Best POS Systems for Dispensaries in 2025
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about dispensary POS systems: picking the wrong one can literally cost you your license.
Cannabis retail isn’t like running a regular shop. You’re operating in one of the most regulated industries in America. Every gram needs tracking. Every sale needs verification. Every report needs to hit Metrc or BioTrack on time. Miss something? Hello $17,500 fine and a week-long closure.
I’ve watched dispensary owners cry (literally) because their POS couldn’t handle a Metrc API change and they got flagged by the state. I’ve also seen operators double their throughput after switching to the right system. This decision matters.
In California, non-compliance fines equal 50% of your daily revenue × days suspended. A 7-day suspension for a store doing $5K/day = $17,500 fine PLUS $35,000 in lost sales. Your POS is your compliance lifeline.
🗺️ Know Your Tracking System First
Before choosing a POS, you need to know which state tracking system you’re dealing with. This determines which POS integrations will actually work for you.
State Tracking Systems (2025)
📊 Metrc States
Alaska California Colorado DC Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Montana Nevada Ohio Oklahoma Oregon West Virginia
🌱 BioTrack States
Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Illinois New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Puerto Rico
In August 2025, Metrc and BioTrack announced a major partnership creating “BT Government, Inc.” This may simplify integrations in the future, but for now, always verify your POS has active, tested integration with YOUR state’s system.
🏆 The Top 5 Dispensary POS Systems (Real Talk)
Dutchie became a powerhouse after acquiring Green Bits and Leaf Logix in 2021. They’ve combined the best of all three platforms into a comprehensive seed-to-sale solution that handles POS, e-commerce, and compliance in one package.
Why Dutchie dominates: If you want online ordering (and you should – it’s 30-40% of sales for many dispensaries), Dutchie is king. Their e-commerce platform is the most polished in cannabis, and it connects seamlessly to the POS.
- Best-in-class e-commerce integration
- Comprehensive seed-to-sale tracking
- Built-in website builder
- Native digital payments
- Most comprehensive back office
- Works for any size operation
- Higher price point (~$500-1,000/mo)
- Famous 4/20/2024 crash incident
- Can be complex for tiny operations
- Some features are add-on priced
⚠️ Real Talk: Yes, Dutchie crashed on 4/20/2024, costing stores money. They’ve since upgraded infrastructure. Ask your rep about their uptime guarantees and SLA.
Based in Colorado since 2015, Flowhub has been battle-tested across 18+ states. Their latest “Maui” upgrade introduced universal login – meaning you can manage multiple locations across different states from one dashboard.
Flowhub’s superpower: Integration network. They connect with basically everything – Dutchie, Weedmaps, Jane, Springbig, Alpine IQ, Headset. If you use it, Flowhub probably integrates with it.
- Massive integration ecosystem
- Universal login for multi-state ops
- Fastest setup in the industry
- Strong Metrc integration
- Excellent mobile capabilities
- No native seed-to-sale (needs integration)
- E-commerce via partners, not native
- Pricing not publicly listed
If compliance keeps you up at night, Cova should be on your shortlist. They’re particularly strong in Canada and medical-heavy markets where regulatory scrutiny is intense.
Cova’s edge: Their compliance automation is bulletproof. Purchase limits, ID verification, and reporting all happen automatically with minimal manual intervention.
- Rock-solid compliance automation
- Excellent customer support
- Strong Canadian market presence
- Reliable uptime track record
- Good loyalty program features
- Less e-commerce focus than Dutchie
- Fewer third-party integrations
- Custom pricing (call for quote)
BLAZE is for operators who want everything in one system. POS, e-commerce, delivery management, compliance – all native, all integrated, no third-party Frankensteining required.
Best for: Dispensaries doing their own delivery. BLAZE’s delivery management is among the best in cannabis.
- True all-in-one platform
- Excellent delivery management
- More affordable than Dutchie
- Good reporting and analytics
- Less integration flexibility
- Smaller market share than leaders
- E-commerce not as polished as Dutchie
Treez is what the big MSOs (multi-state operators) use. If you’re running 5+ locations or planning serious expansion, Treez handles scale better than anyone.
Enterprise features: Consolidated Metrc reporting across locations, advanced inventory forecasting, enterprise-grade analytics, and the horsepower to handle Black Friday levels of traffic.
- Built for enterprise scale
- Powerful multi-location tools
- Advanced analytics and forecasting
- Handles massive transaction volumes
- Overkill for single locations
- Enterprise pricing (expensive)
- Longer implementation timeline
🎯 Need Help Choosing?
Get matched with the right dispensary POS based on your state, size, and specific needs. Free, no-obligation consultation.
