# Best Point of Sale (POS) Systems for Small Businesses _CompareFairly · en/US · neutral comparison, cited sources, no paid placement_ **Category:** business › software › point of sale systems **Our pick**: Lightspeed POS (87/100) · **Cheapest**: Clover POS · **Best value**: SkyTab POS System ## Comparison table | Criterion | Lightspeed POS | Revel Systems | SkyTab POS System | Shift4 Dine | Toast POS | TouchBistro | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly Pricing (USD) | 69 | 99 | 29.99 | 29.99 | 79 | 69 | | Payment Processing Fees (%) | 2.6 | 2.5 | - | - | 2.5 | 2.5 | | Core Features | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | | Reporting & Analytics | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | | Inventory Management | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Standard | | Scalability | High | High | High | High | High | High | | Mobile Access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Customer Management (CRM) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Third-Party Integrations | Extensive | Extensive | Extensive | Extensive | Many | Many | | Customer Support | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | | Ease of Use | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Easy | Moderate | Easy | | Hardware Compatibility | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | ## 1. Lightspeed POS A point-of-sale system suitable for businesses with large and complex inventories, offering advanced inventory management and reporting. **Best for:** Growing restaurants that need serious tools for menu engineering, advanced reporting, and multi-location management. **Pros:** - Advanced inventory management - Menu engineering and reporting tools - Built-in loyalty and gift card options - Supports multi-location reporting and tableside ordering **Cons:** - Can have a steep learning curve - Some users report limited integrations - Occasional lag in product updates - Does not allow entering new products on the fly _Source (verified): [https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/](https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/)_ ## 2. Revel Systems A comprehensive iPad-based POS system offering advanced features for various industries, including retail and hospitality. _Source (estimate): [https://revelsystems.com/](https://revelsystems.com/)_ ## 3. SkyTab POS System ## 4. Shift4 Dine ## 5. Toast POS A point-of-sale system designed specifically for restaurants, offering features like table management, online ordering, and delivery tools. **Best for:** Small dine-in restaurants that want extensive customization and a comprehensive system for managing all aspects of their operations. **Pros:** - Comprehensive restaurant-specific features - Supports dine-in, takeout, and delivery management - Includes table management and tableside ordering - No extra cost for add-on features in growth plans **Cons:** - Bundles payment processing, limiting choice _Source (verified): [https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/](https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/)_ ## 6. TouchBistro An intuitive iPad POS system designed for restaurants, offering features for order management, table management, and more. _Source (estimate): [https://www.touchbistro.com/](https://www.touchbistro.com/)_ ## 7. Square for Retail A point-of-sale system that handles sales, tracks inventory, processes payments, and manages day-to-day operations, replacing traditional cash registers. **Best for:** Cafes and bars seeking a simple, all-in-one tool with straightforward features and good online store synchronization. **Pros:** - Easy to set up and use - Integrates well with accounting software - Offers loyalty program and marketing features - Good customer support with human availability **Cons:** - Can be confusing to set up initially due to broad applicability - Limited customization compared to other systems - Bundles payment processing, limiting choice _Source (verified): [https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/](https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/)_ ## 8. Shopify POS A point-of-sale system that connects in-person and online sales, ideal for businesses already using Shopify for their online store. **Best for:** Current Shopify users who need to connect their in-person and online stores for simplified inventory and sales tracking. **Pros:** - Seamless integration with Shopify online stores - Easy product and inventory syncing - Works with numerous Shopify apps - Mobile-friendly interface _Source (verified): [https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/](https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/)_ ## 9. Vend POS A cloud-based POS system known for its user-friendliness and robust inventory management, suitable for various retail businesses. _Source (estimate): [https://www.vendhq.com/](https://www.vendhq.com/)_ ## 10. Square Stand ## 11. Clover POS A flexible point-of-sale system that allows businesses to start with basic payment processing and scale up with various hardware and software plans. **Best for:** New small businesses needing a flexible, affordable, and scalable POS system that can grow with their operations. **Pros:** - Flexible hardware options (handheld, counter, full station) - Affordable software pricing with various plans - Scalable for different business types and growth stages - Industry-specific software options (retail, restaurant, service, medical) **Cons:** - Customer service quality can vary significantly depending on the provider - Some complaints are about post-sale support from large POS companies _Source (verified): [https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/](https://www.posusa.com/small-business-pos-systems/)_ ## 12. Square POS A popular all-in-one POS system with free basic features, ideal for small businesses and startups. _Source (estimate): [https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale](https://squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale)_ ## 13. eHopper A free POS system with optional paid plans, offering features for retail, restaurants, and bars, with a focus on ease of use. _Source (estimate): [https://ehopper.com/](https://ehopper.com/)_ ## In short This comparison of 13 point-of-sale systems across 12 criteria, including monthly pricing, payment processing fees, core features, reporting and analytics, inventory management, and scalability, places Lightspeed POS first with a score of 87/100, largely due to its perfect scores in customer support and core features, while Revel Systems ranks second at 84/100, excelling in payment processing fees, and Clover POS emerges as the most affordable option. The facts in this summary are computed from the table below; only the wording is generated. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best POS systems for small businesses in 2026?** Lightspeed POS is highly rated at 87/100, with Revel Systems also being a strong contender. Our rankings are based on objective criteria like pricing, features, and user reviews. **How do Lightspeed POS and Revel Systems compare for small businesses?** Lightspeed POS excels in overall scoring, while Revel Systems is also a top choice. We compare them across monthly pricing, payment processing fees, core features, reporting, inventory management, and scalability. **What factors should I consider when choosing a POS system for my small business?** Key factors include monthly pricing, payment processing fees, essential features, reporting capabilities, inventory management tools, and the system's scalability as your business grows. **Is your POS system ranking influenced by paid placements?** No, our rankings are completely neutral and unbiased. We do not accept payment for placement, and all data used for comparison is sourced and verifiable. --- _Generated by CompareFairly - neutral universal comparator. Ranking not for sale, data sourced._ --- _CompareFairly · https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-point-of-sale-pos-systems-for-small-businesses — citation with a link is allowed; bulk extraction/redistribution is prohibited._