Best POS Systems for Retail
Retail stores need POS systems with strong inventory management, barcode scanning, and increasingly, e-commerce integration. The best systems unify online and in-store sales, track stock in real-time, and handle complex product variants.
Common Challenges
Must-Have Features
- ✓Inventory management
- ✓Barcode scanning
- ✓Product variants
- ✓Sales reporting
- ✓Customer profiles
- ✓Receipt printing
Nice-to-Have Features
- ○E-commerce integration
- ○Purchase orders
- ○Vendor management
- ○Loyalty program
- ○Buy online, pickup in-store
- ○Advanced analytics
Top Picks for Best POS Systems for Retail
Shopify POS
Best for omnichannel retail (online + in-store)
Best for: Retailers with e-commerce focus
Square
Best free option with solid inventory
Best for: Small retailers, boutiques
Lightspeed
Best for complex inventory and B2B
Best for: Multi-location, specialty retail
Clover
Good all-around with premium hardware
Best for: Retailers wanting sleek terminals
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best POS for a small retail store?
Square is the best starting point—free software, solid inventory management, and easy setup. If you sell online, Shopify POS offers better e-commerce integration but requires a Shopify subscription.
Do I need e-commerce integration?
Increasingly, yes. Even small retailers benefit from selling online or offering buy-online-pickup-in-store. Shopify POS and Square both offer unified inventory across online and physical stores.
How much inventory can these systems handle?
All major POS systems handle thousands of SKUs. Square supports unlimited products. Lightspeed and Shopify excel at complex inventory with multiple variants, locations, and purchase orders.