Shopify POS is the best retail POS system for most independent and multi-store retailers because it shares one inventory, order and customer record between every store and the online shop.
Lightspeed Retail is the stronger choice for specialty chains with complex inventory,
Square for Retail suits small shops that want a free plan, and
KORONA POS fits liquor, convenience and other high-SKU stores.
Top 10 Retail POS Systems, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  Shopify POSShopify prices POS Pro at $89 per location per month on top of any Shopify plan, and says more than one hundred apps integrate with the POS. | E-commerce retailers expanding to physical stores | 96.6 | $29/month |
|---|
|
| 2 |  Lightspeed RetailLightspeed says about 146,000 locations in more than 100 countries use its platform, and that $98.1 billion in gross transaction volume was processed through it in fiscal 2026. | Specialty and multi-location retailers with large product ranges | 95.2 | From $89/month |
|---|
|
| 3 |  Square for RetailSquare's US pricing lists in-person card payments at 2.6% + 10 cents on the Free plan and 2.5% + 10 cents on Plus, which costs $89 per location per month. | Independent shops and small chains that want a low upfront cost | 93.8 | Free plan; Plus $89 per location/month |
|---|
|
| 4 |  Clover RetailClover's own deals page lists the Clover Compact terminal at $349 outright or $16 a month. | Retailers who want all-in-one hardware and an app market for add-ons | 92.1 | Hardware from $349; processing fees extra |
|---|
|
| 5 |  KORONA POSKORONA POS lists Core at $59, Retail at $79 and Plus at $99 per terminal per month, and offers an unlimited free trial with no credit card required. | Liquor, convenience, vape and other high-SKU stores | 90.4 | From $59 per terminal/month |
|---|
|
| 6 |  Retail ProRetail Pro says it serves 9,000 customers in 130 countries, covering 54,000 stores and 159,000 points of sale. | Independent and small-to-medium chain retailers requiring robust inventory control | 89.0 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 7 |  ErplyErply's pricing page starts retail POS plans at $49 per store per month and lists a separate POS tier for high-volume retailers running NetSuite as their head office system. | Chains and franchises that need POS tied to inventory and an ERP | 87.7 | From $49 per store/month |
|---|
|
| 8 |  Rain POSRain POS prices its Startup plan at $99 a month billed annually, with multi-location support on the Core plan and a Shopify integration on Plus. | Independent specialty shops that run classes, rentals or repairs | 86.5 | From $99/month (billed annually) |
|---|
|
| 9 |  POS NationPOS Nation says switching a liquor store to Bottle POS takes a few days and that a store's entire stock can be imported in under 30 minutes. | US liquor, grocery, tobacco and convenience stores | 85.3 | From $49/month |
|---|
|
| 10 |  LoyverseLoyverse's core POS is free, and its US pricing lists advanced inventory and employee management at $25 per store per month each, with a 14-day free trial. | Small businesses | 84.2 | – |
|---|
|
|
How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Shopify POS (#1): E-commerce retailers expanding to physical stores
- Lightspeed Retail (#2): Specialty and multi-location retailers with large product ranges
- Square for Retail (#3): Independent shops and small chains that want a low upfront cost
- Clover Retail (#4): Retailers who want all-in-one hardware and an app market for add-ons
- KORONA POS (#5): Liquor, convenience, vape and other high-SKU stores
- Retail Pro (#6): Independent and small-to-medium chain retailers requiring robust inventory control
- Erply (#7): Chains and franchises that need POS tied to inventory and an ERP
- Rain POS (#8): Independent specialty shops that run classes, rentals or repairs
- POS Nation (#9): US liquor, grocery, tobacco and convenience stores
- Loyverse (#10): Small businesses
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Unified POS and e-commerce platform
Shopify POS is the point of sale app for Shopify merchants, so products, inventory, orders and customer profiles are shared between physical stores and the online shop. The standard POS comes with every Shopify plan, and POS Pro adds unlimited staff roles and permissions, store analytics and omnichannel options such as buy online, pick up in store.
