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POS buying guides & comparisons

Last updated June 17, 2026

Everything we've published to help you choose a point-of-sale system — by business type, head-to-head, and the buying concepts that decide what you actually pay. Every guide uses the same public scoring grid and verified pricing.

Interactive tools

Find your POS (2-min quiz)Answer 5 questions, get matched 3-year cost calculatorYour true total, processing included

Best POS by business type

Best for small businessPick by sales type & card volume Best for restaurantsFull-service, QSR, the trade-offs Best for retailInventory, omnichannel, multi-store Best for coffee shopsSpeed at the morning rush Best for barsTabs, pre-auth, fast re-orders Best for food trucksMobile, offline, cheap to start

Head-to-head comparisons

Square vs CloverTwo all-in-one systems compared Toast vs SquareThe restaurant POS showdown Square vs Shopify POSFree start vs omnichannel Lightspeed vs SquareInventory depth vs simplicity Clover vs ToastAll-in-one vs restaurant-built

Buying guides & concepts

What does a POS cost?The real 3-year math Processing fees explainedInterchange, flat-rate, effective rate Processor lock-inThe costliest fine print No monthly feeWhich $0/month options are real How to switch POS3 weeks, zero downtime POS glossaryJargon decoded

In-depth reviews

JET POS — 8.7Pay once, own it Square — 8.4Easiest free start Toast — 8.1Best for restaurants Clover — 7.4Polished hardware Lightspeed — 7.3Best retail inventory Shopify POS — 8.0Best for sell-online

Compare every system Meet our reviewers