Choosing the right POS system for your retail business is like picking a new car. While it’s tempting just to buy something quick that looks good on the surface, you need to take your time and evaluate how your options will affect your daily life. For instance, a system with a flashy interface might impress you initially, but if it doesn't have the features you need to manage your store, you’ll end up with buyer's remorse in no time. Incorporating POS integration into your considerations is also important if your business includes a café or food section, as it can streamline order management and enhance customer experience. So, how to choose  point of sale system? Taking the time to compare POS systems for retail will help you find a solution that fits your unique operation to boost sales and improve efficiency without the risk of overspending or getting stuck with the wrong system. In this article, we'll help you understand the ins and outs of retail POS system comparisons so you can make the best decision for your business.
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The POS Exchange can help you get started on the right foot by connecting you with top retail POS systems providers to help streamline your comparison process. With our resources, you can find the perfect solution to help you boost sales, enhance your customer experiences, and improve your daily operations. 

What is a Retail POS System, and Why Is It So Important?

A retail POS (point of sale) system empowers retail associates to provide customers a memorable, seamless, and consistent service level experience. The best retail POS systems enable actionable visibility of every stage of an omnichannel customer’s buying journey, regardless of selling channel, customizing shopping experiences for each customer.

Retail POS software comes in all shapes and sizes and is built around solving different store or sale space needs. Below are the various types of retail POS systems: 

• Terminal Retail POS System: Stationary POS that allows associates to check out customers, keep track of finalized sales, and track all products sold at the point of service. 
• Terminal POS are often attached to or accompanied by a cash register, display, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and a card reader device.
• Mobile Retail POS System: Accessible from a mobile device or smartphone via an app and often equipped with a card reader device plugged into the mobile device’s audio jack. In the retail world, it is frequently used at pop-up and vendor store locations.
• Tablet Retail POS System: Accessible via an app on a portable computer with a touchscreen interface that allows associates to either bring the point of service experience to the customer or at a checkout register attached to a swivel stand, enabling easy back and forth between the associate and customer.
• Self-service Kiosk Retail POS System: Works without the need for a retail associate, enabling the customer to navigate through the point of service experience themselves, including scanning and paying for retail items with a barcode scanner, paying by using a card reader, and navigating via a large touch screen monitor or register.
• Cloud Retail POS System: Retail POS software accessed via an internet connection on a private, secure server from any location or mobile device. It lives and stores data in a cloud environment, with cloud-native architecture that enables more scalability, resiliency, adaptability, and upgradable retail solutions. 

Most retail leaders are adopting modern POS technology, and cloud-native is becoming synonymous with that distinction. 

Why Having Modern Retail POS Software is Key for Your Business

Today, retail POS software is more dynamic and complex in its ability to provide services to omnichannel customers than just 15 years ago. Smartphone apps have allowed retail associates increased flexibility when delivering POS services, removing the requirement of staying stationary at a register and providing a more hands-on approach to customer service, either in-store or online.

Historically, if a store did not have the product a customer was looking for, they were either turned away, had to wait for confirmation from another location that they did or did not have the product in stock, or were told blindly to check another location for that item. That’s not the case anymore.

According to the 2023 Unified Commerce Benchmark conducted by Incisiv, 37% of shoppers will shop at another retailer if their desired product is out-of-stock, and 62% of retail leaders provide real-time inventory visibility on their product detail page. 

Enhanced Customer Service

Modern retail POS systems possess the agility associates need to retrieve an item for a customer from anywhere in its retail network in the fastest and easiest way possible. It also allows them to assist customers whenever and wherever they need it and enables customers to access all available inventory.

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How to Compare POS Systems for Retail Businesses

When running your business smoothly, your POS system must do more than just process payments. Let’s break down some must-have features and why they’re worth your attention. 

