Everybody knows that small businesses are the backbone of this country. A new small business opens every ten seconds in the US. We help those growing businesses to succeed by providing them with the best free point of sale systems for small business .
Small business owners looking to upgrade to point of sale systems for their retail locations will be surprised at how many free POS systems exist. Of course, just because these POS systems are free doesn’t mean that they’re all terrible – there are definitely some really good options out there. Here we’ll explore the four best POS software for small businesses and let you know how much cash you can expect to save using one of them.
ShopKeep
With advanced inventory tracking and a simple interface, ShopKeep by Lightspeed is a favorite among small business owners. Pros
- Low stock phone alerts
- Unlimited inventory items
- Inventory reporting features
Cons
- Basic package doesn’t include online payments.
- Can only accept gift cards with Essential or Advanced plans
Founded in 2008 and acquired by Lightspeed in 2021, ShopKeep by Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system used widely by small retail stores, like specialty shops and cafes. However, its impressive inventory capabilities make ShopKeep the best POS for inventory management.
ShopKeep offers three plans, which all come with one free credit card reader for eligible merchants. Credit processing is included, and you’ll pay one flat rate of 2.5% plus $0.10 per transaction. All plans offer many great features, including:
- Unlimited transactions
- Customer payments via text message
- Unlimited inventory items
- Real-time sales data
- Matrix inventory
- Employee management and rewards
- Inventory reports like sales trends and inventory value
For a limited time, all plans come with e-commerce, online ordering, and invoices. Typically these features are only offered in the Essential or Advanced programs. Each plan covers one location with one register, except for Advanced, which offers unlimited register licenses.
To get the best prices, you’ll want to make one annual payment. You can pay monthly, but it adds $20 more to each plan below:
- Basic: $49 per month for all basic features, including real-time sales data on your phone
- Essential: $79 per month for QuickBooks integration, gift card payments, and Mailchimp marketing
- Advanced: $179 per month for priority phone support, a hardware bundle, and a loyalty program
ShopKeep sells equipment individually or as part of a kit. While the kits are for iPad use, the company also offers all-in-one Android Clover POS systems. For example, the retail kit comes with:
- Cash drawer
- Receipt printer
- iPad enclosure
- Credit card reader
- Barcode scanner
- Label printer
Customers can submit a support ticket online or look through the self-help resources.
Square
Square provides flexibility for small businesses and plenty of room to grow. Pros
- Robust free option for online sales
- Easily track inventory
- Integrated payment system
Cons
- Expensive processing fees for businesses with high volumes
- Free option lacks advanced features
- Extra fee for a loyalty program
Founded in 2009, Square POS systems and devices are used in small businesses, from retail shops to diners. The platform’s versatility, combined with various pricing options, makes Square the best overall POS system for small businesses.
Square offers three plans, all of which provide integrated payments. You’ll pay credit card processing fees of 2.6% plus $0.10 on the Free Plan and 2.5% plus $0.10 on the Plus Plan for in-person payments, and 2.9% plus $0.30 for online transactions. Premium Plan offers customizable options, but you will need to contact their sales team to get this information.
For most small businesses, you’ll want a Square register for $799. But the company also offers mobile square readers and iPad stands so you can customize your setup. All three plans come with standard features like:
- Barcode scanning
- Invoice and electronic gift card options
- Instagram selling capabilities
- View low and out of stock inventory
- Sales reports
- Time tracking
- Timecard reporting
Select from popular Square plans such as:
- Free: It’s free to sell online or in-person while tracking inventory, reviewing sales reports, and overseeing your employees.
- Plus: For $60 per month, per location, you’ll get advanced inventory features, sales versus labor reporting, and vendor management tools.
- Premium: Built for enterprises, you can contact Square to develop a custom solution that helps you expand your small business.
Square also offers integrations with your small business software. Just head to your dashboard to connect your POS system with:
- WooCommerce
- Weebly
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
- TaxJar
- SumAll
Get more from your services by adding extra services like loyalty, email marketing, and payroll programs. If you need help with your Square POS system, you can contact Square support via phone or email or get answers from the seller community or support articles.
eHopper
Inexpensive software with everything a small business owner needs to run a company. Pros
- Most affordable POS system
- Built-in inventory management
- Works with most tablets
Cons
- No gift card management
- Credit card processing fees charged to customers
For nearly 15 years, eHopper has provided an affordable alternative to pricey POS software. Its low-cost plans give entrepreneurs access to customer and inventory management tools, making it a clear winner in our best value category.
The eHopper POS system offers four plans, all of which include integrated credit card processing features. Currently, the merchant fees are passed to customers via a surcharge. With all versions, you’ll get features like:
- Inventory management
- Print or email receipts
- Tip management
- Reporting options
- Customer management
Each of the four plans provides extra features, and the cost covers one POS system. The four programs are:
- Essential: The free plan helps you easily adjust inventory, manage customer accounts, or create barcode labels for your products.
- Freedom: For $29.99 a month, you get employee time tracking options, low stock alerts, and QuickBooks integrations.
- Restaurant: It’s $39.99 a month for menu building, table management, and floor planning tools, along with standard POS features.
- OmniChannel: The regular cost is $49.99. This plan adds loyalty, e-commerce, and enables Facebook sales.
