Written by Tatiana Lebreton Reviewed by Oliver Simpson Updated on June 21, 2024 On this page Best POS Systems for 2024: Comparison Table 1. Square 2. Toast 3. Clover 4. SpotOn 5. Lightspeed 6. Shopify Buying Guide: How to Choose a POS System Next Steps FAQs Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. Modern POS systems aren’t just for taking payments, they’re a digital hub where you can track inventory, orders, and staff shifts, as well as access reports. In 2024, restaurant and retail POS systems will often come with built-in marketing and loyalty tools, for instance, while bar POS systems will usually contain better tab management and dynamic pricing features.Coupling a free software plan, sleek hardware, and features to meet the needs of a wide range of businesses, Square is the best POS system we tested out of 20 total. That said, it might not be perfect for every business, which is why we’ve included five other research-backed picks in our list.Whether you’re getting a POS system for the first time, or looking to switch from your current provider, we’re confident your perfect system is somewhere on this page. What are the top 6 POS systems? Square – Best for scaling and growing your businessToast – Best for established restaurants with complex operationsClover – Best for professional hardwareSpotOn – Best for simplifying staff scheduling and communicationLightspeed – Best in driving repeat business and loyaltyShopify – Best for managing in-store and online salesThese are the providers we recommend based on our research. Click on any of the links above to use our cost comparison tool, and find the best POS system for your business. Why you can trust our recommendations? Here at Expert Market, we’ve been researching and testing POS systems for nearly 15 years, in order to provide businesses with up-to-date, impartial reviews. During our most recent research project, we took a closer look at 20 top POS systems available in the US.This project has involved getting hands-on with both POS hardware and software providers and assessing their range of features, as well as how easy they are to use. We then used the results from these assessments to grade the providers against a range of criteria, including value for money and hardware quality. Find out more in our methodology section. Best POS Systems for 2024: Comparison Table Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Square Toast Clover SpotOn Lightspeed Shopify 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.5 4.5 Price Free: $0/monthRestaurant Plus: $69/monthRetail Plus: $89/monthRestaurant Premium: $165/monthRestaurant Premium: Custom Price Starter Kit: $0/monthPoint of Sale: $69/monthBuild Your Own: custom Price From $165/month (software and hardware package) Price From $0/month Price $89/month (basic)$149/month (core)$289/month (plus) Price $89/month/location + Shopify online store ($39-$399/month) Card processing fees 2.6% + 10¢ to 3.5% + 15¢ Card processing fees 2.49 + 15¢ in-person, standard pricing2.99% + 15¢ in-person, pay-as-you-go pricing3.5% + 15¢ not-present Card processing fees 2.3% + 10¢ (in-person)2.6% + 10¢ (not-present) Card processing fees 1.99% + 25¢ to 2.89% + 25¢ Card processing fees Card-present: 2.6% + $0.10Card-not-present: 2.9% + $0.30 Card processing fees Best For Best for scaling and growing your business Best For Established restaurants with complex operations Best For Best for professional hardware Best For Simplifying staff scheduling Best For Driving repeat business and loyalty Best For Best for managing in-store and online sales Pros Free POS softwareAffordable paid plansCheap hardware Pros Designed for the hospitality industryStock and profit management toolsIngredient usage tracking Pros Handheld POS systemEasy to useOffline mode Pros Free software and hardware packageNative app for staff scheduling and payrollAutomated tip sharing Pros Advanced inventory managementGift cards and loyalty programsSMS & email marketing Pros Powerful platform ideal for any-sized retail storeAffordable hardware options Cons No advanced cost vs profit management tools Cons Best features comes as paid add-ons Cons Hardware is expensive Cons Limited range of hardware Cons Only available through iPad or Android app Cons Requires you to sell through and pay monthly fees for your own Shopify store Visit Square Visit Toast Compare Quotes Visit SpotOn Try Lightspeed Compare Quotes Prices correct as of June 2024. Eligible for free POS system quotes? Click your state to find out AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY 1. Square: Best for Scaling and Growing Your BusinessSquare is the best POS system for businesses looking to scale and grow, thanks to its affordable price point, advanced features, and range of POS solutions designed to suit different types of businesses. Square 4.8 Pricing From $0/month Compare quotes Square review Suitable for Businesses seeking a low-risk