Inventory Management

Ever run out of a best-seller or find shelves stuffed with slow-moving products? A sound POS system keeps you on top of your inventory, tracking real-time stock levels. Systems like Lightspeed handle automatic reorders, so you’re always stocked up without overdoing it. This feature can save you countless headaches if your business deals with many products. 

Customer Loyalty Tools

Bringing in new customers is great, but keeping them coming back? That’s where loyalty tools shine. Whether it’s a points system or exclusive discounts, programs like the ones from Lightspeed help you reward your best customers and keep them engaged. It’s an easy way to turn one-time buyers into loyal fans. 

Multichannel Capabilities

Selling online and in-store shouldn’t feel like running two separate businesses. That’s why systems such as Shopify POS are so handy; they let you sync inventory and sales across all your channels. Whether a customer shops online or enters your store, everything runs seamlessly in the background. 

Reporting and Analytics

Want to know your best-selling item or when your store is busiest? Reporting tools make it easy to spot trends and adjust your strategy. Systems like Square offer dashboards that break everything down into digestible insights. 

Hardware Options

Every business has unique needs when it comes to hardware. A boutique shop might need a barcode scanner and receipt printer, while a food truck thrives on a mobile card reader. 

Employee Management

If you have a team, you’ll love a POS system that helps track hours, sales, and even access permissions. Systems like Revel Systems make it easy to see who’s a top performer and where schedules might need adjusting.

Payment Processing Flexibility

These days, customers expect you to accept more than just cash or cards. With options like mobile wallets and even Venmo, systems like PayPal POS ensure you’re covered. The more ways you can accept payments, the easier it is for your customers to buy from you.

By prioritizing these features, you can find a POS system that meets your current needs and positions your business for future success. 

Value: Get the Most Bang for Your Buck 

When choosing a POS system, it’s essential to balance the cost against the features and benefits it provides. A low-cost solution might save you money upfront but lacks the tools your business needs to grow. Conversely, a higher-priced system could offer robust functionality that saves you time and increases revenue in the long run.

For example, Shopify’s omnichannel capabilities justify its slightly higher fees for businesses managing online and physical stores. 

Choosing the Right POS System for Your Needs

Think about the specific needs of your business. Are you running a seasonal operation or a side hustle? A no-monthly-fee option like PayPal POS might be perfect. On the other hand, if you’re running a high-traffic retail shop, spending more on a system like Lightspeed with advanced loyalty tools can help you build long-term customer relationships, which often outweigh the initial costs.

Here are a few tips to assess value: 

• Calculate Total Costs: Don’t just look at the monthly fees; factor in hardware costs, transaction fees, and any add-ons you need.
• Match Features to Needs: Avoid paying for features you won’t use, but don’t skimp on tools that can streamline operations or boost revenue.
• Consider Scalability: If you plan to expand your business, choose a system that can grow with you rather than replace it later. The best value comes from a system that solves your problems and helps your business thrive, even if it costs a bit more upfront.
• Integration Capabilities: Streamline operations by connecting your POS system with existing software.
  

Modern businesses rely on various software tools, from accounting platforms to e-commerce websites. A POS system with strong integration capabilities can streamline operations by syncing with software like:

• QuickBooks
• WooCommerce
• Mailchimp

For example, Shopify is designed to work seamlessly with its e-commerce platform. Look for systems that connect with the tools you already use or plan to adopt. 

Mobile Functionality: Don’t Get Stuck at the Counter

For businesses on the go, mobile-friendly POS systems are essential. Whether running a food truck, a pop-up shop, or delivering services in the field, having a POS that works on a tablet or smartphone can make transactions seamless. 

Square leads the pack in mobile functionality with its easy-to-use mobile app and compact hardware. Consider whether your business needs flexibility beyond a fixed terminal. 

Ease of Training: Keep Operations Smooth During Employee Turnover

If you’re running a business with a high turnover rate or seasonal employees, the ease of training on a POS system is critical. A user-friendly interface can reduce onboarding time and mistakes, keeping your operations smooth. 

