Compare the best POS systems for US retail and hospitality. See point of sale software costs, card processing rates, hardware, contracts, inventory, and table management side by side.
Shopify | Square | Lightspeed | Clover | SpotOn | Toast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Est. Cost /mo (USD) | $675/moCheapest | $713/mo | $782/mo | Get quote | Get quote | Get quote |
| Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User rating | 4.6Capterra (230+) | 4.7Capterra (3,000+) | 4.0Capterra (970+) | 3.8Capterra (570+) | 4.4Capterra (300+) | 4.2Capterra (600+) |
| Software & Pricing | ||||||
| Software monthly fee | $0 POS Lite (Pro ~$89/location) | $0/mo (Plus tiers $69-89/location) | $69-269/mo (Restaurant from $69, Retail $89-269) | Quote ($0-135/mo by plan/reseller) | Quote ($0 Basic to ~$135/mo Premium) | Quote ($0 Starter to ~$165/mo + add-ons) |
| Payment processing rate | 2.7% (in-person, Basic) | 2.6% + 10c | ~2.6% + 10c | Quote (~2.3-2.6% + 10c indicative) | Quote (SpotOn payments, per deal) | Quote (Toast payments, negotiable) |
| Per-transaction fee | None | 10c | 10c | Quote | Quote | Quote |
| Hardware cost | Tap-and-chip reader from ~$49 / terminal kit to ~$329 | Reader $0 magstripe / contactless $49 / Stand $149 / Terminal $299 / Register $799 | iPad-based; reader/stand/printer bundles (~$300-1,000+) | Flex / Mini / Station Duo (purchase or financed, quote) | Quote (SpotOn Terminal, handhelds, KDS) | Quote (proprietary terminals, KDS, handhelds) |
| Setup fee | Free | Free | Possible onboarding fee | Quote (reseller-dependent) | Quote (onboarding with local rep) | Quote (implementation) |
| Contract length | No lock-in (monthly) | No lock-in | Annual term typical | Varies (direct flexible; reseller multi-year) | No long-term lock-in (claimed) | Quote (multi-year typical) |
| Free trial | Yes (3 days, then $1/mo intro) | Not needed (free plan) | Yes (14 days) | No | Demo only | Demo only |
| Additional register cost | POS Pro ~$89/mo per location | $0 (free plan); Plus $69-89/location | ~$39 per register | Quote (per device) | Quote (per device) | Quote (per handheld/terminal) |
| Core Features | ||||||
| Payment processing integrated | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inventory management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting / analytics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline mode | Limited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI | ||||||
| AI features | Native (Sidekick, Magic copy/images) | Native (Square AI, copy, Photo Studio) | Native (Lightspeed AI, forecasting) | Limited (forecasting, Insights) | Limited (reporting, marketing AI) | Native (ToastIQ) |
| MCP / AI agents | Native MCP (Storefront) | Native MCP (dev/ops, beta) | Via 3rd-party (Zapier) | API only | API only | Via 3rd-party (community) |
| Industry & Integrations | ||||||
| Table management | No (retail/omnichannel) | Yes (Square for Restaurants) | Yes (Restaurant product) | Yes (Table Service plan) | Yes (restaurant) | Yes (core, restaurant-only) |
| Loyalty program | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platform integrations | QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify App Store, Afterpay/Klarna | QuickBooks, Xero, Square Online, 200+ apps | QuickBooks, Xero, built-in eCom, DoorDash, Uber Eats, 100s of apps | Clover App Market, QuickBooks, Xero, e-commerce | DoorDash, Uber Eats, QuickBooks, reservations, marketing | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, QuickBooks, 100+ |
| Industry focus | Retail (omnichannel) | Both | Both (Retail + Restaurant) | Both | Hospitality (some retail) | Hospitality (restaurants) |
| Customer support | 24/7 (chat/email) | US phone (business hours), 24/7 chat | 24/7 (US-based) | 24/7 (direct); via reseller bank otherwise | 24/7 (US-based, local reps) | 24/7 (US-based) |
Independent, side by side breakdowns of the matchups merchants ask about most.
The right POS depends on your industry, business size, and existing payment setup. We can help you evaluate options and negotiate the best deal.