option (zero-contract) Small to medium-sized businesses with 1-3 locations Businesses that want to integrate an online store Not suitable for Businesses that require cost and profit management tools Restaurants who need to track ingredient usage Businesses that want low processing fees Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS software $0-$89/month Card processing fees 2.6% + 10¢ to 3.5% + 15¢ Card machines $19-$299 iPad stand (iPad not included) $99 Countertop kits and terminals $579-$1,389 KDS $20/month/device Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: Square's table plan did the job, but we would have preferred more customization, such as changing colors, and labels. Source: Expert Market Photo: We found Square very easy to use overall, thanks to the platforms clear sign posting, exemplified here in the menu sidebar. Source: Expert Market Photo: Square's clearly signposted dashboard is part of what makes it easy to use. We weren't left wondering where different functions were. Source: Expert Market Why we like itSquare suits a variety of businesses, thanks to its three types of POS systems, one for restaurants, one for retail stores, and one for appointment-based businesses like salons. This makes it one of the most versatile providers, matched only by Clover.Whatever POS solution you choose, you’ll be able to start on a free software plan, which is a great value option for small businesses, or ones just starting out. Square’s free retail POS software comes with multi-site stock and employee management, and customizable gift card creation, while its free restaurant software comes with menu and table management. This types of features can help you not only manage sales and inventory, but all aspects of your business.As your business grows, you can upgrade your Square plan, for a monthly fee of $20 to $89, depending on the solution you choose. This gives you access to more advanced features. For example, Square’s paid plan for retail businesses, which starts at $89 per month, per location, gives you access to more advanced inventory and reporting tools.Square isn’t perfect, however. It’s missing advanced cost and profit management tools, available at competitors like Lightspeed Restaurant and Shopify, and doesn’t support ingredient tracking, unlike Clover. This means that for large chains, it might not be the best option for keeping on top of spending.Its card processing fees, starting at 2.6% + 10¢ are also on the high side (you can get significantly lower ones with SpotOn or Clover).Listing an item in Square is pretty straightforward. You enter a type, name, and description, and select at what location it's sold. Source: Expert Market Square POS : Testing Summary We found Square generally very easy to use. The backend was quite intuitive, and we had no trouble creating menus or listing items. We did struggle a little with more complex tasks like applying discounts to an order, or splitting a bill.Here’s what ones tester had to say regarding discounts:“I don’t know if this was my mistake, but when it came to paying, I was adding a specific amount. It didn’t just let you be like, all right, this person’s paying for this, this person’s paying for this. You had to add the amount.”Who’s Square for?Square’s free plan is good for small, single-location businesses, such as cafes, independent boutiques, or salons.The paid plans will suit businesses with up to three locations, such as budding chain restaurants. Businesses with more than three locations might find Square’s reporting tools a little limiting, as they aren’t designed to handle very large operations, unless you opt for a custom plan. Did You Know? You can build a free online store with Square, and integrate it with your POS system. This makes it easy to keep track of profit made from both in-person and online orders. Square’s online store is one of the best ecommerce platforms for small US businesses. Get free quotes and save on your POS system today Get Free Quotes 2. Toast: Best for Established Restaurants with Complex OperationsToast is the best POS system for established restaurants with complex operations, whose owners are looking to optimize efficiency. It offers a large array of inventory and profit management tools, as well as some neat customer engagement features. Toast 4.8 Pricing From $0/month Try Toast Toast POS review Suitable for Restaurants of all types and sizes Businesses looking to grow revenue and drive guest traffic Owners looking to streamline operations with fewer vendors Not suitable for Businesses that have iPads and require an iOS solution Small cafes or restaurants with simple inventories Owners who want a knowledge center for support Pricing See more See less Solution typePrice Starter Kit (up to two terminals) $0/month Point of Sale (includes custom hardware options) $69/month Build Your Own (includes custom hardware options) Custom pricing Card processing