The best retail POS systems go beyond simple checkout – they help you manage inventory, track customers, and grow your business. Here are our top picks for 2025.
Top 7 Retail POS Systems
1. Shopify POS – Best for Omnichannel Retail
Price: $29/month + POS Pro $89/month
If you sell both online and in-store, Shopify POS is unbeatable. Unified inventory, customer profiles, and seamless channel switching make it our top pick for modern retailers.
2. Square for Retail – Best Free Option
Price: $0/month (Plus: $60/month)
Square offers robust retail features at no monthly cost. The Plus tier adds advanced inventory and team management.
3. Lightspeed Retail – Best for Advanced Inventory
Price: $69-199/month
Lightspeed shines with complex inventory needs – matrix inventory for variants, purchase orders, and vendor management.
4. Clover – Best Hardware Flexibility
Price: $14.95+/month
Clover offers everything from handheld devices to full station setups, with a large app marketplace for customization.
5. Vend (Lightspeed X Series) – Best for Multi-Store
Price: $99+/month
Cloud-based system that excels at managing multiple retail locations with centralized reporting and inventory.
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Get Started6. KORONA POS – Best for High-Risk Retail
Price: $59+/month
One of the few systems that supports CBD, vape, and other high-risk retail categories.
7. Revel Systems – Best Enterprise Solution
Price: $99+/month
iPad-based system with enterprise-grade features for larger retail operations.
Key Features for Retail POS
- Inventory Management: Track stock levels, variants, low stock alerts
- Barcode Scanning: Speed up checkout and inventory counts
- Customer Management: Loyalty programs, purchase history
- Employee Management: Permissions, time tracking, commissions
- Reporting: Sales analytics, inventory reports, profit margins
- Ecommerce Integration: Sync inventory across channels
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Last updated: December 2025
Quick Facts: Retail POS
Expert Tips for Choosing a POS System
Master Inventory Management
Use your POS inventory features to set reorder points, track slow-moving items, and optimize stock levels. Good inventory management can reduce carrying costs by 20-30% while preventing stockouts.
Leverage Customer Data
Your POS collects valuable customer data. Use purchase history for targeted marketing, identify your best customers for VIP programs, and personalize the shopping experience to boost loyalty.
Start with a Free Trial
Never commit to a POS system without testing it first. Most reputable providers offer 14-30 day free trials. Use this time to run real transactions, train your staff, and identify any workflow issues before signing a contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Omnichannel POS unifies your online and in-store sales into one system. It syncs inventory across channels, provides consistent customer profiles, and enables services like buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS). If you sell both online and in-person, omnichannel capability is essential for efficient operations.
POS inventory management tracks stock in real-time as sales occur. It can set automatic reorder points, generate purchase orders, manage variants (size, color), track suppliers, and provide inventory valuation. Some systems offer barcode scanning for faster receiving and cycle counts.
A cash register simply records sales and stores money. A POS (Point of Sale) system is a comprehensive business management tool that processes payments, tracks inventory, manages employees, generates reports, and integrates with other business software. Modern POS systems provide data-driven insights that help you make better business decisions.
POS costs vary widely. Software ranges from $0-$200+ per month. Hardware costs $500-$2,000 for a basic setup. Payment processing fees are typically 2.3%-2.9% plus $0.10-$0.30 per transaction. Consider the total cost of ownership over 3 years, including add-ons and upgrades.
Compare Top POS Systems
Shopify POS
Lightspeed
Square
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