15 Best POS Software Systems For Small Business in 2024

Vend is among the top iPad POS platforms in the market today. A perfect POS solution for retail businesses, it is widely used in handling customer, sales, and inventory management tasks. Flexible and reasonably priced, this app can be personalized to suit your preferences. It offers data entry options using either keyboard and mouse or touchscreen, as well as customizing your POS screen to allow access to your most used items or features. 

Vend has acquired new features with its integration with ecommerce tool WooCommerce, offering online sellers numerous benefits. The tool now provides users both in-store and online sales that are tailored to their individual needs. It suits inventory-based retailers, customizing the way they conduct ecommerce. With the software, you get to manage your sales centrally with the platform syncing customers, sales, inventory, and products between the apps. It also accommodates Instagram and Facebook users, making them potential paying customers. 

What is unique about Vend?

• Compatible across devices. This platform can be used online, with PC or iOS. You can synchronize your data using any of these operating systems in the cloud.
• Scalable and configurable. Vend works with numerous business applications, and you can integrate new functionalities as your business requirements expand.
• Works offline. Even if you go offline, this platform will instantly synchronize all your transactions once your connection is restored.
• Integrated online store. Easily and quickly set up a completely customizable online shop on your own without any training necessary. With a single click, you can put your products online.
• Multi-task management. Users can utilize numerous features for managing customer information, dashboards and reports, promotions and pricing, main product catalog, orders, inventory, and cash.

7. Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is an easy to use cloud-based POS platform dedicated to online sellers. It features inventory management, ordering and invoicing tools, quoting, and timesheet and reporting capabilities.

Using Lightspeed Retail, you can monitor all your inventories across various locations, come up with serial numbers to assign to your products, and conduct a multi-channel data analysis. Online businesses can surely manage not just their online inventory, but their on-site inventory as well.

You can integrate Lightspeed Retail with different applications and business systems like Facebook, MailSync, WooCommerce, Nimble Schedule, and AppCard.

Lightspeed Retail offers a free trial. It also has a basic plan for $69 per month and per store; it is billed annually.

What is unique about Lightspeed Retail?

• Track all inventories. Lightspeed Retail’s multi-store capability allows you and your staff to monitor inventories from anywhere in your store with the use of any mobile device or an iPad. It can also check your inventory numbers and sales to see if there are changes to your profits.
• Has SEO tools. Lightspeed Retail has an SEO tool to boost your ranking in Google, Yahoo, and Bing. You can add metadata to all your products. It also has a blogging system.
• Easy to set up. Setting up Lightspeed Retail is relatively easy. Just link your account to your Google user account.

8. Sapaad

POS platform Sapaad is a powerful solution that is popular among restaurant owners. This easy-to-use software has become the go-to tool for restaurant owners in Dubai, owing to its numerous features and regular updates. It is a cloud-deployed system that is flexible enough to cater to not only large establishments but small cafes as well. What’s good about the app is its ability to better organize kitchens, which results in better sales and client loyalty.

Restaurants that take online, walk-in, dine-in, delivery, and take-away orders can greatly benefit from using the product. This intuitive solution is both easy to set up and use as everything is done automatically. What’s even better is that Sapaad does not require servers or costly IT teams to maintain, allowing your business to grow. Its flexible pricing makes it ideal for small businesses, along with the fact that it does not come with setup costs, hidden fees, or expensive licenses.

What is unique about Sapaad?

• It has an offline mode. You don’t have to worry if you get disconnected from the Internet. The software makes sure your operation does not get disrupted in the absence of connectivity.
• It has a call center module. The software makes phone ordering simple while tracking deliveries. It also maintains a comprehensive database of customers, which includes data like order history, customer addresses, and preferences.
• Inventory and back-office management. Powerful inventory management features allow you to minimize food costs, receive inventory, and send purchase orders. Stock cost and movement can likewise be tracked in real-time.

9. Clover

Clover is a POS system designed to support easier online payments and efficient inventory management. Through this system, businesses can accept a wide variety of payment methods aside from cash, including NFC payments, mobile wallets, credit and debit cards, and gift cards. The system also supports online payments and contactless payments, enabling safer transactions.