fees Custom-built credit card processing rates Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: On top of being heat and spill resistant, Toast's POS terminal has two flexible screens. This can improve visibility for employees and customers alike. Source: Expert Market Photo: We had a little trouble locating where to add menu items in the Toast backend, but once we found it, there was a quick tutorial that showed us exactly what steps to take. Source: Expert Market Photo: We really like Toast's drag and drop editor, which made creating a floor plan very easy. Source: Expert Market Why we like itToast specializes in creating POS systems for the food service industry, so all its features are specifically designed to meet of restaurants of various sizes.You’ll get the most out of Toast by opting for one of its many add-on features, which, unfortunately, do come at an extra cost. The one that most impressed us was the inventory management add-on, which give you access to food and recipe cost management, as well as low stock alerts. This are essential tools for successfully managing your business’s spending, and aren’t available at rival Square.However, Toast is missing ingredient usage tracking, so it’s not the best system for reducing waste and shrinkage. For that, we recommend Lightspeed Restaurant.Our main issue with Toast is that a lot of its best features aren’t included in its basic software packages (you even have to pay extra for tip management), and Toast doesn’t even tell you how much each add-on costs. If clear pricing is what you need, Square is extremely transparent with its add-on costsWhen you arrive on the home screen in Toast's backend, you'll see an overview of the day's sales and order history. Source: Expert Market Toast POS: Testing Summary Toast was easy to use, especially when completing basic tasks such as creating floorplans and menus. We even had little trouble with more complex tasks like splitting bills and applying discounts. The main action we found difficult was setting up tip sharing policies for employees.Here’s what one tester had to say:“…you can’t fault a platform, which pretty much has everything and actually it’s very very simple.”Who is Toast for?Toast is best suited to well-established restaurants that either have one large capacity location or several locations. You’ll benefit the most from its advanced management tools.It’s not, however, a good option for small or new restaurants, who’ll do better with a simple solution like Square. Get free quotes and save on your POS system today Get Free Quotes 3. Clover: Best for Professional HardwareClover is the best POS system for businesses that need top-range, professional hardware that can handle fast-paced environments. Clover 4.7 Pricing From $14.95/month Compare quotes Clover review Suitable for Busy establishments experiencing rapid growth Businesses who want to deep dive into their analytics Owners who want cheap processing fees Not suitable for Small pop ups or establishments with small inventories Owners who want to avoid hefty upfront costs Users who want automated tip sharing tools Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS Software (including basic hardware) $14.95/month to $4,097+ $129.85/month Countertop terminals (included in some software plans) $799-$1,999 Card machines (included in some software plans) $49-$599 KDS $799-$899 + $25/month/device Card processing fees 2.3% + 10¢ to 3.5% + 10¢ Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: We could customize all aspects of Clover's floorplan, besides table color, which is a bit of a shame. Source: Expert Market Photo: We appreciated that we were able to see reports on Clover in graphs and chart form, since it made interpreting data easy. Source: Expert Market Photo: We like the Clover Flex a lot. It wasn't too heavy to hold, and we could access the full software dashboard directly from it. Source: Expert Market Why we like itLike Square, Clover offers POS systems for a variety of businesses, from retail, to restaurants, to personal services, making it a versatile choice.Where it really shines is its extensive hardware offering. Its most popular item is the Clover Station Pro, a countertop kit with an employee and customer-facing screen, and a card machine. It’s a touchscreen device with a fingerprint login, so employees can quickly log on, and not waste customers’ time entering in a password.We liked how responsive and bright the Clover Station Pro’s screen was, and the fact that it wasn’t mounted too high, which made typing on it easy. Other terminals we tested, such as Epos Now’s (not featured in this article), were mounted very high up, which made typing a bit of a pain.Clover's Station Solo hardware allows you to get to business out of the box with an all-in-one, easy setup POS system - Source: Expert MarketThe Clover POS system’s software capabilities are pretty great too. You’ll be able to track