From $29/month
PROS- Seamless integration with Shopify online stores
- Strong omnichannel capabilities and unified customer profiles
CONS- Pricing escalates with advanced features
- Limited offline functionality if internet connection drops
- Best for
- E-commerce retailers expanding to physical stores
- Where it falls short
- Offline functionality is limited if the internet connection drops.
- Pick something else if
- you require reliable offline capabilities without internet access.
96.6
02
Inventory-first POS for multi-store specialty retailers
Lightspeed Retail (the X-Series) is a cloud POS built around inventory management, with stock transfers between locations, purchase ordering for any store and customer profiles shared across stores. It connects to Lightspeed's wholesale network for ordering stock from brands inside the POS, and supports ecommerce, social and marketplace selling.
From From $89/month
PROS- Stock transfers, purchase orders and supplier ordering built in
- Customer and sales data shared across every store
CONS- Higher starting price than Square or Shopify POS
- Advanced reporting and integrations sit on the upper plans
- Best for
- Specialty and multi-location retailers with large product ranges
- Where it falls short
- Higher starting price than Square or Shopify POS.
95.2
03
Free-to-start retail POS with built-in payments
Square for Retail adds retail tools such as barcode scanning, vendor management, purchase orders and inventory counts to Square's payments and hardware. The Free plan suits single stores, while the Plus plan adds features for multi-store sellers such as cross-location returns and transfer orders, plus a lower in-person card rate.
Free plan; Plus $89 per location/month
PROS- No monthly software fee on the Free plan
- Payments, hardware and software from one provider
CONS- Card processing is tied to Square Payments
- Multi-store inventory tools require the Plus plan
- Best for
- Independent shops and small chains that want a low upfront cost
- Where it falls short
- Card processing is tied to Square Payments.
93.8
04
Fiserv's all-in-one POS hardware and software for shops
Clover is the point of sale business owned by Fiserv, sold directly and through banks and resellers. Its retail plans pair Clover hardware, from the Compact terminal to the Station Duo countertop system, with inventory, barcode scanning, customer management and an app market for add-ons.
From Hardware from $349; processing fees extra
PROS- Wide range of countertop and handheld hardware
- App market for loyalty, reporting and other add-ons
CONS- Pricing varies by reseller and hardware bundle
- Software and processing are tied to Clover hardware
- Best for
- Retailers who want all-in-one hardware and an app market for add-ons
- Where it falls short
- Pricing varies by reseller and hardware bundle.
92.1
05
Per-terminal cloud POS for high-SKU and regulated stores
KORONA POS is a cloud POS from Combase USA used by convenience stores, liquor stores, dispensaries, smoke and vape shops, gift shops and hardware stores. It is priced per terminal, the Retail plan adds inventory and customer management, and the Plus plan adds advanced reporting and multi-location tools.
From From $59 per terminal/month
PROS- Unlimited free trial with no card required
- Plans built for regulated and high-SKU stores
CONS- Per-terminal pricing adds up for stores with many registers
- Smaller app ecosystem than Shopify or Square
- Best for
- Liquor, convenience, vape and other high-SKU stores
- Where it falls short
- Per-terminal pricing adds up for stores with many registers.
90.4
06
Specialised POS and inventory management software for independent retailers
Retail Pro International sells POS and retail management software for specialty retailers, with editions for small businesses, chain stores and global enterprises. It runs on iOS, Android and Windows devices and puts weight on localisation, which suits apparel, outdoor and other specialty chains with stores in several countries.
From Custom
PROS- Highly customisable workflows tailored to independent retail operations
- Strong offline capabilities and data synchronisation for unreliable connections
CONS- Steeper learning curve for users compared to modern cloud-based platforms
- Higher implementation costs for initial setup
- Best for
- Independent and small-to-medium chain retailers requiring robust inventory control
- Where it falls short
- Steeper learning curve for users compared to modern cloud-based platforms.