Systems that are known for intuitive designs, making them excellent choices for businesses with new or rotating staff include:

• Square
• PayPal POS

Customer Support: Don’t Get Stuck With a POS System That Doesn’t Work When You Need It To 

When something goes wrong, you want help fast. Customer support can make or break your experience with a POS system. Look for providers with:

• 24/7 support
• Multiple communication channels (e.g., phone, chat, email)
• Quick response times

Price: The Initial Cost Is Just Part of the Equation 

Cost is always a good place to start regarding any business software, including POS systems. If your budget is tight, starting with a free plan that only charges transaction fees might be your best bet. On the other hand, paid plans can get you more affordable transaction fees and more features for reporting retail sales and managing sales and discounts. 

Business Size: Not All POS Systems Are Created Equal

You’ll need to consider the size of your business carefully when choosing a new POS system. Some are more natural fits with startups and SMBs, while others are designed to be scalable and better suit larger organizations. For instance, our top pick, Square, is perfect for smaller sellers starting, but Shopify’s strong ecommerce integration may make it more suitable for bigger businesses. 

Software Features: What to Look for in a Retail POS System 

The best POS systems for small businesses will log the number and value of the sales you’ve made, track your inventory, and let you know when to restock. It’ll also help you analyze sales and refunds to maximize profits. If you’re new to retail-centric POS systems, here are some features to look out for for your store: 

• Quick Keys: Also known as product lookup, quick keys is a till shortcut that lets you log popular products quickly without searching the entire catalog.

• Low Stock Notifications: Low stock alerts send pop-up notifications to inform you when an item is running out, prompting you to order more.
• Barcode Inventories: Barcoded inventory systems let you track products using scannable codes, offering real-time visibility into the location of each item.
• Multi-store Stock Transfers: For stores with more than one branch, this feature helps you relocate stock between locations quickly.
• Ecommerce Integrations: If stores also have a virtual shopfront, ecommerce integrations let you manage sales across multiple channels from one platform.

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Detailed Comparison of Top 11 POS Systems for Small Businesses

1. Clover POS

Clover is a versatile POS system that offers just about every retail-focused feature in the book – including advanced tools like multi-site inventory management and in-house customer loyalty capabilities, making it an excellent choice for established retail stores looking to grow. Its features include:

• Feature-rich software
• State-of-the-art hardware options
• User-friendly software
  

Clover POS Features: What We Like

Clover’s retail features are strong across the board, but it shines in terms of in-house customer loyalty. The Clover Rewards program lets you:

• Customize perks for repeat buyers
• Issue birthday rewards
• Launch win-back campaigns to target inactive customers.

Clover loyalty even lets you launch campaigns in your business’s branding to broaden your reach, a benefit no other provider on this list offers. Clover’s customer-focused app is simple to use, too. To qualify, customers must enter their first name when transacting.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Clover includes strong data analytics tools, which allow you to track sales performance in real time and see your sales across different locations. You can also filter your POS reports to view your busiest times and best-selling items, making it easier for businesses to work on their selling strategy and identify areas for improvement.

Check out our POS data analysis guide if you’d like more information on how to gain actionable insights from your point-of-sale system.

Clover’s range of inventory management tools is excellent for retail stores with large or complex inventories. The provider offers advanced stock management controls like:

• Bulk uploads
• Low stock alerts
• Product-level profitability analysis to help businesses expand their bottom lines.

Multi-Location Inventory Management

Clover even offers multi-location inventory tracking, making it an excellent option for chain retail businesses and sellers with stock in warehouses or fulfillment centers. Clover’s hardware devices are among the best in the industry. Its powerful POS toolkit is complemented by its excellent hardware options. 

Comprehensive Hardware Options

The provider gives firms access to just about any point-of-sale device they could desire, from basics like POS terminals and accessories to more specialist items like customizable customer-facing displays. This positions the POS well for businesses that run more extensive and complex operations and would benefit from a more robust hardware setup.