inventory, profits, and employee performance across multiple locations, and access advanced tools such as advanced features such as stock alerts and profit tracking. On top of that, the Clover system was one of the most intuitive ones we tested, an advantage if you need to train multiple employees.Where Clover fumbles is mainly in the price. You’ll pay a premium for great hardware, with Clover’s handheld POS device costing $599, $200 to $300 to more than what you’d pay for the equivalent at SpotOn, Square, or Shopify.Plus, for fussy restaurant owners, you might not like that Clover’s food service POS doesn’t have automated tip sharing, unlike Toast or Square. Clover POS: Testing Summary We had no trouble assigning orders to guests and splitting bills with Clover, unlike on platforms like Square. The only thing that was slightly more challenging was printing receipt for a split bill.Here’s what one tester had to say:“When I came to the “Split bill by guest” screen, I didn’t realize I had to select the guests one by one, instead I clicked “Select all” (since we’re splitting it for all of them). […] Once I realized I had to select the guests one by one, this was a simple process […]”Who is Clover for?We recommend Clover’s POS system to establishments with multiple locations and several staff members. Its advanced features and easy-to-use platform make it especially well-suited to fast-paced restaurants.It’s also good solution for retail stores, although we’d say it’s slightly more catered to food and beverage businesses, thanks to extra features such as QR code ordering. 4. SpotOn: Best for Simplifying Staff Scheduling and CommunicationSpotOn is the best POS system for businesses looking to simplify their staff scheduling, thanks to its proprietary shift and payroll management software. SpotOn 4.7 Pricing From $0/month (excl. processing fees) SpotOn Review Suitable for Businesses seeking a low-risk option Restaurant owners who need seamless staff management Small to mid-sized restaurants with 1-3 locations Not suitable for Restaurants that change their floor plan frequently Businesses that want to purchase additional accessories Restaurants owners who want a tablet-based system Pricing See more See less Solution typePrice Quick Start plan (includes hardware) $0/month (excl. processing fees) Counter-service plan (includes hardware) $99/month +$3 per employee/month Full-service plan (includes hardware) $135/month +$3 per employee/month Customize Your Own plan Custom Card processing fees 1.99% + 25¢-2.89% + 25¢ Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: With SpotOn, we were able to assign items to different guests and group them either in one check (as seen here), or different checks. Source: Expert Market Photo: We wished SpotOn had a drag and drop editor for its table plan. Instead, we had to click a + button to add tables. Source: Expert Market Photo: We had no trouble finding where to set up a discount, thanks to SpotOn's menu search bar. Source: Expert Market Why we like itThe provider offers two types of POS, one for retail, and one for restaurants. However, we rate SpotOn’s restaurant POS system much higher than we do its retail one, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on here.The system comes with the basic features necessary for restaurants, including menu and table plan management, payment processing, and reporting tools. It actually allows for full table plan customization, which is unusual for a provider that markets itself as affordable. You can even change table colors, a feature not permitted with Clover.However, SpotOn’s crowning jewel is its proprietary “Teamwork” app, which handles shift management and payroll, and can even create cost projections based on employee salaries. Plus, it includes automatic tip sharing, a feature a lot of top POS providers like Lightspeed and Clover are missing. This type of feature can improve motivation in back of house or frontdesk employees, by giving a salary boost.Unfortunately, these features aren’t all available on SpotOn’s amazing free plan, which includes both free POS software and hardware (on Square’s free plan you still have to pay for hardware). They are included at no extra cost in SpotOn’s paid software plans, and are available as a paid add-on on the free plan.If we’re being picky, we also don’t love the fact that SpotOn doesn’t have wide a range of POS hardware and accessories, especially when compared to competitors like Square or Clover. There’s also no app version of the software, for use on iPad or Android tablets, making SpotOn a slightly less accessible choice.SpotOn's POS system only comes in a dark mode, which might not be to everyone's taste. However, if you're a bar or evening service restaurant, this might work to your advantage. Source: Expert Market SpotOn: Testing Summary SpotOn falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to ease-of-use. Most tasks