Clover is also a good choice for retail businesses that need more efficient inventory management processes. With Clover, users can easily create SKUs and variants for easier product tracking. The system also sends low-stock alerts so retailers can avoid out-of-stock scenarios.

What is unique about Clover?

• Versatile payment processing. Clover can support businesses in accepting multiple payment methods, including cash, checks, swipe cards, and mobile wallets. The system can also provide digital receipts to customers.
• Efficient inventory management. The system sends low-stock alerts, so retailers can restock popular items before they run out. Clover also works with a barcode scanner to make it easier for users to add items to inventory.
• Customer engagement tools. Through Clover, retailers can send promotions and offers to customers via email or text. The software also helps shop owners offer digital and physical gift cards.

10. Revel Systems POS

Revel Systems POS helps small businesses improve their daily operations by integrating inventory management, employee management, and sales reporting into a single, intuitive POS platform. It is an iPad-based solution perfect for restaurants, bars, and retail stores. It uses a powerful POS technology that allows you to track your inventory in real-time and offer your customers a more flexible payment processing.

The system helps you deliver an end-to-end customer experience. With it, you can easily split bills, hold bar tabs, and accept various payment types. Plus, Revel Systems has an intelligent reporting tool that lets you keep track of your inventory levels and identify your best-selling items. You can also draw insights from its accurate analytics and see how your products and operations affect your bottom line. The vendor offers a free trial to help learn more about Revel Systems POS features at no cost. 

What is unique about Revel Systems POS?

• Multi-location management. Revel Systems gives you total freedom on your menu options from single or multiple locations and lets you track inventory levels in real-time. 
• Gain data-driven insights. The software provides analytics and reports on your sales performance. It also has its own Insights application, allowing you to keep an eye on your business even on the go.
• Error-free operations. Mobile order takers and kitchen display screens allow your staff seamless communication, preventing mistakes in your order completion.
• Effective employee management. Revel Systems has built-in timecards that let you track your employees’ hours accurately.

11. Upserve

Upserve is an all-in-one restaurant management solution that combines payment processing, point of sale, inventory management, and reservation systems. It has a flexible POS system that adapts well to the unique needs of restaurants and customer demands, covering guest counts, menu inventory, and food and bar sales. In one intuitive and user-friendly interface, Upserve keeps track of all your operations, from the back of the kitchen right up to the front desk for customer requests.

The software also allows your servers to search menu items and take orders as fast as possible. By combining the data from your POS and payment processing systems, you gain insights into your best-selling products and which items to push back. Plus, Upserve has an offline mode that lets you serve customers, accept credit card payments, and print receipts even when you lose your Internet connection. Should you want to investigate the platform firsthand, you can easily leverage the Upserve free demo.

Moreover, Upserve equips your growing restaurant with a full suite of reliable hardware, like its purpose-built tableside, standalone EMV readers, and POS terminals. Also, it can easily be integrated with other industry-standard hardware, including EPSON printers for receipt printing, kitchen display systems, and Meraki Networking routers and extenders.

What is unique about Upserve?

• Training mode for new hires. In the training mode, your new staff can practice using the system without disrupting your daily operations.
• Straightforward visuals for analytics and reports. Upserve’s analytics and reporting tools give you a clear view of trends, sales performance, labor costs, scheduling, and employee productivity.
• Split checks and items. In just a few clicks, your servers can easily split between card and cash payments. The system accurately does the math for you so that you can rely on error-free computations.

12. CAKE

CAKE is an intuitive, cost-friendly solution that accelerates order processing with its easy-to-use POS system. It streamlines workflows and helps you build on-the-fly menu and table adjustments. Built to handle simple and complex operations, CAKE provides a flexible order management feature in one simple, intuitive dashboard.

13. Cybersys POS

A full-featured POS solution, Cybersys POS is designed to cater to SMBs of any type, from restaurants and jewelry stores to coffee shops and sporting goods shops. It is a flexible tool that can be customized to meet your company’s requirements. The system is accompanied by powerful hardware, including credit card readers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, and label printers, to name a few. The software has become a staple for many small businesses requiring a fully functional POS that does not break the bank.