User-Friendly Interface

Clover’s front- and back-end are easy to navigate. While its interface may not be as customizable as alternatives like Epos Now or Square, the system was highly beginner-friendly. Its intuitive nature allowed our testers to log orders and carry out complex functions like discounts and refunds quickly and easily.

Our research team was particularly impressed with how easy it was to measure business performance with Clover, too, with one tester commenting, “I’m really amazed at the reporting side of things.”

Clover POS Features: What We Don’t Like

Clover’s software and hardware combined packages make getting started with the provider straightforward. 

Nevertheless, there’s a catch. The POS doesn’t offer a training mode, which could otherwise have helped employees get up to speed in a demo environment that won’t impact actual customer experiences. As a result, your business may face a learning curve when adapting Clover.

While it does offer help and support via phone and live chat, its response times aren’t as quick as alternatives like Square or Shopify, which could be off-putting for businesses using a POS for the first time.

Who Should Use Clover?

• Medium to large retail stores
• Businesses looking for low processing fees
• Users getting started with a POS for the first time
  

Who shouldn’t use Clover?

• Retailers with simple or small inventories
• Small pop-up retail stores
• Retailers that don’t want hardware and software bundles

2. Square POS

Square is a reliable POS system ideally suited to small or portable retail vendors because of its generous free plan and ultra-low learning curve. 

Square’s impressive hardware options and raft retail-specific features—from multi-store stock management and email marketing—also lend themselves well to medium-sized retail stores looking for something more elevated than a basic iPad setup.

Square POS Features: What We Like
From powerful customer relationship management (CRM) tools to strong sales reporting features that let you filter findings through items, sales, and team members, Square’s feature offering is impressive. 

The POS offers most capabilities in pricier systems like Clover and Lightspeed Retail, including multi-level stock controls and flexible delivery options. It is ideal for small and growing retail stores.

Omnichannel Selling Made Easy

Square’s seamless integration with its website builder, SquareUp gives it a leg up over other providers for businesses selling online and in-store. This is because omnichannel sellers can keep track of sales data through one centralized system, eliminating the need to skip back and forth between platforms. 

This integration makes Square an attractive choice for omnichannel sellers looking to avoid Shopify’s steep transaction fees, especially if they’ve already set up a website with SquareUp.

Recurring Revenue with Subscriptions

Square also offers a Square Subscriptions feature that allows ecommerce retailers to sell products regularly. This makes Square even more competitive for cross-channel sellers seeking consistent revenue. But Square isn’t just an asset to small or omnichannel sellers. 

Retail managers with large teams will benefit from the POS’s impressive employee management features.

Simplified Employee Scheduling

Shift scheduling is easy with Square, too. Managers can view staff availability, gauge labor costs, and allocate shifts through its central dashboard. The feature lets you track data across multiple locations, making the POS ideally suited to chain retail stores. Square lets managers create custom roles for staff, customize them to their business, and grant employees full access to the POS, a feature even Clover lacks.

After trying Square, we found its software and hardware are easier to use than alternatives like Epos Now and Shopify. The provider has also recently improved the Bluetooth connectivity for its chip and pin Square Reader, making it even easier for small vendors like market stalls and kiosks to take payments on the go.

Square POS Features: What We Don’t Like
But while Square’s suite of features will be able to meet the needs of most small and medium retail stores, it does lack a few capabilities offered by our frontrunner, Clover, including an inventory profit-cost calculator and an in-house customer loyalty system.

For this reason, alongside its slightly “clunky” navigation, Square could not maintain its title as the best POS for retail businesses and may not be the best pick for large or rapidly expanding retail stores.

Who Should Use Square?

• Small brick-and-mortar stores or pop-up sellers.
• Businesses that want a stripped-back user experience.
• Sellers looking to integrate with their online store.
  

