Buying guide · retail
Best POS Systems for Retail
Last updated September 7, 2026 · 5 systems compared
Our picks for retail POS, weighted toward inventory depth, omnichannel, repeat-customer tools and total cost of ownership.
At a glance
| # | POS system | Our rating | Software | In-person rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Lightspeed Best for inventory-heavy retail | 4.3 /5 | $109+ per month | 2.6% + 10¢ (Lightspeed Payments) | Review |
| 2 |  Biyo POS Best for loyalty & repeat customers | 4.5 /5 | $0–$97 per month | 2.4%–3% | Review |
| 3 |  Shopify POS Best for omnichannel brands | 4.4 /5 | $39+ per month (Basic plan) | 2.6% + 10¢ | Review |
| 4 |  Square Best for small shops | 4.6 /5 | $0+ per month | 2.6% + 15¢ | Review |
| 5 |  Clover Best with a local reseller | 3.9 /5 | $0+ per month (reseller-set) | ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set) | Review |
Our picks, ranked
- 14.3 /5
Matrix products, purchase orders and vendor catalogs that scale to thousands of SKUs.
- Software
- $109+ per month
- In-person rate
- 2.6% + 10¢ (Lightspeed Payments)
retailrestaurantqsr - 24.5 /5Rated #1 in Customer Support
Native loyalty, tiers and gift cards, #1-rated support, and no contract or commitment.
- Software
- $0–$97 per month
- In-person rate
- 2.4%–3%
retailrestaurantqsr - 34.4 /5
One catalog and inventory across web, store and social selling.
- Software
- $39+ per month (Basic plan)
- In-person rate
- 2.6% + 10¢
retailecommercemobile - 44.6 /5
Free plan, fast setup and low overhead for a single location.
- Software
- $0+ per month
- In-person rate
- 2.6% + 15¢
retailrestaurantqsr - 53.9 /5
Familiar hardware and financing through your bank or processor.
- Software
- $0+ per month (reseller-set)
- In-person rate
- ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set)
retailrestaurantqsr
Frequently asked questions
What is the best POS for a small retail store?
For a single low-volume shop, Square’s free plan is hard to beat. As inventory complexity grows, Lightspeed leads; for brands that live on repeat customers, Biyo POS is worth a close look.
Narrow it down for your business
Tell us your industry and volume — we’ll recommend the best fit from this list.