Cybersys POS can boost corporate communication, both internal and external. This results in faster delivery of your products/services. Goals and targets can be analyzed and set using system-generated reports as a basis. You can come up with two types of loyalty programs to encourage repeat customers. Inventories can also be managed using the system, which automatically sends inventory alerts so that you get updated on the status of your inventory. The platform supports any currency, while shipments can be tracked and recorded with each transaction. You can make the most of Cybersys POS demo to learn more about the product’s features.

What is unique about Cybersys POS?

• Inexpensive yet powerful POS tool. Despite Cybersys POS’s low pricing, it comes with all the features of your standard POS systems like ecommerce integration, reporting, inventory management, and employee access management. All these are available at affordable packages, resulting in huge savings.
• Custom pricing plans. The vendor can create custom pricing models for individual users, who can choose all the features that they need from such a system. This ability to scale the product means that businesses get to pay only for the features that they need.
• It’s a flexible system. The tool, being mobile-optimized, can be accessed from any device. This means that it can be used whenever and wherever it is needed.

14. Square

If you’re searching for a universal POS platform to address your business needs, then Square is an excellent choice. This user-friendly tool is free and enables businesses to accept and process payments both in-store and even on-the-go, for both iOS or Android gadgets. Aside from an integrated magstripe reader for debit and credit card payment processing, Square also offers other functionalities such as inventory and sales tracking in real-time as well as item management.

Aside from those mentioned, Square is also capable of splitting single bill items into multiple tickets. To help you cut down staff error and accelerate checkout by limiting staff view of tickets and tips to only those assigned to them. Ticket ownership is transferable, allowing for correct reporting of tips and sales. Authorization slips are no longer required to be reprinted for customers to add tips and sign. This promotes a paperless environment, which reduces your establishment’s carbon footprint. Square offers an excellent free trial for 30 days, so you can readily know if this solution is the POS you’re looking for.

What is unique about Square

• Square is free. You can download it at no cost from GooglePlay and App Store, install in either Android or iOS devices, and use it in-store or on-the-go.
• With a Square magstripe reader. This tool enables the app to receive and handle payments using credit or debit cards, straight from your mobile gadget.
• It offers added functionalities. Square also works as an item management app as well as a real-time inventory and sales tracker.
• It has analytics and reporting. It provides valuable business insights from its smart analytics and intelligence reports, which help businesses arrive at sound business decisions.
• It is updated regularly. The team behind Square works to constantly come up with new updates that are automatically applied to the platform. This means continued efficiency for your business.

15. Oracle Food and Beverage

POS platform Oracle Food and Beverage caters to all types and sizes of restaurants, sports and entertainment businesses, and hotels. This tool comes with a robust feature set that is meant to increase productivity, boost service, and enhance efficiency. With the system, all relevant users, customers included, get to enjoy richer experiences, which is accomplished using technologies, such as mobile optimization and analytics. Prominent features include omnichannel delivery, integrated POS, cost control, kiosks, and yes, even kitchen management. Using the solution is quite easy and does not require a steep learning curve. It centralizes the management of your establishment while being able to easily work with any opportunity or concept.

What’s Unique About Oracle Food and Beverage?

• It’s a fully integrated POS. As it is a fully-integrated POS platform, Oracle Food and Beverage can accelerate transactions, making sure that they are all accurately conducted. It is also able to provide a richer user experience while reducing costs by providing reporting and back-office functionalities.
• Improves kitchen operations. The solution comes with a Kitchen system that effectively simplifies your kitchen processes. It boosts kitchen service and food quality while decreasing room for errors.
• Reporting and analytics. Oracle Food and Beverage is not your average POS. It comes with powerful analytics and reporting tools that keep tabs on your restaurant’s performance. This provides clear visibility into your operations, which lets you make sound decisions.

How to choose the right POS software for your business?

Selecting the best POS software is crucial for businesses aiming to optimize sales and enhance customer satisfaction. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Business Size and Type: Identify your business’s scale and industry needs. For example, small businesses may prioritize affordability and simplicity. At the same time, multi-location retail stores may need a POS with robust inventory management and real-time reporting.
• Inventory Management Needs: Choose a POS system to handle your inventory requirements. For retail, look for systems that support product tracking, stock level alerts, and easy order management.
• Ease of Use and Training: A user-friendly interface can reduce the time and cost required for employee training. Look for a POS system with an intuitive design, especially if you have a high employee turnover.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Many POS systems integrate CRM features that help track customer preferences, purchasing habits, and contact information, which is valuable for creating loyalty programs and personalized marketing.
• Mobile Compatibility: A mobile POS system may be ideal for businesses needing flexibility. This option is popular for service-oriented industries and pop-up stores that need portability and quick access.
• Pricing and Scalability: Ensure the POS fits your budget and can scale as your business grows. Consider the initial investment and ongoing costs, including software upgrades and technical support.