Who shouldn’t use Square?

• Stores that want a training mode
• Businesses that need cost and profit management tools
• Retailers that wish ultra-low processing fees

3. Shopify

Shopify POS is a user-friendly point-of-sale system that seamlessly syncs with the provider’s ecommerce platform. Shopify’s industry-leading online selling features and stock controls make it a top choice for omnichannel sellers. 

Shopify's straightforward front-end design and $5 per month entry-level plan store also make it a safe bet for smaller stores and retailers getting started with POS systems for the first time, as long as they can go without fairly standard tools like shipping labels.

Shopify POS Features: What We Like
Shopify is great for big businesses and cross-channel selling. Omnichannel retail is booming, and research reveals the market is projected to grow a further 13.6% before 2030. If your retail business sells online and in-store, Shopify will be perfectly equipped to meet your needs. 

The provider lets you run your ecommerce site and up to 1,000 physical stores, all from one unified platform. This makes the POS an asset to large omnichannel franchises and retail stores looking to branch out into new locations.

Data-Driven Insights for Growth

Shopify’s reporting features were designed to support cross-channel selling, too. Businesses can track online and in-person sales data with product reports, cash flow reports, and daily sales reports if they upgrade to the Pro plan. 

The POS also lets you analyze sales performance across team members, helping you drive revenue by identifying and rewarding top sellers in brick-and-mortar stores.

Robust Inventory Management

Shopify also offers a great selection of till features, and the POS shines in terms of stock control. The provider’s inventory management tools let you create, edit, and review stock levels in a few clicks. Shopify also offers a cost-profit management tool that enables you to sync stock between multiple stores, which makes it an attractive option for chain stores looking to improve their profit margins.

Shopify has enormous potential and has come a long way since our last round of testing due to its ever-evolving sales features. The system is easier to use than alternatives like Square and Lightspeed Retail, which will pose a huge advantage to people starting with POS systems for the first time.

Shopify POS Features: What we don’t like
One of the most significant downsides to Shopify is that it doesn’t offer as many hardware options as many competitors. For example, Clover and Square sell multiple types of self-service kiosks, while Shopify only supports them through third-party sellers. Nevertheless, this difference won’t matter as much if most of your sales are online.

Many features, like CRM, accounting, or marketing tools, are only available as third-party integrations. This will prevent the POS from being used by a vast pool of stores, preventing it from appearing any higher on this list.

Who Should Use Shopify?

• Omnichannel sellers, mainly if they already use Shopify
• Retailers with large or complex inventories
• Multi-store retailers
  
  

Who Shouldn’t Use Shopify?

• Businesses that want a physical POS terminal
• Sellers looking for low processing fees
• Retailers that need a training mode

4. Epos Now

Epos Now is a capable point-of-sale system that offers all the retail-focused features you can find with Square—including granular stock controls and customer loyalty tools—alongside an excellent range of hardware options. 

Businesses can also pay for their packages upfront, allowing them to bring down their overheads by avoiding monthly costs. Epos Now makes it easy for retailers to add new locations, too, so the POS is one of the best choices for businesses just starting to expand. 

Limited Training Resources

Despite Epos Now’s apparent suitability for growing retail stores, it lacks a dedicated training mode. Its pricing structure might be a dealbreaker for new stores or pop-up sellers that don’t have lots of capital to invest upfront.

Epos Now POS Features: What We Like

Epos Now packs a good punch when it comes to retail-focused features. From advanced inventory management tools like low stock alerts and bulk uploads to multiple location stock syncing abilities, the POS should quickly meet the needs of retail businesses that handle large or complex inventories. 

The POS even offers a cost-profit calculator to help stores price items competitively, a benefit leading systems like Square lack.

Building Customer Loyalty

Epos Now offers its loyalty app to encourage customers to come back. Epos Now Loyalty lets you create a point-based loyalty scheme that aligns with your business model and analyzes shopper behavior through a Loyalty dashboard. Businesses using the system can also request their customizable loyalty card, which can be scanned via EPOS’s swipe and card reader.