weren’t challenging, but it wasn’t as much of a breeze to use as Clover. Some tasks we struggle with a little were creating a floor plan, because the editor wasn’t drag and drop like Clover or Square, and finding menu items when creating an order.Here’s what one tester had to say:“When I came to add the products to starters mains and desserts, there’s no search function. It’s just this massive long list of items and I had to scroll through absolutely everything. [sic]”Who is SpotOn for?SpotOn’s free POS software and hardware plan is a great option for new restaurants, allowing you to set up from scratch and pay for your system overtime with 2.89% + 25¢ card processing fees.The $99 per month and $135 per month paid plans are perfect for slightly larger restaurants, that have a variety of staff roles, from hosts, to servers and runners. 5. Lightspeed: Best for Driving Repeat Business and LoyaltyLightspeed is one of the best POS systems for driving customer loyalty, thanks to its array of marketing and loyalty tools. Lightspeed 4.5 Pricing From $69/month Try Lightspeed Suitable for Businesses who want to create a loyal community Establishments with complex inventories or multiple locations Users who want to pay no upfront costs Not suitable for Businesses who want a cheap starting plan Owners who want a range of hardware, such as a physical terminal Businesses who change their floor plan frequently, or require automated tip management Pricing See more See less Item typePrice Retail software $89-$239/month Restaurant software $69-$399 Card processing fees 2.6% + 10¢ to custom Gallery See more See less Click to expand Photo: When you open an order tab on Lightspeed it gives you the option of applying a discount, which can encourage customers to return. Source: Expert Market Photo: We didn't have trouble finding and selecting products for checkout when testing Lightspeed Retail, since we had so few. But we liked that there was a search bar, which is a godsend when you have a varied inventory. Source: Expert Market Photo: We were big fans of Lightspeed's floor and table plan, which allowed for complete customization. Source: Expert Market Why we like itLightspeed offers two types of POS systems, one for retail and one for restaurants, with the latter also earning a spot in our list of best restaurant POS.Its restaurant POS system comes with gift card creation, loyalty and points programs, and customer tabs, so you have a history of all previous orders. The retail system has email and SMS marketing tools, loyalty programs, and automated marketing features.Lightspeed gave us the option of creating customer profiles, which contain purchase history and make tailored marketing much easier. Source: Expert MarketLightspeed’s customer loyalty features also include access to an app store (on both Restaurant and Retail plans) that includes tools such as customer birthday mailers. Features like these let you stay connected to your customers and give them incentives to return again and again.However, we should warn you that Lightspeed’s POS software is completely tablet-based. You can get access to tablet stands and card machines through the provider, but not a physical countertop terminal. If that’s something you’d prefer, we’d recommend looking into Clover, or Toast. Lightspeed also isn’t the cheapest solution on the market, with its cheapest plans costing as much as Square’s most expensive ones. Lightspeed POS: Testing Summary Lightspeed was a little more challenging to use compared to the other POS systems we tested. We mainly struggled with the frontend while trying to complete tasks such as adding a note to an order or adding a customer’s details, because of system lags or failures, which is a little concerning. We didn’t encounter such issues with rivals Clover or Toast.Here’s what one tester had to say:“I found it was either really easy and really obvious, or I literally could not figure out how to do a particular thing.”Who is Lightspeed for?Both of Lightspeed POS solutions, restaurant and retail, are best for medium-sized establishments, or ones with multiple locations.Price is a major reason why, Lightspeed is just too expensive for most small or new businesses. But you do get your money’s worth. The Lightspeed POS system is equipped to handle complex inventories and help established businesses maintain their reputation by driving repeat sales. 