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Retailers use point of sale (POS) systems to record sales history, process transactions and track inventory. When implemented correctly, the POS systems can also help retailers increase revenue, drive customer loyalty and achieve business goals. We evaluated the best retail POS systems on the market for Australians and rated them based on pricing, ease of use, usefulness and more.
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We reviewed 15 different POS systems using a complex methodology to help you find the seven retail POS systems for small businesses. Our ratings consider factors, such as pricing plans, POS features, customer opinions and a review of each provider by our panel of experts. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.
Spending some time researching and vetting POS systems thoroughly can help ensure you’ll be happy with your purchase. Here’s everything you need to know to select the best retail POS system for your needs and budget:
There are a few must-have features for any retail POS system. These essential features include:
These are the essential features that any retail POS system should have. However, there are a few additional features that can be useful for certain businesses:
These are a few additional features that can be useful for certain businesses. However, not all businesses need these features. It’s important to choose a POS system with the features that are right for your business.
When budgeting for your new POS system purchase, it’s important to consider both hardware costs and payment processing fees. Here’s what you need to know:
The cost of POS hardware can vary depending on the type of hardware you need. The most common type of POS hardware is a terminal, which includes a touchscreen display, processor and software. Terminal prices can range from $230 AUD to $1,200 AUD.
If you already have a computer or iPad, you may be able to use it as your POS terminal. In this case, you would only need to purchase peripheral hardware, such as a receipt printer and barcode scanner. Peripheral prices can range from $19 AUD to $149 AUD.
If you plan to use a mobile device as your POS terminal, you can use a POS app that doesn’t require any additional hardware. However, you may need to purchase a mobile credit card reader, which typically costs around $39 AUD.
Most POS systems come with a payment processing service, which allows you to accept credit and debit cards. Payment processing fees are typically around 1.75% of the total sale, plus a per-transaction fee of $0.2 AUD to $0.5 AUD.
Some POS systems allow you to use your own payment processor, which can save you money on processing fees. However, you will typically need to pay a monthly fee for the POS software. These monthly fees can range from $49 AUD to $141 AUD.
A POS system offers several advantages over a traditional cash register, including:
A cash register is a simple device for ringing up sales. It does not offer the same features and benefits as a POS system. If you are looking for a more sophisticated solution to manage your retail business, then a POS system is the way to go.
To determine our top seven retail POS systems, our team evaluated 15 systems across dozens of features. We focused on specific categories of data: customer support, pricing, fees and standout features. In addition, we looked at actual customer reviews to see if a company’s marketing promises match real user experiences.
For pricing, we looked into the pricing plans that each provider offered, giving bonus points to those that offered the initial POS system like card readers for free or at a discounted price.
We looked at the range of each provider’s pricing plans and considered whether they were affordable, fair or expensive. Then, we looked at transaction fees. Smaller retailers, in particular, rely on free plans or reasonably priced subscriptions for their POS systems.
For this reason, most of our top contenders have free options and affordable paid plans. Pricing accounted for 35% of the final score.
While most retail POS systems accept mobile payments and include hardware, retailers in particular need systems to track inventory. Another important feature is software integrations.
In addition to offering retail POS options, we gave bonus points if a provider offered options for restaurants as well. Other features we consider important to have as part of a retail POS system include inventory management, built-in payment processing and the ability to take mobile payments. We weighted features at 35% of our total score.
The features offered by POS systems don’t matter if employees can’t use them. This is why our panel of experts turned to third-party review sites to get actual users’ opinions about key factors, such as ease of use. The learning curve should not prohibit retailers from using a system’s most robust features.
What works for one retail business may not be suitable for another, so we carefully considered which POS system fits different types of stores.
In addition to ease of use, our experts also consider other key points, such as stand-out features, value for the money and the overall popularity of the retail POS system. This expert analysis made up 30% of the total score.
Finally, we looked at whether the POS retail system was available for Australian users. Any that weren’t were eliminated from the list.
*Conversion correct as of 14th October, 2023
You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered.
Featured Partners
1
Wix
Starting price
From $15 per month
Drag-and-Drop Editor
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2
Shopify POS
Price starts at
Cost of your Shopify plan
Free trial
Yes
Key features
In-person and mobile POS, order management, customer profiles
3
Bluehost
E-Commerce Starting Price
$15 AUD
Drag-and-Drop Interface
Yes
Standout Features
Wishlists, marketplace selling, unlimited products
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best POS system for your retail business depends on your specific needs and budget.
The cheapest POS system is a free one. SumUp and eHopper offer free plans, although typically you’ll pay more in transaction fees. If you don’t process many transactions, this might not be a big deal.
It depends. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, then a mobile POS can be helpful for processing transactions on the go. If you have an online store, then a mobile POS might not be necessary unless you’re planning on taking sales on the go at pop-up shops or markets
The type of hardware you need will depend on the POS system you choose. Some systems, such as eHopper, can run on a computer or iPad. Others, including Clover, require specific hardware, such as a terminal or chip reader. You may also need to purchase peripheral hardware, such as a receipt printer or barcode scanner.
Out of all the retail POS systems we analysed, we’ve determined the easiest to use is Square POS. It requires virtually no training to use, and you can set it up in mere minutes.
The time it takes to receive your POS machine depends on which POS system you choose. Most take 10 to 14 business days to arrive.
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