Get Free Quotes →💰 Real Costs Breakdown
Cannabis POS pricing is notoriously opaque. Here’s what you’ll actually pay:
| Component | Budget | Mid-Range | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Software | $200-400 | $500-800 | $1,000-2,000+ |
| Hardware Setup | $1,000-2,000 | $2,500-5,000 | $5,000-15,000 |
| Implementation | $0-500 | $1,000-3,000 | $5,000-15,000 |
| Annual Total | $4,000-8,000 | $10,000-20,000 | $25,000-100,000+ |
🎯 ROI Reality Check
Most dispensaries see full ROI on their POS investment within 6-12 months through:
- Reduced compliance fines – One avoided violation = months of software cost
- Lower shrinkage – Better tracking catches theft and errors
- Faster checkout – More customers per hour = more revenue
- Better inventory turns – Less dead stock, more cash flow
🔒 Non-Negotiable Features for Dispensary POS
- State Tracking Integration (Metrc/BioTrack) — If it doesn’t sync automatically with your state system, it’s useless. Period.
- Real-Time Inventory Sync — Your POS inventory must match your state inventory 24/7. Discrepancies = audits.
- Age & ID Verification — Every customer, every time. Medical card verification if applicable.
- Purchase Limit Enforcement — The system must automatically block over-limit sales. No exceptions.
- Customer Allotment Tracking — Know how much each customer can still buy today/this week/this month.
- Tax Calculation — Cannabis taxes are complicated (excise, state, local, THC-based). Your POS must handle it.
- Offline Mode — Internet dies, you still need to sell (and sync later). This is non-negotiable.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What POS system do most dispensaries use?
Dutchie and Flowhub dominate the market, with Dutchie leading in e-commerce-heavy operations and Flowhub popular among multi-state operators. Cova is strong in Canada and medical markets, while Treez serves enterprise-scale MSOs.
How much does a dispensary POS cost?
Monthly software runs $200-2,000 depending on features and scale. Add $1,000-15,000 for hardware and $0-15,000 for implementation. Annual costs typically range from $4,000 for budget operations to $100,000+ for enterprise multi-location setups.
Can I use Square or regular retail POS for a dispensary?
Absolutely not. Square, Clover, and other mainstream POS systems don’t integrate with Metrc/BioTrack, don’t handle cannabis-specific compliance, and will actively shut down cannabis accounts if they find out. You need a cannabis-specific POS.
What happens if my POS goes down?
This is why offline mode is critical. Most quality cannabis POS systems cache inventory locally and continue processing sales during outages, then sync with state systems when connectivity returns. Ask your vendor about their offline capabilities and SLA guarantees.
How long does dispensary POS implementation take?
Simple single-location setups: 1-2 weeks. Multi-location or complex operations: 4-8 weeks. Enterprise migrations: 2-4 months. Factor in staff training time on top of technical setup.
Is Metrc or BioTrack better?
You don’t get to choose – your state mandates which system you use. Both work, both have their quirks. The quality of your experience depends more on your POS’s integration quality than on which state system you’re using.
🚀 Ready to Level Up Your Dispensary?
Get personalized POS recommendations from our cannabis retail experts. We’ll match you with systems that work for YOUR state and YOUR operation.
Get Expert Recommendations →📚 More Cannabis Retail Resources
- Complete POS System Reviews — 100+ systems compared
- Cannabis Compliance Guide — Stay legal in every state
- Dispensary Marketing Strategies — Grow without getting banned
- Cannabis Payment Processing — Navigate banking challenges
Last updated: December 2025 | Written by the POSAdvice editorial team | We may earn a commission when you purchase through our links.
Dispensary POS Pricing
Cannabis POS costs including compliance tracking and seed-to-sale integration:
Retail POS Pricing Comparison
Compare pricing for retail point-of-sale systems. Find the best value for your store type.
Shopify POS
- Software From $29/mo
- Processing 2.4% + $0.30 (with Shopify Payments)
- Contract Monthly or annual (10% discount)
Square for Retail
- Software Free plan available
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10
- Contract None
Lightspeed Retail
- Software From $89/mo
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10 (Lightspeed Payments)
- Contract Annual billing required
Clover
- Software From $14.95/mo
- Processing 2.3% + $0.10 to 2.6% + $0.10
- Contract Varies by reseller
Detailed Pricing Breakdown
Shopify POS Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify + POS Lite | $29/mo | POS app, Shopify store |
| Shopify + POS Lite | $79/mo | Professional reports |
| Shopify + POS Pro | $168/mo | Smart grid, unlimited staff |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Square for Retail Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | FREE | Basic POS, inventory |
| Plus | $60/mo | Advanced inventory, reporting |
| Premium | Custom | Enterprise, dedicated support |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Lightspeed Retail Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Lean | $89/mo | POS, basic inventory |
| Standard | $149/mo | Accounting, ecommerce |
| Advanced | $239/mo | Loyalty, advanced reports |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Clover Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Register Lite | $14.95/mo | Basic retail POS |
| Register | $44.95/mo | Full POS, inventory |
| Counter Service | $54.9/mo | QSR, order tracking |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Get Your Personalized Quote
Actual pricing depends on your specific business needs. Get custom quotes from top providers.
Get Free QuotesCompare Dispensary POS Systems
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- Shopify POS vs Square – Inventory-focused options
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