Which POS systems have no monthly fee?

Three real options: JET POS ($0/month permanently, software included with the hardware), Square's Free plan ($0/month but locked to Square processing at 2.6% + 15¢), and Clover's payments-only tier ($0/month with limited features). Toast's $0 Starter Kit exists but charges a higher 3.09% + 15¢ processing rate and still carries a 2-year agreement.

What is payment-processor lock-in and why does it matter?

Processor lock-in means the POS only works with the vendor's own payment processing, so you can't shop for lower rates. Square, Toast, and SumUp are fully locked. Clover devices are permanently tied to whichever processor provisioned them. Lightspeed charges $400/month if you use a third-party processor; Shopify adds 0.6 to 2% per transaction. Processing is typically 70 to 85% of a POS system's lifetime cost, so losing the ability to negotiate it matters more than any monthly software fee.

Pricing verified June 2026

Which POS system should you actually buy?

Q: Which POS system is best in 2026?

There is no single best POS — it depends on what you optimize for. For the best value to own, JET POS scores highest in our grid ($0/month software, hardware from $1,299 one-time, no contract, any processor). For starting free with minimal commitment, Square's $0 plan is the easiest entry. For full-service restaurants, Toast leads on features but requires a 2-year contract and exclusive Toast Payments. For inventory-heavy retail, Lightspeed has the strongest catalog tools but charges $400/month if you don't use Lightspeed Payments.

Q: What does a POS system really cost over 3 years?

Add three numbers: software (monthly fee times 36), hardware (upfront or financed), and payment processing — usually the biggest line. A single-register shop on Square Plus pays about $1,764 in software plus $899 for a Square Register. On Toast's entry plan it's roughly $3,383. A pay-once system runs $1,299 to $1,800 total with $0 software. Processing dwarfs all of it: at $20,000 per month in card sales, a 2.6% + 15¢ rate costs roughly $6,700 to $7,200 per year.

We compare point-of-sale systems on what vendors bury in the fine print: real monthly costs, card-processing rates, contract length and how hard it is to leave.

Compare every system How we score

✓ 9 systems tested, more added monthly ✓ Published pricing, dated & re-checked ✓ No paid rankings

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The quick answer

Each card is the best pick for one kind of buyer. Tap a card for the full review, or scroll down for the complete table.

Best value to own

JET POS8.7/10

$0/month forever, pay-once hardware from $1,299, no contract, any processor.

Read the review → Easiest free start

Square8.4/10

A free plan and 15-minute setup, if you accept Square's processing rate.

Read the review → Best for restaurants

Toast8.1/10

The deepest full-service toolset, at the price of a 2-year contract and locked processing.

Read the review → Best for retail

Lightspeed7.3/10

The deepest inventory tools, with a $400/month fee if you bring your own processor.

Read the review →

The full comparison

Every system, side by side

Sort by any column or filter by business type. All figures are published US rates as of June 12, 2026; quote-only items are marked.

Filter:

System	Best for	Software /mo	Hardware	Card-present fee	Contract & lock-in	Score
JET POS	Owning your system outright	$0	$1,299–$1,800 once	Any processor	None · no lock-in	8.7/10
Square	Starting free, mobile & small shops	$0–$149	$59–$899	2.6% + 15¢	Month-to-month · Square only	8.4/10
Toast	Full-service restaurants	$0–$69+	From $899	2.49% + 15¢	2-year · Toast only	8.1/10
Shopify POS	Retail that also sells online	$39 + $89/loc	$349	2.6% + 10¢	Monthly · +0.6–2% off-Shopify	8.0/10
Clover	Polished all-in-one hardware	$0–$135	$49–$1,899	2.3–2.6% + 10¢	Device-locked · resellers 3–4 yr	7.4/10
Lightspeed	Inventory-heavy retail	$69–$399	Quote only	From 2.4% + 10¢	Annual · $400/mo if 3rd-party	7.3/10
SumUp POS Review soon	Cafés on a budget	$99–$289	Incl. · from $54	2.6% + 10¢	12-month · SumUp only	7.2/10
TouchBistro Review soon	iPad-based restaurants	From $69	Quote only	Not published	Annual, auto-renew	7.0/10
Epos Now Review soon	Cheap upfront hardware	From ~$79	From $349	~2.6% + 10¢*	12–36 months reported	6.5/10

*Not published on Epos Now's US site; third-party reported, so confirm it on your quote. Scores follow our public methodology. More systems are reviewed every month. See our guide to the best POS for restaurants.

The number that matters

What you'll actually pay over 3 years

One register, software plus hardware only. Processing is separate, and it's usually the biggest cost of all.

Square Free $899

JET POS $1,299

Square Plus $2,663

Toast $3,383

Lightspeed $3,204+

Clover $4,957

Over three years, the paid plans cost 2 to 4 times as much as a pay-once JET station, and that's before any card processing. Square Free costs less up front but locks you to Square's processing. Processing then comes on top: at $20,000/month in sales, a flat 2.6% + 15¢ rate is roughly $6,800 a year. See processing rates above.

How we score

Six scoring categories, weighted toward cost and lock-in

Those two carry the most weight because that's where buyers get burned. Every system is scored on the same grid.

Pricing & total cost25%

Software features20%

Contract & lock-in15%

Hardware15%

Ease of use15%

Support10%

We build, sell and support POS hardware ourselves, so the scoring reflects what breaks on a busy Friday night. Read the full methodology →

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Find the right fit for your counter

Filter the comparison to the systems that suit how you sell.

In-depth reviews

Read the full breakdowns

Every review uses the same scoring grid, lists the pros and cons, and shows verified pricing.

JET POS
Best value to own8.7

Square
Easiest free start8.4

Toast
Best for restaurants8.1

Clover
Best hardware variety7.4

Lightspeed
Best for retail7.3

Shopify POS
Best for sell-online retail8.0

Common questions

POS buying, answered

Which POS system is best in 2026?

There's no single best; it depends what you optimize for. Best value to own: JET ($0/month, pay-once hardware, no contract). Easiest free start: Square. Deepest restaurant features: Toast. Strongest retail inventory: Lightspeed. The table above shows the trade-offs side by side.

What does a POS system really cost over 3 years?

Software (monthly fee × 36) + hardware + payment processing. Processing is usually 70 to 85% of lifetime cost: at $20,000/month in card sales, 2.6% + 15¢ runs roughly $6,700 to $7,200 a year. Software and hardware over 3 years range from $899 (Square Free + Register; a pay-once JET station is $1,299) to about $5,000 (Clover Station Duo on a Growth plan).

Which POS has no monthly fee?

JET POS ($0/month permanently, software included with hardware), Square's Free plan (locked to Square processing), and Clover's payments-only tier (very limited features). Toast's $0 Starter Kit charges a higher 3.09% + 15¢ processing rate and still has a 2-year agreement.

What is processor lock-in, and which systems have it?

Lock-in means the POS only works with the vendor's own payment processing, so you can't negotiate rates. Fully locked: Square, Toast, SumUp. Clover devices are permanently tied to the processor that provisioned them. Lightspeed charges $400/month for third-party processing; Shopify adds 0.6 to 2% per transaction. No lock-in: JET (bring any processor).

Go deeper

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Choose by business type, settle a head-to-head, or learn the buying concepts that decide what you pay.

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