Where is POS software headed?

POS software has indeed benefited small businesses, from brick-and-mortar stores to online sellers, revolutionizing the way these companies manage their sales transactions. By giving users the gift of automation, these platforms have gotten rid of the need to spend hours on redundant sales processes, allowing users to focus on more important matters. POS systems have also been taking over processes that have traditionally been the turf of third-party applications. But most importantly, POS software has been helping customers by accelerating the sales process and contributing to customer experience, whose benefits go both ways. In this regard, Toast continues to lead the pack with its robust features and unparalleled benefits. You can find out more about its features if you sign up for Toast free demo.

With all these benefits now at your fingertips, one can’t help but wonder what’s in store for these systems in the near future. For restaurants, POS software is seen to continue to harness the power of the cloud as doing so makes them accessible anytime, anywhere. It is also seen as the preferred deployment method of many businesses owing to the low price tags that come with cloud-based tools. And then there is the projected increase in the use of self-service kiosks, not only by restaurants but among retailers as well. These benefits and more make these products very appealing to SMBs, helping them on their path to profitability and growth. So it’s no wonder that these tools continue to gain traction in this niche market.

You may also want to check out our guide to restaurant management system to find out more about its features and benefits.

Key Insights

• Toast POS:
  • Best for US-based restaurants, offering features like booking, online ordering, and stock management.
  • Enhances service quality with data reporting and order tracking capabilities.
  • Flexible subscription-based pricing with bundled hardware options.
  • Tablet-based interface allows for multitasking and customer-friendly transactions.
• TouchBistro:
  • Cloud-hosted, iOS-based POS designed for foodservice businesses.
  • Manages various restaurant segments, floor layout, and order transfer.
  • Provides features like order screen layout management and bill preview.
• Cova:
  • Designed for cannabis dispensaries with compliance features.
  • Built-in queue capability and age verification scanner.
  • Provides detailed inventory reports and easy onboarding process.
• Helcim:
  • Inexpensive payment platform for small and medium-sized businesses.
  • Offers virtual terminals, invoicing, and secure online checkout.
  • Transparent pricing without hidden charges or monthly fees.
• KORONA:
  • Versatile POS with features like inventory management, reporting, and CRM.
  • Cloud-based with easy setup and employee permissions.
  • Automated ordering and time clock feature for employee management.
• Vend:
  • iPad POS platform suitable for retail businesses.
  • Integration with WooCommerce for online and in-store sales management.
  • Works offline and offers customizable online store setup.
• Lightspeed Retail:
  • Cloud-based POS with inventory management and SEO tools.
  • Multi-store capability and easy setup with Google account integration.
  • Provides tools for data analysis and reporting.
• Sapaad:
  • Cloud-deployed POS popular among restaurant owners.
  • Offline mode and call center module for phone ordering.
  • Inventory and back-office management features.
• Clover:
  • Supports multiple payment methods including NFC and mobile wallets.
  • Efficient inventory management and customer engagement tools.
  • Offers versatile payment processing and low-stock alerts.
• Revel Systems POS:
  • iPad-based solution for restaurants, bars, and retail stores.
  • Integrates inventory, employee management, and sales reporting.
  • Provides data-driven insights and error-free operations.
• Upserve:
  • All-in-one restaurant management solution.
  • Combines payment processing, POS, inventory management, and reservation systems.
  • Offers offline mode and comprehensive hardware integration.
• CAKE:
  • Cost-friendly POS with flexible order management.
  • Seamless touchscreen experience and customer-facing display.
  • Integrates with various business applications and payment systems.
• Cybersys POS:
  • Full-featured POS for SMBs with customizable pricing plans.
  • Supports ecommerce integration and multiple currencies.
  • Mobile-optimized and offers powerful inventory management.
• Square:
  • Universal POS platform with free download and magstripe reader.
  • Real-time inventory and sales tracking with item management.
  • Regular updates and paperless environment for reduced carbon footprint.
• Oracle Food and Beverage:
  • Integrated POS for restaurants, sports, entertainment, and hotels.
  • Features omnichannel delivery, cost control, and kitchen management.
  • Provides robust analytics and reporting tools.