6. Shopify: Best for Managing In-store and Online SalesShopify is the best POS system for managing both in-store and online sales, thanks to its dual offering of ecommerce and POS software. Shopify POS 4.5 Pricing From $89/month/location Compare quotes Shopify review Suitable for Businesses who want to integrate in-store and online sales Businesses with extensive and varied inventories Those interested in integrating a lot of apps into their EPOS system Not suitable for Businesses not interested in paying for an online store Those who want cheap processing fees Businesses that need a training mode for staff Pricing See more See less Item typePrice POS software $89/month/location + cost of a Shopify online store ($39-$399/month) Card machines $49-$299 Countertop terminal kit $459 Card processing fees 2.4% + 10¢ - 2.9% + 30¢ Why we like itShopify might be better known as an online store builder, but over the years it has become a destination for omnichannel selling.Its POS system is specifically designed for retail, and has a unified dashboard that integrates both ecommerce and POS functions. From there, you’ll be able to manage inventory across channels to prevent any discrepancies in sales reports.When you list a product on Shopify, you can decide whether to make it available online, in-store, or both. Source: Expert MarketUseful features include the ability to accept in-store returns for online purchases, and low-stock reports that take both online and in-person sales into account. You can also create customer profiles that sync in-person and online purchase history, making it easier to reward customer loyalty. That said, unlike Square or Lightspeed, Shopify doesn’t have any native loyalty tools, but it does integrate with a host of third-party apps that provide them.It’s not without its downsides however, Using Shopify POS requires you to have a Shopify online store, adding $39 to $399 to your monthly overheads, on top of the $89 per month you’ll be paying for the POS (more if you plan on using it at more than one location). And, if you’re not using Shopify Payments to process card transactions, Shopify adds on an extra 0.6%-2% on top of third-party processing fees.For a more affordable alternative, we suggest Square, which charges a maximum of $89 per month for its retail POS software, and $79 per month for its online store, with free options for both. Square is better suited to smaller businesses though, so if you’re an international retail business, Shopify is worth the price. Shopify POS: Testing Summary We found Shopify to be an intuitive system overall. The unified system for online and in-store sales meant that we didn’t have much trouble locating and sorting items. Even splitting a payment between cash and card was relatively simple.Here’s what one tester had to say:“The interface itself is very straightforward and very modern, slick, similar to Zettle. The tile system is quite good, very customizable, you can add individual products.”Who is it for?Shopify’s POS system is tailored to retail stores that already sell online, and want to open a brick-and-mortar location store. We wouldn’t recommend it to smaller businesses, or ones that don’t have high online sales, since its ecommerce plans are expensive, and you have to pay for one to access POS features. Did You Know? You can sell on Shopify for less with its $5 per month Starter plan. Small startups or casual sellers looking to sell online and in-person get access to a basic version of the Shopify POS app, accessible on smartphones and tablets. The Starter plan also lets you accept in-person payments via smartphone with tap-to-pay, no card machine required. Buying Guide: How to Choose a POS SystemIf you’ve read all the reviews, and still don’t quite know what POS system is best for your business, don’t sweat it.Here are some of the things you should consider before making a decision:Cost and Pricing StructureYou know your budget better than we do, and it goes without saying that you shouldn’t choose a POS system that you can’t afford. We recommend that you look closely at the pricing structure, and assess what’s included for free, and what comes at an added cost, to get the best deal.For example, Square charges zero fees for using its POS software, but you’ll have to pay upfront for each card machine, till, or other piece of equipment you need. This can really add up if you have multiple stores.A provider like SpotOn, on the other hand, doesn’t charge for software or hardware but compensates for this with high transaction fees. If business is booming, this could be more expensive in the long run.POS Functions and Available HardwareAssess your business needs, and choose a provider that meets them closely. Some POS systems are designed with certain types of businesses in mind (eg. pubs and restaurants vs retail stores), which makes locating the right fit easier.It’s also important to look at the features included in the POS software. Are you a pub or fast-food establishment that requires QR code ordering? Providers such as Clover and Lightspeed have this, while SpotOn doesn’t.You should also look at the physical equipment that’s available to buy or rent from each POS system provider. If your staff needs to take orders at tables, for example, a tablet-based POS system will be beneficial. If you accept cash as well as card, look for an POS provider that has a till setup.Some POS systems are compatible with third-party hardware, but it’s