POS Systems for Retail, Best POS Systems for Restaurants, and the Best POS Systems of 2021. Its sleek, square-shaped hardware and user-friendly software makes transactions efficient and building a business easy. Learn more in our Square review.

Vend

Vend is a retail-only POS system that helps businesses build loyal consumer bases and offers an attentive customer support team. It aims to help large enterprises and businesses with multiple locations run more effectively. Vend took second place in our Best POS Systems for Retail of 2021 ratings with a score of 4.1 out of 5 points. Learn more in our Vend review.

Epos Now

Epos Now is a U.K.-based company that offers POS solutions for retail, restaurant, and hospitality businesses. The company offers hardware and software specifically catered to each of these industries. It tied for third place in our Best POS Systems for Retail in 2021 ratings with a score of 4 out of 5; it also took second place in our Best POS Systems for Restaurants and Best POS Systems of 2021 ranking. Learn more in our Epos Now review.

ShopKeep

ShopKeep offers retail and restaurant iPad-based POS systems that cater primarily to small businesses operators who need quick turnaround time on transactions. It’s cloud-based and has a user-friendly interface. ShopKeep is tied for third place in our Best POS System for Retail 2021 rating with a score of 4 out of 5. It’s also rated the second-best POS system of 2021. Learn more in our ShopKeep review.

Lightspeed

Rated as our fifth-Best POS System for Retail 2021, Lightspeed POS is an all-in-one point-of-sale system that works for all types of niche businesses, such as apparel, bicycle, jewelry, and CBD stores. Not only does it offer retail solutions, it provides different software and hardware for restaurants and golf courses as well. Lightspeed came in fourth place in our Best POS Systems of 2021 rating with a score of 3.9. It also placed sixth in our Best POS Systems for Restaurants. Learn more in our Lightspeed review.

Shopify

Shopify is known for its easy-to-use interface, which makes it a good choice for anyone new to using POS platforms. It stands out from some of its competitors because it integrates an e-commerce platform and encourages users to transition their physical store to an online store. Shopify is accessible to people everywhere with its mobile app, and it tied for fifth place in our Best POS Systems for Retail 2021 ratings with a score of 3.9. Learn more in our Shopify review.

Clover

Clover POS offers hardware and software point-of-sale systems, and unlike some of its competitors, the company’s software can operate without any specific hardware. This means business owners can pay less and use the software on their existing smartphone, tablet, or computer. Clover POS earned 3.6 out of 5 points and took seventh place in our Best POS Systems for Retail 2021 ratings; it also earned fifth place in our Best POS Systems of 2021 ratings. Learn more in our Clover review.

Revel Systems

An iPad-based point-of-sale system, Revel provides solutions for both retail and restaurant businesses. It offers add-ons like gift card use, loyalty programs, and online ordering. With a score of 3.4 out of 5, Revel secured the last spot in our Best POS Systems for Retail 2021. It also places sixth in our Best POS Systems of 2021 and eighth in our list of Best POS Systems for Restaurants. Learn more in our Revel Systems review.

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What is a Retail POS System?

A retail POS system features hardware and software products that record each transaction to help business owners better analyze sales and maximize inventory. These POS solutions are often cloud-based, which makes it easy to track your store’s sales while you’re off-site. Retail stores offer many more products in their inventories than restaurants, so retail POS systems often require more detailed reporting.

POS systems for both retail and restaurant businesses have similar front-of-house accessories like credit card scanners, printers, and product scanners. However, retail POS systems include another system in the back of house that controls inventory and tracks sales trends. Retail POS systems can also help managers monitor employee hours and sales.

What to Look for in a Retail POS System

With so many POS system options, it can be difficult to decide which one will work best for your retail business. For example, small boutiques with a few employees will have different demands than large department stores with multiple locations. Below are some questions to ask yourself when you’re thinking about choosing a POS system.

What type of business are you running?
If you’re running a brick-and-mortar store with a small selection of goods or a high turnover rate, you’ll want an easy-to-use POS system that makes transactions efficient and doesn’t take too long for your employees to master. If you run an e-commerce site and sell niche products online, you’ll want a POS that can help simplify the online ordering and shipping process. Those who operate a multilocation business will want a POS system that allows them to track all their stores from one dashboard and provides real time updates so they can see changes while they’re on-the-go.

What hardware will your business need, and how much of it?
If you already own tablets, barcode scanners, or receipt printers, you’ll want a POS system that runs on your specific type of hardware and a POS company that won’t force you to buy new products. If you don’t own any hardware yet, consider a POS system that provides some hardware for free with your purchase. Furthermore, if you’re a loyal Android user, you may want to choose a POS platform made specifically for Android tablets; on the other hand, Apple lovers should opt for an iPad-based POS system.

Do you want to choose your own credit card processor?
Some POS companies offer their own built-in payment processing options, while others accept a variety of payment providers. Both are solid options, but make sure to do your research before deciding because some POS companies charge higher transaction fees if you don’t use their unique payment processor. For more information on payment processors, see our list of the Best Credit Card Processing Companies of 2021.

How do you want to handle returns, refunds, and exchanges?
Choose a POS system that will allow you to craft and customize your return policies to your liking and ensure your business model is customer centric. For instance, you can decide whether you want to give money back to customers or give them store credit to ensure you keep their money.

Are you interested in additional features?
If you want your customers to engage in loyalty programs or be able to use gift cards when they pay, you’ll have to make sure you choose a POS company that offers these features. In the retail business, some popular add-ons include inventory management software to give you low-stock notifications and employee management software to make back-office tasks easier.

How Much Does a Retail POS Cost?

Most retail POS systems charge a monthly fee for each of their plans. For instance, Shopify offers five plans ranging in price from $9 per month for Shopify Lite to $2,000 per month for Shopify Plus. Many POS companies will also charge per register, per month.

Sometimes POS companies will offer a free trial before charging the month-to-month rates. Other POS systems, like Square, don’t charge monthly fees for their basic plans, but instead impose a specified percentage fee on every transaction. Transaction fees can add up over time, and the percentage can differ if a customer is ordering a product online or making a purchase in the physical store. When it comes to more advanced plans though, most POS companies charge monthly fees.

Hardware is available for a wide range of prices. Some companies may offer the first magstripe reader for free, or charge $1,649 for a hardware bundle that includes multiple screens, a receipt printer, and a card reader. If you already have a tablet or other piece of hardware, you’ll want to choose a POS system compatible with it to avoid having to buy another. If you don’t have your own devices, you’ll incur a charge for any POS hardware you want to buy, such as a tablet or credit card scanner, unless your POS company supplies some hardware for free.

Another aspect that can increase the cost for a POS system is third-party apps and integrations. Some small businesses will function perfectly with the features provided in their all-in-one POS system, but if operators want additional features like payroll integration, they may have to pay extra.

Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems of 2021

This rating compares POS systems that offer services that help both retail businesses and restaurants record and track sales.

Click here for more information on the Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems of 2021.

Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems for Restaurants of 2021

This rating compares POS systems that perform best in restaurant settings and offer features that help with details like online ordering, inventory management, and kitchen communication.

Click here for more information on the Best Restaurant Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems of 2021.

The Best POS Systems of 2021

Directory of U.S News Point-of-Sale (POS) System Guides

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How U.S. News Evaluated POS systems

We explain what matters most when it comes to POS systems by sourcing experts and professional reviewers. We also provide an unbiased evaluation of POS systems. Our goal is to empower businesses with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating POS systems is available here.