Epos Now lets you quickly expand your POS system to accommodate new locations and increase transaction volumes. All you need to do is go to your back office's Locations & Devices page before entering information about your new retail location. 

Once this is set up, Epos Now’s multi-location management tools let you view data from your entire business, including stock levels and sales performance, from one centralized dashboard. It’s the best choice for stores planning to expand for the first time.

Epos Now POS features: What We Don’t Like
Unlike Clover, Epos Now’s loyalty app is only available as a paid add-on. Epos Loyalty lacks specialty features like birthday rewards and a customer-facing branding app. If expanding your base with a strong customer loyalty system is a priority, then you’d be better off using Clover unless you’re happy to integrate the system with other paid third-party apps like Wix.

Initial Challenges

Epos Now’s software interface could be better. Epos Now is an easy POS system. Our testers found it intuitive and easy to navigate. Nonetheless, its dashboard isn’t as modern as alternatives like Square and Shopify. One of our testers complained about hidden features, suggesting that Epos Now might take some time to get to grips with.

Epos Now also lacks a dedicated training mode. As a result, new staff may struggle to adapt to the system and jeopardize sensitive data. This, combined with the POS’s lackluster knowledge center and lack of help and social support, makes Epos Now less competitive for beginners.

Who Should Use Epos Now?

• Businesses happy to pay up-front
• Established retail stores
• Growing retailers looking to set up a second store
  

Who Shouldn’t Use Epos Now?

• Small retailers and pop-up sellers
• Businesses after a strong in-house customer loyalty system
• Businesses looking to avoid hefty start-up costs
  

5. Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is an iPad-based POS system for medium to large retail stores. The POS comes packed with advanced stock management capabilities and customer loyalty features to support business growth, and its multi-site inventory and employee oversight tools make it especially useful for retailers with multiple locations.

Lightspeed Retail Features: What We Like
Lightspeed Retail has a raft of retail-specific features designed to make selling easy and encourage business growth. Our research found that its retail features are even more comprehensive than Square and Epos Now, making it an excellent option for stores that rely on in-house capabilities instead of costly software add-ons.

Lightspeed offers lots of valuable features to support in-store selling. These include:

• Barcode scanning
• Customizable gift receipts
• Store credit, refund, and exchange options

Enhanced Gift Card Customization

When we tested Lightspeed Retail out for ourselves, we were particularly impressed with its built-in gift card creation tool, as the feature lets businesses customize gift cards with their personal branding and customer details. Alternatives like Clover or Square don’t offer this unique feature and help companies establish customer rapport.

Customer Relationship Management

Lightspeed lets you build customer profiles in a breeze. The POS also allows customers to receive marketing and promotional emails, which helps encourage repeat buying. Lightspeed Retail’s employee management features also stand out. The POS lets you:

• Create roles for staff
• Customize these roles to their business
• Enable specific functions for different users

Lightspeed also lets managers give full access to employees of any level – a perk not currently offered by Epos Now or Clover. This capability can be helpful for managers who need retail staff to take on specific responsibilities when they’re not around.

Seamless Multi-Store Management

Lightspeed’s features lend themselves exceptionally well to multi-store retailers.
The POS offers dedicated multi-store management tools that let you easily add new locations and manage activity across branches from one centralized dashboard.

Lightspeed Retail Features: What We Don’t Like
The POS may not be for you if you want support with pricing products. Lightspeed doesn’t offer a cost-profit analysis software that helps users calculate the profit margins of their items. If you need this, we’d recommend Clover or Epos Now.

Who should use Lightspeed Retail?

• Retailers with more than one location
• Sellers that want to attract a loyal community
• Medium to large retail stores
  

Who Shouldn’t Use Lightspeed Retail?