always best to check if your existing equipment or the equipment you plan on buying can easily integrate with your chosen POS system.Ease of UseAs a rule of thumb, the easier a POS system is to use, the better. This will speed up training and service times, and reduce room for error.This doesn’t mean you need to go with the absolute easiest system to use. If you and your employees are experienced with POS systems, you could compromise on ease of use in favor of advanced features.POS systems like Clover and Square are particularly easy to operate, while Lightspeed has a training mode for new employees.Customer SupportGood customer support shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to POS systems. In an ideal world, you’d never have to contact customer support but, let’s face it, no system is ever perfect.We’d recommend choosing a POS system that has a customer support phone line, since calling is usually the fastest way to get an issue resolved. Live chat channels, help centers, and community forums, if the POS system has them, can also be great for quick troubleshooting.Don’t forget to look at opening times. Most POS customer support teams operate during the week, but a few are also available at weekends and holidays, which could be really valuable if those are your busiest times. Next Steps To recap, the top three POS systems in the United States are Square, Toast, and Clover.Square and Clover are very transparent about their fees, so you’ll know right away if they fit your budget. Toast is a little murkier, only advertising the cost of its software plans.This is pretty typical for POS providers, but we’ve got a solution. Simply tell us what you need from your next POS system using our quick form, and we’ll match your business with the best POS suppliers for your unique needs.They’ll be in touch with no-obligation, tailored quotes. It’s quick, easy, and free to get started. Save on your POS system by comparing free quotes today Get Free Quotes Our MethodologyThe Expert Market team tested and assessed 20 different POS systems to bring you this list. We spend around 160 hours researching POS platforms, and over 20 hours testing them. During that time, we used our learnings to evaluate how each POS system fared in six categories that are important to businesses, broken down into between four and 12 subcategories, in order to get an impartial ranking.Here’s what we looked at:POS software: the breadth of features included in the POS software, and how valuable they are to the average business, including inventory management, menu/product creation, customer engagement tools and table management.Hardware/equipment: the variety of equipment available to purchase or rent, with special importance given to key items, such as physical terminals, customer displays, and accessories.Ease-of-use: how easy each system is to use, based on feedback from several average users who were assigned basic tasks to complete on each system, such as menu/item creation, accessing report, or applying a discount.Help and support: how effective and reachable the customer support teams are, with bonus points given to POS systems with help centres and training modes.Costs: the price of the system, how it compares to competitors, and whether it’s good value for money.User experience: whether everyday users know and like the system, whether they’d recommend it, and what they say about it in online reviews.The score of each of these areas was combined to create an overall score for each of the different types of POS systems.This axis graph shows the number of features vs usability of restaurant EPOS systems we tested. It's visual representation of the results of our research process. FAQs Which POS system is the cheapest? The cheapest POS system is SpotOn, since it has a completely free software package that includes basic hardware as well. A close second is Square, which also has a free software plan, but charges for hardware, with its handheld POS device retailing for $299, and its card reader for $49. What is the best POS system for food trucks? For a small food truck, you’re better off with a simple solution like Square or SumUp. They come with basic hospitality-specific features and affordable card readers.See the full list in our best POS for food trucks guide. Written by: Tatiana Lebreton Senior Grow Online & Business Software Expert Tatiana is Expert Market's resident payments and online growth expert, specialising in (E)POS and merchant accounts, as well as website builders. Reviewed by: Oliver Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years in operational B2B data analysis, Oliver became a business insight specialist in 2022 and now focuses full-time on understanding small business preferences and needs. He blends his quantitative skills, forged by his experience working as a law enforcement researcher, with qualitative exploration, to ensure robust and nuanced results.