The best POS system for a small business depends on what you sell. Square and Zettle suit simple setups, Shopify POS suits shops that also sell online, Lightspeed suits inventory-heavy retail, Toast and TouchBistro suit restaurants, and Clover, SumUp and Epos Now suit businesses that want hardware-led or locally supported options.
A point of sale system is the till plus everything behind it. It takes the payment, but it also records the sale, updates stock and gives you the numbers you need to run the business. The right one saves you from end-of-day counting and surprise stock-outs. The wrong one locks you into hardware and contracts you regret.
The nine systems below are established names. I've described each by what it's known for and who it suits, so you can narrow the field and then test two with a real day of trading.
What should you look for in a POS system?
- The type of business it was built for. A cafe, a clothes shop and a salon each need different features.
- Hardware. Some systems run on a tablet and a card reader. Others need specific terminals. Check what you'd have to buy and whether it ties you to one payment provider.
- Payment processing. Many systems bundle processing. Find out whether you can use your own provider.
- Inventory. If you stock lots of items, stock tracking and low-stock alerts matter most.
- Online and in-store together. If you sell on both, stock should sync between the two.
- Offline mode. Your internet will drop eventually. Can you keep selling when it does?
- Reporting. Sales by hour, by product and by staff member tell you what to change.
POS systems compared
| System | Best for | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Square | Small shops, cafes and service businesses | Easy setup with hardware and software together |
| Shopify POS | Merchants selling online and in person | Syncing in-store sales with a Shopify store |
| Lightspeed | Retailers and restaurants with bigger catalogues | Inventory and multi-location features |
| Toast | Restaurants | Restaurant-specific ordering and kitchen tools |
| Clover | Businesses that want hardware-led setups | Dedicated terminals and an app marketplace |
| SumUp | Market stalls, mobile traders and small shops | Simple card readers and basic POS |
| Zettle by PayPal | Very small businesses | Lightweight card reader and POS app |
| Epos Now | UK retail and hospitality | Retail and hospitality EPOS |
| TouchBistro | Restaurants and cafes | iPad-based restaurant POS |
Availability, hardware and fees differ by country, so confirm what's offered where you trade.
The best POS systems
1. Square
Square is one of the best-known POS systems for small businesses. It pairs a POS app with card readers and terminals, and it covers retail, food and service businesses.
Who it suits: small shops, cafes, salons and pop-ups that want to be taking payments quickly.
What stands out: its all-in-one start. Payment hardware, software and basic reporting come from one provider.
Watch out for: check how locked in you are to its payment processing if you ever want to switch.
2. Shopify POS
Shopify POS lets merchants sell in person while managing products, stock and customers from the same Shopify admin as their online store.
Who it suits: businesses that sell online with Shopify and also trade at shops, markets or events.
What stands out: unified stock and customer data. An in-store sale and an online order feed the same records.
Watch out for: if you don't use Shopify for your online store, other systems may fit more naturally.
3. Lightspeed
Lightspeed offers POS for retail and restaurants, with strong inventory management, reporting and support for multiple locations.
Who it suits: retailers with large catalogues, variants and several locations.
What stands out: inventory depth. It's designed for stock-heavy retail rather than just taking payments.
Watch out for: it can be more than a tiny shop needs. Check which features you'd really use.
4. Toast
Toast is a POS built specifically for restaurants. It covers table service, takeaway, online ordering and kitchen display screens.
Who it suits: restaurants, bars and cafes that want a system designed around how kitchens and floor staff work.
What stands out: restaurant-specific features, from menu modifiers to kitchen routing.
Watch out for: it's focused on food service, so it's not the choice for a clothes shop. Check where it's available.
5. Clover
Clover is a hardware-led POS with dedicated terminals and an app marketplace for adding features such as loyalty or appointment tools.
Who it suits: businesses that want a purpose-built terminal at the counter and the option to add apps.
What stands out: the app ecosystem. You can extend the terminal's functions as your business grows.
Watch out for: it's often sold through banks and payment providers, so compare the contract and processing terms carefully.
6. SumUp
SumUp is known for simple card readers and a lightweight POS app that works well for small traders.
Who it suits: market stall holders, mobile traders and small shops that want to start taking cards without a complicated setup.
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What stands out: simplicity. It's easy to get started and understand.
Watch out for: if you need serious stock control or restaurant features, check the limits against your needs.
7. Zettle by PayPal
Zettle, owned by PayPal, offers a card reader and a POS app for small businesses, tied into the PayPal ecosystem.
Who it suits: very small businesses and sellers who already use PayPal.
What stands out: the PayPal connection, which can make reconciling payments simpler for existing PayPal users.
Watch out for: it's a lighter system, so growing retailers may outgrow it.
8. Epos Now
Epos Now is an EPOS provider with a strong UK presence, offering systems for retail and hospitality, including inventory and reporting.
Who it suits: UK shops, bars and restaurants that want local support and a system designed for their market.
What stands out: its retail and hospitality focus and local presence.
Watch out for: compare hardware and contract terms. My notes on why EPOS matters for a business explain what to ask for.
9. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an iPad-based POS made for restaurants and cafes, covering table management, orders, payments and reporting.
Who it suits: independent restaurants and cafes that want a tablet-based system built for table service.
What stands out: restaurant workflows on an iPad, including floor plans and splitting bills.
Watch out for: as it's built for restaurants, it's not a fit for general retail.
How do you choose the right POS?
Match the system to the business type first. A restaurant POS and a retail POS solve different problems, and trying to bend one to do the other is how people end up with workarounds on every shift.
Then ask the awkward questions before you buy. What happens if the internet drops? How hard is it to leave? Can you export your product list and sales history? And who do you call when it breaks on a Saturday night?
Once it's running, the reports are where the value is. My piece on how to read an EPOS sales report shows what to look for, and the best inventory management software roundup covers stock control if your POS doesn't go deep enough.
Building a tool in this space? Here's how tools get considered for my roundups.
I keep every related walkthrough in the AI for Small Business: 25 Plain-English Guides to Automation, Marketing, Sales and Admin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best POS system for a small business?
Square and Shopify POS are common choices for small retail, while Toast and TouchBistro are popular for restaurants. The best option depends on your business type, hardware needs and where you trade.
What's the difference between a POS and a card reader?
A card reader only takes payments. A POS system also records the sale, tracks stock, and produces reports, usually through an app or terminal.
Do I need special hardware for a POS?
Some systems run on a standard tablet with a card reader. Others use dedicated terminals. Check what you'd need to buy and whether it works with other providers.
Can a POS system work offline?
Many can keep recording sales when the internet drops and sync later, but this varies. Ask about offline mode before you buy.