89.0
07
Cloud POS and inventory for chains and franchises
Erply is a cloud POS and retail management platform with inventory and warehouse modules, order management and a multi-store setup for chains and franchises. It integrates with NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Shopify and WooCommerce, and offers data hosting in the US, Canada, the EU, Australia and Africa.
From From $49 per store/month
PROS- Inventory and warehouse tools included in the platform
- Integrations with NetSuite, Shopify and WooCommerce
CONS- Chain and NetSuite tiers are priced well above the entry plan
- Fewer third-party apps than Shopify or Square
- Best for
- Chains and franchises that need POS tied to inventory and an ERP
- Where it falls short
- Chain and NetSuite tiers are priced well above the entry plan.
87.7
08
POS with a built-in website for independent specialty shops
Rain POS from Rain Retail Software combines point of sale, inventory, invoicing and a built-in ecommerce website for independent specialty retailers. It includes tools for rentals and repairs and for class and workshop sign-ups, and serves craft, boutique, outdoor, bike, dive, music, jewelry, ski, quilt and fabric shops.
From From $99/month (billed annually)
PROS- Built-in website synced to store inventory
- Rental, repair and class scheduling tools
CONS- Prices for the upper plans are not published
- Focused on specialty retail rather than general merchandise
- Best for
- Independent specialty shops that run classes, rentals or repairs
- Where it falls short
- Prices for the upper plans are not published.
86.5
09
US retail POS with editions for liquor, grocery and c-stores
POS Nation sells retail POS systems in store-type editions, including Bottle POS for liquor stores, Markt POS for grocers, Cigars POS for tobacco shops, C-Store POS for convenience stores and CellSmart POS for phone repair shops. The monthly fee includes 24/7 support and unlimited training, and the company says there are no setup or implementation fees.
From From $49/month
PROS- Editions built around specific store types
- 24/7 support and training included in the monthly fee
CONS- Full pricing shown only after completing a form
- Focused on US stores
- Best for
- US liquor, grocery, tobacco and convenience stores
- Where it falls short
- Full pricing shown only after completing a form.
85.3
10
Free POS system that powers your whole business
Loyverse is a free point of sale app for iOS and Android with sales analytics, essential inventory and a built-in loyalty program. Retailers can add paid modules per store, including advanced inventory with purchase orders and stock transfers, employee management and unlimited sales history.
- Best for
- Small businesses
84.2
Put your company on this ranking
Ask us for a quote for one, two or three years. Nothing recurring.
Positions #4 to #10 are available to larger companies. Contact us.
Not on this ranking?Tell us about your company and we will reply by email.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail POS system cost?
Software runs from free to about $100 per location or terminal each month before card fees. Square for Retail and Loyverse have free plans, KORONA POS starts at $59 per terminal and Lightspeed Retail starts at $89 a month. Chain systems such as Retail Pro are quoted on request.
How do I choose a POS system for a retail store?
Start with inventory: count your products, variants and locations, and check how each system handles transfers, purchase orders and stock counts. Then compare payment rules, since Square for Retail and Clover Retail tie you to their own processing. Finally check whether Shopify POS, Erply or your shortlist connects to the ecommerce and accounting tools you already use.
What is the best POS for a small retail business?
Square for Retail is the easiest start for a small shop because its Free plan has no monthly fee and includes barcode scanning and inventory. Loyverse is another free option for very small stores, while Rain POS suits independent specialty shops that run classes, rentals or repairs.
Is Shopify POS or Lightspeed Retail better for multiple stores?
Shopify POS is better if online sales matter, because the stores and the website share one inventory and customer record. Lightspeed Retail is better for inventory-heavy specialty chains, with supplier ordering, stock transfers and purchase orders built in. Both charge per location, so total cost rises with each store you add.
Which retail POS systems manage inventory across several stores?
Lightspeed Retail, Erply and Retail Pro are built for multi-store inventory, with transfers between locations and central purchasing. Shopify POS Pro and Square for Retail Plus also support several locations, and KORONA POS adds multi-location tools on its Plus plan.
Sources
Where we checked each company's facts, and when.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.