• Small stores with limited budgets
• Retailers that require an extensive hardware set-up
• Managers who need assistance with setting prices

6. Heartland

Heartland is another powerful option for retail POS systems and ecommerce and other retail businesses. Take contactless payment easily through your ecommerce platform using a secure integrated payment processing service through Heartland.

Pricing and Features

• You can integrate with Shopify, WordPress, Woocommerce, and many more.
• Heartland supports mail and phone orders with keyed-in payments using a computer and virtual terminal. 
• It offers additional services like gift cards and mobile payments, too.
  

Heartland is a feature-rich option for many retail stores but may be incredibly convenient for ecommerce. Heartland also makes micropayment processing a breeze.

Pros

• Powerful system for ecommerce that enables credit card, gift card, and micro-payment processing.
• Wide range of features with support for gift cards, payroll, and even business loans.
• Industry-specific solutions for several different areas.
  

Cons

• Far from one of the most affordable options on the market.
• Payment is not upfront or straightforward.
• Higher rates for monthly payments are required; otherwise, you’re into a three-year contract, which may increase running costs.

7. Vend

Vend offers a robust option for small to medium-sized businesses at a straightforward monthly pricing scale. It is an excellent option for retail POS systems because of its powerful inventory management capabilities.

Pricing and Features

Vend also offers a great mobile POS feature that will come in handy if you don’t want to conduct all of your business at a register. Nevertheless, there may be some extra costs for some mobile device support options.

This might be the best choice if you want to know what is happening with your monthly, weekly, and even daily sales activity. The cloud-based system gives you perfect coordination no matter what platform you use.

Pros

• In-depth metrics on customer behavior.
• Excellent bulk inventory tracking.
• Easy-to-use system for medium and small businesses
• It offers a two-week free trial period to determine whether it works well.
  Save money with annual billing.

Cons

• No server-based option
• Mobile sales are limited to the iPad; no other hardware is available for retail POS systems.
• Partners with third-party for credit card transactions

8. Revel Systems Retail POS System

If you want many retail pos features for your specific type of store, Revel might have what you need. The Revel systems POS is targeted toward small businesses with specific needs. It can handle a range of industries and comes with free automatic product updates.

Pricing and Features

If your particular business is in one of their target groups, you may not mind paying a slightly higher price tag for the incredible features available.

It also includes a restaurant POS system, which has built-in functionalities for kitchen management, making it an excellent choice for food trucks. You can use it to offer various customer discounts, such as:

• Happy hour discounts
• Dollar-off discounts
• Group discounts
• Standard percentage discounts
  

This program provides retailers with many tools right from the POS registers, so if managing your small retail store is a tough one-man job, Revel might make it much more manageable.

Convenience features like fast cash on hand can get you out of a tough spot. Revel handles its credit card processing, but you can integrate it with several different processors if you would rather. It works with various equipment such as:

• Scales
• Cash drawers
• Printers
• Diagnostic devices
  

You can view customer profiles, enter additional details such as card details, extra details, import lists from other sources, and store email addresses for future marketing. You can use the customer display and additional screens to run advertising offers to shoppers.

Pros

• Highly customizable to your particular type of retail needs, with valuable insights.
• Feature-packed with many tools available from the register.
• In-house credit card processing is available but also integrates with other retail systems so that you can choose your favorite payment processor.
• Easy-to-use interface despite being highly specialized.
• Excellent customer service is offered.
  

Cons

• Prices are hard to figure out and are expensive with hidden monthly fees.
• There is no opportunity for a free trial.
• Not helpful if it doesn’t cover your particular area of retail.

9. Helcim

Helcim offers an affordable payment processing solution ideal for companies that prefer a human touch when handling their POS systems.

Pricing and Features

Regarding pricing, Helcim’s saves you money with a low interchange rate for each transaction. According to their website, the specific rates cited include 1.94% + 8¢ for In-Person (Average) and 2.51% + 25¢ for Keyed & Online (Average). Plus, the pricing is incredibly transparent, with no hidden charges, monthly fees, or contracts.