With eHopper, you can use existing hardware or Android tablets, iPads, Windows PCs, and Poynt terminals. But, eHopper offers a variety of hardware options for sale, including:
- Hardware bundles
- Thermal printers
- Cash drawers
- Credit card terminals
- Scanners
- Tablets
- Stands and accessories
You won’t get many integrations with eHopper, but you can add an additional loyalty package to your plan. You can call, initiate a support ticket, or chat with customer service for help with your POS system. The company also offers an online knowledge base.
TouchBistro
TouchBistro supplies restaurateurs with cloud-based analytics to boost their food and beverage sales. Pros
- iPad POS system
- Integrated credit card processing
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Must use mostly Apple products
- Customer support isn’t always responsive.
In business since 2010, TouchBistro offers software designed specifically for the restaurant industry. TouchBistro is our top pick for the best restaurant POS system with restaurant inventory management tools and restaurant-specific hardware.
TouchBistro POS software licenses start at $69 per month. With a TouchBistro system, you’ll get various tools and features to support your operations, such as:
- Intuitive touch controls for table management
- Remote menu management
- Add recipes to manage inventory costs
- Access data and reports via the cloud portal
You can add services to get more from your restaurant POS, which are available through TouchBistro, including:
- Reservations system for $229 per month
- Online ordering for $50 a month
- A gift card program for $25 per month
Choose your own hardware or buy from TouchBistro’s hardware partners for equipment such as:
- iPad
- Apple Mac Mini computer
- Apple TV
- AmpliFi MeshPoint HD
- Kitchen and thermal printers
- Cash drawers
- Networking hardware
- iPad stands
- Payment devices
TouchBistro integrates with many popular programs, including QuickBooks, Sage, and 7Shifts.
If you run into problems, TouchBistro provides plenty of self-service options. You can also contact them via email, chat, and 24/7 phone support.
Vend
Trusted retail software that your employees will learn how to use in minutes. Pros
- No limits on products
- Works offline (Limited functions)
- Simple interface
Cons
- Lite plan has a $20,000 turnover limit
- Gets costly when adding registers
Founded in 2010, Vend is a reliable provider of POS systems that are easy to use and compatible with many equipment types. With advanced inventory management and analytics, Vend wins our best POS system for retail.
Vend offers three plans that cover one register and one location. All versions give you features that are easy to use and support your retail operations, such as:
- Real-time inventory management
- Unlimited products and employees
- Customizable receipts for email or print
- Total cash management
- Inventory control levels
- Easy-to-personalize reports
- A mobile dashboard
While the Lite plan has a monthly turnover limit of $20,000, the other programs are unlimited. It’ll cost you $49 a month for an extra register when paid yearly or $59 with monthly payments. Your plan options include:
- Lite: For $99 when paid annually or $119 for monthly payments, this version contains all standard features and small business analytics.
- Pro: It’s $129 per month when paid yearly, or $159 with monthly payments, for advanced reporting, e-commerce options, and gift card features.
- Enterprise: Call for a custom quote for an enterprise plan that offers a dedicated account manager and onboarding program.
You can choose from tons of hardware options or use your existing equipment. Vend offers bundles, and you can use Mac or Windows systems. This POS software integrates with nearly all credit card processing companies, along with top retail programs like:
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- Shopify
- Mailchimp
Get the customer service your retail store needs with Vend’s responsive support systems, including 24/7 online or in-app live chat support, email, phone center, plus a full knowledge base.
Shopify
Oversee in-store and online sales easily from your mobile dashboard. Pros
- No extra transaction fees above interchange rates
- Abandoned cart recovery comes with every plan
- Plug-and-play hardware
Cons
- Only 2 staff members can access the POS with the Basic plan
- Basic plan doesn’t offer omnichannel selling
Since 2006, Shopify has provided e-commerce entrepreneurs with capable online shopping services that are easy for store owners to use and offer a pleasant digital customer experience. Its robust virtual features make it the best POS for e-commerce.
To use the Shopify POS system, you need to select a Shopify plan first. These programs cover your e-commerce website and blog, plus many features, ranging from $29 to $299 per month. Your Shopify plan determines your credit card processing fees:
- Basic: In-person rate is 2.7% and online rate is 2.9% + $0.30
- Shopify: In-person rate is 2.5% and online rate is 2.6% + $0.30
- Advanced: In-person rate is 2.4%, and online rate is 2.4% = $0.30
All plans include the Shopify POS Lite plan with features such as:
- Order and product management
- Customer profiles
- Integrated credit card processing
- Quick response (QR) codes
- Custom discounts and discount codes
If you opt for the POS Pro version for $89 per month per location, you can take advantage of added features like:
- Smart inventory management
- Unlimited registers
- Omnichannel selling features
- In-store analytics
Shopify offers tons of plug-and-play hardware, so it’s easy to customize your setup. Choose from complete retail kits, tap and chip card readers, and iPad stands. To get assistance, go through Shopify’s 24/7 support center or check out its vast knowledge base.
Conclusion
In retail business, you have numerous ways to track your sales. From cash registers to free apps for iPhone or Android, having information about your deals is important. Just imagine how it would be if there was a POS system that you could install on your own and get all numbers from point of sale system directly on your desktop.