FAQ

1. What is POS software and how does it benefit small businesses? POS (Point of Sale) software automates sales transactions and manages inventory, reporting, and customer data. It benefits small businesses by enhancing service quality, improving efficiency, and providing detailed insights into sales performance.
2. Why is Toast POS considered the best POS software for small businesses? Toast POS is highly regarded for its comprehensive features tailored for US-based restaurants, including booking, online ordering, and stock management. It offers flexible pricing, a tablet-based interface, and customer-friendly functionalities that enhance service quality and operational efficiency.
3. What are the unique features of TouchBistro? TouchBistro is designed specifically for foodservice businesses and offers cloud-hosted, iOS-based functionality. It manages various restaurant segments, floor layout, order transfer, and includes features like order screen layout management and bill preview.
4. How does Cova ensure compliance for cannabis dispensaries? Cova includes compliance tools like age verification scanners, purchase limit alerts, and integration with statewide traceability systems. These features help cannabis dispensaries stay compliant with regulations and avoid operational missteps.
5. What makes Helcim a cost-effective POS solution? Helcim offers transparent pricing with no hidden charges or monthly fees. It provides a wide range of payment features, including virtual terminals, invoicing, and secure online checkout, making it an inexpensive yet dynamic payment platform.
6. How does KORONA assist with inventory management? KORONA offers in-depth inventory management with automation features for ordering and employee permissions to limit register actions. This helps businesses keep track of stock levels and prevent common issues like retail loss and missing receipts.
7. What advantages does Vend provide for retail businesses? Vend is an iPad POS platform that integrates with WooCommerce for managing online and in-store sales. It offers offline functionality, customizable online store setup, and flexible data entry options, making it ideal for retail businesses.
8. How does Lightspeed Retail support multi-store management? Lightspeed Retail’s multi-store capability allows users to monitor inventories across various locations, conduct multi-channel data analysis, and track inventory changes and sales, ensuring efficient management of multiple stores.
9. What features make Sapaad suitable for restaurants? Sapaad is a cloud-deployed POS with an offline mode, call center module, and powerful inventory management features. It is popular among restaurant owners for its ease of use, flexible pricing, and ability to handle various order types.
10. How does Clover enhance payment processing and inventory management? Clover supports multiple payment methods, including NFC and mobile wallets, and provides efficient inventory management with low-stock alerts. It also offers customer engagement tools for sending promotions and offers via email or text.
11. What are the benefits of using Revel Systems POS? Revel Systems POS integrates inventory, employee management, and sales reporting into a single platform. It provides real-time inventory tracking, data-driven insights, error-free operations, and effective employee management, making it ideal for small businesses.
12. What makes Upserve an all-in-one restaurant management solution? Upserve combines payment processing, POS, inventory management, and reservation systems in one interface. It offers offline mode, reliable hardware integration, and tools for training new hires, enhancing overall restaurant management.
13. How does CAKE streamline order processing for restaurants? CAKE offers a flexible order management feature with a seamless touchscreen experience and customer-facing display. It integrates with various business applications and payment systems, making it easy to use and efficient for restaurants.
14. What customization options does Cybersys POS provide? Cybersys POS offers custom pricing plans and scalable features, allowing businesses to pay only for what they need. It supports ecommerce integration, multiple currencies, and mobile optimization, making it a flexible and affordable POS solution.
15. Why is Square a popular choice for small businesses? Square is a free, universal POS platform that supports in-store and on-the-go payments for iOS and Android devices. It offers real-time inventory and sales tracking, item management, regular updates, and promotes a paperless environment.
16. What unique features does Oracle Food and Beverage offer? Oracle Food and Beverage is a fully integrated POS with features like omnichannel delivery, cost control, kitchen management, and powerful analytics. It enhances productivity, service, and efficiency for restaurants, sports, entertainment businesses, and hotels.