This system is also flexible; you can use it for in-person POS and online. The service is bundled with numerous other features like a virtual terminal, online invoicing, and an online store builder. Other supported features include SMS payments, a subscription manager, and QR codes.

Pros 

• The company is committed to transparent pricing.
• They offer many tools that help you with the in-person and online payment process.
• Helcim prioritizes a human touch to customer support.
  

Cons

• All the tools and equipment you need to process POS purchases are available, but you’ll need to buy them separately.
• Payment plans and rentals aren’t currently offered.

10. KORONA POS

KORONA POS is highly adaptable and focuses on businesses with diverse needs. It doesn’t matter if you’re in retail, food service, or support; this solution can be customized to work for whatever kind of business you’re running.

Pricing and Features

This solution offers flat rates, no forced contracts, and zero fees, making it a great option. They also provide a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you’re at no risk to give it a shot. And the 24/7 support means your questions will be answered promptly. Other features include:

• Advanced inventory management
• Integration with ecommerce solutions
• Ticketing turnstile integration
  

KORONA POS also includes full reporting and analytics, scheduling, and payroll assistance, covering everything you might need to manage your business.

Pros

• Works with everything from retail to food service to ticketing services.
• 24/7 support puts customers first.
• The inclusion of inventory management and multi-store capabilities makes it easier to scale.
• Straightforward setup with pre-installed and configured hardware.
  

Cons

• This solution might be overwhelming for smaller businesses that don’t require all the advanced features.
• The tiered pricing model is great for some ($49 per month per terminal), but it might be a barrier to entry for budget-conscious startups.

11. Stax Pay

Stax Pay is an all-in-one business management platform that simplifies business payment processes, offering secure in-person and online credit card payment processing. Its transparent pricing model ensures cost visibility for informed decision-making, making it the best choice for businesses looking for clarity and simplicity in their payment solutions.

Stax Pay provides omnichannel support, enabling businesses to accept payments seamlessly across:

• Multiple online
• In-store
• Mobile channels

This cohesive experience helps companies manage transactions and customer interactions in a unified manner, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Standout Features 

• Flexible payment options (credit card, ACH, and eCheck)
• Advanced invoicing
• Recurring billing
• Customizable payment plans
• Provides detailed reporting and analytics
• Integrated fraud prevention
• User-friendly dashboard for managing transactions

Integrations

• Popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems such as Salesforce and HubSpot
• Ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
• It connects with payment gateways like Authorize.net and Stripe and marketing tools like Mailchimp and Constant Contact.
  

Pros

• Seamless integration with popular tools
• Advanced invoicing capabilities
• Flexible payment options
  

Cons

• Limited support for international transactions
• Slight learning curve for new users

Book a Free Demo Today!

The POS Exchange brings over 20 years of restaurant expertise, serving 200,000+ merchants and processing billions annually. Our tailored POS system solutions help businesses speed up checkouts by 30%, implement dynamic pricing, and manage customer reviews while reducing overhead. 

The POS Exchange is perfect for:

• Full-service restaurants
• Pizza shops
• Coffee houses
• Multi-location enterprises

We offer end-to-end service, from brilliant consultation and interactive demos to local installation and 24/7 support. Our mobile iPad POS systems streamline operations with features like:

• Order management
• Bill splitting
• Inventory control

Customized Solutions for Your Success

With integrations for business management tools and advanced security measures, we ensure your POS system grows with your business. Trust our expertise to help you avoid the common pitfall that affects 38% of new business owners who choose the wrong POS system. Whether managing a busy restaurant, a local café, or operating a multi-location business, The POS Exchange delivers customized POS system solutions that tell your unique business story. 

Book a free demo with POS exchange to learn about our customized POS system solutions today!

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• POS Terminal
• Tablet POS

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